#the reason I criticise this season so much these days is precisely because I love the show so much | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

plantsjustwannahavefun · 6 months

Text

I used to think that the reason I wasn't satisfied with Izzy's death was because I was too attached to his perspective as a character and couldn't focus on the big picture of the season and the main Gentlebeard relationship enough. I mean, I was still convinced that his death and the way it was carried out was a shit writing decision, but everyone else outside the Izzy Canyon circles seemed fine with it, so I was starting to think that maybe they were right.

So I looked back on the rest of the season and rewatched the finale... And realised something that I'd been trying to ignore because it was too painful to admit. A huge part of why Izzy's death hit so hard (in a bad way, not that delicious masochistic pain of having a beloved character die a good, narratively satisfying death) was because throughout this season he was the only character who actually had a satisfying arc and development. Practically no one else did. I didn't actually care for Gentlebeard this season, not the way I cared in S1. From episode 1 to 8 and a half, Izzy's arc was crafted with more care, kindness, subtlety and narrative weight than the main Gentlebeard arc which, in comparison, felt like a string of choppy beads badly tied together in an approximate shape of an arc, but collapsed as soon as you looked at it too closely.

Yes, we all know this season suffered for being 2 episodes too short, but I don't think that's all there is to it. This is starting to feel like GoT season 8 all over again. Would it have been better if it wasn't so rushed? Maybe. Or maybe it would have been even worse because this season just didn't seem to know what to do with itself or the characters. The themes and symbolism are all over the place and completely inconsistent. Ed and Stede's characters are practically back at the same place they left in S1. All they did was bounce off the walls back and forth with no real growth. As soon as they took a step towards fixing their relationship or growing as people, they either tool three steps back or it just got dropped. Stede letting fame get to his head? Interesting and realistic development. And how was it resolved? It wasn't. Stede and Ed being whim prone? I'm glad they brought it up. And then they just fell for another whim and it was presented as a satisfying ending.

Ed went from the Kraken, to taking the first steps towards being Ed, then suddenly all the way to being Ed by way of a Night of Magical Healing Sex that he he didn't actually want to happen because he wasn't ready. And then all of a sudden he pivoted to abandoning Stede and piracy and becoming a fisherman... for 5 min. And then back to Blackbeard again because two fishermen were mean to him for 5 minutes. And then abandoning it again to open an inn. How was any of this even remotely coherent or satisfying? They didn't even have a single conversation about any of it. Ed had more proper closure and communication with Izzy during his dying scene than with Stede and the rest of the crew put together. Izzy's arc got sacrificed to do the heavy lifting for Ed's arc and became nothing more than a shortcut to speed run his character growth. Except it didn't even lead anywhere. "Ed, they're your family, they love you" no they don't, he didn't even have a single positive conversation with any of them except Fang. Of course this could have been the point, and Ed could have seen Izzy's death, his own discovery of found family and his dying words as a pretext to repair his relationship with the crew. But he just left them and stayed with Stede instead.

Sure, you could say this was only the second act of the story, and S3 will resolve everything. But the second act is still meant to move the story and the characters forward in some way. Yes, of course if we get S3, I imagine Stede and Ed's life as innkeepers won't exactly be idyllic. But the problem is that the conflicts they'd have will only be a rehash and repeat of the same conflicts they've already have, or were supposed to have, this season. Multiple times, even. We already know that Ed is simply unable to live with himself no matter what life he chooses. The title of S1 was literally "wherever you go, there you are". We already know Stede's love isn't enough to fix him. We already know their goals in life are completely opposite. Maybe they could have shown Stede realising, after his humiliating in S7, that piracy wasn't all it was cracked up to be or he isn't suited for it, and that's why he chose to leave it behind and open an inn, but that's not the explanation we were given. It was just another whim. They literally didn't learn anything this season. They had two baby conversations in E4 and E5 and didn't take anything from it, just kept doing the complete opposite of anything. "We're both prone to whims, let's take things slow" became "let's take things extremely fast by moving in together permanently and becoming entrepreneurs". They never talked about the actual, deepseated, longstanding trauma issues they needed to resolve before they could even begin to have a proper relationship. They literally got a heavy-handed glimpse in what their life would become if they just stuck together without addressing their own personal issues, and chose to do that very thing. It that's what S3 is going to address, then why were Anne and Mary part of this season instead of the next one?

I remember everyone saying they wanted Ed and Stede to reunite as quickly as possible in S2, and I get why. They have great chemistry together. The season is about them. But for it to work, spending more time apart is exactly what they needed. They needed to learn how to live with themselves and others, first. Romantic love alone can't fix you as a person. You have to fix yourself first. Community can help (as with Izzy's case), but you still have to put in the work. In retrospect, I'm glad that Izzy didn't get a love interest this season - because he wasn't ready yet, and had to learn how to have normal relationships and friendships with other people before attempting an intimate romantic relationship, lest he ended up falling head first unit another toxic mutually dependent relationship. That's what Stede and Ed should have tried too. Instead the show just ended up using Izzy's death as a quick surgical fix, robbing Ed of his agency and having to do the hard work repairing himself and his relationships with other people. There's a sad irony in getting exactly one character's arc just this, and then using it as a sacrificial lamb to patch over the main character's arc.

#another long rant #I should probably start tagging this accordingly #ofmd critical #I mean I still love the show and always will #I don't want to be associated with unhinged haters or anything #the reason I criticise this season so much these days is precisely because I love the show so much #it deserved better #it had so much good going for it #so much promise and potential #and in the end much of it was wasted #ofmd #our flag means death #izzy hands #ofmd s2 #ofmd s2 spoilers

447 notes · View notes

theonceandfutureking6481 · 3 years

Text

BBC's Merlin Season 1 Episode 1: The Dragon's Call Analysis

*SPOILERS- FOR THE WHOLE SHOW*

So I just re-watched episode 1 of Merlin, The Dragon's Call and I thought I'd post my thoughts here, since this is the kind of thing I always wanted after I watched Merlin for the first time. Sorry, it's quite long!!

This episode is great fun to watch but also really interesting from a thematic perspective, as it introduces all the key characters and many key themes that continue throughout the show.

Setting it up as subverting traditional telling's of the legend

The wonderful thing about Arthurian legend is how many ways you can tell it, there is very little canon, it's whole point is that it has been reinterpreted time and again to say different things, be that as it may there are traditional elements which tend to remain constant and Merlin keeps some of these but many it takes out and it sets that up here.

The introduction is like a fairytale, "the young warlock arriving at the gates of Camelot", feels very much like the introduction to a fairy tale. This is on one hand telling us that this is a story we know like any fairytale, but the very fact that Merlin is young shows us that it is going to be different.

On the side, I love the line "A boy that will in time father a legend", because there's just this wonderful gap between the audience and the characters (as there is throughout the whole story), we know that Merlin will do great things, we know that Arthur will too, they are stories we have heard (tying again into that fairytale esque introduction), and its wonderful to know that, to see Merlin and know that he is destined for greatness.

Introduction to characters:

I haven't got a specific section for Merlin here, but its sort of strewn throughout everyone elses.

Morgana:

If you know Arthurian legend you will know that in many (even most) versions of the story Morgana is a villain, so her introduction here is both scary and fascinating. She is so clearly not a villain, and you wonder (if Merlin stays true to this element) what is going to change and happen that she will become one. I knew from the start that Morgana would become a villain (I had heard a lot of spoilers), so it was especially tragic and interesting to watch her character arc because I always knew. Interestingly she is immediately set up in alliance with Merlin, even though they barely interact. We know that he is a sorcerer, and her first lines are oppositional to Uther's stance on magic, she out of everyone in Camelot seems the most likely ally. This is the start of what becomes parallel character arcs, Morgana and Merlin are both fighting for magic to become legal but they end up going about it in different ways, and one is the main villain, the other our hero. They are the same and yet opposites, and the setting up starts from here.

Arthur:

Arthur appears quite simply to be a spoiled bully, not exactly what we expect from the King Arthur we know and love. The position he starts in though is important for a key element of the story which is Merlin and Arthur creating a better world in many ways directly oppositional to Uther's teachings, based on love, kindness, willingness to put others first and respect for others. Uther's world is one where strength is rewarded and he is (in a more adult way than Arthur) a bully, as we learn later he is someone who takes his anger and fear out on others, who takes advantage of his position to hurt people even those he loves. Uther can be a good king, but not when it asks him to make sacrifices of his worldview or things that really matter to him. Uther teaches Arthur some important things but there are many things Arthur has to unlearn, and these bullish tendencies, and lack of respect for others inherent in them are one of them. We do however see Arthur's inherent nobility and goodness in this episode. When he lets Merlin go because even though he's an idiot "he's a brave one", it shows us how Arthur respects what people do rather than who they are. Uther wouldn't of let Merlin go (though to be fair Uther probably wouldn't of picked a fight with a peasant), he would have thought that the law had to be upheld no matter the individual circumstance. Merlin attacked the prince that is definitely illegal but Arthur respects his courage (even though it came at the cost of his humiliation), and there is something different to Uther in that, even good.

Merlin and Arthur:

This episode aside from setting the tone for the more hilarious aspects of Merlin and Arthur's relationship establishes some other interesting things about what they are going to be to each other in this version of the story. Traditionally Merlin is Arthur's teacher, often tutoring him as a child, obviously this doesn't happen here but they retain that element of teaching here. Kilgharrah literally says that maybe it is Merlin's job to change the fact that Arthur's an idiot. Merlin challenges Arthur from the start, willing to criticise him and treat him as an equal (which Arthur actually appears to love), and we see perhaps what Merlin is going to teach Arthur and the more noble elements of Arthur's character that Merlin's going to bring. It is also only within the context of his interactions with Merlin that we see Arthur's best side (at least in this episode). Merlin shows Arthur that he has to treat all people with respect, Arthur recognises that Merlin is brave and full of qualities that Arthur himself admires. When Merlin saves Arthur's life you can see Arthur re-evaluating everything he thought he knew about him, there is a respect there.

Arthur's Mum Igraine

She's not a big part of this episode but she was mentioned and I think its interesting how she's represented. In many ways her representation is highly simplistic, she falls to the fate of many fairy tale mothers in being dead before the story begins, she's a plot device. She is presented (not outright but implied) with all the stereotypical virtues mothers are ascribed with, the woman who's trying to kill Arthur this episode talks to Uther about how hard it must have been for Arthur to grow up without a mother. It's not a huge scene but its an insight into Arthur's character, he was brought up with all the hate and bullishness of Uther without a mother who could have taught him love and kindness. As we later learn Igraine's death triggered the great purge, her loss very much symbolises the loss of love within the kingdom, both in what Arthur's like at the beginning as well as what Camelot has become under Uther's leadership.

Gwen (and Merlin):

She is wonderful and sweet and interestingly (especially for an audience that knows Arthur is going to marry her one day) a servant. It is interesting that the two people who become in the show (and we know as an audience will one day be) closest to Arthur are servants.

The thing about Arthurian legend is that typically its very much set within a context of Medieval feudalism, which means stringent social barriers. The code of equality inherent in the idea of a Round Table is equality among nobles, the code of chivalry is a code of honour for knights not for ordinary people. It's a reflection of the social realities of the era that inspires much of the aesthetic of Arthurian legend as well as the era in which most key tenants of the legend were formed. In making Merlin (Arthur's teacher & (in this show) best friend/soulmate) and Guinevere (Arthur's wife) servants, this show is changing this idea for one more reflective of our own times. It is about absolute equality of all people, and as I've said already the inherent value that every single human being has and the individual capabilities for nobility and goodness and everything the Knights Code admires. It thus sets the tone for what Arthur is going to represent, not just the ideal of knighthood and courage but the ideal of kingship for all people and the ideal of the world that matters to every person.

The self reproducing nature of love and hate

This is an idea which I've always viewed as the main theme of Merlin, the idea that hate begets itself, as does love. This episode is a perfect encapsulation of that theme which recurs again and again. Uther kills a man who is innocent (in the sense that he didn't actually hurt anybody) and the man's mother seeks vengeance and in doing so kills more innocent people because she hates Uther enough that she doesn't care who else she hurts to get at him. This happens again and again in the show, but what this show does that I love is turn it into a main theme by depicting the reverse. Arthur and Merlin are great because they act against this world of Uther's creation, they act with love and compassion and respect for all people, the ends rarely justify the means and most importantly, especially when their actions seem morally grey, they are always motivated by their love for others (not fear or hate- unlike Uther and any number of villains). Uther is the main villain of the show precisely because it is his actions that create every other villain they encounter, Morgana sums it up nicely and somewhat ominously (given what side she ends up on)- "the more brutal you are the more enemies you'll create". Uther views that brutality as strength, but it is the weakness at the heart of his kingdom, it is what makes Camelot a worse place it is what puts everyone he cares about in danger. Essentially the plot of the first episode sets up the cycle of violence that Uther started, though it doesn't set up Merlin and Arthur as breaking it it does set up the idea of equality and respect for all people that Arthur will learn and is essentially opposed to the brutality and cruelty and hate represented by Uther.

Fun non-analysis things

It mightn't seem like it but I do actually watch Merlin for reasons other than copious analysis of themes. It is a highly enjoyable show with characters and relationships (Merthur but also just generally the wonderful representation of friendship and loyalty) I love, and its actually really funny.

Gwen saying "Who'd want to marry Arthur" is peak comedy because we all know, well you.

The weird set up in Gaius' first scene as him being bumbling and slightly insane (in the mad wise old man sort of way), there is literally no carry through, he's not even like this in the rest of the episode, but its hilarious so who cares.

Merlin and Arthur's whole exchange is the funniest thing and Arthur had every insult coming. Also this is exactly how you set up enemies to lovers.

All the writers names begin with J? It's just something I notice every time the intro credits roll and it's just funny (Julian Murphy, Johnny Capps, Jake Michie and Julian Jones)- also two Julian's, I mean what are the chances?

#bbc merlin #merlin bbc #merlin #king arthur #arthurian retelling #arthurian legend #morgan le fay #morgana pendragon #guinevere #gwen pendragon #uther pendragon #love and hate #merlin analysis #merlin duty #merlin goodness #Igraine #the adventures of merlin #bbc arthur #emrys

31 notes · View notes

ohoshi · 3 years

Note

omg first i need to talk about nct at song festival (gayo daechukjae) umm first of all mark and taeyongs rap was so good but ofc we all knew they would kill it. and then in nct U class, teacher taeyong looked so good...the way he bit that pointer stick thing in the beginning was so sexc (and the hair and the glasses ahdsfasjf) 😳 but also sungchans rap in that?? i was not expecting that but why am i even surprised anymore.. and also misfit live?? i loved nct's school uniform concept too for some reason ahahaha

and then xiaojun in resonance!! wow yes go shine xj!!! (also idk why but i found it so funny when it was doyoung's turn after xj, but xj was kinda blocking dy (who was really walking with a PURPOSE) so dy lightly pushed him out of the way) and then omg shotaro!! offstage he is so 😊 but damn in hard carry he was so good!! ahh and then also the thing where all the kpop artists at gayo daechukjae sang that song was so cute (i smiled so hard when nct came up 🥺)

yea for my job situation i think it will be okay, i talked to some people i know/mentors about it too and i think things will work out...they always do in the end right? 😊 now about anime LOL this is making me wanna start/rewatch an anime now hahahah! honestly i kind of have phases where i alternate between kdramas and animes, but i havent rly watched anime much lately besides haikyuu (which i was also surprised was still airing (but it's only season 2 so far?)). kpop (aka NCT) has been consuming my life lmao but im here for it 😂

weightlifting fairy was also my first kdrama!! yes i can totally give u some kdrama recs! besides the ones i mentioned before (which are most of my top ones), i also liked chicago typewriter, marriage not dating (i love the fake relationship trope hahaha), dinner mate, sky castle (it's kinda intense but it's so good and an iconic kdrama), cheer up, another miss oh, kingdom (if you like zombie things)...i heard startup is good and i want to watch it soon too! also i continued watching more of uncanny counter these past few days and i love it (but it's ongoing so no binging)

okay now svt: i watched some of your recs and youre so right all their choreos are so satisfying?! i also actually agree with you about black on black, i liked black on black and it was cool but it only featured like 5 members lmao and in the svt choreos it does feel like all of them are featured in some way in each performance? plus their choreos are just so great to watch!! also i've had left and right stuck in my head since i watched it LOL but i agree it's objectively better than dynamite (not an army though; also pls nobody come at us for this lmaoo)

also super random but can you tell me who is the one in the red/purple plaid shirt in the svt home dance practice?? i am kinda attracted by his dance moves LOL and i havent learned names yet 😭 i will continue watching all ur svt recs though hehehe and update you on the status of my fangirling :))

omg wait also i would never have guessed that you're not an english speaker just from these messages!! how did you know that i was prob a native speaker haha (i guess *technically* cantonese is my first language, but then i learned english in school so now i'm obviously more native in that lol and english is the only language i can read/write in)

OMGGF IKR as a multi stan i really enjoyed the rap collab especially because i really love monsta x's rap line (esp i.m!!! his rapping skill 😍) and of course mark and taeyong!!!! 😭 our boys 😭 our golden rappers 😭 SLAYED IT! omg the nct u got me 😳 taeyong looked so good???? wtf? and also sungchan? damn that boy keeps surprising me! the interesting part to me was when one member(johnny if i remember correctly) bumped into taeyong but it was done on purpose and how he uhhh kinda shook his body and his head but it all looked so cool and he never stopped rapping!!! love how they all 'performed' misfit manifesting wild teenagers in school (as they are tbh) IT WAS SO FUN AND COOL!!!

XIAOJUN!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAS SO!!!!!! GOOD!!!!!!! THE CONFIDENCE??? THE STAGE PRESENCE????? XIAOJUN CENTER???? XIAOJUN BEING RELEVANT????? i live 😭 he was so good he looked so good i was so happy and i'm so proud of him 😭 from here the only way to go is up! i hope he keeps surprising us! and omg i haven't noticed that part when doyoung pushed him bc he blocked him?? and i just rewatched it and it looks funny 🤣 but they held everything professionally 😌 no surprises there 😌

OH MY GOD THE HARD CARRY PERFORMANCE!!!!!!!!! first of all our boy shotaro DAMN 😳 he looked so good you couldn’t say that he just debuted a few months ago!! such a dancing machine! (but honestly i am not surprised because in make a wish he was rly good and he debuted as a dancer i expected from him to be good™ as he is!) and i love the duality od him <3 yk that kind of idol that you want to protect at all cost but the next second they're the one you seek protection from? yeH sign me uP! and don't even get me started on hyunjin, juyeon and moonbin!!!!! but i mean all 3 of them are main dancers of course they would look good™ 😌 (yeah shotaro performed with 3 main dancers of 3 different groups i mean the honor??????)

the end of the festival was so wholesome! It was a serotonin boost and me too i also smiled the whole time! so cute 😭 and ot23 were cutiesssss

yes! everything will work out in the end! don't stress about it!<3 oh haikyuu only has 2 seasons? wtf hsgsjsgs ok then i just watched when it had like 13 episodes, WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT that's when i watched it lmao

OMG OK I HAVE WRITTEN DOWN ALL OF THESE DRAMAS (and from the previous ask) IN MY NOTES SO FAR im mostly excited about the fake relationship one 👀 i love fake relationship trope, too 🤧 oh no binging?? is that your thing?? usually i love to wait for the show to finish airing and then i binge watch it in a few days (or one day depends how busy i am)

SEVENTEEN!!!!: yeah all of their choreos are so satisfying (pointing this out one more time) they always pay attention to details (for example in home, bc you're familiar with it, they even choreograph the hands and pay attention to them while most of the other kpop choreos very often freestyle the whole arms sjagaj) here's a fun fact abt svt that makes me love them so much agsgsj: they're self produced! they produce their own music and they even come up with their own choreos!! (of course not on their own, woozi is a producer but he's not making songs on his own he coproduces them with [a producer name bc i guess that's irrelevant but if you’re curious: bumzu], they come up with their own choreo (to be precise, hoshi does! he is 1/2 main dancers in group and he is the main choreographer! he doesn't do everything on his own of course, he gets help from the rest of the performance team (which is a svt subunit consisted of their 2 main and 2 lead dancers: hoshi, dino, the8, jun) and of course some other infamous kpop choreography teams) and i think that, by now, all the members were credited at least once for the lyrics

I'M SO GLAD YOU HAVE LEFT AND RIGHT STUCK IN YOUR HEAD HAGSJSSGSG but i mean of course you would it's soo good and soo catchy (yeahhh no worries, this army has already gotten minor hate for having controversial opinions™ and for criticising her faves so idc anymore 💁🏻‍♀️ it's my opinion as a dancer and i stand by it, even can't you see me by txt is better than dynamite so literally 3 dance performance were better!!!! in a way!!!! and neither of the 3 won!!! yes i am salty!!!!!)

the guy in the red/purple shirt (the center guy when they do the 3 dances for the first time right??) IS DINO!!!! he's the maknae and 2/2 main dancers in svt so!!! of course you would be attracted by his moves!!!!!! JSGSJSN i'm curious to see if you end up staning svt and biasing dino hsfsjsgsha

CANTONESE IS YOUR FIRST LANGUAGE? damn i thought you couldn’t get more interesting here's a dumb question: can you understand xiaojun, hendery and lucas without titles??? not that i would know if they ever speak cantonese in front of the camera for i don't know the difference between chinese dialects</3

#thank u for saying you wouldve never guessed that english wasnt my first language #that makes me happy!!#also your english is so good that's how i knew you were a native speaker lmao #ss20

1 note · View note

edhayne · 3 years

Text

Golden Oldies

On a miserable locked down Thursday in February this year, I turned 36. It’s an unremarkable landmark in normal life, but in Adland it’s a significant one. I was now officially older than the average person working in a UK agency. I then checked the IPA website and realised that I was in fact two years older than the average. It was a tough day made only marginally better by a Caterpillar birthday cake that didn’t come from M&S. Sue me.

I think 34 being the average age is a bonkers stat and along with some of my peers feeling a lot happier after leaving agency life, it did make me question if my days in the industry were numbered.

As ever, I turned to my first love, sport for some much-needed inspiration. Of course, there are painful stories of careers being ended prematurely and athletes growing disillusioned with the state of their profession.

However, it quickly became apparent that after years of retiring off people in their early to mid-30s, recently there’s been a real trend towards ‘older’ professionals continuing to set the standard.

For instance, NFL quarterback Tom Brady won his 7th Super Bowl at the age of 43.

Cristiano Ronaldo became the highest international scorer in football at 36.

Serena Williams and Roger Federer, arguably the two greatest tennis players of all time, are top 10 players, both aged 39 years old.

37-year-old Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini broke English hearts at the Euros and Zlatan Ibrahimović continues to score goals for fun, despite turning 40 in October this year.

Yes, they’ve generally been lucky to avoid serious injuries during their illustrious careers, but along with their invaluable experience, there are reasons why these athletes have remained at the top of their game.

Three in particular standout.

1. Playing to their strengths, not what convention says they should do because they’ve reached a certain age.

2. Their resourcefulness and willingness to embrace new training methods to remain fresh, relevant and at the top of their game.

3. By cross referencing their ongoing achievements, they’ve created a movement that has shifted people’s perceptions of ‘ageing’ athletes.

So, aside from delivering a better work life balance (clearly a huge problem), what would I change about advertising to ensure our industry doesn’t lose its best players when they still have so much to offer?

Encourage and reward people who keep playing:

Becoming a Creative Director isn’t for everyone. Great creative teams should be encouraged to remain great teams by being paid top dollar. I’ve never understood why brilliant Art Directors and Copywriters are advised to stop directly making things. Money comes into it, but perhaps it’s because as a CD you can lay claim to more awards, regardless of your actual involvement. Or because you don’t like others critiquing your work when you get to a certain age. But for every Alex Ferguson or Pep Guardiola there’s a Tony Adams, Thierry Henry or John Barnes. The sporting world is gradually waking up to the fact that great players don’t always make great managers, but in the advertising industry we remain obsessed with job title, rather than paying people handsomely for what they’re best at.

I think my department is quite good at avoiding this trap. The wise ‘old’ Planners tend to remain very hands on and lead by example, rather than being required to ceremoniously uninstall PowerPoint on their 40th birthday. However, we’ve still lost some brilliant thinkers along the way, either to pointless admin meetings that eat up their day or because they don’t fancy being a Head of Strategy or CSO.

Never stop the training:

Unless it’s management or leadership training, in my experience, budget is rarely set aside for seasoned professionals. I’m not sure how wise that is. Why exclude your most valuable players from learning new skills or honing their existing ones?

Tom Brady’s remarkable career is a story of natural ability combined with an incredible worth ethic and an open mind. His seven Super Bowl rings aren’t simply a product of the training camps he went on in his formative years. He’s learnt to adapt his game and credits his longevity with the practical advice he’s received from innovators, many of whom were in nappies when he won his first championship.

Stop bleating on about the past:

Some of those so called ‘legends’ who do remain in advertising have fuelled the problem. Of course, experience is of huge value to the creative process and it’s nice to reminisce every so often. However, endlessly criticising the current state of the industry and claiming we used to operate in a world where every piece of work was a masterpiece is tedious to listen to and plainly not true. It’s a classic case of the peak-end rule in action and has created unnecessary division and negativity.

The positivity and hunger that emanates out of the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Serena Williams couldn’t be more contrasting. These are superstars who have won it all, but their focus is on the present and what they can achieve in the future. They’re serial winners who want to inspire others to keep playing, rather than telling everyone how great things used to be.

Ask Tom Brady which Super Bowl ring is his favourite, and his answer says it all.

"The next one."

I firmly believe that creativity doesn’t have a sell by date. In his brilliant book ‘Go Luck Yourself’, Andy Nairn points out that whilst research from the University of Toronto found that older people were less focussed than 20-somethings, the tendency of their minds to diverge, wander and draw on wider sources was precisely what made them better at creative problem solving.

So, let’s keep busting the ageist myths, empower people to keep doing the jobs they’re good at, and make the working environment as hospitable for everyone as we possibly can. Our talent pool and creative output will be significantly richer and more effective, if we do.

0 notes

spleenpantry39 · 3 years

Text

9 Natural Methods To Whiten Your Teeth

The Length Of Time Does It Require To Whiten My Teeth?

Content

Teeth Whitening At The Neem Tree.

Teeth Whitening

Is Teeth Whitening Costly?

Oil Drawing.

Tooth Whitening Facts.

Will Teeth Whitening Deal With Incorrect Teeth?

Power whitening is excellent for anybody looking for fast outcomes because it can be completed in a hr at the dental facility. Generally the whitening gel is related to the teeth by your Basildon dental expert and also a special laser light is utilized to trigger the procedure. It will certainly lighten your teeth by a couple of shades as well as is fantastic for anyone with a vital event soon showing up. Teeth whitening in Basildon is very popular right now as every person wants a beautiful white smile to match their summertime tan. Cheering up your teeth is a terrific way to boost your smile as well as likewise provides your self-confidence an increase.

Professional therapies in the US generally make use of from 15-35% hydrogen peroxide, while the over the counter whitening strips marketed there are additionally much stronger than the ones sold in the UK. Nowadays, a lot of home kits contain either strips impregnated with whitening option or oral trays that you loaded with whitening gel. Utilizing the LED might appear like a little bit of a faff when all you wish to do is fall into bed at the end of the day, but you just require a min each time; the secret is consistency. These strips claim to whiten in simply a few days, with the charcoal assisting to speed up the process.

Teeth Whitening At The Neem Tree.

Commonly help in getting their best teeth whitening staffordshire made uses the strips for regarding half a hr before going to bed and also can generally notice a distinction in the whiteness of their teeth in the first week. However, they're ineffective on discolorations caused by prescription antibiotics or fluoride poisoning as well as they won't lighten oral reconstructions. Whitening strips are made from a flexible material covered with either hydrogen or carbamide peroxide and also a glue to keep them securely in position. As the hydrogen peroxide enters into contact with your teeth it oxidises which bleaches the teeth and also makes them look much whiter. Carbamide peroxide operates in a comparable fashion however consists of acid which additionally separates spots.

They're fairly strong, so not recommended for constant use, however are fab for whitening your smile prior to a huge occasion. Right here at Felmores we want our people to be totally educated regarding all facets of their oral care so we assumed we would certainly focus this blog on tooth whitening alternatives. If you're searching for remarkable, resilient outcomes that do not destroy your teeth, sadly it appears like your best option is to fork over for professional whitening at your dentist. While UV light is utilized to speed points up during professional whitening treatments-- this is regulated as well as can only be made use of by dental practitioners. ' They may lighten any spots that get on the surface area of the tooth, in the same way whitening tooth pastes will certainly remove or lighten a few of these spots,' Dr Barwell informs Metro.co.uk. Heads up-- it's a great concept to obtain your teeth expertly cleaned before doing any kind of whitening therapy as plaque and also tartar can create a barrier between your teeth and also the whitening representative. teeth whitening rutland whitening isn't for everyone as well as a far better alternative for those people with terribly discolored or chipped teeth may be porcelain veneers.

Teeth Whitening

It takes a bit of obtaining made use of to, brushing your teeth with powder. Harnessing the all-natural whitening ingredient of charcoal, this delicately eliminates stains with time. Our home whitening sets utilize custom made trays to fit your mouth precisely, unlike the generic trays which nonprescription kits contain. This keeps the gel securely in the tray where it need to be and also prevents any of the gel from dripping out and blistering your mouth as well as gum tissues. The trays are won for a number of hrs a day with remarkable results generally seen in around 2 weeks. A lot of whitening strips come in packs of 28, which equates to one strip per row of teeth for 14 evenings.

The 8 Best Natural & Nontoxic Teeth-Whitening Products - mindbodygreen.com

The 8 Best Natural & Nontoxic Teeth-Whitening Products.

Posted: Mon, 07 Oct 2019 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Dr Give McGrath from Technique Dental has actually formerly criticised Hello Smile for having a one dimension fits all tray. Professional whitening systems give you a customized fit tray to ensure the whitening gel is held exactly aganst your teeth. There are likewise concerns elevated regarding the efficiency of LED lights in home whitening sets. The Hello there Smile package costs $59.99 (₤ 46) and has a teeth tray with LED light and six applications of whitening gel. Mosting likely to the dental professional for professional whitening is costly, so it's no surprise that cash-strapped individuals look to more affordable, residence whitening options.

Is Teeth Whitening Pricey?

If you would love to understand even more regarding teeth whitening in Basildon after that why not publication an assessment with Felmores Dental Care. Nevertheless, while I wound up with sparkly white gnashers, I was also entrusted agonising tooth sensitivity which lasted long after I took the strips off. Be aware of celebs with veneers that advertise whitening sets, as veneers can not be lightened.

youtube

Teeth whitening strips are simply one approach of tooth whitening which can be quickly purchased online but with plenty of other options readily available, there's no reason not to provide a variety of treatments a go. Home teeth whitening sets in the UK can function to a degree, but normally only if you have naturally whiter teeth and are wanting to get rid of superficial stains gained from downing coffee as well as red wine. The strongest strips you can buy in the UK remain in the Spotlight Oral Care teeth whitening system (₤ 40 for 14 therapies), which have the optimum enabled degree of hydrogen peroxide. They're likewise the only whitening strips marketed in the EU which contain hydrogen peroxide. A fantastic beginning product, this Colgate tooth brush features a clever whitening pen full of a mild whitening gel, that gradually needs to assist to bring some brightness back to your teeth. In our pursuit for whiter, brighter teeth, we had the ability to divide the wheat from the chaff - and these are the at-home teeth whitening items that actually make a difference.

Oil Pulling.

She adds to NOT try cleaning with 'natural remedies' such as bicarbonate soft drink as as it is as well unpleasant on the enamel. It is essential to understand that influencers advertising whitening sets may already have naturally white or professionally whitened teeth-- that have nothing to do with the item they're backing. In fact, dental experts have actually formerly advised against using charcoal whitening tooth paste as it can be too rough as well as in fact erode your enamel away.

Professional teeth whitening does cost more but keeping that comes supervision from a seasoned dental professional and also a quality of item which far exceeds anything you can acquire nonprescription. We provide two approaches of teeth whitening in Basildon-- power whitening and house whitening using the Zoom method.

check out toothwhiteningpros post to best teeth whitening surrey Whitening Strips.

#teeth whitening #laser teeth whitening #best teeth whitening #teeth whitening UK #teeth whitening England #teeth whitening United Kingdom

0 notes

totalsur26466fbcx-blog · 6 years

Text

Total Surrender

Because we happen to face a New Year, we wonder what is in store for us. Is that this is going to be a great year, or a troublesome one? Am I headline ahead with the potential in my existence, or fall away? Is it is going to be similar to a year ago and the year before?

I believe that it is a pivotal year for Ignite Christian Church, along with each of you personally. I used to be recently criticised by way of a visitor for preaching excessively on righteousness, but I make no apology for this. I'm not here to use games or tickle ears, I'm here to encourage but additionally to challenge you. My vision simpler for you isn't to percieve you cruise through life and merely exist, rather it would be to talk to you thrive in their particular lives of God and also to inspire you and your loved ones in 2018 to get everything God has destined you to be.

I have sought the Lord posing for a piano key verse for in 2012, and I feel He has given us

Matthew 5:16 (ESV Strong's)

At the same time, let your light shine before others, so which these may see your good works and give glory to your current Father who is in heaven.

In 2018, Ignite Church is the light on a hill, so we are to shine boldly and brightly in this dark world. Another verse our leadership have received many times is this design…

Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV Strong's)

"Remember not the former things, nor take into cosideration the things of old.

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you don't perceive it?

I are going to make a way in the woods and rivers within the desert.

So it's time to stop thinking back, however good, however tough, and start looking ahead to precisely what the Lord has destined for our benefit!

Just as we face this New Year, what can be a help Ignite and also in us by ourselves?

GETTING INTIMATE WITH GOD

One of our greatest needs as people at large is usually to are aware that we're loved. Each one of us here must feel certain, deep down in our hearts, that someone loves us, cares on our behalf, and has our happiness at heart.

The need to be loved is at the centre of most human relationships. Men and women getting married, having families, having affairs, giving presents at Christmas, mentioning children, playing sport, joining clubs, joining Church, signing up to RSVP… all of us have want to be loved using some way. Any of course your us need to find out that somebody loves us.

That is how God designed us. He wants us to be aware that He loves each and every one most of us generated a passionate intensity too deep for words.

Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV Strong's)

The Lord your God is within your midst, a mighty one which will save; he will rejoice over you on gladness; he'll quiet you by his love; he'll exult over you with loud singing.

God created mortals with fellowship take into account-first with Himself and then with others. But we cannot fully love one another until we now have ourselves experienced the true love of God. We experience His love when we willingly surrender to His call it really does not have to be our Saviour, Lord, and Friend.

2018 is what happen in in order to get intimate with God. It's the year to totally surrender to Him!

ARE YOU AS SPIRITUALLY DEAF?

The fact is, many people cannot hear God with any measure of accuracy or confidence. A lot of Christians say, "God told me this or that," but how may they know? Fairly often Christians preface what is definitely their opinion with the term, "God told me…" as they be aware that we are capable of having no come again whether or not this were true. That's hardly God, that's often manipulation!

Of anyone else who say, "God told me to let you know this" during the last year, barely some would genuinely be God. Many good people tell me that they are never sure in case the Lord is chatting with them, if at all.

So this season, how can you foster an attitude and a life-style that allows the Lord to speak to you intimately as He promised He will? Must you may be a crazy nutcase to listen to God, and it is the one other alternative because spiritually deaf for being post?

After all not! Hearing God ought to be a natural part of each Christian's relationship using the Lord. You shouldn't be weird or excessive strange to have to hear God, and my experience is that many of the odd individuals are not likely hearing God clearly anyway.

But neither do you have to be spiritually hard of hearing. Religious people in church, even around the time of Jesus' day, never had an incredible track record of listening to God, that why Jesus quoted Isaiah in saying,

Matthew 13:14-15 (ESV Strong's)

Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that claims: "‘"You'll indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but rarely perceive." To get this people's heart has grown dull, and having their ears they'll barely hear, and their eyes they've closed, lest they should see having their eyes and hear with their ears and understand having their heart and switch, and I might heal them.'

Now, I want to provide you with one word that can transform your year. One word that may open your eyes to what God wants you to check out, one word that may open your spiritual ears to listen to Him. One word that, if you actually embraced it and utilized it, it usually takes the life span that you simply live right now and morph it straight into the life you've desire, the powerful, Spirit filled life your Father has destined you to stay at…

THE WORD IS SURRENDER

Charles Stanley writes, "Our intimacy with God determines the impact of our lives."

Surrender is defined as, "To yield to the facility, control or possession of another." (Miriam Webster's Dictionary)

Romans 12:1 (ESV Strong's)

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, via the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a job sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

The Greek word for present is paristemi which suggests to yield or surrender.

When I think of surrender, I always think of soldiers having their hands above their heads, yielding to the ability of their total conquerors. Now, each time a soldier surrenders there may be much fear. They have been fighting contrary to the enemy, killing and destroying, subsequently to yield or surrender means they place their heart into their enemy's control, with zero guarantees of survival or humane treatment. They take a chance, and their heart hangs within the balance.

Though not so when we surrender to Christ. We yield to Christ with the knowledge that He won't ever leave nor forsake us.

Psalms 9:10 (ESV Strong's)

And people who understand your name put their trust in you, quicker for you, O Lord, haven't forsaken those that seek you.

There are at least three reasons God seeks our surrender:

1. GOD DESIRES OUR FELLOWSHIP

God loves us and desires our fellowship and worship. If we hold something back from God, when we refuse to grasp to Him by surrendering our lives to Him, we are unable to know Him completely or fully experience His love.

James 4:7-8 (ESV Strong's)

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he'll draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Once we surrender to Him, once we yield our lives to Him, we're asked each one of Him. Once we decide to move close to the Lord, once we start to seek Him with the heart, He moves in close proximity to us.

2. GOD DESIRES OUR SERVICE

God wants our service for Him to be effective and fruitful.

The better we all know and love Jesus, the more practical our service will be, and the greater amount of He turns into our ministry. The closer we draw to God, the more impact our lives will have. The better energetically we nurture our relationship when using the Lord, the more the great mark we will leave behind.

Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV Strong's)

Whatever you do, work heartily, when it comes to Lord and never for man, that a little distance from Lord you'll take advantage of the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Surrendering to God means more practical service, and this effect is what What i m saying is by surrendering to God grows your ministry.

3. GOD DESIRES TO BLESS US

God waits for the liberty to bless us.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (ESV Strong's)

For I have knowledge of the plans I actually have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. You then will call upon me and are available and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all of your heart.

Note verse 13, seeking God with all your heart. This is surrendering to Him.

God is omnipotent, He's all powerful and might do anything, but He won't violate His own principles. He draws us to Himself so we are able to experience His love and forgiveness. He asks for our willing surrender in order that He may give us one of the best blessings He has got to offer.

We are sometimes like a toddler watching TV. Their parent comes and needs to bring them to be able to the zoo, however they resist since they're content just watching TV, ignorant of the wonderful experience awaiting them!

DON'T JOIN THE RESISTANCE

It is in your interests to submit to God today at the start of in 2012! However i resist, don't we? What is the reason that we wish to join the resistance instead of surrendering to a peron whose expressed desire will be to bless us not to harm us?

In all the blessings God has clearly take into consideration for us, why does anyone resist surrendering to God?

1. PRIDE

Pride is the key reason most people resist surrender.

I recall Kira learning to tie her shoelaces, saying, "I complete it mine self" and forcing us all late!

People think they know better than God and they can handle their lives better than He can, in order that they keep Him at a distance. Which is ironic, offered the mess most of our lives finally end up in, isn't it?

Proverbs 18:12 (ESV Strong's)

Before destruction a person's heart is haughty (prideful), but humility happens before honor.

God wants us to put our trust in him.

We insult God when we trust directly to resources, or the rest, to provide us through our problems. When we surrender our lives to God, we become his own chosen ones. He promises to listen to us when we call over to him.

2. FEAR

Others do not surrender as they fear what God does (or possibly not do) for them. They say that if they give God control, He'll make them do precisely what will make them most miserable.

Many apparently can trust God to give them heaven, but cannot trust Him enough to give them heaven the world over in a lifetime of fulfilment and joy.

Fear no matter what the Lord is a good thing. Fear of the long run is not. Can your trust in God exceed your fear money for hard times?

Proverbs 29:25 (ESV Strong's)

The fear of person lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.

We regularly treat God as a man, thinking He is over to punish us, or can make us suffer, or usually make us do things we hate just to show us who's boss. God is just not like that, so stop tarring Him with the same brush as you may possibly a frontrunner, pastor or politician.

John 14:27 (ESV Strong's)

Peace I leave together with you; my peace I share with you. Less in the country gives do I offer to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

3. UNBELIEF

Still others refuse to submit to Christ as they believe Satan's lie, which tells them that God is judgmental and can punish them for their mistakes.

Jesus says this about Satan…

John 8:44 (ESV Strong's)

He has been a murderer right from the start, and it does not stand in the truth, since there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks from his own character, for he's a liar and the daddy of lies.

Don't let your pride, fear or unbelief stop you from fully surrendering besides the Lord

IT'S TIME TO SURRENDER

God always has our greatest in mind. He will refuse us no good thing once we gladly submit to His will. He tells us, "‘I know the plans that I actually have quicker for you,' declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to offer an additional plus a hope"' (Jeremiah 29:11).

Romans 8:31-32 (ESV Strong's)

If God is for those, who will be against us? He who didn't spare his own Son but gave him up for those all, how will he not also with him graciously give to us things?

After we fully surrender to Him, He will withhold no good thing. After all, we will still face trials of many kinds, but He'll graciously help us triumph over them, and use the trials to build character and wisdom into our lives.

It is not a bad idea to to surrender to God, because once we do, we grow close to Him-which is His highest priority on our behalf-therefore we begin to have an impact on this world.

And right now, at the start no matter the New Year which happens to be the best time to fully {https://ignitechurch.org.au/total-surrender/ to Him and permit Him to fulfil our destiny!

I must do this every day. I constantly have to completely surrender my existence to Christ. In my existence I even have trusted a surprisingly large number of things, from my own talents and abilities to my profession to financial advisors.

When I fully surrender to Christ, when I fully trust Him for our provision, my future, my reputation and my blessings, that at this moment He can work in my behalf. Whatever I must face, if I can face them Jesus, I am going to content!

IT'S TIME TO REALIGN

Could this be the cry of a persons heart? Do you wish to understand the Savior and reside in the fullness of His blessing each day? You can. David wrote,

Psalms 34:10 (ESV Strong's)

Children lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

Young lions try their best, but they can also be young, strong and headstrong. This season, are you presently resolved to more than needed, try harder, do your best frequently, or are you ready to surrender and provides it all to Jesus?

When you boarded go away to Sydney from your local airport, and the pilot was just 1 degree as well as the east off, you'd land 17 km up to sea! A particularly good way the pilot can cause that enable you to arrive at your destination would be to constantly realign the direction whatever the plane.

At the start of this season, we need realignment. We constantly need realignment. We must be totally surrendering daily to God, and we can start out right now.

In case you have drifted in the devotion to the Savior a year ago and feel as even when you are grow more distant every day in the relationship with Him, then pray that He will draw you near once more. He knows your weaknesses, if you will tell Him that you really want Him to overcome your life, He will come to you within the mighty way and bring hope and light to your circumstances, it doesn t matter how dark and hopeless it may feel…

Isaiah 55:6-7 (ESV Strong's)

"Seek the Lord despite the fact that may be seen; call upon him while one is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him profits the Lord, he can have compassion on him, and then to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

IT'S TIME TO TAKE ACTION

Charles Blondin, the nice French tightrope Walker, became famous in 1860 for walking across 1 / 4 belonging to mile of tightrope stretched 160 feet above Niagara Falls. He performed the feat repeatedly in a variety of death defying ways, including on stilts, on any bicycle and blindfolded. He even carried a little stove and eggs across, and stopped halfway to use an omelet!

Then he took a wheelbarrow along the falls, and asked the huge crowd in the event that they believed he could carry a man in the wheelbarrow across Niagara Falls. They enthusiastically replied, "Yes, you're the greatest tightrope walker in the world."

"Ok!" He replied, "Who wants to get into the wheelbarrow?"

James 2:17-18 (ESV Strong's)

So also faith in isolation, whether or not this does not need works, is dead. But someone will say, "You've faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

You've heard me demand total surrender this morning, and you can sit and applaud my fully committed heart. However today, I'm asking you to get involved in the wheelbarrow, I'm asking you to respond by not only listening, not only agreeing, not just thinking or resolving, but by stepping out and doing…

William Booth said, "The greatness of a person's power which is the simple way of measuring his surrender."

How great do you wish to be on this coming year? How surrendered are you prepared it certainly doesn't need to be?

0 notes