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Transform Your World: Embracing Relentless Aarons Creative Journey

Relentless Aaron: A Journey of Creative Expansion

Embracing the Art of Storytelling

When you dive into the world of Relentless Aaron, you witness a master at work. His storytelling is more than just words on a page; it’s a visceral experience. You feel every emotion, every struggle, and every triumph. Drawing from his own experiences, he crafts narratives that resonate with a wide audience.

Relentless Aaron’s tales often highlight themes of resilience, redemption, and transformation. Whether it’s a character rising from adversity or finding strength in vulnerability, the stories speak to universal truths. His ability to blend raw authenticity with captivating plots sets him apart.

Key Elements Description
Themes Resilience, Redemption, Transformation
Style Raw, Authentic, Captivating
Audience Impact Emotional Connection, Empathy

Overcoming Challenges Through Creativity

Aaron’s journey is a testament to the power of creativity in overcoming life’s hurdles. Faced with numerous obstacles, he turned to writing as a means of expression and growth. Creativity became his tool for navigating life’s rough patches and emerging stronger.

For you, whether you’re a budding writer or an entrepreneur, there’s a lot to learn from Aaron’s approach. He demonstrates how creativity isn’t just about producing work; it’s about problem-solving, adapting, and persevering. Each challenge he encounters becomes a stepping stone to greater accomplishments.

Challenge Creative Solution
Limited Resources Self-Publishing, DIY Approach
Lack of Exposure Grassroots Marketing, Community Engagement
Personal Struggles Transformative Storytelling, Sharing Authentic Experiences

Through his relentless hustle, Aaron shows you that creativity knows no bounds. By embracing your creative potential, you too can navigate your challenges and transform your world.

Fostering Entrepreneurial Spirit

Delving into Relentless Aaron’s entrepreneurial ventures, you’ll uncover lessons on how creativity and business acumen intertwine to build a thriving empire.

Building a Creative Empire

Relentless Aaron has demonstrated that creativity isn’t confined to one medium. His journey of expanding creativity has spanned various forms, including novels, films, and comics. Each venture is a testament to his relentless drive and entrepreneurial spirit.

To understand Aaron’s approach, consider these key strategies:

  • Diversification: Branching out into different creative fields helps to minimize risk and maximize reach.
  • Consistency: Delivering content regularly to keep the audience engaged.
  • Authenticity: Infusing real-life experiences into his storytelling for genuine connection.
Strategy Benefit
Diversification Reduces risk, expands audience
Consistency Maintains engagement
Authenticity Builds a loyal following

Venturing into business, Aaron has taken on multiple roles, from author to filmmaker, to achieve a resilient business model. He navigates his ventures with a few important tactics:

  • Identifying Opportunities: Spotting gaps in the market and filling them with unique, creative projects.
  • Building Networks: Cultivating relationships with industry professionals to leverage mutual benefits.
  • Financial Management: Carefully managing resources to reinvest in creative projects.
Tactic Impact
Identifying Opportunities Innovation and market relevance
Building Networks Enhanced collaboration and growth
Financial Management Sustainable business development

Through these strategies, you can glean insights into how Relentless Aaron successfully merges creativity with business acumen, empowering you to pursue your entrepreneurial dreams.

While embracing the hustle, remember the importance of authenticity and perseverance in your journey. By leveraging your creative abilities and blending them with a solid business foundation, you too can build your empire.

Diving into Diverse Mediums

Relentless Aaron has continually expanded his creative pursuits, delving into various storytelling forms. Here, you will explore his transition from novels to other mediums like films and comic books.

From Novels to Films

Relentless Aaron started his journey in storytelling through novels. His gripping urban fiction captivated readers and established his reputation. However, his creative quest didn’t stop there. He ventured into the world of filmmaking, bringing his stories to life on screen. Films allowed Aaron to visually depict the raw and authentic narratives his readers cherished, reaching a broader audience.

One of the key aspects of filmmaking is the ability to adapt written stories into scripts. This transition involves understanding visual storytelling, directing actors, and managing production. For those interested in this creative leap, here are some key components of film projects:

Film Component Description
Scriptwriting Adapting novels into screenplays
Directing Overseeing film production and guiding actors
Cinematography Capturing visual elements of the story
Editing Assembling footage into a cohesive film

Exploring the World of Comic Books

Another medium in Relentless Aaron’s creative journey is comic books. By transforming his narratives into graphic form, he reaches a new demographic of readers. Comic books combine artwork with written dialogue, offering a unique storytelling experience. They allow Aaron to depict action and emotion visually, enhancing the narrative’s impact.

Creating comic books involves collaboration with artists, writers, and editors. Key elements of comic book creation include:

Comic Book Element Description
Scriptwriting Crafting the story and dialogue
Artwork Illustrating characters and scenes
Inking & Coloring Finalizing the drawings and adding color
Editing Ensuring narrative flow and consistency

By navigating these diverse mediums, you, like Relentless Aaron, can expand your creative horizons and impact a wider audience. Exploring different forms of storytelling can offer fresh perspectives and innovative ways to share your narratives.

Empowering Through Authenticity

Connecting Through Raw Storytelling

Raw storytelling is at the heart of Relentless Aaron’s creative journey. By sharing authentic narratives, he builds deep connections with his audience. Authenticity in storytelling creates trust and relatability, allowing you to see yourself in the stories being told. These genuine tales resonate because they come from a place of real experience and emotional truth.

For a deeper understanding of this, consider key aspects of his storytelling:

Elements of Raw Storytelling Description
Emotional Depth Stories that evoke strong emotions provide a more impactful experience.
Real-Life Scenarios Tales based on true experiences or relatable life events.
Authentic Characters Creating characters that readers can identify with on a personal level.
Honesty Being truthful about struggles and victories to build trust.

By focusing on real-life experiences and emotional truths, Relentless Aaron’s work helps you feel a genuine connection to the narratives, empowering and inspiring you through shared humanity.

The Intersection of Art and Business

Relentless Aaron exemplifies how art and business can intersect harmoniously. His approach shows that you can be both a creative and a savvy entrepreneur. This intersection involves leveraging creativity to build and expand business ventures, bridging the gap between artistic passion and financial success.

To understand this dynamic, consider the following principles:

Principles of Art and Business Intersection Description
Creative Innovation Using imagination to develop unique business ideas.
Business Acumen Applying business strategies to maximize creative efforts.
Diverse Mediums Expanding artistic expression into multiple formats (books, films, comics).
Empowerment Using business success to uplift communities.

By integrating art with business, Relentless Aaron’s journey illustrates how you can achieve both creative and entrepreneurial goals. This powerful combination not only fuels personal growth but also fosters community empowerment, demonstrating that the intersection of art and business can be a catalyst for broader social change.

Impact on Communities

Inspiring Marginalized Backgrounds

Relentless Aaron has made significant strides in inspiring communities from marginalized backgrounds. Through his raw storytelling and authentic narratives, he illustrates the struggles and triumphs faced by individuals just like you. His work often centers on themes of resilience and determination, encouraging others to break free from societal constraints.

His efforts have not only motivated individuals but have also begun to shift societal perceptions. By sharing stories that resonate with real-life experiences, he provides a sense of hope and possibility. This inspiration empowers you to pursue your passions and overcome challenges, no matter where you come from.

Empowering Financial Growth and Credit Repair

Beyond storytelling, Relentless Aaron has ventured into empowering others financially. He understands that financial stability is a crucial factor for personal growth. Through workshops and educational initiatives, he has focused on financial literacy and credit repair, making these complex subjects more accessible.

Financial Empowerment Workshops Attendance

Year Number of Workshops Number of Attendees
2019 10 500
2020 15 750
2021 20 1,000
2022 25 1,250

Financial empowerment is about more than just repairing credit; it’s about understanding money management and making informed decisions. By equipping you with these skills, Aaron aims to foster economic growth within communities and offer a pathway to financial independence.

His unique approach to blending art and financial guidance sets him apart. He uses the power of storytelling to make financial concepts relatable and actionable, helping you to transform not just your financial situation, but your entire worldview.

Continuing the Legacy

Driving Forces Behind Personal Struggles

Your journey as an entrepreneur involves navigating numerous challenges. Relentless Aaron’s story is a testament to overcoming adversity with creativity and grit. The hardships he faced, from personal to professional, served as fuel, driving his relentless pursuit of success.

Challenge Solution
Incarceration Turned to writing as a form of expression and rehabilitation
Financial Struggles Leveraged storytelling to build multiple income streams
Marginalization Empowered through raw, authentic storytelling

The Unison of Writing and Business Ventures

Relentless Aaron embodies the seamless interplay between storytelling and business. His ability to weave narratives that resonate deeply with audiences has propelled his entrepreneurial ventures. This harmony between art and commerce is a powerful lesson for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Writing Aspect Business Impact
Urban Fiction Novels Attracted a loyal readership, boosting book sales
Films Expanded his storytelling to visual mediums, increasing revenue streams
Comic Books Tapped into a new audience, diversifying his portfolio

In your own journey, consider how your personal experiences and creative endeavors can blend seamlessly with your entrepreneurial goals. Relentless Aaron’s approach shows that by staying authentic and persistent, you can build a legacy that encapsulates both art and business ventures.

Know Your Drive and Your Ability to Pivot: The Relentless Path to Success

As an entrepreneur, a novelist, and someone who has forged a unique path in a world that often overlooks the hustle of individuals who have been historically disenfranchised, I’ve come to realize one undeniable truth: knowing your drive and mastering the art of pivoting is essential for thriving in uncertain times. My journey, as Relentless Aaron, has been filled with challenges, but each step has reinforced the power of these two forces in achieving success.

Understanding Your Drive

Your drive is the fuel that keeps you moving when things get tough. For me, it’s rooted in a desire to create, to push boundaries, and to build something lasting. Writing nearly 100 novels wasn’t just about putting words on a page—it was about telling stories that mattered, stories that reflected the grit and resilience of people like me. My entrepreneurial spirit, whether in publishing, graphic novels, or business ventures, has always been centered around this relentless pursuit of growth and purpose.

 

So, what drives you?
It’s important to identify the core of your hustle. For me, it’s about being more than just a novelist. It’s about showing the world that, despite the odds, you can carve out your own destiny. Whether your drive is fueled by financial success, creativity, or impacting the lives of others, knowing what pushes you forward is key. Once you’re clear on your purpose, you’ll find that setbacks become stepping stones.

The Power of Pivoting

No success story is a straight line. The ability to pivot—changing direction when circumstances demand it—is a skill every entrepreneur and creative needs. Over the years, my journey has been full of pivots. From self-publishing on the streets of New York City to building my name as a well-known figure in the literary world, each shift required adaptability.

Pivoting isn’t a sign of failure; it’s a sign of growth. When I faced challenges, whether it was breaking into mainstream publishing or transitioning into new ventures like graphic novels and business consulting, pivoting became my superpower. I knew that clinging to one path would limit my potential. Instead, embracing the pivot allowed me to stay relevant, expand my reach, and keep my hustle alive.

Why Drive and Pivoting Matter Together

Your drive gives you the energy to keep going, but pivoting ensures that you’re moving in the right direction. Together, they form the foundation of lasting success. As Relentless Aaron, I’ve learned that having the courage to change course is as important as staying committed to your vision.

In today’s fast-changing world, the ability to pivot is more crucial than ever. Markets shift, trends evolve, and opportunities appear where you least expect them. But without drive, the willingness to pivot can fade into complacency. Drive gives you the reason to adapt, while pivoting ensures you’re always moving toward your goals, even if the path looks different from what you initially imagined.

How to Cultivate Both

  1. Stay Open to Change: Don’t get too attached to one method or plan. Success often comes from unexpected directions.

  2. Identify Your Core Motivation: Know what fuels you. Whether it’s legacy, creativity, or financial independence, having a clear vision of your “why” will keep you grounded when changes come.

  3. Embrace Setbacks as Lessons: Challenges will arise. Use them as opportunities to pivot and refine your approach.

  4. Surround Yourself with the Right People: Whether it’s collaborators, mentors, or a supportive community, having people around you who encourage your drive and adaptability is essential.

Conclusion: The Relentless Approach

Knowing your drive and mastering the pivot is not just about surviving; it’s about thriving. In my journey as Relentless Aaron—novelist, entrepreneur, and creative force—this combination has allowed me to transcend obstacles and continue building on my dreams.

If there’s one lesson I’ve learned, it’s this: success isn’t about avoiding the pivot; it’s about knowing when to take it and having the relentless drive to keep going no matter the direction.

 

Urban fiction, urban storytelling, personal growth, empowerment, resilience, social commentary, emotional authenticity, entrepreneurship, creativity, problem-solving, community building, empathy, overcoming adversity, real-life struggles, grit and determination, social issues, systemic racism, economic inequality, redemption stories, character development, creative marketing, storytelling, motivation, transformation, perseverance, cultural narratives, relatable characters, moral dilemmas, crime and redemption, success against odds, personal transformation, self-belief, community support, diversity in literature, urban culture, life lessons, entrepreneurial skills, hustle and drive, network building, empowerment through storytelling, overcoming challenges, resilience strategies, personal development through fiction.

Juxtapoz Magazine – Wendy Red Star: What’s in a Name

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Oh, wow! Hundreds and hundreds of years.

Dogs used to carry everything before the time of horses—to give you an idea that it’s definitely before contact. Digging into these cases, they’re utilitarian. For the longest time, I’ve seen them and thought, they’re cool… and then I would look at some beadwork or something shiny, haha! But I didn’t realize that they’re actually the foundation for the aesthetic design of the community. Each tribe has its own distinct colors and patterns. They are these visual cues to each other, where we can tell their origin and who we trade things with. They’re meant to travel. They’re meant to trade. And they’ll work perfectly for these bus shelters as traveling cases. So for that piece, I made these big posters utilizing bishkisché that were in each of those institutions, and then I’d just write things in the background as I was learning about these cases through research. Once I finished, I was like, This is not over; I need to continue because nobody currently makes bishkisché on my reservation. Sometimes people make miniature sized ones, but nobody is doing that practice whatsoever. That is a woman’s art form that has been lost. 

 

I wanted to make an archive of studies to have that and for it to be accessible to Apsáalooke people. It was really wonderful to have the opportunity to have a one-on-one experience with the maker. I’m trying to follow them as closely as possible—their colors, their line work—so I get to know them within the process, or at least the way in which they are making these designs. I really love that, because unfortunately, in most of these cases that are in collections, even  private ones, there are no names attributed to them. That wasn’t important to have, and I think the women were also not thinking of these as art objects, you know. So I just decided I needed to continue, and I have found over 500 so far. And this is just from digital research, from going to different auction houses or museum collections. And then, of course, now that I’m more privy to it anytime that I’m going around, if I see some, then I will photograph them. I’m just going to try to archive as many as possible by making painted studies. 

 

And then the other thing that I thought was really important is that this is very much centered on women’s work and the women being erased from that work, so I wanted to honor the name of a female for each of these pieces, even if they didn’t actually make that work. I’m sure they were bishkisché makers or someone in their family was, so I started looking at the 1885 census records for my tribe and picked out over 1000 female names. Every time I make one, I write their name down, or their translated name in English. Another component is that when they started to divide the Crow Reservation up into individual allotments, they would divide them to heads of household. And so my last name, Red Star, is actually my great grandfather’s name. Every Crow just had an individual, unique name, no one had last names. And so when the white folks and the government were turning the reservation into plots and allotments, they did it in the same way that they do it, which is a very patriarchal system. So with the head of household usually being a man, anybody in his house was given a Christian first name and then used the head of household’s name as a last name. So that in itself is really interesting, growing up on the reservation, going to school with, like, George Good Luck. But that’s actually a person. Each of us carries a person with us, but they’re all men. My great great grandma, her name was Her Dreams Are True. That’s the most amazing name! But all those names have not been carried through, like some of the male names. And for instance, her English name is Julia, and her dad was around during the allotment era, and his name’s Bad Boy. So her name is Julia Bad Boy.

 

Her actual name was literally and completely wiped away. 

Yeah, yeah. Everybody. Except that the men got to keep their name, but then they got a Christian name in front of it. I want to have an archive of the women’s names. They’re almost like poetry to me. There’s a name that I can’t get over, “All She Has is Yellow.” You know, I love these names! And the names actually tell you so much about what was important to the community, what was honorable. 

 

I’m so excited! People are going to walk in, and it’s just going to be color filled. A choir of native women’s paintings. And that’s what I want, selfishly, hah! I want to walk in a space where I can just study all of these cases. They’re all on these beautiful earth tone, pigmented backgrounds. They’ll be shown in grids on each wall, and you’ll have the opportunity to really take your time. Or be totally overwhelmed, because it’s incredible. I have no doubt that I’m going to be able to find 1,000 bishkisché. No doubt. And it’s just going to be kind of a lifetime project for myself. The other thing people will see is that I have now started collecting them. I had this dream of going back to my reservation during this cultural event we have called Crow Fair, which happens every August, and having a parade car with my daughter. She’s 17. Having her on top in her outfit, but then having the car just decked out in all the bishkisché! Haha! I saw an image in the ’60s of this Yakama woman who came to our reservation, and she had six. I was like, That’s the dopest thing I’ve seen, ever! And I’ve never seen anybody do that. I want to be like the bishkisché queen of the parade. So I’ve been collecting those I’ll be showing. I do think it’s nice for people to have a reference point, so they’ll be able to see some of these historical ones and kind of get an idea.

 



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Working From Home

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Covid 19 has made it a necessity to be able to work from home, and with the increase in online cloud based software it has made it possible to start up your laptop and work from almost anywhere. Even though it can be convenient working from home it comes with a whole new set of challenges.

Working from home can make it harder to switch off and it’s easy to answer emails after work hours which can create availability expectations.

Create a space to work in

This can be a specific room/office or a space that is dedicated only to work. By separating your home and work spaces it can make it easier to switch off at the end of the day. Trying to balance a laptop on your lap while you’re working on a couch is not practical for long periods of time. Keeping your workplace clutter free can help you to concentrate.

Your hours should stay the same as they would have been in your office. Turn off your email notifications so that you aren’t distracted from the task at hand and check your inbox every couple of hours or between tasks. Answering every email notification instantly will constantly break your concentration and will increase the time taken to complete tasks.

Set a regular start and finish time for the day and include breaks for lunch and stretching if you’re at a computer all day. Identify the most important tasks that need to be completed for the day and start with those.

Working from home can mean you could go a whole day or even a week without seeing anyone else. Prioritise your jobs and be realistic about what you can complete each day especially for those also having to home school kids. Ensure you take breaks to re-energise yourself and communicate with others even if it’s online. I regularly email the person I sit next to at work to check in and see how there weekend was just the same as we would chat about it on a Monday Morning.

The fresh air and natural light are good for you and your body needs movement for your blood to circulate. Take a walk and get away from your desk, it’s important to leave your house even if it’s for short breaks.

Working from home can improve productivity in some people however it can cause negative practices in others. Remember to practise self care and prioritise mental and physical well being. Work out what best works for you, remember everyone else is also working from home and may have tips or software that will make your job easier. Join some facebook groups and remember to communicate with others.

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California Bans Legacy Admissions At Private Colleges

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California Governor Gavin Newsom signed three college admissions-related bills into law, all with a focus on making California a leader in improving equity in higher education.

The legislative package, collectively known as the “Equity Three,” is designed to increase access and opportunity for all students, regardless of background or economic status. This bold step comes in response to mounting concerns about unfair advantages in college admissions, especially following the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling on race-conscious admissions.

Ending Legacy Admissions

The centerpiece of the new laws is Assembly Bill 1780 (AB 1780). It makes California one of just two states to ban legacy admissions at private universities and colleges, which often give preferential treatment to applicants with family ties to alumni or donors. The practice has long been criticized for perpetuating systemic privilege, benefiting the wealthy and excluding underrepresented students.

As of September 1, 2025, private institutions receiving state funding, such as Stanford University and the University of Southern California (USC), will no longer be allowed to prioritize students based on their familial connections.

“In California, everyone should be able to get ahead through merit, skill, and hard work,” Governor Newsom said in a statement. “The California Dream shouldn’t be accessible to just a lucky few, which is why we’re opening the door to higher education wide enough for everyone, fairly.”

AB 1780 follows Maryland’s similar ban on legacy admissions at private institutions, passed earlier this year. Although California’s public universities, such as the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU), already had policies in place against legacy preferences, this law extends that prohibition to private schools receiving public funds through programs like Cal Grants.

Critics of legacy admissions argue that the practice disproportionately benefits wealthy, predominantly white families while disadvantaging minority and low-income students. A state audit in 2020 revealed that UC Berkeley had admitted at least 55 students based on connections or donations, raising further concerns about the integrity of the admissions process.

Two Other Bills Increasing Equity In Higher Education

In addition to AB 1780, Governor Newsom signed two other bills aimed at increasing equity in higher education. Senate Bill 1348 (SB 1348), establishes a Black-Serving Institution (BSI) designation. This initiative recognizes colleges and universities that excel in enrolling, supporting, and graduating Black students. By offering robust African American studies programs, student success initiatives, and targeted outreach services, institutions with the BSI designation will play a crucial role in advancing equity for Black students.

Assembly Bill 2057 (AB 2057), seeks to streamline the community college-to-university transfer process. This bill prioritizes the development of guaranteed STEM transfer pathways, ensuring that students from underrepresented communities can advance seamlessly into high-demand fields such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

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The Great British Baking Show Is Back! Here Are 12 Show-Stop…

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When I lived in Britain as a college student, my friends and I had weekly dessert potlucks where we gathered to watch new episodes of The Great British Bake Off (known as The Great British Baking Show in the US). As we crowded around a small laptop screen, we tucked into slices of banoffee pie, spoonfuls of trifle, and tiny little cream puffs. We chuckled and groaned as contestants dropped their cakes on the floor or presented pies with soggy bottoms to the judges. At the end of the evening, we all mused on what we’d bake next week—and whether any of us had the chops to compete on the show.

Though I no longer live in the UK, I still enthusiastically welcome each new episode of The Great British Baking Show by whipping up an assortment of baked goods for myself and, occasionally, my neighbors. To celebrate the arrival of the show’s 12th season, we put together a list of fun bakes—including tender shortbread and an airy genoise sponge—that you can make from the comfort of your own home. So get your mixer out, have your spatula at the ready, and preheat those ovens. Ready…set…bake!

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The election’s no-excuses moment – The Atlantic

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This is an edition of The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here.

This weekend, at his rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, Donald Trump descended into a spiral of rage and incoherence that was startling even by his standards. I know I’ve said this before, but this weekend felt different: Trump himself, as my colleague David Graham wrote today, admitted that he’s decided to start going darker than usual.

At this point, voters have everything they need to know about this election. (Tomorrow, the vice-presidential candidates will debate each other, which might not have much of an impact beyond providing another opportunity for J. D. Vance to drive down his already-low likability numbers.) Here are some realities that will likely shape the next four weeks.

Trump is going to get worse.

I’m not quite sure what happened to Trump in Erie, but he seems to be in some sort of emotional tailspin. The race is currently tied; Trump, however, is acting as if he’s losing badly and he’s struggling to process the loss. Other candidates, when faced with such a close election, might hitch up their pants, take a deep breath, and think about changing their approach, but that’s never been Trump’s style. Instead, Trump gave us a preview of the next month: He is going to ratchet up the racism, incoherence, lies, and calls for violence. If the polls get worse, Trump’s mental state will likely follow them.

Policy is not suddenly going to matter.

Earlier this month, the New York Times columnist Bret Stephens wrote about very specific policy questions that Kamala Harris must answer to earn his vote. Harris has issued plenty of policy statements, and Stephens surely knows it. Such demands are a dodge: Policy is important, but Stephens and others, apparently unable to overcome their reticence to vote for a Democratic candidate, are using a focus on it as a way to rationalize their role as bystanders in an existentially important election.

MAGA Republicans, for their part, claim that policy is so important to them that they’re willing to overlook the odiousness of a candidate such as North Carolina’s gubernatorial contender Mark Robinson. But neither Trump nor other MAGA candidates, including Robinson, have any interest in policy. Instead, they create cycles of rage: They gin up fake controversies, thunder that no one is doing anything about these ostensibly explosive issues, and then promise to fix them all by punishing other Americans.

Major news outlets are not likely to start covering Trump differently.

Spotting headlines in national news sources in which Trump’s ravings are “sanewashed” to sound as if they are coherent policy has become something of a sport on social media. After Trump went on yet another unhinged tirade in Wisconsin this past weekend, Bloomberg posted on X: “Donald Trump sharpened his criticism on border security in a swing-state visit, playing up a political vulnerability for Kamala Harris.” Well, yes, that’s one way to put it. Another would be to say: The GOP candidate seemed unstable and made several bizarre remarks during a campaign speech. Fortunately, Trump’s performances create a lot of videos where people can see his emotional state for themselves.

News about actual conditions in the country probably isn’t going to have much of an impact now.

This morning, the CNN anchor John Berman talked with the Republican House member Tom Emmer, who said that Joe Biden and Harris “broke the economy.” Berman countered that a top economist has called the current U.S. economy the best in 35 years.

Like so many other Trump defenders, Emmer didn’t care. He doesn’t have to. Many voters—and this is a bipartisan problem—have accepted the idea that the economy is terrible (and that crime is up, and that the cities are in flames, and so on). Gas could drop to a buck a gallon, and Harris could personally deliver a week’s worth of groceries to most Americans, and they’d probably still say (as they do now) that they are doing well, but they believe that it’s just awful everywhere else.

Undecided voters have everything they need to know right in front of them.

Some voters likely think that sitting out the election won’t change much. As my colleague Ronald Brownstein pointed out in a recent article, many “undecided” voters are not really undecided between the candidates: They’re deciding whether to vote at all. But they should take as a warning Trump’s fantasizing during the Erie event about dealing with crime by doing something that sounds like it’s from the movie The Purge.

The police aren’t allowed to do their job. They’re told: If you do anything, you’re going to lose your pension; you’re going to lose your family, your house, your car … One rough hour, and I mean real rough, the word will get out, and it will end immediately. End immediately. You know? It’ll end immediately.

This weird dystopian moment is not the only sign that Trump and his movement could upend the lives of wavering nonvoters. Trump, for months, has been making clear that only two groups exist in America: those who support him, and those who don’t—and anyone in that second group, by his definition, is “scum,” and his enemy.

Some of Trump’s supporters agree and are taking their cues from him. For example, soon after Trump and Vance singled out Springfield, Ohio, for being too welcoming of immigrants, one of the longtime local business owners—a fifth-generation Springfielder—started getting death threats for employing something like 30 Haitians in a company of 330 people. (His 80-year-old mother is also reportedly getting hateful calls. So much for the arguments that Trump voters are merely concerned about maintaining a sense of community out there in Real America.)

Nasty phone calls aimed at old ladies in Ohio and Trump’s freak-out in Erie should bring to an end any further deflections from uncommitted voters about not having enough information to decide what to do.

I won’t end this depressing list by adding that “turnout will decide the election,” because that’s been obvious for years. But I think it’s important to ask why this election, despite everything we now know, could tip to Trump.

Perhaps the most surprising but disconcerting reality is that the election, as a national matter, isn’t really that close. If the United States took a poll and used that to select a president, Trump would lose by millions of votes—just as he would have lost in 2016. Federalism is a wonderful system of government but a lousy way of electing national leaders: The Electoral College system (which I long defended as a way to balance the interests of 50 very different states) is now lopsidedly tilted in favor of real estate over people.

Understandably, this means that pro-democracy efforts are focused on a relative handful of people in a handful of states, but nothing—absolutely nothing—is going to shake loose the faithful MAGA voters who have stayed with Trump for the past eight years. Trump’s mad gibbering at rallies hasn’t done it; the Trump-Harris debate didn’t do it; Trump’s endorsement of people like Robinson didn’t do it. Trump once said he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and not lose a vote. Close enough: He’s now rhapsodized about a night of cops brutalizing people on Fifth Avenue and everywhere else.

For years, I’ve advocated asking fellow citizens who support Trump whether he, and what he says, really represents who they are. After this weekend, there are no more questions to ask.

Related:


Here are three new stories from The Atlantic:


Today’s News

  1. Israeli officials said that commando units have been conducting ground raids in southern Lebanon. Israel’s military is also planning to carry out a limited ground operation in Lebanon, which will focus on the border, according to U.S. officials.
  2. At least 130 people were killed across six states and hundreds may be missing after Hurricane Helene made landfall last week.
  3. A Georgia judge struck down the state’s effective six-week abortion ban, ruling that it is unconstitutional.


Dispatches

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Evening Read

photo of Robert Downey Jr. sitting, flanked by Bartlett Sher in glasses and blue-green blazer on left and Ayad Akhtar in glasses and tan blazer on right
Director Bartlett Sher, star Robert Downey Jr., and writer Ayad Akhtar OK McCausland for The Atlantic

The Playwright in the Age of AI

By Jeffrey Goldberg

I’ve been in conversation for quite some time with Ayad Akhtar, whose play Disgraced won the Pulitzer Prize in 2013, about artificial generative intelligence and its impact on cognition and creation. He’s one of the few writers I know whose position on AI can’t be reduced to the (understandable) plea For God’s sake, stop threatening my existence! In McNeal, he not only suggests that LLMs might be nondestructive utilities for human writers, but also deployed LLMs as he wrote (he’s used many of them, ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini included). To my chagrin and astonishment, they seem to have helped him make an even better play. As you will see in our conversation, he doesn’t believe that this should be controversial.

Read the full article.

More From The Atlantic


Culture Break

Kris Kristofferson holding a guitar
Amanda Marsalis / Trunk Archive

Remember. Kris Kristofferson’s songs couched intimate moments in cosmic terms, pushing country music in an existentialist direction, Spencer Kornhaber writes.

Debate. Twenty years after Lost’s premiere, the mistreatment of Hurley on the show (streaming on Netflix and Hulu) has become only more obvious, Rebecca Bodenheimer writes.

Play our daily crossword.


Stephanie Bai contributed to this newsletter.

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19th-century Lucknow through the lenses of homegrown photogr…

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In the 19th century, the city of Lucknow witnessed one of the most defining moments in India’s history – the war of 1857. Perhaps it is for this reason, (and the simultaneous rise of photography), that there exist several “albums” and “views” of the city. These photos, are now at museums and libraries in both Europe and India – and to our delight, available digitally. Many of these are by photographers well-known to audiences today – such as Samuel Bourne and Felice Beato.

This article spotlights the lesser-known Lucknow-photographers (of the 19th century) who worked within a more limited, local network.

Ahmad Ali Khan alias Chhotey Mian (active 1850s-1862)

(Nawab) Ahmad Ali Khan is hailed as the “first photographer” of Avadh. Scholars have traced the beginning of his photography career to an encounter with the French tourist, Baron Alexis de La Grange. At the time, Ahmad Ali Khan was an architect, known for designing Lucknow’s Kaiserbagh; the Darogah (Superintendent) of the Husainabad Imambara.

General view of Lucknow, Baron Alexis de La Grange.

Khan learned to produce both daguerreotypes and photographic prints and would not charge any fee for creating photographs. He was also the “court photographer”, and thus had unrestricted access to the royal family (including the women). 

A full-length seated portrait of Wajid Ali Shah - very faded. A golden halo has been added to the print, which is laid down on a card mount with elaborate border decorations and an inscription in Urdu.
Portrait of Wajid Ali Shah, King of Oudh 1847-56. A full-length seated portrait, very faded / c. 1855 / British Library

Ahmad Ali was simultaneously popular amidst British officers. His extensive work in portraiture, scattered across collections today (like the British Library) are a testament to his respectability and network. 

Sir Herbert Benjamin Edwardes George Lawrence Sir Henry Montgomery Lawrence.
Sir Herbert Benjamin Edwardes (Army and political officer in India); George Lawrence; Sir Henry Montgomery Lawrence (General in the East India Company.) / after Ahmed Ali Khan albumen print, Lucknow, (circa 1857) Given by A. Constable, 1887 / National Portrait Gallery, London CC BY NC-ND. 
Group portrait of Robert Simson, George E.W. Couper, Mrs. Elizabeth Hutchinson Banks, and Major John Sherbrooke Banks, Lucknow , 1856-57 / Public Domain
Capt & Mrs. Germon Siege_Ahmad Ali.
[Portrait of] Capt & Mrs Germon Siege / The Lucknow Album, Date: c.1856-57 / British Library 

During the 1857 War, reports had emerged that he employed photography as a tool to document information crucial for the “rebels”. Although Khan was against the British during the strife, he was nominated to be a member of the Bengal Photographic Society after 1858. 

Ahmad Ali Khan’s ‘Lucknow before the Mutiny – Looking from the Chattar Manzil towards the Qaisarbagh’ from The Agra Circle Album. Collection: The Alkazi Collection of Photography – Source : The Uprising of 1857, co-published by Mapin & Alkazi Collection of Photography

Mushkoor-ud-Daulah & Asghar Jan (1860s-70s)

Mushkoor-ud-Daulah and his brother Asghar Jan operated a studio in Kaisar Bagh. Many of the carte de visite

Unidentified man, Lucknow, India, c. 1865, National Galleries, Scotland.
Nazir-Jaan-Chandrabhaga of Gwalior / ROM Toronto

Darogha Ubbas Ali (mid 1860s – 1880s)

“Ubbas Ali” was a municipal engineer in 19th century Lucknow. His photos of Lucknow in the 1870s, published as The Lucknow Album in 1874 capture 50 historically important places.

View of a Bridge (The Monkey Bridge) in Lucknow / Rijksmuseum / CC0

His other work,  “Beauties of Lucknow”  – an album featuring female performers and costumed actors from the Indar Sabha – made him the only Indian photographer in the 19th century to publish his work in book form.

Zohrah dancing girl of the Oudh Court of Lucknow / The Beauties of Lucknow, Calcutta, 1874 / NYPL / CCO

You can see more photos by Ubbas Ali, here

These early photographers from Lucknow may not have achieved the same widespread recognition as their European counterparts. Their images, though offer a unique and invaluable record of the city’s architecture, and social dynamics during a transformative period in Indian history.

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How To Create The Best Damn Automated Booking Confirmation C…

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You’re probably reading this because you have an automated booking confirmation process, right? You take trip reservations over the phone. You write your client’s contact information and credit card details on a random piece of paper. Then you draft an email with the trip date, time, meeting location, and whatever they need to bring with them.

We’ve heard this story hundreds of times. In fact, one of our clients, Ryan, at Atlantic Climbing School, realized he was working hours before and after business hours doing menial and mundane tasks like sending confirmation emails to clients. All the extra time spent on manual tasks took time away from his personal life and drove him to the edge.

Since implementing Origin, Ryan’s saved 15 hours a week and got his personal life back. So, you might still be wondering, what are booking confirmations, how do I automate them, and what are you trying to sell? Let’s start with your first question

checking tablet for booking confirmation

What Is A Booking Confirmation?

A booking confirmation is a receipt you give to your client after you successfully reserve their trip. 

A booking confirmation typically includes:

  • Your client’s details: Their name, contact information, and number of guests/participants in their party.
  • Booking details: Trip date(s), meeting location, add-ons, and required gear.
  • Confirmation number: Unique identifier for their reservation.
  • Payment information: The amount paid or deposited and confirmation of payment method.
  • Cancellation policy: Details on how to cancel and any associated fees.
  • Contact information: Your phone number and email for inquiries.

This doesn’t just give your guests peace of mind, but it helps you as well. It keeps your records organized, helps you plan trips, and protects you from any disputes that could arise.

Types Of Booking Confirmations

There are several different kinds of booking confirmations you can include in your booking confirmation system—and we suggest including them all. This is likely your guest’s first time adventuring with you so give them as much information as is necessary for them to feel confident and get excited. 

Receipt

The most important booking confirmation is their receipt. Adventure trips are not cheap. Send your clients peace of mind with a booking receipt that breaks down their costs. If you’re using booking and scheduling software, the system will send this automatically. 

Booking confirmation

A booking confirmation can be part of the receipt or separate, depending on the booking and scheduling software you use. If you do this manually, then that’s entirely up to you, but you’re doubling your process and possibly annoying your customers by sending them separate emails with the receipt and trip information.

Origin includes the cost of the trip as well as the booking details in one automated email to your clients so they have all their information in one message. This helps prevent information getting lost or forgotten too.

Waiver

Another automated booking confirmation is the digital waiver sent to your clients to protect your company in case any of your guests injure themselves. When it’s automatically sent, there’s less worry that it’s A.) Not signed and B.) Not forgotten.

Day Before Trip Reminder

Depending on the system you use, your confirmation system may or may not send a message one day before the trip. Origin does this because people are human and clients forget. We include important details in case there is required gear or a certain meeting spot that your clients need to remember.

Day Of Trip Reminder 

Using Origin, guests receive an email notifying we charged them the remaining balance owed on their trip (if you take deposits). If you don’t take deposits, clients don’t receive any Origin emails day of the trip, but if you’re doing this all manually, you might be sending out another reminder email day of, which could be a waste of your time. 

Review Request Day After Trip

Reviews are what get you future business. In fact, 98% of people trust reviews when buying sometihng. Asking for a review when your trip is still top-of-mind gives you a better chance of your customers leaving one. And if you don’t have an automated post-trip review request setup, you’re missing out on so many opportunities. 

1-Week Reminder Of Review Request

Sometimes, your clients won’t respond to your first review request and that’s okay. That’s standard and that’s why Origin sends a friendly reminder one week after the trip. How many of you (or your current booking system) are giving up after the first attempt? If you asked first manually, it’s likely you didn’t ask again. Set up automated review request emails so you don’t have to think about it later.

manual booking confirmation communication

Why Should You Bother Automating Your Booking Confirmation Communications?

Because your current manual process is holding you back. Operators who are sending every email from their account are wasting hours every day. You’re likely coming into the office early and leaving late because of tasks like these.

There are several other reasons why tour operators should automate their booking confirmation communications:

You’ll mess up less and have 24/7 availability

When you automate your booking confirmation communications, you’ll help reduce human errors and your customers will get immediate and accurate confirmations regardless of the time of day.

You’ll better serve your customers

Incorporating automated booking confirmation systems gives your customers confidence in your guiding business. By sending them instant confirmations with important information like payment details, meeting points and times, and essential gear, you project a professional image throughout the booking process.

You’ll reduce operational costs and scale easier

Automating your booking confirmations frees up staff time which could help reduce the need for additional personnel and lower operational expenses, especially during the busy when you have a higher booking volume. 

How Origin Can Help You Create The Best Damn Automated Booking Confirmation System

Automating your booking confirmation communications can be simple if you work with the right software, apps, or tools. Or, you can make it hard on yourself by continuing to do it all manually. And it’s not just time that’s at stake, right?

Your reputation and business are also on the line too when you continue to do things the hard, manual way.

Instead of jeopardizing your business, let’s see how using Origin can help you create an automated booking confirmation system with minimal work. 

1. Choose Your Tools To Automate Booking Confirmations

You only need two different tools: booking software and an email marketing platform. Outside of Origin, there are other booking platforms—The Flybook, Checkfront, Peek Pro, Rezdy, and Acuity—but we can’t speak to their automated booking confirmation communication capabilities.

With your chosen booking software, next you need to setup any email marketing that’s not part of the platform already. Besides MailChimp, there are email marketing platforms like Constant Contact, HubSpot, ActiveCampaign, GetResponse, and MailerLite. Make sure your booking and scheduling software integrates with your email marketing platform, otherwise, you’ll create more work for yourself.

You could also get by with just using Origin if you’re not ready to tackle email marketing (P.S. Origin integrates with MailChimp).

2. Define Triggers and Templates To Make It Easier For Future Messaging

If you’re not using Origin, you’ll have to create triggers and templates for your emails. It’s work at the beginning because you’ll be starting from scratch, but once you’ve created them, you won’t have to worry about it until you want to make edits in the future.

  • Confirmations: Set up automatic triggers for emails to be sent immediately after bookings. If you’re not using booking and scheduling software, you’ll have to create this in your email marketing platform.
  • Reminders: You should schedule additional emails with reminders closer to the tour date so your guests remember the meeting time and location and what gear to bring. Again, if you’re not using a booking system, you’ll need to set this up in your email marketing platform.
  • Cancellations and Modifications: For cancelations, you’ll need to craft separate templates for different scenarios, like bad weather, no available guides, etc. 

When you’re on Origin, you don’t have to set up any triggers or templates—they’re built into the system. Check out the graphic below to see the various booking confirmation communications the system automatically sends on your behalf.

3. Customize and Optimize Your Booking Confirmation Emails

When creating an automated booking confirmation communication system, you’ll need to customize emails with your customer’s information. You also want to make sure they’re able to be read on different devices. Something an automated system can do for you.

If you want to do it manually or set up an automated system yourself, some components to include in your emails should be:

  • Dynamic Content: Your customer’s name, details, tour information, gear needed, and meeting points.
  • Branding: Maintain consistent branding with your logo, colors, and images.
  • Call to Action: Encourage engagement with links to other tours, social media, online reviews, etc.
  • Mobile-friendliness: Ensure emails are responsive and easy to read on all devices.
  • Testing: Experiment with subject lines and content to see what drives the best results.

If that sounds like a lot, it’s because it is, especially for guides with not much downtime. Instead, consider using booking and scheduling software that will do all of that for you. Origin sends emails to your customers on your behalf with all the important information they need (your customer’s name, details, tour information, guide’s name, gear needed, and meeting points) to get excited and feel confident about their adventure with you.

You don’t have to do anything to send these booking confirmation communications. We do it for you. When you’re ready to take on email marketing (read Email Marketing For Adventure Guides In 5 Easy Steps to get started), Origin connects with MailChimp so you have your customers’ contact information already in one place. From there, it’s as simple as creating marketing email templates and scheduling them to go out to different lists you make.

4. Monitor and Refine Your Strategy

Rarely can you “set it and forget it” when it comes to booking confirmation communications when you’re doing it yourself. There’s always something to tweak and refine when you’re managing it yourself.

Consider the following elements to monitor messages and use them to refine your automated booking confirmation communications:

  • Track Open Rates and Click-Throughs: Analyze email performance and understand customer engagement by tracking how many customers open your emails and the number of people who click on a link in your emails. The higher the numbers, the more engagement you’re getting from your clients, which is what you’re looking for.
  • Feedback: Listen to and incorporate your customer feedback into future template improvements. If they’re having a hard time reading an element (maybe your brand colors aren’t ADA and WCAG-compliant), you’ll want to make your emails accessible.
  • Learn As You Go: Start small and gradually implement features as you gain experience and confidence with automation. It can be intimidating at first but remember: most things are un-doable. 
  • Stay Compliant: Provide clear options for customers to unsubscribe from emails if they prefer. Also, make sure to keep up with data privacy regulations when collecting and using customer information. This keeps you compliant with governmental regulations.

By following these steps and continuously refining your system, you can create an automated booking confirmation system that saves time, improves customer experience, and drives success for your tour operation.

Of course, if this doesn’t sound like something you want to take on yourself—there’s Origin. It automates booking confirmation communication for you so you can take reservations, schedule guides, and communicate with clients from one platform with very little work on your end. 

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Drippy, Feathery, and Spiny Growths Spring from Hannes Humme…

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Cologne-based artist and designer Hannes Hummel has long been interested in the intersection of digital tools and nature. Previously collaborating on an elaborate collection of artificial specimens, Hummel’s latest project pushes the boundaries of floral design to a bizarrely beautiful place.

Eighty unearthly botanical renderings comprise Hybrid Species, a vast herbarium of imagined organisms. Translucent petals lined with bright veins, pistils dripping with a sticky liquid, and leaves winding like tubular tendrils propel the hyperrealistic flowers into an otherworldly realm.

a digital flower with tiny pink and a drippy pink and yellow base. a pink fuzzy moth lands on the top

Much of Hummel’s work involves plugging photos and natural patterns like tessellations and fractals into digital programs. For this series, he trained an A.I. model with his own images and 3D models, exploring the personally generative potential of the tools without incorporating others’ copyrighted works. He writes:

Like nature, the process sometimes veers off in unexpected directions, feeling random at times, while at others, it follows a clear path, uncovering new possibilities. This intersection between human imagination and machine-driven innovation fascinates me most in each flower design. In this series, nature is portrayed not as it is, but as it could be—reimagined, reshaped, and rendered through algorithms.

A fraction of Hybrid Species is shown here, so head to Instagram for more of Hummel’s digital creations.

a digital flower with its petals wrapped in a translucent coating with tiny translucent baubles growing below
a digital flower with technicolor petals and fuzzy stamen
a digital flower with translucent, veiny pink petals and brighter red stamens
a digital flower with a bulbous purple top that appears to hold fungi-like growths and a spiky green and red form below
a digital flower with tiny pink and a drippy red base. a bee lands on the yellow stamen
a digital flower with pink petals and viney green leaves
a digital flower with white feathery flowers that encircle the stem
a digital flower with with insect-wing like orange-red petals that have spiny growths, a maroon inside, and water droplets clinging to surfaces
a digital flower evocative of a venus fly trap with several small leaves
a digital flower with pink petals and a dripping inside
a digital flower with tiny pink and green petals and spiny growths on its stem



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