Ryuichi - 19.06.2025 8:06 pm
Is there a reason why Google thinks that it's good idea to keep shitting up their search service even more? I can't make it stop redirecting my search to translated results FFS.
Ryuichi - 09.04.2025 7:11 pm
Okay, so today, an anime news site, for some reason, unearthed an old interview with Hideaki Anno, the creator of the notorious and infamous anime Neon Genesis Evangelion. This article made rounds on several social media sites and people are talking a lot about it.
Even if you're not into anime, chances are you've heard about Evangelion at least once, it's that iconic, with a loud and passionate fanbase to match.
The highlight of this newly resurfaced interview, originally from around 2004 i think (BEFORE the movies), is a statement where Anno claims that Evangelion is "not really a deep, philosopic or psychological anime" as many have interpreted it. He says it was only made to look like that, and that the symbols and deeper elements are, in fact, purely stylistic.
Evangelion debuted in 1995 and immediately upended many of the tropes that were common in anime at the time. It aimed to present its story and characters with a more grounded, serious tone within a sci-fi setting. This unconventional approach made it clear from the start: this wasn't just another seasonal mecha anime.
Since then, rivers of ink and billions of words have been spent dissecting this series. From its characters' behaviors to its enigmatic use of symbology. There's an entire academic field (well, almost) built on Evangelion analysis.
I remember reading, even before 2004, that Anno had said something along the lines of, "Evangelion is not that deep. I just liked the way Christian imagery looked." He downplayed its deeper meaning, framing it as a show about cool robots and pretty girls more than anything else.
What's fascinating is how this resurfaced quote is now being used by some critics of the show, people who never liked it or resented its fame, as a kind of "gotcha" moment. They're implying that the decades of discussion and analysis have been pointless, like fans have just been seeing patterns in the clouds.
But is that really the case?
Hideaki Anno is known for being a bit of a trickster when it comes to interviews. If you dig into other videos and conversations where he discusses his work and worldview, you quickly realize that he's someone who rarely takes a single step without calculating twenty more. Whether he's being humble, deflective, or subversive, it's hard to believe that there isn't more intention behind his choices than he lets on.
Personally, I enjoy Evangelion, for its themes, its mystery, and the strange atmosphere that clings to it even decades later. I'll be honest, I've never considered it some flawless work of genius. Yet ironically, my favorite anime character of all time is from this series.
Maybe Anno is telling the whole truth in that interview. Maybe Evangelion really isn't as packed with "meaning" as we thought. But even then, here's the thing: if you peel back the crust of clichés that time has added to the show, you'll still find a fantastic and deep story underneath.
One of the things I truly admire about Evangelion is how its characters are constructed. You can form an initial opinion based on how they act in the show, but once you dive into the lore and pay close attention to their behavior, you'll see that they are far more complex than they appear. They act the way they do for very specific, often tragic reasons that only become clear under close analysis.
You might say, "Well, Ryuichi, all stories are like that. Characters have unique motivations." And yeah, sure, but Evangelion handles this exposition in a subtle and layered way. The characters aren't just archetypes (even if, at the end, i think they ended up creating archetypes themselves). They feel like real, flawed people. There's a depth there that goes beyond many comparable anime series. It's not just "good writing," it's intentional ambiguity that invites the viewer to fill in the emotional blanks.
A good story, to me, isn't just about a great setting or dramatic moments. It's about the little details, the lore, the emotional nuances, the atmosphere. All of that adds up to something bigger than the sum of its parts. And let's not forget: anime is a collaborative medium. Anno may be the creator, but dozens of artists, writers, animators, and producers shaped the final product.
Maybe I am being as pretentious about this series as Evangelion fans are often accused of being. Maybe this is just one of the hundreds of articles "reading too much into it." But honestly, I think the fact that we're still talking about this anime 30 years later is proof enough that it did something right.
I don't think any piece of art, being anime, music, whatever, needs to have "depth" to resonate. What matters is the intersection between the work and its context: both social and personal. A piece might seem simple, but under the right circumstances, it can strike like lightning.
In my view, one of the biggest reasons Evangelion hit so hard for so many people is because of how its characters are presented. As I said earlier, they feel real. You recognize fragments of yourself in them, your fears, your insecurities, your emotional cycles.
So yeah, my final take is: even if we take Anno's statements at face value, even if Evangelion isn't as "deep" as people think, and even if the story has its flaws and clichés, it's still that good. It might not be a capital-P "Philosophical" anime, but it has enough substance, enough ambiguity, and enough heart to justify decades of discussion. And I think that discourse is far from over.
Ryuichi - 10.03.2025 10:17 am
Remember last post when i posted about Twitter going kaput? Could it be today the day? :P
Well of course not, it would be too good to be true.
Well of course not, it would be too good to be true.
Ryuichi - 06.03.2025 1:49 pm
Don't worry if i haven't updated the site. I've been overall pretty busy and haven't been very active anywhere else. I haven't even have time to think on another Blender piece, which is unfortunate.
I have a list of themes that i want to develop and talk about here, and i will try to do so in the following days, now that i made updating this site even less cumbersome than it was before.
The other day i said that if Twitter, the only social network that i use now, were to go kaput for some reason (for some Elon-related reason), THIS page would be my last refuge and i wouldn't go anywhere else, not even the Fediverse.
Ah the fediverse... i REALLY have to talk about it one of these days.
I have a list of themes that i want to develop and talk about here, and i will try to do so in the following days, now that i made updating this site even less cumbersome than it was before.
The other day i said that if Twitter, the only social network that i use now, were to go kaput for some reason (for some Elon-related reason), THIS page would be my last refuge and i wouldn't go anywhere else, not even the Fediverse.
Ah the fediverse... i REALLY have to talk about it one of these days.
Ryuichi - 15.01.2025 2:16 am
Back to Fiddling with Blender
The donuts, the first things i created ever on Blender
Recently, I’ve returned to experimenting with Blender, a tool I first began using around four years ago, just as the pandemic began. For me, Blender has always been a hobby, a creative outlet rather than a professional endeavor. If you're interested, you can check out my Pixelfed profile linked in the sidebar, where I upload the things I create. I’m more focused on the process of creating than on gaining recognition, so feel free to use any of my artwork, as long as you credit me.
Before this current iteration of A Ton of Cows, I ran another website where I shared my knowledge base, including a detailed Blender roadmap for beginners. Unfortunately, I had to delete the site (probably due to server issues, i can't remember), and while I salvaged some content, I lost the majority of it. I intended to post the Blender guide here, but sadly, I realized I had only copied part of it, and the Wayback Machine didn’t capture it. So, I think it’s gone for good.
Rather than rewriting the entire guide from scratch, which would be difficult given that I don’t recall every detail and it was pretty lenghty, I’ve outlined the core points of the original guide below:
1. Get Blender
Visit Blender.org to download the software, it's free and open-source. Windows users can also find it on the Microsoft Store or Steam. On Linux, I recommend downloading it directly from the website, as the package from your package manager is often outdated.
2. Follow the Donut Tutorial
Start with Andrew Price's Donut Tutorial series. There are many beginner tutorials out there that are also good ones, but i particularly recommend this one, is a classic, and it’s where many, including myself, first learned Blender.
3. Create Your Own Donut
After completing the tutorial, try making a donut on your own without referencing the video. This will help solidify what you’ve learned. If you get stuck, feel free to refer back to the tutorial, but challenge yourself to work independently first. Keep practicing until you can make a donut from memory.
4. Explore More Tutorials
After mastering the donut, search for additional beginner tutorials to learn how to create different objects. The Blender GUI is packed with features, so it’s essential to explore all its potential. Try a few different tutorials, and then challenge yourself to recreate what you've learned without looking at the videos.
"Game Over" Piece created in mid 2022
5. Start Making Your Own Creations
Although it’s tempting to follow more tutorials, I recommend shifting towards making things independently. Start with simple, real-world objects that you can easily reference, like a thumb drive, a cup, or a soda can. This will help you practice the skills you've learned while keeping the process enjoyable. Don’t worry if things don’t turn out perfectly at first—just keep experimenting.
6. Build a Bigger Scene
Once you’re comfortable with individual objects, challenge yourself by creating a larger scene. It doesn’t have to be complex, but it should include multiple elements, different textures, and a variety of features. For example, try modeling your desk, part of a street, or even a storefront. One of my early scenes was The Music Club Room from the anime K-On!
7. Keep Pushing Your Boundaries
By this stage, you’ll have a good understanding of your strengths and weaknesses in 3D modeling. The next step is to continue challenging yourself to improve. Several subreddits, websites, and communities offer daily modeling prompts that you can use to inspire new projects. You could work on something for a week or try a daily challenge. You can also check past Inktober challenges for additional inspiration.
8. Seek Feedback
Even if you feel confident in your skills, getting feedback is invaluable. It can be hard to assess your own work, so sharing your models with other artists or joining 3D modeling communities on forums, subreddits, or Discord can help you see areas for improvement. While friends and family may be supportive, they might not give the most constructive criticism, so it's important to seek out other artists' perspectives.
9. Find Your Niche
By now, you’ll likely feel more confident with Blender. You can choose to remain a generalist, working on a variety of 3D projects, or you may want to specialize in one area, such as animation, texturing, sculpting, or shader creation. There are plenty of tutorials for these specialized fields, so you can deepen your skills in a particular aspect of 3D modeling.
10. Never Stop Having Fun
No matter whether you’re using Blender as a hobby, to test your skills, or as a stepping stone to a potential career in 3D art, it’s crucial to maintain a playful attitude throughout the learning process. Don’t be afraid to fail, start over, or take a break when necessary. The key is to enjoy the journey and learn from your mistakes.
"Magical Terrarium" First creation of 2025
Having a creative outlet is incredibly fulfilling, and for me, learning 3D modeling turned out to be more accessible than traditional drawing (I didn't had any experience in 3D before of trying it out). Blender’s intuitive interface and powerful tools made the process enjoyable, and I was constantly amazed by the results of my efforts. It’s this combination of ease of use and rewarding outcomes that kept me coming back to it. If you’re looking for a way to express your creativity or pick up a new skill, Blender might just be the perfect place to start.
The donuts, the first things i created ever on Blender
Recently, I’ve returned to experimenting with Blender, a tool I first began using around four years ago, just as the pandemic began. For me, Blender has always been a hobby, a creative outlet rather than a professional endeavor. If you're interested, you can check out my Pixelfed profile linked in the sidebar, where I upload the things I create. I’m more focused on the process of creating than on gaining recognition, so feel free to use any of my artwork, as long as you credit me.
Before this current iteration of A Ton of Cows, I ran another website where I shared my knowledge base, including a detailed Blender roadmap for beginners. Unfortunately, I had to delete the site (probably due to server issues, i can't remember), and while I salvaged some content, I lost the majority of it. I intended to post the Blender guide here, but sadly, I realized I had only copied part of it, and the Wayback Machine didn’t capture it. So, I think it’s gone for good.
Rather than rewriting the entire guide from scratch, which would be difficult given that I don’t recall every detail and it was pretty lenghty, I’ve outlined the core points of the original guide below:
1. Get Blender
Visit Blender.org to download the software, it's free and open-source. Windows users can also find it on the Microsoft Store or Steam. On Linux, I recommend downloading it directly from the website, as the package from your package manager is often outdated.
2. Follow the Donut Tutorial
Start with Andrew Price's Donut Tutorial series. There are many beginner tutorials out there that are also good ones, but i particularly recommend this one, is a classic, and it’s where many, including myself, first learned Blender.
3. Create Your Own Donut
After completing the tutorial, try making a donut on your own without referencing the video. This will help solidify what you’ve learned. If you get stuck, feel free to refer back to the tutorial, but challenge yourself to work independently first. Keep practicing until you can make a donut from memory.
4. Explore More Tutorials
After mastering the donut, search for additional beginner tutorials to learn how to create different objects. The Blender GUI is packed with features, so it’s essential to explore all its potential. Try a few different tutorials, and then challenge yourself to recreate what you've learned without looking at the videos.
"Game Over" Piece created in mid 2022
5. Start Making Your Own Creations
Although it’s tempting to follow more tutorials, I recommend shifting towards making things independently. Start with simple, real-world objects that you can easily reference, like a thumb drive, a cup, or a soda can. This will help you practice the skills you've learned while keeping the process enjoyable. Don’t worry if things don’t turn out perfectly at first—just keep experimenting.
6. Build a Bigger Scene
Once you’re comfortable with individual objects, challenge yourself by creating a larger scene. It doesn’t have to be complex, but it should include multiple elements, different textures, and a variety of features. For example, try modeling your desk, part of a street, or even a storefront. One of my early scenes was The Music Club Room from the anime K-On!
7. Keep Pushing Your Boundaries
By this stage, you’ll have a good understanding of your strengths and weaknesses in 3D modeling. The next step is to continue challenging yourself to improve. Several subreddits, websites, and communities offer daily modeling prompts that you can use to inspire new projects. You could work on something for a week or try a daily challenge. You can also check past Inktober challenges for additional inspiration.
8. Seek Feedback
Even if you feel confident in your skills, getting feedback is invaluable. It can be hard to assess your own work, so sharing your models with other artists or joining 3D modeling communities on forums, subreddits, or Discord can help you see areas for improvement. While friends and family may be supportive, they might not give the most constructive criticism, so it's important to seek out other artists' perspectives.
9. Find Your Niche
By now, you’ll likely feel more confident with Blender. You can choose to remain a generalist, working on a variety of 3D projects, or you may want to specialize in one area, such as animation, texturing, sculpting, or shader creation. There are plenty of tutorials for these specialized fields, so you can deepen your skills in a particular aspect of 3D modeling.
10. Never Stop Having Fun
No matter whether you’re using Blender as a hobby, to test your skills, or as a stepping stone to a potential career in 3D art, it’s crucial to maintain a playful attitude throughout the learning process. Don’t be afraid to fail, start over, or take a break when necessary. The key is to enjoy the journey and learn from your mistakes.
"Magical Terrarium" First creation of 2025
Having a creative outlet is incredibly fulfilling, and for me, learning 3D modeling turned out to be more accessible than traditional drawing (I didn't had any experience in 3D before of trying it out). Blender’s intuitive interface and powerful tools made the process enjoyable, and I was constantly amazed by the results of my efforts. It’s this combination of ease of use and rewarding outcomes that kept me coming back to it. If you’re looking for a way to express your creativity or pick up a new skill, Blender might just be the perfect place to start.
Ryuichi - 01.01.2025 5:49 pm
Well, I had to re-upload the entire site again due to a layout modification.
As part of the changes, I removed the Chattable iframe because it’s no longer working. I’m not sure if Chattable is experiencing issues or if they deleted my instance due to inactivity, but either way, I think the microblog is better off without it.
Instead, I’ve added a link to the recent note-taking app I created, which I mentioned in the previous post, so it’s now easier to find.
But I didn’t want this update to just be about the layout change, so I decided to discuss something that’s been on my mind. I have tons of topics I want to cover here, but today, something else caught my attention.
I stumbled across a video by a YouTuber called Penguinz0. I don’t usually watch YouTube, but the topic of this video piqued my interest. In the video he highlights a note from a blog about the theme he's talking about, and… WTF is this nonsense?
Just look at this: how many ads are on this page?
There are potentially six ads visible at once. I disabled my adblocker to check, and it’s even worse: the page seems to endlessly load because the ads keep rotating. There’s an ad every two three-line paragraphs, so you end up scrolling forever to read a note that’s barely a screenful of text.
This is awful. I honestly don’t understand how people put up with this shit. It’s not just this one page, it’s everywhere. I’ve even seen sites demand money to stop tracking you, and paying them doesn’t even remove the ads!
And then they have the audacity to plead with you to disable your adblocker. When you do, they pounce, trying to squeeze out as much revenue as possible.
Honestly, I think adblockers are essential these days just to filter out the absurd amount of junk on websites. I get that sites need to earn money, they’re not charities, but there has to be a balance.
If their content and user experience were genuinely good, people would stick around to read more, and one or two ads would be enough. Instead of relying solely on ads, why not diversify? Offer premium, ad-free content, merchandise, affiliate links, or other revenue streams.
These kinds of issues make me question the viability of the internet for anything beyond media consumption. We’re living through dark times online, not just because of what companies do to users, but because of what users are willing to tolerate to avoid losing their dopamine fix.
Well the rant ends here! I'll try to post more content now that i finished coding the second version of my app and have more free time, and also will try to squeeze more time too to make something in Blender agein. See Ya!
As part of the changes, I removed the Chattable iframe because it’s no longer working. I’m not sure if Chattable is experiencing issues or if they deleted my instance due to inactivity, but either way, I think the microblog is better off without it.
Instead, I’ve added a link to the recent note-taking app I created, which I mentioned in the previous post, so it’s now easier to find.
But I didn’t want this update to just be about the layout change, so I decided to discuss something that’s been on my mind. I have tons of topics I want to cover here, but today, something else caught my attention.
I stumbled across a video by a YouTuber called Penguinz0. I don’t usually watch YouTube, but the topic of this video piqued my interest. In the video he highlights a note from a blog about the theme he's talking about, and… WTF is this nonsense?
Just look at this: how many ads are on this page?
There are potentially six ads visible at once. I disabled my adblocker to check, and it’s even worse: the page seems to endlessly load because the ads keep rotating. There’s an ad every two three-line paragraphs, so you end up scrolling forever to read a note that’s barely a screenful of text.
This is awful. I honestly don’t understand how people put up with this shit. It’s not just this one page, it’s everywhere. I’ve even seen sites demand money to stop tracking you, and paying them doesn’t even remove the ads!
And then they have the audacity to plead with you to disable your adblocker. When you do, they pounce, trying to squeeze out as much revenue as possible.
Honestly, I think adblockers are essential these days just to filter out the absurd amount of junk on websites. I get that sites need to earn money, they’re not charities, but there has to be a balance.
If their content and user experience were genuinely good, people would stick around to read more, and one or two ads would be enough. Instead of relying solely on ads, why not diversify? Offer premium, ad-free content, merchandise, affiliate links, or other revenue streams.
These kinds of issues make me question the viability of the internet for anything beyond media consumption. We’re living through dark times online, not just because of what companies do to users, but because of what users are willing to tolerate to avoid losing their dopamine fix.
Well the rant ends here! I'll try to post more content now that i finished coding the second version of my app and have more free time, and also will try to squeeze more time too to make something in Blender agein. See Ya!
Ryuichi - 30.12.2024 5:00 pm
So yeah, I've created a Desktop Note-Taking app.
I don't know about you, but for me, it's pretty easy to fire up Telegram and paste interesting stuff I find online into the Saved Messages section. Whether it's something to check later or just quick notes, it’s a fast way to save information.
The Problem
The issue with this system is that it’s easy to get carried away. You end up endlessly pasting snippets, and older stuff gets buried in a wasteland of forgotten notes.
Even though it's fast to save things, there are some big drawbacks:
No organization: Everything is mixed up, making it hard to find specific notes.
Limited tools: Some organizational features exist but are barebones and locked behind premium.
Unreliable search: Telegram's search feature is spotty; even when I know a note exists and type it in exactly, it doesn't always show up.
The Inspiration
These were things I could overlook, but I’ve had time to waste. One day, inspiration struck, and I thought, "What if I make an app that’s just for saving notes that works just like this but BETTER?"
Having worked on more complex projects (like a Fediverse frontend inspired by Tumblr), I figured, why not?
Development
I’ve been using PHPDesktop to create personal apps and tools for work. PHPDesktop combines a Chromium frame with PHP and SQLite, making it as easy to build apps as it is to create a webpage.
Over the last month, I’ve worked on this project, and today I’m excited to release version 2.0! 🎉
Notebubble Official Repository
Alternatively, you can download the package from HERE if Notabug isn’t working.
Check out screenshots of the app in this IMGUR Album.
App Overview
I designed Notebubble to resemble an instant messaging app. The goal was to make it familiar and easy for anyone to use.
Getting Started:
- Download and uncompress the package.
- Open the executable (no installation needed).
- The app creates a folder in the same directory for settings and the database. Keep the executable and folder together, and it will load your notes wherever it’s placed.
- Set up your language and timezone on first launch, and you’re good to go!
Features:
- Create multiple categories to organize your notes (the main reason I built this app).
- Add reminders to notes.
- Use checkbox lists to track goals or tasks.
- Multiplatform, It's for Windows and there's a Linux Package too, but i still haven't uploaded it, check the repository later today.
- Multilanguage: It is available on English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, French, German and Japanese.
- Among other things.
Detailed help documentation is included within the app.
Syncing Notes Across Devices:
While Notebubble doesn’t yet support internet sync natively, here’s a workaround:
- Move the database to a USB drive or cloud folder (via app settings).
- On another computer, set the database location to the same folder.
- Voilà! Your notes stay synced across devices.
Alternatively, since the app is portable, you can run it directly from a USB drive.
Final Thoughts
This is a small, personal project created for my convenience, but I’m sharing it in case others find it helpful.
If you have questions or feature requests, feel free to:
Contact me on Twitter (link on the sidebar).
Open an issue on the repository, and I’ll check it out right away.
There are many ideas i have for Version 3 and many features that i want to implement yet, so stay tuned here, on my twitter account or the repository for when i release it. Until now, hopefully it is useful to you if you decide to use it.
I don't know about you, but for me, it's pretty easy to fire up Telegram and paste interesting stuff I find online into the Saved Messages section. Whether it's something to check later or just quick notes, it’s a fast way to save information.
The Problem
The issue with this system is that it’s easy to get carried away. You end up endlessly pasting snippets, and older stuff gets buried in a wasteland of forgotten notes.
Even though it's fast to save things, there are some big drawbacks:
No organization: Everything is mixed up, making it hard to find specific notes.
Limited tools: Some organizational features exist but are barebones and locked behind premium.
Unreliable search: Telegram's search feature is spotty; even when I know a note exists and type it in exactly, it doesn't always show up.
The Inspiration
These were things I could overlook, but I’ve had time to waste. One day, inspiration struck, and I thought, "What if I make an app that’s just for saving notes that works just like this but BETTER?"
Having worked on more complex projects (like a Fediverse frontend inspired by Tumblr), I figured, why not?
Development
I’ve been using PHPDesktop to create personal apps and tools for work. PHPDesktop combines a Chromium frame with PHP and SQLite, making it as easy to build apps as it is to create a webpage.
Over the last month, I’ve worked on this project, and today I’m excited to release version 2.0! 🎉
Notebubble Official Repository
Alternatively, you can download the package from HERE if Notabug isn’t working.
Check out screenshots of the app in this IMGUR Album.
App Overview
I designed Notebubble to resemble an instant messaging app. The goal was to make it familiar and easy for anyone to use.
Getting Started:
- Download and uncompress the package.
- Open the executable (no installation needed).
- The app creates a folder in the same directory for settings and the database. Keep the executable and folder together, and it will load your notes wherever it’s placed.
- Set up your language and timezone on first launch, and you’re good to go!
Features:
- Create multiple categories to organize your notes (the main reason I built this app).
- Add reminders to notes.
- Use checkbox lists to track goals or tasks.
- Multiplatform, It's for Windows and there's a Linux Package too, but i still haven't uploaded it, check the repository later today.
- Multilanguage: It is available on English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, French, German and Japanese.
- Among other things.
Detailed help documentation is included within the app.
Syncing Notes Across Devices:
While Notebubble doesn’t yet support internet sync natively, here’s a workaround:
- Move the database to a USB drive or cloud folder (via app settings).
- On another computer, set the database location to the same folder.
- Voilà! Your notes stay synced across devices.
Alternatively, since the app is portable, you can run it directly from a USB drive.
Final Thoughts
This is a small, personal project created for my convenience, but I’m sharing it in case others find it helpful.
If you have questions or feature requests, feel free to:
Contact me on Twitter (link on the sidebar).
Open an issue on the repository, and I’ll check it out right away.
There are many ideas i have for Version 3 and many features that i want to implement yet, so stay tuned here, on my twitter account or the repository for when i release it. Until now, hopefully it is useful to you if you decide to use it.
Ryuichi - 24.12.2024 1:38 pm
Computer chips are so widespread now that we now take them for granted. They're pretty much everywhere... well, at least not in the milk... yet. But it's pretty common to have highly advanced processors with us all the time. The industry churns out tonnes of all purpose processors not each year, but each DAY, and we often don't stop to think all the work that goes into making them, and also how the technology to make them has progressed over the years.
This video explains in a very simplified fashion how usually a microprocessor is made:
Want to know a bit more in depth how processors are made, follow the link to see the full post:
Click to see full post.
This video explains in a very simplified fashion how usually a microprocessor is made:
Want to know a bit more in depth how processors are made, follow the link to see the full post:
Click to see full post.
Filed under: Technology - Permalink
Ryuichi - 10.12.2024 10:39 pm
I've been a bit absent of the internet in general lately because i've been working on a personal software project, but i'll probably present it in society soon, as soon as i'm done with some formalities.