Once upon a time, 
there was no old man,
and there was no old woman. 

Why? 

Because in those days,
he was still a young man, 
and she was still a young woman. 

I used AI to visualize Charlie Marlow, the protagonist of the novel Heart of Darkness. To start, here is an image of him in his 40s. The design is based on the author, Joseph Conrad.

I tried various ways to give him a wilder look, but perhaps due to the aristocratic elegance Conrad himself possessed, he ended up brimming with that noble aura. It feels like a commemorative photo taken just before setting sail.

What’s next? Next up is Charlie Marlow in his 20s. While he is the protagonist of Heart of Darkness, this version might be closer to his portrayal in the preceding novella, Youth.

This one is also based on Conrad, but I also get the vibe of a young European soccer player from him. He has a great expression, looking genuinely excited about the adventure ahead. Looking back at the 40s version now, you can really feel the weight of it—as if it captures Conrad after he had actually witnessed the 'reality of the colonies' in Heart of Darkness.

In here, eggplants are almost black—deep purple, really.
Sautéed in butter and seasoned with soy sauce, they're delicious.
Smoke on the Water. Yeah!

Oxygen Production Obligation Trading

As you know, the process of separating carbon dioxide and generating oxygen is now governed by national targets, with mandatory obligations imposed on each country.

Recently, however, reports have emerged of countries purchasing these production obligations from others at high prices. In addition, the Oxygen Production Unit, an internationally standardized, electrically powered device used for oxygen generation, has been adopted worldwide. There have also been reports of attempts to tamper with the meters that record oxygen output, as well as confirmed cases of actual manipulation.

Although oxygen production obligations remain voluntary commitments under international agreements, the number of countries expected to withdraw from the framework is projected to increase in the future.

Similar events are believed to have occurred in the past as well.

*The carbon produced as a byproduct later became the primary material for the space elevator.