MOISTURIZED MASCULINITY- VAGARIES OF FEMINISM

Young Succeeding women now fear that men feel so intimidated by the fact that they are far wealthier than their men will ever be - denying this would be like trying to fake an erection, just don't try. Its easier to fake an orgasm.

I am CIRO, I am a breadwinner, I protect and provide. This is what men do. That is who we are, and if we forget it, if the instinct to protect and provide for our loved ones is never diluted or weakened, then we are ultimately pointless, and no better than eunuchs.

In her book The Female Eunuch. Germaine Greer opined that "Feminism was never about reversing traditional rolls". In my view, feminism was not even about equality. It was about liberation - women being free to be themselves, and to fulfill their potential without restrictions placed on them by society or some man, and to follow their true nature and calling.

In this equal shared world, some people, mainly women think men are not doing well. Hanna Rosin even had the "balls" to write a book titled "The End Of Men". In which she urges that the Y Chromosome is "so last century", (lets put the blame on 'I am Cait'), suggesting that "The gap between overachieving women and underachieving men is widening, and men are becoming "dysfunctional and angry"

"I am CIRO, I am a breadwinner, I protect and provide. This is what men do. That is who we are, and if we forget it, if the instinct to protect and provide for our loved ones is never diluted or weakened, then we are ultimately pointless, and no better than eunuchs."

For all its horrors, the Second World War simplified mans role in life; but after that, his place in the world became less certain. The young men of the Fifties, unable to match the previous generations heroics, became angry and rebellious. Those were men that were raised to build empires and win battles And came to the Sixties, which brought sexual freedom groovy parties, promiscuity - and uncertainly. Divorce was the latest trend. Men could no longer rely on their wives sticking around if they weren't up to the scratch.

The place of the man before the War

Does Feminism extend to role reversal? Would it be right to expose our women to danger? Like being the one to go downstairs and confront the burglars while her wimpy man cowers under the duvet, wetting his jim- jam in terror. There is no law that says a high flying web-logger can't be the the breadwinner while her man stays at home tending to their cats and dogs.

Stay with a woman for long enough, and they will see you riding high, or even down and out. They'll see you when you're the golden boy and they'll love you when you're yesterdays man ( lol, shots fired). If she loves you enough then, at your lowest point, she'll help you, encourage and give you any kind of support, including money. Aint we just grateful to have them around?
But ultimately that changes nothing, its still our world. Does it rock a boat if the woman earns more? NO! it just drives the boat into a Titanic sized iceberg. Why, because the man feels as if some deep part of him is empty.

Girls are now outperforming boys at schools, universities and increasingly in the job market. Women now outnumber men in the American workforce. "The post-industrial economy increasingly being dominated by millennials is indifferent, gender neutral cares less about a man's size or strength. The attributes that are most valuable in today's 'Internet of Things' age - Social intelligence, open communication, the ability to sit and 'canibalise' old models like Amazon, Uber and AirBnB has done, at a minimum is not predominantly male. In fact, the opposite may be true, and the most damning place of all, we men  are "reasonably unable to adapt" or as they say in Russia we are becoming "balls and chains".

"If she loves you enough then, at your lowest point, she'll help you, encourage and give you any kind of support, including money"

You work for those you love. You do your best, and sometimes you fail miserably, but everyday you MUST go out there, loose your pride, get your hands dirty and earn a living because there are people at home depending on you. You do it for yourself. Because deep down in his DNA, every man is a breadwinner, and bravery is a critical factor in breadwinning. According to Matthew Parris "It's not being brave that makes you do brave things. It is doing brave things that makes you brave."

We must strive to get the balance right between emotional and academic intelligence and show exactly the right degree of ambition, knowing that defiance and endurance with a little push for the extra is what makes a champion. Our ladies should give us a little credit, for we have accepted the new normal - The rise of the female breadwinners. 



Written by Ciro

MOISTURIZED MASCULINITY - WEAPONS GRADE VANITY

"Beauty is a form of genius-- is higher, indeed, than genius , as it needs no explanation…" Oscar Wilde

For today's generation, social media, selflies and porn are the major vectors  of the male desire to be desired. They want to be wanted for their bodies, not their wardrobe anymore. And certainly not their minds.

Some men, sometimes feel ostracised by this new generation of men in a  society that seemingly values pecs over PhD, and hyper sexuality over, say, a good reputation  . Please note, There's taking pride in your appearance , and there's this sort of weapons- grade vanity.

As has been said of late, that " after the clothes come the body " we all used to be simple blokes going about first in pursuit of scholarly excellence, then the pursuit of affection and finally the purpose. A whole lot has changed in-between, but the core should remain. Those were the days when men particularly vital statistics, as it used to be 36-24-36 for svelte beauties. These days the fashion industries has raised the bar to a certain "size zero". Raising a gene ratio of pressured anorexics on one hand  and yet another sucked into the other extreme of the body enhancement surgeries some are at the mercy of the famed surgeon in the wealthy suburb of Beverly hills (with the 90210 zip code)

I started investigating this new trend of men getting Pumped-up. Whatever you call it, it's a certain type

of "fit" , all about having abs , looking like a fitness model and trying to intimidate the rest of us.It's become the enthusiastic pursuit of a physical aesthetic and, particularly , the documenting of their body building achievements via ever available social media outlet, which now feels a bit vulgar for most parts

So this tendency towards buffness has become a cultural phenomenon of this age as defined by author and journalist Mark Simpson as "Spornosexuality". The term, denoting men who strive to look like sportsmen or porn stars, easily identified by tattoos , piercings, adorable beards and plunging necklines . it's eye- catching clear that for this group its less about clothes. They are convinced that there's no shirt, jacket or pair of shoes you could wear that gets as much reaction as a six  pack. Their own bodies have become an ultimate accessory. Fashioning them at the gym into a hot commodity - one that they share at a marketplace. This behaviour poorly depicts the next stage in masculine evolution.

"Some men, sometimes feel ostracised by this new generation of men in a  society that seemingly values pecs over PhD, and hypersexuality over, say, a good reputation"

Simpson first began writing about the : "sporno" culture in 2006, noting " The rise in the Hyper sexualised, Homo provocative imagery of sportsmen like David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo. Like Dolce and Gabbana's fashion shoots featuring the Italian National Football team in the shower in 2006 . This concept appeared as one of New York Times ' 2006 Ideas of the  year. Finally in 2014, Simpson pronounced the emergence of the "Spornosexuals". A certain writer Clive Martin in Vice magazine , described this group " as an section in a vest". A walking, preening monument to the British masculinity crisis"

Here's a note to the rest of us, probably out of shape maybe Not fat-fat, but a deeply unremarkable, weak, soft and shapeless frame with a career involving zero physical excretion. a rapidly expanding and contracting waistline, showing your preference for a glass of beer instead of gin and sliced lemon. Please don't allow this 'Sporno" culture put further pressure on , by requiring you to tick their boxes(i.e.)looking groomed, smelling good, or dressing exclusively in branded clothing and also adhere to a specific physical ideal. An improbable, sporty, porny, ripped-to-shit ideal, suggesting that men are increasingly beholden to the same unrealistic body expectations that have long plagued our women, with the abdominal “V-line” becoming as fetishised as the female “thigh gap”.

"So this tendency towards buffness has become a cultural phenomenon of this age as defined by author and journalist Mark Simpson as "Spornosexuality"."

I heard it took Daniel Craig till his 4th instalment of 007 to finally cut the “sporno” look, so take your time mate,  go at your pace, a weekly bowl of Spaghetti and Cheddar or double layered Poundo with extra cow tail never killed any man , go ahead, uphold a counter culture.  For a recent  Mintel report suggested that “women now see only the extremely image-conscious and product-consuming men around them – or in bed with them.” also implying that the glistening pecs and abs as seen in men’s health and fitness magazines are fast  becoming more appealing to men as interests in other magazines like  T3 and STUFF  has been on a decline for some years now.

All hope is not lost however, as We're seeing this group of “Sporno” men occupy previously 'feminine' spaces in the home - spending more time on housework, homework and parenting - but also as smart consumers, embracing Godliness, beauty products, and the act of cooking and care itself.

On a final note, the vainest of us should  not be the model for manliness. GENIUS, CHIVALRY and HONOUR must remain the hallmark of Masculinity. I get it that we all want to be attractive and desired, but after the bees land on the honeycomb, what else would they find? certainly after the body must come some intellect, skill (even DIY) and character. We MUST value genius above beauty Mr. Oscar Wilde!


Written by Ciro

The difference between an event planner and event designer

One of the most common misconceptions among people and organizations is an event professional's job title, and the responsibilities and talents associated with it.  While working toward the common goal of making your event fabulous, the job responsibilities of each of these professionals is actually very different.

Now to help you learn the roles of each event professional, we'll help you break it on down.

Event Planner

An event planner is someone who helps figure out how to make an event happen. This is someone who has well-established connections with vendors and will organize the technical aspects of an event. The event planner is well-versed in event coordination, budget allocation, supply chain identification, vendor management, project management, general organization. With handling the details of an event, this pro has great relationships with area professionals and can also often get discounts or add-ons. From guidance every step of the way to day-of coordination, a planner will usually customize his or her services to best meet your needs. Here at Sautaver event planning is the core of what we do. An event planner helps the client make informed decisions and is often the best advocate, they have nobody's interest in mind but the client.

Event Designer

While a wedding planner is strongest in the logistics and planning of an event, an event designer shines when designing the aesthetics of an event.  This is where the 'wow' factor comes in. An event designer doesn't just refer clients to stationery or favor companies, but has the ability to create things from scratch. A great event designer has all of the tools to create the details to make an event unique, from a workshop to electronic cutting machines, to fine linens and china's and the inside scoop on where to find the right props for the job. The designer, makes the client dream of aesthetics come alive. At Sautaver, we create design concepts but often times work with a designer to bring it to life.

I hope we have been able to throw more light on the job descriptions of these pros. Further more, here in Nigeria, when people plan events especially weddings they mostly only consider the design aspect forgetting the most important part which is planning. Some people can manage the planning details themselves without the help of a pro but another thing to consider is the day of the event. It is daunting and tacky to be the host and the coordinator at the same time. If its a wedding, its totally impossible so this is where the planner comes in again. Nevertheless, for a thorough and flawless event its ideal to get both pros. If you can't afford both, then get a planner who understands design.

culled from bonafide bride 

LETS TALK

People! I think its time we stopped all these election campaign wars, its not doing any good (still gist). 
Who you vote for is your choice, why you vote for them is your opinion, you really do not need to/try to compel anyone to like your choice or agree with your opinion. 
We must understand the power of the social media and use it wisely, because all these harsh views is beginning to brew turmoil. 

We have forgotten that we all have one vision, which is for a 'better Nigeria', but all i can see now is people hating on each other over this Nigeria that we all want to make better. How are we going to achieve a better Nigeria if we are doing this to ourselves. Lets stop playing partisan politics and tell ourselves the truth, let us ask ourselves hard knock questions and see what we get. Do we want a better Nigeria or we are just propagandizing with politicians? Why are we allowing politicians make us lose our values? I have seen people who i actually thought are credible, bring down themselves with their words via social media all in the name of painting someone black, its appalling. 

For people who have seen that the system isn't working what did you do all the while, before the electoral campaign? instead of ranting now (like you just woke up), For those who feel like the seating government doesn't need a contender, like seriously! someone has to compete with them, and theres nothing anybody can do about that right/freedom to contest, besides i didn't see that very many people coming out to contend. (lets give these guys a break for even coming out). You want XYZ to win while desiring a 'better Nigeria, the other person wants 'ABC' to win and also desires a better Nigeria, theres a common goal here but with different carriers. So are we supposed to run ourselves down and over, doing all sorts just because we have different representatives of this goal? Common people! Its time to wake up and smell the coffee. If any of these guys win and they do not attain the goal that we all desire, then we can TALK, and not wait till another election.

We have two major contenders, truth is we don't even know who's going to birth this vision but we will somehow give a chance to whoever is choosen.  Irrespective of their manifestos and all the propaganda, I don't know for sure if Jonathan will still make things change, or if Buhari can try, and neither do you! we can only find out. 

We should have one voice, not to vote but for the desire we have for this nation. Cast your vote for whomsoever you choose. But the real fight is, if you don't see that dream turning up, then, as a people we can speak out and shout all we can. This is not the time for such. This is a democratic election, choose whom you want, don't force people, don't hate on anybody, don't bring down the next person because they have a different choice, this has to end, stop fueling violence with all your debates, let people enjoy the freedom to choose whatever they want.

I need to clearly state that am not really into this electoral process, i want the best for this country and i want the best man to win, and really if i have a choice of candidate it will be my choice and nobody's business. All in all, i vote for peace in Nigeria.

Big Wedding, Small Budget.

Back in the day weddings were a lot easier to plan, you have family and friends actually helping and supporting you in the process, usually mums will organize women to come cook at the back of the yard, we buy everything ourselves. Hall decoration takes almost nothing, the seating arrangements were theatrical, making it so easy to invite the whole village, there were balloon decorations and old fashioned draping, we had the high table system, no particular seating section for the couple, no VIP or VVIP section, no caterer and service attendants just family and friends assisting in serving food and drinks and even souvenirs, things do get clumsy but it was what it was then. Usually it is the very wealthy that could afford a proper setting to an extent, they use big hotels who'll incorporate the banquet seating arrangement making it classy, and even if they were to organize themselves there was always some element of class. 

But with the evolution of party planning, things started to change. Not that family and friends don't assist still but there are more options. We have planners, DIY's, more ideas, more creativity etc. However, inspite of this beautiful happenstance, we still carry our old fashion ideology into the modern day planning. Like i always say, the cost of your wedding is usually determined mostly by your GUEST LIST, and this goes in two ways but for the purpose of this write-up i'll only talk on one way which is the guest number. Kindly note that when you invite people to your wedding, you are asking them to come witness your new found status, you want them to merry with you because its a good thing. 

I would normally think that the people who are close to you and your family should be at this gathering and not otherwise, i also would expect that you are prepared to take care of them. Now due to the seating arrangements these days, you may spend about N4,000  on each guest in an average wedding, after adding the cost of food, drinks, centerpiece, napkins, chair, table, linen, souvenir and all that makes up a proper setting. Multiply that amount by 1000-300 guest and see what it gives you. You have not  added other basic things like venue, clothing and so many other things that make up a complete event. If i were to use a theatrical seating here, by the time you knock off tables, linens, centerpieces etc, you'll see that you have saved yourself some money.

Am not trying to suggest to people to use the theatrical seating arrangement, but am only trying to show how the number of guest can affect your budget. So this ideology of inviting the whole village to your wedding should die the way theatrical seating arrangements at weddings died, because it cost more to bring that ideology into this modern day setting. Like it or not these days people tend to spend more on weddings, yet they want to invite more? and usually they can't afford it. If you can afford it, there is no problem at all, but where i have a problem is when you can't afford it but you just what to maintain that ideology of inviting the whole village. Some want to respect their parents wish by inviting all their parents friends, how about respecting yourself by cutting back, usually you don't know half the people at your wedding. Some plan their wedding hoping that certain friends or relative will pick up certain bills. Maybe some uncle promised you XXX amount, what if that uncle is unable to redeem that promise, what happens? you are already indebted. It doesn't matter who pledged to do stuff for you, plan your wedding according to your pocket.

Its very important to plan because anything can go wrong but at least you'll still have a wedding. It amazes me when someone's wedding is like a week to go and they are still saying they don't have money, like seriously! Your wedding isn't a charity, its the ceremony that makes your marriage formal, and it also isn't a business venture. I personally think no one should borrow to have a wedding, and no one should be indebted when planning, its not right. You may not be able to afford the wedding of your dreams but at least you are getting married to the person of your dreams, that should count. Truth is nothing else matters but the two of you.

As an event planner, i want the best for my clients and people generally and part of what i do is help people make informed decisions.  

Did you know you can have an intimate wedding with few family and friends by using a restaurant? all you need to do is pay for the food, and cut off all that venue, decor etc budget. Did you know you can have a wedding with minimalistic arrangements? simple yet classy? Did you know that if you can't afford a planner you can get DIY service? Don't go looking for a planner when all you need is some decor rental to decorate your hall. I realized that in most cases when people say they want a planner, what they are really saying is that they just want the decor done, which i find myself asking when all that is done, what happens on the day of the event? who coordinates and manages everything to ensure it goes well? normally they have no answer or the same old my family and friends will help, which may not be bad, but would it be organized? It goes back to that part that shows that you may not be prepared to take care of your guest, you want to, but not prepared. Truth is most planners can decorate your hall but not everyone can afford that service so they just opt for rental decorators. It also appears that all most people want is how beautiful the hall looks as against the general beauty of the event which involves the most pivotal role which is management. Theres nothing wrong in just wanting a decorator but seeking DIY advice when you can't afford full planning is a good way of planning a nice wedding on a budget. There are so many cheaper, nicer and even classy options but would you be open to those options without feeling left out? 

Everyone knows in their heart what they can afford at the point of planning their wedding, and what i've been trying to say in summary is 'Be Yourself'. You don't have to pay for that size of hall if you don't invite that large no of guest, you don't have to pay the caterer that amount if you would reduce your guest list, same goes for the chair and table rental,etc. Really your wedding ceremony must not be conventional, also you don't have to throw a lavish traditional and white wedding, you can make one loud and the other quiet. And if you must do inspite of all the constraint then do it well, get professional advice, plan well. You can have a beautiful wedding by avoiding all the odds caused by lack of proper planning and conventional thinking. So my dearies debunk that thinking, its better to have a small wedding than a disorganized one especially when you are trying to make it look like a big wedding. More importantly, you are not impressing anyone, your wedding is about you and if you don't have that type of budget that goes with planning a big event then make it simple.

LAUNCHING THE PEARL TOWER 'EKO PEARL EVENT'

We recently held The Eko Pearl Tower launch, being built by Eko Pearl Nig Ltd and it was an awesome event. The Eko Pearl Tower is a 24 storey residential tower located on the harbour front on Lagos innovative Atlantic city 'Eko Atlantic City'. 

It was such a challenge planning this event, since we wanted it to represent the excellence, finesse, precision and luxury that the Tower projects. But in the end the hard work paid, the management, i'd say was impeccable, the decor, simple but classy. Everything was on point, from the invites to the last management detail. I must confess that as daunting as it was planning the event, we had a great time managing it.

The Eko Pearl site

However, as the program progressed it hit me that it wasn't just one of those property launch, it was a good cause. Building a prime city of international standard, thereby creating jobs and giving some Nigerians the opportunity to actually live luxuriously with great ROI in their own country, is a positive contribution. I may not have that much knowledge in property development but what came to me was the fact that living in a place like this can actually guarantee a new lease on life (funny, right?but true). Less pollution, conducive environment, serenity, a system that works, growth and dev, close to nature,  etc. What i see mostly is 'LONGEVITY', good health and good investment. 

Some Nigerians live the good life already, they travel abroad frequently, they buy properties all over the world in prime areas, they have what it takes but truth be told that even with all the wealth, living in Lagos city can be hostile.

The dynamics of Lagos city is very unique and complex, but it still remains one of the best places to be in the whole of Africa. However, Lagos state is still grappling with serious challenges in all its social and economic forms. But, who would blame it for its challenges when the city receives more intending residents daily, creating serious urbanization concerns. Energy and water access, sewerage, transportation and housing have all been adversely affected by haphazard development of a geographically disjointed city. Unlike the rest of Nigeria, Lagosians do not have access to steady electricity. Despite the regions endowment of water, the city suffers from an acute and worsening water supply shortage. And due to inadequate sewerage, much of the city's human waste is disposed of by the drainage of rainwater through open ditches. With congested bridges and roads, traffic situation is a daily problem in Lagos, and it can be really bad. With all these challenges you'd agree with me that the new city is very welcome and thanks to Eko Atlantic city, the urbanization challenge in Lagos will at least be curtailed.

Eko Atlantic city

Eko Atlantic city is a mega city supporting the already overpopulated existence of lagos.
This city will become the financial centre of Nigeria, if not West Africa and trust me it is no easy job. The development brings together private individuals and companies who have the knowledge and expertise to transform land lost to the power of the sea into an ocean-front city that will be one of the wonders of the 21st century which can be compared with the United Arab Emirate city in Dubai. And the project is being achieved through a team effort between investors, planners, engineers and contractors, one of which is Eko Pearl Nigeria Limited.

Residents of Eko Pearl Tower, will enjoy first class infrastructural amenities, excellent security services,  splendour of actually living in a luxurious apartment,  clean air and all the benefits that comes with living in Eko Atlantic city. 
The design indicated that it has a pool and terrace level floor, a technical, ground and basement floors, both dedicated to 345 parking places and 48 storage rooms.
Three types of apartments are provided, known as “Typical apartments”, duplex apartments and pent house floor.
Typical apartments are located starting from the first to the 18th floor, with typical apartment floor occupying a total of 394 square meters. Each floor consists of one entrance hall, two sitting rooms, a dining room, one living room, one kitchen, four-master bedrooms, one guest bathroom, one laundry and three balconies, among others.
Besides, duplex apartments are located on the 19th-22nd floors. It also has similar features like the previous apartment, except that it has a lounge, one kitchen and pantry and two balconies. The upper level is designed as one living family room, four master bedroom and two balconies.
There are also five underground parking space and two storage rooms for the duplex apartments, while there is provision for four underground parking spaces, and one storage room for the typical apartments. Two penthouse apartments, located on the 23rd and 24th floors measured 627 square metres per floor. It features one entrance hall, three sitting rooms, one dining room, a lounge, one living room, one kitchen, four master bedrooms, a guest bathroom, one maid room, a laundry and four balconies, with 52 parking spaces are dedicated for the leisure of the residents’ guests.

A document made available to The Guardian, revealed that Eko Pearl Towers are designed according to British standards, with the exterior walls of all main facades built of two layers, solid block in exterior and hollow blocks in the interior side.
The buildings are of roof terrace, basement walls, water tank, made of vandex, or similar, while elevations are asphalt coating paint under exterior stone cladding. Windows and doors are of aluminum material, including the rolling shutter in bedrooms.
Painted wooden doors are fitted to the storage and maid room, a typical door at the floors are wooden door veneered with “walnut”, including the service entrance. The doors and staircase, technical rooms and lobby are installed with fire rated steel materials, while stainless steel balustrade with glass cladding for balconies.
The floor finishing is of Epoxi coat, or similar for basement, and Mass dyed ceramic used for the storage and driver rooms in the basement. The lobbies and stairs at basement are of marble and stone.

Amazing, isn't it? So I'd suggest that if you are planning on investing in a prime area in Nigeria, then Eko Pearl Tower should be it.

Eko Pearl Tower

www.ekopearl.org, www.ekoatlantic.com, www.propertyindex.com.ng

Your wedding is for you

Certain experiences has got me thinking about whats important to most women thats about to get married. Is the wedding really about you and your spouse or about pleasing people or a status symbol? Alot of people cant afford the wedding of their dreams but yet they want the wedding of their dreams making it almost impossible to attain a quality event.

My advice to ladies;

• Your wedding is firstly about you and your spouce 
• If you are working with a planner always always be open
• Always cut your coat according to your size
• If you want classy on a low budget ensure you get a planner who's creative enough to help you achieve it, though classy may be pricey but a level of class can be achieved on a low budget.
• DO NOT try to impress friends and family, you have got to be real and true to yourself. for instance you dont have to get expensive items as souvenirs, you dont have to invite everyone( you dont even know most of them), you dont have to compel your friends to buy expensive aso-ebi (remember everyone in your friends league may not be able to afford it, or may have other pressing needs)
• Just as your wedding decor is important, the management is way key as well, so in planning do not leave out the wedding day coordination.
• Try to avoid last minuites.
• You do not have to purchase an expensive wedding dress when you know your budget is low, you can rent a very lovely dress and look the expensive part.
• If your parent is insisting on so much, then you may have to suggest to them to contribute financially, for instance if they are asking you to invite more people you will spend more, so they should as well support you with money.
• Avoid listening to too many different people and follow your heart
• Be specific in giving certain details. If you are planning for 300 let it be the same amount, it becomes tacky when you plan for 300 and 600 guest turns up, it will be tough for the vendors to manage, they may not even have enough to go round leaving some form of disorganization.
• DO NOT say 'afterall you have invited the guest whatever they get let them have' its totally wrong, if you cant take care of them then dont invite them.
• If you cant afford a big wedding then plan towards having a small wedding.
• If you really cant afford to make both the traditional marriage and white wedding elaborate then pick the one you feel you want to make elaborate and concentrate on it. who says both have to be elaborate?
• Get wedding planning advice from a professional planner, the planner does not neccessarily have to manage your wedding physically but you can consult them for advice and maybe day-of-coordination if you want.
• Most importantly, like i have said over again, be true to yourself, you alone know your budget, you really do not have to impress anyone simply do what you can, the best you can and avoid the tackiness that comes with 'big wedding dreams on a low budget'