#((god . dammit mono will have questions for her

[my-makeshift-masquerade]

I know this has nothing to do with anything, but you seem like you need to distract yourself from your thoughts. I have a question that may do just that. What do you think your character Emi would be like in other fictional universes? Pick any you want, and take care of yourself.

Thank you for your concern for my wellbeing. It has just been an exhausting time for me, as usual, and I am beating myself up for not doing “enough” with my time...

Now, onto your question. I am not sure what universes would work best for Emi’s character... For now, I am just going to pick based on popular fictional worlds that have both child characters and supernatural elements in their canon.

Don’t Starve: You know I had to do it to em. Unfortunately, due to the range of historical periods the survivors tend to come from, Emi was likely hospitalized or institutionalized for her disability at an early age. Part of me wants to say the only reason Maxwell or Charlie would’ve just brought some autistic little girl into the game was because she had something valuable to bring to the table for them despite her clear defenselessness. Perhaps she is some shadow-human-changeling-child that They want to be brought back to the constant for some reason? I dunno, it’s definitely hard translating Emi’s “unfortunately and unwillingly given strange powers” traits to other universes...

FNAF: Oh, god dammit, I have to go here? This lore is a can of worms— Okay, okay... Fine. At least in this universe, I can tie Amber in somehow, as two spirits in one body would be plausible. Emi was probably a little girl who got guidance from the spirit of Amber, her cousin who died when William Afton experimented on her in an effort to make her soul split into two. As the purple guy saw Emi being closely watched at the pizzeria by her parents, he realized his experiment might’ve worked. He kidnapped the girl, and locked her in the pizzeria at night. The animatronics reacted to Emi like she was a dead child who had already been reanimated, so they harbored little aggression. Afton was very interested in learning more, but she eventually was found by police. Emi remembers those nights trapped in the pizzeria as “scary, but sort of fun”.

Little Nightmares: This is a tough one, as I don’t think I quite understand the story enough to really tie Emi into it too much. She would definitely be a child with peculiar abilities, similar to Mono and Six. Perhaps in her case, her abilities would center around the transformation or “creation” of matter in this reality. This means she can harness matter around her to change it into something else, including shapeshifting her own physical self. That said, she hasn’t quite got the hang of it yet. She likely is kept sheltered or isolated from the dangers of the world by some powerful figure in the story, most likely a monster, that wants to keep her uncorrupted.

[keyofjetwolf]

Jet Wolf Summarizes Act 45

The manga and I kind of hate each other. This is unfortunate, but still, I’m determined to come out of this with something. Rather than spend energy on a liveblog that’s increasingly negative, I’m reading each manga act (mostly) silently, and then writing up summaries at the end. I won’t pull my punches. There’s going to be criticism and snark about the manga, either wholesale or in details. If that isn’t a thing you feel like reading, please skip this post!

It’s not that I’m disappointed by how surprised I’m not by anything that happened here. It’s more like the resigned haze of going through a vaguely unpleasant experience. Like going to the dentist. You’ll never be happy to go, but you take a deep breath every six months and sit in the chair and get on with it.

Only this is weekly. And I can’t put it off for three years. ALSO I DON’T GET A LITTLE PLASTIC TOY AT THE END WHERE IS MY LITTLE PLASTIC TOY GOD DAMMIT

Anyway, I hate myself, SO IT’S MANGA TIME.

A brand new volume brings the same old shit, as we open with the Inners incapacitated and helpless. Remember how furious I was back in Crystal that I spent several hours combing through the fucking thing to calculate how much collective time the Inner Senshi spent knocked out or otherwise unable to fight? LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT WOULD BE THE MOST ACCURATE FUCKING PART OF THE WHOLE SERIES.

So the Outers burst in, all eyeless and mysterious. But not so mysterious that Haruka can’t be a fucking asshole to Michiru, who is also there. They transform in full view of the Quartet, which in no way seems contradictory to their vows to keep everyone safe. They free the Inners, who spend the next twenty pages or so simply saying the Outers’ names and otherwise doing nothing. Or so you’d think. Off-panel, the girls stand at their portable mini-bar and talk about their job search while CPR dummies in cheap store-bought Senshi costumes seamlessly replace them. After about fifteen minutes, Michiru has joined them. She didn’t bother with a stand-in. Nobody on-panel notices.

Artemis is a cat again. Minako picks up the vodka, pours a shot, and then drinks directly from the bottle.

At Usagi’s house, she’s suffering from Black Rose Syndrome. They still manage to work in Mamoru.

Back in the fight with the Quartet, Pluto lays down the most absurd fucking shit that I actually yelled when I read it.

THIS DOESN’T MAKE ANY FUCKING SENSE

"We can’t avoid our destiny, which is protecting Usagi (and Mamoru too for no fucking good reason I guess), so we’ll do all we can to do the thing we are destined to do to overcome that destiny in order to make a new one which will be identical in all respects to the old one for the next thousand years, minimum.”

SAYING “FATE” AND “DESTINY” A LOT DOESN’T MEAN YOU’RE ACTUALLY DOING ANYTHING TO AFFECT IT PLUTO AND YOU OF ALL PEOPLE SHOULD GET THAT

This entire part makes me so fucking angry. If the manga has reinforced anything, it’s the idea of its characters having exactly no will or control over anything that happens do them. Their personalities are paper thin and their devotion never justified, so literally all that’s left is “because reasons”. And if you want that as a central point of your story, by all means. But you don’t ALSO then get to wave your hand and try to claim this dramatic push toward freedom and choices. IT’S NOT AN ���IT’S COMPLICATED” RELATIONSHIP STATUS HERE YOU’VE NOT PUT IN THE WORK TO EARN THAT AND I RESENT YOU TRYING

Or put another way:

Anyway, through all of this, the Inners have been trying to reach Usagi, but she caught mono from Mamoru and it’s not working. So the Outers try, and THAT Usagi picks up. Off panel, Rei drains the last of her whiskey, throws the bottle into the wall, and storms out.

Usagi’s wide awake now and reduced to tears that the Outers showed back up again. I know I always feel the same level of emotion when thinking of a reunion with a small group of people I had five conversations with, only one of which was not directly threatening in some way. IT IS THE STUFF FEELINGS ARE MADE OF

Michiru’s mirror reappears, acknowledging her existence and thereby proving itself unique in all the Sailor Moon mangaverse.

Usagi runs outside, only to see Mamoru running to her. He heard her voice calling out to him. I can’t help but think that things would be a lot more bearable if earbuds had been invented.

You know, something I’ve had to deal with hearing a lot since starting this rewatch project is how the characters are so much smarter in the manga.

The time period between all the Inner Senshi entering that tend and the Outers arriving was, at absolute best, about ten minutes. The Inners were going to the exact same circus show every single day for like two weeks, and the bad guys were laying their global conquest plan WITH THEM RIGHT THERE, so effectively that they could spring it in less time than it takes to watch the average Steven Universe episode, and they still didn’t know what the fuck was going on until someone else told them. I’m not saying the anime had everyone operating at peak observational performance here, I’m just saying I don’t want to hear shit about comparative intelligence again. THE NARRATIVE MAKES CONVENIENT FOOLS OF ALL

Chibs runs through town, noticing how dark it’s getting and how generally shitty Juuban is. Usagi and Mamoru catch up to her, just in time to unite with the other Senshi for ~drama~. Zirconia and Nehellenia appear with my new favourite phrase.

USE IT AT YOUR LOCAL GROCERY STORE AND ENJOY THE REPERCUSSIONS

Immediately, Usagi coughs up blood and collapses. HARUKA IS ALARMED

Michiru finishes her wine and moves to the brandy.

Lots of things GLOW and Pegasus answers the call of “could this possibly be less interesting”. He appears out of nowhere and utilizes what is without question the creepiest fucking “good guy” power I have ever seen.

THE POWER TO MAKE PEOPLE EIGHT YEAR OLDS

GOD I AM SO UNSETTLED RIGHT NOW THAT PEGASUS CAN JUST DO THIS AT WILL

What purpose does this de-aging serve, you ask? WHO THE FUCK KNOWS THE STORY DOESN’T FEEL YOU NEED AN ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION

Then Pegasus fades, and so do Usagi and Mamoru, and the Senshi freak out as they realize that means they have to carry the story on their own. But the issue realizes what a terrible idea that is too, and it shifts to Chibs and Hotaru, who have run off alone to pursue Nehellenia. Why just them? FUCK YOU THAT’S WHY

They encounter the Quartet, and Hotaru spends a not inconsiderable amount of time trying to convince them that they’re really good. I would like to point out how this is the first time literally anyone in this story hasn’t killed a mini-boss on sight, and how nonsensical and contrived it feels because of that. ONCE AGAIN THIS WAS SO FUCKING EASY TO AVOID

Then shit kind of happens I guess, it’s hard to tell. There are orbs and mirrors and people sucked into both. Then I think they go to Nehellenia, or maybe she’s at a rummage sale and delighted by all the savings.

Next time:

MAMORU’S LONE DISTRESSING NIPPLE

[savetopnow]

2018-04-03 16 MUSIC now

MUSIC

Brooklyn Vegan

What's going on Tuesday?

BrooklynVegan Blog Radio on SiriusXMU: Playlist for April 2, 2018

Janka Nabay, RIP

Dawes opening for Jeff Lynne's ELO on North American tour

tours announced: Flaming Lips, Cake/Ben Folds, Cut Chemist, Young Galaxy, more

Consquence of Sound

Revisiting TV’s Most Unforgettable Scares

Kanye West spotted with Rick Rubin at Calabasas office

Design a t-shirt for Consequence of Sound and win!

Tool share new photos, video from inside the studio

Meek Mill denied request for release on bail

Fact Magazine

Mark Templeton announces Distorted Tourist photobook with five Flexidisc records

Hyperdub newcomer Proc Fiskal announces debut album Insula

Captain Beefheat’s Trout Mask Replica gets reissue on Jack White’s Third Man Records

U2 rename themselves ME2 to honor global women’s movement, announce deluxe Boy reissue

The 25 best albums of the last three months: January to March 2018

Fluxblog

Hohner Eko Taktron Arp

One Two Let Me Go

Shower Me In Symphonies

Fifth-Dimensional Views

Late Night Games

Idolator

Cardi B Hosts A Wild Party In Her Sexy “Bartier Cardi” Video

She’s Coming! Carly Rae Jepsen Teases A New Song Called “This Love Isn’t Crazy”

Sabrina Claudio Returns With Sexy Bedroom Anthem “All To You”

Dua Lipa Teams Up With Calvin Harris For New Single “One Kiss”

Demi Lovato & Luis Fonsi Perform “Échame La Culpa” Live For The First Time

Listen to This

Devin Angxlo - Cabin Fever [Lo-Fi Hip-Hop]

Ziad Rahbani - Mais El Rim (1978) [Jazz Punk]

The Lonely Biscuits -- San Francisco [Indie Rock / Indie pop] (2018)

Crayon Fields -- All The Pleasures Of The World [Indie Rock] (2009)

Swearin’ - Dust in the Gold Sack [Indie Rock] (2013)

Popjustice

New Music Good Friday: Post Precious! Dragonette! CHVRCHES!

NONONO’s new one is v excellent and here’s the video

New Music Friday: all hail Let’s Eat Grandma’s miniature pop symphony

Paloma Faith’s branded content is better than your branded content

Saluting the artwork for PRETTYMUCH’s Healthy

Reddit Music

The Smiths - Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me [Indie Rock]

The Police - Walking on the Moon [New Wave/Alternative] (1979)

Joyce Manor - Catalina Fight Song [punk/pop punk]

Panic! At The Disco - I Write Sins Not Tragedies. [Pop Punk]

Decided to listen to some MCR to laugh at my teenage self. And god dammit I still like it

Rolling Stone

Watch Cardi B's Glammed-Up New Video for 'Bartier Cardi'

Ben Folds, Cake Team for Co-Headlining Summer Tour

Meek Mill: Judge Denies Request to Reconsider Prison Sentence

Bad Bunny: The Four-Billion-Stream Man Leading the Latin Trap Explosion

Review: The Weeknd's 'My Dear Melancholy,' Mixes Deep Gloom and Tough Love

Slipped Disc

Daniel Barenboim is on 60 Minutes this week

Yuja Wang gets back to basics

Russia mourns top chorus director

Musicians Union fights ‘worst scam in 20 years’

The piano duo we’ve all been waiting for?

Spotify Blog

The Weeknd Drops Two New Music Videos Only on Spotify

Taylor Swift’s New Delicate Video Only on Spotify

Spotify Expands Secret Genius With the Launch of Studios

Spotify and Genius Team Up to Launch Déjà Vu Podcast, Hosted by Stereo Williams

Spotify Celebrates Black History Year-Round with Launch of Black History Is Happening Now

We Are the Music Makers

The Art of Not Selling Out

Where do people buy empty microcassettes?

Music writing help

Question about hardware for production and recording

I have a mix I’m happy with that has mid/side processing on the master channel. When I flip it to mono the mix sounds bad. Is this due to improper mixing or M/S on the master?

[savetopnow]

2018-04-03 13 MUSIC now

MUSIC

Brooklyn Vegan

Janka Nabay, RIP

Dawes opening for Jeff Lynne's ELO on North American tour

tours announced: Flaming Lips, Cake/Ben Folds, Cut Chemist, Young Galaxy, more

comedy roundup: John Cleese, 'The Last OG,' NYC Podfest, Anthony Atamanuik, more

The Body streaming track off new LP, touring, playing Vitus

Consquence of Sound

Revisiting TV’s Most Unforgettable Scares

Kanye West spotted with Rick Rubin at Calabasas office

Design a t-shirt for Consequence of Sound and win!

Tool share new photos, video from inside the studio

Meek Mill denied request for release on bail

Fact Magazine

Mark Templeton announces Distorted Tourist photobook with five Flexidisc records

Hyperdub newcomer Proc Fiskal announces debut album Insula

Captain Beefheat’s Trout Mask Replica gets reissue on Jack White’s Third Man Records

U2 rename themselves ME2 to honor global women’s movement, announce deluxe Boy reissue

The 25 best albums of the last three months: January to March 2018

Fluxblog

Hohner Eko Taktron Arp

One Two Let Me Go

Shower Me In Symphonies

Fifth-Dimensional Views

Late Night Games

Idolator

Cardi B Hosts A Wild Party In Her Sexy “Bartier Cardi” Video

She’s Coming! Carly Rae Jepsen Teases A New Song Called “This Love Isn’t Crazy”

Sabrina Claudio Returns With Sexy Bedroom Anthem “All To You”

Dua Lipa Teams Up With Calvin Harris For New Single “One Kiss”

Demi Lovato & Luis Fonsi Perform “Échame La Culpa” Live For The First Time

Listen to This

The Lonely Biscuits -- San Francisco [Indie Rock / Indie pop] (2018)

Swearin’ - Dust in the Gold Sack [Indie Rock] (2013)

Valley of the Shadow of Death -- Beside the Landscape, Scattered Everywhere [strings, ambient grief] (2011)

Mel T. Eyes - Engraved [Melodic Hardcore] (2018)

LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER -- Jam Session [Electronic/Alternative]

Popjustice

New Music Good Friday: Post Precious! Dragonette! CHVRCHES!

NONONO’s new one is v excellent and here’s the video

New Music Friday: all hail Let’s Eat Grandma’s miniature pop symphony

Paloma Faith’s branded content is better than your branded content

Saluting the artwork for PRETTYMUCH’s Healthy

Reddit Music

Joyce Manor - Catalina Fight Song [punk/pop punk]

Decided to listen to some MCR to laugh at my teenage self. And god dammit I still like it

The Misfits - Hybrid Moments [Punk]

Down- Eyes of the South [Metal]

Ben Folds, Cake Team for Co-Headlining Summer Tour

Rolling Stone

Watch Cardi B's Glammed-Up New Video for 'Bartier Cardi'

Ben Folds, Cake Team for Co-Headlining Summer Tour

Meek Mill: Judge Denies Request to Reconsider Prison Sentence

Bad Bunny: The Four-Billion-Stream Man Leading the Latin Trap Explosion

Review: The Weeknd's 'My Dear Melancholy,' Mixes Deep Gloom and Tough Love

Slipped Disc

Daniel Barenboim is on 60 Minutes this week

Yuja Wang gets back to basics

Russia mourns top chorus director

Musicians Union fights ‘worst scam in 20 years’

The piano duo we’ve all been waiting for?

Spotify Blog

The Weeknd Drops Two New Music Videos Only on Spotify

Taylor Swift’s New Delicate Video Only on Spotify

Spotify Expands Secret Genius With the Launch of Studios

Spotify and Genius Team Up to Launch Déjà Vu Podcast, Hosted by Stereo Williams

Spotify Celebrates Black History Year-Round with Launch of Black History Is Happening Now

We Are the Music Makers

Finally got my first pair of mixing monitors!

Question about hardware for production and recording

I have a mix I’m happy with that has mid/side processing on the master channel. When I flip it to mono the mix sounds bad. Is this due to improper mixing or M/S on the master?

Question about song writing credit...

You guys, I'm in desperate need of finding some of Mr. Carmack's old songs.