#Asian-inspired SF

[gollancz]

If there were a Maslow’s hierarchy of needs for pirates, the lowest level would be pirate, and then as you went up the pyramid it would be captured by pirate and then captured by pirate you want to kiss, and like a naïve fool I would have said that was the end of the pyramid. But the galaxy-brained Aliette de Bodard correctly detected that there’s a whole other level at the tippity-top of the pyramid, which is captured by pirate who is also a sentient ship whose hot lady avatar you want to kiss. This is art; this is living; this is why we first crawled out of the sea.

This is a phenomenal article from @tordotcom about THE RED SCHOLAR'S WAKE, and how maybe it is also slightly Gothic, even though it is set in space and has ladies kissing. 1000/10

If you too would like to read about hot space ladies kissing, head this way...

SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2023 BSFA BEST NOVEL AWARD, AND THE 2023 LOCUS AWARD FOR BEST SF NOVEL! Winner of the 2023 BSFA Award for Best Cover, and Aliette added yet ANOTHER BSFA award to her collection, winning the 2023 award for Best Novella.

[olderthannetfic]

Opinion on the comments in some of the the @ao3topshipsbracket polls: a wildly popular ship is not the same as one that had an actual impact on fandom history. Most popular ships have little to no impact outside their own fandom. Which isn’t to say that ships can’t have impact on their own fandom history, just that they don’t have much impact on general fandom history as a whole.

I understand that the polls aren’t actually measuring fandom history but this got me thinking about what has actually and I think these are the ones:

Spirk - origin of slash fandom shipping and laid the groundwork for fandom/shipping in general

MSR - responsible for the term ‘shipping’ and was the driving force behind the beginning of fandom/shipping on the internet and the creation of fanfiction.net

BTVS - (unfortunately) gave rise to the idea of being ‘anti’ something and ship wars

Harry Potter - most affected fandom on livejournal by the censorship which led to the creation of ao3

Thoughts? I couldn’t think of another fandom/ship that has huge impacts outside of their own fandom.

--

Strikethrough made people more eager for AO3, but the original inspiration was a for-profit fic archive made by venture capitalists.

The X-Files' big archive was Gossamer. Was MSR really influential in the creation of FFN? I don't remember that.

What ships have a big impact really depends on era and how you're looking at things. K/S and MSR are the obvious ones from long after the fact, yes.

Starsky/Hutch was what really split Media Fandom from literary SF fandom. Star Trek started the split, but it was people getting into a buddy cop show that made it clear that fanfic zine types weren't just about science fiction anymore, not even "mass media" SF in place of book SF.

Bodie/Doyle was the moment people stopped being media fans and started being Slash Fandom specifically. The US fandom had barely even seen the show: they were there for the slash zines.

Jim/Blair fandom gave us sentinel/guide AUs. The Sentinel as a canon sure as fuck didn't.

Ranma fandom set the pattern for every dumb "which girl will he end up with?" fight in anime fandom forever after.

IDK if we can blame 1x2 as opposed to Gundam Wing fandom for inspiring people to many other incomprehensible math equation ships in every anime fandom with dumb number names.

Popslash popped a bunch of prudes' RPF cherries, then LOTRiPS did, then J2 did, then hockey did, then BTS did.

Free! and then Yuri on Ice started the long slide from anime fandoms mostly refusing to leave FFN to newer anime fandoms being on AO3. YOI also lured a lot of people into anime for the first time.

Wangxian got a bunch of "Ewww, no anime ever! Western fandoms 5eva!" people into Asian fandoms at long last. (Whether this was a good thing is a matter of opinion. Hahaha.)

--

I really think it depends on frame of reference.

[incognitajones]

Reading meme 📚

What’s up readers?! How about a little show and tell? Answer these 13 questions, tag 13 lucky readers and if you’re feeling extra bookish add a shelfie! Let’s Go!

Thanks for the tag, @lucymonster, this was a lot of fun!

1) The Last book I read: The Sleeping Car Porter by Suzette Mayr, finally, which has been on my radar since I saw her speak in 2022. /o\ I loved the narrator's voice & it lived up to the hype, though I might have some nitpicks about the ending.

2) A book I recommend: Like lucymonster, I have to ask "For who?" and "What are they looking for?" You can't make me suggest something completely at random!

That said, when this was my job, my go-to rec for anyone who enjoyed mysteries and/or thrillers was Tana French; for science fiction/action readers, Martha Wells' Murderbot series; and Kelly Link or Mariana Enríquez for litfic & fantasy folks. 

3) A book that I couldn’t put down: Hild (and its sequel Menewood)

4) A book I’ve read twice (or more): The last thing I re-read was The Worm Ouroboros. It's a strange book and almost indescribable; very much of its time but also written in deliberately, completely antique prose, sort of as if Tolkien had been inspired by Orlando Furioso.

5) A book on my TBR: SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome

6) A book I’ve put down: These days I put down more fantasy novels and contemporary romances than I finish; I'm picky about prose and characterization and a lot of them are too bland.

7) A book on my wish list: The Mask of Fear. I'm not a fan of most SW tie-in novels, but Alexander Freed is one of my exceptions, plus I always want more Saw Gerrera and Mon Mothma!

8) A favorite book from childhood: Continuing on the theme of pony books from lucy - I read hundreds of them, but my all-time favourite was Fly-by-Night.

9) A book you would give to a friend: The last book I gave as a gift (to someone who's a massive local politics/municipal government wonk) was How Infrastructure Works: Inside the Systems That Shape Our World.

10) A book of poetry or lyrics that you own: Sadly, I don't actually own it anymore as over the past few years, I've drastically downsized my physical library. But before that, I held on to this edition of Akhmatova's selected poems in translation for decades. 

11) A nonfiction book you own: One book that made the downsizing cut and stayed on my shelf is LeGuin's The Wave in the Mind. Her essays were just as foundational for me as her fiction.  

12) What are you currently reading: Just started The Blighted Stars - Megan O'Keefe is one of the few romance writers whose work I consistently enjoy so I have high hopes for her SF.

13) What are you planning on reading next? One of two books that I have to read soon or return to the library: either the light contemporary romcom (Under Your Spell) or the thick history book (Shadows at Noon: The South Asian Twentieth Century) depending on my mood this weekend.

Tagging my reading peeps @englishable @mosylu @glorious-spoon @anghraine @rain-sleet-snow @intellectualcarrot plus anyone who wants to!

[wanderingsimsfinds]

❤️ Here is a collection of Asian inspired patterns ❤️

Introducing the Asian Collection

There are 40 seamless patterns included (Asian 1-40)

Found under THEMED

There are ZIPs for sims3packs, packages, and preview images

There is a MERGED package file with all 40 patterns

DOWNLOAD (SFS) (MediaFire)

Source: Various Artists on Creative Fabrica

[katsurinssims]

I use quite a few east Asian style skins for my Tokyo inspired hood, so need a good amount of variety! My favouries are Digi's skins that I use constantly, but recently I've become fond of Pöttchen's skinblend of Pooklet's Downboy skin with Ephemera's Asian skins- so I just wanted a few more colours of it to work with ^^

Bear in mind, I've not edited the skin at all, just recoloured. Its from 2009 and doesn't have different textures for fat & fit, and shows its age in a few ways. I used 6 of AlfredAskew's colours (swatch).

I'm not experienced in Genetisized skins, but I made custom, Geneticised and towniefied versions using Wardrobe Wrangler, so hopefully they work aha ^^ I've also Made Gen+Townie versions of Pöttchen's original colours, everything's labelled in a SFS folder.

Download Pöttchen + Pooklet Downboy Asia style!

[mrs-mquve-cc]

1K Followers Party Part 3: Clothes!

Info and downloads under the cut!

Fantasia of the Wind - 4t2 Joliebean Olivia Dress with Lilith Pumps @deedee-sims converted this beautiful dress by Joliebean from TS4, but I'm not a fan of open-toed shoes with formalwear, so @rudhira was kind enough to swap them with Io's reshaped version of Sentate's Lilith pumps for me (thanks again! ☺️) The bodice was originally see-through and the skirt had a sparkly texture, but it wasn't right for the style I envisioned. So I made the bodice opaque and added black lace, and because I like to put brocade on everything, I did that and  recolored it in 7 jewel tones and black. I did some heavy texture editing on this and honestly I think it's some of my best work thus far. I would've liked to do more recolors,  but I was fussing so much with colors on this for some reason (maybe I'll revisit it at  some point).

They are for AF, categorized as formal only, and the mesh has both morphs and 7326 polys. [SWATCH] DOWNLOAD Fantasia of the Wind SFS | Google Drive | Mega

Karma Chameleon - Trapping's top-only Victoria dress in 5 styles This cute dress is one of my favorites ever, and I had a couple of Aelia & Kayleigh's full-body versions in my game for years. My favorite is the cyberboots one, not just because I love those shoes, but the Asian-inspired floral patterns are so pretty. So since I'm addicted to top-only dresses I had planned to put the recolors on Trapping's mesh & Peggster's TF conversion for ages, but never got to it for some reason. I didn't stop there, and I may have gone a bit overboard. I added Yuichen's "Candyfloss" retexture (and made 7 more pastel recolors), Nymphy's "Mind Restless" recolors of Yuichen's Anther, 8 shimmery brocade patterns (did I mention I like to put brocade on everything?) and 6 miscellaneous patterns. So you get a ridiculous 36 recolors 😆

They're for AF & TF (repo'd & standalone options included), everyday only, both morphs for AF and fat morph for TF, and 1491 polys. 

SWATCHES: Aelia | Yuichen | Nymphy | Brocade | Misc patterns

DOWNLOAD Karma Chameleon SFS | Google Drive | Mega

My Girl Wants To Party All The Time - DeeDee's 4t2 Ruched Dress Party bottom only with Lilith Pumps I recolored this dress a couple years ago and I love the mesh but wasn't really using them anymore because they were a bit plain for my current aesthetic.So I added Xandher's lace leggings and made new recolors in 7 neons, 7 pastels, and black. The pastels have heart patterned leggings and the neons have zebra print ones. There are two black recolors with both styles of leggings. I didn't change the texture of the dress because it's surprisingly (IMO) nice for a Maxis TS4 outfit.

These are for AF & TF (again, you have repo'd & standalone options), everyday only, same deal with the morphs, and 1158 polys. [SWATCH] DOWNLOAD My Girl Wants To Party All The Time SFS | Google Drive | Mega Credits: Fantasia of the Wind Mesh - Joliebean, DeeDee (4t2), Rudhira (shoeswap), Sentate (shoes), Io (shoes edit) Textures - Joliebean (edited by me), WallpaperDirect, jucsticestock @ DeviantArt Karma Chameleon Mesh - EAxis (original from H&M), Flinn (edit), Trapping (top-only), Peggster (TF) Textures - Aelia, Nymphy, Yuichen, Textures.com Color actions - Furbyq & BerryNooboos Patterns - -WallpaperDirect -Jleonardart @ Society6 -Praxicalidocious @ Colourlovers -byre_wilde, sewcus_pocus, & sugargrave @ Spoonflower My Girl Wants To Party All The TIme Mesh - EAxis (TS4), Veranka (4t2), Rented-Space (bottom-only), DeeDee (shoeswap), Sentate (shoes) Textures - EAxis, Xandher Color actions - Kinu, Pooklet, Huning, & CuriousB

[jimhair]

There are a few jobs I would do just for the pleasure of it. Tired of working in a warehouse I answered an ad in the SF Chronicle when Butterfield and Butterfield needed a catalog photographer. They offered me $7/hr and I was happy to accept. It was half what I was earning, and there were no benefits, but I was 36, had two kids, and I wanted to work creatively. The cut in salary, and working at something that made me happy may have also contributed to the ending of the marriage to the mother of my children, but it was inevitable. The first day I was handed a stack of matted artwork for the upcoming photography auction and told to copy each piece. It was in alphabetical order and the first photograph was a 16x20 portrait of Edward Weston sitting on a huge tree, by Ansel Adams. This was one of my inspirations, and I took it as a sign that everything would work out. I loved Asian art, and my first catalog cover was a 4x5 Ektachrome photograph of a carved jade panel from China. I was able to touch and examine the most amazing art from every era, from all over the world; every photographer and artist I admired, and ceramics and sculpture I had only seen before from a distance, behind glass. In decades of working for a number of companies, Bernard Osher was also the first and only company owner that gave every employee a giant turkey for Thanksgiving. 19th Century Jade Plaque, four character Qianlong mark on the side, 10 x 8 1/2 inches, sale estimate $10,000 - $15,000 新年快樂！ 🇺🇦💔🌎💔🌏💔🌍💔🇺🇦 #earth #human #america #art #documentary @kodak #ektachrome #4x5 #transparency #film #catalog #photography #filmisnotdead #istillshootfilm #filmisalive #fromwhereistand #pdx #portland #nw #northwest #leftcoast #oregon 8906 Ektachrome https://www.instagram.com/p/CnxUAk6ylxJ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[holycrownstarlight]

( Face Claim )

Hi everyone! (⁠・⁠∀⁠・⁠)

I'd like to introduce to you my spidersona, Silky Gem - a Brazilian Jewel Tarantula ^^

I was never a big fan of spiders as they all terrified me but, this one in particular helped me get over my arachnophobia just a little.

I wanted my design to be solely based on the qualities that this spider shows rather than what the OG Peter Parker has got on. Nothing wrong with it particular, just that it didn't scream "spider" to me besides the webs and logo ofc.

Besides that, I've been working on a comic about this since the release of the second spiderverse movie! It's still under the works but it's coming along (⁠人⁠*⁠´⁠∀⁠｀⁠)⁠｡⁠*ﾟ⁠+

I'd say the fur coat looks a bit off as it doesn't seem to fit the rest of the colors but then again that is part of the colors of the Brazilian Jewel's bottom. Or either like a burgundy. Actually now looking back at the other photos, should've done Burgundy (⁠┛⁠✧⁠Д⁠✧⁠)⁠)⁠┛⁠彡⁠┻⁠━⁠┻

Update: Did a quick revised ref of what it'll look like with Burgundy. Imagine that as the final piece

✧*｡⁠*ﾟ⁠+*⁠.⁠✧*｡⁠*ﾟ⁠+*⁠.⁠✧*｡⁠*ﾟ⁠+*⁠.⁠✧*｡⁠*ﾟ⁠+*⁠.✧*｡⁠*ﾟ⁠+*⁠.⁠✧*｡⁠*ﾟ⁠+*

Theme Song:

Dance the Night by Dua Lipa

Step On It by Ariana Grande

HIP by MAMAMO

Pocketful of Sunshine by Natasha Bedingful

Quote: "We have to be greater than what we suffer"

Nickname: Camila Ji-Hyun Santos

Alias: Silky Gem

Type: Brazilian Jewel Tarantula 💎

Age + bday: 17, Fri Dec 3

Gender: Female

Ethnicity: Asian Latin American

Hometown: San Francisco

Earth: 201823

Occupation: Student, Costume designer/Seamstress, Artist, Vigilante

Likes:

Dance

Fashion

Drawing

Dislikes:

Miguel O'Hara

Fascits

Great leadership skills

Dedicated to one's beliefs/causes

Anger could go 0 to 100 real quick

Fiery intuition

Doesnt sugarcoat anything; speaks what she thinks

All about individuality and freedom with a knack of fun and adventure

Always protects her friends

Can come across as intimidating but is sweet (for the most part)

Has an eye for details and analytical outlook

Can be a bit childish sometimes

ENFJ

1w9

Soulful + sentimental

Passionate, independent, and driven

Very energetic and compassionate

Very confident and headstrong

Adaptable

Artistic and creative

Rebellious

Innovative and eccentric

Witty

Sassy and fiesty

Wise and determined

Virtuous, studious

Combat: long range

Skills: aerial

Abilities

- web shooting

- wall crawling

- spidey sense

- camouflage

- night vision

- enhanced senses, speed

- superhuman strength

- high durability, reflexes, and healing factor

Introducing “Silk Gem”, the arachnid-inspired hero guarding the vibrant streets of San Francisco.

Meet Camila Ji-Hyun Santos, a spirited Asian Latin American teenager, navigating the bustling streets with a newfound twist in her life’s web.

It all began innocently enough in BioChemistry class at Mission High School where Cami had a knack for connecting w/ animals. Little did she know that the class pet, a stunning Brazilian Jewel Tarantula named Sapphire's, would change her destiny forever. 

Drawn to Sapphire’s mysterious beauty, Cami spends any chance she can get to care for  after school. One evening, during a routine feeding session, a sudden mishap led to a startled Sapphire, biting Cami in a defensive reaction. 

Shocked and initially fearful, Cami later realizes the bite has bestowed her extraordinary abilities. 

Over the following days, Cami begins to manifest spider-like abilities:

With her newfound abilities and love for aiding those in need, she uses it to an advantage to help protect the city.

Now as Silk Gem, with her heart as big as the Golden Gate Bridge and a determination forged from the colorful streets called home, she patrols the diverse neighborhoods of SF.

But though being a hero comes not just crime fighting, but also interference with her personal life. She tries to navigate the complexities of teenagehood with the challenges of school, family, friends, and love all while balancing her dual identities. When obstacles come to push her around, she finds strength in her cause, motivating and reminding her “Why”.

In the Twilight shadows of the city by the bay, Silk Gem stands as a beacon of resiliency and determination, a testament to the transformative power of endurance and self worth.

Camila was a whirlwind of energy and talent at her high school. In the classroom, she was the studious academic achiever, excelling in advanced placement courses and leading study groups late into the evening. Her artistic side shone brightly through her involvement in theater productions, where her creativity breathed life into every character she portrayed.

Beyond the stage, Camila was a social butterfly, effortlessly navigating between student government meetings, charity drives, and community service projects. Always impeccably dressed, she set trends effortlessly, her fashion sense turning heads in the hallways and at school events.

As a leader, she spearheaded business clubs and organized memorable fundraisers and dances, ensuring every detail was perfect. Her passion for social justice was evident in her activism for environmental issues and human rights, driving change within and beyond the school walls.

Despite her busy schedule, Camila remained a versatile and multi-talented student, balancing music rehearsals, sports practices, and academic club meetings with ease. Her charisma and kindness made her beloved by peers and teachers alike, leaving an indelible mark on everyone fortunate enough to know her.

Despite Cami's impressive array of talents and positive qualities, she, like everyone else, would likely have some flaws that add depth to her character:

1. **Perfectionism**: Cami's drive for academic and artistic excellence could sometimes border on perfectionism, leading her to put excessive pressure on herself and others around her.

2. **Overcommitment**: Her involvement in numerous clubs and activities might occasionally overwhelm her, causing stress and fatigue as she tries to balance everything.

3. **Impulsiveness**: In her pursuit of new trends and experiences, Sarah might occasionally act impulsively, making decisions without fully considering the consequences.

4. **Difficulty Saying No**: Because of her desire to help others and be involved in various projects, Sarah might find it challenging to say no, leading to overextension and burnout.

5. **Competitiveness**: While her competitive nature drives her to excel, it could sometimes strain relationships if not kept in check, especially in academic or extracurricular contexts.

6. **Tendency to Overlook Details**: Despite her leadership abilities, Cami's focus on big-picture goals could lead her to overlook crucial details in planning and organizing events.

7. **Workaholic Tendencies**: Cami's passion for her activities might occasionally lead her to neglect self-care, sacrificing rest and relaxation for productivity.

Reblogs are more ideal > Likes

[laurencegrigorov]

The 16 best things to do in San Francisco

Famously beautiful, San Francisco is one of the most filmed, photographed (and shared on social networks) cities in the world. It’s even better in real life.

Laurence Grigorov, who is director of a South African based residential property development firm, enjoys travelling around the world.

Travelling abroad to enjoy different cultures and places is a hobby and favourite pastime for Laurence Grigorov. This allows him to both relax and unwind, as well as exposing hi to various architectural and design ideas and styles.

1. Admire the Golden Gate Bridge from these vantage points

Other suspension bridges are impressive feats of engineering, but the Golden Gate Bridge tops them all for its razzle-dazzle. On sunny days, this American icon transfixes crowds with its radiant glow (there are great views from Crissy Field), made possible by the work of 28 daredevil painters who reapply around 1000 gallons of International Orange paint each week. To inspect their work, duck under the bridge into Fort Point, make your way to the roof and look up: you’ll notice that even on the underbelly of the bridge, not a single rivet is allowed to get rusty.

2. Explore the attractions of Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate Park seems to contain just about everything San Franciscans love about their city, from bonsai and buffalo to flowers, free music and free spirits. The de Young Museum offers superb exhibitions of fine art in a striking contemporary building designed by Herzog & de Meuron, while the nearby California Academy of Sciences is a research institute and fabulous natural history museum complete with its own rainforest and aquarium. The park is also home to the San Francisco Botanical Garden, Japanese Tea Garden, Conservatory of Flowers and Stow Lake. Today, everything SF needs is here: inspiration, nature and murals.

3. Photograph the Mission’s 400+ street murals

Love changed the course of art history in the 1930s when modern-art power couple Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo honeymooned in San Francisco. Kahlo completed her first portrait commissions during her time in the city, while Rivera created public masterpieces that inspired generations of San Francisco muralists. Today San Francisco’s Mission District is an urban-art showstopper, featuring more than 400 murals throughout the neighborhood.

4. Browse the iconic City Lights Books

Free speech and free spirits have rejoiced since 1957, when City Lights founder and poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti and manager Shigeyoshi Murao won a landmark ruling defending their right to publish Allen Ginsberg's magnificent epic poem Howl. Celebrate your freedom to read freely in the designated Poet’s Chair upstairs, overlooking Jack Kerouac Alley. Then load up on zines on the mezzanine and entertain radical ideas downstairs in the new “Pedagogies of Resistance” section.

5. Jump on a cable car – and hold tight

Carnival rides can’t compare to the time-traveling thrills of the cable car, San Francisco’s steampunk mode of public transport. As the rickety wagons ascend notoriously steep streets, first-timers slide into strangers’ laps – cable cars were invented in 1873, long before seat belts – as regulars just grip the leather hand straps, leaning back and riding the downhill plunges like pro surfers. Follow their lead, and you’ll soon master the San Francisco stance and find yourself conquering the city’s hills without even breaking a sweat.

6. Be inspired at the Asian Art Museum

Inspiration can be found across three floors spanning 6000 years of Asian art at this inspiring museum. Visitors can take in everything from meditative Tibetan mandalas to palace-intrigue Mughal miniatures, with stops to admire intricate Islamic geometric tile work, giddy arrays of Chinese snuff bottles and an entire Japanese minimalist teahouse. Besides the largest collection of Asian art outside Asia – 18,000-plus works – the Asian Art Museum offers excellent all-ages programs, from shadow-puppet shows to DJ mixers. Expanded ground-floor galleries host groundbreaking contemporary installations, from Jean Shin’s melted cell phone towers to teamLAB’s immersive Tokyo dreamscapes.

7. Savor California food culture at the Ferry Building

Global food trends start in San Francisco. To sample tomorrow’s menu today, head to the Ferry Building, the city’s monument to trailblazing local, sustainable food. Don’t miss the Saturday farmers market, where top chefs jostle for the first pick of rare heirloom varietals, and foodie babies blissfully teethe on organic California peaches.

8. Tour Alcatraz, the notorious island prison

From its 19th-century founding as a jail for Civil War deserters and Native American dissidents until its closure by Robert Kennedy in 1963, Alcatraz was America’s most notorious penitentiary. With easy access from the city, a thrilling and unexpected history, daring tales of thwarted escape attempts and stunning views of the San Francisco skyline, “the Rock” garners 1.4 million visitors each year. Freedom will never feel so good as it will on the return ferry to San Francisco, only 1.25 miles across the bay’s riptides.

9. Duck down the backstreets of Chinatown

Enter Dragon’s Gate to saunter down Chinatown’s main tourist drag, Grant Ave. It's hard to believe this pagoda-topped, souvenir-shop-packed strip was once the wildest spot in the West – at least until you see the fascinating displays at the Chinese Historical Society of America. Walk Waverly Place, Chinatown’s soul, lined with flag-festooned, colorful temple balconies and family-run businesses. Then duck into Chinatown’s historic alleyways to glimpse a neighborhood that’s survived against daunting odds, listening for mah-jongg tiles, temple gongs and Chinese orchestras as you wander the backstreets.

10. Trace the history of the avant-garde at SFMOMA

From the moment of its founding in 1935, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art envisioned a world of radical new possibilities. SFMOMA was a forward-thinking early collector in such then-emerging media as photography, murals, film and installation. Today, the institution has tripled in size and ambition, dedicating entire wings to new media, room-size paintings, high-tech design and monumental Richard Serra sculptures.

11. Go over the rainbow in the Castro

Somewhere over the rainbow (crosswalk), you’ll realize you’ve officially arrived in the Castro district – the most out-and-proud neighborhood on the planet for more than 50 years. Walk in the footsteps of LGBTIQ+ trailblazers along the Rainbow Honor Walk, get to know civil-rights champions at America’s first GLBT History Museum and join history perpetually in progress at San Francisco’s month-long, million-strong Pride celebrations in June.

12. Take in the city panorama from Coit Tower

Wild parrots might mock your progress up Telegraph Hill – but then again, they shouldn’t expect to keep scenery like this to themselves. The Filbert St Steps pass cliffside cottage gardens to reach SF’s monument to independent thinking: Coit Tower. Fire-fighting millionaire Lillie Hitchcock Coit commissioned this art deco monument to honor firefighters, while muralists captured 1930s San Francisco in its lobby frescoes. Coit Tower’s paintings and panoramic viewing platform show off the city at its best: all broad perspectives, outlandish and inspiring. 

13. Hear the sea lions bark at Pier 39

Sea lions took over Pier 39, San Francisco’s most coveted waterfront real estate, in 1989 and have been making a public display of themselves ever since. Naturally, these unkempt squatters have become San Francisco’s favorite mascots, and since California law requires boats to make way for marine mammals, yacht owners have had to relinquish valuable slips to accommodate as many as 1000 sea lions. Night and day, they canoodle, belch, scratch and gleefully shove one another off the docks. It’s a joy to watch.

14. Get hands-on with science at the Exploratorium

Can you stop time, sculpt fog or make sand sing? At the Exploratorium, San Francisco’s hands-on laboratory of science and human perception, you’ll discover superhuman abilities you never knew you had. But the Exploratorium is not just for kids: there are kid-free hours on Thursdays offering mad-scientist cocktails, technology-assisted sing-alongs and themed exhibits for an 18-plus crowd. 

15. Play vintage amusements at Musée Mécanique

A flashback to penny arcades, the Musée Mécanique in Fisherman’s Wharf houses a mind-blowing collection of vintage mechanical amusements. Sinister, freckle-faced “Laffing Sal” has freaked out kids for over a century, yet don’t let this manic mannequin deter you from the best arcade west of Coney Island. A quarter lets you start brawls in Wild West saloons, peep at belly dancers through a vintage Mutoscope and get hypnotized by a Ferris wheel made from toothpicks.

16. Sip a cocktail at a Barbary Coast bar

Friendly bartenders were once highly suspect in Barbary Coast, San Francisco’s Gold Rush–era red-light district. Circa 1849, a night that began with smiles and a 10-cent whiskey could end two days later, waking from a drugged sleep on a vessel bound for Patagonia. Now that double-crossing barkeep Shanghai Kelly is no longer a danger to drinkers, San Franciscans can relax over historically correct cocktails at North Beach’s revived Barbary Coast saloons, including Comstock Saloon, Devil’s Acre and 15 Romolo. Today’s saloon scene is a fitting homage to drunken sailors of yore, with iron stools, absinthe fountains, dim lighting and reassuring barkeep banter.

Text and images courtesy of Alison Bing at www.lonelyplanet.com

[cool-in-san-fr-ca]

The Belvedere SF

A terrace offers a personal outdoor retreat where people may relax, interact with nature, and take part in various activities. A patio becomes an extension of the living spaces, ideal for entertaining, relaxing, gardening, or just taking in the fresh air. It raises a property's aesthetic value, raising its total worth. Terraces can aid in sustainability by offering areas for solar panel installation, composting, and planting. Check out The Belvedere SF, which is one of the luxurious condominiums in Cow Hollow. Some of its apartments include balconies that boast panoramic views, giving residents a distinctive perspective of their surroundings. Its intelligent construction enables year-round usability by offering cover from the sun, privacy, and the elements. Its intelligent construction enables year-round usability by offering cover from the sun, privacy, and the elements.

People Stats of San Francisco, California

The population of San Francisco, California, is diverse and reflects its rich cultural tapestry. The metropolis has 865,933 residents and there are 18,478 individuals per square mile. Due to its tight urban design, it has an abundance of people. The population is varied in terms of nationalities and backgrounds, having significant numbers of White, Asian, and Hispanic/Latino residents. The area has a sizable LGBTQ+ community and is renowned for its welcoming of LGBTQ+ individuals. It is also known for being politically active and progressive. A competent workforce from all over the world has been drawn to the city's tech sector, fostering an inventive culture. Nevertheless, its demographic patterns are affected by problems like income inequality and a high cost of living.

Legion of Honor in San Francisco, CA

Inspired by the French neoclassical landmark, the Legion of Honor was built as a memorial to the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I. The museum is known for its impressive collection of European artworks spanning centuries, including paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, and ancient artifacts. Its collection of masterworks, representing various forms of art and eras, includes works by Rembrandt, Monet, Rodin, and Van Gogh. Its magnificent architecture, positioned on a hill in Lincoln Park, provides expansive vistas of the city and the Golden Gate Bridge. It is a cultural treasure because of its dedication to preserving and presenting cultural heritage, which enhances San Francisco's thriving artistic community and draws tourists from all over the globe.

San Francisco Launches Driverless Bus Service

Instead of employing human drivers, Driverless Bus Services manage routes, avoid hazards, and protect passengers using sensors, cameras, and sophisticated software. They want to increase the effectiveness of the transportation system, lessen traffic, and encourage environmentally friendly urban mobility. Buses without drivers could improve accessibility, especially in places with few other options for public transportation. Regulatory issues including the majority's acceptance, technology dependability, and government permission continue to exist. Studies are being conducted by businesses and cities all around the world to enhance innovation and overcome these problems. While this type of advancement holds out the prospect of safer and more effective transportation, its successful deployment depends on a combination of legal frameworks, technological breakthroughs, and the public's approval of autonomous vehicles.

Link to maps

Legion of Honor

100 34th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121, United States

Get on US-101 S from El Camino Del Mar and Lincoln Blvd

8 min (2.6 mi)

Follow US-101 S to Van Ness Ave

9 min (3.1 mi)

The Belvedere SF

2525 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94109, United States

[amcsociety]

Chinglish

Bill English presents “Chinglish" at the San Francisco Playhouse. The play is written by David Henry Hwang and directed by Jeffrey Lo. It features a cast including Michael Barrett Austin as Daniel Cavanaugh, Matthew Bohrer as Peter Timms, Alex Hsu as Cai Guoliang, Sharon Shao as Miss Qian/Prosecutor Li, Nicole Tung as Xi Yan, Phil Wong as Bing/Judge Xu Geming, and Xun Zhang as Zhao. The play will run at SF Playhouse until June 10. Tickets are available at Sfplayhouse.org

The show is a hilarious romp at getting lost in translation that is common with the inter-mingling of multi-cultural characters/settings as in the play when a Cleveland based businessman decides to go to China to expand his Signs making business by translating signs in the upcoming construction of a cultural center.

Chinglish" is a comedic play written by David Henry Hwang, an acclaimed American playwright known for works like "M. Butterfly."

“Chinglish" explores cultural and linguistic barriers in the context of business relations between China and the Western world. It tells the story of an American businessman who travels to China to secure a lucrative contract but encounters numerous misunderstandings and cultural clashes due to language differences and cultural nuances.

The play uses humor to highlight the challenges of cross-cultural communication and sheds light on the complexities and misinterpretations that can arise in such situations. "Chinglish" has been praised for its witty dialogue and sharp observations about cultural differences. It provides an opportunity for audiences to reflect on the intricacies of language and cultural exchange in a globalized world.

Overall, "Chinglish" has received positive reviews for its clever writing and thought-provoking themes. However, theater experiences are subjective, and individual opinions may vary. It's always best to read multiple reviews or watch the play yourself to form your own judgment.

Renowned Playwright

David Henry Hwang is a renowned playwright known for his insightful works that explore themes of identity, culture, and Asian-American experiences. Some of his notable plays include:

1. "M. Butterfly" (1988): This Tony Award-winning play is Hwang's most famous work. It is a fictionalized retelling of the true story of a French diplomat who carries on a 20-year affair with a Chinese opera singer, unaware of his lover's true gender.

2. "Chinglish" (2011): A comedy that delves into the complexities of cross-cultural communication and business relations between China and the Western world. It humorously examines the challenges faced by an American businessman trying to navigate language and cultural barriers.

3. "Yellow Face" (2007): Blending fact and fiction, this play explores themes of racial identity and self-discovery. It follows Hwang's own experiences with the casting controversy surrounding his play "Face Value" and touches on broader issues of cultural representation in the entertainment industry.

4. "The Dance and the Railroad" (1981): Set in the 1860s, this play tells the story of two Chinese laborers working on the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad and their struggle to maintain their dignity and cultural identity in the face of adversity.

5. "Golden Child" (1996): Inspired by Hwang's own family history, this play examines the conflicts that arise when a traditional Chinese family in early 20th-century China embraces Western influences, particularly Christianity.

These are just a few examples of David Henry Hwang's works, but he has written many more plays and contributed to various other projects in the field of theater. His plays often explore themes of cultural assimilation, racial identity, and the complexities of East-West encounters.

US- China Relations History

The history of U.S.-China relations is complex and spans several decades. Here is a brief overview of some key milestones:

1. Early Relations: In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, U.S. traders established contact with China, primarily through the port of Canton (now Guangzhou). However, diplomatic relations were only established in 1844 with the Treaty of Wanghia.

2. Boxer Rebellion and Open Door Policy: In the early 20th century, the Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901) led to increased anti-foreigner sentiment in China. Following this, the United States advocated for an Open Door Policy to ensure equal commercial access for all nations in China.

3. World War II and the Civil War: During World War II, the United States and China were allies against the Axis powers. However, after the war, China descended into a civil war between the Nationalist government led by Chiang Kai-shek and the Communists under Mao Zedong.

4. Recognition of the People's Republic of China: In 1949, the Communists emerged victorious, and the People's Republic of China (PRC) was established. The United States initially did not recognize the PRC and continued to recognize Taiwan (Republic of China) as the legitimate government of China until 1979.

5. Ping Pong Diplomacy and Normalization: In the early 1970s, a series of events, including the "ping pong diplomacy" and secret negotiations, led to a thaw in U.S.-China relations. In 1972, President Richard Nixon visited China, and diplomatic relations were normalized in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter.

6. Trade and Economic Relations: Since the late 1970s, the U.S. and China have engaged in extensive trade and economic ties. China's economic reforms and opening up led to a significant increase in bilateral trade, with China becoming one of the United States' largest trading partners.

7. Human Rights and Political Differences: The U.S. and China have had ongoing disagreements over issues such as human rights, religious freedom, intellectual property rights, and cybersecurity. These differences have at times strained the bilateral relationship.

8. Taiwan and Hong Kong: The U.S. maintains unofficial relations with Taiwan and has been a long-standing supporter of its security. The issue of Hong Kong's autonomy and the erosion of its freedoms have also become contentious topics in recent years.

9. Strategic Competition and Cooperation: In recent years, the U.S.-China relationship has become more complex, characterized by both cooperation and competition. Issues such as trade imbalances, intellectual property theft, cybersecurity, territorial disputes in the South China Sea, and human rights concerns continue to impact the relationship.

It's important to note that the dynamics of U.S.-China relations are subject to change, and ongoing developments will shape the future trajectory of this significant bilateral relationship.

[passionatecatalyst-blog]

sometimes i wonder

sometimes i wonder if the underlying reason that people get together is an attempt to heal childhood wounds.

sometimes i wonder if part of the reason that we ended up together is because he needs someone who will provide him the complete attention that he never got as a child.

sometimes i wonder if we ended up together because i romanticised what we had in the past and that i liked the story of who i was when i was younger and wanted to experience it again.

sometimes i wonder if we ended up together because he reminds of me of my dad in some ways - the calm and stable temperament, the reliable presence, the unconditional love.

i notice the times when we trigger each other - when i'm on my phone and not listening to him, when he perceives me to be telling him what to do, when he tries to nudge me in a certain direction, when i express displeasure in his choices or taste.

today, i was thinking that it feels like by moving to london, i've stepped into his universe and when things aren't going well here, i start to blame him as the reason why, which is completely unfair on my end. i need to take more accountability because what i allow is what will continue. therefore, i must be the one to make the changes.

i wish he had a better community around him, i wish he put energy into finding interesting events to go to, but this is what i chose and this is my life now. and because you can't always get what you want, you need to be the one to make it happen.

i got pretty annoyed by him this week because sometimes, it feels like he can have an overpowering presence with his chattiness and it makes me feel invisible when we are out together. will it always feel this way? or is there something i can do to change it? something to ponder.

walking around the neighborhood to brunch today made me feel excited to explore again. i was feeling so uninspired by life on friday and needed to do something to make me feel alive again. after a night of fun, connecting with new people, and dancing at a quirky and vibrant retro bar in dalston last night, it brought that spark back and re-ignited the flame within. it also made me realize that maybe the best way to make friends is through friends of friends. a win from last night - i exchanged numbers with 3 potential new friends, a spanish girl with a phd who teaches film at the london college of communication and bought a home in crouch hill, an extroverted girl who approached me to tell me how beautiful i was, and an asian-american social worker from texas who's been here for 12 years and left early because she proclaimed to be an old fart now.

i know what i need to do in london in order to stay here long-term. i need to manifest a few things into reality - find my tribe and build a community of open-hearted friends, find a flat with a view and balcony overlooking a canal in a neighborhood with a good vibe, find more experiences that make me feel alive and inspired like live music and other events, and get a higher-paying job, which is totally possible considering that i'm making the same salary as i did over 15 years ago pre-master's. i know money isn't everything, but it does make me feel like i've regressed in one way. how sad is that?

is my quality of life better in sf or in london? a question that remains in the front of my consciousness. i have a much lower salary here, much less disposable income, and a less nice place to live. however, i'm probably healthier physically. emotionally? i'm creating my own suffering by making my happiness dependent on the weather.

today he said that he thinks i wallow too much and it becomes a self-perpetuating cycle. he said that he prefers if i expressed anger rather than sadness because at least anger suggests a zestiness rather than nihilism. i told him that maybe i love sauces so much because marinating can be a form of wallowing.

ideas that came to me today - writing as a creative outlet in which i can share my experiences as an expat in london as well as an experiment in self-therapizing. i will take the tools that i've learned as a mental health practitioner and will attempt to apply them to my own life. let's see how it goes.

a mantra from a book that i read and repeat to myself regularly -

we can do hard things.

[misterbitches]

(SNOB vOICE excuse me for talking abt myself on my own blog 2 no one...im always sf paranoid ppl think i'm being more pretentious than i actually am if they stumble upon my untagged posts)

i'm not a creative writer which is why i went to film school and not real school and write scripts. but i'll watch something dumb and post fics every now and then. so during lockdown i got this crazy idea in my head abt this very self-indulgent ridiculously boring but fun-for-me character study fic for winteam. i don't even know why i would have gotten the urge, i just liked them so much and bounprem's dynamic too.

around that time things everywhere were super fraught (still fucking is obviously) but it was when the pandemic was super bad and people were dropping like FLIES and there was constant state-sanctioned murder. in thailand there were a lot of protests because of a coup going on there and a protester in the VICE video i watched on it said music helped them deal with the poverty and drug use in the slum they lived in in thailand. the left and/or artistic, indie, DIY scenes in other countries always fascinate, inspire, and entice me. uniteasia is a great resource for alternative asian music. a large chunk is dedicated to metal, which i'm not into, but there's a decent amount of post-/punk, DIY/grunge, indie/alt, and post-hardcore. i've been seeing a lot of shoegaze lately too.

so all this brewing in me i started to really think about a (queer) anarcho-commieesque band au fic but team is a (gasp) [cis] girl and i know i know boo hoo but also fuck that! i got a comment about that which bugged me cause i had to justify my sexuality which was weird because why are we both not embarrassed to be on ao3? i get the impulse but no because it was specifically because of all the stuff above and me listening to a lot of my favorite bands like nirvana—in uwma win had posters of nirvana on his wall plus his hair (which could be poser-ish but now he has like 3 and a radiohead poster and an arctic monkeys and oasis poster so you know what werq plus i am actually a poser)—and hole, fiona apple (who had just come out with her new album), vince staples, a bunch of other good shit, and getting into sonic youth. it just got me thinking of like music and art and diy and gender and identity because that's something those bands/people talk(ed) about and struggled with, along with sexuality obviously, and i wrote a lot; still writing. so much was going on then but like life had to stop so so much wasn't? that intensity they bring...what it would be like when there's so much shit going on in the world, if team was different when shit is so different. in any other circumstance, i wouldn't have imagined this specific scenario (i published one? i think or maybe two fics i had for them b4 and wrote some on my own)

anyway i thought about just taking it down and completely reworking some of it into some script for some dumb romcom i'd attempt to write in a pipe dream for it to get made but these 2 are just too compelling for me and now that this show is here??!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?! they're the only ship that could make me give half of a shit enough to even think this hard or continue something for up to 2 fucking years or even think about it. and for what? cos the fic is bad cos again can't write like that but just what? they had FORTY MINUTES in uwma. that's actually bonkers insane. like i cannot believe this????? how can i clown on them too much when they got so many of us fuckin' whipped. it's fun writing them just being hot and cool and doing art tho lmao it's fun watching them jus tbeing hot and cool and freakishly in love anyway i'm editing the stuff i've written and posted and will just save it instead of reposting. so if anyone ever read it before they can be extremely surprised at how different it is ^___^

speaking of music prem's song is really fuckin' good it's just the right amount of good pop with an edge it's a greaaaaaat background song for their scenes. genuinely good and i am never a fan of tv OSTs they are usually generic to me

[mokah]

aashi rahman.

this particular anon asked for a south asian, trans female sim with the cheerful and dog lover traits. her clothing is colourful and 90′s inspired.

she comes with one everyday outfit (and some cute tattoos). the rest is up to you! 

this sim is up for public dl. 

dl | sfs

[lurking-lilibeth]

Little Buddha Karaoke and Ramen

Here’s another small, low-CC community lot for your Asian-themed neighborhoods and travel locations. Or any neighborhoods, really. I built it for my Downtown. :D

The 1x2 lot is originally from this set; I forgot to rename it, so the lot file is named Desert CL 1x2 in Clean Installer. Pictures were taken during play-testing but the lot was packaged before any sim stepped foot on it and the set the empty lot is from seems okay. Use Clean Installer just in case and have fun.

Included:

Bamboo Shelf of Balance from Store (red in Clean Installer);

Japanese walls by Lama;

second story OMSP 2 by Silent Lucidity.

NOT included:

Maxis paintings recolors that can be found here and here.

HIGHLY recommended:

This mod to make vending machines less attractive. Otherwise everyone will just hang out outside near them, while the lot is fully functional.

DOWNLOAD (SFS)

Edit: I knew I forgot something. The inspiration for the lot comes from TinySimBee’s TS4 builds over on youtube. It’s a really nice channel, so definitely check it out.

[daman19942]

Lemon Posset - A Corner Lot with Working Side Garage

Took me long enough to prepare this upload! Lemon Posset is a two-story 4 bed, 4.5 bath New England style colonial that balances a historic-inspired exterior with modern amenities. Forgive the long post, but I need to share some details for how this lot functions. 

Download: SFS | MTS

This may be my first residential lot in a decade, but the highlight of the build is the fully functional side garage, made possible by Mootilda’s LotAdjuster and Rotatable Driveways and HugeLunatic’s Rotatable Garage Doors. I was sooo happy when this worked in testing and I didn’t get a BFBVFS. Owned vehicles will use the vertical road. Carpools and service vehicles will use the horizontal road, as usual. 

There is light CC included in the file, which is outlined below. The files linked above are NOT included but are super duper recommended for this lot to function properly. Also, I hope you have the Invisible Driveway. 

CC Included (Exterior wall) Sims1 SS Movie 1 by simthing (Exterior wall) Grey Brick2 by PiaNouka - originally from a TS2 Exchange house OFB Story Fence in Whitest Clean by Ailias Colonial Privacy Window by Leefish MaxiGlass French Doors 3t2 by Shastakiss Stair Wall Fix by JRW Missink Point Mystery Topiary by MaxoidMonkey Flambeaux Wall Lamp from 3t2 Old Town: Starter Kit by Shastakiss Rugs of energy by MA Designs (from Asian Fusion Set) by Shastakiss CC Shown But Not Included Ford Mustang 1965 by Virtual Jack.  Tofunda Kombii 3t2 by Gingers Sims.  Roof Trim Defaults (Gray with white trim shown) by Phaenoah. 

I think that’s it? Please let me know any issues with the lot. Enjoy!