#Business Launch Distribution

[thekuraning]

sometimes your boyfriend has a chicken and sometimes he needs to infodump about the chicken and the chicken’s power marble

[boneblushed]

Ignorance by infatuation

synopsis A detective behaves lewdly with you. Aaron Hotchner gets uncharacteristically jealous.

wc 1.7k

a/n omg my first Hotch fic ever hehe 🤭 feedback and love always appreciated, still trying to find my Crim Minds voice!

It’s 8 o’clock in the morning, the air sultry and verdant, rain soaked leaves underfoot. 

Aaron Hotchner frowns. Petrichor and dew mean evidence awash. He pauses to squint up at the sky, muddy grey with isolated streaks of yellow dawn.

You’re acutely aware of Spencer’s eyes on you as you walk past Hotch, and give yourself a mild headache by focussing too hard on the commotion ahead. The rest of the team don’t seem to notice the tension between you and SSA Hotchner. Or perhaps they do, and the pair of you are just too stubborn to admit it.

It’s been lurking under the surface for a while now, this perplexing pull between you. Lingering glances, raised eyebrows, irises spooled with tendrils of static. A hand pressed against your back every time he scoots behind you, like an excuse. He doesn’t do that with Emily. None of the other agents. A frown that tends to yield when your gaze catches his.

Or hardens when someone acts a little lewder than is appropriate.

Like the other day, for example, when he’d overheard you on the phone with some deadbeat cop in the Dallas area. (He’s probably being unfair. He probably isn’t even a deadbeat. It’s just that anyone that flirts with the idea of your favour is going to be unworthy in comparison, even Agent Hotchner.)

The phone had rung in the middle of your exchange, and you’d answered it immediately, mouthing apologies in its place. Aaron Hotchner remembers the shine of gloss on your lips, the ways your fingers clasped the phone to your ear, gentle but firm. Remnants of peach coloured polish on your nails.

“Yes, this is she,” you’d answered, mouthing another apology to him. “How can I help you?”

You’d come into his office a few minutes prior to discuss something media strategy; Hotch didn’t have a mind for it, he much preferred giving you all the reins. He recognised how strange this was for a control freak as prolific as him. You were different though, he’d attest. It was a sentiment as dangerous, as non-platonic, as the feelings making home in his ribcage.

“Right,” you’d said, pulling your spiral-bound notebook out of your pocket. You’d wedged your phone between your ear and shoulder, slipping your pen out of your breast pocket and clicking it against it. Hotch felt unseasonably hot at such attention to your chest. He raised his eyebrows inquisitively, trying to catch your gaze.

“Ah, I see, yes that does sound like our area of expertise,” you’d continued, and then a pause, an awkward, unwieldy laugh. Still beautiful. “No, yes, our is correct — I am in fact part of the team.” Another pause; this time, you’d rolled your eyes when your laugh spooled out of your pretty mouth. He didn’t recognise it. “I don’t know about that. Should we get back to the case at hand? Great.”

Hotchner’s eyebrows had lowered then, furrowing into an expression of concern, flailing interest. Not jealousy. He was pretty certain he knew all your laughs, the cadence of them, the syrupy timbre. This one was new. You sounded uncomfortable, as though something said over the phone had abraded you somehow. As his eyebrows had, his heart had sunk into his stomach. He remembers the strain of his forearm muscles against his clenched knuckles.

“Sure. Yes. As soon as I have all the details I’ll be able to distribute them. Great, yes, we’ll see you soon, I’m sure. Thank you. Goodbye.”

And that had been that. Hotch hadn’t had the stomach to ask after the details, especially not when you’d seemed so eager to put it behind you.

After ending the call, you’d shaken your head and proclaimed, “Don’t ask,” launching back into your spiel about media strategy like it hadn’t happened. Hotch wasn’t in the business of disagreeing with you; pressing things. Saying no. It wasn’t lost on him that he used the word liberally with everyone else he knew.

Back at the scene, Hotch stays a few steps behind the team. He knows that Spencer’s assessing eyes will see right through his faux contemplation; Hotchner knows, from the many frowns Spencer’s eidetic memory has learned, that the expression on his face will be recognised as distraction.

He needs to focus. He needs you near. He needs to keep his eye on the ball. He needs deadbeat detective far away from here.

As you and the BAU team near the crime scene, a rugged looking cop pulls away from his colleagues. He has eyes like treacle tart and a grin that borders on a smirk. A toothpick hangs from his mouth like something out of a Western.

“Detective Landon?” You say, extending a hand in acknowledgement. “Hello, we spoke on the phone yesterday morning.”

Detective Landon spits the toothpick out of his mouth, maintaining eye contact as he does so. But it isn’t the depth of his gaze that drops yours. You can feel someone else’s eyes searing holes through your skull.

“Well I’ll be,” he drawls, taking your hand and pressing it to his mouth. “Your voice doesn’t do you justice, darling.”

You resist the urge to make a face. It’s awful, unfortunate, but you’re far too used to this. Behind you, Derek raises his eyebrows, sharing an amused look with Emily beside him. Rossi looks exasperated. Spencer’s expression remains unchanged, though he does steal a glance at Hotchner. You smile, the way you always do, refusing to be thrown off by his candour.

“That’s a shame,” you reply breezily, turning to introduce your team. “Detective, this is SSA Morgan, SSA Prentiss, Dr Spencer Reid, and —”

“I’m the unit chief, Supervisory Special Agent Hotchner,” Hotch interrupts, a menacing gravel to his timbre. He doesn’t shake the hand Detective Landon extends to him. The detective draws it back with a gauche bark of laughter, turning his attention to the rest of the BAU.

“My my,” he says, his drawl returning as his eyes meet Emily’s. “What do I gotta do to get in on this team of yours?”

“A formal education would be helpful,” Spencer supplies, squinting at him through his glasses.

Detective Landon turns to him then, raising his eyebrows. “Doctor Reid, was it?”

“It is, but no need to aim that high, buddy,” Morgan says then, stepping forward and patting him on the shoulder. Landon winces. “Now. You going to talk us through what you guys got so far or what?”

“Damn, y’all are a feisty bunch, huh?” He replies, pulling another toothpick out of his breast-pocket. He sends you a wink that makes Hotch’s insides turn, adding, “Don’t mind it on you, sweetheart, but maybe the rest of the BAU ‘oughta play nice.”

Aaron Hotchner would normally agree with his sentiment. He’s been a long time advocate of working alongside the local police in investigations; he recognises that collaboration is far more productive than condescension.

Unfortunately for him, this isn’t quite a normal situation.

Things to do with you and other men rarely are. An ugly green emotion eases his heart right into his throat.

“Or maybe,” Hotchner says crisply, his steely gaze pinning Landon to the spot, “I should have a chat with your Captain and take you off this case.”

Landon balks. “Sir —”

“You’re dismissed,” Hotchner interrupts, not wanting to hear it. He’s unaware of the amused look Emily and Morgan share behind him.

“You…” Landon trails off exasperatedly, shaking his head, “…you can’t dismiss me. This is my case.”

“Actually, it’s the BAU’s case now.” He turns to you expectantly. You think you catch his gaze soften as it falls over your face in paces. Trick of the light, you suppose. “Right?”

“Sure,” you say weakly.

“Right then. Rossi?” Hotch says then, turning to David Rossi autocratically. “Why don’t you and the team go ahead and assess the scene while I head to base and sort out a reassignment.”

“Not you, Reid,” he adds, keeping Spencer in place. “You can come to the station with me, get our replacement up to speed. Sound good?”

Morgan’s trying hard to hide his knowing grin, one side of his mouth upturned with mirth. Emily isn’t bothering to pretend she doesn’t know what’s going on, her pretty features lit up with amusement. Detective Landon looks mortified. Your cheeks feel on fire.

“Alright,” Rossi says after pause, glancing between you and Hotchner. He’s been in the FBI for long enough now that he’s learnt to pick his battles.

He turns around and begins walking toward the crime scene, the three of you trailing behind him with less purposeful strides.

“Huh,” Derek says, faux-thoughtful. You’re wedged between him and Emily, much to your chagrin. “Wonder what that was about. Any ideas, SSA Prentiss?”

“Well, SSA Morgan,” Emily replies, her smile audible. “I’m afraid that our dear old unit chief has a bit of a soft spot.”

“A soft spot?” Derek echoes, letting out a dramatic gasp. “That’s dangerous in our line of work, wouldn’t you say?”

“I would say,” Emily responds sagely.

“Oh shut up, you two,” you mutter, crossing your arms over your chest. “That wasn’t just about me. He made a pass on Emily too.”

Emily snorts, shaking her head exasperatedly. “Hey Rossi, you got a name for this phenomenon?”

“Oh yeah,” Rossi replies without hesitation, his gaze trained ahead of him. “Ignorance by infatuation.”

Out of earshot, Spencer and Hotchner are having a similarly painful conversation.

“Strange,” Spencer decides, breaking the silence with his candour.

Aaron knows what he’s insinuating. He resists the urge to turn around and steal another glance at your pretty silhouette. “He was behaving inappropriately. There’s nothing strange about it, Spencer. I was protecting my team.”

“The whole team?”

“Yes.”

“Including me?”

“Yes.”

“But I liked him.”

Hotchner sends him an incredulous look. “And what exactly was there to like?”

“He was entertaining, I think,” Spencer replies casually, shrugging. “In a cop way, you know? Plus, I love listening to Y/N reject men. It’s fascinating.”

Hotchner swallows. “Fascinating?”

“She always does it in this way where they don’t even realise what exactly’s happening,” Spencer explains matter-of-factly. He turns to Aaron Hotchner then. “Don’t worry, though, she’d never do that to you.”

Hotchner’s traitorous heart leaps, his mouth pulling into a paradoxical frown. “Spencer,” he warns.

“Just saying,” Spencer replies, raising his arms in surrender.

“Well,” Hotch says grumpily, “don’t.”

“Alright. Noted.”

[cinnaleaf]

𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕤𝕖 𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕖𝕖 𝕎𝕠𝕣𝕕𝕤

summary: after the worst day ever, you find solace in Jude for some much needed banter. you fall asleep mid-convo and he nearly lets something slip...

genre: fluff, sprinkle of angst, slice of life wc: ~889

a/n: short 'n sweet. another inspired by my spotify playlist 🥰 this one had me kicking my feet up it’s so cute. enjoy! 💌

Today had completely drained you. It was one of those days where nothing seemed to be going right, you were positive the universe had it out for you. Somehow over the course of the day you had managed to spill your drink all over your outfit, lost a large note somewhere on the pavement, and missed the bus, causing you to have to sprint to the nearest train. To make matters even worse, you forgot your umbrella on a day with torrential downpour and dropped your phone, slightly cracking the screen on the edge. Yup, you should’ve just bought the screen protector, huh? Now you had an additional expense you didn’t plan on. Once you arrived home, you dropped your things on the floor, quickly showering and changing into something more comfortable before collapsing on your bed. Every muscle was aching from tension and exhaustion, all you wanted to do was rot in bed and watch messy reality TV. Just as you leaned back against the pillow, your phone dinged with a message from Jude:

Jude: just got in, ring you in 5?

You felt a wave of relief wash over your body as you replied to his message. Lately, nightly conversations with Jude had become a regular occurrence, a way to forget about life’s trials and tribulations. You and Jude were just friends, but the lines had blurred a bit recently. You were spending more time together despite his busy schedule, which led to a few adoring gazes, a couple of lingering touches, lots of laughs, and maybe a *little* jealousy when he spoke to other girls. He had developed a sixth sense when it came to knowing exactly when you needed him the most, even when far away—today was no exception. You grabbed your water tumbler from the bedside table and took a long sip before settling deep into your army of pillows as you waited for his call. 

A few minutes later your screen lit up with Jude’s name, his familiar smile filling the now-cracked screen. His shirt was off and he looked relaxed, as if he had just showered, but he could tell something was off with you. “You alright?” he asked in a soothing voice. Before you could answer he followed up with, “Rough day?” concern was littered in his eyes. 

“Yeahhh, you have no idea.” you scoffed lightly. To say your day was rough felt like an understatement after the cluster of mishaps you had, but a soft smile slowly appeared on your face anyway. “Seeing you makes it a bit better though. Loving the no shirt look.”

He grinned as his eyes crinkled in the corner. You always joked about how his smile could cure any ailment in the world if it was bottled up and mass distributed across the globe—it was that beautiful. A smile that rivaled the sun from afar. “Well..happy to help. Wanna talk about it?”

You hesitated for a moment, not wanting to ruin his day either, although you knew anything you said, he would find a way to turn it into something positive. It was almost annoying, but adorable at the same time. You shook your head, “Not right now..just need a distraction. Tell me something funny, please.”

You watched Jude on the cracked screen as he launched into a story about something that happened earlier in the day. “One of the guys slipped during our warm ups, took half the team down with him like a domino effect. Whole team couldn’t stop laughing for 5 minutes, and then…” He had a way of making the most regular, mundane things seem so funny and interesting by being so animated in his storytelling. You couldn’t help but laugh at his ridiculous stories as he went on, his voice easing the tension you didn’t realize you had been holding on to. He always knew exactly how to make your day brighter, make you smile, lift your spirits right when you needed it the most. Just being around him—even if it was over a broken screen, made everything feel okay if even for a moment. 

As the conversation went on, you felt your eyelids getting heavier as you gradually sank deeper into the pillows. Jude’s voice felt like a comfy, luxurious weighted blanket, wrapping you in soothing warmth and pleasant coziness. You could feel yourself slowly start to drift off into a slumber. His laugh was like music, a gentle soundtrack that faded into the background as sleep began to take over.

While in a drowsy haze, you didn’t quite register a soft whisper from him, “Goodnight y/n, I love y—“ He quickly stopped himself and paused for a minute, sucking in his breath before he spoke again. “Sweet dreams” he said as his finger hovered over the ‘end call’ button. Jude was praying to every deity in existence, hoping you didn’t hear his slip up. 

But you were already fast asleep, your breathing steady and even. Jude let out a silent sigh of relief—grateful you weren’t awake to hear his unintentional confession. It's not that he didn't mean what he said, he did love you, but the thought of it scared him to death. “Goodnight y/n,” he whispered again before ending the call. His heart still racing from those three little words he hadn’t meant to say just yet.

honestly thinking about doing one of these for trent bc the vibe is just too cuteee. stay tuned.

if you made it this far, thank you for reading! feel free to pop into my ask box for requests, fangirling, advice, music recs, or just a chat—i'm a certified rambler 🫖✨

*elle

[apas-95]

On Authority

A number of Socialists have latterly launched a regular crusade against what they call the principle of authority. It suffices to tell them that this or that act is authoritarian for it to be condemned. This summary mode of procedure is being abused to such an extent that it has become necessary to look into the matter somewhat more closely.

Authority, in the sense in which the word is used here, means: the imposition of the will of another upon ours; on the other hand, authority presupposes subordination. Now, since these two words sound bad, and the relationship which they represent is disagreeable to the subordinated party, the question is to ascertain whether there is any way of dispensing with it, whether — given the conditions of present-day society — we could not create another social system, in which this authority would be given no scope any longer, and would consequently have to disappear.

On examining the economic, industrial and agricultural conditions which form the basis of present-day bourgeois society, we find that they tend more and more to replace isolated action by combined action of individuals. Modern industry, with its big factories and mills, where hundreds of workers supervise complicated machines driven by steam, has superseded the small workshops of the separate producers; the carriages and wagons of the highways have become substituted by railway trains, just as the small schooners and sailing feluccas have been by steam-boats. Even agriculture falls increasingly under the dominion of the machine and of steam, which slowly but relentlessly put in the place of the small proprietors big capitalists, who with the aid of hired workers cultivate vast stretches of land.

Everywhere combined action, the complication of processes dependent upon each other, displaces independent action by individuals. But whoever mentions combined action speaks of organisation; now, is it possible to have organisation without authority?

Supposing a social revolution dethroned the capitalists, who now exercise their authority over the production and circulation of wealth. Supposing, to adopt entirely the point of view of the anti-authoritarians, that the land and the instruments of labour had become the collective property of the workers who use them. Will authority have disappeared, or will it only have changed its form? Let us see.

Let us take by way of example a cotton spinning mill. The cotton must pass through at least six successive operations before it is reduced to the state of thread, and these operations take place for the most part in different rooms. Furthermore, keeping the machines going requires an engineer to look after the steam engine, mechanics to make the current repairs, and many other labourers whose business it is to transfer the products from one room to another, and so forth. All these workers, men, women and children, are obliged to begin and finish their work at the hours fixed by the authority of the steam, which cares nothing for individual autonomy. The workers must, therefore, first come to an understanding on the hours of work; and these hours, once they are fixed, must be observed by all, without any exception. Thereafter particular questions arise in each room and at every moment concerning the mode of production, distribution of material, etc., which must be settled by decision of a delegate placed at the head of each branch of labour or, if possible, by a majority vote, the will of the single individual will always have to subordinate itself, which means that questions are settled in an authoritarian way. The automatic machinery of the big factory is much more despotic than the small capitalists who employ workers ever have been. At least with regard to the hours of work one may write upon the portals of these factories: Lasciate ogni autonomia, voi che entrate! [Leave, ye that enter in, all autonomy behind!]

If man, by dint of his knowledge and inventive genius, has subdued the forces of nature, the latter avenge themselves upon him by subjecting him, in so far as he employs them, to a veritable despotism independent of all social organisation. Wanting to abolish authority in large-scale industry is tantamount to wanting to abolish industry itself, to destroy the power loom in order to return to the spinning wheel.

Let us take another example — the railway. Here too the co-operation of an infinite number of individuals is absolutely necessary, and this co-operation must be practised during precisely fixed hours so that no accidents may happen. Here, too, the first condition of the job is a dominant will that settles all subordinate questions, whether this will is represented by a single delegate or a committee charged with the execution of the resolutions of the majority of persona interested. In either case there is a very pronounced authority. Moreover, what would happen to the first train dispatched if the authority of the railway employees over the Hon. passengers were abolished?

But the necessity of authority, and of imperious authority at that, will nowhere be found more evident than on board a ship on the high seas. There, in time of danger, the lives of all depend on the instantaneous and absolute obedience of all to the will of one.

When I submitted arguments like these to the most rabid anti-authoritarians, the only answer they were able to give me was the following: Yes, that's true, but there it is not the case of authority which we confer on our delegates, but of a commission entrusted! These gentlemen think that when they have changed the names of things they have changed the things themselves. This is how these profound thinkers mock at the whole world.

We have thus seen that, on the one hand, a certain authority, no matter how delegated, and, on the other hand, a certain subordination, are things which, independently of all social organisation, are imposed upon us together with the material conditions under which we produce and make products circulate.

We have seen, besides, that the material conditions of production and circulation inevitably develop with large-scale industry and large-scale agriculture, and increasingly tend to enlarge the scope of this authority. Hence it is absurd to speak of the principle of authority as being absolutely evil, and of the principle of autonomy as being absolutely good. Authority and autonomy are relative things whose spheres vary with the various phases of the development of society. If the autonomists confined themselves to saying that the social organisation of the future would restrict authority solely to the limits within which the conditions of production render it inevitable, we could understand each other; but they are blind to all facts that make the thing necessary and they passionately fight the world.

Why do the anti-authoritarians not confine themselves to crying out against political authority, the state? All Socialists are agreed that the political state, and with it political authority, will disappear as a result of the coming social revolution, that is, that public functions will lose their political character and will be transformed into the simple administrative functions of watching over the true interests of society. But the anti-authoritarians demand that the political state be abolished at one stroke, even before the social conditions that gave birth to it have been destroyed. They demand that the first act of the social revolution shall be the abolition of authority. Have these gentlemen ever seen a revolution? A revolution is certainly the most authoritarian thing there is; it is the act whereby one part of the population imposes its will upon the other part by means of rifles, bayonets and cannon — authoritarian means, if such there be at all; and if the victorious party does not want to have fought in vain, it must maintain this rule by means of the terror which its arms inspire in the reactionists. Would the Paris Commune have lasted a single day if it had not made use of this authority of the armed people against the bourgeois? Should we not, on the contrary, reproach it for not having used it freely enough?

Therefore, either one of two things: either the anti-authoritarians don't know what they're talking about, in which case they are creating nothing but confusion; or they do know, and in that case they are betraying the movement of the proletariat. In either case they serve the reaction.

- Engels, 1872

[thesims4blogger]

The Sims 4 Life & Death Expansion Pack is Now Available For Pre-order

You can preorder The Sims 4 Life & Death Expansion Pack now to start playing immediately when it launches on October 31, 2024 on PC via EA app™, Mac® via Origin, Epic Games Store and Steam®, PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One systems. The expansion pack will be released on October 31, 2024, and costs $39.99. 

EA and Maxis have just dropped an official asset pack for their upcoming The Sims 4 Life & Death Expansion Pack.

The screenshots showcase the new Grim Reaper Career, brand new World called Ravenwood and unique ghastly interactions coming in this DLC set.

Peel back the veil to uncover the secret to richer Sim lives and beyond in The Sims 4 Life & Death Expansion Pack. Achieve your dreams in life by ticking items off your Bucket List or pursue them as a Ghost with Unfinished Business. There is a ghastly new world to haunt, a career that’ll bring you closer to Grim, Wills to write, Crypts to explore, and even ghostly skills to master. There are no real endings — only transitions — as you move between life, afterlife, and even rebirth.

Official Description and Features

An Endless Journey

Build your Bucket List by collecting goals throughout your Sim’s life, starting as a Young Adult. Items will appear on your list based on your Sim’s traits and family relations, and you can also choose your own. Removing items is possible, but completing them yields powerful rewards. If a Sim’s life ends with items still on their list, they can devote their afterlife to completing their Unfinished Business. The ultimate reward for experiencing everything on their list is the option to be Reborn, though you can still choose to Move On or remain on this plane as a Ghost.

A Ghastly, Gorgeous Life

Make death your life’s work with a career of reaping souls, helping Ghosts, dispersing hauntings, and more as a member of Grim’s team. Or, you could become a Mortician and deal with death more from the perspective of the living. Outside of work, you might spend your days exploring Crypts and building your Thanatology skill for the new Ghost Historian Aspiration. These things – among other dark diversions like bonding with your Pet Crow (careful, provoking it could be deadly) or collecting and reading the lost Tarot Cards of Lady Ravendancer Goth – will have a special appeal to Sims who are Macabre, one of 3 new traits.

Goodbye (For Now)

Different Sims will grieve in different ways. There are 4 types that will tie in with both Sims’ personalities and their relationships with the deceased. Grieving Rituals are customizable and unscripted, allowing you to hold whatever type of event (or events) fits your story. In life, Sims can create Wills which can be used to pass down Heirlooms, assign guardians for surviving dependents, distribute their Simoleons, and more. Sims can honor the departed with a memorial display featuring their portrait, and by interring their urns in Crypts or with Custom Caskets and Gravesites.

Friendly or Fiendish?

Linger on as a Ghost and spend your afterlife helping or terrorizing the living. Ghosts will grow in their abilities as they do everything from assisting with household chores to levitating living Sims and hanging them upside down (fun AND profitable - they may drop Simoleons!). Their interactions with the living can earn them Fear or Goodwill essences, which can both be sold for Simoleons. There’s a lot to do after death; Ghosts can even pair up for a special, spectral Woohoo.

Official Sims 4 Life & Death Screens

Life & Death Pre-Order Bonus

If you purchase The Sims 4 Life & Death Expansion Pack by December 12th, you’ll receive the Macabre Mementos Digital Content set! This three-piece set contains two new Build items and one CAS item, including:

Lasting Legacy Family Portrait

Mournful Melodies Music Box

Plumed Elegance Mask

Macabre Mementos Digital Content —Wonder at treasures that have endured time’s passing, witnessing the come and go of generations with ghastly grace. Look upon those who came before in the Lasting Legacy Family Portrait, listen to the haunting lullaby of the Mournful Melodies Music Box, and masquerade in fowl finery with the Plumed Elegance Mask, available when you order through December 12**.

[not-thenauts]

Ello! I've got a question for you! What is the difference between Nocturnal Octonauts AU and the cannon story? Ty if you answer!

*falls down stairs as I leave followed by a bunch of chickens*

*Exaggerated but also small breath in*

chimkens! Anyways, thank you, @fawncr33k for the ask!

Nocturnal Octonauts is set in time before the OctoAgents were established. And that’s it. Yeah, I literally didn’t flesh out ANYTHING for this Au. I just got hyper-fixated this year and I made up the name “Nocturnal Octonauts” because it sounded catchy. Literally my alt acc name is “not-thenauts” because, yet again, it was catchy! :D

I’m just the designer and artist, you guys on the other hand— are the storytellers! Your asks flesh out the characters and the story, and I just draw ‘em. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have a plan— what are you saying? Of course I don’t have one… what should I tell them? — but I will say that there are facts about my Au, like how Peso is a gentoo penguin and Kwazii is an Italian Pirate. Or how Peso is struggling to get out of a eating disorder and having flashbacks of when he and his friends were dying, or how Dashi was shot in the ear (when it was meant for her head) and she wears a hearing aid now. Or maybe how Kwazii’s mysterious past will come to bite him in the back. Or lastly, the Captain’s shell shock.

Maybe I did add a storyline to it. But I’ll bite since I’m excited to share you guys the second coming of this Season.

When I first created the Nocturnal Octonauts, there was no exact date of— time?— that they were currently in. But I can confirm that their nonprofit organization has been in business since the 1970s, around the actual time when America launched to the Moon. Barnacles SnowBeard (and also yes, I gave them all last names) was there to gain title of ownership in that organization or something else. Which I will name right here : IBOC : International Beacon of Ocean Conservation. His role is more like a branch, to something bigger and powerful than IBOC. I think it’s best to clarify that around 1981, Barnacles SnowBeard, Kwazii North-Wind, Peso Gonzales Garcia, Dashi Chund, Tweak Smiths, and Cala Inkling joined the association within a 12 month period. There were also new recruits added, to branch out and distribute their jobs so that they’re not toggling everything all at once. (These may be the vegimals later in the year and some new oc’s I haven’t thought of yet).

*•.

So far, I’ve just released season 2 to ya’ll. Happy ending of 2024 in 3-4 months. :)

These are the designs I’ve just released to you now! Ain’t it pretty?

God bless you all!

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ��23‬:‭5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

[brian-in-finance]

Video 📹 from Instagram

Image: Chris Smith / The Wrap

The 18 Buzziest Films for Sale at TIFF 2024

Mike Flanagan’s “Life of Chuck,” Angelina Jolie’s “Without Blood” and Ron Howard’s “Eden” are all looking for buyers in Toronto

While the Toronto International Film Festival won’t officially launch a sales market until 2026, this year kicks off on Thursday with multiple buzzy titles for sale starring the likes of Ben Stiller, Sydney Sweeney, Jude Law and Tom Hiddleston.

Hollywood descends upon the Canadian metropolis for starry world premieres and the unofficial start of awards season. But for years now TIFF has also been a place of serious business. Last year the Glen Powell rom-com “Hit Man” sold to Netflix for $20 million at the festival after a raucous screening.

“They’ve very much shaped this festival with a sales environment in mind,” Intrepid Pictures CEO Trevor Macy told TheWrap as he prepared to head to TIFF with the Hiddleston-fronted Stephen King adaptation “The Life of Chuck,” from writer/director Mike Flanagan. “It seems like buyers are showing up in force.”

And to prove his point, Sony Classics scooped up “Jane Austen Ruined My Life” on Tuesday ahead of the festival.

Over 270 films are on the market this year, and Macy said that the demand “for strong titles in this moment of the market is going to exceed the supply of what good distributors have made internally.” He pointed to the success of Neon’s “Longlegs” this summer — the Nicolas Cage horror film grossed over $100 million off a strong marketing campaign — as an indie that connected with moviegoers theatrically.

But Jay Cohen, a partner at Gersh who heads film financing and is selling titles at the festival, cautioned that studios may only be looking to buy must-have titles, not filling out their slates. “There are really interesting films going to TIFF, but distributors already have pretty full slates,” he told TheWrap. “So the market will be driven more by passion less than need.”

Which means that only top quality films with identifiable audiences will attract buyers. Still, one agent noted that many of the buzziest sales titles, while officially unsold, already have distribution deals that have not been announced.

Macy and Intrepid are aiming to utilize what TIFF brings to the table — specifically when it comes to audiences — to find the right distributor for “The Life of Chuck,” which is a detour for horror filmmaker Flanagan, best known for “The Haunting” series on Netflix and the “Shining” sequel film “Doctor Sleep.” The new film is more “Stand by Me” than “The Shining,” and buyers haven’t prescreened it at all, so they will be seeing it for the first time at its world premiere in Toronto.

“From the time we made this movie, our first choice was Toronto because of the audience,” Macy said of the decision to debut at TIFF. “Our movie is fun and life-affirming but kind of sophisticated, so you want the right audience for that.” He and Flanagan had success a decade ago with the indie horror film “Oculus,” which found a buyer in Toronto and grossed over $44 million against a budget of just $5 million. It jumpstarted Flanagan’s career.

Will “The Life of Chuck” have the same success? Here’s TheWrap’s rundown of that and 17 of the other buzziest sales titles playing at TIFF this year.

Nutcrackers • Eden • The Life of Chuck • The Deb • Without Blood • On Swift Horses • The Last Showgirl • K-Pops • Daniela Forever • All Of You • Ick • Relay • The Friend • The Last Republican • Vice Is Broke • From Ground Zero • The Assessment

The Wrap

Remember to follow the link to read synopses of the 17 other films.

[unknown171204]

Starmania 1979

The French singer, author and composer Michel Berger one day heard about a surprising news item . Patricia Campbell Hearst, the daughter of a billionaire, kidnapped by terrorists ended up joining their movement out of love for one of her kidnappers !

This true story will fascinate him, to the point of starting an album inspired by this story :

This will be the “Angelina Dumas” project .

Ultimately the album never saw the light of day and only one song that remained of Berger's work remained that he recorded as a duet with his wife France Gall :

Frustrated by what he considers to be a failure, Michel will not let go of what he thinks (rightly) is a good artistic vein

thanks to his wife who will make him meet the Canadian singer Diane Dufresne, Michel will work with his lyricist Luc Plamondon with whom he created the most famous rock opera in France :

The story takes place in an undated future (despite a now outdated reference to the year 2000 and the 80s) Humans now live in underground galleries redeveloped into a huge city called Monopolis. The only mirage of happiness for ordinary citizens is the number 1 television show "Starmania" where everyone can become a star for one night .

We simultaneously follow the lives and actions of several characters :

Johnny Rockfort : A young anarchist leader of the terrorist group " les étoiles noires " ( the black stars )

Sadia : A transvestite student co-creator of " les étoiles noires "

Marie Jeanne : The depressed waitress who works at the " Underground café "

Ziggy : A mythomaniac and ambitious homosexual record store owner

Cristal : The host of Starmania

Stella Spotlight : A sex symbol on the decline

Zéro Janvier : An extremist politician running for became president

Gourou Marabout : An extremist politician also competing in the presidential election

Roger-Roger : the TV presenter

Brilliantly the duo Berger / Plamondon went out of their way to organize the broadcast of a special television program in 1978 in order to present the songs to as many people as possible :

The show was performed for a short month for 33 performances at the Palais des Congrès , but it is considered one of the greatest French musicals

DISTRIBUTION :

Daniel Balavoine : Johnny Rockfort

France Gall : Cristal

Fabienne Thibeault : Marie-Jeanne

Étienne Chicot : Zéro Janvier

Diane Dufresne : Stella Spotlight

Grégory Ken : Ziggy

Nanette Workman : Sadia

Roddy Julienne : le Gourou

René Joly : Roger-Roger

Due to his short presence on stage, the show did not have the right to a complete recording (it is today considered a highly sought after lost media) but fortunately the audio of the show has available in its entirety !

To get an idea of ​​the visual identity of the show I had to dig into the TV archives :

The repetitions :

Full live audio of the show :

Single :

Monopolis / Quand on arrive en ville / Le blues du business man / La complainte de la serveuse automate / Ziggy / Le monde est stone

But the most memorable song is " SOS d'un terrien en détresse "

A song renowned for its difficulty and which launched the career of Daniel Balavoine then, years later, that of Star Academy 2004 winner Grégory Lemarchal :

ANECDOTES :

The original album contains two songs missing from the final show :

Petite Musique terrienne Part 2

L'air de l'extraterrestre

This extraterrestrial is a deleted character who only appeared physically in two production ( Francis Martin in 1980 and Marc Gabriel in 1986 , in this last version we discovered that Roger-Roger was in reality an alien ) the song, or rather its theme, will be recycled in several subsequent versions .

The show also contains several unreleased and missing songs from the album that will never be reused !!

La serveuse et les clients

Jingle de Stella

Sex shops , cinéma porno

Les parents de Cristal

Le tango de l'amour et de la mort

...

Claude Dubois (the original voice of Zéro Janvier) is the only one of the singers present on the album who did not reprise the role on stage, unfortunately it was because of his drug addiction, he took his revenge in 1989 when he replaced Richard Groulx on stage ( thanks to miss-starmania for the archive picture and additional information )

...

Michel Berger abandons his role of Grand Gourou to Roddy Julienne without any explanation ?!

...

In this version, in addition to randomly attacking wealthy people in the street, scratching their cars and raping girls in parking lots, les étoiles noires of 79 are a bit more extreme than in the other versions … Roger Roger specifies that the terrorists deliberately disconnected the oxygen ventilation of an entire neighborhood, killing all the residents ! This free murder will be deleted from other versions

...

The name Johnnie Rockfort (a complicated pun to translate which can mean "strong rock'n'roll " or just the cheese of the same name ? ) is perhaps not a coincidence , the producer of the show Roland Hubert, not being convinced by Balavoine, completely unknown at the time, he fought (in vain) with Berger so that the role was offered to the rocker Johnny Halliday

...

According to the memories of France Gall, during one of the performances a disgruntled spectator had fun whistling throughout the show exhausting Daniel Balavoine who patiently waited for the curtain call to jump into the audience to beat him up while he was still wearing his bulky costume ( the one below )

...

France Gall speaks with emotion about the show :

For more Starmania or to discover other French musicals I invite you to follow the path of my main masterlist to learn more about French musicals and their stories :

[beardedmrbean]

Ukrainian forces have struck North Korean troops in Russia's Kursk region, marking a new phase in the war.

A Ukrainian official said the troops were wearing Russian uniforms and hit by an artillery strike.

He said that since the first attack, there had been daily battles around Ukrainian-held Sudzha.

A Ukrainian official gave Business Insider further details about the first clashes between Ukrainian and North Korean troops in Russia's Kursk region, where Ukraine launched a cross-border counteroffensive in August.

Andrii Kovalenko, the head of Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation, said on Monday that "the first North Korean troops have already come under fire in Kursk Oblast."

This was later confirmed by Ukraine's defense minister, Rustem Umerov, who called it a "small engagement." Rustem said the skirmish signaled decisively that North Korea had joined the conflict.

In remarks sent to BI, Kovalenko gave more details about the attack.

"It was an ordinary combat engagement in the Kursk region," he said, describing how Ukrainian forces conduct reconnaissance, identify enemy positions, and launch strikes.

He said Ukrainian forces knew that North Korean troops wearing Russian uniforms had been distributed across various Russian army units in the region for training under combat conditions.

"An artillery strike was launched against a position where Russians and North Korean military personnel were located," he said.

Kovalenko added that it wasn't an isolated incident.

He said "daily battles" were now occurring in the area around Sudzha, a Ukraine-held town at the center of its push into the region.

"Of course, shelling of the positions occurs daily," he said.

On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said North Korean soldiers — which Ukraine says number 11,000 — had already suffered losses in Kursk.

Kovalenko said the North Koreans were being given "a few weeks" of training before being sent to live combat positions.

He said they posed "a serious threat that requires additional resources from our forces."

He also said some were being given training in using reconnaissance and strike drones, skills that present a future risk to South Korea.

Once back in North Korea, they could use their new drone know-how "for future terrorist actions in the border areas with South Korea," he said.

BI was unable to independently confirm Kovalenko's account.

In recent weeks, Ukrainian intelligence has shared details of the military equipment it says Russia has issued to North Koreans, including mortars, rifles, machine guns, and anti-tank missiles.

North Korea experts told BI the military partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang was a win-win for both countries. But on a practical level, they also spoke of the logistical difficulties of combining two militaries.

This includes the conditions the troops will probably be cooperating under — including language issues, strains of racism from some Russian troops, as well as close supervision from North Korean officials to make sure they don't desert.

Ukrainian intelligence also recently shared what it said was intercepted audio of Russian servicemen discussing the coming Korean troops in a conversation that suggested a chaotic start to North Koreans joining Russia's fight.

[saddiedotdk]

Kamala Harris accomplishments as VP:

Cast tie-breaking vote for the American Rescue Plan of 2021.

Passed the American Rescue Plan, resulting in $1.9 trillion in economic stimulus.

Extended the Child Tax Credit through the American Rescue Plan.

Extended unemployment benefits through the American Rescue Plan.

Passed the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill.

Secured funding for electric school buses in the infrastructure bill.

Secured funding to combat wildfires and droughts in the infrastructure bill.

Secured funding for replacing lead water service lines.

Engaged with lawmakers at least 150 times for infrastructure investment.

Led diplomatic mission to Guatemala and Mexico to address migration issues.

Launched the "Central America Forward" initiative.

Secured $4.2 billion in private sector commitments for Central America.

Visited Paris to strengthen US-France relations.

Visited Singapore and Vietnam to bolster economic and strategic ties.

Visited Poland to support NATO allies during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Visited Romania to support NATO allies during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Launched the "Fight for Reproductive Freedoms" tour.

Visited a Planned Parenthood clinic in Minnesota.

Passed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act.

Promoted racial equity in pandemic response through specific initiatives.

Chaired the National Space Council.

Visited NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center to promote space policies.

Passed the Freedom to Vote Act in the House.

Passed the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act in the House.

Built coalitions for voting rights protections.

Supported the Affordable Care Act through specific policy measures.

Expanded healthcare coverage through policy initiatives.

Passed initiatives for debt-free college education.

Hosted a STEM event for women and girls at the White House.

Championed criminal justice reform through specific legislation.

Secured passage of the bipartisan assault weapons ban.

Expanded background checks for gun purchases through legislation.

Increased the minimum wage through specific policy actions.

Implemented economic justice policies.

Expanded healthcare coverage through policy initiatives.

Secured funding for affordable housing.

Secured funding for affordable education initiatives.

Launched the "Justice is Coming Home" campaign for veterans' mental health.

Proposed legislation for easier legal actions against financial institutions.

Strengthened the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Secured investment in early childhood education.

Launched maternal health initiatives.

Launched the "Call to Action to Reduce Maternal Mortality and Morbidity".

Made Black maternal health a national priority through policy actions.

Increased diversity in government appointments.

Passed legislation for renewable energy production.

Secured funding for combating climate change.

Passed infrastructure development initiatives.

Secured transportation funding through the infrastructure bill.

Developed a plan to combat climate change.

Reduced illegal immigration through policy actions.

Equitable vaccine distribution through specific policy measures.

Supported small businesses through pandemic recovery funds.

Secured educational resources during the pandemic.

Promoted international cooperation on climate initiatives.

Secured international agreements on climate change.

Passed economic policies benefiting the middle class.

Criticized policies benefiting the wealthy at the expense of the working class.

Promoted racial equity in healthcare through specific actions.

Promoted racial equity in economic policies.

Reduced racial disparities in education through specific initiatives.

Increased mental health resources for underserved communities.

Secured funding for affordable childcare.

Secured federal funding for community colleges.

Increased funding for HBCUs.

Increased vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Secured policies for pandemic preparedness.

Ensured equitable vaccine distribution through policy actions.

Secured international cooperation for COVID-19 responses.

Reduced economic disparities exacerbated by the pandemic.

Passed digital equity initiatives for broadband access.

Expanded rural broadband through specific policies.

Secured cybersecurity policies through legislation.

Protected election integrity through specific actions.

Secured fair and secure elections through policy measures.

Strengthened international alliances through diplomacy.

Supported the Paris Climate Agreement through policy actions.

Led U.S. climate negotiations through international initiatives.

Passed initiatives for clean energy jobs.

Secured policies for energy efficiency.

Reduced carbon emissions through specific legislation.

Secured international climate finance.

Promoted public health policies through specific initiatives.

Passed reproductive health services policies.

Supported LGBTQ+ rights through specific actions.

Secured initiatives to reduce homelessness.

Increased veterans' benefits through legislation.

Secured affordable healthcare for veterans.

Passed policies to support military families.

Secured initiatives for veteran employment.

Increased mental health resources for veterans.

Passed disability rights legislation.

Secured policies for accessible infrastructure.

Increased funding for workforce development.

Implemented economic mobility policies.

Secured consumer protection policies through legislation.

Engaged in community outreach through public events.

Organized public engagement efforts.

Participated in over 720 official events, averaging three per day since taking office.

Supported efforts to modernize public health data systems.

[harryandmeghansussex]

"I’m proud to now be able to share that I am joining the brilliant team at Lemonada to continue my love of podcasting,” said Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex. “Being able to support a female founded company with a roster of thought provoking and highly entertaining podcasts is a fantastic way to kick off 2024. Our plan to re-release Archetypes so that more people can now have access to it, as well as launching a dynamic new podcast are well in the works. I’m so eager to be able to share it soon, and am overjoyed to be joining the Lemonada family.”

[brf-rumortrackinganon]

“My sense is that Meghan's market is more of the TJ Maxx demographic.” Interesting assessment of Meghan’s market. From a business perspective, brands who end up at TJMaxx, Marshalls, etc. (owned by the same company TJX) are typically bought in due to 1) supplier has made too much (overstock) and it isn’t selling 2) it’s getting close to the end of its expiration dates (close out) and it sold in at a much cheaper cheaper price to TJX. She’d still need a regular place to sell before she tries to offload (usually at a much lower margin / maybe even a loss) to TJX. I’m basing this on my experience with working in food industry and resorting to these retailers for the same reasons.

Exactly my point. The TJX brand is the end of the line for so much product and merch these days (especially fast fashion) that it's inevitable Meghan's products will end up there if this turns into the deal she wants to be. The key thing is that she needs product first. That she launched without a real product is very telling.

To me, what I think it says is that she's not getting the investors or partners that she wants so she launched ASAP to use the media's hype as part of her negotiation or recruitment strategy. (In addition to taking advantage of Kate's absence, of course.)

I made a suggestion in an earlier post that Meghan's competitors are the socialite/influencers that are launching their own brands or already have brands. A great many of those brands use print-on-demand dropship merch. They save on overstock storage and production fees by only keeping a limited selection in stock and marking up their own prices to cover "demand."

I see Roop heading in that direction. If they can't find a distribution vendor (e.g., Kohls, Target, Macy's, etc.), they'll do dropshipping but at such low quantities they always sell out - which is the same tactic Meghan uses when she wants to be a fashion influencer (she wears something already heavily discounted and with so little stock that she can take credit for "selling out").

What is interesting, and why I think Roop has a good argument for exclusivity with TJX companies, is Rae Dunn. Most of her product is sold exclusively through TJX and she has a deal with a company called Magenta Inc., an online retailer that's thought to be behind Rae Dunn products in places like Amazon and Walmart.

So there's precedent for Meghan/Roop to sell exclusively with TJX, with perhaps a side deal for an online storefront like Magenta offers. But that's not the audience or market Meghan wants (even though she herself is the "wine mom" elder millennial motivational-quote-spouting stereotype that buys Rae Dunn and shops at TJX stores so it's a natural fit). She wants Roop in luxury marketplaces that prices out the very people who would actually buy Meghan's product.

She's stuck between a rock and a hard place. I think she realizes it now while watching the metrics on social media plateau from a total lack of engagement and total absence of content (hence throwing Mandana under the bus in Page Six). Which is surprising. Given the way she rolled out Sussex.com with the IG Vancouver kickoff - four or five days straight of new Sussex content and material - I expected the same thing with Roop; 1st day - social media launch, 2nd day - lunch papwalk, 3rd day - product launch, 4th day - "checking out my product" charity visit/papwalk, 5th day - Netflix cooking show promo, and so on.

I know, I know. Stop giving her ideas. I'm trying!

[mariacallous]

Founder’s terminal illness spells the end for Flibusta, a treasure trove of pirated Russian literature

Known only by his callsign “Stiver,” the founder and administrator of the online library Flibusta announced in a brief message on Tuesday that the project will soon shut down. In the same message, he revealed that he’s been diagnosed with a brain tumor. “Unfortunately, it seems this is the end for Flibusta and for yours truly,” wrote Stiver, explaining that the website’s servers are paid for a few more weeks, after which the online library will cease to exist. 

What is Flibusta?

It’s an online library that openly flouts copyright laws and features more than 630,000 books — roughly 83 percent in Russian. The project’s peak popularity was a decade ago when as many as 4 million people visited the site each month. By the spring of 2016, however, monthly traffic had fallen to just 163,000 visits, thanks to decisions by Russia’s federal censor to block access to Flibusta and the Moscow City Court’s ruling to block the online library permanently for repeated copyright violations. 

Flibusta emerged in October 2009 when several disgruntled users of Librusek (an earlier online library) launched their own rival project in protest against Librusek’s publishing agreement with Litres, Russia’s biggest legal e-book and audiobook marketplace. (Litres itself is the product of a merger of the country’s three major online libraries that had been distributing pirated content.) According to the deal, books that appeared on Litres were unavailable for download to Librusec users for a month. 

Flibusta’s anonymous founder, identifying himself as Stiver, described the break as an ideological schism and faulted Librusek founder Ilya Larin for committing the cardinal sin of “mixing piracy and business.” In 2011, Stiver declared that “Larin was never an ideological pirate.” Stiver insisted that only non-commercial projects are invulnerable to book publishers’ pressure: “The generation of profit-seekers cannot understand that people just want to read books without turning them into a commodity. Let people read. Let them read a lot, and let them read well. That's all we need.”

Problems with the authorities

It wasn’t long before Russian book publishers turned their attention to Flibusta. In September 2011, Stiver reported issues accessing the online library, claiming that his hosting provider was “under heavy pressure” and had asked to disable direct access to the website during an ongoing investigation. Eksmo Publishing House later revealed that its lawyers had contacted the Dutch hosting company Ecatel with a request to disclose the identity of Flibusta’s owners. Two years later, Flibusta started independently blocking access to certain books amid complaints from the project’s team that book publishers weren’t providing them with lists of materials subject to copyright claims.

In 2016, the German police ended a two-year investigation into Stiver, finding no evidence of criminal activity. Months earlier, the CEO of the Association for the Protection of Rights on the Internet (which includes Eksmo) said he knew Stiver’s real name but wouldn’t reveal it to protect the investigation’s confidentiality. When the German authorities closed the case, the association’s head expressed disappointment and said the police had handled the matter “superficially.”

In response to being blocked in Russia, Flibusta tried to bypass censors by making the project accessible through numerous mirror sites (which distorted Similarweb traffic data) and delivering content to users through alternative channels, such as torrent trackers and a Telegram chatbot.

The death of Flibusta

Though the platform has been essentially a labor of love, “supported by a group of enthusiasts scattered across the globe,” Stiver’s recent announcement suggests that he won’t be transferring full control or the means to support the project to anyone on Flibusta’s team. On social media, users have asked the library about crowdfunding to sustain the site without Stiver, but the project’s Twitter account has merely tweeted a thread of hyperlinks to alternative online libraries. 

[sqarletsworldlesswandering]

Also some more funny cat duo stuff for tonight! And a prompt at that (If it's okay, feel free to answer this ask with a little writing if it's okay)

The Human's initial encounter with the duo... and the subsequent adoption of the cats... little did they know what they were getting into-

*dusts off the writing braincells*

It's been a hot minute since I've actually written a drabble, pardon the rusty writing:

Chapter 1: Cat Distribution System

Dan had no pets.

Dan also had no particular plans to get any pets.

Apparently fate had other ideas.

He’d been on his way home from work – nothing particularly eventful or noteworthy. Secure bags to motorbike, secure self on bike, drive carefully and assume everyone else is driving like a lunatic, the usual.

Significantly less usual was the pair of rather large cats making a mad dash across traffic, and while the intersection was momentarily clear, oncoming traffic was about to change that rapidly. One cat had made it across, but the other froze the moment it saw the oncoming semi-truck.

Dan didn’t stop to wonder or think. He sped up and scooped the black cat up with one arm, veering off to park on the shoulder. Stopping to examine the cat in his arms, he saw no collar, no tag, nothing suggesting an owner. But... neither cat bore signs of wear and tear, and he found it hard to believe they were truly strays. The black cat had since stiffened, one shaking paw braced on his chest, eyes wide and slit. It must be terrified.... Dan glanced over to the other cat, this one a bright white with remarkable blue eyes. A little bit worrying.... That thought was quickly swatted from his immediate concern when said cat launched forward and started clawing at his pants, very nearly climbing up him, all while hissing and meowing at him.

“Woah, easy there, feisty. I’m not gonna hurt your friend. …Huh. No collar on you either. Where did you come from…?”

Ah. He had claw marks on his leg now. Joy.

Initially, Dan had fully intended to set the poor cat down and let the two go about their business. But at the same time...? They should probably go to a shelter. Especially with the one’s freeze instinct.

Speaking of the black cat, it – he, from what Dan could tell – was meowing back at the white cat now, sufficiently unfrozen to communicate. He wasn’t trying to scrabble away from Dan, though, so that was something. Cautiously, Dan crouched down, putting hand at a short distance for the white cat to check. It – possibly a she – immediately attempted to bite it, and he jerked back reflexively. The black cat chirped at her, and her back at him, before she opted to sniff at Dan’s hand instead. Carefully, he moved to scratch behind her ears, though she immediately withdrew with a disgruntled chirp.

“…You’re not gonna let me pick you up, are you?”

Even more reason to try and get them to a shelter of some kind, he couldn’t exactly get them anywhere else.

Although… the closest shelter was a little… what was the word, callous? About some things. He doubted they’d go much out of their way to make sure these two stayed together, and that didn’t bode well.

Maybe he should just… maybe the white one would let him take them home…? If she could ride in an open bag, perhaps? And the black one was staring at him with wide pupils... and purring....

Dan considered for a moment, all while the two cats had a conversation about whatever cats converse about. Maybe they’d be okay in his backpack, as long as he left the top open for them to look out? May as well try, at least.

To Dan’s considerable surprise, the black cat hopped right in, peeking over the top and staring expectantly at his friend. Said friend looked unimpressed, and meowed at him with equal displeasure. Their back and forth began again, but before Dan could contemplate a different course of action, the white cat stepped into the backpack, settling in next to her friend and staring impassively at Dan.

He chuckled, reaching out to see if he could pet her. “You’re a careful lil’ fluffball aren’t ya? Lil’ snowy fluffball.” She let him pet her this time, still staring at him with indifference. “…I’m calling you Snowball for now. Seems about right for you.” A meow.

He turned his attention to the other cat, mulling over a name. “Hmm… Inkpot. You’re Inkpot for now.”

Yeah. Fate had other ideas alright.

Now Inkpot lay nestled on his lap, snoozing while Snowball zoomed circuits around the house. He’d have to get these two in to a vet sometime soon, but for now? For now, they could just relax.

Well, he and Inkpot would, at least.

[jetspikepub]

HISTORY OF COWBOY BEBOP

Attention! This chronology is a mix of fiction and reality.

1965 - Shinichiro Watanabe was born

1994 - Faye was born

1995 - Shinichiro Watanabe debuted as a director in Macross Plus. First acquaintance with Keiko Nobumoto, Yoko Kanno, and others *1

*1 Macross Plus is still very popular

Cowboy Bebop project was initiated secretly. At first, the title was supposed to be Shooting Star Bebop *2

*2 Kawamoto's ideas and sketches as a project proposal at the very early stage of development

1998 4 - First airing of the show on TV Tokyo

6 - The broadcast on TV Tokyo finished with only 12 episodes aired. The final compilation-like episode, Mish-Mash Blues, was controversial

10 - The beginning of complete 26 episode ariring on WOWOW

11 - Masahiko Minami left Sunrise and established Bones animation studio *3

*3 Bones business card (back side)

1999 4 - The complete show broadcast finished on W0WOW. The question of Spike's fate in the final episode attracted a lot of attention *4

*4 Invitation to the launch party held on the night when the last episode aired

6 - Watanabe, Toshihiro Kawamoto, Keiko Nobumoto and others visited Morocco to gather materials for the movie *5

*5 In Morocco

8 - The Seatbelts live "Diggin' my POTATO Puti ~The Irresponsible Night to Dance~" was held at ON AIR EAST, Shibuya, Tokyo *6 (picture in brochure is missing 🤷‍♀️)

9 - A press conference dedicated to the movie production, later known as the "Phantom Lie Press Conference," was held at Blue Note Tokyo (at that time the movie release date was year 2000) *7

*7 Materials distributed to interested parties

2000 5 - The completion of the script

Autumn - Movie storyboard was done *8

*8 A storyboard by Nabeshin (Watanabe)

11 - Yoko Kanno's held the first recording of The Seatbelts in N.Y.

2000 12 - 2001 1 - The title "Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' on Heaven's Door" was chosen for the movie

4 - The launch of the official website

4-6 - The original novel СОЩВОЧ ВƐВОР Ц.Т. (Cowboy Bebop: U.T.) was published on the website; recording for the movie finished

7 - Ask DNA single release

8 - The completion of the movie, setting the preview at Kudan Kaikan, Tokyo *9

*9 Fans who came to the preview form lines

8 - The Seatbelts live "EARTH GIRLS ARE EASY Last Week End" at Shibuya AX, Tokyo

8 - Movie soundtrack "FUTURE BLUES" release

9 - Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' on Heavens' Door release

10 - Seatbelts FUTURE BLUES videoclip release

2007 - Faye recorded a video message to future self that was supposed to be delivered ten years later *10

*10 Young Faye in the video message

2013 - U.T. (Ural Terpsichore) was born

2014 - Faye was put in a cryogenic sleep after a spaceship accident outside Earth's atmosphere

2022 - An accident occurred at Astral Gate located between the Moon and Earth. Earth suffered catastrophic damage, the period known as Turbulent 20's (Roaring Twenties) began

2035 12 - Jet was born

2044 6 - Spike was born

Vicious was born

U.T., a journalist responsible for entertainment section, became a bounty hunter. A chaotic period immediately followed after the enactment of the Cowboy Law *11

*11 Younger days of the legendary cowboy revealed for the first time in this illustration for the novel

2048 - Debut of The Seatbelts

2056 - The Seatbelts song"Tank!" became #1 in music charts of the Solar System

2058 1 - Ed was born (however, it is unclear)

2064 - Jet resigned from ISSP after losing his left arm *12

*12 Jet before he lost his right arm, about 29 years old

2066 - Ed suddenly appears in an orphanage on Earth

2068 - Spike left the Red Dragon syndicate *13

*13 Spike from the Red Dragon era… he looks angry

Jet and Spike teamed up

Faye woke up from cryogenic sleep *14

*14 Sleeping Beauty?

Ed disappeared from the orphanage *15

*15 Edward made up her name, the real one is Françoise, isn't it?

Julia went missing *16

*16 The woman Spike was thinking about

Rashid (Dr. Mendelo) appears on Moroccan Street on Mars in a new guise *17

*17 Mr. Mendelo, isn't it a little too much for a tanning salon?

2069 - Ein was born *18

*18 He must have been a genius dog from birth

A record of Vincent's death in Titan War *19

*19 He had short hair when he was in the army

2070 - Spike left a lobster in the fridge on the Bebop and forgot about it

2071 - The main story of Cowboy Bebop

[lean-mean-demon-genevieve]

Hi! I’m not sure if this has been asked before but is there a reason she moved her bookclub to Charlie’s platform? Also, does she get paid for these talks with the authors? I’ve always wondered that. Thanks!

The answer is ALWAYS money.

My guess is that it’s some sort of a circle-jerk type of deal where she moves her thing to his platform and in turn he does some sort of work for her/Jared like managing their social media.

Remember that Momentus was charging for attending her bookclubs live with the ability to chat and ask questions. Momentus then reportedly gave an undisclosed percent of that fee to charity of choice. Gen probably pockets a portion of the remaining profit, but I don’t know that for sure.

Not that long ago, you could also buy her bookclub picks through the Momentus website, but I don’t see that anymore. Instead, if you click her “link in bio” link on IG, Gen now has her own affiliate link with a site called Bookshop.org. This site has marketed itself as an alternative to Amazon and as an advocate for independent bookstores. Which all sounds great until you do a little bit of research.

Bookshop.org basically acts as a middle man between a wholesale warehouse (named Ingram) and indie bookstores. Bookshop doesn’t even take from the indie bookstore’s inventory. Shops can set up an account, customers order books, they are shipped from an Ingram warehouse, and the site gives the indie seller a 30% cut of the profit…but indie bookstores are concerned because they would make more by cutting out the middle man. Duh!

(Read more here and here)

And when individuals like Gen can become an affiliate and earn 10% on sales, indie bookstores lose out even more.

“Publications that review books can earn much-needed financial support”…nope, that’s not Gen. “Book clubs can earn sustaining funds on each pick”…that doesn’t feel like it fits either. “Instagram influencers can earn revenue”…theeeeere it is!

You see that running total at the top of that website? Gen didn’t contribute to that. Her 10% goes right in her pocket. Remember a couple weeks ago when Gen posted a reel about her favorite local Austin indie bookstores? And how important it is to support them?

She cares about her own bottom line even more.

But I bet she would love for you to believe that this was yet another altruistic, pious choice in the name of small businesses and sustainability. Most fans won’t look this deeply into her connection to this site and company itself. They just see that giant number at the top and their heart eyes for Gen dilate that much farther.

Amazon is an evil organization. I use it too, but it is evil. It just is. Amazon has put a lot of small businesses in the ground with their ability to charge less. I appreciate alternatives, and Bookshop is that, but Bookshop isn’t innocent. Even though they’re up-charging for books, remember how many extra people have to get their cut. This company boomed as it launched in 2020 and much profit has been made. And any time major profits are made…someone is getting exploited.

(It should also be noted that Gen’s link in bio also has her Amazon affiliate link. She doesn’t care which shifty brand is paying her, as long as she’s getting your money.)

I wonder what the people at the distribution warehouse get paid? How do authors make money? How much is the creator of Bookshop worth at this point in comparison?

Hey Gen, can you answer any of that?

Gen, wait!!

…I don’t think she wants to talk.