#Facebook Event Attendees

[sociocosmos]

Don’t just post—go viral. Gain real likes, followers, and comments that matter.

[ifelllikeastar]

Newspaper clipping of Woodstock Music and Art Fair, August 15-17, 1969 to be orginally held in Wallkill, New York.

Woodstock Ventures leased the park in the spring of 1969 for $10,000 and planned to accommodate an estimated 50,000 attendees. However, the town of Wallkill and its residents quickly opposed the festival, and the town board passed regulations that made it difficult for the event to take place :  Photo credit, Flower Power 60s, Facebook

[starkspondwater]

I ♥️ your Jimmy one shots so much! Could you do a smut shot of like having some experience before but just doing it together for the first time ? 🙃

Uh...yeah duh of course I'll do a smut shot of Valmer! Couldn't keep me from writing it if you tried!

I did go off the rails a bit from what I originally planned but my brain likes to do that a lot lol- I hope you like it!!

Summary: With every date your feelings for Jimmy continue to grow, and as far as you can tell the feeling is very much mutual. So why hasn't he tried to sleep with you yet?

Word Count: 3704

Warnings: SMUT, vaginal penetration, masturbation

I Want You- Jimmy Valmer x Reader

You weren't sure why you were so nervous right now.

You were an adult. You had traversed that road that led you this far, stumbling through awkward adolescence into the faux confident walk of adulthood, and had done it quite successfully if you said so yourself.

You had met thousands of faces, made numerous friends, and had even acquired your own number of lovers over the years. Each of those faces held memories in your mind, some sour and others sweet, but nonetheless were a part of your journey to who you were today.

You were sexy. You were wanted. You were no blushing virgin and this was most definitely not your first rodeo.

So why in the hell were you sweating bullets?

It was because this was Jimmy Valmer.

Jimmy was unlike the other men you had encountered, a sincerity and playfulness that hooked you in from the first moment he opened his mouth. Even with his stutters he had a confidence about him that didn't feel forced, like he had accepted himself without a single thought of others. It was a stark contrast from the others you had sparingly talked to that evening, each with egos inflated to a suffocating size that left you seeking asylum out of their vicinity.

Something about Jimmy though had lured you in.

The hours had flown by and before you knew it the two of you were the last of the attendees left at the party  You hadn't even noticed how empty the room had felt as the man in front of you told stories and made jokes, his being far more interesting than whatever celebration had been going on around you both. Making your way outside you delayed entering your Uber, a small part of you hoping the driver wouldn't be too pissed at your slow gait.

With a sweet, slightly tipsy kiss, you had left the brunette behind but took with you his number and the promise of a night out.

You knew from the first touch of his lips on yours this wasn't going to be some fling.

Out of all the people you had dated, Jimmy was the most fun. He always seemed to know the best place to be on a Friday night and just who to talk to for the best stories. He had a star quality that left you feeling dazed every time he directed his attention towards you, making you feel as though you were far grander than any fancy event.

Of course your attraction only grew from there. With every kiss goodbye you had a growing want to have that man in bed, the need to feel him and everything that he was. At first, you were sure he felt the same.

After the fourth date you chalked it up to bad timing. Early mornings or roommate emergencies popped up, and with those apologetic looks you could do nothing but believe him. When those excuses reached the sixth and seventh date, a month now having passed, you started to wonder if there was something else.

You had been so sure he was into you. He always left each date with another invitation and your phone was lit up throughout the day with his messages. That meant something, right?

You had heard things mentioned in passing between his friends and colleagues, names once unfamiliar soon becoming a part of that inner dialogue about just why he wasn't making a move. 

Jimmy was charming in more ways than one it seemed, according to Facebook.

You had so far in life kept yourself from falling down the rabbit hole of comparing yourself to ex girlfriends, but with a small misstep that's just what you found yourself doing. Some of these women were truly stunning with gorgeous smiles and alluring personalities that could be felt through the screen. From the dates of those posts you saw these relationships had lasted a decent amount of time, long enough to get down and dirty in your opinion.

A little voice in the back of your head spoke on that, on how perhaps he wasn’t as attracted to you as you thought. Maybe those invitations were more meant for a friend, or worse, pity. 

You shook your head of that thought quickly, but over that next week it had continued crawling up, making itself known every time Jimmy's name popped up on your phone.

_____

“Well, It's getting a little l-late…” Jimmy trailed off, the crooked grin he wore making you feel flushed. Tonight had been different, the two of you opting for something more low-key. 

For a Thursday night the local theatre was mostly empty, allowing the two of you to cuddle up without any onlookers to shush you as you both giggled at the flick. The way his breath curled around your ear sent a thrill down your spine and directly to inbetween your legs. You particularly found yourself hyperfocusing on the arm around your shoulders, his fingers tracing light patterns along the skin your short sleeves exposed. 

It was a lovely night, one you definitely didn't want to end. As he said those words, beginning to turn himself toward the direction of his car, you blurted the thought you tried to keep in.

“Is there a reason you don't want to sleep with me?” The words sounded pitiful. You wanted to keep having fun, and even with the growing feeling of not being enough you didn't want to risk scaring him off.

Jimmy raised a brow, his arms still as he took you in. He had figured something was up though he could never put a finger on what exactly. That one little question answered his own.

“What do you mean?”

“It's just…it's been a while, Jimmy. Normally by now I feel like two people who are seeing each other take things a bit further and…and…?” As you spoke Jimmy’s face took on a different expression, one much more heated. “Jimmy?”

“I was trying to be a g-gentleman, but if you h-have it that bad for me I guess I can forgo that whole act.” Those damn lips of his turned up into a smirk before falling once more. “I really do have an early morning but…tomorrow night I'd like to see you again. Maybe I could sta-stay the night?”

_____

With a small dinner of local takeout and a streamed movie, things had gone smoothly. Conversation flowed as the two of you enjoyed a small bottle of wine and covert looks, excitement curling inside of you every minute. This was going to happen.

You felt very giddy, like you were going to that very first party in high school and dressed up just a little too much but couldn't find any will to care. This felt special and you wanted to treat it as such.

The lingerie you had thrown on underneath the baggy sweater you had donned was simple, a light baby blue lace bra that pushed up the ladies enough to actually make a difference and matching panties. It was sexy but not too over the top. Everything had been prepped just for him.

You had even cleaned the apartment, shoving away anything embarrassing or messy and instead brought out the candles you kept for power outages. You wanted this done right, even if it was a little cheesy, and things were going just as you wanted them to.

Except now you were stuck in your bathroom staring at yourself in the mirror. 

Everything was fine. The kisses you shared on the couch had grown heated by the second and his hands wandered from their gentle placement at your neck down to your waist. Even just standing in this harsh lighting you could feel the ghost of his fingertips dragging along your sides. So what was wrong?

You really, really liked Jimmy. Enough that it kind of scared you. Weeks ago you were chomping at the bit to get him under your sheets but now you’ve had time to grow attached. The hours you’ve spent in his company only served to make you sink deeper and deeper into what had only been a spark of a feeling that first meeting.

Your hand paused on the doorknob, a slight clink from the contact loud as it bounced off the walls. He wouldn’t be there if he didn’t feel the same, you reminded yourself. You took a deep breath, then another. Closing your hand around the knob you turned it and opened the door, willing your steps to exude nothing but total confidence.

“Well w-wow wow wow!”Jimmy smiled as you came into view, his eyes widening a bit at the sight. Brown eyes trailed down taking in every bit of you from head to toe. With a shy smile you approached the bed, happy to see he had stripped down as well, now only wearing a pair of dark green boxers. 

Jimmy looked downright handsome in a suit just as he looked dashing in just a T-shirt and jeans, but on your bed with the wide expanse of his chest bare to you the only word you could think of was captivating. Small wisps of dark brown hair covered him, leading down, down, down into his waistband and making you swallow. 

You swiveled your hips with every step, leaning down every so slightly to allow your hand to graze the skin of the chest. The hair you suddenly found looked absolutely sinful was soft between those fingers, but just as you flattened your palm over his heart Jimmy sneezed. 

The force of the sneeze was enough to throw his head forward painfully, the sound ricocheting through the air. 

“Bless you!” You smiled, keeping your hand where it was. Before you could even begin to move once more another sneeze hit him, this time much more aggressively as threw his arm up to block it. 

“I think…I think it’s the c-c-candles,” he said, voice muffled by an arm. 

As another sneeze struck you rushed to blow out the candles you had kept nearby. They hadn’t been burning for very long, the various colors of wax only just beginning to pool on the bottoms of the bowls you placed them in. You heard the clatter of his braces hit the floor from their place next to the bed as he sneezed once more, somehow even more aggressive than the last. Blowing out the last candle out you watched sadly as the wick made a small plume of smoke. Well…there goes that.

With that small issue out of the way Jimmy was soon fine, sniffling a little as the two of you came together once again.

His lips were always impossibly soft, moving languidly against your own. Settling on top of him you let yourself sink in, every kiss drawing the breath from your lungs until you were sure you must be suffocating. You didn’t care at all. You’d let him take every ounce of life from you so long as you could feel those hands of his dance along your skin, calluses rough but pleasurable as he lightly squeezed your sides before coming up to tilt your head and deepen the next kiss. 

You didn’t even separate as you reached around to unhook your bra. It was a motion you had done a thousand time before, just as natural as pulling on a shirt in the morning, but as you pushed and pulled with your fingers you knew something was wrong.

“Everything alright back there?” Jimmy teased with a grin. As he gazed up at you he rested those large hands on your hips, his thumbs drawing small circles on your skin.

“Y-yeah, it’s fine…” your smile wavered as you tried again, this time more forcefully to get the damn thing off. You could feel the hook and where it was, but it wasn’t budging. “It’s just a little st-uck!” 

At that final word the distinct sound of fabric tearing was heard. Both of you froze, eyes wide at one another.

“...Did you just r-rip it?”

“...I think I just did, yes.”

A beat of silence passed before Jimmy’s lips started to warble. The sound of stifled laughter only lasted for a second before it burst forth in a wave and crashed into you. With flushed cheeks you couldn’t help yourself from joining in and chuckling along with him.

With little difficulty, and Jimmy having to sit behind you with a pair of scissors you kept nearby, the beautiful bra you once wore now laid on the floor. 

“Well…that certainly was a way to t-take it off,” his hand rubbed your bare back as he chuckled. “But uh, you are okay, right?”

“Yeah,” you sighed, shoulders slumping, “I’ve been a little nervous is all…I was a little worried, you know?”

Jimmy stayed silent, the hand at your back pausing its motions. 

“You can ask me questions about it. Like, it still w-works.” 

Craning your neck you looked at him with curiosity. “What?”

“Every one of my partners has asked about it, so it’s not a big deal,” his hand resumed the slow circles under your shoulder blades as he talked. “Yes, I can have sex, I can ge-ge…get it up, I can do a lot of things it’s just my legs-”

“Jimmy, I wasn’t worried about that,” with a firm look you shut him up. Now it was his turn to be curious. “I was nervous because…well, I kind of saw some of the other girls you had been with. I got a little self conscious…”

Those large hands wrapped around the middle and pulled you to his chest. The steady rise and fall of it was comforting as your mind ran itself in circles trying to think of what he’d say next. Instead of words, you felt his mouth at your neck, hot and moist as he kissed his way to your earlobe.

“I’m not sure what you have to be self conscious about,” the statement was punctuated with his hand at your breast, drawing forth a small gasp. “S’not like I haven’t been showing off the absolute smoke-smokeshow my girlfriend is.”

He had been pretty intent on bringing you out and around people. He never strayed from your side and was always bringing some sort of attention to you despite the fact that he was the one they came to talk to. Little caresses and subtle squeezes were there too, each time giving you a flutter, but somehow your brain had morphed that into something else entirely. 

You couldn’t even voice this explanation as the words caught in your throat. The way his hands moved and grabbed had you feeling drunk on arousal, something he definitely knew he was doing. Grazing a nipple with his thumb you felt the rumble of his words in your hair.

“I guess I’m going to have to do a better job at m-making sure you know how much I’ve wanted you,” his voice was playful and even with your head turned you could tell he wore that same smirk that had your knees weak. 

His other hand slid agonizingly slow across your body and between your legs, the palm making you open them further. The first feeling of his fingertips at your clit made you jump lightly before relaxing right into it, allowing those first few tingles to grow into a pleasurable buzz. You had worked yourself over before, imagination replacing your hands with his own, but somehow this was so much sweeter than that.

You had known Jimmy was strong, having to use his upper body to a greater extent than most along with his frequent gym days, but now with him plastered onto your back you could truly feel it. His chest was firm, a hot wall against you that you had no wish to break away from. As he continued to torture you with those leisurely touches you could feel the muscles of his arms caging you in. In between noticing these things and what he was doing to you, your head was swimming.

“Jimmy…” the name fell from your lips without permission, breathy and filled with want.

“Say it again,” he murmured into your skin, “Say my-my name again, Y/N.”

“Jimm-oh!” teeth nipped into your shoulder before you felt the warmth of his tongue soothe the pain away. With a chuckle he pulled away only a mere centimeter.

“I need you to know how hard it’s been,” ghost-like kisses peppered the sore spot he created as he spoke. “How hard it was to cont-control myself around you.”

“Well, I’m starting to read that loud and clear,” you huffed a laugh, leaning further back into the man behind you. 

The sheets beneath you two were beginning to grow moist and you were starting to becoming restless. The pressure you had felt building at a painful pace was starting to boil over as well as the desperation to actually feel Jimmy inside of you. Gently, and reluctantly, you pushed at his arms, breaking the cage he held around you. An ache accompanied his hand leaving your center, but soon enough you knew it would be satiated again. Turning around Jimmy understood just what you’re little wanton self wanted and quickly took off his boxers before watching you scramble on top of him.

As you started to position him at your entrance you made the mistake of glancing up. Arms behind his head, Jimmy flashed a toothy grin and a raised brow.

“Little excited there?”  With a start you realized just how eager you probably seemed, embarrassment rising up into your reddening face. Puffing out your cheeks, you pouted only serving to make Jimmy laugh. “C’mere.”

Strong hands guided you down onto him, the head of his cock sliding into your entrance with ease. As you felt that delicious stretch you couldn’t stop the small moan that came from your throat, relishing how he filled you. Settling completely into his lap, you let yourself grow used to the feeling.

The pace was slow, but neither of you minded. Every time you moved your hips your eyes latched onto Jimmy’s, the swirls of chestnut and caramel that resided there broadcasting every emotion. As much as he had wanted to let you know his need for you, you wanted to do the same. You needed that man to know that you didn’t just want him, you craved him. And somehow, even with that craving being fulfilled at this very moment, you knew it wouldn’t go away afterwards. 

As his own high slowly built, Jimmy’s breathing got heavier, his eyelids drooping and groans growing in volume. Every hushed curse that he huffed out sent a thrum of heat to your belly, your hips grinding down harder in an attempt to hear more. You had been so nervous about living up to some imaginary expectations of women left long in the past, but here and now you knew that it was bullshit. The way his fingernails dug into your soft flesh, the quivering of those soft lips, and every damned moan told that he was lost entirely in you and you alone.

Those hands suddenly slapped onto your ass, bringing you up quickly before slamming you back down ripping a small yelp from you. With a wicked smile Jimmy took in your startled look with half lidded eyes, pupils blown open in glee at your reaction.

As though you weighed nothing, Jimmy continued this, his biceps bulging with every movement. You had tried to keep your balance with your hands on his chest, but as waves of pleasure washed over you could little but slump forward, allowing him to do as he pleased. Your mind only focused on the feeling of his cock dragging along your walls and hitting every nerve just right. 

“Tell me how close-close you are,” his voice rasped in your ear.

“I’m-ah, clo-” your breath hitched as you felt yourself tumble over into oblivion. “I'm comi–oh!” 

If Jimmy minded your babbling he didn't show it, simply keeping his grueling pace as you rode out your orgasm. 

You let yourself succumb to whatever this was, unsure of where you stopped and he began, and just felt. The pleasure was too much but you couldn't help but continue to revel it. 

Jimmy grunted a few times as his arms started to slow. Falling into his own release you felt warmth filling you with every pump until finally the both of you were still. With your head on his chest, you listened to the rapid beating of his heart and let it lull you into a sleepy calmness.

You didn't know how long you both laid like that, you within his embrace while he softened inside of you, but you did not mind. Being this close to Jimmy felt absolutely wonderful-the warmth of his body, the steady breathing that ruffled your hair, the feel of just him. 

Jimmy was normally full of words. He was a man that always had something to say and a reason to say it, but at this moment nothing he could possibly speak out into the world would make this any more meaningful than it already was. 

_____

“I still can't believe you w-were that nervous,” Jimmy teased, eyes following your movements as you prepared for bed.

While you didn't mind the time you spent just basking in one another, the sweat that once coated your skin had begun to feel sticky and uncomfortable. Making short work of cleaning up, Jimmy made sure to stay near, gaze glued to you as though you were a vision. 

“Hey! I just wanted things to go a certain way,” walking back to the bed, teeth freshly brushed, you went to plug in your phone. 

“And did they?” 

You raised a brow, smirking a little at the brunette. “I mean…it was alright I suppose-hey!”

His arms were a blur as he reach out and pulled you over him into bed, hugging you close. Through your giggles you could hear his own as he settled you next to him.

“Well I thought it was fan-fan-fantastic.” At that confession your belly flipped, pleased. “But if you don't think so…I guess I'll have to try again.”

[sgiandubh]

For all the Landcon 7 Attendees

This is the Facebook group you must absolutely follow, as it will give all of us the latest info on the event (extras, guests and everything else): Attendees/ParticipantsLANDCON7.

I can't post the link here for some reason, but you should look for it on Facebook and will find it with ease. They will ask for your ticket number, in order to become a member (it is standard procedure and not a scam). So this is really a private, closed group where logistical info is shared and groups are being formed - for bookings, arranging transportation, etc.

My proposal is to arrange van transfers from Roissy Charles de Gaulle Airport to Courbevoie (the more, the cheaper & merrier) and also the promised International Shipper Dinner/Get Along. I can and will help any shipper with that and anything else logistics related. Feel free to ask and don't be strangers. And I am thinking about some more things, too.

Also, for all of you who really wanted to attend and were unable to secure tickets, they now exceptionally opened a Waiting List enquiry, in order to see if they can/should do something about it. Please fill in this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeSm75MUSf1P4RkYDcVVBuuRJV6Y2AY0kKWZoiH4bi08TMMeg/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0

Maybe this will allow them to secure a better, bigger venue? I won't venture speculating, but I surely do hope this will be every bit as memorable as promised.

[big-fan-of-botw]

Everything I know about Dashcon 2

Written August 1, 2024 and posted 9:00am CST

(Image says: dashcon 2. This website is still under construction! If you have any questions for our team please reach out to us)

DATE: July 12, 2025

LOCATION: Toronto, Canada (nothing more specific as of now)

WEBSITE: dashcontwo.com

EMAIL: queries@dashcontwo.com

Socials:

Tumblr: @dashcon-two

Instagram: dashcontwo

Twitter: DashconTwo

Facebook: link on website does not work

TikTok: dashcontwo

Their link tree (linktr.ee/dashcontwo) only links the Instagram, Tiktok, and website. Fancebook, Twitter, and Tumblr are linked on the website (their website does NOT have a link to TikTok or Instagram).

Info in the FAQ regarding convention logistics and organizers (CLICK THE "About Us" LINK ON TOP RIGHT OF WEBSITE FOR FAQ):

1.) The organizers are not the same as the ones for the original Dashcon.

2.) Dashcon 2 is not sponsored or organized by Tumblr.

3.) (Image quotes website, "Our team of organizers actually have experience in event coordination, or fields with transferable skills. We’ve taken our time to plan the road ahead carefully, and we have no intention of repeating DashCon’s mistakes.")

4.) Dashcon 2 is "a celebration of local artists, fandom, and internet history".

5.) There will be a ball pit, it will be supervised at all times to prevent anyone from peeing in it.

6.) There will be both safety guidelines for guest to follow and professional security.

7.) Large props must be approved by Weapons Check before they are allowed into the convention space.

8.) In-person attendance will be limited, and virtual tickets to panels will be offered. There is no attendance limit to virtual panels.

Extra info

There may be two ball pits (Tumblr blog)

@the-muppet-joker expressed interest in going (Tumblr blog, https://www.tumblr.com/dashcon-two/757557151949602816/im-going-to-convince-the-croaker-to-go-to-dashcon?source=share)

(Image says:

Anonymous asked: im going to convince the croaker to go to dashcon two

strange-aeons answered: YES WE DUEL IN THE PIT

the-muppet-joker Prepare for my Muppet Face and Joker Smile, Strange. You will taste my blade. And my hooves I mean feet for when I kick you into orbit. I accept your Ballpit Duel… *I chuckle darkly*)

There is a timer on the website counting down to Dashcon 2 (CLICK THE "DashCon 2" LINK IN THE TOP RIGHT CORNER OF THE WEBSITE).

Information on the convention organizers was previously available on the website earlier today, but not yesterday (when I checked). There were 4 people listed, 2 were co-something (I believe organizer or founder ), one was something about art, and I can't remember the last one but I believe it had something to do with the logistics of the convention.

I used the wayback machine and the jobs are (in order): co-founder, co-founder, artistic director, and panels & attendee relations. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS INFORMATION IS ACCURATE OR UP TO DATE, IT MAY HAVE BEEN TAKE OFF OF THE WEBSITE DUE TO INCORRECT INFORMATION.

The current date for dashcon 2 is July 12, 2025. It will last for 1 day.

As I update this, I will post the time and date of the update and what was changed.

[linxuelian]

Anime Fest Plus 2024 Convention Experience Log - With Photos!

Hi, hello! As I've recently (as of this post, yesterday morning) attended Anime Fest+ 2024 at Tropicana Gardens Mall, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, I've decided to write an experience log about my day there! While I will be posting a few different cosplays here, since my blog is currently primarily about MDZS, TGCF and SVSSS at the moment, most of the cosplays I'll be sharing will be from these three titles. To add to the fun, I'll also have commentaries on them!

To preface, the largest anime convention in Malaysia is Comic Fiesta, an annual mecca with 70,000 attendees as of the year 2023. Anime, games and comics are popular in this country, so there are smaller cons dotted throughout the months.

Anyway, the crowd wasn't as large as Comic Fiesta. As the structure of Tropicana Gardens Mall is rather narrow, you'd technically have to file through in two to three lines to be able to walk in and out of the place.

The exhibition hall at the fourth floor hosted all performances as well as cosplay booths. You'd have to ride one of the two escalators up to the hall - plebs without a ticket are doomed to be stranded at the bottom of said escalators, unable to sop up the merriment held exclusively above.

Here are some pics though, just in case you were a pleb that day, or just didn't attend the event:

Main hall programs and booths featured mostly Hololive and sexy pretty girl cosplayers and figurines, given the regular, expected fare when it comes to the anime consuming demographic (yes, I'm calling you out, my anime-watching brothers). I didn't take pictures of the doujinshi market out of respect for the art sellers there, but I did buy a beautiful print and got some lovely free stickers from that ONE vendor who sold BL stuff among the throngs of moe girls/Genshin Impact.

Yes, there was only one stall. But that one vendor made my day! Bless your heart, sister!

Now, I'll move on to the highlight - the cosplays. Nothing fills my heart with more joy than seeing happy people wearing colorful costumes and having a blast just being part of the convention scene. To be honest, it's so common to be wearing cosplay outfits nowadays that folk don't even notice you when you're dressed up - and I say this from experience; nobody noticed at all that I was in costume (or they were far too polite to laugh at how shitty I looked LOL, I didn't even dare take pics of myself). These events usually become scavenger hunts for me, to identify the ones from series I know or my tribe (fellow MXTX fans aha!).

First up is an oldie that's a goldie - Mr. Spock from Star Trek (credit: FaceBook user Yasuhiro Orihusay):

Honestly, I did NOT expect to find any Star Trek cosplays there. My dad's a Trekkie, so this was one of the first pics I sent him at the con itself. Live long and prosper, Mr. Spock!

Next, a furry OC:

I wasn't able to get their social media account as they were waiting in line for an autograph by a cosplayer, so unfortunately I'm unable to credit here.

Furries are currently still a new thing in Malaysia - but I'm glad to see them appearing more frequently at our cons, since they do diversify our pop culture scene quite a bit. Furs Upon Malaysia (FURUM) is held annually in Kuala Lumpur. The tickets are always sold out within an hour, so it's definitely growing and also contributing to tourism (Indonesian and Singaporean furries gather there too).

Also, they're fluffy. I love fluffy things. Much thanks, furry fandom, for being fluffy!

Moving on, here's a group cosplay of Jojo's Bizzare Adventure's Six Pistols (Mista from Golden Wind's Stands, if you're wondering which season it's from):

Vibrant and very spot on! I was unable to get their social media account due to the crowd and disorientation on my part. Do try to look them up, though! They were pretty popular, so I'm sure someone would have shared some info if you're interested.

Anyway, here's a White Mage from Final Fantasy (credit: https://www.instagram.com/yari_hayashi/):

Final Fantasy's one of the older franchises, but it's definitely rising again due to the new FFVII remake. I thought he was Garnet until I saw the blond wig. Bless the mages, healing power plus!!

Next in line is one of my all-time favorites, Sailor Moon (credit: https://www.instagram.com/jiahuab0719_cos/):

I'm a Moonie so seeing a Sailor Moon made me pretty excited! I don't see too many Sailor Moon cosplays even in Comic Fiesta - cosplays at our conventions are pretty seasonal and tend to follow trends, from what I've seen. She definitely caught quite a bit of attention with her wings, too. I saw her getting stopped quite a bit, so I'm glad I got a pic before a line formed!

Aaaand! I've saved the best for last! I'll be showcasing the MXTX stuff now. To start off (with a bang), here are two cosplayers of the number one seasonal love interest of the BL world, Hua Cheng a.k.a. San Lang Didi (Grown Up Version):

Credit: https://www.instagram.com/karry.1213/ (donghua version) and https://www.instagram.com/kopiii_cos/ (manhua version)

Remember how I said cosplays at Malaysian conventions tend to be pretty seasonal? Well, the current flavor of the month for the BL world is definitely TGCF - and the hottest flavor is now San Lang didi. You're going to get stopped for photos pretty often for dressing up as this flashy guy, and for good reason too. Donned in striking red, Hua Cheng is the Ferrari of the danmei world.

I overhead Kopiii_cos' friend saying so many people have been asking for photos! Viva Fafa!

Next, we have the ever beautiful WangXian couple cosplays:

Credit: Wei Wuxian (https://www.instagram.com/purple_384/) and Lan Wangji (https://www.instagram.com/anson1510/)

WangXian's a staple when it comes to the MXTX fandom. There's nary a person who doesn't love these two soulmates, and with these elaborate costumes, they've certainly stolen the show! They were the first couple I saw at the entrance of the exhibition hall, which makes sense since there was an OTP contest going on that afternoon.

Moving along, we have the main character of his story, the Crown Prince of Xian Le, Xie Lian (credit: https://www.instagram.com/arkutagwa/):

I gotta admit that this Lian's the sweetest of the Xies so far. Had a field day calling each other cute (what can I say, we both had cute personalities)! Gotta love that charming dimpled cheek, bless!

Speaking of cute, there's also this whole cute pose thing going on with certain attendees (credit: https://www.instagram.com/chzesin/):

I won't lie - I didn't recognize the character at first. But with the dark-gray-to-white ombre, black and red colors to tell you that's a Wei Wuxian, I'm just going to take a gamble here and deduce that yes, that is indeed a Wei Wuxian and include it. Let me know if you don't think it is.

Last but not least, we have our MXTX OTP group:

Credits: https://www.instagram.com/ayafvrvv/ (Luo Binghe) and https://www.instagram.com/close0402/ (Lan Wangji) - the rest didn't share their social media accounts but they did say you can find them through each other's accounts.

Turns out they're a group who'd entered the OTP contest that afternoon. If you're wondering, no, Binghe isn't paired with air (this is Bing-mei, not Bing-ge). There was a large number of attendees that day as it was Sunday, so their Shizun was still looking for parking. I'd gotten lucky since I'd arrived there just as they'd opened up Basement 3 so ZOOM I parked near the escalators with plenty of space to spare. Until today I chalk it up to being last-minute dressed as Xie Lian, the god of good luck for hobos like myself (or, according to popular belief, Hua Cheng's blessed every Xie Lian cosplayer out there no matter how much we look like we've just stepped out of a jungle). I also had plenty of space to sit for a lovely lunch of salad and green tea!

Granted, there were actually a few other Xie Lians there as well (he's the current flavor as well), but I didn't want to chase after them from afar since the flow of human traffic in this particular mall wasn't too conducive for trying to get pictures, unlike KLCC's garden. Usually, more fans are dressed as the two main characters, Wei Wuxian and Xie Lian - or the shous/bottoms in popular danmei. Surprisingly, I actually saw quite a number of gongs/tops this trip round.

So as a bonus, here's a pic with all our dandy gongs/tops together:

A dashing lot, aren't they?

Anyway, this wraps up my experience log as an MXTX cosplay hunter! Hope you enjoyed it! Bless!

[darkmaga-returns]

However, leftist corporate media failed to fact-check the socialist for misinformation or disinformation. Others did—using a sophisticated algorithm to analyze data from all smartphone devices at the event—and found the numbers were severely overinflated. 

Many of the attendees were probably bussed in and had a history of participating in Antifa/BLM, pro-Hamas, and pro-Palestinian protests. The Democratic Party is known for bussing activists through NGO networks to events to fill seats—a tactic repeatedly used throughout Kamala Harris' 2024 presidential campaign trail to create fake hype. 

Data analyst Tony Seruga exposed just how staged the latest Democratic Party rally was, revealing their ongoing attempts to manipulate public perception with inorganic crowds made up mainly of DEI activists rather than genuine grassroots supporters:

GPS—Here we go again, there were 20,189 devices. Still a large crowd but not even close to the 30,000 quoted in Denver newspapers nor the 34,000 quoted by Bernie Sanders and AOC. 84% of the devices present had attended 9 or more Kamala Harris rallies, antifa/blm, pro-Hamas, pro-Palestinian protests, 31% had attended over 20. For more insight into what data we also look at in addition to GPS location data would be demographic and psychographic data using over 6,000 different databases, i.e., like the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Pew Research Center, market research firms like YouGov, Experian, specialized tools like ESRI's Tapestry Segmentation, consumer surveys, social media platforms like 𝕏, Facebook, Linkedin. Demographic data includes basic characteristics like age, gender, income, education level, occupation, marital status, family size, ethnicity, and where people live (e.g., city, state). Psychographic data dives deeper into people's lifestyles, values, attitudes, interests, personality traits, social class, activities, and how they make purchasing decisions. For example, it might show if someone values sustainability, enjoys outdoor activities, participates in community activism. While demographic data is straightforward, psychographic data can reveal sensitive personal details, like beliefs even life goals. Additionally, by cross pollinating each device with other devices regularly within close proximity to the target device we are able to build a detailed profile for each target. 90% of those in the above 84% were likely working with one of these five groups and is the reason for their presence.

Once again, this is based a very sophisticated algorithm that looks at the behavioral metrics for each device, including the physical 1:1 proximity to leaders and paymasters from these groups in the past. Disruption Project, Rise & Resist, Indivisible Project, Troublemakers and the Democratic Socialists of America. Each receives money from ActBlue and at least three, via USAID.

Disruption Project: Legal status is unclear, likely operating illegally. Rise & Resist: 501c4 non-profit Indivisible Project: 501c4 non-profit Troublemakers: Legal status is for profit. Democratic Socialists of America: 501c4 non-profit

[democracyunderground]

"The town of Springfield, Ohio, has been forced to cancel a planned cultural festival over safety concerns as Republicans continue to level racist attacks against the town’s Haitian community.

On Monday, the city announced that Springfield’s annual CultureFest, scheduled to take place Sept. 27 and 28, has been called off by city officials.

CultureFest “is an event that celebrates diversity, arts and local culture. City officials, in consultation with local and state law enforcement, determined that canceling the event is the most responsible course of action to prevent any potential risks to attendees, staff, vendors and volunteers,” officials wrote in a Facebook post, citing “recent threats and safety concerns.”

[sociocosmos]

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[mariacallous]

On Saturday, October 5, former president Donald Trump returned to Butler, Pennsylvania, for a rally less than three months after the assassination attempt on his life at the same location. This time, Trump appeared onstage with billionaire and X owner Elon Musk.

Trump’s supporters loved it.

A day before the campaign event, Musk posted on X that he would be in attendance. The excitement about his presence was palpable: On the road leading to the rally location, an electronic billboard flashed an image of Musk’s face and a rocket ship with text reading “In Musk we trust!” On a side road, where hundreds of attendees parked their cars, a Tesla cybertruck sported two Trump flags on the back.

“If they don’t, this will be the last election,” he added ominously. “That’s my prediction.”

And Trump supporters in Butler who spoke to WIRED said that, although they’d been planning to attend the rally regardless of Musk’s presence, they were excited to have him in the MAGA fold. Some had even come from out of town to attend the event.

“That definitely did sweeten the deal,” says Sherry O’Donnell, a Trump supporter who attended the Butler rally.

“I was excited because I really like Elon Musk, and we love what he's doing with the space program,” Brian Yanoviak, who drove from eastern Pennsylvania to attend the rally, told WIRED. Yanoviak was a delegate to the Republican National Convention. “He's very intelligent, very innovative. He understands what's happening to the United States. And he truly cares about the future of our country. Very similar to Trump, very similar to Tucker Carlson, very similar to RFK Jr. … It's truly a movement, and it's a movement to make America great again, because if we don't, we're going to lose our republic.”

Musk’s appearance at the rally was part of a larger get-out-the-vote effort from the billionaire and X owner. Over the past few months, Musk has gone all in for the Trump campaign and Republican candidates all over the country, spending millions of dollars. Musk has also used his personal X account to get out the vote, posting voter registration links in swing states to his 200 million followers.

Many of the rally attendees WIRED spoke to saw Musk’s ownership of X as a boon.

Rob Gray, who also attended the Butler rally, says that he mostly posts on Facebook but does keep up with news on X. “They say, ‘Oh, Trump’s a threat to democracy.’ What’s a bigger threat to democracy than the censorship that is just so rampant in all social media?” says Gray. “I'm just totally grateful he bought Twitter, turned it into X, and people can actually have the freedom to talk to each other now."

Musk has styled himself as a “free speech absolutist.” Within weeks of taking over Twitter in 2022, he fired the vast majority of the company’s trust and safety staff, the people who keep hate speech and disinformation off the platform. He also reinstated the accounts of people who had previously been banned for violating the platform’s policies, such as conspiracist Alex Jones and neo-Nazi Nick Fuentes. Research following Musk’s takeover found that hate speech increased on the platform under Musk. Musk himself has used the platform to boost lies and conspiracies.

At the rally, Musk repeated the baseless claim that Democrats would bring in immigrants to swell the ranks of their voters. “This election is the most important election of our lifetime,” he said. “This is no ordinary election.”

Musk has not always been a fan of Trump. During the 2016 election he voiced his support for Hillary Clinton, and in 2011, Musk donated $40,000 to Obama’s reelection campaign. But in recent years, his views have become increasingly right-leaning, as have his political donations. In the hours after the first assassination attempt against Trump, Musk posted on X that he fully endorsed Trump and would be setting up a PAC to back his campaign with $45 million a month in funding. (He later backtracked on the specific amount of funding.) In an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson released days after his appearance in Butler, Musk said he was “all in” on his support for Trump.

Musk is doing more than just promoting Trump and parroting right-wing conspiracies. Earlier this week, Musk said his America PAC would pay $47 referral bonuses to anyone who referred a swing state voter who was willing to sign a pledge supporting the First and Second Amendments. (At the Butler rally, Musk’s declaration that the “Second Amendment is the reason we have the First Amendment” received cheers from the crowd.) The PAC has funded an ad blitz across swing states to collect voter data to power its ground game; it has also plowed $8.2 million into Republican congressional races and offered $30 an hour to those willing to work on “increasing voter turnout.”

This comes at a time when Republican strategists have raised concerns about the Trump campaign’s lack of ground game, which appears to have been largely left to outside groups like Musk’s America PAC.

A former Twitter employee, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, told WIRED that they’re worried Musk’s open support for one candidate or party could have ramifications within the company when it comes to whether or not the platform chooses to enforce its policies. In 2021, after the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol, Twitter banned Trump’s account for inciting violence and also took down other accounts that repeated similar claims. The former employee says those kinds of decisions would likely be harder to make now with Musk in charge of the platform.

“Often the most controversial issues get escalated to the very top of the company,” they say. “If the CEO is weighing in, and if there's partiality, it'll affect the ultimate decision both for the candidate themselves and also for their followers.”

And the former employee says it’s likely that if employees know their CEO’s political alignment, they might self-censor, deciding not to bring up issues with accounts or content supportive of Trump. “It just creates a culture of silence within an organization, because it also changes the internal norms and the ability for people to speak candidly if they feel that their views are not accepted,” they say.

That fear is not unfounded; after taking over Twitter, Musk fired several employees who disagreed with him.

After his speech, Trump thanked Musk for appearing, and the crowd chanted his name. Shortly after, Musk logged back in to X and immediately shared election fraud conspiracies. In a post shared just after leaving the stage, he wrote, “If @realDonaldTrump doesn’t win, the ‘Democratic’ Party will legalize so many illegals that there will be no swing states!”

[coinblogs]

Exploring the potential of cryptocurrencies for positive change

Just the mention of Bitcoin peaks peoples interest, but what exactly makes bitcoin and the crypto economy so alluring? On 1 February, two leading experts in this field, Ferdinando Ametrano from the Università Milano Bicocca, and David Yermack from the NYU Stern School of Business, discussed Bitcoins, blockchains and everything in between at UN Headquarters in New York.

Joining the Facebook live event on “Everything you want to know about bitcoin, blockchain and the crypto economy”, the two experts answered questions shared by the online audience. UN DESA’s Facebook friends wanted to know for example, how to make the production of cryptocurrencies more environmentally friendly; what the implication of bitcoin is in developed versus emerging economies and if they can be used to minimize corruption risks when the UN sends funds to its programmes internationally.

Following the live event on Facebook, Professors Ametrano and Yermack delved deeper into the topic of the crypto economy as they took the stage at the seminar “Understanding Bitcoin, Blockchains and the Crypto Economy,” hosted by UN DESA’s Development Policy and Analysis Division.

In a jam-packed conference room, the attendees learned more about what is often described as “digital gold,” a term used to describe Bitcoin because of its similarity to gold in its value. Bitcoin allows people to send money without the interference of banks and its attraction lies in their transferability, ability to not be duplicated or manipulated, and their security.

This new technology can bring significant change to societies around the world. Both experts agreed that many of the economic challenges that society face can be solved by the use of cryptocurrencies.  The seminar also touched on the other potential benefits that using cryptocurrencies could have, most notably the removal of a third party when making transactions.

As it is now, third parties, such as banks, regulate how we use our money. But without this interference, money can be transferred between people, or between people and businesses without any issues. This is a huge leap forward in the way we conduct monetary transactions, with some people on board and others taking a more cautious approach.

No matter what side of the coin people fall, one thing is for sure, cryptocurrencies are not going anywhere. It is a new frontier that not everyone understands, but everyone is curious and excited about.  Professors Ametrano and Yermack agreed that the future of Bitcoin and the crypto economy are bright and that the changes it can make to our society will be extraordinary

[qnewsau]

Drag Race firebrand Willam got kicked out of DragCon

New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/drag-race-firebrand-willam-got-kicked-out-of-dragcon/

Drag Race firebrand Willam got kicked out of DragCon

Security! RuPaul’s Drag Race queen Willam has shared footage of the moment she was kicked out of DragCon in Los Angeles.

The drag performer’s frosty relationship with the RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise since her season is no secret.

Over the weekend, the popular three-day expo DragCon LA returned to the Los Angeles Convention Centre.

Every DragCon brings performers, drag fans and even RuPaul himself together for performances, meet and greets and of course lots and lots of merchandise.

Willam was one of the many queens who showed up for day 1 of DragCon LA. However, word quickly got around that Willam’s appearance was short-lived.

In a post on X, Willam confirmed to a fan security had escorted her out of the event.

“Yep. Listen to the [podcast] this week and watch my YouTube videos of it all happening,” Willam replied.

After the X post, Willam shared footage on Instagram and her YouTube channel of almost a dozen security guards escorting her out.

In the video, Willam bumps into fellow Drag Race star Dahlia Sin and Willam told her she was told she was a “risk for the event.”

Willam described the footage of “11 cops and guards circling me moving me out the door like the only villain. Fun stuff!”

  View this post on Instagram

  A post shared by WILLAM (@willam)

Willam will ‘always be’ a Drag Race fan

Willam later elaborated in a much longer Instagram post, below. The drag performer said she will “always love Drag Race and be a fan” but let rip on production company World of Wonder, DragCon and her treatment at the event.

“They trailed me around the convention centre and then waited til I went backstage [to] descend and encircle me so they wouldn’t be by the fans and cameras,” Willam claimed.

  View this post on Instagram

  A post shared by WILLAM (@willam)

Willam promises the tea on her Race Chaser podcast

Willam also promised to spill more tea with her co-host Alaska on the drag duo’s always honest and frequently spicy recap podcasts Race Chaser and Hot Goss.

Ahead of that, the drag performer’s followers were in the comments section with a lot of thoughts.

“Just @willam casually keeping the punk spirit of drag alive. Bless her,” one person wrote.

“I mean it’s very on brand,” another follower said.

“Looking sickening though,” someone else declared.

“Let’s be real: Willam walked straight to Ru’s line to start sh*t. Had he just acted like a person and enjoyed #DragCon, it wouldn’t have been an issue. Instead, he walked in there like it was his name on the marquee and got dealt with accordingly. It’s been years, boo. Move on,” an alleged DragCon attendee clarified.

“Cant wait for the ‘I went to DragCon 2024 and all I got was escorted out’ tshirts/merch,” someone else wrote.

More on Drag Race:

Willam blasts Michelle Visage for hosting Drag Race Down Under

Ru-vealed: Here’s the queens set for Drag Race Down Under season 4

Aussie Kween Kong confirmed for RuPaul’s Drag Race Global All Stars

Courtney Act reunited with Adore Delano and Bianca Del Rio

Rhys Nicholson on ‘grim’ Drag Race Down Under we almost saw

For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Check out our latest magazines or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

[laf-outloud]

Infinity Con & Purgatory 8:

We have good and bad news for you guys!

After receiving many many questions if Jared could attend Purgatory 8 instead of Infinity Con we tried to work something out with his agents again.

The very good news is: Jared is now available for Purgatory 8!

Because we got so many request via email, via Facebook and also privat messages we decided to move his appearance to Purgatory 8!

So everyone at Purgatory 8 will probably be super happy now. Sadly this also means, he won`t attend Infinity Con. We are working on more guests for this event of course!

Genevieve sadly won`t be able to attend Purgatory 8 tho and has to cancel Infinity Con.

So what happens now:

If you bought extras for Genevieve, please wait just a little bit longer, as we will announce a replacement guest shortly! More info on bought extras will be given then.

If you bought Jared extras (ALL Extras means Photo Ops, Autographs and Meet & Greets): Those Extras will be valid for Purgatory 8. So just print your Infinity Extra tickets and bring them with you to Purgatory 8 if you will attend this event as well.

If you won`t attend Purgatory 8 as well, please let us know. In this case we will refund your extras. In this case, please send an email to office@ent-events.de with your name and order number. We will refund as soon as possible. Please ONLY send a message, if you do not attend Purgatory 8 as well. We will check this!

Refunds will be given the same way as bought. The person who bought the ticket needs to send a refund request to our email address!

Additional Jared Extras for Purgatory 8 will be available soon!

Jared is going to be a SPECIAL GUEST and he will join us at Purgatory 8 the whole weekend. There also will be options to get Double and Triple Photo Ops with him and Jensen and Misha, but more Info on this will follow shortly.

A refund of Infinity Entry tickets is not possible. We still think the Infinity Line up is amazing and we are still working on more guests! We are awaiting a couple signed contracts soon!

ALSO: We talked to the hotel again regarding the amount of attendees and were able to add 120 Single Day Tickets per day without seating. You will be able to watch the panels but not in the seating area.

If you have ANY questions, please send an email to office@ent-events.de.

Entertainment Events

**For those who were attending Infinity Con in Germany, Jared's now been moved to Purgatory Con.**

Note this particular section: "ALSO: We talked to the hotel again regarding the amount of attendees and were able to add 120 Single Day Tickets per day without seating. You will be able to watch the panels but not in the seating area."

[beardedmrbean]

A New Year's Eve celebration was cut short for families after a brick display holding balloons for a drop collapsed into a crowded Massachusetts arcade.

The Peabody Police Department confirmed in a post on Facebook that multiple people were injured when a plastic brick display fell from a mezzanine level at the In the Game arcade in Peabody.

According to the arcade's Facebook page, they were hosting a "Noon Year’s Eve celebration" on Tuesday afternoon. 

Peabody Fire Chief John Dowling told Fox News Digital that they received a call about a partial ceiling collapse at the arcade just after noon.

After arriving at the scene, Dowling said crews discovered it was not a ceiling collapse but rather a display of play bricks, which was 12 feet tall, collapsed onto a group of people during a failed New Year's Eve balloon drop.

Dowling said the balloons were supposed to be released from the display during the party and that it appeared a person pulled too hard on the display, causing it to fall over. 

Dowling said 10 individuals sustained minor injuries. Eight were transported to the hospital for treatment, while two refused medical transport.

Of those eight who sought treatment, Dowling said three were adults and five children, sustaining mostly cuts and scrapes.

Lawren Turco, who was in attendance at the event with her family, told WBZ-TV that it was "pure chaos." 

"We watched the entire balloon drop and had no idea anything happened until we were going to leave promptly following the balloon drop,"Turco described to WBZ-TV.

"Kids were crying, there were tons of people all in the office, some with ice packs over their heads," Turco continued. 

The arcade was closed as a precaution for a brief period after the incident but reopened a short time later.

A spokesperson for the arcade told Fox News Digital that they are working with the authorities as the situation is being assessed.

[doomedandstoned]

The Electric Highway Festival 2025 Returns to Calgary

Doomed & Stoned is proud to rally for the upcoming spring festival in Calgary, Canada: The Electric Highway 2025. The line-up for this April 4/5 event is nothing short of exhilarating.

Kicking things off with the grim rhythmic doom metal band CASTLE on Friday night, who are on the tail end of the Evil Remains Tour, which has taken them to Europe, Canada, and the US.

Robust Canadian sludge attack BISON, long a staple of the scene -- with albums stretching back to 2008 -- headlines the whole festival on Saturday, April 5th.

They will be joined by SoCal rock 'n' roll, out of control band FEVER DOG dishing out ample feel good groove and hard jamming vibes to the stage.

A splattering of Western Canadian bands (of which there are a damn good many) join the roster including LA CHINGA, BUFFALO BUD BUSTER, THE GETMINES, 88 MILE TRIP, CHÛNK, HYDRACAT, THE ASTRAL PROPHETS, BLACKSMITH & BREWER, LOVER, BUNS, and G.E.O.F.F.

There's nothing quite like the live experience. Witnessing the magic of music brought to life on stage. Feeling the impact of that massive low end rumble. There's something visceral about the whole stoner-doom sound in a concert setting that should drive you out of the house for a good show.

The Electric Highway Festival takes place on April 4 & 5 at Dickens (1000 9 Ave SW) in Calgary, Alberta. Here's the full line-up:

Friday, April 4, 2025

Castle (San Francisco/Vancouver)

Buffalo Bud Buster (Calgary)

Blacksmith and Brewer (Vancouver)

CHÛNK (Vancouver)

Hydracat (Edmonton)

The Astral Prophets (Calgary)

BUNS (Calgary)

Doors 5pm – Show 6pm

Saturday, April 5, 2025

Bison (Vancouver)

La Chinga (Vancouver)

Fever Dog (Southern California)

The Getmines (Vancouver)

88 Mile Trip (Vancouver)

Lover (Calgary)

GEOFF (Calgary)

Doors 5pm – Show 6pm.

Advance 2-day passes are available for $75. Advance single-day tickets are $40 for Friday and $45 for Saturday.

Festival passes and single-day tickets are available at www.theelectrichighway.ca/festivalstore/.

Stay up to speed with the festival with updates right here.

SOME BUZZ

The Electric Highway Festival hosts various genres that range from Desert Rock, Stoner Metal, Doom, Sludge, Trippy Psychedelic, Surf Rock, Acid Rock, Noise Rock, Fuzz Rock, Space Rock, Blues Rock, Heavy Psych, Heavy Blues, Southern Rock, Fuzzy Punk, Sludgy Hardcore bands and variations of any of the previously mentioned styles. The festival includes a vendor area with interesting goods for attendees to take home with them.

Previous editions of the festival featured one of the event’s past favorites Californian headliners Sasquatch, Juno Award-winning Canadian band ANCIIENTS, Vancouver’s La Chinga, Space Queen, Dead Quiet, and more, Gnarwhal from Yellowknife, NWT, Calgary’s Gone Cosmic, Hombre, Flashback among many more, and a whole host of other great bands.

Follow The Electric Highway Festival: Instragram | Facebook

[harrison-abbott]

I had a girlfriend in high school called Sheona. It was just an innocent wee thing – hugging and kissing, and I was only 14 and she the same age. It lasted quite long for a teen relationship; it was about ten months. As I say, it was a simple affair, walking around and holding hands. First kiss, first relationship ever. We also found, as time went on, that there wasn’t much to talk about. We didn’t share interests. And by the end of the relationship, in the final steps, she was saying that she didn’t want to stay in a relationship where there wasn’t much chat. And I kinda agreed. It was actually me that pulled out of the bond. I broke up with her. There’s no ‘nice’ way to break up with somebody. I felt that one of us needed to pull the plug and so I sent her a message online. And she did not take it well at all. She kept asking me why I was finishing with her. As she couldn’t understand it. And I didn’t really want to rip her apart with all of the reasons, because that would have made it worse for her. I was also immature and insensitive. And it was obvious that she was hurting like hell over it. She ended up hating me severely for a long time. We stopped speaking. It was weird seeing her around high school. Hmm. When we were around seventeen, I messaged her again and said I was sorry that I’d been so mean to her. She seemed to accept the apology. Then I left high school and later moved cities to study at university. So I didn’t see her for about ten years. And had no clue what she was up to in life. But then by complete chance we happened to be going to the same open mic night in Edinburgh. I didn’t know she was going until I saw her on the Facebook attendee list on the event page. It was really surprising. So I went along, because I was meant to be reading at the event. I got to the venue and headed along to the toilets. And then there was Sheona was walking towards me. She looked really small, I thought. As in, short. And she looked up at me very briefly, with this incredibly vacant expression. It was almost as if she didn’t recognise me, but she obviously did – she knew it was me. And she looked down again and walked right past, without a word. And I just felt so bad. She must’ve still been smarting over that adolescent heartbreak, even though it was such a long time ago. A decade ago. I’d broken her heart and I felt like a bastard. And there was nothing I could do to repair it. I understand that people can be mean when they’re young, but that wasn’t really an excuse. When it was my turn to read, during the event, Sheona got up and left the room and went to the toilet … This event also happened a long while ago – that was over six years ago from when I’m writing this now. So there’s even more years to the whole story. I hope that Sheona doesn’t think about it so much anymore. That she’s not still hurt. Maybe she’s not. And has moved on. Hope so.