#Gary opening delayed

[fiveredlights]

happy 202-five 🥳🥂 (sorry i think i’m hilarious)

as it is new year’s day, it only felt fitting to write a little snippet of glitter on the floor max and daniel celebrating new year’s alone—or so they thought. (1.2k, G)

“I feel like we’ve forgotten something,” Daniel says as Max passes a flute of champagne to him. Below them, the hoards of people wanting to catch a glimpse of the fireworks over Port of Monaco grow louder, as the clock ticks down till midnight. “Or someone.”

Matilda’s stuck in London after her flight was delayed. Lucia’s out with Andie and their friends at some Michelin star restaurant somewhere. Gary and Steve are probably destroying the new chair they got after they destroyed the last one. Molly is sleeping soundly on the sim chair in their office. Daniel’s next to him on their balcony, curled up on the sofa with two blankets and a puffer jacket on him.

(Two blankets because Daniel still refuses to wear shorts even when he’s cold.)

“I think this is the first year in a long time we’re spending New Year’s alone,” Max responds, tucking himself between the couch armrest and Daniel. “So maybe that is why it feels so weird.”

“Yeah, the house is so quiet without the kids. Reminds me of when we first started dating,” Daniel says, balancing the champagne flute on the armrest next to him. “Could do whatever we wanted without two children bickering in the background,” he murmurs, turning to face Max and sliding his frozen hands underneath his shirt.

He nudges a knee between Max’s legs and slots himself on top of him, swinging a leg over his thigh and placing his weight on it. Max reaches up and threads his hands through Daniel’s hair, pulling him down into a kiss but it’s hard to take him seriously when his puffer jacket squeaks at every movement.

“Daniel,” Max murmurs in between their kisses. “Daniel, your jacket.” He tugs on the zipper, trying to get his husband to temporarily part with it when Daniel pulls back.

“Daniel,” he says again. “Your jacket. It makes that sound that you know I do not like.”

“Aw. But I like this jacket,” Daniel pouts, like he doesn’t know that Max has been trying to get rid of it for the past twenty years. Every time it’s in the donation pile it mysteriously finds its way back into their closet, front and centre.

From behind them, there’s a big slam from the front door, before a voice yells down, “I’m fine!”

Max is about to chalk it down to one of their neighbours being drunk and confusing the apartments for one another, when the voice comes echoing down the apartment again, with three knocks on the door.

“Papa! Dad! Can you open the door? I think I broke the lock.” Max and Daniel take one look at each other, before pushing themselves off the couch and making their way down.

Lucia is standing there with a sheepish look on her face, a box of pizza in her hand. Andie’s next to her with a nervous smile. “I tried the code and it wasn’t working, and I left the keys at Andie’s place. Sorry.”

Daniel waves them in, hugging them as they walk past. “All good Luce. Thought you two would stay out longer?”

Gary and Steve immediately saunter down the hallway, tails up in the air and weaving between them. Gary lets out a long perfunctory meow at Andie, who picks him into her arms, bouncing him like a baby. He can hear his purring, even from a distance.

“I just don’t think we’re fine dining people,” Andie explains. She has a finger underneath Gary’s chin, scratching him to his heart’s content. “Plus the restaurant doesn’t have Sir Gaga, does it?”

Lucia pulls a face. “Absolutely not. Sir Gaga is worse than Gazza. I am not letting you name our future children, your track record of names is terrible.”

“Don’t listen to her Sir Gaga,” Andie gasps in mock outrage, walking past her and out to the balcony. “You have a wonderful name, Lucia’s just jealous.”

Molly comes trotting out of the office, sitting herself right in front of Lucia. She shakes her head fondly, following Andie with Molly in tow. “At least you have a normal-ish nickname, don’t you Mozzarella?”

Daniel takes a moment to process Molly’s nickname. “Mozzarella?”

“You named birds, Daniel,” Max says bluntly. “So I am not sure you can talk.”

They’re about to move back to their outdoor couch when the sound of keys jingling in the lock plays. Max opens the door to find Matilda on the other side, two suitcases behind her and slightly frazzled.

“Did you know they wouldn’t let me into the street until I proved I lived at the apartment? And of course none of my ID showed this address—why would it show my parents address—and this cop was such a dick to me,” Matilda rants, yanking her suitcases inside.

“Oh my god, I am never travelling on New Year’s Eve again, that was horrible.” Matilda looks at the door behind her. “Did you change the code?”

Max waves his hand around. “Lucia timed it out. We’ll fix it in the morning.”

The broken door lock offender sticks her head out of the balcony door, pointing at her sister with the pizza box in hand. “Why are you here? I thought you were stuck with Riley in London,” she asks, using air quotes for her back half of the last sentence.

“No, I was actually stuck in London, don’t do the air quotes,” Matilda shoots back. “Why are you here, I thought you and Andie were at that fancy restaurant or whatever with your friends?”

“We got hungry, so we left,” Lucia explains.

“At a restaurant?”

“The portions were really tiny—look, shut up. Maybe I just wanted to eat pizza with my fiancée at home instead of wondering if I was using the right fork or not,” Lucia says pointedly, shaking the box. “Do you want the pizza or are you still judging my restaurant choices?”

Matilda practically vaults over all the living room furniture and snatches the box from Lucia, almost planting herself on top of Andie when she jumps over the back of the outdoor couch.

Andie slides a soft drink across the coffee table towards Matilda, who downs a quarter of the can in one sip.

“What?” Matilda looks around at them. “I refuse to pay for bad airport food, this isn’t a new thing about me.”

“Where’s Riley?” Andie asks instead, passing another soft drink across in preparation. “I thought you two were going to visit his parents in Colorado?”

“Left him in London,” Matilda mumbles through a mouthful of pizza.

“Matilda!” Daniel chastises. “Are you serious?”

“I did ask if he wanted to come, but apparently staying in a hotel overnight was more appealing than flying back here, so.” Matilda shrugs in a way that definitely tells him she’s annoyed at him over it. “Would rather spend the new year with you guys than in some random hotel.”

There’s a silent pact between them to not push too many questions about Riley on Matilda. Max could barely keep up with the way they were bouncing around each other at the very beginning.

They’re all saved from accidentally saying the wrong thing when the fireworks start. Daniel startles with the loud bangs echoing across the sky, scrambling to get his jacket off the floor and pulling the hood over his ears.

“Pretty cool fireworks, right?” Matilda asks, looking over at them. Max stretches his arm over Daniel, pulling them all closer.

Daniel slides his hand into Max’s underneath the blanket, squeezing it three times. “Yeah,” he exhales. “Pretty cool fireworks.”

[bearsunlimited]

On December 2nd, 2023 (12/02/23), RTVS drops a teaser for a future Half-Life 2: But the AI are Self Aware stream(s) in the official WRTV discord server (also available on Wayne's channel).

The teaser was simple and had a date displayed over the 28 second video, December 16th, 2023 (12/16/23). That was two weeks ago. As of today, December 17th, 2023 (12/17/23, nearly 1:40 AM EST), the stream had already happened.

It was set to start at 6pm EST, a delay caused the stream to be pushed back 30 minutes. At roughly 6:38 PM EST, the stream was again delayed due to difficulties. Many in both the offline Twitch chat and the official WRTV server were impatient, though those who have love in their hearts understood that the crew needed to deal with it, and chose to be patient and kind. Everyone was expecting a second season to the ever beloved Half-Life: But the AI are Self Aware (HLVRAI) series. I read that there were over 20k viewers (I didn't see the number myself, but I was there).

At roughly 7:02 PM EST, the stream finally started. A black screen with ambiance, quiet, making the chat explode with joy. The teaser plays again (minus the date text over the video). The glasses that were seen in the teaser trailer then became those of Walter White, the famed main character of AMC's Breaking Bad.

The stream that was originally supposed to be for HL2VRAI became the funniest joke RTVS could have done, Breaking Bad VR but the AI is Self Aware (BBVRAI). The entire stream was misleading viewers, from the stream title being labled "The Science Team Rises Again" and the game being set to Gary's Mod, from the lead up of the opening to the teaser trailer. Everyone was so prepared for Half-Life.

The stream lost thousands of viewers, and I, who stayed to watch, am overjoyed that they left. I had so much fun, I know next to nothing about BrBa, so the entire stream was a delight! I could tell that the cast and crew had fun planning and making the stream. Those who left missed out on many fun moments, especially the Coomer cameo in one of the scenes! Those who left also missed the official HL2VRAI trailer shown at the end. All in all, those who got pissy and complained that it wasn't HL2VRAI, and those who started being mean to the RTVS crew, missed out on something so FUNNY and so perfect! Such a shame.

[garysprites]

currently in university. expect significant delays

my name's gary. i make sprites. ask me to make a sprite for you and i might.

Requests: OPEN

Commissions: OPEN

please check my additional information page for additional information

please do not post my sprites elsewhere

[lifeinacartoon]

Hello! I love your idea of doing prompts, here's mine for the Take That fandom:

"The one where Gary hides a surprise in the picnic basket for Mark alone to see"

I hope it inspires you, but if it doesn't feel free to ignore it!

How could I possibly ignore it?!! Sorry for the delay—it’s been a hectic few days. I hope you enjoy it! I'm not the best at writing M/M, but who can resist a bit of Barlowen? ----

The sun sank lower, painting the sky with hues of amber and rose as Gary smoothed out the chequered blanket, his heart racing with anticipation. He’d been planning this moment for weeks, ever since the European leg of the tour ended and they finally had a few nights to themselves. He wanted everything to be perfect.

He’d invited Mark for a picnic in the park, selecting the most secluded spot, far from the other couples scattered around, their laughter and chatter a distant murmur.

It was private.

It was perfect.

Mark settled down beside him, a playful smile tugging at his lips. “What’s with the grin?” he asked, eyeing Gary with curiosity.

As much as Mark had loved the tour, the gruelling pace had worn him down. The idea of a quiet evening, just the two of them, was exactly what he needed, and Gary’s invitation had been impossible to resist.

Gary’s eyes sparkled as he spoke, his voice laced with excitement. “You know how you’ve been surprising me and Dougie with little treats from the picnic basket during the tour…” He trailed off, pulling the basket closer. One by one, he began to reveal its contents: a bottle of non-alcoholic wine, a dish of perfectly ripe strawberries, and two sandwiches from the deli they both adored.

Mark’s eyes widened as the basket emptied, but Gary’s expression remained oddly expectant.

“Wait, we’re missing something,” Gary said, his tone suddenly serious, though the corners of his mouth twitched with amusement.

Mark’s brow furrowed as he scanned the spread. “What could we possibly be missing?” he wondered aloud.

Gary’s grin widened as he reached back into the basket, pulling out a small, velvet box. He handed it to Mark with a look that made Mark’s heart skip a beat.

“This one’s just for you,” Gary whispered, his voice soft, almost reverent.

Mark’s breath caught as he took the box, his fingers trembling slightly as he opened it. Inside, nestled against the dark velvet, was a promise that neither of them had spoken aloud, but both had felt for a long time.

Their eyes met, and in that quiet, secluded spot, with the world far away, everything felt right.

“Gary…” Mark whispered, his voice barely audible, but full of wonder.

Gary shifted closer, his hand reaching out to gently cup Mark’s cheek. “I’ve been thinking about this for a long time,” Gary began, his voice steady despite the nervous flutter in his chest. “Through every country, every city, every show, all I could think about was how much I wanted this—wanted us—to be more than just stolen moments and memories we could only keep to ourselves.”

Mark’s eyes glistened, his heart pounding as Gary continued.

“I love you, Mark,” Gary said, his thumb brushing lightly over Mark’s cheekbone. “I want to be with you—really be with you. No more hiding, no more pretending. I want everyone to know what you mean to me. If you’ll have me.”

Mark’s throat tightened with emotion. He could barely find his voice, overwhelmed by the depth of feeling in Gary’s words. He glanced down at the ring, then back up at Gary, who was watching him with such hopeful intensity that it made Mark’s heart ache in the best possible way.

“Yes,” Mark finally managed to whisper, his voice cracking with emotion. “Yes, Gary, of course, I’ll have you.”

Gary’s face broke into a radiant smile, his eyes shining with relief and joy. He took the ring from the box and gently slipped it onto Mark’s finger, his hands steady despite the rush of emotions coursing through him.

As soon as the ring was in place, Mark surged forward, wrapping his arms around Gary’s neck and pulling him into a deep, heartfelt kiss. It was a kiss that spoke of love, of promises made, and of a future that, for the first time, felt entirely within reach.

When they finally pulled apart, both of them were breathless, their foreheads resting together as they tried to catch their breath.

“I can’t believe you did this,” Mark murmured, a soft laugh escaping his lips. “Here, in the middle of a park, during a picnic…”

Gary chuckled, his hand still holding Mark’s. “I wanted it to be special,” he said. “Just like us.”

Mark smiled, his eyes locking with Gary’s, filled with so much love that it made Gary’s heart swell.

“It is special,” Mark whispered, leaning in to brush his lips against Gary’s once more. “It’s perfect.”

[catnipster69]

Pick-Up Lines

“Hey, man. You got a light?” The long-haired man leaned against a pillar and held up his cigarette.

Sam reached into his pocket for his zippo, but didn’t immediately offer it. Instead, he fidgeted with the lid, flipping it open and closed repeatedly. “You come here often?”

The man looked around, like he wasn’t sure where he was, and he frowned before answering, “I don’t think so. This isn’t my usual vibe.” He scratched at his arm and looked uncomfortable.

Sam looked around too. Not exactly crowded, and it was late: after midnight. “I’ve spent more time here than I’d like. Name’s Sam, by the way.”

“Gary. Uh… where exactly are we? I don’t remember too well.”

Sam chuckled. “Maybe you partied too hard, huh?”

Gary nodded. “Yeah. I guess I did.” He grinned, and his smile was gruesome.

Sam looked over his shoulder, and then turned back to Gary. “You want that light?” He lit the zippo and held it up.

Gary put the cigarette to his lips and leaned forward. Suddenly, he screamed, and his whole body went up in a blaze until there was nothing left.

Sam closed the lighter and turned back to Dean, who stood over the smoking grave.

Dean said, “What, were you hitting on him? ‘You come here often?’ Really, Sam, that was the best you could do? And also, you have the worst lines.”

Sam shook his head. “Well, it worked. All I had to do was delay him. And my lines seem good enough for you. ‘Kiss me, Dean.’ ‘Suck my dick, Dean.’ ‘Bend over, Dean.’”

Dean gathered up the shovels and walked towards Sam. “You make a good point. Let’s get out of here so you can practice more lines on me.”

Sam grinned and followed him back to the car.

[jayhawksofficial]

Golden Smog show announced - First Avenue 11/15

Golden Smog, America's favorite Stupergroup, is pleased to announce that Gary Louris, Kraig Johnson, Dan Murphy, Marc Perlman and Steve Gorman (the latest in a long line of Smog drummers dating back to Dave Pirner) will be appearing for one night only on Friday, November 15 at First Avenue, the scene of so many great Golden Smog and Golden Smog-related shows over the last 4 decades. In other words, home. Minneapolis rockers Eleganza will be opening.

In lieu of any new music, the current mode for Golden Smog is to play when circumstances allow, whether it's a year between shows or a decade. For this year's show the plan - and, yes, there is a plan - is to invoke the spirit of early GS, when fun with a capital F was the driving force. So expect lots of stuff from the 1996-2006 "Major Label" era but also a healthy dose of old faves from the 1988-1993 "What The Hell Are We Doing" era, when the goal was to not be the worst cover band in town....and have fun, did we mention that?

Tickets go on sale to the public on Friday, October 18 at 10 am CT but there will be an exclusive artist presale this Wednesday, October 16 at 10am CT. Presale code is KEYS

Ticket link: https://bit.ly/gsmog2024

Golden Smog info page HERE

From a recent Golden Smog press release: Since 2006's Another Fine Day there hasn't been any new Golden Smog music. Since the brief tour for that lost classic of an album ended, live Golden Smog has been a sporadic proposition. There have been a dozen Golden Smog concert performances since 2006, ranging from the basement of a South Minneapolis coffee shop to scattered benefit events to a packed 2008 rally at the Target Center in Minneapolis “warming up” for then presidential candidate Barack Obama. Some GS shows in this span have featured “new guy” Jeff Tweedy (who joined in 1994), most have not. There have been at least 4 drummers for these 21st century shows – a long standing Smog tradition.  The recent spate of GS activity was kick-started in July 2019 when most of the Down By The Old Mainstream lineup of the band celebrated Dan Murphy's birthday at a semi-private late night show in an off the radar location: the basement of a Minneapolis bar, just hours after The Jayhawks had finished an outdoor show across the river – a typically Smoggy affair. This was the first Golden Smog live show in over 7 years - the longest such gap in the band’s long, jumbled history. Since then there have been a pair of triumphant Smog reunion shows with Tweedy in April 2022 for the COVID-delayed celebration of First Avenue's 50th anniversary and a pair of shows without Tweedy, opening for Jayhawks local holiday concerts in 2022 and 2023, the last of those featuring former Black Crowes drummer and recent Minnesota arrival Steve Gorman. The future for Golden Smog past this show remains characteristically vague but optimistic. Stay tuned.

[dreamings-free]

23/4/24 The Music Venue Trust has hit back at Manchester’s Co-Op Live for saying some grassroots venues are “poorly run” – despite having had to delay its own opening this week.

Co-Op Live, which cost £365million, is set to become the UK’s largest indoor arena when it opens, with a capacity of 23,500.

The venue’s executive director Gary Roden spoke to the BBC recently, where he discussed the proposed £1 ticket levy on all gigs arena-sized and above, to help secure the future of grassroots venues and artists.

Roden said that he was “very aware it’s a hot topic”, and that he was “embracing the conversation”, but that he believed the levy was “too simplistic”.

The report suggests that he thinks support should come directly from the government, and added that while he acknowledges the financial pressures on small venues, he thinks some of them are poorly run.

-> full article here at nme.com

Music Venue Trust CEO Mark Davyd on twitter 20/4/24 :

linking to this article:

20/4/24 Bosses of the UK's largest arena have apologised for cancelling tickets to a test show hours before it was due to start.

It comes after organisers at Co-op Live in Manchester said they had to cut capacity for a preview concert by Rick Astley to allow them to test the 23,500-seater venue "effectively".

Those affected have instead been invited to the Black Keys show at the £365m arena next week.

Co-op Live is set to be officially opened by comedian Peter Kay on Tuesday.

-> full article here at bbc.com

and then the day before the official opening night..

22/4/24 Organisers at Manchester’s new Co-Op Live arena have postponed their opening Peter Kay shows.

[..]

A statement from the venue said: “Following our first test event on Saturday, regretfully we have made the difficult decision to reschedule our two opening performances by Peter Kay. It is critical to ensure we have a consistent total power supply to our fully electric sustainable venue, the completion of which is a few days behind.

-> full article here at nme.com

[love-is-a-pearl]

That's a lot of work, re: making a whole summary of relevant things, but I 100% get the insanity and overanalyzing, that's my jam. Lucky for you, I'm not totally clueless as the small percentage of people who have deep dived into Pokemon lore. I'm taking about memorized NPC dialogue, flavor text for items, creator interviews, design inspiration and mythology, every bit of side/beta/unreleased/scrapped content, theories and inter-game connections. Yes, I know Amber2 and the Champion's League with their Elite 4 Cup mentioned in the DP anime. I'm just sad about it because what do you MEAN after my old draft outlined the chapters I have to DELAY the Elite 4 challenge until ANOTHER LEAGUE? I named those chapters so specifically as a nice, smooth transition and callback 😭 Granted I guess...it also kind of works. If you have ideas on what it is, how it works, or when it takes place? I might be able to implement it. I don't know if its another League with strong trainers or specifically battling the E4. 1) Ash-Guzma talk, gotcha! I think there's something to be said about how Guzma isn't another meglomaniac Ash had to face, and how the feelings of loss can be understood by Ash...I was just reading your write up on the parallels with Alain and how Ash's Unova self was a set up for his Kalos self. In my rewrite, although the story isn't focused on Ash and friends, I figured I try to give everyone their due anyways, and my biggest grip so far is keeping the anime for what it is and treating it's choices seriously VS altering them. Sure, I COULD disqualify Tobias for using legendaries, I COULD have Ash beat Alain, but...same reason why I can't undo Ash's pity badges. It's a part of his journey. 2) Iris MC arc, good point. There's no reason to off-screen her becoming a Champion. Not sure how I'll do it tbh, and it'll probably extend the time we spend in Unova (I really want to get to Kalos haha) but it could be nice. Mm, maybe I can have Iris meet other dragon masters from the regions...maybe I should rewrite the Plasma arc tbh, I think they changed N's character entirely in the anime? And make up an original episode for when Team Rocket was in Unova (the one that didn't air) and use that to lead to a near permanent shut down? Give Iris key moments there? 3) Real. Anime is kinda misogynistic about the girls. trainer!Lillie, with S/M style Lusamine, yay or nay? I often wonder about which aspects of the game characters to transfer over. Like, I want to bring in Will and Karen too although they don't exist in ani...I was thinking Ash and friends would have a plot similar to Substance R from the Detective Pikachu movie. Pokerus/Mewtwo's Beserk Gene/the forced evolution experiments/mega evolution? trying to get it all reconciled. They'll meet Karen in a similar underground tournament as in the movie I think... 4) Gary-Ash rivalry...they're no Reguri, but might as well give em something. Silph Co takeover, during Mt. Moon some Rocket defects with the fossil Pokemon (after they're revived at the Cinnabar's lab, which like in the game, the technology suspiciously works.) That's how Devon gets their own fossil revival tech we see. Stolen research. Aerodactyl was too wild, so uh, while attempting to use it at Silph (which went so bad the grunt was like "aight imma quit in the chaos.") Gary ends up catching it, and this starts his interest in fossil Pokemon research we see in the anime. 5) I have a gameverse AU too, so trying to find a 2nd origin story for the executives and Team Rocket is the dreaded </3 ignoring the chronicles japanese opening cameo, Silver does not exist. tragic, I love him, but what on earth am I gonna do, I can't repeat the AU storybeats. As funny as the TRio and Silver interactions might be. I guess this is always subject to change, but soooo much emotional investment in characters already exists that I had to keep anime!Bill instead of the other...very sad.

Yeh yeah, the tags weren't targeted at you specifically. it just gets me the amount of people who watched the OG anime as kids and think they know all that there is to know about it. Pokemon youtubers who played the games and start to target anime viewere when very obviously not caring for it get on my neves sometimes orz

And no, no! It's not another league! I'm pretty sure that what the anime calls champions league is actually just the elite four (or rather a name for challenges between trainers on elite four level, like we saw with Flint vs Cynthia sometimes). You don't need to worry about changing your fanfic SORRY!!! I just tend to ramble a lot in tags, don't worry about it 🙏

Oof, I get you. While Pokemon in general is my special interest and I love knowing anything about it, the competitive side of it (the whole IV-EV thing, smogon and showdown) are things I just can't bring myself to care about :V

Ohh, I understand the struggle. While the anime has some fun ideas and themes at times, there's some stuff that just begs to be changed.. I think it would depend on what kind of story you want to tell.

For my AU personally I'm taking what the anime did and kinda fixing the things I disliked while taking advantage of an older Ash and certain themes I want to explore. For instance, I'm having Ash use Primeape while he is traveling alone and focusing more on his pokemon, and that gets him to realize he never tried knowing that monkey at all. Ash traveling alone is something I always wanted but is not something that works in-anime and in a fanfic like that I can explore underated pokemon much easier than just idk, shoving Primeape into the JNs team.

But if you plan on rewriting everything post DP league (if I'm assuming correctly) and perhaps get Ash to age as the story goes, it does makes sense to change some big things as league resuts. Like, there's the joke "he would not say that" when people make characters OOC but is always good to remember "what would cause him to say that?". As in: if things change enough, if you write a story that deviates a lot from canon, then even certain outcomes and character reactions can change.

Like, an Ash that wins in Sinnoh probably won't be as affected by the Unova loss as canon Ash. And that Ash would be much more relaxed at Kalos, etc, etc. I guess it all depends on how you write (and what you want to write more than anything. I can't reiterate this enough, but have fun with those stuff!!)

Ohh, I have been talking to a friend about Unova and Kalos a lot, and one of the recent things was this idea of taking advantage of the fact Unova has more than 8 gyms in-game. Like, if you do want Ash doing gyms there still, I think having Iris do the other gyms that are introduced in BW2 would be an awesome way to start her gym challenges on-screen. We even talked about the concept of Iris and Ash and Cilan all meeting in Striaton gym! With both Iris and Ash going there to challenge him and since that gym has 3 leaders, Iris could get to battle one of the brothers while Ash battled Cilan.

Yes, the Plasma team and N and their connections are very different in the anime. Honestly if I could recomend you to research about anything out of the anime for reference, it would be Plasma Team. The way they're portrayed in the games is very interesting in how they pretend to care for pokemon, telling people that pokemon are better off alone and that holding them in balls/battling with them is abuse! And that's one thing I get very very sad the anime didnt take advantage of.

Ash is a character that would be so easily dissuaded by that kind of talk if done right and would be interesting seeing him questioning himself about that sort of thing SPECIALLY AFTER PAUL!!

And going back to Iris. Have her be more confident in her relation to pokemon because she was raised in a village of dragons, where human and pokemon live as one and let her take the role of main character and prove that Team Plasma are not as good as they pretend to be. Show how her connection with pokemon is that of a champion or something yknow?

SM Lusamine is always a Yay for me ;w; I love love love how she is portrayed in that game ♥ evil bitch of a mother, but so so good story-wise. And makes Lillie becoming a trainer even more meaningful too.

Yeah, I get it. Specially for timeskip stories, is hard to know how to balance Anime and Game characters. I.. don't have a tip for that tbh. If there's no anime equivalent, I tend to go with characters I got attached in-game or that are generally popular in fandom. I mean, if I can get attached to a random NPC from 2 dialogues in the game, then it means they're special right? But usually elite fours that haven't appeared on the anime (nor the manga) are not that memorable at all so Idk what to say about Karen and Will.. But I guess introducing them like that could be interesting. Karen has that kinda "strong pokemon, weak pokemon. it doesnt matter which you choose as long you trust them" quote that would make her interesting if portrayed as someone that is very against pokemon abuse. And if you make Will into a spy (since he has that magician vibe and i guess could be used as an excuse for him to work in TR's game corner undercover or something), it could be fun for them to team up to stop evil orgs like that on their own :V

BRING BACK THAT POKEBALL FROM JOHTO LEAGUE FOR ASH-GARY! I dont know what to do with it, maybe they could take it to someone to fix it and discover it belonged to someone and they both go search for it or whatever. But it was an interesting thing to AshGary that the anime just pulled out of nothing to explain their rivalry and never did anything else with.

Adding to what you already have, I could see Gary maybe taking a "Red role" and going after Team Rocket after getting his ass handed by Giovanni's Mewtwo. Like, I don't think he knew that was "Team Rocket's Giovanni", but adding to your idea and him discovering from one of the grunts that that gym leader was the boss of this evil organization could make him interested in knowing and stopping that guy since he saw how powerful the pokemon he used could be. And then if you plan to have Ash there for the TR endgame, they could meet and team up against Team Rocket and from that learn to respect eachother as equals more!

Oh, that's a whole nother beast I never dared to deal with. I have a special love for pokeani so I'm only focusing on that, so I can't begin to imagine how complicated it must be to balance two universes based off the same thing.. I have no tips on that lol sorry but maybe… seeing how things are handled in different games? I mean red/green, firered/leafgreen and letsgo are all from different universes, so maybe seeing how gamefreak themselves twist things may help with inspiration?

[clarynewme]

Hi I would like astrology reading please and thank you

Can I have a future spouse reading?

DOB:June 27, 2001

Time: 5:53 pm

Place of birth: Gary, Indiana (USA)

Hi😊 For your reading I am going to use mostly vedic astrology.

In D1 chart taurus jupiter is transiting your taurus 7th house including mercury and saturn, this indicates you might meet your fs or long term partner this year, maybe through business together(7th house) or intellectual pursuits (mercury). Due to 7th house this could actually be a twinflame mirroring you.

Moreover Pisces Rahu is transiting your 5th house of dating/romance, indicating a new romantic partner (happen suddenly/fast); could be someone different/unique or from a different culture/ethnicity/country. This could also mean focusing on your creative/spiritual hobbies/passion/having fun during this transit (you could meet him through these themes). With ketu affecting your 11th house virgo moon you will probably detach from your  emotions related to social engagement, society, groups/friendships and community service activities, superficial connections(reflecting), etc.

Saturn in aquarius is transiting your 4th house aspecting Natal taurus mercury and saturn in 7th house by 4th aspect which indicates strong, stable and serious relationships will be important and communication/honesty is relevant to overcome misunderstandings and obstacles. Delays in relationship (like you can start talking to each other after a while; one of you might be shy/not opening up right away) could also manisfest.

NOTE1: Taurus jupiter is transiting until next year 9 june 2025 so 2025 is a good chance as well.

MOON CHART (considering moon as rising)

You have ketu/rahu in virgo/pisces transiting 1st/7th house axis from moon, which affects your identity/emotions(detachment) and relationships, emphasis on the later (self reflection).

D9 CHART

In your D9 your 7th lord mars (spouse accordingly to naadi astrology) is in aquarius 5th house being affected by aquarius saturn transit which displays spouse might be going through some conflicts regarding restriction of freedoom/pursuing creative goals/relationships and responsibilities/society expectations. Though this could also indicate your spouse will be more serious regarding his hobbies/goals and dating/relationships.

D7 CHART

Looking at your D7 chart you have saturn 7th lord in aquarius in 8th house conjunct ketu and rahu conjunct sun in leo 2nd house. This could mean a transformative relationship, where you might have struggles around your personal values/ambitions and partnerships, specially when it comes to money and sharing resources; freedom vs union; social/society responsibilities vs creative goals/values; financial stability vs spiritual growth; healing wounds related to finances and intimacy. Not just that but you could be meeting a past life partner, twinflame or an ex (getting back or get closure).

When jupiter, saturn, rahu/ketu are transiting in the same or opposite sign of sun, saturn, rahu/ketu in D7 chart it indicates a major event might happen during this time of your life like meeting your future spouse or a partner, engagement, pregnancy, career,success,fame, breakup, divorce, moving out, etc.(This technique is by Camila Regina from tiktok).  

DASHA/TIME PERIODS

You are running saturn-rahu dasha from 2023 till 24 may 2026. If we dig deeper you are currently on saturn -rahu- venus (venus love and 7th lord in D1; saturn is your 7th lord in D7) till 16 january 2025. For this time period I am leaning towards eclipse season in september pisces that will affect your 5th house and also the solar eclipse virgo in october.

Then you also have good chances in 2025 when you go through your gemini jupiter return (you have jupiter DK👀) in may; saturn in pisces will transit your 5th house in D1 chart ( serious dating/relationships).

In 2026 you will enter rahu-saturn-jupiter dasha from 6 january till  24 may which is also beneficial for marriage.

If you want to know specific time periods or more (doubts) you can DM me. 

NOTE2: Remember that we might have many soulmates and potential long term partners.

SOLAR RETURN

From the conversation we had before I am going to use solar return of 2025/2026.

From the 7th lord sign and 7th house energy we can see what kind of person you will meet,  probably one of his big 3 placements and how your relationship would be.

You actually have 7th house in cancer with your 7th lord moon and mercury which means this would be a very emotional connection based on communication about feelings, intuition, nurture, sensibility, intellectual compatibility, understanding, listening; soulmate energies, etc.  There could be some misunderstandings, one can assume what the other person feels or one might not express feelings openly, etc.

Your partner could be emotional, sweet, childlike, youthful, motherly, oversensitive, close to his mother/family/siblings, loves home, arts, nature, cooking and water(beach/ocean/lake/etc); caring, nurturing, intuitive communicator, generous, overgiving, (exploitation), mommy issues, goal oriented, playful, flirty, spiritual, anxious, analyse his emotions (careful with balance between reason and emotions), etc.

You will know exactly what the other one is thinking, have cozy home/family dates, cooking together, netflix and chill, playful teasing, cuddling together, warm hugs; words of affirmation, acts of service and physical touch are present, etc.

This could also indicate you will feel a strong urge to get in a relationship.

(BTW you have groom asteroid there, in western is spouse/husband 👀)

These aspects I had to research a bit more:

Now 7th lord moon is aspecting  aquarius rahu in 2nd house by 6th aspect so this can show difficulties in balancing the emotional needs and financial responsibilities/material values, conflicts around money/priorities; emotional spending; unconventional values around money(different -> society expectations); self worth could be compromised,etc.

This could be eased by communicating openly, evaluate priorities, setting boundaries, and seek professional help from financial advisors, etc.

One of his big 3 placements could be same or opposite sign of 7th lord so cancer or capricorn. (If you meet him before your birthday he could have libra/aries)

DARAKARAKA

In regards to your gemini mrigashira Jupiter Darakaraka in 8th house conjunct ardra sun and rahu your spouse could embody these characteristics: intense, blunt, striking, recognized, influential, persuasive, transformative, chaotic emotions/mind, intelectual, emotional,  curious, communicative, flirty,  charming, dualistic, flexible, talented, mimicking impressions, attractive, open minded, supportive, optmistic, funny, wise, creative, intelligent, wealthy, spiritual,intuitive communicator, writer, psychic; values occult, spirituality, creativity, learning, seeking the truth, knowledge; loves travelling, arts, gadgets and technology; mysterious , lucky, fortunate,curious, researcher, adventurous, jealous, pessimist, lazy, depressive, overgiving, ups/downs in life, possesive, big ego, arrogant, narcissist, know it all, etc.

These aspects I had to research a bit more:

DK is aspecting Sagittarius ketu in 2nd house by 7th aspect which indicates learning deeper truths about spirituality, finances, beliefs, dark/occult themes, intimacy, secrets,trauma,fears, emotions, resources,  family values; personal growth; what is more important material or spiritual. There could be unconventional values around money/investments/financial security; family issues.

Furthermore DK is aspecting virgo moon in 9th house by 4th aspect that shows support and personal growth through learning and exploration, sharing knowledge can help ease misunderstandings and struggles (criticizing/nitpicking) related to intimacy and shared resources.

Lastly DK is aspecting scorpio mars  1st house by 6th aspect which means understanding/discussing deeper truths, feelings about relationships,philosophies,etc; healing/transformation/sharing secrets. However this could cause issues/heated arguments related to freedom/independence (gemini jupiter) and possessiveness/jealousy/codependency (scorpio mars).

7TH LORD D1

Your 7th lord aries krittika venus it's in 6th house. This means your partner could be hot, passionate, blunt/honest, fiery, strong-willed, determined, charming, attractive, nurturing, service oriented, persuasive, assertive, decisive, active, competitive, love sports and fitness, health conscious, creative, adventurous(risks), values daily routine and work (does chores/works in a fast paced way, could be impulsive), agressive, may have health issues related to overindulgence (strong apetite and quick metabolism), quick at solving issues, etc.

These aspects I had to research a bit more:

7th lord is aspecting Sagittarius ketu 2nd house by 9th aspect showing a certain detachment from material possessions vs appreciation for beauty/luxuries, misunderstandings related to love language (might be different and one might feel they don't love the other), unconventional values around finances,  fluctuations (ups/downs); balance between work/health and personal desires;etc.

Finally 7th lord is aspecting scorpio mars 1st house by 8th aspect meaning that the relationship will be very transformative/karmic/intense based on acts of service  taking care of each other, doing meditation, healthy routines, solving daily issues. (but could occur power struggles).

7TH LORD D9

7th lord in D9 nakshatra and sign could also show future spouse characteristics and how will be the marriage.

You have 7th lord mars in aquarius shatabhisha so the marriage will be unconventional (might generate controversy in society), unique, following your dreams/passion, community activities, doing charity; passionate, intense, spiritual, etc; Spouse can be humanitarian, attractive, hot, intense, service oriented, spiritual, healer, supportive, ambitious, strong drive, unique ideas/values, intense, passionate, hardworking, assertive, agressive,activist, creative, active, etc

APPEARANCE + CAREER + SYMBOLISM

When it comes to appearance fs would have big unique defined hands/arms/shoulders; pouty features; thin unique defined big private parts; youthful appearance; defined chest; masculine features; beautiful hair, face, body; balanced features; aesthetically pleasing defined abs; muscular; average to tall height; have reddish or dark features; piercings/tattoos; unique/exotic or exagerated features (ex:large eyes), different culture maybe, etc (You can find more from Camila Regina tiktok🤌)

For your future spouse career I am trying out this tecnique the 10th sign from 7th lord in D1 or D9 could indicate possible fields: 

D1 Capricorn so anything related to leadership, human resources, engineering, medicine, law/legal, real estate, construction, entrepreneur, environment/aggriculture, politics, creative fields involving structure like graphic designer,event planners, father figure, CEO,

D9 Scorpio so anything related to occult, spirituality, healthcare, psychology, counselling, investigative journalism, detective, research and analysis, finances, investment, law enforcement, creative arts, entrepreneur, education, etc

Regarding your meeting, pay attention to symbolisms of these signs: 

Libra: library, fashion, beauty, museum, arts, law, scales, skin, wedding, arranged match, blind date, balance, self care, etc...

Sagittarius: horse, arrow, Bow, education, travel, foreign, OK cupid, shooting, spirituality, museum, adventure, risk, culture, college, etc.

Gemini: social media, online, siblings, friends, books, double date, duplicate, twins, writing, library, school, nervous, science, relatives, group, hands, pen, letter, etc

NOTE3: libra from vedic ; Sagittarius 2x from vedic and tropical chart ; gemini from tropical chart

(This technique is by Camila Regina on tiktok💗)

Vedic Astrology placements D1/D9 (includes atmakaraka AK):

Aries/Libra/Gemini/Sagittarius/Aquarius/Leo/Taurus/Scorpio

Jupiter, venus, mars, saturn, mercury,sun, moon, rahu nakshatras/influence

Okay I think I am done😅 I hope you like this reading if you do leave feedback on my page🙏 And let me know if it resonates👌it helps improving my readings💜🫶

[kylesvariouslistsandstuff]

Anyone here ever listen to the Fine Tooning podcast hosted by entertainment writers Drew Taylor and Jim Hill?

I tend to tune in every Tuesday. Sometimes I learn things about Disney history I never knew, in addition to hearing their takes on current animation news.

This week's episode was about Gary Rydstrom, long-time sound designer - especially for many Pixar films - and filmmaker who eventually directed the Pixar short LIFTED (attached to RATATOUILLE in theaters) and Lucasfilm's STRANGE MAGIC.

As many people know, he was set to direct an ill-fated Pixar film called NEWT, which would've - at one point - released in the summer of 2011 following TOY STORY 3. Before its cancellation, it swapped spots with CARS 2 and went to summer 2012.

What I never knew about this movie was that it was meant to begin a line of lower-budget, quirkier Pixar films. Similar to that of the films Disney Feature Animation's Orlando unit made before they were shut down in 2004.

And if you remember, back when NEWT was announced, it was supposed to share that year with THE BEAR AND THE BOW. That movie, of course, would later be titled BRAVE, and it opened in the summer of 2012. BRAVE would've been a holiday 2011 release if plans had held, and obviously would've been the mainline bigger budget movie opposite NEWT.

Pixar would try doing two-a-year again for 2013 - but w/ both movies being mainline big budget endeavors. So for 2013, the plan was: MONSTERS UNIVERSITY was set for the summer, and THE GOOD DINOSAUR - the thrown-out version that was being directed by Bob Peterson - following during the Thanksgiving frame. Of course, as we all know, that didn't happen either.

Finally, in 2015, they made it happen... INSIDE OUT was the summer movie of the pair, a huge hit all-around: Boffo box office, enthusiastic critical reception, an Oscar... THE GOOD DINOSAUR, the Thanksgiving movie, didn't enjoy any of that. Overshadowed completely by its sister picture, and it also lost money on top of being a very troubled production. Would it have fared well in a different year, on its own? Who the heck knows. It lived a nice second life through solid home media sales, and I'm sure someone somewhere is clicking on it on Disney+.

Then they tried again in 2017. The summer release, CARS 3, did so-so at best at the box office and got okay-ish reviews. CARS isn't everyone's cup of tea, so it was expected. Barely doubled its as-usual-for-Pixar gargantuan budget. Thanksgiving release COCO, by contrast, was the big hit. All of it: Great reviews, fantastic box office, and an Oscar.

2020 was another attempt, this time with a movie at the tail end of winter (the first weekend of March) and a summer movie... Well, COVID-19 happened. ONWARD was cut right off within a week of release, and SOUL went straight to Disney+. The recent theatrical release of SOUL sadly flopped. SOUL did, however, get an Oscar for Best Animated Feature 2020. ONWARD was also nominated for the award that year. So, the two Pixars finished the year with better than average reviews and Oscar noms.

2022 was the second attempt at this new strategy. TURNING RED in March, LIGHTYEAR in June... But Disney, concerned about COVID-19's Omicron variant, sent TURNING RED straight to Disney+. TURNING RED was well-loved and was up for the animated Oscar. LIGHTYEAR bombed in theaters, got okay reviews, and no Oscar nom.

This year was going to see that strategy again, until... Disney and Pixar delayed ELIO, which was set to be the March movie - with a trailer and everything, all the way back to summer 2025. The sole Pixar movie for that year... Leaving INSIDE OUT 2 as this year's Pixar film, and the summer release at that. I expect it to be huge, given that it's a sequel to a movie that clearly did so poorly years ago.

So... 2026, the current plan is for there to be two Pixars. A March and a June. We know TOY STORY 5 is in active development, and I suspect it'll nab the summer 2026 slot. Whatever is brewing in the hallway of the original movies for the March slot, I have no idea. It could be anyone's picture. Kristen Lester? Brian Fee? Rosana Sullivan? List goes on... We'll probably get an inkling of what it is sometime this year. Maybe for D23?

But here's the thing... We know Pixar keeps it all under one roof. After all, their Vancouver unit didn't make it, neither did attempts to collaborate with other filmmakers (see Henry Selick/CinderBiter's THE SHADOW KING). Every movie they make is some $175m+ costing behemoth...

And I think, why can't they do the big movie/small movie thing? It would allow them to double up production, while keeping costs lower on the quirkier movies, and allowing the filmmakers to experiment more. I mean, that's kind of the gist behind the SparkShorts, right? Or those few Co-op program shorts, like BORROWED TIME. Look at Illumination and their proposed adult animation label, Moonlight... That Pixar was attempting to do smaller and weirder films alongside their usual blockbuster spectacles tells me that... Maybe they should try again?

Though weirdly, TURNING RED was their usual $175m+ picture, and that had a different art style, was much more filmmaker-driven than usual, and was indeed a little quirkier. But even then, making a picture like that for such a massive budget puts it at risk. Remember, we watched ELEMENTAL open with a blah number and subsequently claw its way to a "just made it!" final gross. If that movie had cost around $85m instead and still looked as lovely, the near-$500m gross wouldn't even be an issue.

So why not have the next original after ELIO - should that be another triple-digit million movie - be this sub-$100m costing movie? Can it be done? Are they thinking about it?

I dunno, that podcast just got me thinking. I also found out a lot more about NEWT's production and rather mysterious cancellation from this very episode, stuff I was kinda dying to know for years... Yeah, Fine Tooning is worth listening to, check 'em out.

[thefifthnetwork]

Week 1: Flammable Hair Gel and a Talking Rabbit

For this first week, we only have one night of programming from The WB, as UPN didn't start until the 16th. Additionally, the second hour of The WB block was devoted to the first two episodes of Muscle, a short-lived soap opera parody that I'm unable to find any episodes of online, so we just have two sitcoms to start us off.

This is part of a project where I watch The WB and UPN on a 30 year delay. This is crossposted from my website, where you can find an interactive schedule for both networks, including where you can watch these shows today.

Wednesday January 11, 1995 The Wayans Bros. S1E01: "Goop-Hair-It-Is" - 8 PM on The WB

The first show to air on The WB was with The Wayans Bros., a sitcom about Shawn and Marlon Williams (played by the titular Shawn and Marlon Wayans), two brothers living in New York City. Also in the main cast are their diner-owning father (John Witherspoon) and Shawn's girlfriend Lisa (Lela Rochon).

The plot of this episode involves the brothers hosting an infomercial on public-access TV to sell a hair product called "Goop, Hair-It-Is" that Marlon created. They recruit Gary Coleman (appearing as himself) to be a celebrity endorsement [1] things seem to be going well until everyone's hair begins smoking [2] live on the air. Hijinks ensue.

Overall, a replacement-level sitcom episode, but it will be interesting to see how the show develops over its five seasons.

Unhappily Ever After S1E01: "Pilot" - 8:30 PM on The WB

Ron Leavitt co-created Married... with Children, which helped launch the Fox network, so it makes sense that The WB would go to him for one of their launch shows.

Unhappily Ever After is about Jack and Jennifer Malloy (Geoff Pierson and Stephanie Hodge), a couple in the process of divorcing, and their kids Ryan (Kevin Connolly), Tiffany (Nikki Cox), and Ross (Justin Berfield [3]). There's also a talking stuffed rabbit, Mr. Floppy [4].

I enjoyed this one more, though that may be partly due to this pilot better establishing its show's premise. There's a very 90s-misogyny/I-hate-my-wife vibe to it, but it also kinda felt like it was parodying those tropes? Maybe I'm giving it too much credit, but, overall the jokes landed with me. [5]

I did notice a prominent use of the r-slur by the rabbit in the end credits scene. I feel like that's the sort of thing I could keep a running counter for as I enter this world of nineties and aughts TV [6].

Muscle: "Episode 1" - 9 PM on The WB

Muscle: "Episode 2" - 9:30 PM on The WB

As I mentioned in the opening, I haven't been able to find any full episodes of this show online, so I'm not able to watch it. I did find the opening credits at least [7]. If anyone reading this knows of some source for it, please let me know.

That it for this week. UPN starts next week with programming on both Mondays and Tuesdays, and most of it is actually available in some form, plus we get one more WB sitcom added to the mix, so next week's schedule has a bit more for us to watch. See you then!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After Marlon kidnaps and then fails to recruit SNL-star Garrett Morris, also appearing as himself. ↩

Marlon reveals that the ingredients were Vaseline, bacon fat, and Drano. ↩

Didn't recognize him during the show, but he played Reese on Malcolm in the Middle ↩

Voiced by Bobcat Goldthwait and puppeted by Allan Trautman ↩

I particularly liked the bit where the kids are at school and Ryan asks whether "all the girls are lesbians" because he can't get a date. Having each girl he points at immediately cling to the girl next to her made it clear that the joke is that Ryan is an asshole, not anything homophobic. ↩

Transphobic jokes would be the other big one, but I didn't catch any in either sitcom episode I watched this week, so that's nice, I guess. ↩

Huh, Alan Ruck was in this ↩

[whitewolfofwinterfell]

hi, shannen. it's been a minute! i'm due for a buffy rewatch, so i've been reading some of your latest bangel meta. i'm curious about two things: 1. do you have a top 10 otps that reflects how you feel *now?* and 2. when you've been shipping something for such a long time, what do you do when that changes? i have ocd, so a lot of the ways in with i participate in fandom are linked to the memories i have regarding a certain character, ship, etc. lately, i've been finding my otps/fandom preferences have changed and it's been a challenge for me to accept that things like fandom, otps, etc. aren't set in stone. what has it been like to change re: bangel (or any other ship you're looking at differently), and how do you deal with fandom related opinion shifts? i'm interested to hear your thoughts :)

Hey Fatima! It's good to hear from you, I hope you're doing well and Happy New Year 😊

Sorry about my delayed response, it's been busy over the holidays and I wanted to take the time to reply to you properly.

Ooh, this is such an interesting thing to chat about! I agree with what you've said about the ways in which OTP and fandom preferences change over time.

Nowadays, I'm not really "in" fandom the same way I used to be so it's changed the way I interact with media and ships a lot. I don't even really even consider myself a shipper in the same way that I did. That's mostly because I mostly watch sitcoms/comedies which are generally more focused on friendship and family and less on romantic relationships.

I also think I generally lack the intensity I had when I was younger, so I can't develop the same intense obsessions over ships that I did when I was in my teens and early 20s. Having said that, I can most *definitely* still become obsessed with shows (it happens to me frequently 😂).

In terms of current OTPs that reflect how I feel now, it's a hard one. I definitely can't pick out 10 but I'd say (in no particular order):

Monica/Chandler - Friends

Jack/Kate - LOST

Sawyer/Juliet - LOST

Angel/Cordelia - Angel the Series

Miranda/Gary - Miranda

Buffy/Angel - Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Stefan/Elena - The Vampire Diaries

Doctor/Rose - Doctor Who

This list has probably changed from my previous OTP lists and it's interesting to reflect on the ships that have stuck with me vs the ones that have faded.

I think overall my ship preferences haven't changed significantly, but as I've mature I'm naturally more drawn to maturer dynamics which explains most of my current OTPs.

In terms of changes to preferences or opinions with ships/fandom and how I deal with it, those changes tend to be subtle for me and take place slowly over time. It's rare that I go from having one opinion to the complete opposite, it's more just that my mind is opened up to something new or my feelings evolve slightly.

Using Bangel as an example, I still consider Bangel an OTP but now I'm able to acknowledge aspects of the relationship that I hadn't seen before or that I'd overlooked because I've watched Angel.

It can certainly be disorientating when significant changes in fandom likes and preferences occur, but for me, it really just represents how I change and grow over time, so I embrace it. I still have fondness for past characters, ships or shows I loved, even if I no longer love them to the same extent and I can enjoy the memories I have of them and the nostalgia I feel when I connect with them.

Fandom and ships are a deeply personal thing for each of us and they can have a lot more meaning than anybody realises. There are characters, ships and shows that were formative during certain parts of my life and that I'll always hold a soft spot for because of what they meant to me, even if I've outgrown them due to changes in preferences and tastes. I also think that ships reflect something deeper about the way I perceive love and intimacy, and what I believe love to be.

Stefan/Elena are a great example of this. I know that Stelena aren't The Best Ever but they're the first TV relationship I truly invested in because I connected to them on a personal level. Stefan and Elena were the first young couple I saw on TV who had a relationship that I understood and aspired to have because it was built on commonality and emotional intimacy. I've always struggled to connect to ships that have a large focus on physical/sexual chemistry and intimacy because that's not personally how I relate to romantic love. Stefan and Elena did have sexual intimacy but it was never the focus of their relationship and that was the first time I'd really seen that on TV.

I connected to Angel/Cordelia for similar reasons. As someone that has a history of developing feelings for friends, I deeply related to Angel's experience of falling for Cordelia and the complexities of trying to understand what it means to have romantic feelings for someone who you've always considered a friend. I thought it was refreshing to see a relationship that was friends to lovers but that defied any traditional rules or expectations. It made me feel seen because love isn't always that easy. Even if two friends have reciprocal feelings the chances of those feelings coming to light and them getting together are minimal, in my experience.

These are two personal examples of mine but I think it demonstrates how deeply personal ships can be and that it can go way beyond just "liking" a ship for their chemistry or story. Our perceptions on ships and all fandom stuff is informed by our personalities, our personal experiences and our world views.

That's maybe why it can be tough to deal with changes to fandom preferences, because it's not just about fandom. It can represent a change or shift that's happening within us, and that can be scary.

Anyway, that got deeper than expected 😂

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this too, it's an interesting thing to reflect on because fandom was such a huge part of my life and now is such a small part of it, but I hadn't really taken the time to think about it.

P.S. I hope you're having fun with your Buffy rewatch 😄

[bike42]

Tuesday July 23

Back to Windigo (6.9 miles)

Apple Watch 7.24 miles, total time 3:28, 28’ average with break time, 558ft elevation

The rain tapered off during the night, and it was the coldest night so far. I used the head mummy function on my sleeping bag which is very rare for me! It was still plenty dark outside when the alarm went off at 5am. We dressed and packed up the tent using our headlamps, and when we emerged from the tent you could just see a faint light through the thick canopy of trees.

Jeff started the stove to boil water - turns out we had too much white gas (fuel for the stove), so he burned some off … but we just didn’t know! We had hot drinks and granola with powdered reconstituted milk for a quick breakfast. We cleaned up, finished packing and were hiking out of camp at 7:02am. The sky was overcast, so in the dull light it was still kind of tough to see - didn’t need the headlamp though!

We hiked 0.4 miles to the junction of the Greenstone Ridge Trail, then took a left. We were moving fast, as this gang can do when they’re motivated! We took several short breaks, and one extended break, and had the fastest average pace of this trip. With about 2 miles to go, I dropped back and enjoyed the forest. It was clear we were going to have about 4 hours before our scheduled flight!

The trail was really nice today, hardly any foliage obscuring the trail. The weather was perfect - nice breeze and thin high clouds.

Jeff had been scanning the ridge lines, determined to see a wolf, but that would be unlikely. We saw some probable scat, but didn’t hear them at night as I did last time I was backpacking here 25 years ago.

We arrived back at Windigo about 10:30am. Gary stopped at the store and bought tokens for us all to shower. I didn’t have clean clothes, other than the yoga pants and tank top I’ve been sleeping in, but I took a hot 5 minute shower anyway and it felt fantastic.

When everyone had showered, we met on the deck of the store. Most of us bought lunch, I had a nice cold beer with my sandwich. Then I felt a nap coming on, so I went and laid on a picnic table and fell asleep so hard I had no idea where I was when I awoke!

About then, we got word that our flight was delayed until 7pm due to mechanical issues. Ugh. We’re largely a good natured group, and took it in stride, but we sure hoped would not be camping another night!!

Jeff and I went inside for ice cream. I turned my phone off airplane mode, and looked at what messages came in. There is a super weak guest WiFi at the Ranger Station - not enough for beginning to post my blog though.

I unfurled our tent and dried and cleaned it up - it did well in the rain last night, but a lot of dirt had splashed up onto it. Felt good to have that taken care of! That spurred a lot of action from our group, opening their packs and drying things out - it looked like a yard sale on the back deck!!

After everything was repacked, we relocated to the front deck to a table out of the sun. A plane came in about 4pm, and the guys rushed down to the dock to chat with the pilot. He said the bad news was this wasn’t our plane, but the good news is our plane will likely come tonight!

Tam went into the store and bought a bottle of wine. We enjoyed the breeze and the view from the deck. Dan spotted a female moose splashing around in the water along the distant shore - so cool!! A little later someone noticed a cow and calf in the shallow water! Intermittently, we’d go back into the store for more drinks and food: soup, pulled pork sandwiches, snacks - it was cheap and convenient!

At 5:30p, an off duty ranger came to entertain on the deck with his acoustic guitar and some original songs. The funniest was GIARDIA sung to Van Morrison’s “Gloria!” We enjoyed the music, and were very excited to see our plane arrive at 6:30pm! We threw on our packs, for a last hike to the dock.

There we met the pilot, Steve, who like Mike, inspired great confidence! He explained some of the issues today - weather in Grand Marais, then this plane lost the alternator. He “dead headed” back to Michigan and changed it out. Because of the direction of the wind, we taxied out pretty far, then back towards Windigo when we took off. Fun to see the people on the deck waving to us.

Also because of the wind direction, we flew over the island, which the Park Service discourages. On this flight, we used the headset communication devices to talk with Steve. The guys, especially Kent, were really into talking about the engine and the gauges.

We landed about 7:30p, which is actually 6:30p in Wisconsin … off schedule, but the best airplane delay I’ve ever experienced!

Kent drove us back to NorthStar, arriving around 9pm, although it felt much later than that after such a long day and early start. Tam and I took a sauna, I had a shower and happily fell into my comfortable bed.

Wednesday morning we had eggs, bacon and toast - easier to be cooking in the kitchen. We lingered around the table, talking about highlights of the trip. Tam presented us with a large rock - I’d admired it on the beach and unbeknownst to me, she'd picked it up and they’d all signed it with a sharpie … it must have added an additional 5 pounds to her pack!! Dan read us the poem he’d written for our trip - making us laugh and cry as always. They all left mid morning, making me a bit sad another adventure has come to a close, but as always, working on plans for the next one!

[markowensmile]

Paper Trails of Affection - Chapter 8 (Gary Barlow FanFiction)

Sophie stepped into the busy rehearsal studio, the air thick with the scent of sweat. The towering ceilings and vast open space made her feel small, but she held her head high, clutching the cardboard carrier filled with steaming cups of coffee like a precious offering.

As she navigated through the maze of equipment and cables, she caught sight of the band members huddled together, deep in discussion. Mark's animated gestures punctuated the air, while Gary nodded thoughtfully, his brow furrowed in concentration.

"Morning, lads," Sophie called out, her voice echoing across the expansive room.

Five heads swiveled in her direction, their faces lighting up at the sight of the caffeine-laden treasure she carried.

"Ah, our guardian angel arrives!" Howard exclaimed, striding towards her with a broad grin.

One by one, the others followed suit, each offering a grateful smile and a murmured word of thanks as they claimed their respective cups.

"You're a lifesaver, Soph," Mark's eyes sparkled with gratitude as he took a long sip, savoring the rich aroma of the freshly brewed coffee. A contented sigh escaped his lips, his shoulders visibly relaxing as the warmth of the beverage spread through him, rejuvenating his senses. Sophie couldn't help but smile at the sight, pleased to have provided a small respite amidst the whirlwind of their busy schedule.

Gary lingered behind, his eyes meeting hers with a warm intensity. "Cheers, love," he said, his voice rich and velvety. "We'd be lost without you."

Sophie felt her cheeks flush at the endearment, but she maintained her composure, offering a playful wink in response. "Just doing my job, boys."

As the band members dispersed to their positions, Sophie took a step back, her gaze sweeping over the scene before her. A thrill of excitement coursed through her veins, and she couldn't wait to see what the day had in store.

The music resumed, and the guys fell back into their rehearsal, their movements fluid and polished as they executed each step with practiced precision. Sophie watched in rapt admiration, her eyes following the intricate choreography with a trained eye. The way they moved as one cohesive unit, their bodies in perfect sync, was a testament to their dedication and the countless hours they had poured into honing their craft. Each transition flowed seamlessly into the next, their footwork sharp and their expressions radiating the passion that burned within them.

Sophie watched intently, her gaze unwavering, as the rehearsal ground to an abrupt halt, the performers frozen mid-motion as if caught in a fleeting snapshot. A hush descended upon the room, punctuated only by the faint echoes of the music that had filled the space mere moments before. With a keen eye for detail, she observed the subtle nuances of the scene unfolding before her, her mind already cataloging the intricate layers that would shape her eventual narrative, the infectious energy dissipating in the wake of the news. The ballet dancer scheduled to join them for the intricate choreography of "Pretty Things" was running late, a fact that seemed to grate on the nerves of the band members.

Gary paced back and forth, his brow furrowed in frustration. "We can't afford any delays," he muttered, his gaze flickering towards the clock on the wall. "The schedule is already tight as it is."

Robbie, ever the jokester, attempted to lighten the mood. "Maybe she got caught up practicing her plies," he quipped, executing an exaggerated pirouette that elicited a few chuckles from the others.

Despite the jest, the air remained thick with tension. Sophie could sense the weight of the situation, the delicate balance between their artistic vision, and the logistical constraints they faced.

Howard spoke up, his voice level and reassuring. "I'm sure she'll be here soon. These things happen."

Sophie watched the scene unfold with a mixture of amusement and disbelief, her lips curving into an incredulous smile as the band members approached her with their bizarre request. She couldn't help but marvel at the unexpected turn of events, her journalistic instincts piqued by the sheer absurdity of the situation.

"You want me to what?" she asked, her voice laced with a playful lilt as she fought back a chuckle.

Gary stepped forward, his expression a blend of desperation and hope. "We need someone to fill in for the ballet dancer, just for a few minutes," he pleaded. "It's nothing too complicated, just a few basic moves to keep the choreography on track."

Robbie chimed in, his trademark mischievous grin plastered across his face. "Come on, Sophie, you've got to help us out here. We've seen you move – you've got the grace of a prima ballerina."

Sophie couldn't resist a hearty laugh, her shoulders shaking at the sheer ridiculousness of their request. "Get lost, you can't be serious," she retorted, her eyes sparkling with embarrassment. "There's no way I'm going to do ballet for you lot."

The band members exchanged glances, their expressions a comical mix of pleading and resignation. Mark stepped forward, his warm smile disarming. "We're in a bit of a bind here, love. Just a few twirls to each of us, that's all we need."

Sophie shook her head, her laughter subsiding as she regarded the men before her. "I'm flattered, really, but I think you're overestimating my abilities," she replied, her tone tinged with playful sarcasm.

Sophie's heart raced as Jason's reassuring presence enveloped her. His gentle grip on her hand radiated a calming warmth, coaxing her into the surreal moment. With a steadying breath, she allowed herself to be guided towards the makeshift stage, her apprehension mingling with a hint of excited curiosity.

Mark's fingers danced across the control panel, and the opening notes of "Little Things" filled the air, the familiar melody wrapping around Sophie like an old friend. She shot him a dubious glance, but his warm smile disarmed her, and she found herself surrendering to the moment.

Before she could protest further, Mark's strong arms encircled her waist, and he effortlessly twirled her across the floor. Sophie's breath caught in her throat as her body moved in sync with his, their steps fluid and graceful. She marveled at his natural poise, her initial trepidation melting away with each rhythmic sway.

With a gentle push, Mark guided her towards Howard, his eyes sparkling with mischief. Howard's grin was infectious as he swept her into his arms, his movements light and encouraging. Sophie couldn't help but giggle as he dipped her low, her hair grazing the floor before he pulled her back up with a flourish.

The music swelled around them, and Sophie found herself lost in the moment, her body moving with an unexpected grace. Howard's hand pressed against the small of her back, propelling her into a spin that left her breathless. As she twirled, she caught a glimpse of the others watching with amused smiles, their faces a blur of approval.

Sophie's breath caught in her throat as Robbie guided her towards Gary, his hand firm yet gentle on the small of her back. She moved with a newfound grace, the music enveloping her in its rhythm, carrying her across the makeshift stage.

Gary's eyes locked onto hers, a magnetic pull that rendered her momentarily breathless. His hand extended, fingers outstretched, beckoning her closer. With a tentative step, she moved into his embrace, her back pressed against the solid warmth of his chest.

Time seemed to slow as Gary's arm encircled her waist, his movements fluid and assured. Sophie's heart thundered in her ears, the world around her fading into a blur of sound and color. She surrendered to the moment, allowing Gary to lead her in a dance that transcended mere steps.

His voice, rich and smooth, caressed her senses as he sang the familiar lyrics, "All those pretty things, God bless the pretty things." The words took on a new meaning, resonating within her with a depth she hadn't anticipated.

With each turn and sway, Sophie found herself falling deeper into the spell woven by Gary's touch and the music's embrace. His hands guided her effortlessly, their bodies moving in perfect synchronicity as if they had danced this dance a thousand times before. The world around them faded into a hazy backdrop, their connection forged in the notes that hung heavy in the air.

Gary's fingers traced an invisible path along the curve of her waist, igniting a trail of shivers that danced across her skin. His breath was a whisper against her neck, the scent of his cologne and sweat intoxicating her senses. Sophie surrendered to the rhythm, allowing the music to flow through her veins like liquid fire.

Their movements were a language unto themselves, a silent conversation spoken through the press of palms and the brush of bodies. Sophie's heart swelled with each dip and twirl, her inhibitions melting away under Gary's masterful lead. She was putty in his hands, malleable and pliant, trusting him to guide her through this intricate dance.

As the music swelled, Gary pulled her flush against him, their chests rising and falling in perfect harmony. Sophie's breath caught in her throat, her senses overwhelmed by his proximity. His gaze held hers captive, a smoldering intensity that threatened to consume her whole. At that moment, they were the only two souls in existence, bound by an unspoken connection that defied explanation.

As the final notes faded, Sophie found herself caught in Gary's gaze, their faces mere inches apart. A charged silence hung between them, heavy with unspoken possibilities. At that moment, time seemed to slow, the world around them fading into insignificance as they became lost in each other's eyes. Sophie's heart raced, her breath catching in her throat as she was enveloped by the intensity of Gary's presence. His warm breath caressed her skin, sending a shiver down her spine. The air crackled with electricity, each passing second heightening the anticipation that threatened to consume them both. Then, like a spell broken, the others erupted into applause and laughter, their voices shattering the intimate moment.

Sophie stepped back, her cheeks flushed, her heart still racing. She caught Robbie's mischievous wink and Mark's approving nod, a grateful understanding passing between them.

Sophie's heart pounded in her chest as Gary's fingers lingered against her palm, his touch searing her skin like a brand. She forced a polite smile, her mind reeling from the intensity of the moment they had shared during their impromptu dance.

"Thank you, Sophie," Gary said, his voice a low rumble that sent a shiver down her spine. "That was incredible..."

She nodded, her throat constricting as she fought to maintain her composure. "It was my pleasure," she managed, extracting her hand from his grasp with a sudden urgency that bordered on desperation.

Gary's brow furrowed ever so slightly, a flicker of confusion passing across his features as Sophie stepped back, putting distance between them. She averted her gaze, unable to meet the piercing intensity of his stare, afraid of what he might see lurking behind her eyes.

"I should... I need to..." She stammered, her words failing her as she sought an excuse, any excuse, to escape the suffocating weight of the emotions that threatened to overwhelm her.

Without another word, she turned on her heel and fled, her steps quickening as she made her way towards the restrooms. She burst through the door, the cool tile a welcome reprieve from the stifling heat that had enveloped her.

Bracing her hands against the sink, she stared at her reflection in the mirror, her cheeks flushed, her eyes wide and haunted. She drew in a shuddering breath, willing her racing heart to slow, her mind to clear.

What was happening to her?

This was Gary Barlow, for God's sake – He is a professional colleague, someone she should regard with the utmost respect and detachment. And yet, his touch had ignited a fire within her, a conflagration of desire and longing that threatened to consume her from the inside out.

She splashed cold water on her face, the icy sting grounding her, pulling her back from the precipice of dangerous thoughts. She couldn't allow herself to indulge in such fancies, no matter how tempting they might be.

She had James, her loving, devoted boyfriend, waiting for her at home. And even if she didn't, entertaining any sort of romantic notion towards Gary would be the height of unprofessionalism – a breach of ethics that could jeopardize everything she had worked so hard to achieve.

Squaring her shoulders, she took a deep, steadying breath, willing her racing heart to still. She was Sophie Chambers, a consummate professional, a woman in control of her emotions and her destiny. She would not allow herself to be swayed by fleeting moments of weakness, no matter how alluring they might seem.

With a renewed sense of purpose, she straightened her blouse and smoothed her hair, her mask of composure firmly in place. She would return to the rehearsal space, her head held high, and resume her duties with the utmost professionalism and detachment.

As she emerged from the restroom, she caught sight of Gary across the room, his gaze flickering in her direction. For a brief moment, their eyes met, and she saw a flicker of something akin to confusement pass across his features before he turned away, engaging Mark in what appeared to be a casual conversation.

A pang of guilt twisted in her chest, but she pushed it aside, steeling her resolve. This was for the best, she told herself, a necessary sacrifice to preserve the integrity of her career and her relationship.

And yet, as she watched Gary from afar, his movements fluid and graceful, she couldn't quite silence the treacherous voice that whispered in the back of her mind, taunting her with possibilities she dared not entertain.

Sophie exhaled a shaky breath as she stepped out into the cool evening air, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. The day's rehearsal had been intense, both physically and emotionally, leaving her drained yet exhilarated.

As she made her way to her car, she couldn't help but replay the events of the day in her mind, her thoughts inevitably drifting towards Gary. The way his fingers had grazed her palm during their impromptu dance, the intensity of his gaze burning into her soul – it had awakened something deep within her, something she didn't know she was missing.

She slid into the driver's seat, her hands gripping the steering wheel as she fought to steady her racing heart. This was uncharted territory for her, a dangerous path that threatened to upend everything she had worked so hard to build.

"Gary is a colleague, nothing more." She repeated to herself. Yet, the way he looked at her, the way he spoke to her, it stirred something primal within her, a longing she couldn't quite put into words.

She pulled into her driveway, she was jolted from her reverie by the familiar buzz of her phone. Glancing down, she saw a text from James, that he would bring home dinner for them tonight.

A pang of guilt twisted in her chest as she read his words, a stark reminder of the reality that awaited her beyond the confines of her car. James was her partner, her rock, the one constant in her life amidst the chaos and uncertainty that often accompanied her career.

And yet, as she made her way inside, the memory of her body againsts Gary's burned bright in her mind, a flame that refused to be extinguished.

As Sophie settled onto the couch, she found herself torn, caught between the familiarity and comfort of her long-term relationship with James and the alluring promise of something new, something forbidden that beckoned to her from the depths of her very soul. Even as her conscience whispered its admonishments, Sophie couldn't deny the magnetic pull she felt towards the charismatic musician, the way her body responded to his touch, the way her heart raced at the mere thought of him now. It was a temptation that threatened to consume her, to unravel the carefully woven threads of her life, and Sophie knew that she stood at a crossroads, forced to choose between the stability of her present and the tantalising uncertainty of what could be.

[gazbaz1]

DELAYED from Gary Bird on Vimeo.

Using Fokker Trimotor model from 3D Warehouse... #delayed #flight #1920s #FokkerTrimotor #stylised #motiondesign #element3d #aftereffects #adobe #motiongraphics #animation #titles #opener #experimental #abstract #3danimation #renderzone

[thejacksmit]

First Take: The Marvels - two out of three ain't bad

Spoiler free as usual. Because Goose would eat me.

SYNOPSIS: Carol Danvers gets her powers entangled with those of Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau, forcing them to work together to save the universe.

Ah, the sequel the internet wrote off when it was greenlit. The Marvels is one of the MCU projects which has suffered from Covid delays the most - July 2022 initially, then November, then February 2023, July, and finally settling here - as a direct knock on of all the TV shows on Disney+ (including the vital setup of this movie in Ms Marvel and WandaVision) being displaced due to Covid shutdowns. But even with no cast able to promote it until the early hours of its release day, The Marvels has some promise, but its execution does have some minor quibbles.

Nia DaCosta of 2021 Candyman reboot fame is in the big directors chair (And also co-writer with Megan McDonnell and Elissa Karasik) on her first major Hollywood, big budget film - and she does an admirable job turning in a rare Marvel film under two hours - a tight 1 hour 45 minutes - that is very up and down. Some elements excel, others feel like hasty rewrites, and some ideas feel a little out of place, those who have seen the film will likely know which sequences I am referring to. It is shot really well by Sean Bobbitt, as any MCU project would be at this stage (with the IMAX kit - something which must be a blessing with the film currently taking the screenings that should've been occupied with Dune 2 had the strike not happened) and of course, the Kamala character isn't the only thing making the leap from Disney+ to cinema screens, as Laura Karpman provides the music just like she did for the first season of What If and Ms Marvel.

Where this film is saved from the depths of another MCU rant is its cast, and it is obvious that Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris and Iman Vellani get along well, as the chemistry this trio have is damn good. On top of these leads we've got Zawe Ashton, Gary Lewis, Park Seo-joon joining in, with Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur and Saagar Shaikh returning from Ms Marvel, and of course, for the first time since Secret Invasion was torn apart, Samuel L Jackson is back in an MCU film as Nick Fury - along with a few MAJOR cameos throughout the film that *finally* set off future development into Phase 5 (and beyond). It might've been Marvel's worst opener to date, partly because of the strike and the internet's response to Larson - but for the first time in a while, I can see where this is going. Over to you Shawn Levy - bring us Deadpool 3 in a state that's worth the wait.

THE VERDICT

The Marvels is a perfectly fine - not a great - MCU film that gets the job done in under 2 hours. Had SAG/AFTRA not been on strike it would've fared better at the box office, but considering the impact this film - and particularly the last 10 minutes have - on the rest of the Multiverse Saga to come, off the back of Loki's season 2 finale it feels like Kevin Feige, once again, had a long term plan... but we just didn't know it yet.

RATING: 3.5/5