#Michael J. Paradise

[rookie-critic]

Rookie Critic's Film Review Weekend Wrap-Up - Weeks of 5/8-5/14/2023 & 5/15-5/21/2023

My apologies for the review interruption over the past couple of weeks. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom came out and that has taken up all of my free time. HOWEVER, I have still be watching movies like normal, so here's a slightly condensed Weekend Wrap-Up for ya.

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. (2023, dir. Kelly Fremon Craig) This was wonderful. I already wrote a full review on it, so I won't gush any more about it here, but I have literally 0 complaints. Just a beautiful, fun, and heartfelt look at pre-adolescence and motherhood. A good time for all ages.

Score: 10/10

Only in theaters. You can read my full review of Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. here.

Hypnotic (2023, dir. Robert Rodriguez) Robert Rodriguez sure knows how to write twists and turns in a plot. The directions that Hypnotic's story goes in were pleasantly unpredictable and exciting. Sadly, the film overall is very tonally uneven. It's got traces of Rodriguez's signature camp, but they're just that, traces. The movie as a whole tries to play itself a little more seriously than a plot this crazy requires, and it ends up overshooting the entertainment value into territory that feels a little disingenuous. Ben Affleck and William Fichtner, who really needs to be in more stuff, were both high points of the film, and the color correction on certain aspects of the movie felt really inspired. Rodriguez got the the look down to a T, I just don't think he quite stuck the landing.

Score: 6/10

Only in theaters.

BlackBerry (2023, dir. Matt Johnson) What an unexpected masterpiece of comedic historical dramatization, this was. The comedy was excellent, the acting was excellent, the stylizes cinematography was excellent. Everything about this film was engaging, fun, and satisfying. It's also, as a side-effect, incredibly informative. I haven't done the research into fact vs. fiction on this one, but if even half of the stuff that happened in this was true, what an absolute farce history of Research in Motion and the BlackBerry was, and I mean that in the most grateful, loving way possible. We wouldn't be where we are today without this little device, and as much of a clusterfuck as the history of it's existence seems to be, I'm glad we're here. This is easily one of the best things I've seen so far this year, and so far it seems to be flying severely under the radar. If you have a theater near you that's showing this, do yourself a favor and catch a screening of it and BUCKLE UP for a wild fun ride.

Score: 10/10

Only theaters. Plus, @prozdvoices was in it, which really makes it an 11/10.

Fool's Paradise (2023, dir. Charlie Day) I wanted this to be so great. I absolutely adore Charlie Day and when I heard he would be directing his first feature film with the cast that this movie has I got so excited. To its credit, the first half of the film is genuinely hilarious, an homage to Keaton/Chaplin-era physical comedy while exhibiting the beginnings of a biting satire on Hollywood, but somewhere in the middle of it all Day's script looses its footing and never really gets it back. The slapstick goes out the window, the comedy stops being funny and trades that in for bewildering, and the conclusion to it all ends up being wholly unsatisfying and, honestly, made the whole thing feel like a waste of time. If the second half had been anywhere near as good as the first, this would be a very different review, but it wasn't, so here we are. Better luck on the sophomore feature, Day.

Score: 4/10

Only in theaters.

Fast X (2023, dir. Louis Leterrier) I really don't understand the poor reviews this one is getting if other entries in this franchise have been well received. It's not without it's issues, as most of the FF films aren't, but it is still one helluva ride. I will say probably my biggest complaint with this one is that some of it just looks.... odd. Like the CG is whatever, I'm down with the shitty CG in these movies at this point, that's just part of the Fast & Furious charm, but there are shots that just look strange. I'm not really sure how to put it, like the foreground is at one FPS and the background is at another. Just very uncanny valley. It gives the film a look and feel to it that's unlike any of the other films, and in that way I wasn't a huge fan. That being said, the crazy car action is second-to-none and nearly non-stop, and the script handles the Family being split up for most of the film way better than past installments have with that same setup. This will most likely be my full-length come Wednesday, so I'll leave it there for now, but just know that, if you like this franchise, Fast X is going to give you everything you've come to love about it and expect from it.

Score: 7/10

Only in theaters.

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie - (2022, dir. Andy Suriano & Ant Ward) This was watched as part of my college friend group's movie nights at the request of a friend whose birthday was coming up. I've never seen the show and don't really know anything about it past what I've been told by said friend and just my general TMNT knowledge (although this iteration of the heroes in a half-shell is very different than what most people would be used to). It was genuinely wonderful. The animation was spectacularly breathtaking (seriously, I can't hype up how gorgeously animated this film is), and the story, as Days of Future Past-y as it was, felt very fresh. The personalities of the Turtles are different from the original, but it's all a very welcome change. Raphael and Leonardo are practically flipped, with Raph taking on the "big brother" role that's normally occupied by Leo and Leo taking on the "aloof and antagonistic" role that's normally occupied by Raph. Donatello is more or less the same, a genius idiosyncratic inventor, but in this version he canonically has autism, which is represented well and the laughs that come from his character are never at the expense of his disorder. Similarly, Michelangelo is basically the same as his original counterpart (even moreso than Donnie), but in this story he canonically has ADHD. All of their clashing personality types meld together so well, and the chemistry between them is even more infectious, I would say, than the original versions of the characters. They could not have nailed what makes the central four brothers work, while also giving audiences a entirely new central four at the same time, than they did. As far as the villain of the film goes, the way the Kraang (who are depicted here as an entire race of creatures) are represented here is truly unsettling and almost in a Cronenberg/Lynch vein that I absolutely loved. RotTMNT: The Movie drops in you into its world, doesn't mince words, and gets you out of there in a cool 86 minutes, and it was a stellar time. I will, without question, be checking out the show as a result. If you're the kind of TMNT fan that's receptive and open to different takes on this world and these characters, then you'll love this.

Score: 8/10

Currently streaming on Netflix.

STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie (2023, dir. Davis Guggenheim) This has got to be one of the most unique and intriguing documentaries I've ever seen. The way Fox's story is told here is stunning, using a mix of modern narration, dramatic re-enactment, and archival footage (acting as both legitimate archival footage and as a narrative device at separate times) to accent and highlight the actor's life in the most poignant, striking way possible. Fox himself has such an electric personality it's hard not to fall in love with him over the course of the film's 95 minutes (that is, of course, if you weren't already in love him before). I read somewhere that there's nothing particularly revelatory about STILL, but I beg to differ. I'll admit, showing the portrait of a man's life who had it all, had taken the world by storm and was running away with it, only to be knocked down in his prime by something wholly out of control isn't anything too new. However, what makes STILL work, and what sets it apart, is that the story doesn't stop there. Fox refuses to give up. He's not fooling himself at the reality of his situation with Parkinson's, but he remains hopeful, he remains vivid, and he remains electric. Fox refuses to quit, to back down from his life, and is actively maintaining any control he can still have over it. It's inspiring and heartbreaking all at the same time, one never replacing the other, both coexisting in every moment, and that's not a particularly easy thing to pull off. I was quite taken by this, and urge all with access to check it out.

Score: 10/10

Currently streaming on Apple TV+.

[sam-keeper]

The Visitor aka STRIDULUM (1979)

Ha ha yeah, wooo YEAH

da daaaaa dadadaDAA DAAA DAAAAAAA DADADAAAAA DADADADADA DA DAAAAA YEAH!!!!

This is the most prog rock movie I've ever seen in my life. This is spiritually being painted on the side of a van. Does it have a good plot that makes sense? I don't know, asshole, does Emerson Lake and Palmer's seminal classic Karn Evil 9 part 2 have a good plot that makes sense? I'm telling my kids The Visitor (1979) is Star Wars.

I noticed a pattern when looking at other reviews of this film: they fall back on comparisons, as a slight. Well, it's sort of The Omen, and it's sort of Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and it's sort of Carrie, and a little Battlestar Galactica and maybe The Birds... which all sounds very derivative, I suppose, until you actually a movie smashing all those things together, and realize, wait a minute, that's bonkers. It feels like critics grasp for these comparisons while foundering in The Visitor's psychedelic sea, desperate for a point of stability. None of these references offer stable landmarks, though, if you hope to predict where the film will veer next in its crazy pursuit of cool ideas and weird setpieces.

Not that the comparisons are totally off base, mind. This IS the story of Katy Collins, a Wicked Little Kid in the vein of the Omen's Damien or Carrie's... Carrie. It's just that this generic convention of the Bad Seed gets set up at the beginning of the film with a bizarre cosmic encounter between an old space wizard and an apparition of the devilish little girl in what looks like a blizzard on mars, followed by a whole ass monologue by "A Jesus Figure" about cosmic psychic spirits of good and evil dueling it out across the planets, delivered to a bunch of bald, white robed children. Hell yeah. But! But. Katy Collins is otherwise a classic, average evil psychic kid who kills people with telekinesis. And uses it to rig professional basketball matches for her shitty step dad, possibly at the behest of the satanic businessmen he answers to who are REALLY giving some serious drone hive vibes what with the way they all turn their heads at the same time. Oh and she's got a pet hawk that murders people at her behest. No, trust me though, it's a really derivative movie. Not like the movies we have now like uhhhh

[sweating] uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Better touchstones than typical blockbuster fare might be the mind-expanding chaos of paperback epics--Clive Barker's Great and Secret Show, King's Dark Tower, Morrison's The Invisibles. Here's some other fun facts: it was directed by Giulio Paradisi (it's a heavily italian production) but he directed it under the brilliant name "Michael J Paradise". The italian title was "Stridulum", which I guess is latin for something like a harsh or shrill sound or shriek, which fits the whole repeating War Between Birds motif and the use of bird cries in the soundtrack. Oh, and one of the guys playing basketball in the first scene with Katy is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, actual famous athlete. It's sort of a bizarre and improbable movie!

But I don't think I'd be nearly so dazzled by all the crazy shit this film throws at the audience if not for Katy herself, played brilliantly by a young child star Paige Conner. She's written and performed in a way that suggests malice, yes, but a childish malice, a bit of a put-on, a belligerent front that gets more and more petulant and uncontrolled as John Huston as the space mystic Jerzy (yes) Colsowicz (get it) confronts her with the limits of her own powers. There's this sequence where Jerzy and Katy play pong against each other. Jerzy, smiling, accuses her cheating by speeding up the game with her powers. Katy, giggling genuinely, gloatingly informs him that no, she sped up the game using a switch on the game console. Later in the film she tries to drop a fire escape on his head, of course. In that conversation, though, there's this charming chemistry between them, the chemistry of a smart young person and an older adult willing to treat her, not as a peer exactly, but as a thinking being, not just a Thing to be smacked into shape. This dynamic is crucial to the climax of the film and its ultimate conviction that no matter how ghastly Katy is, there's more than just evil to her, which might not be the most seasonally horror-forward message but is honestly pretty damn refreshing. Like I don't know if The Visitor is as good a film as The Omen (ok, I know that obviously it's not) but on balance it's probably got its heart more in the right place. Perhaps notably along those lines, one of the horror subplots of The Omen involves possibility of a woman getting an abortion, whereas The Visitor explores the possibility of a woman being impregnated against her will. While it may lose out on form, The Visitor might just win the long game on its politics.

Also some shitty teens get thrown through a plate glass window, and there's a whole sequence where a big truck's lights are treated exactly like an approaching spacecraft, and it's awesome, I don't know what to tell you, I love this shit.

Read more horror reviews like this all season on my Patreon

[maniculum]

I'm doing a College class on Ancient Foods. My focus is on Honey like the different recipes and usages in Medieval era. I found like a couple recipes, a thing on religious relation ("Milk and Honey of Paradise") /Crusades, medicinal use, and possibly bees/beeswax because I was struggling to get something.

Y'all have any recommendations?

(I've brought Zoe in on this one; the following is a collaborative effort. Also I'm assuming you have access to your university library so you can get ahold of the cited material below quickly and for free.)

Can you include beverages? Honey is the main ingredient in mead, which should give you a lot to talk about. Susan Verberg is the premier researcher on medieval mead, and has some excellent works on both mead making and honey production. She has a website at https://medievalmeadandbeer.wordpress.com/ where you can find both her formal publications and her blog.

If you do want to talk about beverages, there were other medieval drinks that used honey. Some citations for you:

Breeze, Andrew. “What Was ‘Welsh Ale' in Anglo-Saxon England?” Neophilologus, vol. 88, no. 2, 2004, pp. 299–301.

Fell, Christine E. “Old English ‘Beor’." Leeds Studies in English, vol. 8, 1975, pp. 76-95.

You can also go into cultural symbolism; here are a couple on that:

Enright, Michael J. Lady with a Mead Cup: Ritual, Prophecy, and Lordship in the European Warband from La Tène to the Viking Age. Four Courts Press, 2013.

Rowland, Jenny. “OE Ealuscerwen/Meoduscerwen and the Concept of ‘Paying for Mead'." Leeds Studies in English, vol. 21, 1990, pp. 1-12.

Also you might want to look into the general concept of the "mead of poetry" from the Old Norse sources. You can find the origin story for that in the Prose Edda, I believe.

Definitely check out https://www.foodtimeline.org for recipes with honey during the period - they have more than you'd expect. There's also a few medieval cookbooks you can parse through. Here's an online one you can sort through that does a great job modernizing the translations: https://www.medievalcookery.com/etexts.html

As for honey itself -- there's actually quite a bit of research on that! Honey was quite a specialized trade, and most of the medieval world used it for sweetener, so there's a good amount of research.

A few leads:

honey as an alternative to sugar, which was expensive, imported, and could indicate class

honey grading: honey was graded based on location/provenance, type (lavender, orange blossom, etc.), and also by grade. However, their method of grading was very different to our modern one.

honey as a preservative, not just for flavor

Articles on this subject:

(DEFINITELY this one!!) Fava, Lluis Sales, et al. “Beekeeping in Late Medieval Europe: A Survey of Its Ecological Settings and Social Impacts.” Anales de La Universidad de Alicante. Historia Medieval, no. 22, 2021, pp. 275-96, https://doi.org/10.14198/medieval.19671.

Wallace-Hare, David, editor. New Approaches to the Archaeology of Beekeeping. Archaeopress, 2022. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv2b07txd.

Verberg, Susan. “Of Hony: A Collection of Mediaeval Brewing Recipes for Mead, Metheglin, Braggot, Hippocras &c. — Including how to Process Honey — from the 1600s and Earlier,” 2017. Academia.edu.

If you want to look more into the medicinal usage, Cockayne's Leechdoms, Wortcunning, & Starcraft collects all the medical & scientific texts of the Old English period. It's old enough to be public domain, so it's available on the Internet Archive and HathiTrust in searchable form, meaning you can just ctrl-F "honey" and see what comes up.

Let us know how it goes!

[demifiendrsa]

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth details Gold Saucer, Corel Prison, Vincent Valentine, Cid Highwind, and more detailed

■ New Art

■ Regions of the World

The world is comprised of multiple regions, each boasting unique environments for players to explore and experience on their adventure.

Gold Saucer

Referred to as the gilded paradise, the Gold Saucer is a resplendent amusement park on an epic scale. It is divided into seven areas, called “squares,” each with their own unique attractions. One such is the Skywheel, which takes guests high above the Saucer for an unforgettable view of the park, and has proven to be a popular date spot.

Corel Prison

A sprawling slum that infests the base of the Gold Saucer. It’s almost as if the Saucer’s glimmering façade acts a beacon for vagabonds and ne’er-do-wells the world over, as they have flocked there in droves. So dangerous is the Dustbowl—Corel Prison’s slightly kinder sobriquet–that those who enter its limits are said to never return.

■ New Characters

Vincent Valentine (voiced by Matthew Mercer in English)

“Who dares disturb my slumber?”

A self-proclaimed “security” guard who hibernates in a coffin deep below Shinra Manor. This man of mystery is swathed in a red cape and boasts the genes of a monster—as well as a hidden connection to Sephiroth.

Cid Highwind (voiced by J. Michael Tatum in English)

“Shinra don’t own the skies! They couldn’t stop me even if they tried.”

This rogue pilot of reputable skill runs a shuttle service out of various abandoned airstrips. After Cloud and company flag him down, he flies them around the globe in his beloved Tiny Bronco.

Dyne (voiced by Dave B. Mitchell in English)

“You took everything from me. Everything and everyone!”

Dyne was once Barret’s closest friend, back when the two used to make their living in the coal mines of Corel. Now, he is a wanted man with a gun grafted to his left arm, and his current whereabouts are unknown.

Dio (voiced by Ian James Corlett in English)

“As park director, it’s my pleasure to welcome you to our gilded paradise.”

The charismatic owner of the Gold Saucer. Famous for his brawny physique and handlebar mustache, Dio is often found participating in his park’s parades, flexing his muscles before throngs of screaming guests.

Doctor Sheiran (voiced by Lloyd Sherr in English)

“Won’t charge for my services, but I wouldn’t turn down a blood sample neither.”

Though his clinic in North Corel may be small, Doctor Sheiran’s heart and intellect are anything but. Lately, he has been caring for the black-robed figures that have stumbled into town, and is attempting to uncover the truth behind their mysterious illness.

Solemn Gus (voiced by Jonah Scott in English)

“I’ll help…but only if I get a little something from you first. Understand?”

The sleazy kingpin of Corel Prison, Gus is as flamboyant as he is smooth-talking. Add to that a healthy dose of showmanship, and it’s little wonder that the dregs of the Dustbowl have flocked to him.

Biggs (voiced by Gideon Emery in English)

“Why in the hell did fate pick me?”

After surviving the fall of the Sector 7 plate, Biggs awoke to find that he is the last remaining member of the ill-fated anti-Shinra rebels, Avalanche. Having recovered from his injuries, he now seeks revenge against the company that murdered his comrades.

■ Combat: Synergy Skills

Synergy Abilities

Powerful attacks in which two characters team up to turn the tide of battle. More abilities will unlock as you increase the party level─a numerical expression of how closely-knit your team is─and deepen the affinity between party members. Fill the synergy gauge by using abilities, then unleash a synchronized assault!

—Cloud / Aerith: “Firework Blade”

Cloud uses Aerith’s magic to unleash a ranged attack.

—Tifa / Caith Sith: “Moogle Dunk Shot”

Tifa swings Cait Sith’s moogle around and launches it at an enemy.

■ Combat: Summons

Summons

Setting summoning materia will grant access to the power of the gods. A conjured deity will follow the player’s lead and fight enemies automatically, but you can also instruct them to use special abilities. Before they depart the battlefield, summons will unleash one final attack that will wreak immense havoc.

Titan

A titanic colossus whose arms of solid stone can rend the earth—and your enemies—asunder.

—Titan excels at both powerful melee strikes and area-of-effect attacks, such as Boulder Hurl.

—Upon leaving the battlefield, Titan unleashes Earthen Fury, calling forth giant pillars of rock from deep within the earth. This imposing magic attack harnesses the power of nature to cleave your enemies’ resolve.

Bahamut Arisen

A massive dragon covered in resplendent red scales. It cuts off any possible escape routes with its lightning-quick speed, and decimates its enemies with both sharp claws and a veritable arsenal of weaponry.

—Bahamut Arisen excels at attacking in rapid succession, but can also obliterate foes with charged magic attacks from its limbs. Once its Umbral Bombardment lands, it releases two orbs of magic that fan out and annihilate all surrounding enemies.

—When it leaves the battlefield, Bahamut Arisen activates Gigaflare—an extremely potent attack that sees the dragon unleash beams of magic from its wings and maw, burning any nearby foes alive.

Phoenix

A bird possessed of exquisite beauty and wings of brilliant flame. Phoenix not only flies about the battlefield assailing foes with its blisteringly hot attacks, but also heals the party’s wounds.

—In addition to engulfing enemies in flames with its wings of wildfire, Phoenix can grant buffs with healing effects. It can also revive incapacitated allies and fully recover their HP with Arise, allowing them to return to the front line and continue the fight.

—When it departs the field of battle, Phoenix unleashes Rebirth Flame, which recovers the party’s HP and spells a fiery death any foes within its wide range. A single feather falls from Phoenix’s wings, enveloping the battlefield in burning flames, after which the bird rises from the cinders to deal the final blow.

■ System: Relationships

Bonds of Friendship

Cloud’s actions and the way he responds to other party members while conversing with them will affect his relationship with them.

With a strong enough bond, you may even reap some benefits, so whenever you’re faced with a decision, you might want to think hard before responding—especially if it concerns your favorite character.

Loveless

A theatrical production based on the classic epic poem Loveless.

It depicts a hero’s fight against the Dragon King, the tyrannical ruler of Guardia, as well as his love for Princess Rosa.

Thanks to the latest in VR technology, the Gold Saucer’s Golden Theatre brings this play to life like never before. Depending on your relationship with your fellow theatergoers, the person playing Rosa may even change—along with parts of the script.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the second game in the Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy, will launch for PlayStation 5 on February 29, 2024.

[thecommunityoftrustworthysinks]

i imagine most of this site is unaware of this because most of this site seems unaware of back to the future to begin with but i need you guys to know that donald trump was the direct, literal, intentional inspiration for one of the most annoying disgusting sci fi villains in 1989

like

if you haven't seen biff tannen and his pleasure paradise hotel yet. well.

(article)

[IMAGE ID: the first two images are from the second back to the future film. the first is a flashy casino sign with biff tannen's face smoking a cigar and holding burning money. it says "biff tannen's pleasure paradise." the second image is a close up of biff's face showing his similar appearance to donald trump. the last image is a screenshot from the linked article that says:

"According to an interview with The Daily Beast, Gale revealed he had former U.S. President Donald Trump in his mind when creating the character of Biff. Gale referenced the scene where Biff smugly stood in front of a portrait of himself to compare Biff and Trump. After viewers were informed of the inspiration, several plot elements reaffirmed Trump's influence on Biff. Biff's tremendous wealth from a multi-floored casino, like the Trump Plaza Hotel that opened in 1984, allowed him to run the government of Hill Valley, CA.

Biff's control over the government and his desire to be viewed as America's greatest living folk hero turned the city corrupt. Biff's likeness with Trump even included physical appearance. Old Biff's sleazy hairstyle resembled Trump's combover. While Back to the Future was released before Trump became president, Michael J. Fox compared Trump's presidency to how Biff ruled Hill Valley in an interview with The Guardian. Will viewers ever be able to un-see the comparison now that they've become aware of it?" END ID.]

[euniexenoblade]

Favorite music of 2023 :)

I've found myself dealing with a wave of writer's block, and in my desire to get past it I've decided to write whatever I can. Some people said they'd be interested in me talking about my favorite albums of 2023, so here's a short write up about albums I really liked and I hope everyone will give a try.

I found 2023 to be a pretty spectacular year for weird and interesting music. With artists like Lil Yachty doing a neo-psychedelia album (fantastic, give it a listen) and Avenged Sevenfold doing some progressive avant garde adjacent metal album (I think people are wrongly hating on it, it's spectacular), it shouldn't be too surprising to imagine that the bands the mainstream hasn't really heard of are making wild soundscapes unlike anything you've ever heard.

Kicking this off with one of my favorite Korean bands, Parannoul released two albums this year and they were spectacular - both in my top 10 of the year. Parannoul are a wonderful shoegaze band that create these songs that almost feel hypnotic, they create this dream like state for their songs in ways no other band seems to be able to. After the Magic, their third album, is no different in this, but brings a new warmth, brighter instrumentation, and just in general doesn't feel as self loathing and depressed as previous works. The other release, After the Night, is a live recording, which shows that the band can produce the same dreamlike style on a stage, but do it even better. My second favorite album of the year, this live album is so incredible, zoning out to the 46 minute "Into the Endless Night" while high was probably one of my favorite experiences of the year in and of itself. (Also, if you do chose to check them out, please listen to To See the Next Part of the Dream, it's one of my favorite albums ever made.)

Using Parannoul as a sorta link between things, I also found that they worked on a song on the new Turquoisedeath album, Se bueno. I won't claim to be an expert on drum and bass, but I had a killer time listening to Se bueno. When I discovered Se bueno, I also discovered a few other, more abrasive, albums that I kind of group together in my head. Namely Chaser by femtanyl (digital hardcore) and Sisterhood by lostrushi ("digicore" feels like a frantic version of trap). If you like this kind of music, give them a try, all three are on my list.

Everyone's top albums of the years seem to have their one and two spots stolen away by Javelin and Scaring the Hoes. Starting with the latter, Scaring the Hoes by JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown is cool as hell. Beats unlike anything I've heard in hip hop before, and the flows of both men really bring it all together. It's a great album (it's my third favorite of the year), but I also think some focus on some other hip hop titles might be cool. Integrated Tech Solutions by Aesop Rock is just as impressive and interesting and deserves your attention. Alongside that Michael by Killer Mike is a fantastic listen, though it doesn't compare to the previously mentioned two, it's still a great album that deserves your time - he won those awards for a reason. The man got arrested at an award show, the least you can do is stream his album once.

Now, as for Javelin by Sufjan Stevens, it's a great album, but it's also such a sad album. His pain is horrible, and he does a great job at making you feel it. However, the music never really hit me like other albums of the year had. The lyrics murder your heart, but I'm a tad past gay pains and want gay joys. Which is why I want you all to listen to Ultra Paradise by Angel Electronics. Half Ada Rook of Black Dresses, half Ash Nerve (I doubt you know him) this is a trans and gay power pop album that's just beautiful and fun. Songs like Return to the Sky and One Thousand and One Nights are fun ear worms, and the rest of the album just has a level of repeatability and a level of joy and fun that most other albums this year didn't have. Is it as technically impressive as Javelin? No. But, shit, it's nice to be happy for once.

Continuing off of this idea, in 2023 we saw transphobia become horrifically rampant, the right wing are really intent to get rid of us. You can't avoid how much this world hates us now and it makes you want to just scream. It creates this feeling of anger, a desire for violence, like we're past being sad and nice and understanding. In 2023 the Hirs Collective put out an album on par with that emotion. We're Still Here is an aggressive grindcore album put together by trans, gay, queer people in general. My favorite release from the band to date, it's fantastic to see Hirs screaming "We're still here!" as the world tries to erase us. This is my favorite album of 2023, please listen to it, please give Hirs your money, they deserve it and you deserve their music.

A few more albums I wanna recommend that I can't really think of anything in depth to say: God Cum Poltergeist by Crisis Sigil (Ada Rook) is a fantastic grindcore album, Goodnight, God Bless, I Love U, Delete by Crosses is a fantastic synthpop adjacent album and I got to see it performed live and it's amazing music, Reborn Superstar! by Hanabie. is a great Japanese metalcore album, and go listen to Kikuo Miku 7 for some rad Hatsune Miku bullshit.

My top 50 music releases of 2023:

We're Still Here by Hirs

After the Night by Parannoul

Scaring the Hoes by JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown

Dogsbody by Model/Actriz

Desire, I Want to Turn Into You by Caroline Polachek

After the Magic by Parannoul

Goodnight, God Bless, I Love U, Delete. by Crosses

God Cum Poltergeist by Crisis Sigil

uma by betcover!!

Ultra Paradise by Angel Electronics

Reborn Superstar! by Hanabie.

No Joy by Spanish Love Songs

Saved by Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter

Live in Japan by Mass of the Fermenting Dregs

93696 by Liturgy

Resistance and the Blessing by World's End Girlfriend

Kikuo Miku 7 by Kikuo

Javelin by Sufjan Stevens

Integrated Tech Solutions by Aesop Rock

Poil Ueda by Poil & Junko Ueda

Enola Gay by Asia Menor

Upal by Kostnateni

The Loveliest Time by Carly Rae Jepsen

Michael by Killer Mike

Exul by Ne Obliviscaris

Hellmode by Jeff Rosenstock

Hometown to Come by Minhwi Lee

Life is but a Dream... by Avenged Sevenfold

Chaser by Femtanyl

Sadness / Abriction by Sadness / Abriction

O Monolith by Squid

But Here We Are by Foo Fighters

Stone by Baroness

History Books by The Gaslight Anthem

Why Does the Earth Give Us People to Love? by Kara Jackson

Rookie's Bustle by Ada Rook

Futility by Yakui The Maid

Let's Start Here. by Lil Yachty

The Age of Pleasure by Janelle Monae

Bee and the Whales by Galileo Galilei

Zach Bryan self titled

Everything is Alive by Slowdive

Let's Hope Heteros Fail, Learn, and Retire by Alice Longyu Gao

Se bueno by TURQUOISEDEATH

Yoshitsune by Poil & Junko Ueda

Perfect Picture by Hannah Diamond

January Never Dies by Balming Tiger

Jenny From Thebes by The Mountain Goats

Never Falter Hero Girl by Katie Dey

Sisterhood by lostrushi

[myanxietydisorderhasanxiety]

MY CON EXPERIENCES!

So as someone who has been to multiple cons before, I feel like I have quite a bit to say on the topic. As an autistic person, I feel like I can add some nuance that not everyone experiences, but I’d like to specify I speak for myself ONLY on the autistic experience at cons. Autistic support needs vary widely across the community.

The first con I went to was a local con in 2020. It’s a smaller con, and my friend had invited me to go with her for her birthday. It was definitely a lot more muted of an atmosphere given the fact that we were in the midst of a pandemic, but I’d like to specify everyone I was with took any and all necessary health precautions. Being in that environment for the first time was unbelievable, even for as small and toned-down of a con as it was. It’s nerd culture EVERYWHERE. I was 17, it was my first experience going to any kind of fan event, and I’m sure anyone who’s been to cons before could probably tell I was new at con culture. Everyone we met was friendly and we saw lots of cool collectibles. I’ve been back to that con a few times now, and there was a lot more to see and do when restrictions lessened. I’ve also gotten more into cosplay since I started, so my con pictures have been UPGRADED in a major way.

The biggest (and best) con I’ve attended so far was FanExpo Philly 2023. The pictures above were all taken there, and it was overall just a really amazing experience. I’d never been to Philly, and I asked my cousin on a whim if she wanted to go to the con when I heard a particular guest would be there (10 points if you can guess who I’m talking about), and she said YES. So I took my first solo plane ride across the country and went to a huge con in a city I don’t know. And it was worth it ten times over.

Going to a con that big is overwhelming. There’s multiple show floors in a huge convention center, and the amount of people going to a con in such a major city is about 100 times more than my first con. It was also my cousin’s first con EVER, so it was really interesting to get to introduce her to con culture. (Spoiler alert: she loved it.) The con was bustling all three days, and certain lines were HOURS of waiting. My social anxiety was naturally still present, but there was a sense of camaraderie there that I can’t say I’ve felt anywhere else. We spent so long looking at all the different vendors and shopping in addition to meeting our favorite celebrities. (Seriously, cons are a fan’s paradise. I’m a sucker for Funko Pops for about 3 fandoms and I was SO HAPPY.)

Saturday we had a photo op with Michael J Fox & Christopher Lloyd, and that line was insanity. Definitely the biggest individual draw there especially for Gen X. We spent maybe 2 hours in line, and people didn’t really get snippy like they do at theme parks, we all just wound up talking (and yes, sometimes moaning and groaning about the wait) with people around us for the most part. When we got to the photo op, it was super quick due to the number of people, but my cousin whispered “we love you guys!” To Michael and Christopher and Michael turned around to say something to us. Unfortunately we didn’t hear it because it was so loud but he didn’t turn around for the previous guests we’d seen. I also handed an attendant a letter I’d written to Michael J Fox about what an inspiration he is for disabled people and how thankful I was for his advocacy work.

Sean Astin’s line was less crazy, still packed but less crazy. With him, we were allowed to hug or stand next to him, it was a little more casual, and he was cracking jokes and very friendly. When we went back up to the autograph table (me for a signed 8x10 and my cousin to get her Balrog Funko Pop signed) he was super friendly and just such a nice person. I told him my family said hi, and my mom had been a fan since the Goonies, and he said “next time bring your mom”. So when he came to my small local con in March 2024, that’s exactly what I did. He was just as nice and friendly the second time, and my mom enjoyed it too.

Sunday at FanExpo was my busiest day. We had multiple photo ops with the Stranger Things guests that had all gotten pushed to one day because of some visa issues for one of the guests (poor Joseph Quinn had to do THREE DAYS of stuff in one day). I was pretty nervous, I’m a HUGE Stranger Things fan, my first cosplay was actually season 3 Eleven. We got up to photo op 1 with Joseph and I asked if I could hug him for the photo and he went “of course you can!” Photo op 2 was with him and Grace van Dien, and I’d made friendship bracelets for both of them. She was an absolute angel (I WILL DEFEND GRACE VAN DIEN AGAINST THE HATERS!) and wore the bracelet for our picture and I saw it in the next picture too. Photo op 3 was just Joseph (I’d purchased multiple intending to do it on multiple days and have multiple cosplays). I wound up by myself in line while my cousin went to go get food (we were DYING). I met some of the nicest people in line (we’re Facebook and instagram friends now) and honestly I don’t know when social interaction has been easier. That photo op was the BEST one yet, and had the best story behind it, which if you want, I can share more details of. Suffice it to say, he is an absolute gem of a human being and deserves every bit of success he’s getting, and I’m really glad I got to meet him when he was only famous for Stranger Things. Anyone who thought I was cringy at the time for going to meet him is going to regret not meeting him when they could’ve, especially with Gladiator II and Fantastic Four coming out soon.

Something I’d like to mention in regards to Joseph Quinn, and any celebrities you meet at a con. You need to be respectful of their boundaries NO MATTER WHAT. THEY DO NOT OWE YOU ANYTHING BUT WHAT YOU PAID FOR, which is a picture or an autograph. They’re human beings and just because you paid for a photo op doesn’t mean you get to touch them in any way you want or put them in uncomfortable situations re: posing. I say this because a few weeks after I met him, at another FanExpo, a con-goer tried to touch him in an inappropriate way that was overtly sexual in nature (best approximation from witnesses is attempted groping). This is deplorable, and CONSENT IS KEY whenever you are having an interaction at a con. You can ask, but they don’t owe you hugs, poses, anything. CONSENT should always be the top priority when interacting with celebrities and other guests, no matter what. He was kind enough to give me a hug, but not ONCE did I expect or demand it, nor would I have hugged him if he hadn’t said yes. Paying for a photo op isn’t consent, being famous isn’t consent, cosplay isn’t consent. He was so lovely to myself and other guests and it’s heartbreaking anyone would do something so blatantly sexual and inappropriate.

Rant aside. I LOVE CONS. I love them so much. I’ve met some of my absolute heroes at cons and fan events, and it’s honestly such a wonderful experience overall, at least speaking for my personal experience. I encourage you if you’re curious, go to a con. Get single day admission even and just go get a photo with someone you think is cool. Chances are you’ll have a great time.

[lanistas]

Omg I love Babylon 5, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it!!

Hiiiii! Thank you for asking, I can talk about Babylon 5 for days 😃 (This is probably going to be a very long and chaotic post, but please bear with me 😅)

My most vivid memory of Babylon 5 is me crying my eyes out in February 2017, when I watched the final episode of season 5. My mom walked in on me in the kitchen, ugly sobbing and struggling for breath, and, well, my mom was very concerned for my well-being, to put it mildly lol.  And I guess this perfectly illustrates my relationship with this show. The story, the characters, the themes and motifs that Babylon 5 dared to explore influenced my psyche and became an integral part of me, and I was super not ready to let go when it was time to watch “Sleeping in Light”.

Like with any other show that I adore, it’s very difficult for me to explain which aspects of said show I like in particular. As I am first and foremost a shipper when it comes to watching and analysing tv shows, John Sheridan and Delenn of Mir were the main reason why I decided to start Babylon 5, and John/Delenn remain one of my most beloved OTPs up until this day. However, once I started properly watching this show and understanding it better, I realised that Babylon 5 is not only a shipper’s paradise, but also an incredibly well crafted and coherent show, a true masterpiece when it comes to weaving a compelling and logically consistent story. To add to the gradually developing plot, every character has their role to play, and each character is well written, complex, and important to the narrative. John, Delenn, Susan, Michael, Londo, G’Kar, Lyta, Marcus, and so many others – all of them taught me important lessons and helped me overcome real life struggles. They taught me courage, compassion, honor, but also they taught me that nobody's perfect, that both human and non-human beings can make stupid decisions, can take a wrong turn, may be difficult and insufferable, but it doesn't mean that the world is beyond saving. In fact it means quite the opposite, and that's what the characters in this show prove to the audience time and time again.

One more thing that I love about Babylon 5 is the fact that it doesn’t shy away from discussing difficult topics, very often mixing sci-fi concepts with philosophy, psychology, cultural studies, and even religion. As someone who studied intercultural communication at university, I cannot help coming back to Babylon 5 and choosing scenes and moments from different episodes that I can analyse from that perspective. Moreover, Babylon 5 managed to masterfully comment on politics, political institutions, and various types of conflicts, which also impresses me and makes me adore Babylon 5 even more.

All in all, I want to say a huge ‘thank you’ to J. Michael Straczynski, to the cast and the crew of this show for bringing Babylon 5 to life. I will never shut up about it, and I will never stop recommending Babylon 5 to people 😄

[natty1730]

Playlist (Metal Family OC)

🌼Daisy Oceanos Morozov 🌼

Blue Hair ~ TV Girl

Mary On A Cross ~ Ghost

Bring Me To Life ~ Evanescence

Call Me Little Sunshine ~Ghost

Teenagers ~My Chemical Romance

Chelsea Dagger ~ The Fratellis

Dear Maria, Count Me In ~ All Time Low

Oblivion ~ Grimes

Brutal ~ Olivia Rodrigo

Ain’t It Fun ~ Paramore

Cigarette Daydream ~ Cage The Elephant

Lovesong ~The Cure

Fade Into You ~ Mazzy Star

About a Girl ~ Nirvana

Iris ~ The Goo Goo Dolls

Love Will Tear Us Apart ~ Joy Division

Just Like Heaven ~ The Cure

Summertime Sadness ~ Lana Del Rey

Brooklyn Baby ~ Lana Del Rey

West Coast ~ Lana Del Rey

Watercolor Eyes ~ Lana Del Rey

High By The Beach ~ Lana Del Rey

Blue Madonna ~ BORNS

Sweet Dreams ~ BORNS

Jealous ~ Eyedress

Want Me ~Baby Queens

Romeo and Juliet ~ The Killers

Midnight Love ~ Girl in Red

Genesis ~ Grimes

Maya the Psychic ~ Gerard Way

Women ~ Harry Styles

My Boy ~ Billie Eilish

The Less I Know The Better ~ Tame Impala

My Type ~ Saint Motel

Happier Than Ever ~ Billie Eilish

Give You Hell ~ The All-American Rejects

Cornflower Blue ~ Flower Face

We’re Not Gonna Take It ~ Twisted Sister

The Story Ain’t Over ~ Avantasis

I Wanna Rock ~ Twisted Sister

Somebody Told Me ~ Motionless In White

Rock You Like a Hurricane ~ Scorpions

You Give Love A Bad Name ~ Bon Jovi

Smells Like Teen Spirit ~ Nirvana

I Was Mad For Lovin’ You ~ KISS

It’s My Life ~ Bon Jovi

Creep ~ Radiohead

Pour Some Sugar On Me ~ Def Leppard

Boulevard of Broken Dreams ~ Green Day

Psychic Reader ~ Bad Bad Hats

BLUE ~ Troye Sivan , Alex Hope

Cardigan ~ Taylor Swift

Lovefool ~ The Cardigans

Willow ~ Taylor Swift

Pretty Girl ~ Clairo

Always Forever ~ Cults

Candy ~ Robbie Williams

Something That I Want ~ Grace Potter

Can I Call You Tonight ~Dayglow

Melting ~ Kali Uchis

Moonlight ~ Kali Uchis

See You Again ~ Tyler, The Creator & Kali Uchis

Telepatia ~ Kali Uchis

I Wish you Roses ~ Kali Uchis

La Luna Enamorada ~ Kali Uchis

First Love/Last Spring ~ Mitski

Never Felt So Alone ~ Labrinth

Blue ~ LAUNDRY DAY

Colors of the Wind ~ Judy Kuhn

Lavender Haze ~ Taylor Swift

Heather ~ Conan Gray

Something Good ~ Alt-J

She ~ Dodie

Reencuentro ~ Huara

Zamba’l Mar ~ Anida

Chitquitita ~ ABBA (Spanish Version )

Ophelia ~ The Lumineers

Selfless ~ The Strokes

Once Upon a December ~ Anastasia

J’s lullaby ~ Delaney Bailey

The Night We Met ~ Lord Huron & Phoebe Birdgers

This Side of Paradise ~ Coyote Theory

I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend ~ The Rubinoos

Teenage Dirtbag ~ Wheatus

Luna de Xelaju ~ Gaby Moreno & Oscar Isaac

All The Things She Said ~ t.A.T.u

Parents ~ YUNGBLUD

Freaks ~ Surf Curse

Not Allowed ~ TV Girl

Living Life , In The Night ~ Cheriimoya & Sierra Kidd

King For A Day~ Pierce The Veil

Flames ~ MOD SUN & Avril Lavigne

Amnesia ~ MOD SUN

Bones ~ MOD SUN

Break the Rules ~ Charli XCX

Rebel Girl ~ Bikini Kill

Nunca Es Suficiente ~ Natalia Lafourcade

Haste la Raiz

Tu Falta De Querer ~ Mon Laferte

Amarrame ~ Mon Laferte & Juanes

Amor Completo ~ Mon Laferte

The Adults Are Talking ~ The Strokes

Soledad y el Mar ~ Natalia Lafourcade & Los Macorinos

Cariño~ The Marias

Remember the Time ~ Michael Jackson

Chicago ~ Michael Jackson

P.Y.T. ~ Michael Jackson

Arabella ~ Arctic Monkeys

I Wanna Be Yours ~ Arctic Monkeys

Green Light ~ Lorde

Liability ~ Lorde

All I Wanted ~ Paramore

Misery Business ~ Paramore

Still into You ~ Paramore

Kiwi ~Harry Styles

I WANNA BE YOUR SLAVE ~ Maneskin

Stargirl Interlude ~ The Weeknd & Lana del Rey

New Girl ~ Labrinth

Pumped Up Kicks ~ Foster The People

Free Spirit ~ Khalid

hate u love u ~ Olivia O’Brien

In My Dreams ~ Kali Uchis

Super Psycho Love ~ Simon Curtis (The YouTube Version)

She’s My Collar ~ Gorillaz & Kali Uchis

Cherry Flavored ~ The Neighborhood

Backyard Boy ~ Claire Rosinkranz

Dirty Little Secret ~ The All-American Rejects

Move Along ~ The All-American Rejects

Dueles ~ Jesse & Joy

Romantic Lover ~ Eyedress

September (Instrumental) ~ Sparky Deathcap

Magalenha ~ Sergio Mendes

Fanfarra - Cabua-Le-Le ~ Sergio Mendes

Mas Que Nada ~ Sergio Mendes & Brasil’66

The Girl From Ipanema ~ Astrud Gilberto

Baiana ~ Barbatuques

Me Gustas Tu ~ Manu Chao

Pais Tropical ~ Sergio Mendes & Brasil’66

Tubarao Te Amo ~ Dj LK de Escocia & Tchakabum & MC Ryan

Carta Ao Tom 74 ~ Toquinho & Vinicius de Moraes

Girl From Rio ~ Anitta

Dancando ~ Ivete Sangalo

Ai Se Eu Te Pego ~ Michel Telo

Balada ~ Gusttavo Lima

Taboo ~ Don Omar

Calm Down ~ Rema & Selena Gomez

R.I.P 2 My Youth ~ The Neighborhood

NYMPHOLOGY ~ Melanie Martinez

Smell Like Cherry ~ Alex Ves (Metal Family)

Light ~ Alex Ves (Metal Family)

Tales of a Pine ~ Alex Ves (Metal Family)

In One Ear ~ Cage The Elephant

Why ~ Sabrina Carpenter

Gold Hour~ JVKE

Billie Bossa Nova x West Coast

[joslincox]

Middle School: Biology Immune Soundtrack

Genres: Hip Hop • R&B • Alternative Rock

Track Listing:

Air Force Ones - St. Lunatics

Let Me Blow Your Mind - Eve ft. Gwen Stefani

The Hell Song - Sum 41

What If - Aaliyah

Foolish - Ashanti

Ruff Ryders Anthem - DMX

Hot In Herre - Nelly

Lose Yourself - Eminem

Jenny From The Block - Jennifer Lopez

Caramel - City High ft. Eve

Full Moon - Brandy

Work It - Missy Elliott

Still Fly - Big Tymers

Sk8ter Boi - Avril Lavigne

The Anthem - Good Charlotte

Grow Up - Simple Plan

All The Small Things - Blink-182

Uh-Huh - B2K

Good Times - Styles P

All I Have - LL Cool J ft. Jennifer Lopez

It's The Weekend - Lil J ft. Kandi

No Scrubs - TLC

Po' Folks - Nappy Roots

Stingy - Ginuwine

Too Hood - Monica

Still Dre - Dr. Dre

Ooh, Ooh - Willa Ford

Where The Party At - Jagged Edge

Stay The Night - IMX

Call Me - Tweet

Welcome to Atlanta - Jermaine Dupri

Addictive - Truth Hurts

Thug Lovin' - Ja Rule ft. Bobby Brown

I Wanna Know - Joe

Playas Gon' Play - 3LW

U Got It Bad - Usher

Braid My Hair - Mario

Wait A Minute - Ray J ft. Lil Kim

Just In Case - Nivea

I Heard It All Before - Sunshine Anderson

2 Way - Lil Romeo

Gangsta's Paradise - Coolio

Steelo - 702 ft. Missy Elliott

I Do - Blaque ft. Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopes

All I Need - Aaliyah

I'm A Thug - Trick Daddy

What's My Age Again - Blink-182

Basket Case - Green Day

Flavor Of The Weak - American Hi-Fi

Still Waiting - Sum 41

Party Hard - Andrew W.K

Turn It Out - De La Soul ft. Elizabeth "Yummy" Bingham

Makin' Good Love - Avant

You Know That I Love You - Dontell Jones

7 Days - Craig David

Why Did You Have to Be - Debelah Morgan

Why Don't We Fall In Love - Amerie

I Should Be... - Dru Hill

Mesmerize - Ja Rule ft. Ashanti

Solo Star - Solange

Fabulous - Jaheim

Punk Rock 101 - Bowling For Soup

Fome Is Dape - Little T and One Track Mike

It Wasn't Me - Shaggy

Bounce With Me - Lil Bow Wow ft. Xscape

Bootylicious - Destiny's Child

Unpretty - TLC

Bad Boy For Life - Diddy

Who's That Girl - Eve

Welcome to Paradise - Green Day

Come On, Come On - Smash Mouth

Bounce - System Of a Down

Ms. Jackson - Outkast

Open - Brandy

We Need a Resolution - Aaliyah

Lapdance - N.E.R.D

Hey Ma - Cam'ron

Case Of The Ex (What'cha Gonna Do) - Mýa

Break Ya Neck - Busta Rhymes

Area Codes - Ludacris

Take It To Da House - Trick Daddy

Here We Go Again - Nappy Roots

Without Me - Eminem

Watch Me Do My Thing - IMX

Key To My Heart - Craig David

Summer In The City - St. Lunatics

2nd Best - Cherise ft. Dino

Cool Daddy Cool - Kid Rock ft. Joe C

Who's There - Smash Mouth

Perfect - Simple Plan

Girl All The Bad Guys Want - Bowling For Soup

One Step Closer - Linkin Park

Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana

Toxicity - System Of a Down

Pull Over - Trina

In Da Wind - Trick Daddy

What Would You Do - City High

Rider Like Me - Ezekiel Lewis

U Don't Got To Call - Usher

Don't Mess With My Man - Nivea ft. Jagged Edge

Dilemma - Nelly ft. Kelly Rowland

Big Ball - Drama

Freaks Come Out At Night - Uncle Kracker

Back That Azz Up - Juvenile

What About Us - Brandy

Satellite - P.O.D

Formal Invite - Ray J ft. Pharrell Williams

Jump - Kriss Kross

It's Tricky - Run DMC

Intergalactic - Beastie Boys

Waterfalls - TLC

More Than a Woman - Aaliyah

Son Of a Gun - Janet Jackson

Knock Yourself Out - Jadakiss

You Rock My World - Michael Jackson

Can't Deny It - Fabulous

Move Bitch - Ludacris

Love Me or Leave Me - Ms. Toi

I’m Real - Jennifer Lopez ft. Ja Rule

Fallin' - Alicia Keys

Video - India.Arie

How You Remind Me - Nickelback

Private Eye - Alkaline Trio

The Rock Show - Blink-182

Fat Lip - Sum 41

The Middle - Jimmy Eat World

She Is Beautiful - Andrew W.K

Complicated - Avril Lavigne

Take It Off - The Donnas

I'm Just a Kid - Simple Plan

Swing, Swing - The All-American Rejects

The Real Slim Shady - Eminem

Country Grammar (Hot Shit) - Nelly

The Next Episode - Dr. Dre ft. Snoop Dogg

Get Ur Freak On - Missy Elliott

It's All About Me - Mýa

The Boy Is Mine - Brandy and Monica

Fill Me In - Craig David

Independent Women - Destiny's Child

Don't Think I'm Not - Kandi

Opps (Oh My) - Tweet

No More Drama - Mary J. Blige

Love Don't Cost a Thing - Jennifer Lopez

Island in the Sun - Weezer

Rollout (My Business) - Ludacris

No More (Baby I'ma Do Right) - 3LW

As If - Blaque

[merakiui]

May we see the songs on your Azul simp playlist? Pretty please 🙏

Yes, of course! The playlist consists of songs that I think fit Azul's overall character/vibe, so I hope it can be an enjoyable list.

✧ poor unfortunate souls - lollia

✧ onion boy - isaac dunbar

✧ i know - cut capers

✧ xs - rina sawayama

✧ sibyl - wotaku

✧ mafia - wotaku

✧ your love (déjà vu) - glass animals

✧ life itself - glass animals

✧ space ghost coast to coast - glass animals

✧ money - ayla d'lyla

✧ life could be sweet - ayla d'lyla & miss madeline

✧ doin' time - lana del rey

✧ bang! - ajr

✧ boy in the bubble - alec benjamin

✧ mr. saxobeat - alexandra stan

✧ devil i know - allie x

✧ casanova - allie x

✧ simon says - allie x

✧ old habits die hard - allie x

✧ bitch - allie x

✧ sad girlz luv money - amaarae & kali uchis

✧ trouble - annella

✧ 7 rings - ariana grande

✧ grrrls - aviva

✧ casino - azari

✧ shadow shadow - azari

✧ beatdown - baby boys

✧ enemy fire - bea miller

✧ find an island - benee

✧ snail - benee

✧ supalonely - benee

✧ dangerous - big data

✧ chateau - blackbear

✧ make daddy proud - blackbear

✧ be around - blooom

✧ own me - bülow

✧ black madonna - cage the elephant

✧ social cues - cage the elephant

✧ i like it - cardi b, bad bunny, & j balvin

✧ she wants me dead - cazzette & aronchupa

✧ picky - chanmina

✧ why do you love me - charlotte lawrence

✧ ohmami - chase atlantic

✧ swim - chase atlantic

✧ tidal wave - chase atlantic

✧ paint it, black - ciara

✧ solo - clean bandit

✧ r.i.p. gossip sea - cosmo

✧ heart afire - defqwop

✧ casino royale - derivakat

✧ lost in paradise - dj-jo remix

✧ koala - grady

✧ bocca della verità - hiiragi kirai

✧ autophagy - hiiragi kirai

✧ love ka? - hiiragi kirai

✧ razzmatazz - i don't know how but they found me

✧ hat trick - jonathan thulin

✧ king - kanaria

✧ poison berry - kuraiinu

✧ maybe, i'm afraid - lovelytheband

✧ waste - lovelytheband

✧ loneliness for love - lovelytheband

✧ genius - lsd

✧ sex money feelings die - lykke li

✧ hip - mamamoo

✧ oh no! - marina

✧ cry baby - melanie martinez

✧ copy cat - melanie martinez

✧ shut up - mia rodriguez

✧ feeling good - michael bublé

✧ come dance with me - michael bublé

✧ loser - neoni

✧ i~ya i~ya i~ya - neru

✧ yesman - nilfruits

✧ traffic jam - nilfruits

✧ club = majesty - nyanyannya

✧ emperor's new clothes - panic! at the disco

✧ money - poppy

✧ friends - raye

✧ mr. heartache - sekai no owari

✧ soul 4 sale - simon curtis

✧ villain - stella jang

✧ jack pot sad girl - syudou

✧ midnight parade - taisei miyakawa

✧ kirai kirai jigahidai! - takeaki wada

✧ trash and trash! - takeaki wada

✧ junky night town orchestra - 3

✧ the motto - tiësto & ava max

✧ stress fish - tophamhat-kyo

✧ mister jewel box - tophamhat-kyo

✧ kruel kreator - tophamhat-kyo

✧ everything black - unlike pluto

✧ revenge, and a little more - unlike pluto

✧ clown - updog

✧ people i don't like - upsahl

✧ phony - tsumiki

✧ lead your partner - tao tsuchiya

✧ money, money, money - abba

✧ oroka na orca - uratanuki

✧ wolf in sheep's clothing - set it off

✧ the dream granter - vane lily

✧ phantom swing - rigël theatre

✧ breathe (brklyn remix) - mako

✧ mirror - wakakun

✧ big balling - lil hero

✧ sea castle - purity ring

✧ kirari - fujii kaze

✧ shinunoga e-wa - fujii kaze

✧ mood - dpr ian

✧ so beautiful - dpr ian

✧ mr. insanity - dpr ian

✧ nerves - dpr ian

✧ no blueberries - dpr ian

✧ yumekui shirokuro baku - nem (the trio cover + the mv = perfection)

[thecncitygirls]

Ben 10 but it's velma

Ben is nonwhite now but he hates himself & seeks validation from his yt peers and never grows out of it

Gwen is just her original series self but with none of the positives. Also she's a crazy catlady who flirts with Rook

Kevin is stupid bc he's white

Rook exists solely to clean up behind Ben/make snarky zingers; his catlike features are treated as gross a running gag is he throws up hairballs

Julie is blasian but she's a total bitch bc can't have nice black women characters

Kai is actually the most likable character bc everyone else is too unlikable in comparison or her personality really did improve

Vilgax is not an intimidating warlord but some guy in a costume

Charmcaster ship teased with Gwen and that's her entire character. Also she's not related to her uncle anymore despite him being a key part of her backstory

Most of the villains like Zombozo, Dr Animo are treated as even bigger fucking jokes than the TFA villains but without the sincerity (as in Zombozo is a kiddy diddler and Animo practices bestiality)

Ben's alien forms are significantly weaker and as a result gets overpowered by some random object

His forms gets some of the laziest redesigns that makes DA recolors look like van Gogh

Something something the null void isn't a torrential space prison but a paradise where you can get all the hookers and blow you want

Despite having a good artstyle the character designs are even more bland/OOC than anything from previous shows

Humungosaur dick jokes

Sexual jokes about alien forms and how the hell he'd be able to put it in which would be very inevitably gross if Ben is a teenager in this scenario

Grandpa Max actually slept with a lot of women and have multiple kids/grandkids. Ben happens to be the favorite. Also he can cook now and he doesn't wear Hawaiian shirts

Kevin is stereotypically goth & his traumas are used as a punchline

Weird meta joke where Zak and Rex are turned white; or a disappointed Ben complaining about Suma Slammers being too "woke"

We finally get a DC x ben 10 crossover but all the dc heroes are complete jerks

Lets throw in gallows humor and make a joke about how this show was so cancerous it killed Kevin Conroy!

Everything is set on Earth no more going to different states, planets or universes nope everything has to be in Bellwood

Ben's parents are divorced something something Ben's dad is actually the arc villain

Forever Knights are not the REAL villains....

Michael Morningstar no longer has his powers or charismatic personality he's just a wimpy kid that everyone hates for existing

Another gallows humor about how this show killed Derrick J Wyatt or his ghost showing up as an antagonist (bonus he's joined by Dwayne McDuffie's)

Ben 10k is an unlikable prick whose mental issues are a joke

Albedo shows up as an AU Ben at one point and he and Ben sleeps together and ends up as a couple after much romantic tension

Undertown is just a horrible place to live in every alien is a prick or just there to die

Gore galore but gratuitous to the point of hilarity

Kevin car is the best character

Ben sleeps around & hits on with a lot of girls

Bwen jokes...ugh

[ncisfranchise-source]

The evolving dramatic universe centered around "NCIS" is hitting a major milestone: 1,000 combined episodes.

The April 15 episode of the original "NCIS" (9 EDT/PDT) will reach the millennial mark propelled by the "NCISverse" of shows that now spans from "NCIS: Hawaii" to "NCIS: Sydney," on CBS and Paramount+. Franchise stars from past and present were on hand for a February celebration during the filming of the episode, which features crossover stars Daniela Ruah (from now-defunct "NCIS: Los Angeles") and Vanessa Lachey (from "NCIS: Hawaii").

Two new upcoming shows – "NCIS: Origins" and the still-untitled spinoff led by Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo – were also represented at the party.

"Now it's like our own Marvel universe within 'NCIS,' which is the ultimate testament of the power of this show," says Rocky Carroll, who has portrayed Leon Vance on "NCIS" since 2008.

'NCIS' (2003 - )

"NCIS," also known as "The Mothership," is a spinoff of creator Donald Bellisario's naval legal show "JAG," which aired on NBC in 1995-96 and for nine more seasons (1997-2005) on CBS. 

Notable characters: Mark Harmon, the "NCIS" cornerstone as Leroy Jethro Gibbs, left in 2021 after nearly two decades. Other departed original characters include Weatherly's Anthony "Tony" DiNozzo, who departed in 2016 after 13 seasons, Pauley Perrette's Abby Sciuto, exiting in 2018 after 350 episodes, and David McCallum's Donald "Ducky" Mallard (the veteran actor died last year).

"NCIS" has been network TV's most-watched drama for the last five seasons with a team that includes Carroll, Sean Murray (Timothy McGee), Brian Dietzen (Jimmy Palmer), Wilmer Valderrama (Nicholas Torres), Katrina Law (Jessica Knight), Diona Reasonover (Kasie Hines) and Gary Cole (Alden Parker).

Seasons: 21

How to watch: CBS (Mondays 9 EDT/PDT); Paramount+; Netflix (first 15 seasons).

'NCIS: Los Angeles' (2009-23)

Notable characters: Ruah's Kensi Blye and the star pairing of Chris O'Donnell and LL Cool J, as G. Callen and Sam Hanna, respectively. Linda Hunt starred as Henrietta "Hetty" Lange and Eric Christian Olsen as Marty Deeks.

Seasons: 14

How to watch: PlutoTV, for purchase on iTunes.

Flavor: The first spinoff was an instant hit that played a crucial role in expanding the franchise "during its incredibly long run," says David Stapf, president of producer CBS Studios.

'NCIS: New Orleans' (2014-21)

Notable characters: Scott Bakula as Dwayne "King" Pride, CCH Pounder as Loretta Wade and Lucas Black as Christopher LaSalle.

Seasons: 7

How to watch: Paramount+, PlutoTV.

'NCIS: Hawai'i' (2021- )

Notable characters: Lachey became the franchise's first female and Asian American, lead as Special Agent in Charge Jane Tennant of the Pearl Harbor Field Office. Supporting stars include Alex Tarrant (Kai Holman), Noah Mills (Jesse Boone), Jason Antoon (Ernie Malik), Tori Anderson (Kate Whistler) and Yasmine Al-Bustami (Lucy Tara). Sam, LL Cool J's LA transplant, moved to "NCIS: Hawai'i" in Season 3.

Seasons: 3

How to watch: CBS (Mondays at 10 EDT/PDT), Paramount+.

Flavor: Set in paradise with unforgettable island surroundings and many crimes intertwined with Hawaiian lore – with an added dose of Cool J. Stapf says the actor will continue "hopefully, forever, or as long as he wants to do it."

'NCIS: Sydney' (2023- )

Notable characters: Michelle Mackey (Olivia Swann) heads the collaboration between the NCIS Sydney office and the Australian Federal Police led by Jim "JD" Dempsey (Todd Lasance). Originally conceived for Australian TV audiences but recruited to the American schedule during the Hollywood strike, "NCIS: Sydney" has proven its worth, fair dinkum, and was renewed for a second season in March.

Seasons: 1

How to watch:Paramount+

'NCIS: Origins' (CBS 2024-25)

Notable characters: Beloved leader Gibbs returns as a younger man for the franchise's prequel series, "NCIS: Origins," announced in March "The Hating Game" star Austin Stowell will play young Gibbs. "We weren't just casting Gibbs; we were casting a young Mark Harmon," says Stapf. "And Austin embodies it all."

Harmon, 72, will narrate and serve as executive producer. Sean Harmon, Mark's real-life son, who often played the younger version of Gibbs in flashbacks on "NCIS," will also serve as executive producer.

"Origins" follows young Gibbs as he fights for his place on the team led by NCIS legend Mike Franks. Kyle Schmid has been cast as the younger version of the Texan Franks (Muse Watson in "NCIS") who played a pivotal role in Gibbs' early career.

How to watch: Coming to CBS this fall.

Untitled Tony and Ziva spinoff (CBS)

Notable characters: Fans loved the special sizzle between agents Tony DiNozzo (Weatherly) and Ziva David (Cote De Pablo, who left "NCIS" in 2013 after eight seasons). The couple, known as Tiva, announced their return in February for a European-set spinoff on Paramount+. No premiere date has been set, nor has an actor been cast to play the couple's young daughter Tali.

After Tony’s security company is attacked by terrorists, the new show features a family on the run through Europe.

How to watch: Coming to Paramount+

Flavor: Whatever the title, it's "NCIS: Tiva." In a statement, the two stars promised "an action-packed roller coaster fueled by love, danger, tears and laughter."

[helmetkeeper]

hi :)

may i request a playlist for marty mcfly from back to the future, mainly with songs from the 80s?

tysm for the chance :)

hello!!! this is mainly 80s music* with a total of 80 songs! happy new year, and sorry for the wait!!

*(or at least i think it is. could be very wrong, ha. hopefully not!)

songs go like "song" + "artist"

"Billie Jean" + "Michael Jackson"

"Tainted Love" + "Soft Cell"

"You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" + "Dead Or Alive"

"Love Shack" + "The B-52's"

"Should I Stay or Should I Go" (Remastered) + "The Clash"

"London Calling" (Remastered) + "The Clash"

"Rock the Casbah" (Remastered) + "The Clash"

"Hungry Like the Wolf" (Remastered 2009) + "Duran Duran"

"We Didn't Start the Fire" + "Billy Joel"

"Material Girl" + "Madonna"

"Edge of Seventeen" (Remastered 2016) + "Stevie Nicks"

"Shout" + "Tears For Fears"

"Eyes Without A Face" (Remastered 1999) + "Billy Idol"

"White Wedding" (Pts. 1 & 2) (Shotgun Mix / Remastered 2001) + "Billy Idol"

"Maneater" + "Daryl Hall & John Oates"

"You Make My Dreams (Come True)" + "Daryl Hall & John Oates"

"Out of Touch" + "Daryl Hall & John Oates"

"Enjoy the Silence" + "Depeche Mode" and "Daniel Miller" and "Phil Legg"

"Kids In America" + "Kim Wilde"

"Somebody's Watching Me" (Single Version) + "Rockwell"

"Abracadabra" + "Steve Miller Band"

"Walk This Way" + "Aerosmith"

"Dude (Looks Like A Lady)" + "Aerosmith"

"Jessie's Girl" + "Rick Springfield"

"Kickstart My Heart" + "Mötley Crüe"

"Raspberry Beret" + "Prince"

"I Wanna Rock" + "Twisted Sister"

"Ghostbusters" + "Ray Parker Jr."

"Paradise City" + "Guns N' Roses"

"Sweet Child O' Mine" + "Guns N' Roses"

"Centerfold" + "The J. Geils Band"

"Poison" + "Alice Cooper"

"Cheri Cheri Lady" + "Modern Talking"

"The Power Of Love" + "Huey Lewis & The News"

"I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" + "The Proclaimers"

"Pour Some Sugar On Me" + "Def Leppard"

"Gold" (Remastered 2003) + "Spandau Ballet"

"Jump" (Remastered 2015) + "Van Halen"

"Everywhere" (Remastered 2017) + "Fleetwood Mac"

"Girls Just Want to Have Fun" + "Cyndi Lauper"

"Let's Dance" (Remastered 2002) + "David Bowie"

"You Shook Me All Night Long" + "AC/DC"

"(I Just) Died In Your Arms" + "Cutting Crew"

"Karma Chameleon" + "Culture Club"

"Cruel Summer" + "Bananarama"

"Puppet Boy" + "DEVO"

"This Charming Man" (Remastered 2011) + "The Smiths"

"Human Fly" + "The Cramps"

"Generals And Majors" (Remastered 2001) + "XTC"

"Puttin' on the Ritz" + "Taco"

"Don't You Want Me" + "The Human League"

"Don't Let's Start" + "They Might Be Giants"

"Monitor" + "Siouxsie and the Banshees"

"Blister In The Sun" + "Violent Femmes"

"It Only Makes Me Laugh" + "Danny Elfman"

"I Ran (So Far Away)" (Single Edit) + "A Flock Of Seagulls"

"Running On A Treadmill" + "Oingo Boingo"

"Demolition Man" + "The Police"

"Every Breath You Take" + "The Police"

"What I Like About You" + "The Romantics"

"Yankee Rose" + "David Lee Roth"

"Rock Me Amadeus" + "Falco"

"Viet Nam" + "Minutemen"

"No Sleep Till Brooklyn" + "Beastie Boys"

"Let's Groove" + "Earth, Wind & Fire"

"Don't Worry Be Happy" + "Bobby McFerrin"

"Take on Me" + "a-ha"

"Celebration" + "Kool & The Gang"

"99 Luftballons" + "Nena"

"Hooked On A Feeling" + "Blue Swede" and "Björn Skifs"

"Kung Fu Fighting" + "Carl Douglas"

"Call Me" + "Blondie"

"One Way Or Another" (Remastered 2001) + "Blondie"

"Super Trouper" + "ABBA"

"Dancing Queen" + "ABBA"

"Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" (Remastered) + "Eurythmics" and "Annie Lennox" and "Dave Stewart"

"Don't Stop Believin'" + "Journey"

"Any Way You Want It" + "Journey"

"Crocodile Rock" + "Elton John"

dividers from @/animatedglittergraphics-n-more

[harrison-p-d-m]

Best of July:

Down by Law (Jim Jarmusch, 1986)

Le Bal (Ettore Scola, 1983)

Permanent Vacation (Jim Jarmusch, 1980)

Dusty and Sweets McGee (Floyd Mutrux, 1971)

Bush Mama (Haile Gerima, 1979)

The Dream [المنام] (Mohammad Malas, 1987)

Seven Chances (Buster Keaton, 1925)

Chop Shop (Ramin Bahrani, 2007)

The Clone Returns Home (Kanji Nakajima, 2008)

A Man (Kei Ishikawa, 2022)

Stranger Than Paradise (Jim Jarmusch, 1984)

The Enemy (Živojin Pavlović, 1965)

How to Be Loved (Wojciech Jerzy Has, 1963)

Waiter (Alex van Warmerdam, 2006)

El Norte (Gregory Nava, 1983)

Les rives du fleuve (Eric Pauwels, 1991)

Salt of the Earth (Herbert J. Biberman, 1954)

The Tribulations of Balthazar Kober (Wojciech Jerzy Has, 1988)

Black Sabbath (Mario Bava 1963)

It Is Good to Live (Fumio Kamei, 1956)

A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies, (Martin Scorsese, Michael Henry Wilson 1995)

The Great Buster: A Celebration (Peter Bogdanovich, 2018)

The Dark Side of the Heart (Eliseo Subiela, 1992)

Tropical Malady (Apichatpong Weerasethakul, 2004)

The Cool World (Shirley Clarke, 1963)

Bless Their Little Hearts (Billy Woodberry, 1983)

The Tree of Guernica (Fernando Arrabal, 1975)

Memoirs of a Sinner (Wojciech Jerzy Has, 1986)

La Vie de Jésus (Bruno Dumont, 1997)

Emperor Tomato Ketchup (Shūji Terayama, 1971)

Fando y Lis (Alejandro Jodorowsky, 1968)

Wham! (Chris Smith, 2023)

[ichorai]

tag games ! tagging for any of the following tag games : @taylorsvrs, @jiya-jale, @horrorwild, @bowieandqueen11, @richeeduvie, @curryaboo, @klahaist, @shirehobbit, @targaryeirene, @babygirlyofthevale, @aimlesslywanderingthings, @aegonmixup, @bornbetter, @fairysluna, @parkerflix, @a-asterias, @runningmunson, @sofietargaryen, @kiwicider, @oneeyedvisenya, @xfancyuu, @sanccharine, @dearsnow, @beaconofthehightower, @captainkilly, any of the lovely folks who tagged me in the following games, and any of my followers who wanna join in (pls tag me) !! <3

tagged by : @bluebirdsboi <3

song stuck in my head: succession (main title theme) by nicholas britell

last song i listened to: teardrop by massive attack (sooo good)

top three foods: cheesecake, seafood, chicken w/ sambal <3

last thing googled: 'antz cast' HAHA

dream trip: new zealand :( or croatia!

anything i want right now: to finish my milestone series sigh

tagged by : @typingfool and @peachjaem00 !! rules : shuffle your playlist and post the top ten tracks !

headlines - rupert gregson-williams & lorne balfe

edge of seventeen - stevie nicks

paradise found - michael giacchino

angel - theory of a deadman

the crown of jaehaerys - ramin djawadi

ezio's family - jesper kyd

trip switch - nothing but thieves

andante agitato - nicholas britell

link up - metro boomin

taro - alt-j

hotd tag game ! tagged by : @randomdragonfires <3 and tagging @jotterjots for the wonderful questions, too !!

who's your favorite character? what draws you to them? i'm gonna say rhaenyra is my favorite character :( particularly nyra when she's older. that's literally my queen fr

what's your favorite episode of the season? defo ep 8 :) the infamous dinner episode

what is your favorite line from the season? gosh there's just so many but when nyra says, "exhausting, wasn't it? hiding beneath the cloak of your own righteousness." UGH it's utter perfection

which actor's portrayal is your favorite? they're all so good :( paddy considine plays a brilliant viserys throughout all his stages and emma d'arcy is amazing as rhaenyra too <3

which character would you most want to be stuck on a deserted island with? i Want to say aemond bcs i love that man to pieces but i have a feeling he wouldn't like me very much so imma go with jace :)

name a minor character you want to know more about! the cargyll twins !!! would love to see more of their relationship and how the war splits them apart

who's character arc are you most interested to see continued, for better or worse? definitely aemond, i would love to see how they develop his character next season esp after luke's death

who's your most anticipated new character of season two? CREGAN STARK !!!!!!! MY MAN <3 also daeron targaryen bcs i Need to see that mfer rn

which is your favorite dragons of the ones we saw? i think we only saw her for like half a second but dreamfyre my love <3

what's your favorite relationship from this season? rhaenyra and her sons :(

link one or more of your favorite pieces of fanart! this brilliant piece by @mothdoly !! and this one by @4yvle1, the colors are gorgeous !!!

link one or more of your favorite fics! oh god i have way too many but i've reblogged all of them onto my ficrecs blog, @ichorkurt !! over 45 of my hotd ficrecs are linked here.

link one or more of your favorite gifsets! this gorgeous nyra set by @margoterobbies, and this amazing aemond set by @nina-zcnik :)

tagged by : @itsapapisongo <3

currently reading: elektra vol.2 (1996) comics favorite color: mm beige and sage green :) last movie: dead presidents (1995) sweet/spicy/sour: spicy but the sweet kind of spicy yk? currently working on: a roman fanfic for my milestone series :) we're almost at 40k words fr !!!