#Rock Hall 2020

[owlsie-hoot]

"He’s learning when she walks into a room and something’s not right for her, or she is a bit disturbed, because sometimes she’s brisk, sometimes she’s busy, sometimes she’s stressed. She’s got a lot to do. But when she’s upset, he gets it. I like that.”

Samuel West

[riphertoshreds]

Alejandra Villarreal at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto, Ontario on October 30, 2024. Photographed by David McDonald.

[a-night-like--this]

#RockHall2019 Inductees

The Cure stopped by the Museum for a special tour & to check out the Hall of Fame signature gallery, following their #ShowsofaLostWorld23 Cleveland concert at Blossom Music Center

[musicollage]

Airpark — Prehistoric Feeling. 2022 : Eugenia Hall.

! acquire the album ★ attach a coffee !

[duranduratulsa]

Here's today's CD 💿 and Cassette Playlist...

Danse Macabre by Duran Duran (2023)

Paper Gods by Duran Duran (2015)

SKID ROW (1989)

Disintegration by The Cure (1989)

Rock & Soul Part 1 by Hall & Oates (1983)

#duranduran #dansemacabre #papergods #skidrow #thecure #disintegration #hallandoates #darylhallandjohnoates #darylhall #JohnOates #rockandsoulpart1 #cd #cassette #2010s #2020s #80s

[doyoulikethissong-poll]

The Sweet - The Ballroom Blitz 1973

"The Ballroom Blitz" is a song by British glam rock band The Sweet, written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman. The song reached number one in Canada, number two in the UK Singles Chart and the Australian Chart, and number five on the US Billboard Hot 100. It remains an enduring favourite, with more than 90 million streams on Spotify alone by the end of 2022. "The Ballroom Blitz" was inspired by an incident on 27 January 1973 when the band were performing at the Grand Hall in Kilmarnock, Scotland, and were driven offstage by a bottling. The song appeared on the US and Canadian versions of Desolation Boulevard but never appeared on a Sweet album in the UK, other than hits compilations. The initial guitar and drum riff of the song has similarity to a 1963 song by Bobby Comstock called "Let's Stomp".

An early cover of "The Ballroom Blitz" was by the Les Humphries Singers in 1974, the first German single to reach #1 in New Zealand. The Damned covered it in 1979, which featured Lemmy from Motörhead on bass guitar, and Tia Carrere did a cover on the soundtrack to Wayne's World in 1992. In 2020, industrial metal band 3Teeth released Guns Akimbo, a two-track set that included a cover version of "The Ballroom Blitz", which was previously featured in the 2019 action comedy film Guns Akimbo.

"The Ballroom Blitz" received a total of 84,2% yes votes!

[randomishnickname]

Must-read Destiel fics - my superduper Nov. 5th rec list

Three years ago, on the blessed day of November 5th, 2020, I had:

never seen an episode of SPN,

only had a vague inkling of what the two pale coconuts were on about,

and I hee-heed and ha-had with the rest of Tumblr about the love confession scene and the Internet errupting in an unparalleled craze

At first I thought, that's it.

Then ... I got curious. I watched some YouTube Destiel supercuts. I read some fic (I think @andhumanslovedstories beautiful Cas/OC fic was my entry point?). I read meta. I watched some more YouTube scene packs. I read even more fic. I watched some of S4, some of S1, some random fan fav episodes. And then Destiel lodged itself so deeply, thouroughly into my brain that it took over and hasn't relinquished control in the last two years. The most tenacious, pervasive brain worm to date.

This ship got it all, and this fandom got it all, and there's such delightful, powerful, batshit crazy, romantic, expertedly crafted fanfic out there, it's like being a starving child in the world's biggest candystore.

So without further ado, here's some of my very favorite fics from this infinite trove, with all my thanks to the wonderful writers who keep delighting and awing me with their dedication and craft. There'll of course be some recency bias at play but you can browse my bookmarks over here to chose from over 100 excellent and well-curated SPN stories.

💕CATEGORY: SWOONWORTHY💕

Wildly romantic fics that warm you up from the inside.

It Won't Be Perfect by someonetoanyone (10K words) Summary: Dean daydreams about what it'd be like to let himself love Cas freely.

Why I love it: the humor, the spot-on characterizations, and the quintessential late season Destiel-ness of being so deeply love with your best friend that it's too big to actually do anything about. Just. So warm.

Rock Lobster by Ginger Fail (13K) Summary: Cas decides that the lobsters Dean planned to cook need to get back home. Impromptu beach vacation ensues!

Why I love it: This road trip story is fresh and invigorating like a sea breeze! Fun, entertaining and full of deep, deep fondness.

Seek to Know You Better by ahurston (32K)

Summary: On a road trip, Dean and Cas play the 36 Questions That Lead To Love.

Why I love it: They’re so deliberatedly, carefully starting a relationship here. They try so hard to bridge the gaps and meet each other halfway. A very mature take on love that feels nourishing.

☢️CATEGORY: BRAINWORMS GALORE☢️

Fics that make you go BARK BARK BARK.

samson went back to bed by piesexuality (9k, @twoheadedcas) Summary: Cas strikes a deal with Chuck - keeping his family together comes at the price of their free will.

Why I love it: What if Cas got his revenge for the Mala'ak box? What if love came at the price of everything you've been fighting for? What if a story twisted the knife oh so sweetly? Each word of this one lands a punch. Made me insane in the best of ways (cue pinned fanart).

In sickness by @saintedcastiel (41K) Summary: S4 redux but Castiel has a fetish: giving Dean the sniffles.

Why I love it: This one is soooo. Can barely find words for it. It taps into Cas' early season alienness and psychosexual obsession with Dean, brilliantly demonstrates Casdean vs Samruby parallels, and each word is just. Perfect. ARGH!

so much smoke in a hall full of mirrors by AreYouReady (6K, @autisticandroids ) Summary: Godstiel is losing his heavenly war. Crowley provides a compliant Dean-doll for him to release his frustrations upon.

Why I love it: Urgh, this one is sooo dark. Taps into the scary, intimidating and alien aspects of Godstiel so well. Gore, consent and psychosexual issues galore. Delicious.

Special mention: In a Parked Car, Exhuming Ophelia by @an-android-in-a-tutu (17K). Still need to comment properly ;)

💣CATEGORY: EMOTIONAL WRECKING BALLS💣

Angsty fics that tear you to pieces to remake you better.

What Used To Be Mine by someonetoanyone (48K words) Summary: Dean never makes his apology prayer in Purgatory - Cas dies, Dean mourns.

Why I love it: Oh god, this is a heavy hitter. Just, straight up insurmontable grief, packaged in poetic, raw language to make you shed tears and tears. Loved it so much.

Ignite your bones By ilovehowyouletmefall (67K, @angelinthefire) Summary: Dean accepts Chuck's deal: killing Sam to save the world.

Why I love it: Cruuuuel cruel premise for a story that doesn’t pull its punches. It gets dark in Dean’s head and everyone around him suffers. Wonderfully written. The ending set my brain on fire.

Right Where you Left Me by outdean (93K, @armandgender)

Summary: Cas comes back from the Empty after 10 years to find Dean married to another man.

Why I love it: This one is a riiiide. When grief has become a part of you but your love comes back… When you return from the dead and have to carve a new space into the world for yourself... nothing is easy here, but the emotions are INTENSE. Also, autistic!Cas for the win.

Special mention: Who Ya Gonna Call? by saintedcastiel (50K) and Clear skies in spring by enochianprayer (WIP)

💥CATEGORY: EPIC RIDES💥

Expansive, wild adventures with lots of ups and downs

Spirit of the West by teen_dean (140K, @urne-buriall)

Summary: An 18y old Dean grew up on a horse farm – cue veterinarian Castiel. The summer of a lifetime ensues.

Why I love it: So this is one of my very favorite stories, ever ever, and I cannot recommand enough to immediatedly suscribe to the author’s Substack to be able to follow it in „real time“ next summer. It’s cinematic, rich, full of darkness and light, it’s everything a story can aspire to, I’m just. I just really love it.

Second Verse, Same as The First by LaLaCat1 (135K)

Summary: Endverse!Cas is sent back to the start of S1 and is determined to make things right this time round.

Why I love it: a desperate and badass Cas, unfridging everyone, a thrilling plot, moments of awesome for the entire cast, gripping action scenes, a romance for the ages… this is a genuinely amazing story.

back road, black road by eden22 (167K)

Summary: 18y old Sam gets kidnapped by Hell on his way to Stanford. Dean tries to deal.

Why I love it: So this one’s not Destiel-centric but does have wonderful Destiel moments. It’s also very heavy on the gore and the angst (NOT for the faint of stomach), but expertly crafted, fascinating and frankly it deserves more love. Held my breath for half the read and never knew where it’d take me.

Special mention: It's The End Of The World (As We Know It) by tiamatv (140K)

🤪CATEGORY: DESTIEL INSANITY🤪

Uproariously funny stories about the intricate rituals these two weirdos get up too.

Life Skills by ilovehowyouletmefall (26K)

Summary: Dean teaches a newly human Cas how to be „a real man“.

Why I love it: Dean coming to Big Self-Realizations while trying to have platonic threesomes with Cas is so perfect. Very endearing, tender and funny. Also, smoking hot sex.

the cheapest room in the house by biggaybenny (89K)

Summary: Dean downloads Grindr for Cas

Why I love it: Just. Late season Dean being deranged about Cas’ sexuality while everyone watches on in utter confusion. Equally hilarious and deeply moving

according to all known laws of life by @sobsicles (29k)

Summary: Cas comes back from the Empty to a Dean who won’t stop playing gay chicken.

Why I love it: They are both such petty, insane weirdos in this one. They said „can every situation be turned into a squabble“ and didn’t wait for an answer. So funny, so tender

Special mention: Wedding Vows and Negotiations by GingerFail (6K)

That's it, enjoy and leave your writers some much-deserved love!

[rhapsodynew]

#How young we were

#On this day

So young. So talented... ❤❤💔❤

Led Zeppelin IV is the fourth studio album by the British rock band Led Zeppelin, released on November 8, 1971.

Most of the album was recorded by the musicians at the secluded Hedley Grange estate in East Hampshire, with the help of the Rolling Stones mobile studio. The work was produced at London's Island Studios and Olympic Studios, as well as at Sunset Sound Recorders (Los Angeles) - under the direction of Jimmy Page. Work on the album took place from December 1970 to February 1971, Matt Biel worked at Trident Studios. Throughout the recording, the band had very little contact with the press, which led to rumors in the media about its breakup.

Before the release of the album, Led Zeppelin actively "tested" new material on tour, visiting, between March and December 1971: North America, Japan, a number of European countries, as well as playing two British concert tours.

There is no band name and album title on the cover, and there is no information about the publisher; instead, it shows four special characters that correspond to each of its members. Many people call this album "Led Zeppelin IV", and, referring to the numerical numbering of the band's previous records, nevertheless, the names also stuck to it: the fourth album, four symbols, ZoSo, runes, hermit, sticks, man with sticks.

The works of "Led Zeppelin IV" amount to more than 37 million copies, which makes them not too voluminous, but the most experienced albums in the history of the band, none of them. My favorite albums in the world. In particular, "Led Zeppelin IV", which is considered the most commercially successful hard rock record of all time, and the song "Stairway to Heaven" released on it is still one of the most rotated pieces of music, of any genre, on American radio and one of the most famous compositions in the history of music.

Led Zeppelin IV regularly performs as a spectator of the "Best Albums in History". So, in 2020, the AmericanRolling Stone magazine placed it at number 58 in its ranking of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". In turn, the British edition of New Musical Express marked him on the 106th line of a similar vote. In addition, Led Zeppelin IV is ranked 1st in Classic Rock magazine's "100 Greatest British Rock Albums" and "100 Greatest Rock Albums in History" rankings, as well as 4th in the list of "200 Greatest Albums according to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame", compiled by participation of the Music Business Association of the USA.

In 1999, the recording was inducted into the Grammy Award Hall of Fame, becoming the first of the band's albums to be awarded such a privilege. Several songs from this album were released in the USSR in 1988 on the Stairway to Heaven record as part of the Archive of Popular Music series.

[earlycuntsets]

pt. 3 (parts 1, 2, 4)

earlycuntsets.org sourced - where I got all my mcr pictures

first of a series. due to tumblr limits on how many links you can post. this full idea will be continued on future posts. here is 2007-2010. this is pictures. will make a separate post for youtube/recordings.

been needing to fully source my website so here we go! wanted to share with other kool mcr fans.

old fansites/website appearances:

12/17/2010 the night 87x stole christmas detroit mi - ken settle & schwegweb.com (ken settle)

12/18/2020 the edge jingle bell rock toronto ca - popmatters (mcrmy ecuador) & aux.tv

02/13/2011 birmingham uk -blackvelvetmagazine

03/05/2011 barcelona spain - in headphones (mcrmy ecuador)

04/09/2011 denver co - reverb (mcrmy ecuador)

04/12/2011 minneapolis mn - citypages (mcrmy ecuador)

04/15/2011 chicago il - chicago now (mcrmy ecuador) & j.l. hopper

04/17/2011 cleveland oh - radio 92.3 (mcrmy ecuador)

04/23/2011 nyc ny - QRO magazine

05/07/2011 sayreville nj - thenjunderground

05/15/2011 bbc r1 big weekend carlisle uk - country grind slideshow

05/18/2011 orlando fl - ishotyourband.com & jencray.com

05/21/2011 & 05/22/2011 dallas tx - blackvelvetmagazine

05/28/2011 la ca - theaudioperv & sarah dope (deviantart)

07/10/2011 live at t in the park balado uk - thisfakediy

09/01/2011 auburn wa - suzi pratt

flickrs:

12/12/2010 101 rex the halls san diego ca - natalie, brittney denaux,

12/14/2010 st louis mo - todd owyoung, kingdead, todd morgan, jane bush,

12/15/2010 chicago il - ashley osborn, famousliving.dead, liz kannenburg, danigio,

12/18/2010 the edge jingle bell rock toronto ca- megan shauna

12/31/2010 carson daley nye - alexis siracusano

02/12/2011 london uk - lucy roth & emma webb

02/16/2011 dublin ireland - ian keegan

02/18/2011 manchester uk - michelle heighway, kay elliot, frankie cooksie, helena hurricane

02/19/2011 nottingham uk - simplificity

2/21/2011 cardiff uk - holly jenkins

02/22/2011 newcastle uk - sinead granger

02/24/2011 london uk - lucy roth (planetary go mv show)

02/26/2011 tilberg netherlands - rene sebastian

03/01/2011 paris france - jem & dianthallr

03/05/2011 barcelona spain - ruben navarro, elsa nieto, javier bragado domingo

03/07/2011 milano italy - rodolfo sassano, emanuela silm rillo,

03/12/2011 mtv winter valencia spain - laura s.c., ana barettino, grace dirnt, jose fernandez,

03/18/2011 stockholm sweden - victor lundmark

03/31/2011 oakland ca - scernea

04/02/2011 vancouver ca - ashley tanasiychuk, anil sharma,

04/03/2011 seattle wa - ciera walters

04/08/2011 salt lake city ut - sparkk&fade & alex young

04/09/2011 denver co - michael fajardo

04/11/2011 toronta ca - tony felgueiras

04/13/2011 milwaukee wi - echolalia

04/15/2011 chicago il - amelia l, danigio

04/16/2011 grand rapids me - stephanie weier

4/22/2011 nyc nc - brittany vero

04/23/2011 nyc ny - brittany vero, amy winkler, ludovica ciccarelli, tyler olson, robert polanco

05/07/2011 sayreville nj - future daydream

05/15/2011 holmdel nj - michael dubin

05/10/2011 washington dc - specimenlife, kell

05/15/2011 bbc r1 big weekend carlisle uk - chealsea cochrane, sabrina lr,

05/17/2011 ft lauderdale fl - maysa askar & marc schiller

05/21/2011 dallas tx - thunderkiss

06/24/2011 dcode festival madrid spain - juan rodriguez talavera, juan perez- fajardo, patygelduck

06/26/2011 imola italy - giacomo astorri,

06/27/2011 vienna austria - jeremy kruezmayr & steph fiorese

06/29/2011 volt festival sonpron hungary - zalaihirlap (mcrmy ecuador)

07/07/2011 oeiras portugal - palco principal

07/27/2011 vienna austria - inkbotkowalski

08/13/2011 hershey pa - alicia brown

instagram:

05/05/2011 boston ma - rich g

looks like there will be a part four to complete the timeline. damn the link limits

part 4 here

[bbsmuts]

What are some songs that make you really nostalgic?

Well, I could go on for a long time with this, so get ready for some serious yapping.

Don't You Worry Child - Swedish House Mafia This came out when I was 21, and I used to listen to this ALL THE TIME. I'm talking maybe 10 times a day, for a few months. It's associated with a lot of good times in my life.

I NEED U - BTS This was more recent, I was 24 when it came out, but not only is it one I also associate with good times, the sad side of it is amplified by the death of my great aunt about two weeks afterwards. I'm not a very emotional guy at all, but to this day the original video can make me sob like a little kid.

Dancing With a Stranger - Sam Smith & Normani Ah, 2020. A year like no other. Covid spread to Korea pretty quick, so it was here when this song was released. Whole cities were locked down, including mine, so I would throw this banger on at least once or twice again. It does make me nostalgic, but let's be honest, who actually misses 2020?

TASTE - Stray Kids PLEASE, this song is SO DAMN GOOD This was much more recent, and it was released right after I turned 32. It reminds me of life back in Gwangju. Also the production on it is top notch, it's a fantastic song.

LA DI DA - EVERGLOW Ah yes, another 2020 song. Unfortunately, lockdown restrictions didn't relax majorly until 2022, so I had plenty of time to listen to this and its album counterparts in my spare time. Also, Yuehua, WHERE'S OUR FULL LENGTH ALBUM FROM EVERGLOW FOR GOD'S SAKE

The whole album of Return of the Girl - EVERGLOW December 2021. Still on lockdown. Thanks, China. All jokes aside, this was the closest thing we've gotten to a full length album and in my opinion one of the better ones, and brings back plenty of memories from Christmas 2021 with my entire extended family in America. I'll add that trying to leave South Korea during 2021 lockdown was an excruciatingly drawn out process. Thanks, China.

Sit Next to Me - Foster the People A true classic. When I used to visit my brother at his apartment (across half the goddamn country), they would always have this on in the pool hall. Good times.

Immortals - Fall Out Boy Of course, we all remember this song from Big Hero 6, but I can proudly say I was here for this song before then, which was only a month before the movie. Regardless, it's a great song and brings back those memories from being 24.

Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen Moving back a good while before I was around, this song was incredible. I heard it all the time growing up.

Burning Love - Elvis Presley Moving back even further, this is probably my favorite Elvis song. As mentioned in a previous post, my dad was a pretty big Elvis fan, so I grew up hearing his music.

Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd Ignoring all the memes, it's a great song and one of my favorite rock songs. Alabama accents kill me bro 🤣

Slow Dancing In a Burning Room - John Mayer This song is AMAZING dude

Scarborough Fair/Canticle - Simon & Garfunkel Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme

Levanter - Stray Kids Incredible song, and also reminds me of Gwangju.

Bad Boys - Theme from the show "Cops" I watched this show a lot back in the 90s and early 2000s, and because of that I worked as an officer for a few years before turning my career path elsewhere.

Sultans of Swing - Dire Straits My dad used to listen to this all the time when I was growing up, so it brings back some memories.

I'm going to leave it here. Some of these I put in here make me feel so old 😭

[caffeinated-eccentric-polymorph]

Here's an old short story I wrote around 2020 during quarantine because I'm trying to get back into writing fiction and coming back to this will hopefully motivate me (also I still really like it) 🩵✨

Remy Tintenfisch, scientist

Word count: 1925

“Wow, look at that one!” The kid’s friend rushed at his side to look at the tiny shark in the aquarium, gaping at it until their teacher, Miss Katelyn, ushered them along with the rest of the group. The trip was going fairly well considering it had only been planned a few days prior. A friend of hers, Marceline, had called her a few days prior to offer her class a trip to the aquarium where she worked. Katelyn, of course, had accepted: it would do the kids wonders to get out of school for a while, and they tended to learn better when things were presented in a lighter, funnier way. The trip, however, had been a hassle to plan, what with only a few days ahead. But they had pulled it off, and the kids were having fun, so Katelyn could only assume it was worth it. When she’d asked Marceline what the occasion was, she’d said one of her newest colleges wanted to give some kids a visit to interest them in marine science. Both women agreed it was a good idea, and there they were. The said colleague, Remy, was supposed to meet them in the hall, which is where she was trying to get her twenty-two kids at the moment.

“Are you sure you’ll be ok Remy?” asked Marc. He nodded, his notes in hand already, a nervous smile plastered on his sweaty face. “It’ll be fine, you’ll see,” said Marceline. Remy only nodded again before getting out into the hall just in time to spot the flock of children circling the big central aquarium. The only adult of the group quickly approached, ushering the small kids along with her. Her shoulder slumped as soon as they reached him. “Remy, is it? I’m Katelyn,” she said, shaking his hand. Her touch didn’t linger on his moist skin, and she lowered her voice, shooting him a sympathetic look. “Nervous?” He stiffly nodded. “It’s ok, they’re not too hard to entertain,” she assured, gesturing to the kids, most of which were already flocking against the aquarium’s cold glass. Remy’s legs were shaking and he stumbled a bit on his way to the kids, smiling weakly. If one was really honest too, they’d say he wasn’t walking very straight, though it was probably the stress.

“This is a first,” Marceline had said. “Is it? Does the aquarium never do those kinds of visits?” “Oh no, they do, I meant for Remy. See, he’s a foreigner, so his English isn’t always very good, and he has never been able to work up the courage to make a visit himself. He’s really easily understandable, mind you, he’s just a bit self-conscious.” “Oh, of course, don’t worry, I’ll give the kids a word about it, make sure they won’t make rude comments.” Marceline had smiled.

“Hello, small human children!” Remy cheerily greeted. At once, most of the little heads turned to him, some lingering, some returning to their observation of the octopus lazily resting on a rock not far from the glass. “I am Remy, the scientist in octopus science,” he continued. “Do you want to hear some fun octopus facts?” “Like what?” asked one of the kids still staring at him. “Like octopus can squeeze through one-inch holes!” A boy next to him made an approximation of an inch with his fingers and turned back to Remy: “No way, that's too little!” Before Remy even had time to open his mouth, a small girl staring at the octopus made a small circle with her fingers and held it between her eye and the animal, closing the other to see through it. “I think I can imagine it,” she said. Remy smiled, wriggling his hands. “Do you know anything else?” asked another child. Remy grinned. “Of course! I know lot about octopus, me! Is there anything you special want know about?” The kid hummed. “Where are the others? I thought there'd be more than one.” “Plenty octopus here! You just can not see !” “How come?” “Octopus can change color and shape for disguise like predator or rock or scientist in octopus science laboratory!” A kid farther back squinted at Remy, though he was too busy listening to the excited children babbling excitedly and trying to spot the disguised octopi to notice. The kid, Marcus, turned to his friend and whispered: “He’s very weird, isn’t he?” “Miss Katelyne told us about that,” his friend Luke whispered back. “It’s because english isn’t his language.” “Not only that, he’s just plain weird.” Luke shrugged, closing the conversation, as Marcus continued observing the scientist.

The group was now walking leisurely around the central aquarium, allowing the children to observe more octopi. “Tell us another thing about octopus Mister Remy please!” Remy stifled a laugh. “Ok, did you know octopus has three hearts?” The children gasped. “No way,” some whispered. “Also, octopus blood is blue!” “Is it?” Remy nodded. “Say, how many octopus do you have here?” Katelyn asked. “Well, we have seventeen here in octopus science laboratory.” “I can’t see the seventeenth though…” said one of the kids after counting. “Maybe that’s because we couldn’t spot him in his disguise,” tried her teacher. “Oh no no,” said Remy, “you have seen all of them.” “Then how come I counted sixteen?” “Ah, that is because science octopus is missing, no one knows where is,” answered Remy, laughing. “Why is it so funny to you,” asked Marcus as some of his classmates giggled. “Isn’t it your job to make sure they're all there?” “Of course it is human child! But some time, even scientist in octopus science laboratory has slip ups! And should not worry because octopus will be found eventually! Is not like octopus could overthrow human leader!” The kids giggled at his little joke, even Marcus cracked a smile, though he still wasn’t sure about the guy.

The following day, as per usual, Remy was the first on the premises. He was preparing the laboratory for a very important guest. The place was spotless. As the man leading (and paying for) the research arrived at the meeting room, Remy set out to look after his assistant, a tiny robot, which would not be needed during the meeting. As Remy was new, he did not partake in it either. He sat on the floor, his back against the aquarium, the robot at his side. They stayed in companionable silence for a while before Remy asked: “Want hear some fun octopus facts?” The robot was silent for so long the robot didn’t seem like it was going to answer, but at last it did. “Why not?” “Octopus can squeeze through one-inch holes. They also change color and shape for disguise like predator or rock or scientist in octopus science laboratory. Octopus has blue blood and three hearts too.” The robot made a low beeping noise. “Now is your turn for tell me some human facts,” Remy said to the robot. “For example: how many arm does human leader have?” The robot started to beep out an answer but was interrupted as its owner came out of the meeting room. “And good luck with finding that missing one! It can’t have gotten too far.” He waved to Remy, who waved back, and the robot took off after him, leaving Remy alone besides the aquarium. He tilted his head back to look at the octopus swimming behind him. He opened his mouth to speak but quickly closed it as his colleague Marceline got out of the meeting room too. She came to sit beside him. "Sorry you couldn't assist. It's the procedure and all you know, it's a security thing." "It is quite ok, I don't mind. I think I understand too. Wouldn't want important information to go to bad person." She smiled. "Quite right, though I don't think you're a bad person Remy." He laughed lightly. "You don't know that." She laughed with him. "Well no, but I've been told I'm skilled at reading people." His laugh quieted out as he turned to look at her. She followed suit. "What?" "Nothing," he answered. "You are not bad person either." She grinned.

The monitors were beeping calmly before him as he nursed a coffee pitcher in his hands. "Remy, there you are!" Remy jumped. The pitcher slipped from his hands and fell to the floor, sharp pieces flying around. He turned to face the source of the sound, which was no other than Marceline. "I'm so sorry! Wait, let me help you!" "No need, no need, I am fine!" "No really, let me help, it's my fault." "No matter no matter, I will handle it." After a bit more pushing, she hung back silently as Remy picked up the shards. He threw some of them away, painfully aware of Marceline's gaze on his back. His hand too was painful and he looked around for something to cover the dripping wound with. He grabbed a cloth besides the cup holder and tied it around his wound, biting back a gasp as pain shot through his arm. "Are you ok? You got cut didn't you?" Marceline took a step forward. "At least let me help with that." Remy turned back around, holding his injured hand. "No need, look! It is fine!" "Are you sure?" He nodded as he bent down once more, picking up the last glass shards littering the floor. "Is there anything I can do?" He mulled it over as he looked up at her. "We should vacuum. So we are sure no glass is left." She nodded, scurrying to the janitor's closet to retrieve a vacuum.

At closure, Remy was the last to pack up. After he closed the lab, he rolled the legs of his pants and climbed the stairs to the aquarium. Before that, he had set his stuff in the vent closest to them. He took off his bandage to let the wound breathe and settled on the edge, his feet dangling in the water. Multiple octopi were swarming around him. One of them looked worriedly at the blue dripping slowly into the water as he recalled his day to them.

Bonus

The president climbed on stage under the people’s applause. His sweat glistened under the spots. “Hello fellow humans. I would like to thank all you for support during elections. As newly appointed human leader, I would like remind you all of the new regulation concerning sea-life. As you know, I previously was scientist in octopus science laboratory. Hence, this subject is very dear to my hearts.” As he was finally getting some water backstage, the applause still ringing in the air, a woman made his way to the president, escorted by two guards. “Mr Tintenfisch, your wife wanted to see you.” He motioned for them to take their leave, and she spoke as they did, embracing him. “You did it love!” Remy smiled, relaxing in her arms. “I would not have been able without you, Marceline.” After basking in Marceline’s warm hug for another moment, he asked: “Do you think they have suspicions?” She took her time to answer, weighing her words. “Maybe. Even if they do, I’m sure they won’t mind my sweet octopus.”

[judgeitbyitscover]

Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn Muir

Cover illustrations by Tommy Arnold

Tor, 2019, 2020, 2022

Gideon the Ninth (2019)

The Emperor needs necromancers. The Ninth Necromancer needs a swordswoman. Gideon has a sword, some dirty magazines, and no more time for undead bullshit. Brought up by unfriendly, ossifying nuns, ancient retainers, and countless skeletons, Gideon is ready to abandon a life of servitude and an afterlife as a reanimated corpse. She packs up her sword, her shoes, and her dirty magazines, and prepares to launch her daring escape. But her childhood nemesis won't set her free without a service. Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Reverend Daughter of the Ninth House and bone witch extraordinaire, has been summoned into action. The Emperor has invited the heirs to each of his loyal Houses to a deadly trial of wits and skill. If Harrowhark succeeds she will become an immortal, all-powerful servant of the Resurrection, but no necromancer can ascend without their cavalier. Without Gideon's sword, Harrow will fail, and the Ninth House will die. Of course, some things are better left dead.

Harrow the Ninth (2020)

She answered the Emperor's call. She arrived with her arts, her wits, and her only friend. In victory, her world has turned to ash. After rocking the cosmos with her deathly debut, Tamsyn Muir continues the story of the penumbral Ninth House in Harrow the Ninth, a mind-twisting puzzle box of mystery, murder, magic, and mayhem. Nothing is as it seems in the halls of the Emperor, and the fate of the galaxy rests on one woman's shoulders. Harrowhark Nonagesimus, last necromancer of the Ninth House, has been drafted by her Emperor to fight an unwinnable war. Side-by-side with a detested rival, Harrow must perfect her skills and become an angel of undeath — but her health is failing, her sword makes her nauseous, and even her mind is threatening to betray her. Sealed in the gothic gloom of the Emperor's Mithraeum with three unfriendly teachers, hunted by the mad ghost of a murdered planet, Harrow must confront two unwelcome questions: is somebody trying to kill her? And if they succeeded, would the universe be better off?

Nona the Ninth (2022)

Her city is under siege. The zombies are coming back. And all Nona wants is a birthday party. In many ways, Nona is like other people. She lives with her family, has a job at her local school, and loves walks on the beach and meeting new dogs. But Nona's not like other people. Six months ago she woke up in a stranger's body, and she's afraid she might have to give it back. The whole city is falling to pieces. A monstrous blue sphere hangs on the horizon, ready to tear the planet apart. Blood of Eden forces have surrounded the last Cohort facility and wait for the Emperor Undying to come calling. Their leaders want Nona to be the weapon that will save them from the Nine Houses. Nona would prefer to live an ordinary life with the people she loves, with Pyrrha and Camilla and Palamedes, but she also knows that nothing lasts forever. And each night, Nona dreams of a woman with a skull-painted face...

A closer look at those illustrations without all the text.

[riphertoshreds]

Dany Villarreal at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto, Ontario on October 30, 2024. Photographed by David McDonald.

[mthguy]

Congratulations to Cher on her installation in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!

Often referred to by the media as the "Goddess of Pop", she has been described as embodying female autonomy in a male-dominated industry. She is known for her distinctive contralto singing voice, for having worked in numerous areas of entertainment and for adopting a variety of styles and appearances. Cher rose to fame in 1965 as one half of the folk rock husband-wife duo Sonny & Cher before releasing her first solo top-ten singles "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" and "You Better Sit Down Kids". Throughout the 1970s, she scored the US Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves", "Half-Breed", and "Dark Lady", becoming the female solo artist with the most number-one singles in US history at the time.

Cher reached a new commercial peak in 1998 with the dance-pop album Believe, which featured pioneering use of Auto-Tune to distort her vocals, known as the "Cher effect". The title track became the number-one song of 1999 in the US and the best-selling single of all time by a female artist in the UK.

Having sold 100 million records, Cher is one of the world's best-selling music artists. Her accolades include a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, an Academy Award, three Golden Globe Awards, a Cannes Film Festival award, the Billboard Icon Award, and awards from the Kennedy Center Honors and the Council of Fashion Designers of America. She is the only solo artist to date to have a number-one single on a Billboard chart in seven consecutive decades, from the 1960s to the 2020s. Her 2002–2005 Living Proof: The Farewell Tour became the highest-grossing concert tour by a female artist ever at the time, earning US$250 million (equivalent to $390 million in 2023). Aside from music and acting, she is noted for her trendsetting, elaborate outfits, political views, social media presence, philanthropic endeavors, and social activism, including LGBT rights and HIV/AIDS prevention.

[duranduratulsa]

Watch "Dolly Parton Rockin' Live" on YouTube

Song 🎵 🎶 of the day: Rockin' by Dolly Parton (2022) #dollyparton #rockin #rockandrollhalloffame

[the-garbanzo-annex-jr]

Aaron Sibarium

July 25, 2024

Princeton University is on the verge of promoting a professor who participated in the occupation of a campus building that disrupted university operations and led to more than a dozen arrests, according to an email reviewed by the Washington Free Beacon.FreeBeacon

The university has recommended that the classics scholar Dan-el Padilla Peralta, who along with 13 anti-Israel student protesters stormed Princeton’s historic Clio Hall in April, be promoted from associate to full professor, pending the approval of the university’s board of trustees. Peralta already has tenure, but the promotion would make him eligible for university leadership roles, including deanships.

"I'm sure you will want to join me in congratulating Dan-el on his promotion to a full professorship," the chair of the classics department, Barbara Graziosi, wrote to her colleagues on July 18. "This is still 'unofficial' news, because the Board of Trustees will have to rubber stamp the recommendation made by the committee that oversees promotions, but I was told I am allowed to share the news internally and do so with glee."

The board is all but certain to accept the recommendation, professors familiar with the matter said, given that the group signs off on virtually all appointments. Princeton and Peralta did notrespond to requests for comment.

The promotion comes as Princeton’s peer universities have taken a soft-on-crime approach to the unlawful and at times violent protests that have rocked campuses since the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks. The Harvard Corporation this month reversed its decision to withhold degrees from 11 students who led an encampment in Harvard yard, one of whom is a Rhodes Scholar set to attend Oxford University next year. Other schools, including Northwestern and Middlebury, ended their encampments by negotiating with protesters and acceding to many of their demands.

At Princeton, Peralta played a leading role in the most disruptive protest the campus had experienced in years. He and another professor, sociologist Ruha Benjamin, joined 13 students in occupying Clio Hall, the home of Princeton’s graduate school administration, as 200 additional protesters cheered them on from the outside.

Police eventually warned the occupiers that they would be arrested if they did not exit the building. Peralta and Benjamin did so, but the students did not.

After a chaotic effort to stop the police—at one point the crowd surrounded a bus where two of the protesters were being held—all 13 students were arrested while the professors who had encouraged them escaped without sanction.

The showdown followed a four day sit-in in the university’s McCosh Courtyard, where several Princeton faculty members, including Peralta, had delivered remarks. Though the sit-in relocated to another part of campus after the occupation of Clio Hall, it was allowed to continue in its new location for over a week.

A classicist who argues that "whiteness" is inseparable from classics, Peralta is perhaps Princeton’s most prominent scholar-activist.

He spearheaded a faculty letter in 2020 that called on the university to give minority professors extra pay and sabbatical time—compensation for their "invisible work," the letter said—and is a vocal supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement, which calls for an economic boycott of the Jewish state.

During the sit-in in April, Peralta also proposed a faculty resolution granting amnesty to "students and other university affiliates involved in peaceful free speech and assembly for justice in Palestine." The non-binding resolution passed narrowly in May and condemned the university’s decision to discipline the students who stormed Clio Hall.

Unlike Harvard, which promised harsh sanctions before walking them back, Princeton was lenient from the get-go: A university spokeswoman announced in May that the students were unlikely to get more than probation.