#They are very popular in baltimore

[cityofmeliora]

about Terzo's height...

while i LOVE LOVE LOVE short king Terzo (as a short king myself), he might actually be the tallest brother and the implications are SO FUNNY.

so the idea of short king Terzo seems to have gotten really popular because of the clip from Unholy / Unplugged in Los Angeles where he says:

"Now look... people have had the decency to comment on the fact that without my hat being on, I'm a little bit, uh... short." Los Angeles, CA (Unholy / Unplugged, 2015)

but the thing is, he says that right before he raises the microphone. he was joking about the fact that, at all of the Unholy / Unplugged shows, the mic stand was set way too low for him.

in Baltimore and Phoenix he makes it more clear:

"But these last couple days, I've come out... you've noticed me not wearing a hat. Some people have noticed that, 'He's a little bit shorter than I thought!' [...] But what has happened a couple days in a row now is that I come out and the microphone is like, [gestures at chest height] about here. I'm not that short!" Baltimore, MD (Unholy / Unplugged, 2015)

"Now... we've got a fundamental problem here. [...] It is my– what people expect my height to be. Yes, I will– I will agree that myself without hat is not very, uh... imposing. But I am a little bit taller than this." Phoenix, AZ (Unholy / Unplugged, 2015)

the joke was that people were assuming he was much shorter than he actually was.

he doesn't appear to be super short! if you consider every Papa to be the height that they are in real life, they'd all be the same height as TF (about 5'8" / 173cm) due to the fact that they are all played by him. BUT there have been occasions when two Papas have been present at the same time: during the coronation ceremonies. in Secondo's coronation, he's shown to be about the same height as Primo. and in Terzo's coronation, he's shown to be MUCH taller than Secondo.

Metal Myths: Ghost pt. 2 (April 2022)

Metal Myths: Ghost pt. 2 (April 2022)

Youtube Video

so Terzo might be the tallest brother. he is still insecure about his height, though.

"Is there a sound engineer here? Hello. Could you please give me a little spooky reverb. Just a slight. I need to sound taller than I am." Brooklyn, NYC (Unholy / Unplugged, 2015)

not so insecure that he can't joke about it, but he will joke about it and then remind you that he's not that short!

and Terzo wanting to be taller seems so in-character for him. for the pursuit of better, y'know? hahaha

obviously, he's not a very tall guy either. he's a little short. just a little below average. he's a perfectly normal height, but he seems to have become more insecure about it because he has a reputation for being short, and every time people see him in person they're like "huh. you're taller than i thought you'd be!" and he's like "wtf?? uhhh. thanks???? 🤨😓"

i genuinely think it's sooo so so so funny that the fandom does this to him too LOL.

for the record: the thing about Terzo allegedly being 4'9" is totally fake. there are no sources for that. and i hate misinformation, so i will not stand for people spreading that as if it's canon. that said, if you headcanon Terzo being 4'9" anyway, i think you're incredibly based and that rules actually–

again, i love short king Terzo and i accept all headcanons!! i just think this particular angle has not been explored a lot and it is simply hilarious to me.

[hometoursandotherstuff]

I first posted this 1947 art deco home in Baltimore, Maryland about 3 yrs. ago and the 2bd, 1.5ba house just sold for $239K.

The living room has glass block, curved walls and a fireplace wall, all original.

The living room flows into the dining room to reveal the other side of the double-sided fireplace. Some of the furniture was included in the sale.

The wall shelving is perfect for a tea pot collection or something of similar size.

Bedroom #1 has cool cowboy wallpaper that was very popular for little boys rooms.

The blue bathroom sink is definitely retro.

Bedroom #2 is small, and appears to be a pass thru to the kitchen and 1/2 bath.

The 1/2 bath has a stainless sink with baseball faucet handles. Not sure if the suitcases are decorative or for storage.

The kitchen has original metal cabinets and linoleum floors.

A kitchen table fits in this pantry area.

I don't know why there's a sink, stove and fridge in here.

Small sun porch in the back. This home does need work and seems like it's been slowly deteriorating due to neglect.

There's a patio in the back. What's going on with the roof? It looks like the brick deteriorated and they just painted over it.

The yard is dirt, so it will need some landscaping.

Lake Montebello is across the road.

Before they repainted it green it was yellow.

https://baltimorefishbowl.com/stories/trendy-unique-mid-century-modern-with-views-of-lake-montebello/

[fitz-higgins]

It's National Coming Out Day, and did you know that coming out used to have a different meaning before World War Two?

Gay, or rather camp culture of the early 20th century drew a lot of inspiration from the high society culture. Fairies used titles like Duchess or Lady (you can read more about them here), drag balls and masquerades attracted hundreds of people, queer and straight, and there were even theatre and knitting clubs for fairies. And the tradition of introducing debutantes into the society took a form of coming out into the gay world. In general, it could mean joining the large, vibrant gay society of American cities, but in particular it referred to huge drag balls at which newcomers were introduced.

Like many elements of the pre-war queer culture, these balls became especially popular in the early 1930s, the so called pansy craze. There is a great collection of articles about them from the Baltimore Afro-American.

Until the 1960s, there was no such thing as a closet. Gay, lesbian, trans people just did not think that they lived in some prison: on the contrary, the world they knew was expansive. Living in these two very different worlds was more like a stage performance. Quoting George Chauncey's Gay New York,

“Gay people in the prewar years, then, did not speak of coming out of what we call the "gay closet" but rather of coming out into what they called "homosexual society" or the "gay world," a world neither so small, nor so isolated, nor, often, so hidden as "closet" implies” (p. 7).

As for the term coming out, it changed its meaning over time. At some point it was used to refer to the person's acceptance of their sexuality. Then it came to mean a person's first relationship. Only by the 1970s coming out became the practice of revealing one's sexuality to straight people.

[muppet-facts]

hi! sorry if this is too vague, I was just wondering how you find the sources you use? Im interested in reading up on muppet history but I have no idea where to start (aside from the links you use as sources on your posts ofc). I was just wondering, do you just watch a segment of the show and get curious about something and look it up? What is your process?

Not too vague at all!! I love this question!

There are several books on the subject, but not many from scholarly press, but even if they are popular press, they are still interesting and good reads!

I also like looking at Henson archive posts, like the Jim Henson's Red Book posts on Henson.com. Big fan of archivist Karen Falk's work with the Henson company. Also oral history interviews on The Television Academy Foundation from cast and crew are very insightful. The oral history with Joan Ganz Cooney, although 4 hours long is very good!

But yeah, sometimes I do just go "oh I wonder about XYZ" and just start looking in various directions.

Some reading recs:

Cole, Charlotte F., and June H. Lee. The Sesame Effect: The Global Impact of the Longest Street in the World. New York: Routledge, 2016.

Greene, Bryan. “The Unmistakable Black Roots of ‘Sesame Street.’” Smithsonian Magazine, November 7, 2019. Accessed March 20, 2024. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/unmistakable-black-roots-sesame-street-180973490/.

Jensen, Helle Strandgaard. Sesame Street: A Transnational History. New York: Oxford University Press, 2023.

Lesser, Gerald S. Children and Television: Lessons From Sesame Street. New York: Vintage Books, 1974.

Long, Loretta. “Sesame Street: A Space Age Approach to Education for Space Age Children,” doctoral dissertation. Graduate School of the University of Massachusetts, August 1973. https://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3815&context=dissertations_1.

Morrow, Robert W. Sesame Street and the Reform of Children’s Television. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2006.

Sorry all the reading is basically all Sesame Street related! It's what I've been working on lately lol

[gryficowa]

Boycott!

Tia… I saw a Pole call Minecraft (Film) too "Politicized" (Because, you know, an overweight black character and a guy with long hair in a pink sweatshirt)… Yes, it's not without reason that I say that Mr. Birchum in Poland would remain deemed too "Woke" a cartoon…

Although I'm more amused that the game itself isn't considered very "Politically Correct", the reason? Two cows, two sheep (Female), two chickens and two peasants (Male) can have children without a mob of the opposite sex, and Steve is not very fair-skinned… I guess I don't need to tell you, that minecraft was around for years before the right wing stole this black word and destroyed its meaning

Now that I have your attention:

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

I see that "Jumblr" is popular in tags, I'm afraid to enter because Zionists often use this tag and well, there's no need to say too much… Pathology

[theidcl]

⁺˚⋆｡°✩₊ STARZIE is a seven-member fictional coed group that debuted on january 7th, 2024, under stellar entertainment. the coed supergroup was formed through the idol survival show "SHOOTING STARS" which premiered in 2023. the show's purpose was to gather currently active idols and put them up against each other in order to form the ultimate coed group featuring the highest-ranked idols.

the supergroup made their debut shortly into the new year with the mini album "mission one: take off" and promoted their title track "crush", as well as other b-sides from the album. their debut was garnered as both a domestic and international success, boosting STARZIE into the super rookie category very quickly despite only just debuting.

with the group being made up of some of the most popular idols from multiple generations, the public has opened their arms to the group while also throwing harsh criticism their way. many fans are excited to see their favorite idols pursue new activities and release different music alongside other highly popular idols, but due to being a coed group, the public has expressed concern over how scandals and rumors are bound to happen.

˖ ࣪ ˚ . group name ⇁ starzie

˖ ࣪ ˚ . fandom name ⇁ starnautz

˖ ࣪ ˚ . fandom color ⇁ #1ad700 #00a0d7

˖ ࣪ ˚ . company ⇁ stellar entertainment

˖ ࣪ ˚ . debut date ⇁ january 7th, 2024

˖ ࣪ ˚ . debut album ⇁ mission one: take off

˖ ࣪ ˚ . debut song ⇁ crush

˖ ࣪ ˚ . greeting ⇁ "one of a kind! hello, we are starzie!”

⁺˚⋆｡°✩₊ MEET THE STARZ!

*ੈ✩‧₊˚ ELLIOT SON, professionally known as ELLIOT, was born in 1998 in baltimore, maryland, usa. elliot began his training journey at jyp entertainment, where he participated in the reality show 'stray kids', originally making the final lineup before leaving the group before debut and jyp as a whole, stating creative differences. he trained for 4 years before debuting in the boy group embers in 2019, which would disband just a year later. he would soon re-debut in pushing daises.

ELLIOT was a popular idol while on SHOOTING STARS, being a member of the totally spies group during the cover challenge, in which the team placed 2nd in the challenge. during the rewind challenge, elliot was a member of 3rd place team elec6ix. at the end of the show, elliot managed to finish the show in 5th place, making him the second announced member.

˖ ࣪ ˚ . full name ⇁ elliot dowon son

˖ ࣪ ˚ . birthday ⇁ february 14th, 1998

˖ ࣪ ˚ . birthplace ⇁ baltimore, maryland, usa

˖ ࣪ ˚ . position ⇁ rapper, vocalist

˖ ࣪ ˚ . ranking ⇁ 5th place

˖ ࣪ ˚ . height ⇁ 185cm

˖ ࣪ ˚ . ethnicity ⇁ korean-caucasian

˖ ࣪ ˚ . nationality ⇁ american

˖ ࣪ ˚ . faceclaim ⇁ vernon chwe

*ੈ✩‧₊˚ BAE MINJU, professionally known as MINJU, was born in 1998 in liverpool, england, but she moved to london when she was three years old. every summer, she traveled to korea over the summer to spend time with her grandparents and cousins in busan. growing up, minju was always fond of music and dancing, which led to her dream of being a k-pop idol. minju applied to many agencies such as jyp and cube entertainment, but ultimately made her choice to join source music with a friend of hers in 2010. after training for five years, minju officially debuted as a member of gfriend under source music. after the disbandment of gfriend, she signed a contract with big hit music and made her solo debut on november 11th, 2021. although many had anticipated it, the whole thing became a total failure, and minju was put on hiatus.

MINJU held a fluctuating rank while on SHOOTING STARS, but was always dancing within and around the top seven. during the rewind challenge, minju was a member of 3rd place team elec6ix. in the cover challenge, minju was a part of wonderland, and they placed 1st overall. at the end of the show, minju managed to finish the show in 4th place, making her the third announced member.

˖ ࣪ ˚ . full name ⇁ bae minju

˖ ࣪ ˚ . birthday ⇁ march 14th, 1998

˖ ࣪ ˚ . birthplace ⇁ liverpool, englad

˖ ࣪ ˚ . position ⇁ vocalist, rapper

˖ ࣪ ˚ . ranking ⇁ 4th place

˖ ࣪ ˚ . height ⇁ 162.5cm

˖ ࣪ ˚ . ethnicity ⇁ korean

˖ ࣪ ˚ . nationality ⇁ british

˖ ࣪ ˚ . faceclaim ⇁ park jiwon

*ੈ✩‧₊˚ CHLOE LEE, professionally known as CHLOE, was born in 1998 in new york, united states. chloe's career began in 2016 after ranking second on the mnet surivival show 'produce 101', securing herself a spot in the temporary girl group, ioi. once ioi disbanded in 2017, chloe debuted in venus as their main vocalist and lead dancer. alongside her success in venus, chloe would also have a flourishing solo career that began in 2019 with the song "rollercoaster" and has been on the rise ever since. chloe is a renowned vocalist and lyricist in the industry, being one the most credited female songwriters in the kpop industry.

CHLOE started the SHOOTING STARS with a bang, quickly securing a spot as a leader in the first group challenge. she was able to pick her teammates during the rewind challenge and ended up picking wisely as her team, the dream, placed first overall. once again placing high enough to be chosen as a leader, during the cover challenge, chloe was in charge of the last place team the zoo. chloe was up the coveted position of first place in the finale but ultimately placed 2nd, making her the sixth announced member of the group.

˖ ࣪ ˚ . full name ⇁ chloe lee

˖ ࣪ ˚ . korean name ⇁ lee chohee

˖ ࣪ ˚ . birthday ⇁ june 17th, 1998

˖ ࣪ ˚ . birthplace ⇁ new york, united states

˖ ࣪ ˚ . position ⇁ vocalist, dancer

˖ ࣪ ˚ . ranking ⇁ 2nd place

˖ ࣪ ˚ . height ⇁ 152.4cm

˖ ࣪ ˚ . ethnicity ⇁ korean

˖ ࣪ ˚ . nationality ⇁ american

˖ ࣪ ˚ . faceclaim ⇁ han sohee

*ੈ✩‧₊˚ PARK MIKYUNG, professionally known as MIKA, was born in 2001 in gwangju, south korea. after being scouted at her middle school’s talent show, mika auditioned for dsp media and trained for two years before making her debut in april on august 24th, 2015 as the group’s main rapper and main dancer at the young age of 14. she promoted with the group for multiple months before she was announced to be a participant on mnet’s trainee survival show ‘produce 101′. mika made her debut in ioi after finishing the show ranked 5th, and later made her debut in the only subunit of ioi. after the group's disbandment, mika returned to april but quickly announced her departure from both the group and dsp media. signing with angelico entertainment, mika went on to have a successful acting and solo career before debuting in sugar n' spice. mika is considered one of the best producers and lyricists in the industry, going under the pseudonym m.ka.

despite being one of the most popular idols to partake in SHOOTING STARS, MIKA suffered from fluctuating rankings that made her position on debuting unknown. she started off the show strong by being a member of the winning team, the dream, during the rewind challenge. during the next challenge, the cover challenge, mika was instead part of the last place team the zoo. being the first announced member, mika finished the show in 6th place.

˖ ࣪ ˚ . full name ⇁ park mikyung

˖ ࣪ ˚ . english name ⇁ isabella jade park

˖ ࣪ ˚ . birthday ⇁ march 26th, 2001

˖ ࣪ ˚ . birthplace ⇁ gwangju, south korea

˖ ࣪ ˚ . position ⇁ rapper, dancer, vocalist

˖ ࣪ ˚ . ranking ⇁ 6th place

˖ ࣪ ˚ . height ⇁ 162cm

˖ ࣪ ˚ . ethnicity ⇁ korean

˖ ࣪ ˚ . nationality ⇁ korean

˖ ࣪ ˚ . faceclaim ⇁ yu jimin

*ੈ✩‧₊˚ WANG LILING, professionally known as LILING, was born in 2001 in beijing, china. growing up, she appeared in numerous product commercials in china and was considered a well-known face despite the lack of attention she received from these commercials. liling debuted in august of 2019 with the girl group, hashtag, under the company melody media. when their first mini-album was released, fans suddenly began to favor liling over the other members, gaining her the title of ‘face of the group’. this meant that liling was constantly taking part in solo activities and brand deals. she is currently melody media’s sole representative, despite the rumors of favoritism.

LILING was one of the most popular idols while on SHOOTING STARS, earning her the spot of being the leader of the heart attack group during the rewind challenge, in which the team placed 4th. liling was once again selected as team leader during the cover challenge, where she was in charge of 4th place team timeless. at the end of the show, liling managed to finish the show in 3rd place, making her the fourth announced member. liling was chosen to be starzie's leader after winning multiple challenges and a voting round during their reality show "living with starzie".

˖ ࣪ ˚ . full name ⇁ wang liling

˖ ࣪ ˚ . birthday ⇁ july 11th, 2001

˖ ࣪ ˚ . birthplace ⇁ beijing, china

˖ ࣪ ˚ . position ⇁ leader, vocalist, dancer

˖ ࣪ ˚ . ranking ⇁ 3rd place

˖ ࣪ ˚ . height ⇁ 160cm

˖ ࣪ ˚ . ethnicity ⇁ chinese

˖ ࣪ ˚ . nationality ⇁ chinese

˖ ࣪ ˚ . faceclaim ⇁ ning yizhuo

*ੈ✩‧₊˚ FINN LEE, professionally known as FINN, was born in 2001 in florida, united states. beginning his career at 15, finn appeared on the angelico survival show "the new wave". finn would quickly become a fan favorite for his dedication, humor, and overall talent. he would end his run on the show, ranking 1st overall despite being one of the youngest there, securing him a spot in the revitalized group, deepdive. deepdive would make their re-debut in 2015 with seven members but would only seem to gain traction in 2020. finn is one of the most sought-after producers in the industry, with over 190 song credits to his name.

FINN started off SHOOTING STARS strong by placing fourth in the pre-voting and securing himself a team leader spot. during the rewind challenge, finn was the leader of the 3rd place team elec6ix. during the next challenge, the cover challenge, finn was a member of the wonderland team, who placed 1st. being considered the most dramatic ranking due to how many people could have taken the spot, finn finished the show ranked 7th, making him the last announced member of starzie.

˖ ࣪ ˚ . full name ⇁ finn lee

˖ ࣪ ˚ . korean name ⇁ lee jungwoo

˖ ࣪ ˚ . birthday ⇁ october 10th, 2001

˖ ࣪ ˚ . birthplace ⇁ florida, united states

˖ ࣪ ˚ . position ⇁ rapper, vocalist

˖ ࣪ ˚ . ranking ⇁ 7th place

˖ ࣪ ˚ . height ⇁ 183cm

˖ ࣪ ˚ . ethnicity ⇁ korean

˖ ࣪ ˚ . nationality ⇁ american

˖ ࣪ ˚ . faceclaim ⇁ park wonbin

*ੈ✩‧₊˚ OLIVER SONG, professionally known as OLIVER, was born in 2001 in massachusetts, united states. oliver made his debut as the lead guitarist of the idol band plastic flowers under superbloom media in 2018. after their second album, he was promoted to lead singer and has become the most well-known member of the group since his appearance on jtbc’s 'superband' and other variety shows. he would slowly become the most famous artist under superbloom media as well and has produced almost every piece of music released by the label since 2020. oliver made his official solo debut in march 2023 with the lead single "starting line", launching him into further fame as plastic flowers continues to top the charts with each of their releases.

being a previously well-known idol before participating in SHOOTING STARS, OLIVER managed to stay at the top the ranks throughout the show. he started off the show strong by being the leader of the mystery inc team during the rewind challenge, where they placed 2nd. placing first in voting, oliver was once again chosen as a team leader during the cover challenge; his team, wonderland, was able to place 1st. oliver was able to secure his spot as starzie's center after finishing the show ranked 1st place, making him the fifth announced member.

˖ ࣪ ˚ . full name ⇁ oliver song

˖ ࣪ ˚ . birthday ⇁ december 12th, 2001

˖ ࣪ ˚ . birthplace ⇁ massachusetts, united states

˖ ࣪ ˚ . position ⇁ vocalist, center, maknae

˖ ࣪ ˚ . ranking ⇁ 1st place

˖ ࣪ ˚ . height ⇁ 178cm

˖ ࣪ ˚ . ethnicity ⇁ korean

˖ ࣪ ˚ . nationality ⇁ american

˖ ࣪ ˚ . faceclaim ⇁ seok matthew

[cosplayinamerica]

Milly from TriGun : Emma

My first con was in Baltimore for Otakon 2001. Pre 9/11! I originally wanted to attend a con either out in Colorado or Texas, but I was the only one in my circle of friends in New Mexico who had a part time job, so there was no one I could travel with. 

I cosplayed as Milly from Trigun and you can actually find photos of me from old internet archive pages because Trigun was at the high of popularity. I originally made Milly for a Halloween costume, so when I showed it to my online friend  in the Trigun mIRC chat a photo of me in cosplay, she insisted I come to Otakon the following year and join her Trigun group.

Unlike a lot of early 90’s/00’s cosplayers, I didn’t have anyone who’d taught me how to sew. So Milly was entirely bought from a trip to the Goodwill. I bought brown pants, a duster, a red tie and yellow suspenders. I remember feeling so proud to find yellow suspenders because in the anime her suspenders are yellow. I was like “wow! I’m so canon compliant. I’m a cosplay pro!”. She has a little green cap and I went to Joanns, bought some fabric and just cut it out and hand stitched it and safety pinned it to the duster. Current me would have been shocked at a lack of surging or a mockup or putting snaps in to make sure the cape stayed on, but it was the wild west back then for when it came to cosplaying. 

At Otakon I had my half-assed Goodwill costume, but everyone loved it, I got so many photos and so many hugs. It was a rush of validation I’d never felt, I was this weird 17 year old living in New Mexico where I had very few friends who liked anime, so going to a con with so many people who knew Trigun and loved my costume was incredible. It made me want to keep cosplaying, 

The Trigun fandom at the time was pretty big. There wasn’t social media the way there is now, but there was a decent community. I think the anime sensibilities mixed with a very western setting was a huge draw to the western ‘otaku’ culture at the time. Vash also had such an iconic look.

A lot of Otakon 2001 was just people being excited to see other members of the Trigun community and get to connect and talk about the show, it’s one of the things I really enjoyed about cosplay back then. It felt easy to strike up a conversation with someone about the character you or they were dressed as and make a new friend. I’m actually still friends with a Wolfwood cosplayer from back then! 

You probably hear this a lot when you talk to older cosplayers, but while I’m happy cosplay has become more popular, it makes me sad there’s less of a focus on learning to sew and learn skills and more of a focus on buying a costume online and posting a photo of it on social media for as many clicks possible. I made Milly from pieces at The Goodwill with so few photos remaining of her and she was probably the most attention I’ve gotten from a cosplay. For young people reading this, don’t be afraid to learn to sew. Don’t be afraid to not have a perfect costume, there’s skills even I’m still learning and I find the building of the costume just as rewarding as wearing it or any attention I get on it.

Over 20 years later I’m still cosplaying. I literally have half of a Genshin impact cosplay in my lap I’m working on as I type this. I’m actually waiting for the next season of Trigun Stampede because I’d love to come full circle and make Milly again with my now 20 years of skills as a cosplayer.

[battle-of-the-birds]

Alrighty and HERE ARE OUR CONTENDERS!!!

Tag for the polls: #bird battle

DISCLAIMER - I wrote the round one blurbs when I was very sick and half awake, so if you see any mistakes PLEASE TELL ME! Nicely, obviously, but I want to make sure they sound good for round 2. Thank you!

I know there’s a lot of them, but man there’s SO MANY GOOD BIRDS! There were a few times where people didn’t put what specific subspecies for some birds, so sometimes I’d have to choose one. I tried to choose one that represents that bird the best!

I don’t know when the polls will begin, I’m doing some research on the birds so that people can read about them before they vote.

If one of your favs didn’t make it in, don’t worry they’re a winner in my and your heart.

If you are wondering where the Pigeon (Rock Dove) is, THEY ARE THE FINAL CHAMPION! At the end of this bracket, the winner will face off against the mightily popular Rock Dove! Will they be able to beat such a tough challenger? We will see…

Also, a note on how I set this bracket up: I put all the birds in a numbered list and then used a number generator. I think the matchups we got were really interesting.

Full list under the cut

HARPY EAGLE

SUPERB BIRD OF PARADISE

VAMPIRE FINCH

RAINBOW LORIKEET

BALTIMORE ORIOLE

EURASIAN WREN

STELLER'S JAY

CALIFORNIA CONDOR

EURASIAN HOOPOE

BLACK CAPPED CHICKADEE

TAWNY FROGMOUTH

AMERICAN GOLDFINCH

ANDEAN COCK OF THE ROCK

MUTE SWAN

WESTERN SANDPIPER

STELLER'S SEA EAGLE

VIOLET BACKED STARLING

HOATZIN

HOUSE SPARROW

HERACLES

CANADIAN GOOSE

DODO

GREAT EARED NIGHTJAR

SANDHILL CRANE

PELAGORNIS

SUPERB FAIRY WREN

SOUTHERN CASSOWARY

AMERICAN ROBIN

GREATER ROADRUNNER

GREAT BLUE HERON

AMERICAN AVOCET

PASSENGER PIGEON

WALLCREEPER

GREAT TIT

MOA

EASTERN BLUEBIRD

AUSTRALIAN BUSHTURKEY

EMU

MALLARD DUCK

FLAME BOWERBIRD

MANDARIN DUCK

BELTED KINGFISHER

OILBIRD

FAIRY PENGUIN

LESSER FLAMINGO

AUSTRALIAN KESTREL

CARRION CROW

UMBRELLABIRD

LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE

PERUVIAN PELICAN

CALIFORNIA QUAIL

MACGREGORS BOWERBIRD

HARRIS HAWK

COMMON RAVEN

BEARDED VULTURE

PEREGRINE FALCON

ROSY LOVEBIRD

ROSEATTE SPOONBILL

LONG TAILED GRACKLE

AMERICAN WOODCOCK

KAKAPO

BLUE FOOTED BOOBY

RHEA

BEE HUMMINGBIRD

WHITE WAGTAIL

HUIA

SNAIL KITE

DOMESTIC CHICKEN

KIWI

MOURNING DOVE

ATLANTIC PUFFIN

CARDINAL

LYREBIRD

EUROPEAN ROBIN

BURROWING OWL

OSPREY

RED TAILED HAWK

BLEEDING HEART DOVE

BARN OWL

PEACOCK

SATIN BOWERBIRD

CAIQUE

RED WINGED BLACKBIRD

LONG TAILED TIT

HERRING GULL

GREEN HERON

CREAM COLORED WOODPECKER

AUSTRALIAN IBIS

TRISTAM'S STARLING

POTOO

WANDERING ALBATROSS

BLUE JAY

KEA

COMMON MYNA

RAINBOW TOUCAN

GREATER SAGE GROUSE

TURKEY VULTURE

TUFTED TITMOUSE

CRESTED AUKLET

EURASIAN MAGPIE

BUDGIE

SCREECH OWL

WIP-POOR-WILL

SECRETARY BIRD

AUSTRALIAN MAGPIE

CEDAR WAXWING

VICTORIA CROWNED PIGEON

HERMIT THRUSH

COMMON SWIFT

WHITE BELLBIRD

BROWN SKUA

EUROPEAN DIPPER

[s-leary]

A new report adds to a growing line of research showing that police departments don’t solve serious or violent crimes with any regularity, and in fact, spend very little time on crime control, in contrast to popular narratives. ... More notably, researchers analyzed the data to show how officers spend their time, and the patterns that emerge tell a striking story about how policing actually works. Those results, too, comport with existing research showing that U.S. police spend much of their time conducting racially biased stops and searches of minority drivers, often without reasonable suspicion, rather than “fighting crime.” Overall, sheriff patrol officers spend significantly more time on officer-initiated stops – “proactive policing” in law enforcement parlance – than they do responding to community members’ calls for help, according to the report. Research has shown that the practice is a fundamentally ineffective public safety strategy, the report pointed out. ... Decades of data similarly shows that police don’t solve much serious and violent crime – the safety issues that most concern everyday people. Over the past decade, “consistently less than half of all violent crime and less than twenty-five percent of all property crime were cleared,” William Laufer and Robert Hughes wrote in a 2021 law review article. Laufer and Hughes are professors in the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania’s Legal Studies and Business Ethics Department. Police “have never successfully solved crimes with any regularity, as arrest and clearance rates are consistently low throughout history,” and police have never solved even a bare majority of serious crimes, University of Utah college of law professor Shima Baradaran Baughman wrote in another 2021 law review article, including murder, rape, burglary and robbery. Existing research also affirms the findings in the recent report on police work in California. Law “enforcement is a relatively small part of what police do every day,” Barry Friedman, a law professor at the New York University School of Law wrote in a 2021 law review article. Studies have shown that the average police officer spent about one hour per week responding to crimes in progress, Friedman wrote. Police spend most of their time on traffic violations and routine, minor issues, like noise complaints, according to three different, recent analyses of dispatch data from Los Angeles, Baltimore, Detroit, New Orleans, Seattle, and New Haven, Connecticut. The New York Times reviewed national dispatch data from the FBI in June 2020, and found that just 4% of officers’ time is devoted to violent crime. “We hope the report helps reshape the narrative about the relationship between law enforcement and safety,” Smith told me. Californians “should understand that a reimagination of community safety is far overdue and that equitable and community-centered solutions” are more effective alternatives.

[queer-lovebot]

Nora was SUCH a coward for not giving us Kandreil honestly. Like truly Kevin makes their dynamic work so differently (I’ll never forgive her for using him moreso as a plot device than an actual developed person).

ANYWAY. How do you think Kevin felt post canon about Andreil’s relationship? Now that he has the time to worry about boys instead of being whisked away and tortured by the Ravens?

I think he doesn’t feel anything for a while (or he thinks he doesn’t) because he’s still in fight or flight and checking around every corner. Sure everyone else might be sure at ease, but he’s lived in the Nest all his life and that kind of shit doesn’t just go away. He’s still gonna have paranoia. He’s still gonna have nightmares. They’re just more bogeyman nowadays. He goes to therapy about it at Andrew’s insistence. And after months of just Starting to unpack the endless trauma, of allowing himself to be vulnerable again, he starts thinking about boys.

He’s not coming to some new realizations about anything. He’s known Andrew was attractive, knows the bond they have is deeper than most. He’s always loved Neil’s fiery attitude and the way they bump heads as well as how they come together. He knows he could live without either of them, but he knows he doesn’t want to. It’s moreso he’s looking at everything in a broader scope instead of pinpoint moments.

It’s strange at first. Wanting someone in your life forever is different than harboring romantic feelings for them. It’s a different way of finding home in someone. So he tries to play it off. He doesn’t wanna get in the way of Andrew and Neil, and he doesn’t wanna make things awkward when they don’t feel the way he does. Kevin is strong, and he’s used to losing things, but he’s never gotten used to losing People. He’s not sure what he’ll do if their relationship changes for the worst.

Anyways Kevin holding these feelings in results in him being much quicker to anger and more prone to leaving Andreil. He’s jealous. He still acts the same around them because, as are, they don’t act so coupley around most people. They’re barely coupley around him. But sometimes there’s a certain tenderness - the way Andrew clings to Neil that he doesn’t do with Kevin anymore, the way Neil looks at Andrew that Kevin’s never seen - and jealousy bubbles up inside him like a bad cold, so he leaves.

He becomes increasingly moody. Everybody notices, nobody knows what to do, and Kevin refuses to tell anyone but Jean. He gets shorter with Andrew, fights more with Neil, and the only way he really finds leave for a while is hanging out with the Upperclassmen.

I think eventually Kevin confesses. Contrary to popular belief, he’s not as cowardly as people like to make him out to be. In a Perfect Situation, Kevin and Andrew also has to confront the Choking Incident in Baltimore before Kevin starts developing/consider further developing his feelings for him. (It’s So important tk character development to have the person who swore to protect you - something that they take very seriously - to put their hands on you in a way as traumatic as choking. I will not stand for Nora ignoring such shit in canon and I WILL address it).

[themuseumwithoutwalls]

MWW Artwork of the Day (4/17/24) Late Medieval England (14th-15th c.) Resurrection (c. 1450-90) Alabaster sculpture, with traces of paint, 49.5 x 27.9 x 5.9 cm. Walters Art Museum, Baltimore MD

In the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, alabaster was a popular sculptural material in England, where it was in plentiful supply. This dramatic panel showing the moment of Christ's Resurrection exemplifies the detail and texture that could be achieved by sculptors working in alabaster. In this exquisitely refined carving, even very shallow relief can suggest a decided sense of depth by depicting overlapping forms. The soldiers in front are in front of the open tomb, which is in front of other sleeping soldiers. The figure of the risen Christ is carved with such subtlety that even the fabric of his mantle appears soft. As Christ steps from the tomb, his foot rests so gently on the sleeping soldier that he doesn't even wake.

[dragons-and-magic]

🚂 In need of some cool engines for TTTE OCs? Look no further! 🚃

Here's a list of all sorts of unusual and little known engines to make into your next OCs!

1082 class electric locomotive: Not much is known about this engine, so information is fragmented. This Austrain steam engine was powered by electricity heating up the water in its boiler through electric coils. The hydroelectric system was apparently 50 years ahead of it time and was built in response to the rising prices of imported German Coal during WW2. This engine and ones like it Sweden, were scrapped after the war ended. I'll never understand why. Such a self sufficient engine could have been the key to many break throughs.

2. DRG Class 05: This German streamlined engine was made in response of record breaking streamlined diesel engines made earlier. In 1936, this engine set the world speed record for reaching 124.5 mph, while hauling 217 short tons. However this record was later beaten by Mallard, (Yes, that Mallard. The LNER Gresley one.) on a technicality. Mallard was on a slightly downhill line, and with a heavier train. Interpret that as you will. If you want Gresley family drama, I have a feeling this engine would make a great OC to start it.

3. B&O #305 Camel: This unique engine was trademarked by the Baltimore and Ohio railroad in the 1900s. It's unusual build allowed to pull trains up steep mountains. This build also came with a terrible flaw. Since the cab was placed directly above the boiler, it became very hot and anyone in it would not only be uncomfortable, but in terrible danger if if the engine ever derailed. And there was very little protection for the crew. In short, it was like an overbred dog. Created purely for one purpose, and not with health or safety in mind. More information can be found at the B&O website.

4. The Rail Pickup Truck??? (GMC Switch Engine): Well, if you need a Fankid that's a cross between a steam engine and a pickup, I've got you covered! Haha! Not much information on these, except that they were used during WW2 and were modified for rail use.

5. Ateliers Moës-Freres Diesel: This little guy is absolutely adorable! He'd definitely make an cute OC! This engine one of many diesels built by the popular Belgian company Ateliers Moës-Freres. They're were know for making exceptional small diesel engines. Even ones that looked like steam engines! Unfortunately, I couldn't any information on what exactly this engine's name is. But if anyone does know, please contact me so I may add it!

6. M-497 (Nicknamed Black Beetle by the press): This futuristic engine was once the fastest engine in North America! It was an experiment, developed by the New York Central Railway. Two J47-19 Jet Engines were attached to a streamlined Budd Rail Diesel Car. The experiment was successful, with the engine reaching a speed of 183.68 mph. Despite the successful run and the valuable data gathered, the project was considered to quote "not considered viable commercially". Black Beetle continued to run after the jet engines were removed, until retirement in 1977 and being scrapped in 1984.

And that's it for now! If you guys like these OC ideas, make sure to let me know, so I can make another one! Also, it's important to note, that I am not an expert on engines. If you see any misinformation here, please let me know, so I can correct it.

Thanks for reading!

[randomvarious]

DJ Spen - "Craze at Midnight" Montreal Mix Sessions Vol. 4 by Lafleche Song released in 1999. Mix released in 2000. House

Here's a somewhat overlooked house banger from the one and only DJ Spen, a music legend from the city of Baltimore who's been at this shit for over 40 years and continues to rack up accolades and high placements on Billboard's dance chart while running his own super prolific record label, Quantize Recordings.

Before we get into 1999's "Craze at Midnight," though, let's try to trace the path that led Spen there, because it really is a little bit nuts…

Spen's career began in the mid-80s as a teenaged DJ in a now somewhat fabled hip hop crew called Numarx, who not only had Spen as one of their members, but also had future president of Def Jam Records, Kevin Liles, too. Numarx had a hardcore edge to them, and when acts like LL Cool J and Run-D.M.C. would swing by the Charm City to perform, these guys would be one of the acts who would open.

But despite presenting themselves as tough hip hoppers, the song that would inevitably end up bringing them the most success was their considerably softer "Girl You Know It's True." And yes, it's the very same one that Milli Vanilli would make world-famous in 1988, eventually ensnaring themselves into a very big lip-syncing scandal when it was revealed that the guys who were 'performing' their songs weren't actually the ones who were responsible for singing the words 😨. Numarx's original version of the tune did not fare well at home, but where it did prove popular was in Germany, which is where it's believed that Milli Vanilli producer Frank Farian had first heard it and then hatched the idea that his group should make their own version of it too.

So that's one crazy piece of info about Spen. Another one is that in 1989, he was drawn away from hip hop towards dance music and ended up joining renowned Baltimore production and remix team The Basement Boys, who worked on tracks for people like Michael Jackson, Paula Abdul, Erykah Badu, Ultra Naté, and Crystal Waters, including producing Waters' own biggest hit, the terrifically catchy early 90s club classic, "Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)." Not entirely sure that Spen had much to do with that tune specifically, though, as a little 1991 Baltimore Sun profile of the Basement Boys and that song in particular doesn't seem to mention his name at all 🤷‍♂️.

But while remaining a Basement Boy up until 2004, Spen would also launch his own solo career as a producer too. 1995 would see him debut with a 12-inch on Basement Boys Records called "A Feelin'," which presented his gospel-house group, Jasper Street Company. More Jasper Street 12-inches would then follow, but in '99, he would drop his own Disco Dreams Volume 2 without them, on a London-based label called Black Vinyl Records.

And it's on this 12-inch that you'll find Spen's "Craze at Midnight," a terrific instrumental house jam with, really, none of that gospel or soulful flair that would largely end up defining his long career as a dance music producer and remixer. And according to Discogs, this gem only appeared on a small handful of commercial mixes at around the time of its release, including one by Montréal native Lafleche, as part of his Montreal Mix Sessions Vol. 4 on Tiga's Turbo Recordings in 2000.

So, with a small looped-up bit that's been lifted from the very song that lends its own name to this one—1977's "At Midnight (My Love Will Lift You Up)" by Rufus & Chaka Khan—Spen manages to go effectively wild all over his beat with some very extensive and unpredictably rubbery, nylon-squeaky, and wigged-out synthesizer pizzazz. And while all this keyboard virtuosity is already enough to blissfully journey with, Spen still holds his final card close to the vest, until he builds up enough anticipation for something else to finally drop. And you get the sense that it's gonna be a new and ecstatic wrinkle that continues on this same topsy-turvy path of synthy goodness—because he hasn't used anything else yet—but you actually couldn't be more wrong, because what he chooses to unleash instead is a perfectly placed melody of swingin' jazz horns. Surprise! 📯📯📯

So Spen may have co-written "Girl You Know It's True;" he may have co-crafted some fire remixes and beats for some of the world's biggest pop and R&B stars; his record label may be a fixture of the Billboard dance chart and gotten a Grammy nom too; but in my book, one tune of his that hasn't received anywhere near enough of its deserved shine is this extremely fun and enjoyable turn-of-the-millennium knockout. Given what an entity this guy had already proven himself as, it's a wonder that "Craze at Midnight" didn't end up dotting all those big and ephemeral commercial house mixes with the illustrations or photos of sexy girls on their covers, because damn it, it should have!

And what's more is that with this version of it from Lafleche's Montreal Mix Sessions release, you also get to hear it playing alongside The Hydraulic Dogs' "Shake It for Me," another great house track that I've posted about in the past, which samples some of the Roger Troutman vocoder lines from 2Pac's own "California Love" 😍.

[coffeeheartaddict2]

What could ever go wrong?

Book: Open Heart (pre series)

Characters: Ethan Ramsey, Tobias Carrick, F!OC Estelle Campion

Word count: 1134

Warnings: language

Rating: PG

Category: fluff

Summary: It is their second year of medical school and Tobias tries to get things happening between Ethan and Estelle but it does not go to plan.

Disclaimer: most characters belong to Pixelberry.

Authors note: it’s Halloween. Not a huge deal here but it is gaining popularity so not a spooky one as that would have been too cliche but you Ethan scared of ruining friendships is real so kinda worked and worked with the prompt from this list. It appears in bold.

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

It was Halloween and a cold change had swept through Baltimore. Despite the cold it did not dampen the plans of one Tobias Theodore Carrick.

He and Ethan had become quite good friends with a fellow colleague, Estelle. Both men found Estelle very attractive and Tobias would not be lying if he has thought about asking her out, especially in the beginning but as time went on he could see that she only had eyes for Ethan but for whatever reason both seemed to be in denial and were not acting on what they clearly wanted and it was frustrating Tobias.

The day of the annual Medical students Halloween party arrived. Ethan was not amused and had decided that he was going to stay home and study. Tobias however was not taking no for an answer. Even stating that they could dress as famous doctors for the event, or in Ethan’s case go as Dr McDreamy from Grey’s Anatomy. This caused Ethan to do his now famous derisive eye roll.

“It will be fun. A few drinks, fun hi jinks and hey finally get some. You have been far too uptight lately.”

Ethan sighed in frustration. He had to admit it had been awhile but there was someone whom he liked enough to actually want too but he did not want to destroy their friendship.

“Fine” Ethan says, with a note of frustration, “but I am not dressing up.”

Tobias rolled his eyes but accepted that his buddy was at least coming. Tobias decided to dress up and go as a secret agent as he was on a mission.

Party day came and Tobias and Ethan made their way to the party. They were greeted by Estelle whom was dressed as Cleopatra.

“Now, Ethan coming as himself, why am I not surprised?” Says Estelle with a chuckle.

Ethan blushes. “I am here under duress,Stelle.”

Estelle raised an eye brow at Tobias.

“What can I say, he needs to cut loose.” Said Tobias with a smirk before heading into the party.

“Shall we?” Says Estelle as she offers her hand to Ethan. Ethan does not accept but they walk in together. Tobias was there to have fun but he kept looking in the direction of Ethan and Estelle. As the party went on he kept spying to where Estelle and Ethan were. After a couple of drinks it looked liked that Ethan was starting to have some fun and as the evening wore on he could see some of the interactions were starting to border on flirting.

“About bloody time” he mutters to himself.

Ethan did have to admit that the party was enjoyable, even though it was mainly due to the company that he was keeping. Estelle looked a vision he had to admit in her costume but now the familiar emotions he started to feel around her were starting to come to the fore and he was determined to not give in. He liked her he knew that much but they worked together and more importantly their friendship was another friendship he had not gone seeking but enjoyed having. They mainly sat and talked, offering various commentary on other’s outfits.

“What is with Tobias in the sharp suit?” Asked Estelle.

“He said something about being on a mission and thus dressed as a secret agent.” Said Ethan. “His main reason for dragging me out was to get me laid…I would have preferred to stay home but I only came out to shut him up.”

Estelle grabs his hand and Ethan pauses. What he wants to do with Estelle coming to the forefront of his mind then the fear kicks in. He jumps up with a start, says his apologies and leaves. Estelle sits there shocked, she had long suspected that Ethan felt more for her. She knew his history, understood in part the reluctance, but she was frustrated and did start to wonder if she was indeed imagining things.

Tobias saw Ethan leave and a shell shocked Estelle.

“Fuck Ethan.” He said then follows his friend. He arrived outside in time to see Ethan slip in an ice patch.

“Buddy, are you okay?” Calls Tobias.

“Fuck, no, my ankle.”

“Ok, let’s go to the medical centre and get you checked out.”

Tobias gets a sore and embarrassed Ethan to the medical centre. It is not too busy yet but they still have to wait.

“I didn’t intend for this to happen, Really! You have to believe me. It was an accident” says Ethan, clearly in discomfort.

“Yeah she should be at worse back at that party or better still at our unit or Estelle’s fucking each others brains out.” Says Tobias.

Ethan winces, Tobias is not sure if it is because of the pain he is in or the knowledge that he is right about him and Estelle.

“I do like her…”

“I know buddy but you are not your mother nor is Stelle. Clearly she likes you too.”

“I do not want to fuck around with what we have…”

“Yeah and the more you deny yourself the more than likely this could hurt your friendship too.” Said Tobias.

Ethan did not want to admit that Tobias was right so he apologised to him for ruining his evening.

“It’s ok buddy.”

Ethan’s ankle was only sprained and there was some slight bruising but no damage to his buttocks for which Ethan was relieved. The next day came and there was a knock at the door. Ethan answered and he was surprised to see Estelle. He invited her in and started to make their coffee.

“I am sorry about last night, E..”

“No Stelle, it is is me that is sorry. I am the one who freaked out and acted like a jerk…”

“Are you ok? I noticed you limping.”

“Yeah sprained ankle and a sore bottom, damned ice patch. I knew I should have stayed in.” Said Ethan with a chuckle. At that point Tobias entered the kitchen.

“Good morning Tobias” says Estelle.

“Good morning” Tobias says yawning. Ethan excuses himself to go to the bathroom.

“I know your patience is not infinite Stelle but he did admit to me he does like you, fear of relationships aside there is the fear that he will fuck up what you have.” Said Tobias quickly and quietly.

Estelle thought on Tobias’s words, she too did not want to ruin their friendship either, however she had hoped that the friendship would be a solid foundation for a relationship.

“Thank you Tobias” she says.

Ethan appears from the bathroom and starts discussing with Estelle their research project. Estelle left later that day safe in the knowledge that Ethan did have feelings and she hoped that both of them would be brave enough to take that leap.

——-

Authors note: for those who have not read my Med school series, Ethan and Estelle get together between Christmas and New Year. The break up the following June. They did not have a good future chat and Estelle left thinking they split and she runs into Tobias and that was the beginning of the end.

Tagging: @jerzwriter @jamespotterthefirst @genevievemd @cariantha @potionsprefect @liaromancewriter @tessa-liam @angelasscribbles @socalwriterbee @trappedinfanfiction @alj4890 @bex-la-get @a-crepusculo @crazy-loca-blog @trappedinfanfiction @schnitzelbutterfingers @binny1985 @lucy-268

@openheartfanfics @choicesficwriterscreations

[aledethanlast]

do you think aftg is objectively well-written? i know that's a very arbitrary thing, like what does it even mean exactly, but i still can have confident opinions about it--like oh, i like movie A more, but imo movie B is objectively a bit better.

but it boggles my mind when i consider it about aftg. maybe because a lot of stuff there is very compelling, and a lot is kinda silly. there's also the expectations for a book, as a type of media. if aftg was an anime i'd definitely just say that it's amazingly written bc silliness and over-the-topness would be expected in an anime.

I think you kinda answer your own question in there. We say aftg is batshit because of the plot devices and tropes in it, but you freely admit that it's only worth noting because of its medium, and were it published in another, equally popular format none of us would've blinked.

So if we're setting aside the actual plot as unrelated to the actual quality of the book...well. The story is carried by a very strong narrative voice, distinct characters, and a good mix of emotional drama and humanizing comedy.

That said, the series' pacing is...unconventional. Nora split them up so each book covers the same amount of time—summer-fall, fall-winter, winter-spring. But the narrative journey doesn't map onto this. Book 1 *ends* where the actual act 1 begins, having spent most of the book with Andrew as the main antagonist. Book 2 fakes us out with both "protagonist is recruited to the other side" and the "team hits rock bottom", and you think book 3 is then act 3, except the foxes are still on their act 2 rise through the ranks until they hit the real rock bottom in Baltimore.

I'm not saying it was a bad move necessarily, but it's definitely a part of what makes the series "weird" to read. I guess I'll call it technically competent, but artistically unconventional.

[mermaidsirennikita]

ARC REVIEW: The Other Side of Disappearing by Kate Clayborn

4.25/5. Releases 3/26/24.

Vibes: true crime podcasts (critical), soft hero/hard heroine, complicated families, and dropping those defenses even when it's hard

Heat Index: 6/10

Ten years ago, Jess and Tegan's mother disappeared--with her con artist boyfriend Lynton Baltimore, made famous by a popular podcast. Now, the podcast's creator is on their doorstep with her protegee, Adam. They want to find Lynton; and Jess and Tegan could be their key. The last thing Jess wants to do after raising her sister on her own is go down this rabbit hole. But if Tegan is going, so is she; and as they unravel their mother's secrets, Jess finds herself more exposed than she's ever been before... and, even more horrifyingly, opening up to Adam (and his massive shoulders, perfect for crying into).

I was a little worried by the premise of this book. Don't get me wrong, it's a great idea--but was it going to be women's fiction? The answer: nope! This is a great example of how to write a book that has a big plot, and has well-developed characters beyond the two leads... while still being a romance. That's something that used to be way more of a norm, but I've noticed lately that it seems to have become all or nothing. You're either all focus on the leads, no plot and paper-thin supporting characters, or the romance gets crumpled up and it's women's fiction. (Which is fine! Women's fiction is fine! It's just generally not my thing.)

Trust Kate Clayborn to give you all the feelings about EVERYONE involved, along with a thought-provoking and twisty-turny concept, while never sacrificing the strength of the love story. I was so invested in Adam, a truly good dude who isn't without his own sore spots, slowly worming his way into Jess's heart. And Jess is simply a great heroine--wounded and tough and a bit angry but also desperately holding it together for the sister she's raised. I loved watching them fall in love. In fact, this is probably my favorite Kate Clayborn book so far.

Quick Takes:

--I am very vocal about finding a lot of good guy heroes boring, and that is because "good" often seems to translate into "perfect" or "completely toothless". Adam is a great example of how to write a good guy hero correctly. Kate Clayborn generally knows how to write about good people who aren't perfect and are compelling.

Here, Adam is essentially a gentle giant with great intentions in the long term... Who still compromises his morals initially. (Not for long! and I would say that she could've pushed him to compromise those morals for a bit longer, but I get it.) And he doesn't always handle everything perfectly, and he's not always smooth, and he's interesting and hot and kind of the boyfriend I feel is ideal without being PERFECT.

Also: his ears go pink when he's embarrassed, and he is definitely a bit embarrassed about his Bigness. Like, he's always bumping into shit because he's so Big, and that's embarrassing, you guys!!! This is. So important to me.

--I'm so into the Eldest Daughter Syndrome Stuff, as an eldest daughter. Jess and Tegan's relationship is so great, sitting in that space between parent and sibling, and at a really awkward point (as Tegan just turned eighteen). I found Jess deeply relatable, and her prickliness makes perfect sense... while still getting in her way.

Honestly, Jess's character growth is the type of thing I don't think heroines are allowed to do enough? It's introspective and difficult, and I absolutely loved where we ended up.

--There's a supporting character, original podcast creator/Adam's mentor Salem, who went in some really different directions. I kind of loved having a character who was like... not malevolent, but not wholly good, too? Who was selfish, and not an ideal parent, and a LADY?

In general, the commentary on true crime fandom stuff and podcasting is so good. I think we've definitely reached this point where true crime podcasts have really dipped heavily into exploitation. Of course there are good ones! But let us be real. I loved the way that she confronted this being both a story and Jess and Tegan's lives. And, in addition, how knowing that early on conflicts with Adam's sense of morality.

--As a random note... I've noticed recently that a lot of romance novels, even those by people I so love, have parents do some really shitty stuff, and then shove in this reconciliation with their kids at the end. I think this has to do with the need for an HEA. But like. You can have an HEA that involves acknowledging that your parent is shitty and doesn't deserve forgiveness. Trust.

All I'll say is that I really loved how Clayborn handled the parent stuff in this book.

The Sex:

Kate Clayborn always leans more towards the romantic than the explicit in her sex scenes, though they are open door. There are a few scenes in this book, and they're reeeeally sensual. I loved the way she wrote the dialogue during sex scenes, and like, the sexiness of Jess and Adam sneaking around on this road trip with her teenage sister right there. Ooh, it was hot.

Insightful, romantic, and challenging in some ways, The Other Side of Disappearing really impressed me. I already liked Kate Clayborn, and this only made me more excited about her future work.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.