#Trash & Luxury

[perfettamentechic]

Outfit of the Day by Paola Moretti

Outfit by Paola Moretti #outfit #ootd #wwt #fashionstyle #winterstyle #redandpurplestyle #missoni #trashandluxury #sergiorossi #pinko #inèsandmaréchal #buccellati #revolutionpro #iho #paolamoretti #perfettamentechic

Gonna: Missoni Maglione: Trash & Luxury Scarpe: Sergio Rossi Borsa: Pinko Cappotto: Inès & Maréchal Orecchini e anello: Buccellati Lipstick: Revolution Pro Fashion Blogger: Paola Moretti Instagram: paolamorettiiho

[louistomlinsoncouk]

When One Direction went on hiatus in late 2015, everybody figured Louis Tomlinson was poised for instant pop success as a solo star. After all, he co-wrote so many of the group’s most beloved tunes. But he’s just finding his voice now. His hotly anticipated solo debut, the excellent Walls (due out Friday), is worth the wait. “It took me a second to get here,” Louis says with a laugh. “So it’s a bit of a relief. Because there was a lot of treading water.”

With 1D, Tomlinson was always famed for his cocky wit and his combative “Sassy Louis” bravado. But in recent years, he’s had to face intense heartbreak. In 2016, his mother died of cancer. Last year he released his poignant tribute “Two of Us” — but just two weeks later, his family was hit by tragedy again when his teenage sister suddenly passed away. Walls is full of personal reckoning, but it’s also the sound of a pop artist hitting a new creative breakthrough, as in the Oasis-style Britpop guitar blast “Kill My Mind.” Gearing up for his first solo tour, Louis took a break to discuss life after One Direction, dealing with grief, feuding with indie boys, turning 28, starting over in public, and how it feels to hear his ex-bandmates’ songs on the radio.

Congratulations on the new album. It sounds like you put a lot of heart and soul into it. Yeah — I feel like I’ve been swimming against the tide a little bit. When I took the leap of faith to go, “All right, I’m going to do something on my own,” it took me a second to work out exactly what that was going to be. A lot of people, when they’re first starting out, they develop in the background, trying different things. But obviously, I had to do that a little bit more publicly. That’s been definitely been challenging at times. So I’m relieved to have an album that I’m really proud of.

People expected you to bang out something fast for a hit. Why did you want to take your time? I definitely could have made a quick record, a more trendy record. But I think it’s a big thing for me as a writer that it’s got to be believable coming out of my mouth. So lyrics are really important to me.

You wrote so many classic tunes with One Direction, going back to “No Control” and “Midnight Memories.” But as a solo artist, did you feel like you needed to do something different? When I first started my solo career, I did an electronic track with Steve Aoki. He’s a fucking legend. And I did a track with Bebe Rexha — she’s cool as hell. But when I look back at those songs, I don’t think they really represent me. So it took me a second to work out that I just wanted to follow my heart. Because I have the luxury of having been in a band like One Direction. And luckily, I saw a lot of success with the band. But instead of focusing so much on numbers and chart position and radio, I thought, “I’m just going to follow my heart.” And, hopefully, it’ll be a more authentic record that way.

You made that big public statement last year, where you said you needed to stop trying for Top 40 hits and rethink “what success means to me.” Where did that come from? My only experience is being in a band the size of One Direction. So naturally, as much as you try and stay humble and realistic, that’s your experience. And that experience is based on something that isn’t real life, really. So it took me a second to be at peace with that.

You really changed gears last year, with “Two of Us.” It’s such a bold song emotionally. For obvious reasons, that is definitely one of my proudest moments to date. As a songwriter, I’ve never written a song that had as much weight and importance, from my own perspective. But then when I was chatting to friends, people would pull me aside and they’d say what that song means to them. Maybe they had lost someone recently and they’d share their story with me. And I’ve never really had that with music before, where it goes deeper than just being a love song. That carries a different kind of weight. That’s one of my proudest moments.

It was funny because around that time, for obvious reasons, I felt really redundant creatively. I was really struggling. When I look back in hindsight, it’s because I needed to get that song off my chest. Other concepts lacked significance, until I’d fit in that song.

These days, people aren’t necessarily used to hearing male songwriters open their hearts like that. My mum had a massive influence on my life, so there’s more of a female perspective there. And I do find it easy to speak about my emotions. I realized in my writing process, that was my ace to play — to lean on emotion and honesty. And talk about things that sometimes you’re not able to talk about.

How did you go from a song like that to a rocker like “Kill My Mind,” just a few months later? That was written deliberately as a statement of intent, really. I don’t want people to feel sorry for me, so I didn’t want to keep writing emotional, heavy stuff. So I thought it was a great opportunity to just completely switch it all, and really go in on my inspirations.

It has the pop-punk vibe of “No Control.” I loved something you said on Twitter a couple of years ago: “Remember if it’s by One Direction and it’s a banger I probably wrote on it.” Do you know what? It’s not often I blow my own trumpet, but I thought, “Fuck it! I’m having it. Because it’s true.” So yeah, I did enjoy that.

How’s it different doing it in your late twenties, as opposed to your early twenties? I feel like every song I write, I get better. But I tell you what, man, I am fucking conscious of my age. I’ve just turned 28 — I’m like, “Fuck me now. I’ve been doing this for 10 years.” If I do it all over again, I’ll be fucking 38, mate!

It’s an old cliche that when you go solo, you’re supposed to complain about your band and renounce them. But you haven’t done that. Well, two things. First, I absolutely fucking love the band. I’m super proud about where I’ve come from. At the end of the day, I’m from Doncaster, and the band gave me such a nice opportunity. But also, there’s a big history of that, people coming out of bands and chatting shit. I just think they just look so obvious. It’s such a desperate attempt to try and get cool points. So I don’t think it’s authentic. I fucking love the boys, and I love everything we’ve done together. And I still miss my time with them. I think any of the boys would be lying if they said otherwise. It was a special time in our lives, definitely.

In the music you’re making separately, you’ve each got your own voice. I think that’s a testament to this strength of us as a band, really, and what we all brought individually. And we do all have a different range of inspiration — that’s what made it interesting, both on a personality level and on a music level. I think we’re all making really fucking good music as well. So, yeah, it’s nice for me to turn up the radio and hear the boys with another banger.

What’s in store for your solo tour? Listen, I’m so excited — I’ve definitely had my eye on the tour. Because it’s one thing being in the studio, or a rehearsal space or TV studio or whatever. But it’s another thing literally going to see the fans, being able to look into their eyes and see what certain lyrics mean to them. And just feel the energy of the room. There’s nothing like that.

With One Direction, you always made that direct connection with the live audience. I think, to a certain degree, we were lucky in the time that we were living in. You look back to some of those Nineties boy bands, and they had to be a certain way. But we were always able to be ourselves, and I think that makes it easier for fans to connect to us. And you always want to make people feel as included as possible — everyone.

Do you have any heroes you dream about collaborating with? Obviously, I fucking love Liam Gallagher. He’s such a incredible lyricist. Most of the time when I’m playing music in the car, honestly, I’m not that diverse. I’ve just got Oasis on most of the time.

Any other music you’ve been enjoying lately? I really love fucking Catfish and the Bottlemen, which is ironic, because they chatted some shit about One Direction. Basically, I listened to the first album, and I’m like, “This is fucking amazing.” So I tweeted, saying, “I love this album.” And they tweeted back, trying to do the typical indie boy thing of trashing the fucking pop boys. I got a bit sour because they were chatting shit, trying to be clever, so I just boycotted them. But enough time has gone by, so I can listen to Catfish again. They do make fucking good music.

[maulusque]

Nothing you post will ever be funnier than Fox marrying Palpatine, divorcing him, and taking all his money. the reason I find it so funny is because Sheev would 100% marry Fox, Fox knows all the skeevy shit he gets up to, he can’t let him testify against him if he ever ends up in court

alright pack it in everyone i have PEAKED

ok so imagine: Fox is Stressed to the fucking breaking point, and it’s at least 80% palpatine’s fault, so he comes up with this bullshit idea while drunk, to marry the asshole and then CLEAN HOUSE. and once fox decides that he’s going to do something, he’s gonna fucking do it, no matter how absurd. he’s scarily persistent and freakishly creative, he’ll make it work.

So when Fox starts hate-flirting with palpatine and leaving him suggestive notes, ol’ Palps sees an opportunity to tie up a potentially dangerous loose end- Fox and the other high-ranking officers of the Coruscant Guard don’t have chips, because Palpatine might need them to be doing something else during Order 66, and he needs at least some personal elite troops who absolutely can’t be compromised by the wrong person finding the wrong database in his secret files. But at the same time, that means that he’s relying on loyalty- to the republic, or to him, personally, to control them. He’s done a pretty good job with most of the command officers, little favors and gifts, smiles and recognition for their work, “oh certainly i can make sure your friend gets transferred to coruscant”, or providing a fund to keep 79′s open. That sort of thing. 

But Fox? That motherfucker knows his internet history, so when when Fox starts hitting on him with all the subtlety of an orbital strike, Skeevy Sheevy fucking JUMPS ON that shit. Flirting back even harder, setting up elaborate secret dates, showering Fox in expensive gifts. Fox is like “holy shit this asshole must be really fucking lonely if he’s this easy” and amps up his romantic efforts to take advantage. Sheev is thinking “wow this poor naive fool is so easily manipulated, i have his heart on a string” and they’re both just constantly one-upping each other with ridiculous over-the-top romantic gestures.

They’re going on dates and calling each other disgusting pet names like “sheevy-bear” and “my silver fox” within a week. Sheev uses what he thinks are sophisticated terms of endearment, Fox has to bite his tongue to keep from losing it on their “dates”. Fox meanwhile is just trying to see how ridiculous he can make his pet names, and the answer is pretty fucking ridiculous because the chancellor is just eating that shit up.

Palpatine proposes about three months into their mutual charade. Fox gets all weepy and cries when he accepts, partially because he’s a good actor, and partially because he really is quite stressed, ok. and he has no trouble acting elated and happy because he had no idea it would be this easy, he was expecting to be playing the long game for at least a year and a half. Palpatine is just eager to lock this down. keep your enemies closer, and all that. Plus, with all the fake dating they’ve been doing, Fox now knows MUCH more than just his internet history. He agrees to whatever ridiculous bullshit Fox demands for their wedding, because he just wants to get this official as soon as possible, and he’s supposed to be in love with this moron, so he just says yes to whatever Fox suggests. “Yes dear of course we can have pink carnations at the wedding. Yes of course we can import the cake from a hostile planet. Yes of course we can conduct the ceremony underwater and in zero-g, i agree it would be very romantic. yes of course i’ll sign this absurdly detailed pre-nup, whatever you want, my darling sexy fox.”

Fox has to disguise his tears of laughter as tears of happiness during the (secret, but still legally binding) wedding. Palpatine let him hire a screamo band and fox is wearing a neon orange suit, and Palpatine is trying to come up with something nice to say about the troop of interpretive dancers that Fox insisted on, and Fox is living.

Fox lets it last a month and a half- just long enough for them to go on their incredibly lavish, luxurious honeymoon cruise, which, despite the presence of Palpatine, is very relaxing, thank you very much. They return to coruscant, Fox takes a few weeks to himself, making sure he’s got himself a good lawyer, and then fucking TAKES THAT BASTARD TO COURT. Palpatine is completely blindsided, and now he has to salvage this situation, because if he doesn’t (and it’ll be hard- Coruscant allows no-fault divorce) then Fox gets EVERYTHING- all his money, all his assets, all his property on Naboo, his ships, his fucking wardrobe, and wait, has that clause really been in there the whole fucking time? his emergency powers as chancellor (Fox put that in there for a laugh, he really thought Palpatine would have at least skimmed the thing before signing it, right?).

So Palpatine is freaking out, trying to figure out what made Fox fall out of love with him, try to fix it, and simultaneously try to spin the media in his favor, because oh boy, Fox is NOT being quiet about this and now the Chancellor’s whirlwind romance and collapsing marriage is Trending on space-twitter and dooku is leaving him messages going “?????” . So the news networks are all broadcasting footage of Palpatine in the courtroom, begging Fox to take him back, sobbing (fake) tears of heartbreak, and Fox (who can’t resist drama) crying “you could NEVER truly love me, I see that now, marrying you was a MISTAKE” 

Palpatine is grinding his teeth and seething inside at having to act the heartbroken Remorseful Husband for Fox, and for the public, meanwhile Fox is having the time of his fucking life. He lets the drama drag on a bit, waffling back and forth about whether to go through with the divorce (publicly- of course he’s still divorcing the bastard, he just wants to see him suffer first). he’ll give an interview one day where he’s crying gently and talking about the “love we used to have, he used to be so sweet, but now he’s just cold” and then talking about all the sweet things his “sheevy-bear” has done for him (palpatine has resolved to murder Fox, quietly but very painfully, for putting those pet names in intergalactic news. Fox is doing it on purpose). He lets it almost seem like he’s talked himself out of the divorce, and yes, Marlene, maybe there is a chance he could make it up to me, Then the next interview he gives he’ll trounce on camera, wearing the most expensive fur coat palpatine has ever given him (over his armor, he can be somewhat professional) and raging about how “I could never love that bastard” and “he hurt me, i can barely even stand to see his FACE” and “good riddance to bad trash!”

After a few weeks of jerking Palpatine (and the raptly attentive public) back and forth, Fox gets down to business and finalizes the divorce. In the end, there’s very little palpatine’s lawyers can do, that pre-nup is airtight. including the bit about his emergency powers. So overnight, Fox becomes incredibly rich, incredibly powerful, and also the supreme commander of the GAR. how about that. And hmm what’s in these computer drives I legally own now? What’s this about contingency orders? oh YIKES. and oh, look at that, decades of records of bribery, corruption, and- hey, is this a chat log of texts with count dooku? 

Fox orders Palpatine’s arrest two days after the divorce. Palpatine tried to go into hiding, but it’s hard when your ex-husband now owns all your ships. and your house. and your clothes. Palpatine is crying for reals as he is is escorted off to jail. The great Sith Lord, done in by a foolish love-struck clone (does he ever figure out that Fox was just yanking his chain for stress relief? I choose to think Not).

Fox proceeds to fix everything, end the war, clone rights, ban leafblowers, yadda yadda. He retires to cruise the galaxy in his very nice space yacht. He also keeps the fur coat.

[gottawriteanegoortwo]

What are People to a God?

Okay okay. I know what the blog description says, but it’s my blog and I can go beyond the fandom I said I was writing snippets for.

I’ve had people talking to me about Borderlands over the last few days, and since I have only seen parts of a playthrough of the first and third (my laptop isn’t able to run them), I started researching the third game again lately… And found a garbage child. I got curious and thought I’d test myself to write someone pretty different - Troy Calypso. It was tricky to actually figure out his personality solely from canon, since the focus is more on Tyreen… But I gave it a shot. Be gentle?

Warnings for descriptions of murder under the read more. And Troy being garbage. :D

Word Count: 1,321

-

A God. That’s what he was.

He and Tyreen were going to seize control of this pathetic planet and all the stars around it like no one had ever seen before. Handsome Jack? Who’s that? A nobody compared to the Calypso Twins! They were leaders of a cult - The Children of the Vault - and would travel the galaxy to open the vaults and claim their birthright. Thousands (if not millions) of devout followers who would be willing to cut themselves to pieces if asked. Useless NPCs, the lot of them! They only served a purpose in this grand story: to help the Gods rise to power!

Of course, Tyreen was the one they would always flock to. After all, she was the face of the cult. Her white hair made her a literal beacon amongst the scrap metal and wastelands. Her larger than life personality and cockiness could probably fill the Great Vault itself. Her Siren abilities that brought fear and admiration to all that met her. But she would be nothing without Troy. A parasite, yes, but an intelligent one. He understood how the system worked with the primitive bandits. He learned their games and how to use it to their favour. Now look at them! Streaming to all corners of the world through the ECHOnet, with all the bandits of Pandora at their beck and call!

Money was no issue these days either. They could get all the luxuries they ever wanted. All the comfort, the cutting edge technology, the weapons! It was a far cry from the pathetic upbringing of [REDACTED], where everything was cold, isolated, and worn out. Who cared about that worthless loser anyway? The answer - no one! It only made it so much easier to sacrifice that youth to become Troy Calypso, the God King. No God could rise to power without such a ritual, after all. There was no place in this world to be soft. Tyreen didn’t need a hesitant fool by her side. He was just as worthy as her, parasite or not. He’d die without her, but he needed to make sure all were oblivious to that.

Even if he was always in Tyreen’s shadow, she wouldn’t be who she was without him. But when there was a day she couldn’t host the livestream because of consuming the life essence of someone sickly? Oh, everyone remembered Troy and why they should be scared of him. He was more than just the tall brother with the elongated metal arm. No… He was a threat, just as much as Tyreen.

-

It had been a fun livestream, just Troy and the audience joking around in one of the main arenas, until one of the so-called ‘heretics’ crashed the party. It wasn’t one of the ‘superfans’, just an amateur vault hunter with an ambition to raid and be someone important. Unfortunately, they were no match for the eridian-tier fans, and they were thrown into the pit where Troy was waiting. The ever-faithful droid camera hovered nearby, eager to snap up every good shot it possibly could.

“Well, well, well… Look what trash landed on our doorstep while we’re live.” His height was something used to his advantage in times like these. Troy could raise his head back and pace around the human with a cocky air. “Such a shame my dear sister isn’t here. I’m sure she’d get a kick out of you. Then again… You aren’t really worth much, huh? You’re nothing more than a faceless nobody looking for fifteen minutes of fame. But here you are! You’ve got your fame, and you’ve got the whole world watching! You’re live on the ECHOnet, baby! Why don’t we give our special guest a warm welcome?” He stretched out both arms, giving the bandits present a time to clap and jeer at the rookie hunter at his feet. 

“As you all know, voting’s still underway for the person you want killed next. But what’s the harm in giving all you loyal viewers a little refresher of how we do things around here. You want that, huh? Lemme hear it!” The crowd roared, eager to indulge in a moment of bloodlust. The hunter tried to take the chance to move, but only received a swift kick in the stomach for their actions.

“Ah, ah, ah… Not yet. We haven’t even started our little show. I was even going to let you fight for your life… But nah.” Troy knelt down so he could roughly grab the hunter’s hair with his right hand. When he spoke again, it was in a low voice so only the other could hear. The audience were distracted by the drone, who had taken the time to amp up the excitement by shooting up to record the audience. “I’ll be a merciful God, just this once, and make this as quick as possible. I could draw this out for hours. Start a donation train where for every hundred dollars, you get another life-threatening injury. It’s a shame, you know. You don’t look much older than Tyreen and I when we started streaming. You could’ve had a good life with us, kid.” A light flashing on his arm caught his attention and a wicked grin spread across his lips. It almost looked like his mouth would crack open to reveal something monstrous, but he rose to his feet before anything of the sort happened.

“It seems you’re all eager today. The donations are already starting to pour in, along with comments like ‘hurry up!’ and ‘we want blood!’. Well… Who am I to refuse?” As the camera droid positioned itself, Troy decided what was best to do. What would get the best reaction when the stream ended? An idea hit him as he reached forward again. This time, the prosthetic arm firmly gripped the top of the nobody’s head and lifted them until they were at eye level. “Let’s show them all what the Children of the Vault can do!” With a mental count to ‘three’, he squeezed. The hunter tried to pry the fingers away in agony, but to no avail. After all, what good could mere hands do against metal? While Troy would normally rely on guns or even his favourite sword, he knew there was nothing better than simply squeezing the life out of someone if he was unarmed. A skull was a tough thing, but it would start to crack under the pressure of his grip. His expression grew more manicial as he dug his fingers in harder. Then… The satisfying sound of bone snapping rang through the arena. Funny, he hadn’t even noticed how deathly quiet the audience had become until they let out an almighty roar for the God King. The body was dumped carelessly to the ground as he beckoned for the camera droid.

“I think this is as good a time to wrap up the stream today, folks! A good reminder to all you Vault Hunters out there about what will happen if you ever cross our path. Your God Queen Tyreen will be back in full swing tomorrow, so be sure to tune in and give her all that sweet adoration. And remember: don’t forget to like, follow, and obey. Later!”

He left the thrill of the arena as he returned to his personal quarters. His own space was quiet, and it provided the perfect chance to wash the blood off his hand while it was wet. Blood might look cool, but it could damage the protective coating if allowed to harden over time, and he didn’t want to have to deal with the mess of fixing that with one arm.

As per usual after a stream like that, music was turned on to a near-deafening volume. Anything to drown out that little voice that questioned if what he was doing was right, and if he was worth more than being a psychotic, parasitic murderer.

[frank-o-meter]

While much of the world was staying home due the Covid19 virus, Ben Chen decided to take his 2014 Gemballa Mirage GT out for a drive. The result? A crash severely damaging the $1,000,000 car and he was arrested for hit-and-run and suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs.

https://nypost.com/2020/04/07/luxury-car-owner-wrecks-his-ultra-rare-750k-ride-in-nyc/

And this wasn’t the first time he’s tolaled an expensive car.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2342044/amp/Trashed-Texas-McLaren-supercar-worth-230-000-totaled-high-speed-smash-occupants-walk-away-unharmed.html

[vapormaison]

Best of 2019 Vaporwave Release 3/4: Sensual Loops SPECIAL EDITION by Cyber Club

As vaporwave matures and enters the mainstream, I often find myself having discussions with vapor heads on reddit about the iconography of the genre. I realize that this is a bad idea, but cannot help myself. More often than not, they are pointlessly terse, and tend to be tediously teleological — the type of argumentation featuring enough loops of logic to cause a medieval Byzantine monk’s head to spin.

A recurring topic that baits me every single time is when a poster attempts to criticize the album art of a record, dismissing the entire work on the based on “anime” aesthetics. While this might seem like an argument so off-center and reductive that it’s parody— I’d encourage you to go on r/VaporVinyl and take a look at some of the posts replying to threads about Cyber Club’s Sensual Loops LP series. It’s not pretty, and representative where some of the fanbase is at the moment. Adding to my shock was when one of the self-appointed critics outed themselves as twenty three years old. At that moment, I was forced to confront my own bias. I had mistakenly assumed that the puritan was an out-of-touch Gen Xer or a Baby Boomer. Aesthetic intolerance is not exclusive — and plenty of Zoomers are members of this trash clique as well.

What really boggled my mind, however, was that the user had picked vaporwave out of all the other possible genres to go on their Nipponophobic soapbox against. A quick look at the aesthetic movement as a whole (sonically, artistically, etc.) establishes it as what I would assert as a primarily millennial genre — less of a statement about its creators and consumers, and more about the broader, overarching cultural milieu in which in developed. It was birthed in the decade that heralded the mass-consumption of Japanese media in the Western marketplace. Many of its early practitioners got their start chopping and screwing anime OSTs and hip hop. Future Funk effectively appeared on the sonic map by the sampling of Japanese city pop. What is even worth arguing here?

But that which bothered me even more was the user’s stubborn refusal to even listen to the album. You can not buy a vinyl because you just have a particular aversion to cover art — that’s fine! Better yet, you can not buy a vinyl just because you’re not a fan of the sound. Those are two perfectly fine reasons not to partake in a release. But then to go on reddit and complain about an album aesthetic for something you haven’t even listened to? Come on, fam. Level up your praxis. It is the whitewashing and the boorishness that is most infuriating. I’ve legitimately never heard of anyone who dismissed an entire album’s music purely on the basis of its vinyl cover art before.

And shame on them, because they are sleeping on one of the best works of 2019.

The limited edition of Sensual Loops 1 & 2 is another LP that I had the luxury of listening to while on my East Asia tour. I brought the album (among others) with me to visit a very good pal of mine, Han, who’s retired to Hong Kong. Much to my relief, he’s in a comparatively spacious apartment over in the Tai Wo area — by no means the stereotypical postage stamp — and has set up a little audiophile pad that I’m most envious of. His setup is devoted to all things B&W, and I got a beautiful listen of the album on a pair of impressive and almost imposing 700-series floor standers. Powered by the Cambridge Audio Edge series Amp/Pre combo, this was far above even my paygrade. But after working as a salaryman for two decades, he was finally able to invest in his endgame system. And what an endgame it is!

Getting the chance to listen Sensual Loops on this system cemented my opinion when I had first heard it’s release digitally: I was listening to an instant contender for the best vaporwave release of 2019.

Sensual Loops 1

Introduction immediately fills your speakers with a wide, warm guitar and horn loops that feature just enough static noise to distinguish itself as a vaporwave track. I always like it when a little minute-thirty track gives the amp a little exercise. It also proves to be a perfect sonic setup for the next track, which is ostensibly what every “intro” track should do, right?

Night carries that guitar riff from Introduction but adds a playful variance with a synth loop, and vocals that I believe are sampled from that Philly Soul classic “Children of the Night” done by the Stylistics and the Jones Girls’, among others. All of the moving parts here do wonders, syncing together in a perfect arrangement. Both Han and I commented on just how bright this played on his JBLs, which is a testament to the mix and mastering work here.

Love & Affection definitely feels the most retro-vapor of all the tracks on Sensual Loops 1, beginning with a series of loops, riffs, and synth chimes that feel as if they were picked from a certain collection of sitcoms of an early nineties vintage. The heavily distorted vocals and hypnotic drum kits pop in after about a minute to give the track an almost deep house feel as it progresses. The “all mine” hook then crescendos into a symphony of drum hits that conclude the track with a real sonic flutter in the air when played with high-end speakers.

Pain accelerates the rather slow pace of the album up to this point. I’m a big fan of the synth arrangement that opens the track, and I schmood even more with the powerfully funky vocal set that carries the track throughout. But with its short length, it does feel more like an interlude or setup for what I consider to be the highlight of the LP.

Memories is our certified slapper. It starts off immediately with an incredibly catchy synth chord arrangement supplemented by a fantastically tweaked vocal sample from the fantastically, alliteratively-named Melba Moore, another funky soul queen who needs a revival in the contemporary lexicography.

Sensual definitely swings the record a bit further away from the future funk and back towards the vapor-funk side of things. Back are cyber club’s usual array of jumpy, tinny synth chords and manipulated vocal micro-samples that still provide a really robust sonic experience on the hi-fi system of your choice. When the vocals make their appearance about ninety seconds in, I was expecting them to sound much less rich in the middle than they did, which was definitely a present surprise on the mastering side!

Alone is a beautiful cacophony of micro-samples with a vocal track manipulated to sound like an 80s ideal of a future robot gf. I’m not sure how else to describe this track except as pure atmosphere. The fluttering synths, muted percussion, electric highs that send tweeters bouncing — it’s difficult to precisely describe how a track like this comes over a hi-fi system like the Edge. It just pulls out every detail from an immensely dense track like this and does it every bit the justice it deserves.

Paradise ends up taking a traditional funk and re-engineering it into a sort of quasi-tropical sound similar to some of the early Aloe Island Posse bangers. It’s got a much more lo-fi edge to the track then most future funk takes on a track like this, and creates a really unique and playful experience.

Bliss is almost raw synth pop with a hardened vapor edge to it. Although the original sample is from a very soulful electro R&B outfit — the Loose Ends — we get aggressive drums and synth loops that bring this closer to Paula Abdul than anything that could be traditionally considered rhythm and blues. Just enough manipulation of the vocal sample and some well-timed percussion hits make this more fit for a night out than a baby-making session in, which is both remarkable and a testament to cyber club’s skill.

Sensual Loops 2

Intro captures a little more of than urban-turned-Island soundscape that we caught a glimpse of in Paradise. I’m eternally impressed by this, as it seems like Cyber Club never gets too caught up in the production to bring this too far from its vapor essence while still making this a great lede in its own right.

Sensual was a track I was initially expecting to be a remix or redux of the first Sensual from Sensual Loops 1, but I’m glad to see this piece of bass-heavy vapor exists as its own full-bodied track in its own right. It grabs you immediately with its “I’ll never give up on you” vocal loop spliced in among its synth array, and carries you through with an intriguing arrangement of instrumental loops and micro-samples throughout. The low end can really shine here with the right system.

Hold Her Now is a piece of nostalgic, vintage vaporwave straight out of the Saint Pepsi era. Ostensibly a creative cut-up some New Jack Swing that absolutely slaps with the right electric guitar riff and synthetic percussion hit, it harkens back to when vaporwave was in its “peak aesthetics” phase of production and plunder-phonic glory. Perhaps this reminder of what vaporwave used to be unfairly biases me, but it’s definitely a listen for the nostalgia driven old-heads.

Affair is the type of track that sounds completely different on certain types of stereos. While Han’s stereo brought out the crisp, wide vocal mix — perhaps a testament to Cambridge’s design history, my Harman Kardon/KEF pairing brought the synth flares here to the fore. The testament to this track is that I really enjoyed both profiles, and Affair sounded robust and detailed throughout.

Kiss is one of the tracks that I felt coolest on upon an initial listen, which is perhaps a statement to just how much I enjoyed this album. When presented with the innovative arrangements of tracks like Hold Her Now or Memories, I was left feeling that Kiss doesn’t do enough in its minute thirty second runtime. That being said, it’s fun. And that’s what music can and should be at the end of the day, isn’t it?

Touch heaps on that vapor memory with some creative vocal layering, tinny and distorted high-end flutters, and an electric horn that came out swinging in the Cambridge system, much to my surprise. It’s clear at this point that Cyber Club has created a very particular listening experience here, and I’m oh so fond of it.

Special makes a funky classic fresh and electric again, which is what I’m really starting to vibe with in terms of the Cyber Club oeuvre. It serves as a sort of confirmation, a celebration and an altogether fantastic close to the LP.

Vinyl Physicality & Listening Experience

I like black vinyl. This milquetoast statement has earned for me the ire of some enthusiasts on r/VaporVinyl when I post on my alt-account there. Because vaporwave attracts curators with “experience” in the music industry, I’ve been told by “serious LP collectors [who know] label managers” — the type of folks who spin on $100 Crosley turntables bought at a Kohl’s Black Friday sale — that new black vinyls just doesn’t sell anymore. Not for vaporwave, at least. A release should have a colored vinyl or not release at all!

This was a take from the same twenty-three year old who wouldn’t purchase Sensual Loops because of the hentai on the cover — so take that for what you will.

I’ve always liked the supplier that Sic Records uses — whoever they are. The vinyls always have a bit of mass and heft to them, leading me to guess that they’re probably in the 180g range. But that’s just my finger test. My Jungle2000 vinyl feels just as weighty. I’ve always believed there’s a definite spectrum with black vinyls — from the frail Qrate cheap options to the high end audiophile oriented waxes like the beautifully crafted Victor Japan and Columbia waxes from the late 80s and early 90s that you see most city pop and anime OSTs pressed on.

The masters on these records are definitely intriguing for the format. My biggest critique of vaporwave vinyl at this point is that some labels don’t take the requisite care to put out a good vinyl master, and often just end up going all-in with poorly optimized digital release ones. The folks at Sic definitely know what they’re doing — because this ended up playing great on a number of systems and speakers, from my KEFs and H/K setup, to a friends Technics mid-fi rig, to Han’s Cambridge endgame. Each time, we got a wide-but-not-too-wide play without the sound edging towards the bright end of the spectrum too intensely. I think this is important because it respects a lot of the samples used. The mixing work done on a lot of the Philly soul here definitely had a certain muted approach that really brought out the most from the vocals and left instrumental arrangements to a moderately more ambient role. I get that impression of continuity here and love it for that.

In short, you should snap up this release while you can. It’s a great release, and fuck the vaporwave nannies who’d shut down Cyber Club’s best two albums without even a listen. May that /u/ go down with u/hoesmad_ on r/Vaporwave’s wall of shame.

[acampinglife]

RV Camping at Disney’s Fort Wilderness

If you’re like me, you hear the word “Disney” and you automatically get filled with a sense of excitement and magic! I mean they pay attention to every tiny detail and always manage to create a sense of adventure and wonderment. So, of course, Disney’s Fort Wilderness is no exception.  After having spent some time there myself, I can say that it is definitely worth the trip. 

Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground opened in November 1971. The resort has campsites and air-conditioned Wilderness Cabins situated on 750 acres of lush forest of pine and cypress trees. You will most likely see plenty of wildlife such as rabbits, deer, armadillos, ducks, geese, and peacocks roaming the grounds.

The campground has private sites and features all the amenities of other campgrounds, with quite a few Disney extras.  It includes two heated pools that are open 24 hours a day, rental cabins, several restaurants and stores, a marina, playgrounds, tennis courts, horse and pony rides, a petting zoo, fishing, bike rentals, private carriage rides, and so much more.

To get you started, here are some tips to make sure you have a memorable stay at Fort Wilderness.

Be ready for the changing weather in Florida:

Since the campground is in Florida, it’s something the whole family can enjoy year-round. That being said, Florida’s weather can go from hot and humid to stormy—all in one day. Be ready for any type of weather by bringing shelter with bug netting (if you plan to eat outside), awning, and tarps for sudden downpours, and plenty of sunscreen. 

Have a pet? Bring them along!:

Fort Wilderness is very pet-friendly and has a leash-free dog park. If you need to board your pet, the Best Friends Pet Care facility will take care of them while you visit the theme parks. For more information on pet policy, check it out here.

Rates and Sites:

First of all, to enjoy this fabulous adventure...you need an RV! We can help you with that part. We have many different RVs for you to choose from to fit your needs. All of them offer a luxurious camping experience;  www.camperfunpass.com is where you start.  Fort Wilderness has campsites for all sizes of RVs. Keep in mind, even with all those campsites, there are no pull-thru spots. So if you have a larger camper or trailer, you will need to back in. 

The campground’s premium campsites are currently around $121 per night, versus a tent or pop-up camper site for around $78 per night. If you’re an annual passholder, you are eligible for significant discounts throughout the year. Availability varies and many times rates aren’t announced until three or four months in advance so keep an eye out.

Most sites are fairly secluded from one another by bushes and trees between sites. The campsites range in length from 25 to 60 feet.  Each site is about 25 feet wide and comes with a picnic table and charcoal grill.

All sites have electricity (20/30/50 amps) and city water. There are certain full hookup sites that also provide sewer. There are also partial hookup sites, primarily used by tent campers and those with tent trailers. When 

booking be sure to specify the RV’s length, if it has slide outs or awnings, and any other details about its size when making a reservation so the right sized campsite is assigned to you.

Things to bring:

Flashlight or lantern

Insect repellent

Charcoal and matches

Extension cord, rope or clothesline cord

Toolbox

Fire extinguisher

Hatchet/ax

Broom and dustpan

Trash bags

Outdoor rug

Water pressure regulator

Drinking water hose, gray water hose and holding container

Wheel chocks, leveling blocks

Roll of quarters for laundry, laundry detergent

And, of course, the keys!

Comfort Stations and Laundry Facilities:

There are a number of comfort stations located through the campground. The comfort stations are all air-conditioned and include private showers, restrooms, laundry rooms, phones, and ice machines. They are open 24 hours a day, with the exception of the laundry. The washers and dryers each cost $3. Vending machines for single-load laundry detergent, fabric softener and bleach cost about $1. 

Getting around Fort Wilderness:

Unless you plan on walking endlessly all day to get to where you want to go in the campground, I highly recommend a golf cart, which we also rent out for your convenience. In case you forgot it’s...www.camperfunpass.com. Just a reminder, the campground is about 750 acres!

There are internal buses running within the campground to get you to the marina, the Trading Posts, pools, etc., but bus waits can be up to 20 minutes.

You gotta eat!:

Dining includes restaurants, dinner shows, and snack bars – all serving American food. Restaurant meals range from under $15 to $60 per person, based on the average Guest check, not including alcohol, tax and tip.

Crockett’s Tavern offers beverages and snacks such as pizza, quesadillas, etc.

Trail’s End Restaurant provides an all you can eat buffet for breakfast and dinner, a menu for lunch.

P and J’s Southern Take Out – carry-out items all day.

Chuck Wagon offers burgers, sandwiches, and salads to go.

Meadow Snack Bar offers salads, sandwiches, light snacks, and frozen treats to go.

Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue an all-you-can-eat dinner show.

You won’t be bored with many more activities:

Tennis: Two lighted tennis courts with complimentary equipment available for resort guests at the Bike Barn, if you don’t want to bring your own. 

Archery Experience: Whether newbie or expert, an archery guide at the Bike Barn offers training and tips on how to hit the bulls-eye!

Specialty Cruises: cruise around Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon with the option of ending with a view of the Magic Kingdom Fireworks.

Tri-Circle-D Ranch – offers guided trail rides on horseback. There’s also pony rides for children at least 2 years old, weighing no more than 80 pounds and no taller than 48 inches. They must be able to hold on by themselves. 

Playgrounds -- Let the kiddos burn off some steam at outdoor activity areas located at Pioneer Hall, the Meadow Recreation area, Creekside Meadow and the Marina/Beach area.

Nightly Wagon Rides at Pioneer Hall. You can also book private carriage rides.

Bicycle, kayak, and canoe rentals.

Fishing in canals (free) or chartered largemouth bass fishing excursions on Bay Lake, which include a professional guide, refreshments (soft drinks, coffee, hot chocolate & water), fishing gear and bait.

Horseshoes and shuffleboard, basketball and tetherball courts

Arcades – Davy Crockett Arcade at Pioneer Hall (near Settlement Depot) and Daniel Boone Arcade (near Meadow Trading Post).

Two heated outdoor swimming pools. 

Water skiing, wakeboarding, parasailing.

Swamp Trail – 3/4 mile loop along the shore of Bay Lake

Fort Wilderness Exercise Trail – 2.3 mile paved and sand path

For more information on all these activities, click here. The address for Fort Wilderness is at 4510 N. Ft. Wilderness Trail, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-1000. Phone is: 407-824-2900; Fax is: 407-824-3508.

I hope this helps you plan a magical Disney trip to Fort Wilderness!  We know camping and RVs. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us...we’re friendly!  www.camperfunpass.com or call us at 407-413-6854. Let’s plan your amazing adventure!

[bedbellyandbeyond]

Out of Body

Long Post, Art At End: New Characters

First week into working with Fay, Camilo was having a hard time keeping up. After the ‘incident' at the office, a lot of important physical documents were lost and the company decided to go almost entirely digital. It was Camilo's job to organise what was left of Fay's paperwork and enter it into the new database and encrypt it. He spent long hours in front of the computer despite his boss's encouragement for him to get up every ten minutes to walk around. At the end of the day his back would hurt and he felt like he could hardly breathe in his binding. Fay had promised the next week to bring him down to meet one of the newcomers and he was more excited than anything else. In his two years of interning with the EID, he still hadn't actually made contact with any aliens. Fay was already a marvel. They're first time working together, Camilo was surprised he'd fallen so hard for Fay (considering how he wasn’t his type) until the merman realised what was going on and reversed it.

“Oh dear, I rarely see you that I'd nearly forgotten about you,” Fay said back when Camilo confessed to him with a stuffed bear that smelled like chocolate. “Here, have a juice box, sweetheart.” Camilo had been a little offended, feeling like Fay was patronising him but he took the mysteriously handy juice box Fay pulled out from under his desk, and it was as if all his thoughts and desires were cleared. Fear took over as he realised his dumb mistake. He nearly had a panic attack but Fay gave him a hug. “Calm down, child,” Fay said. “Breathe. This is normal and it's really my fault for not revealing this to you sooner.” Camilo had been really embarrassed but he came to work anyway and Fay acted like it never happened. After that, they seemed to work pretty well. Now this particular day, Camilo made sure to be early. He was simply brimming with anticipation waiting to find out what kind of alien he'd be seeing this week. It was never specified that he'd see them the very first day of the week but he still crossed his fingers. He found himself a bit too early though and had to wait at his own desk for a while before Fay arrived. He tidied up a bit while he waited, emptying his trash can and clearing the clutter. He come to notice that Fay was never consistently punctual so he wondered if he was commuting from far away. Other than the whole mermaid thing, he didn’t yet know a lot about his new boss despite how open and flamboyant he seemed. “Cammy boy, good morning!” Fay said walking up the hall. He was carrying a paper bag with him and a tray of coffee. “I hope you weren’t waiting long. Family drama so I hadn’t eaten breakfast and had to get some. Would you like some?” Cam blinked and got up out of his chair. “Actually, a coffee would be great right now.” “Here you go,” Fay said lowering the tray to him. “There should be some creamers and sugar in my office. Let me let us in.” He did so quickly and put his breakfast down on the desk before pulling out a couple packets of creamer. Camilo took one and pour half of it in his coffee before taking a sip. Fay stood at his desk eating a veggie wrap.. Then he remembered Fay's particular ability and took a sugar packet out of a cup on the desk and poured that in too. He’d had orange juice that morning but he felt like he couldn’t be too careful. He didn’t need himself getting goo-eyes for his boss again today. “Monday, Monday, Monday…” Fay said. “How was your weekend? Eventful?” “It was okay. Not really eventful,” Camilo admitted. “You?” “It was alright and without incident,” Fay said. “We had a baby.” “What? You had a baby? This weekend?” Fay nodded smiling. “Yes. My boyfriend gave birth to a beautiful baby girl.” “Why are you here?” Camilo was practically shaking. “Shouldn’t you be on paternity leave?!” Fay chuckled. “I will, just not this week… Dari insisted I go to work so he can be alone with the kids so I am obliging.” “So you were kicked out of the nest?” “It seems I was…” Camilo smiled. “Well, I have to say congratulations! It must be exciting!” “It is, I am quite proud. And I've never seen Dari so happy and well.” Fay sighed pleasantly as he placed his finger on the tablet on his desk to unlock it. “Shall we get to work then? Could you pull up…#75463’s file?” “Yes.” Camilo took the tablet and retrieved the desired document. “Is this who you’re seeing today?” “This is who we’re seeing,” Fay said. He pulled out a box of  “You will want gloves.” “I get to see an alien? Today?” Camilo smiled. “Right now?” “Yes, I told you we would so here we go,” Fay said. “Rheni is quite nice. You’ll probably like him.” “What kind of, you know, being is he?” Camilo asked. “A Diso,”  Fay said. “You’ll see. Humanoid… Sometimes. You’ll see, you’ll see.” Camilo nodded. “Okay. He’s not dangerous or anything?” “No, no… Ready to go?” “Absolutely.” “I can tell. C’mon.” Fay let them out and let the door lock before heading towards the elevators. After the incident locally known as ‘Code Red’, security had been amped up to the max so both of them had to go through three levels of security measures before they could even get to the elevator doors. Once inside, Fay swiped a card and put in a passcode. The elevator lurched into motion. Camilo rocked on his heels uncomfortably. There’d been four guards outside the door and he felt kinda anxious with that many eyes on him. He knew there’d probably be more guards when they got down but he assured himself everything would be fine. Fay too seemed a little agitated, though Camilo could figure why. He did this for a living all the time yet he still gripped the elevator railing with white knuckles. “Everything okay?” Camilo asked hesitantly. “Hm?” Fay looked to him smiling. “Yes. I'm just not…fond of how deep the facilities are. Honestly, as a merperson, I'm never too comfortable this deep underground, no matter how many times I'm come down here.” Camilo nodded. “That's alright. I don’t think anyone really likes thinking about that part… Although, I'm probably more uncomfortable with all the surveillance.” “That you'll probably get used to,” Fay said. “No one here is out to get you. It's really a safety measure. I should probably introduce you to some of the security guards then. They like me.” “Everyone likes you,” Camilo said. Fay chuckled. “That's true…” He went silent for a moment as the elevator screeched a bit. “So when did you migrate from Venezuela?” Camilo blinked a little. “How did you know I'm from Venezuela?” “Your beautiful accent,” Fay said. “Oh… Everyone usually assumes I'm from Mexico,” Camilo admitted. “I uh, my family moved here when I was fifteen.” “Do you miss it?” “Not really. I mean there's some little things about that I do miss but in the end, I think my life is better off here.” “It is a beautiful country but I understand,” Fay said. “Issue of freedoms?” Camilo nodded. “Mostly, yes… So, you've been to Venezuela?” “Yes. Every country that touches the sea I've been for some time or another,” Fay said. “This I think is the most inland I've been, but even still we're by a lake.” “So freshwater's okay for you?” Camilo asked. “Better than nothing. There are some freshwater merfolk, but I am not one…” “Then why here? Why so far from the ocean?” “This job, of course,” Fay said. “They found out about my particular talents and they wanted me. And I have been fascinated by my experiences here ever since. Not to mention, I wouldn’t have met Dari if it weren’t for this job.” Camilo nodded. “That's fair…” The elevator came to a stop and they got out. As expected there were even more security checks to get through once they were there. Once through, they were even tailed by a security guard down the hall to the desired room. Fay swiped his card and put in a code again before the door opened for them. The room was decently furnished. A table, couple chairs, a bookcase, games and a nice sized tub. The one problem was there was no resident to be found. The only evidence of some off wordly business was a couple puddles of purple liquid about the floor of the room. Fay's eyes widened. “Oh no.” Camilo immediately tensed up. “What? Where is he?” “I can’t believe it!” Fay said. “He can’t have escaped… The security… We're so well secured…” Camilo started to panic. “What do we do?!” Suddenly a bit of laughter filled the room. Camilo turned around to find one of the puddles had grown a mouth and was laughing. Camilo jumped and tried to hide behind Fay. “Wow, Fay, you are such a bad actor,” the puddle said. “Worked though.” Fay smiled. “I tried. Why don’t you put yourself back together for a proper introduction?” All the puddle began to move, slinking across the floor and combining and soldifying into a moving mass of what looked almost like Jell-O. It built up upon itself until if formed a humanoid being with yellow eyes. A deep purple orb floated in his right shoulder. He looked at Camilo smiling mischievously. “Cam,” Fay said. “This is Rheni. Rheni, Camilo.” Rheni smirked and held out his hand. Camilo looked down at the wet purple hand and now understood why he needed the gloves. Nervously, he shook the offered hand. “Nice to meet you.” Rheni nodded. “Nice to meet you too, Cam. You're cute.” Camilo blinked and blushed. “Huh? Oh, uh… Thanks.” “How’s your reading been?” Fay asked, walking over to the bookcase and selecting a title. “They keeping you stocked up?” “Yeah… It’s the video games they’re being cheap about,” Rheni said placing his hands on his hips, ultimately just fusing the ends of his arms into his sides. “Like, really… A wii? I need me one of those fancy new Nintendo Switchs or a PS4 or something…” “Not something within our luxury budget for you,” Fay said. “But I’ll put a word in for better entertainment.” Rheni grinned and sat down at his table, waiting for them to join. “Come on over. Make yourself at home.” Camilo did as told but as there was only two chairs, Fay stood behind him. “So what do you think?” Fay asked Camilo. “How do you like your close encounter of the third kind?” Camilo squirmed a little in his seat. “This is really, really cool, but um…not what I expected?” Rheni tilted his head. “What do you mean? Something wrong with me? Am I not alien enough?” Camilo shook his head quickly. “No, no! That’s not it at all! I don’t mean it to be rude… I just…I didn’t expect you to be so…you know, eloquent.” Rheni chuckled and looked up to Fay. “Uh, oh. He’s onto us.” “Huh?” Fay patted Camilo’s shoulder. “That’s because Rheni’s actually human.” Camilo’s eyes widened. “…What?” “Well, not exactly,” Rheni said. “I am a human consciousness put inside this slimy body. My body is all alien and whatever, but I am a real man’s being transferred in here.” “So, you're a human in an alien body?” Camilo asked. “Is it…weird?” Rheni shrugged. “Uh, yeah. Pretty much.” “How'd it happen?” Rheni sighed. “I don’t really know. I woke up like this on an alien spaceship or something. I don’t really remember anything from when I was human.” “So then how do you know you're human?” Camilo asked. “Oh, well… It's complicated. It's like… I remember how to do human things and I can remember some stuff… Like, the Rockies…and bacon and eggs…and uh, um…” He knit his brow, clearly starting to become frustrated. “Dammit, I can’t…” “You remembered the video games,” Fay said to help him. “And a big one is English.” “Yeah, those too,” Rheni said. “And uh, I know I'm a man and not a woman or otherwise. I know that much.” Camilo smiled. “Yeah, I get that…” “We're working to find Rheni's identity but it hasn’t been easy,” Fay said. “We know he has an American accent but that doesn’t mean he was necessarily living in the United States when he was abducted,” Fay said. “And even though he remembers the Rockies, it could've been on vacation… It's just been difficult. We need to get clearance to take him out every now and again to try and help jog his memory but it's rare. Especially since he always tries to wander off.” “I'm sorry if I have a little bit of wanderlust, god dammit,” Rheni said. “I hate being down here.” “So is Rheni not your real name?” Camilo asked. “No. I don’t know my name,” Rheni said. “These guys called me Arrhenius because my body can dissolve things like an Arrhenius acid. So Rheni from Arrhenius.” He cupped his mouth. “You may not have noticed, but a lot of the people here are nerds.” Fay rolled his eyes. “Which is why you fit in, Rheni.” “Hey, I'm only a nerd because all I can do is read books around here,” he said. “We offered to bring in some work out stuff,” Fay said. “For what?” Rheni asked. “I'm made of slime, not muscle.” “Letting out that kind of energy would probably still be good for you.” “Right… Next time I see Silly Putty do pushups, I'll think about it.” Camilo chuckled a bit causing Rheni to smirk and wave Fay over. He got up and whispered into the merman's ear. “Are you tryna set me up, because fuck, his laugh is cute. If I had blood, I'd be a blushing mess.” Fay smiled and whispered back. “You know full well that this is a work environment and I am in no place to be playing matchmaker… But perhaps if you play your cards right, who knows?” Camilo watched starting to feel a little uncomfortable. “Um, why are you whispering?” “It's none of your concern,” Fay said. “Rheni was telling me about some of his more private matters. Don’t you worry about it.” Camilo sighed. “Okay…” Fay went back over to him and patted his shoulder. “Well, I wish we could stay longer, but this wasn’t really more than a checkup.” Rheni frowned. “What, you're leaving already?” “‘Fraid so,” Fay said. “Camilo have other actual aliens to check on.” Rheni groaned. “Ugh, fine. Get outta here. Leave me to waste away in unlawful confinement, alone…unloved.” “Well, if time allows it and Cam wants to, we'll be back later,” Fay said. Rheni looked over to Camilo. “Oh, uh, of course!” Camilo said. “If time allows it though, right?” “Pretty busy morning,” Fay said. “Then come have lunch with me,” Rheni said. Camilo looked to Fay and the siren shrugged. Camilo nodded. “Okay, sure.” “It's a date then,” Rheni said. “Bye.” Fay went to the door. “Cam, let's go.” Camilo got up and hurried to follow him. “Okay, see ya!” Rheni waved then sighed and went to pick a book off the shelf.

[ms-m-astrologer]

Uranus-Neptune semi-square #3

Saturday, June 16, 2018, 09:40 UT Chart erected for Washington, DC

I had not planned on writing much about this - the third of five total passes - but looking at the chart was a jaw-dropper, so here we are.

This chart shows the Uranus-Neptune semi-square as a part of a bigger, badder fixed grand cross. The two oppositions are Uranus/Taurus opposite Dark Moon Lilith (Waldemath)/Scorpio; and the Moon, Venus, asteroid Lilith, and North Node in Leo, opposite Mars and the South Node in Aquarius. Each participant in each opposition is square both ends of the other opposition. Neptune/Pisces, then, is the focal point for the energy.

Per Bil Tierney, in Dynamics of Aspect Analysis:

This configuration could be considered as a most trying and testing cross to bear, as it represents attitudes in one’s consciousness that have been repeated troublespots for the individual for several incarnations. It now may manifest thru deep-seated, hard to eradicate problems in this life that demand one’s full concentration….

The two oppositions reflect conflict centered around his possessiveness and firm resistance toward compromising or sharing with others. This individual will have to learn the hard way how to become less bull-headed and absolute in his demands if relationship interests are to work out in a mutually satisfying way…. This person does not want to lose control of his personal interests and will rarely allow others to take over matters indicated. If Mars, Uranus, or Pluto composes part of this configuration, then intolerance, dictatorial behavior, and obsession with power are usually emphasized….

As this is the Grand Square of extremism, the energy it generates can draw out the most purposeful, dedicated expression as well as the most debased and cruel…. Life will inevitably teach this person how to soften his will and open up his heart to a more universal level of love. Once he earnestly devotes himself to uplifting, spiritual service with a more conscious sense of selflessness, he can much better break up the destructive crystallization of this configuration. By accepting life on its own terms rather than forcing it to satisfying his own uncompromising demands, he can become a stabilizing anchor for many.

The first thought I had about the chart is that Mother Nature is primed to strike back. For too long she has been plundered, raped, trashed, demeaned, and otherwise destroyed by short-sighted men who think their “machines” do a better job. And if we haven’t been part of the looting, we’ve not been effective in efforts to stop it either.

Uranus/Taurus - I feel so strongly that over the next years, this will elevate the extreme (Uranus) weather brought on by global warming and climate change. Another thought I’ve been entertaining is that we are all about to vastly revolutionize (Uranus) our concept of “keep it simple.” Get used to doing more with less.

Moon-Venus-Lilith-North Node/Leo - female energy, strong and glorious and beautiful. But also a little dependent on life’s luxuries, a little too obsessed with keeping our “superior” social position. “Must be center of attention,” wrote Isabel Hickey of this Moon position; “want their own way and do their best to get it.” Asteroid Lilith here shows how we want to be free and live our own lives, but also where we’re suppressed, angry, and rejected. And the North Node? We’re supposed to be doing a better job at feminine Leo things.

Dark Moon Lilith/Scorpio - anguish, bitterness, the desire for revenge, all those amok Scorpio things. We may feel personally outraged if we lose our Western toys, on which we’re so dependent for comfort and convenience, but just compare that to what the parents of the missing children feel - the ones ICE has destroyed. Or to the people living along the equator and in the tropics, where climate change is hitting hardest.

Mars-South Node/Aquarius - Isabel wrote about this Mars position, “rebellious, impatient, and perverse if afflicted.” The South Node in Aquarius shows (per Demetra George) “excessive detachment, impersonality, inconsistency, and rebelliousness; overemphasis on freedom or on group activity.”

Looking at Neptune/Pisces, less than three days before it stations retrograde, we see that the Fish swimming skew each other is terribly apt. Many first-world people are going to plug their ears and chant “la la la” as they bury their heads deeper into the sand. Neptune/Piscean escapism, you see. Its trine to Jupiter will just amp up the inertia. More powerful people will continue to sow confusion and delusion.

The rest of us need to reach for those higher Neptune/Pisces ideals ASAP:

We can no longer disconnect from our higher purposes on this planet, nor from our own ‘shadow selves.’The universal vibration of love begins pulsing at a stronger beat, calling the human race to align with its energy. Yet, to do so, we must also accept the things we hide about ourselves. Buried shame can bubble up under this Neptune phase. Welcome it, learn from it, and integrate its lessons. (Astrostyle dot come - LINK HERE)

If you wish, go to astro dot com and run this chart, plugging in your own location. (The location for the one I’ve posted is, as always, Washington DC.) Check to see what, if anything, is clustered around the Ascendant, Descendant, MC, and IC. If any of the grand cross participants are on/near an angle, take precautions. (My city has that Leo cluster close to the IC, as does most of the US’ “heartland.” Fire danger and drought.)

If you select the “Special” section for an astromap, the result after “click here to see the chart” looks just like an Astro*Carto*Graphy map, showing the Asc, Desc, MC, and IC lines for the 10 classical planets plus the Nodes.

[anne-m-bray]

You have refined and expensive tastes. You love a true masterpiece and see the beauty in the world around you. You seek out fine art, fine food, and luxury comforts, but only because you understand quality. You aren't above pulling an antique out of a trash can to bring it back to it's proper glory. You are the appraiser of your circle; everyone comes to you to see what you think something is worth. Your opinion means everything, as it should. Read More About Heirloom Porcelana Chocolate

[hopeandharmonizing]

Gigs

Briar + Faye Valentine ( @alreadyafairy​​ )

❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦

Faye made a face of disgust as she finished the last of her drink, placing it aside. “ is there anything good in here? ” she grumbled, more to herself than anyone else.

“It’s a casino, honey. No. Nothing good can be found here. Just a matter of picking your poison, honestly.”

❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦

Casino.

Not the typical den of sin this she-wolf hangs out in. Her ears ring with the clacks of spinning roulette, rolling of dice, beeping of machines, chiming of spare change, calling of numbers, and whispers making deals. Her nose stings with cigarette smoke and scotch and the stench of people who have been sitting in their seats all day or even longer.

But she won’t complain about a new adventure given a pinch-hit gig. The manager found her name and number to fill the slot of a lounge singer called off sick (or so she hopes, for how the story goes), and she can always use the cash which comes with a contract padded in this kinda luxury.

Jazz.

Not her strong suit. Unlike the matte silver three-piece she’s wearing, which looks pretty damn good, honestly. A sleek look for a slick place; a classy cover for her curves in a crowd of less than savory customers than the usual.

Besides, the job description read clear enough. She’s not to be the center of attention tonight. Performance from a small, velvet stage plants as an accessory, a background, a soothing song streaming in the heads of those spilling out their money, making them feel comfortable enough to keep doing so.

The nature of it raises her hackles, but it ultimately boils down to a more meaningful experience - hope. Hope keeps them at the tables. People who somewhere in the depths of their souls believe they can win, come out to try - they swarm the place. Their lien bleeds out from their wallets and her heart bleeds for their misplaced faith. She can still make the command her own, twist words to shepherd the lost in the best ways she knows how.

Harmonizer sits off to the side, plugged into some sweet ass amps provided by the house. The instrument holds a pre-programmed melody of simple, echoed beat and basic strums. Briar clicks play and dress shoes step to the mic stand. Her voice flows smooth and sweet, tail and body swaying in similar soft waves. Hands twist and worm in gestured emphasis, like a child’s stuck out of a car window and riding the air currents, like a creek bubbling over pebbles after a spring rain…

♫♫ This is my brand new day in the light Trouble rising up on the left and the right I keep my eyes fixed on where I want to go The rest will follow And this is my prayer without ceasing the negative releasing and as I rise above my burden is easing

This is my brand new day starting now Letting go of the ways that I fall down The old can be made new, the lost can be found the lost will be found This is my prayer without ceasing the negative releasing and as I rise above my burden is easing

I bring the pure flow, like water around the rocks of life won’t pull me down I bring the pure flow, drink so deep the river of life, my soul at ease I bring the pure flow, like water around the rocks of life won’t pull me down I bring the pure flow, rising above the storms of life to live and love… ♫♫

❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦

°୭•.═══ singers would come and go in lounges . faye hadn’t always paid attention to that , and she knew none of the others did . as far as a singer was concerned ,  their voices were meant to add to the ambiance . to let a few men who’d lost a game cry over their drink - and then return to their houses of cards and chips and broken lives . they’d drown in it, watch it all collapse on them and take everything they had away ….

but they’d still return .

faye knew she still would .

one thousand points. not bad . today’s round of pinochle was far better than the last few -

she eyed her lien , counting it in a dedicated , practiced manner . her mind was running through a checklist , things she could do with the amount . three hundred ….

she could go for a game of blackjack . the men there -

seven hundred lien .

or poker . no . the old guy there was hustling the others . sounded like a boring game to her . and definitely not an easy win .

the singer today was different . they always were . but the song was different too . out of place - not what you would expect in a place like this . too raw . too straightforward . and the woman wasn’t sad-faced or thin or red-eyed . she wasn’t just her clothes, and she didn’t have a volatile presence . the opposite of all that, actually .

different .

eleven thousand lien .

faye settled for a drink - ‘almost blue’ , the house special, intrigued her . looked like a smoky drink ,  with a sizzling campfire dying out in the rain . ninety lien . hah , daylight robbery .

❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦

Seven hundred lien. Rent. Three hundred lien. Food and supplies. One hundred lien. Utilities.

Robbery, indeed. No free drinks for the employees here, so Briar sticks to water while sticking to a tight budget. Unless someone could repay some cosmic kindness…

Tempting, to take an immediate chunk of tonight’s gig and toss some on the table just to see what happens. Slip a coin in a machine. Test her poker face for one round. But, no, Briar’s full speed ahead, whole hearted lust for life doesn’t always know when to stop. Sometimes best not to start at all.

She gets it, though. Really, she does.

What a fascinating place. The people? She’s still working on. A loose lean supports her back on the lip of a bar counter as she gazes out and sips a goblet of water like white wine. Briar’s used to bar crowds looking heavy and tired. Or an audience raring and ready to rebel. These folks lie somewhere in between, if she had to say.

Most wear weary bags beneath bloodshot eyes, in the middle of a never-ending all night bender, yet they come alive every time they go the next round.

If she could bottle that feeling and bless her music with it, some of the world’s problems might be solved overnight.

Damn, does money motivate. But… there must be more to it than that. The atmosphere. The winning. The losing. The cycle of both. The immediate payoff and the promise of more. There’s a song waiting somewhere in here…

Humming, tapping toe of a dress shoe on the tile, she loses herself in the beat of her own thoughts, until someone slides into the seat she stands next to.

She smiles, full of friendliness almost too genuine, and casually asks, “What’s the feel out on the floor today? Hitting it big?”

❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦

°୭•.═══ the presence from the stage drifted to her. her first instinct was to ignore her companion. drink up, go back to gambling , probably amass a few more debts and try not to get outed for the con woman she was. but a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do , right ? no one thought about it that way , though .  real pity .

she rested her head on her arm, frowning into the drink in a kind of weary , bored manner . ninety lien ,  and it tasted like complete crap - plus , the bartender didn’t seem to be the friendly sort . beer would have been a way better choice , honestly .

faye tilted her head ,  eyeing her companion for a moment or two . the singer . up close ,  she seemed a little more open  ,  unlike the stuck up , sadder ones that usually cried for a solid hour at the counter , mascara running down their cheeks .

this one was worth her time , she decided . but not enough to con . she seemed sharp , smart . not the best victim to pick a gamble with .

she spread out a hand in flippant manner , red nails glinting under the light . “ just the usual . one thousand wasn’t much , but it wasn’t her usual amount either . it was normally much , much lower . not that she would admit it .

“ this place’s got easy wins . ” the truth ! half the men here didn’t seem to know they were being two-timed .” dim wits . ” the whole lot of them . women were smarter ,  in her opinion .

❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦

Survival is tough. Tastes like grit and blood and shitty food and drink you must suffer through because you already paid for it. Human nature to want better, even if it means taking it with your own cunning hands. Most people here to see what they can scam from the laps of the more deluxe, whether by luck or by patience, or cheating and praying to the gods not to get caught.

Tiring to the bone, no matter how you slice it. But a girl’s definitely gotta do what she’s gotta. Sometimes it meant showing life and its rat race how that girl can put on an even tougher act.

Or, in Briar’s case, a fresh face with golden eyes aglow.

A dance within the gray of dim weather.

No need to con this woman; Briar would offer freely anything she had to give to someone without, if they only ask. But the other woman doesn’t. Drooping disinterest makes her appear too used to cutting her losses.

Yet cockiness in her comment says to the contrary, perhaps not tonight. She carries herself lowly but speaks of others as even lower. What an attitude to have. Fierce in the face of a hall of many failings.

Hips turn towards trash talk, and an easy laugh falls from Briar’s lips, “You sound like an experienced player, my dear. But I’d bet there are many who underestimate you.”

❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦

  °୭•.═══  many underestimated her, alright. that was part of the fun, really. gave her more opportunity to hustle a few of her opponents. play the shark. men took women too lightly in general – and she found some kind of twisted triumph in showing them their fallacy.

but that was superficial. like so many, many things about her. a patchwork of clothes from different people she never knew tailored to provide a mask of sorts. she supposed that everyone wore masks – especially in a place like this. but some people here were themselves. like they had broken that mask a long while ago.

like this woman here. that made faye wonder who she’d lasted for this long in a world like this. survival of the fittest. truth had no place here. everybody lied – so why not her?

experienced? well, you could say that. she let herself seem flattered – albeit in a coy, sly manner. tilted her head at the woman, a sea green eye studying her. a confident smile rested on her lips. all an act, through and through – a projection to hide her insecurity.

“ they wouldn’t know what hit them if they take me lightly. ”

her past self had been sleeping for years. then who was she, right now? she just had her first name at hand, her surname a placeholder. hah – she couldn’t even call her name hers.

valentine was a lie – and valentine was who she was. ‘faye’ wasn’t there anymore.

she made a face of disgust as she finished the last of her drink, placing it aside. “ is there anything good in here? ” she grumbled, more to herself than anyone else.

❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦

Briar knows all about patchwork clothes and acts and masks made of others. Masks made for herself too, a performer. And maybe the secret is that after so long, it’s too hard to tell the difference. You can only wear a mask for so long before your skin gets used to the feel, before it starts to shape the contours beneath.

Some people do pull it off, some people do break it. Briar can’t remember the last time she donned or doffed one, not intentionally. She absorbs them, makes them her own, until changing personas came as simple as changing her own expression, no need to pretend, no need to hide, every facet of the soul a part of her.

What the woman sees is not the disowning of a mask, but acceptance that everyone wears different faces for different reasons.

Admittedly, though, hers is not as painted up today. Lashes which blink as Briar meets her side-eye and listens, not as full.

they wouldn’t know what hit them if they take me lightly.

Another sip of water, and then she thinks, hard hitter then. But doesn’t ask if that means the games or the people.

She doesn’t ask her name, either. Not yet. Briar sees many people come and go, finds what someone is called less important than what they have to say. Names only important if a need to ever address a person beyond a single interaction makes itself known. And she has a hunch that this is the type of woman who likes to fade away, disappear just like the dregs of her drink; force a finish, win or lose.

Another sip of water, and then laughter huffs and shoulders bounce at the question, and Briar smirks. Her paycheck only dictates the words offered on stage; after and aside she can say whatever she likes.

Her lean sinks further against the counter, and her head tilts to the side as if she shares some great secret of life, or at least something bigger than the drink menu, “It’s a casino, honey. No. Nothing good can be found here. Just a matter of picking your poison, honestly.”

❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦

°୭•.═══════ she’d been expecting to hear the woman’s name, the moment she’d stepped onto the stage. they usually announced their ‘ special stars for the evening ’ . all the estella’s, the rouge’s, the rosemary’s, diamonds, pearls, gold teeth and violent eyes. the whole shebang. not this one. they’d conveniently forgotten her name – like they’d expected everyone to know it. and maybe they all did. not her. not faye. exchanging names was a DEATH sentence and that came with being a grifter —–— a part of this tiny, pretty package with gift wrappers, ribbons and a cute little card on the top to go with it.

she never went around chit-chatting. not unless she could wrestle something for herself out of it – money, a favor, food, drink. you get the picture. this woman didn’t have anything but herself, her company to give. nothing but her gypsy voice, syllables taking in the sweetness.

there was a lonely child in her heart, and she hid herself under the hills and twisted paths. she’d heard some song, and now her skin was being pried open. the girl wanted out. wanted in. wanted, wanted, wanted, wanted.

tall, woman of mysteries, but all that was rolled up in those fancy clothes of hers was GENUITY.

mm. maybe she’d be interesting to talk to. provided she didn’t end up being one of the people faye didn’t want to cross paths with. people she’d pissed off. the law. people she really shouldn’t be messing around with.

rosewood lips parted, an amused breath curling out. her voice was a bubble in a glass of cheap champagne.

“ it’s a mess, alright. ” her gaze darted up to the bartender, nails rapping the glass with a dismissive flick of her wrist to indicate that she was done. “ that isn’t even poison. i’d like to call it sludge with a drop of alcohol.”

a remark that drew an ugly look from the bartender. poor aim, though. the bullet missed her by a mile. better luck next time, old man.

hands were clasped in front of her, elbows propped up on imitation-mahogany. lips curled into an artificial star-strung smile. fingers flashed nails the same color as her lips. always looked her best. dressed to kill, so to speak. emeralds were trained on her companion, watching, studying, reading. no cards, not an opponent, no game here.

“ none of the people here tonight are good looking, either. ” her gaze darted to the sea of faces around her. “ the only things that’ve ever been good here are the men and women. the ‘company’. ”

fingers danced idly on the wood, sights turned to the woman. her eyes were gold, she observed. gold, like sunlight haunting windows. what a map of obscurity. she could barely get a glimpse of this woman.

“…do you gamble ? ”

[nightmare-afton-cosplay]

J. Lo and A-Rod Buy and Sell Their Manhattan Condo in a New York Minute, but How?

James Devaney/GC Images

Well, that was quick! After purchasing a luxury condo in Manhattan’s controversial 432 Park Avenue a little over a year ago, mercurial A-list couple Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez have turned around and sold it in what seems like a New York minute—for what could be a $2 million profit!

It’s not uncommon for high-priced, high-rise apartments in New York City to languish on the market for months—sometimes even years. So heads spun when it was reported recently that the three-bedroom, 4.5-bath condo they bought for $15,316,000 in February 2018 had just gone under contract, after being listed at $17.5 million.

Great room

realtor.com

It doesn’t sound like they were unhappy with living in the tallest residential building in the world. A source told Page Six that they love the building, which features such amenities as a 75-foot indoor swimming pool, screening rooms, performance venues, a massage room, and a swanky billiard room. They’ve reportedly used the gym, and the boardroom for meetings.

75-foot indoor swimming pool

realtor.com

Gym

realtor.com

However, the celeb couple apparently found that their 4,003-square-foot pad, which takes over half a floor, was just too small when their four kids are all together—each has two children from previous marriages.

Girls’ bedroom

realtor.com

Boys’ bedroom

realtor.com

Potential buyers interested in the 96-floor building might have additional concerns, including the following:

It sways as much as 60 centimeters, which can cause motion sickness in the sensitive.

Some people say it looks like a trash can; it was, in fact, inspired by a $225 waste receptacle designed by Josef Hoffmann.

It’s a bit lonely! Sources say many of the unit owners are foreign and rarely there.

Front entrance

realtor.com

432 Park Avenue, the tallest residential building in the world

realtor.com

Those factors make this quick sale even more amazing. How they did it is anyone’s guess, but we talked to some New York real estate experts who made a few cogent observations.

“When someone is as famous as J. Lo and A-Rod, people who can afford to buy their place may feel that the success and love shared in their home will rub off on them,” says Noemi Bitterman of Warburg Realty. “It’s natural to desire the love and success they share as a couple, so if you’re lucky enough to be able to afford it, why not?”

This purchase could also have been a slick business move.

“What we don’t know is if they were enticed by the developer to buy into this building and lend their celebrity status to help amp up interest and perceived value in the building,” Florida real estate agent Cara Ameer points out.

Master bedroom

realtor.com

Wendy Arriz, also of Warburg Realty, believes the quick turnaround could have more to do with the nature of the unit itself.

“This is basically an entry-level price point for the 432 Park as the higher, more expensive units had the killer, unobstructed view,” she says. “There is an old saying about how it is best to own the least expensive home on the nicest block. And it doesn’t hurt that it had a celebrity pedigree.”

Kitchen

realtor.com

But we may not want to be so quick singing the deal’s praises, especially if Martin Eiden of the sports and entertainment division at Compass Real Estate is correct.

“We actually do not know what the contract price is,” he says. “It could be less [or far less] than the asking price … as is the case most of the time.”

He breaks down the deal this way: Closing and other costs when the couple purchased the property: 

1% mansion tax = $153,100

1.825% state and city transfer taxes = $279,407

Decorating and customization (estimate) = $300,000–$1,000,000

Fees for selling:

Brokers fee: 6% of $17,000,000 = $1,020,000

1.825% state and city transfer taxes = $310,250

So if they bought it for $15,316,000, they would have to sell it at roughly $17,380,000 just to break even.

“I’m willing to bet they lost money,” Eiden says.

After all, a high-profile celebrity attachment is no guarantee of a quick sale. No one knows this better than J. Lo, who has been trying to sell another New York property for several years. She’s had her posh penthouse, a two-floor unit on the fifth and sixth floors of the historic Whitman Mansion, on and off the market since 2017, at prices ranging from $26,950,000 to its current listing price of $24,990,000.

One of four terraces in J. Lo’s NYC apartment

Modlin Group

At 6,540 square feet, it’s apparently not big enough for the combined family either, even though it has four bedrooms, six baths, two half-baths, and 3,000 square feet of outdoor space.

One thing is certain: These A-listers are not letting any turf grow under their feet when it comes to making even more multimillion-dollar real estate deals. The New York Post reports that they’re on their way to finding a considerably bigger abode. They’ve recently taken a long look at an ultraluxe penthouse in the Puck Building in SoHo, which offers 7,241 square feet of interior space and 5,158 square feet of outdoor space.

That ought to be plenty of room for Team J-Ro. The current asking price is $42.5 million, but these savvy investors never pay list price, especially since this unit has been on and off the market since 2015, and was originally listed at $66 million.

The post J. Lo and A-Rod Buy and Sell Their Manhattan Condo in a New York Minute, but How? appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

from https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/j-lo-and-a-rod-buy-sell-manhattan-condo-in-a-new-york-minute/

[dockerifique]

"...Good Behavior is fun because it’s about crafting frames that just let these phenomenal actors play within them...”

“...Good Behavior also requires a lot of forethought as well, but it’s the type of pre-production that seems to differ. “Good Behavior has a lot of locations. It’s kind of a road show. So we often would have what’s called location moves, a company move. Like we would have two or three in a day, which is pretty rare. Usually you only have one. So you start somewhere in the morning, and if you’re really lucky you shoot in one location all day. Then you get the full day to shoot. But often you have one company move, and that means you’re going to shoot in the morning in one spot, and then after lunch you shoot down the road.” Smolkin made it clear that Good Behavior didn’t often have that luxury, stating, “Because there’s so many locations and they’re always traveling, we would do that two or three times a day. And every time you would do it you would lose about an hour, or even two hours. So your day keeps getting shorter and shorter of what you can shoot. But you still have to shoot the same amount of stuff. In that way it’s very challenging.”

“The process of location scouting is relatively collaborative. Since location moves are such a vital part of working on Good Behavior, we wanted to ask Smolkin how he managed to actually see all of these places before filming even began. ‘It’s the same as The Magicians in that there’s only one DP on the show. Sometimes TV shows have two DPs so you get to prep with the director. What happens is, the director will usually get there a week before his or her episode. They’ll go with the location scout who’s already found a bunch of ideas, and they’ll find what they think is best. Then, oftentimes, they’ll send me pictures or come to set and talk to me about what they’re thinking. [They’ll also] show the gaffer and the key grip, and we’ll sort of talk about the shooting process.”

“From there they do what’s called a tech scout. It’s a thing that happens on all shows, Smolkin explains. “[The] second unit will take over the set for a half or a full day, and I’ll go with the key grip of the department, the production designer, the director, and the location manager. We’ll go and look at all the locations we’re going to use in that episode. What ends up happening is we’ll discuss what happens in the scene, where the director is thinking the actors will be and what they’ll do, and then sometimes it’ll be quick and then sometimes it’ll be like, ‘What if we use this room instead of that room? Or what if we turned 180?’ That’s partially because it might look better, or it might give us a feature that we might need for the story, or sometimes you get to a location and it’s perfect looking east and then they’re like, ‘Oh we can only be here in the afternoon.’ Then you’re like, well we need to shoot West.” Basically, this is where they do a rough overview and run-through, preparing as much as possible beforehand so when the crew arrives to film they have a game plan in place.”

“For example: “The location department [for Good Behavior] found this incredible scrapyard. It’s a working scrapyard. It’s disgusting but also beautiful. It’s industrial, piles of trash, and metal… And what they do is put dirt down so the tractors and bulldozers can drive over it. This show is very much grounded in reality, so what we try to do — what I always try to do — is build the lighting into the set. Rather than having some magical moonlight or something, I try to find a realistic reason for why there’s light at night. So we brought in these construction lights that you see when you’re driving down the road or if there’s big construction on the highway. There are self-powered generators, so we parked them in different spots in the scrap yard. And then we obviously had the car on fire. Then the rigging team had these great little magnetic construction lights that they were able to put on the roofs of buildings. So we sort of lit the yard like it was a scrap yard, but this was an extra pretty one.” 

[canamcactus-blog]

MOVE-IN SPECIAL **MOVE-IN SPECIALMOVE-IN SPECIAL**MOVE-IN SPECIAL

Cactus Canyon offers a 2 BR 2 BA and 1 BR 1 BA floor plans. All of our luxury apartments have wood plank flooring amazing upgraded features! Such as the state of the art stainless steel appliances, built-in microwave, gated access, sparkling pool, and we’re Pet friendly!!! Call today for more information about your unique new home.

Floor Plan:

Sq. Feet: 750 Rent: $899/$1350.00 plus tax Bed/Bath: 1x1

Sq. Feet: 1000 Rent: $999/$1450.00 plus tax Bed/Bath: 2x2

(ALL Utilities Included) Water, Swear, Trash & Electric ** Utilities - $200.00 addition to base rent.

Community Amenities: 24-Hour On Call Maintenance Convenient Access to US-51 Surrounded by Restaurants, Entertainment and Shopping Online Payments, Leasing and Customer Service Requests

[jeremystrele]

Small Spaces With Exclusive Colour Accents

In this set of three stylish small spaces, each apartment measures in at just under 50 square metres. Decor is predominantly neutral, though each home features moments of colour that are exclusive to either just one piece of furniture or one limited area. These colour disruptions energise the modestly sized living spaces, pushing them beyond limits of grey, white and wood. These smart little abodes also offer up nifty inspiration for cosy modern furniture designs, small open plan living layouts, compact kitchen ideas, and some beautiful small bathrooms too.

Visualizer: Katerina Kuznetsova & Olga Suprun    A concrete accent wall sets a cool industrial vibe across the compact living room of apartment number one. A small L-shaped modern sofa and a generously sized area rug pull in with similar grey tones. A grey planter holds a refreshing blast of greenery but it is a single daring red round coffee table that really pushes out from the colourless crowd.

The industrial concrete accent is carried into the centre of the small open plan living room through a structural support column. A single grey window drape balances out the concrete columns long grey form.

Rather than being a hindrance, the load bearing column actually serves as a subtle space divider, separating the lounge area from the dining room.

A hanging chair also helps section up the space from its central spot. Its pale hammock styling rests easy inside the pale decor of the room.

White modern dining chairs and a pine table set up the dining room, which is anchored underneath a minimalist pendant. See more dining room pendant lights here.

Pine plywood walls warmly cocoon the kitchen.

A split level floor creates a wonderful visual and physical divide between the cooking and eating zones. It also presents an opportunity for a volume of concealed storage space inside the kitchen’s base.

A black shelving unit provides a dark note to offset the light and airy decor of the kitchen diner, and creates a colour link with the black lighting installations in the room.

A white one wall kitchen cuts cleanly through the wall of plywood panelling. The other side of the kitchen ‘box’ is dedicated to a home workspace, equipped with a comfortable desk and a built-in shelving unit. A white desk chair matches the kitchen units.

In the vestibule, a coat hanging rail and side supports draw strong black outlines atop a white storage unit.

The front door is edged in black to match.

Black coat hooks polka dot the other wall.

Inside the bathroom, plantlife has influenced an entire colour scheme. Bottle green tiles and paintwork colour a sophisticated scheme. A wall of glass blocks borrow light from the living room.

Artificial light is delivered via recessed spotlights and a modern bathroom vanity light.

An illuminated vanity mirror highlights a concrete feature wall.

Matt black bathroom fixtures finish off the modern aesthetic.

This 45 square metre apartment in Ufa, Russia is uplifted with flecks of gold. A square painting glitters with a gold horizon, whilst an accent cushion brings matt gold to the small sofa. Down in front, a square coffee table introduces the earthy influence of natural woodtone.

An entire spectrum of grey runs through the interior, from warm stone to blue-steel.

A modern chandelier cuts a black sculptural form against a glowy TV wall. Warm white LEDs flood down ribbed gypsum panels and decorative shelving. A rustic wooden media cabinet floats above the baseboard.

A glass wall bedroom accommodates the whole family, with a cot placed at the foot of a double bed.

Steely blue-grey kitchen cabinets contrast with a hot mocha wall.

Two kitchen bar stools make the kitchen peninsula into a casual dining spot that faces the view. A more formal dining area is situated on its other side.

A gallery wall makes the dining area into a homey spot.

Colour coordinated appliances meld with the slab fronted units.

Inside the glass wall bedroom, an over bed light casts a golden glow inside a wood panelled headboard niche.

Multiple materials slot together to make a luxurious little bathroom. A crisp white floor compliments the bathroom sink, tub and pan inside an otherwise black, grey and wood tone saturated scheme.

A chrome towel rail, trash can and brush add sheen to the colour rich setting.

Recessed strip lights beam from the ceiling seam.

A moment of black marble amps up the luxe factor.

The apartment floor plan shows that there’s been a couple of changes since baby arrived. Not only has there been a cot added to the bedroom, but the family-friendly dining room at the back of the kitchen was originally a home office.

Visualizer: Shovk Architects   Our last tour is a brightly blue infused home design.

A royal blue coffee table demands attention between a neutral couch and pouf.

More poufs stow away beneath a minimalist media shelf.

Powder blue Gubi Beetle chairs encircle a disruptively red round dining table.

A simple white pendant light completes the dining room ensemble without adding any more to the colour clash.

A final pop of red sneaks in via the entryway seat. Mirrored closets double the effect.

In the bathroom, a striking blue vanity unit shakes up a plain white bathroom scheme. The bold accent cuts across chic white marble wall tiles, and adds bright accompaniment to a beaming vanity mirror.

Recommended Reading: 

50 Splendid Small Kitchens And Ideas You Can Use From Them Maximising Small Spaces Under 50 Sqm (With Floor Plans)

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Small Spaces With Exclusive Colour Accents

In this set of three stylish small spaces, each apartment measures in at just under 50 square metres. Decor is predominantly neutral, though each home features moments of colour that are exclusive to either just one piece of furniture or one limited area. These colour disruptions energise the modestly sized living spaces, pushing them beyond limits of grey, white and wood. These smart little abodes also offer up nifty inspiration for cosy modern furniture designs, small open plan living layouts, compact kitchen ideas, and some beautiful small bathrooms too.

Visualizer: Katerina Kuznetsova & Olga Suprun    A concrete accent wall sets a cool industrial vibe across the compact living room of apartment number one. A small L-shaped modern sofa and a generously sized area rug pull in with similar grey tones. A grey planter holds a refreshing blast of greenery but it is a single daring red round coffee table that really pushes out from the colourless crowd.

The industrial concrete accent is carried into the centre of the small open plan living room through a structural support column. A single grey window drape balances out the concrete columns long grey form.

Rather than being a hindrance, the load bearing column actually serves as a subtle space divider, separating the lounge area from the dining room.

A hanging chair also helps section up the space from its central spot. Its pale hammock styling rests easy inside the pale decor of the room.

White modern dining chairs and a pine table set up the dining room, which is anchored underneath a minimalist pendant. See more dining room pendant lights here.

Pine plywood walls warmly cocoon the kitchen.

A split level floor creates a wonderful visual and physical divide between the cooking and eating zones. It also presents an opportunity for a volume of concealed storage space inside the kitchen’s base.

A black shelving unit provides a dark note to offset the light and airy decor of the kitchen diner, and creates a colour link with the black lighting installations in the room.

A white one wall kitchen cuts cleanly through the wall of plywood panelling. The other side of the kitchen ‘box’ is dedicated to a home workspace, equipped with a comfortable desk and a built-in shelving unit. A white desk chair matches the kitchen units.

In the vestibule, a coat hanging rail and side supports draw strong black outlines atop a white storage unit.

The front door is edged in black to match.

Black coat hooks polka dot the other wall.

Inside the bathroom, plantlife has influenced an entire colour scheme. Bottle green tiles and paintwork colour a sophisticated scheme. A wall of glass blocks borrow light from the living room.

Artificial light is delivered via recessed spotlights and a modern bathroom vanity light.

An illuminated vanity mirror highlights a concrete feature wall.

Matt black bathroom fixtures finish off the modern aesthetic.

This 45 square metre apartment in Ufa, Russia is uplifted with flecks of gold. A square painting glitters with a gold horizon, whilst an accent cushion brings matt gold to the small sofa. Down in front, a square coffee table introduces the earthy influence of natural woodtone.

An entire spectrum of grey runs through the interior, from warm stone to blue-steel.

A modern chandelier cuts a black sculptural form against a glowy TV wall. Warm white LEDs flood down ribbed gypsum panels and decorative shelving. A rustic wooden media cabinet floats above the baseboard.

A glass wall bedroom accommodates the whole family, with a cot placed at the foot of a double bed.

Steely blue-grey kitchen cabinets contrast with a hot mocha wall.

Two kitchen bar stools make the kitchen peninsula into a casual dining spot that faces the view. A more formal dining area is situated on its other side.

A gallery wall makes the dining area into a homey spot.

Colour coordinated appliances meld with the slab fronted units.

Inside the glass wall bedroom, an over bed light casts a golden glow inside a wood panelled headboard niche.

Multiple materials slot together to make a luxurious little bathroom. A crisp white floor compliments the bathroom sink, tub and pan inside an otherwise black, grey and wood tone saturated scheme.

A chrome towel rail, trash can and brush add sheen to the colour rich setting.

Recessed strip lights beam from the ceiling seam.

A moment of black marble amps up the luxe factor.

The apartment floor plan shows that there’s been a couple of changes since baby arrived. Not only has there been a cot added to the bedroom, but the family-friendly dining room at the back of the kitchen was originally a home office.

Visualizer: Shovk Architects   Our last tour is a brightly blue infused home design.

A royal blue coffee table demands attention between a neutral couch and pouf.

More poufs stow away beneath a minimalist media shelf.

Powder blue Gubi Beetle chairs encircle a disruptively red round dining table.

A simple white pendant light completes the dining room ensemble without adding any more to the colour clash.

A final pop of red sneaks in via the entryway seat. Mirrored closets double the effect.

In the bathroom, a striking blue vanity unit shakes up a plain white bathroom scheme. The bold accent cuts across chic white marble wall tiles, and adds bright accompaniment to a beaming vanity mirror.

Recommended Reading: 

50 Splendid Small Kitchens And Ideas You Can Use From Them Maximising Small Spaces Under 50 Sqm (With Floor Plans)

Related Posts:

Colour-blocking: Creating room in small spaces

Modern Classic Chairs

Kitchens of the Future

IKEA 2012 Catalog

Stainless Steel Kitchen Designs

4 Nifty Little Apartments