#Vietnamese Voice Over Artists

[gy4rucartman]

general goth kids hcs pt1!! henri and firkle will have their own post

michael:

The poetic one.

asian on both sides, himalayan-south asian and vietnamese mix. doesnt believe in gender, i like various hcs where hes gnc amab or afab it doesnt matter to me though i usually depict a transmasculine michael. Socially inept but has a burning desire to make more friends in an attempt to strengthen the Goth circle/community, but sucks at making new friends truthfully. autistic, schizophrenic. grows up to be a 6'6 giant that hits his head on doorways and has to hunch a lot. ace/grey and holds a secret undying love for pete but would rather cut his throat out than ever confess it. He channels it in poetry, song lyrics, and music. THE INFO DUMPER OF THE GROUP Gothness is almost a special interest to him and he knows way too much on the subject, comes off as a pretentious know it all but it comes from a genuine place of love and interest. Genuinely beautiful singing voice and a good musician. Grows up to be a professor either in theology or philosophy (so he can be a certified know it all of course). he def grows into his features as he grows up and becomes pretty beautiful as an adult, but Michael never cared for conventional standards of beauty or how he fit into it. Henrietta was Michaels first goth friend but he prior attempted to be close with those in the asian communities of south park, it didnt really work out since he was always an outsider. The only fairly close nongoth friend of his was the DDR kid from the dance off episode. Has general anger issues!!!

Pete:

the sensitive one

Japanese but he doesnt know much about his family. I like to think hes also just Japanese or mixed with something but doesnt know what that side is yet. raised by his grandparents and aunt or something, but probably has a single dad that is constantly working so he didnt spend that much time with him. Grew up very poor and romanticized simple things+older things and enjoyed daydreaming more than anything. Musically inept and sounds like a dying bird but the goths never shoot him down for it, except maybe Henrietta because shes allowed to. Visually artistic, paints surrealist/fine art pieces and makes crafts on ocassion. Insecure in his gothness and in himself and as a result he barks back the most at others. probably 5'3 forever, acne all over, nails bitten to hell, lips too, probably thin hair and kind of lost as to what he wants to do in the future--but he cooks pretty well out of survival which lands him a line cook job later on. hes a romantic and loves romantic era literature, much to everyone's ('Cept Michael..) dismay. Michael was the one to recruit him and all the goths pitched in to buy Pete new clothes and to live at least aesthetically somewhat happier than he was prior. Pete recruits Firkle later on additionally but all the goths have a hand in making sure he grows up with the right ideas. Pete doesn't necessarily have anger issues but hes deeply insecure and easy to react so he comes off as the hotheaded one in the group, when in truth Michael and Henrietta harbor far more internal anger issues.

[icravemusicx0x0]

rating music pls dont hate me #29 | ÁI - TLINH

TLINH dives into mature love in her new album, ÁI.

TLINH should not be unknown in the music world, especially in VIET NAM. she is a big young artist that is growing with no sign of stopping. ÁI, her debut album, met major success and critical acclaims internationally. in my opinion, the female VIETNAMESE singer/rapper deserve this achievement.

ÁI is a concept album about, obviously, love. mainly alternative rnb, the 35-minute playtime of the album consist of TLINH's soft voice over mellow beats, specially produced by her trusty partner 2pillz. the most significant thing about this album, especially the other media contents along with it, is the aesthetic. its astonishing how beautiful and perfect the singer manages to do with the core artistry. TLINH is depicted like a soft pink cupid, walking in a dreamy flower garden in nostalgic purple. its like she saw what a coquette pink bow and decided its her mythology aesthetic. the production is great, it taste like pink bubblegum with the body of green m&m girl.

what is love? love is easy to identify, but hard to define and control. TLINH finds it hard too. but in this wide world she's living with a short lifespan, its easy to fall in love. ÁI captures this painful experience of love and its effects to a fragile heart. if you take SZA's theme of adolescent love and make it a bit more focused to that transition of maturity, you get ÁI. ÁI is a realistic piece about romantic feelings. it states that inside everyone, like her, can suffer from fake love.

what disappointed me is the energy of the album. it goes mellow and soft, but not very impactful. i doesn't leave me too impressed with the album.

but overall, this is an amazing debut for the young artist. she has very high potential of going higher in the vpop industry.

underrated gem(s): những đốm sáng, làm lành chữa tình, tình yêu có nghĩa là gì - best intro right there.

tracks that i rec listening: kho báu đánh rơi, th�� giới thần tiên, nếu lúc đó, ghệ iu dấu của em ơi, kết thúc = mở đầu - crazy ending.

worst track: nữ siêu anh hùng - its pretty basic and cringe to me.

overall score 8/10 - this is all opinion so pls no hate

[xtruss]

War Criminal Henry Kissinger’s Cambodia 🇰🇭 Legacy of Bombs and Chaos

When News of Henry Kissinger's Death Spread this Week, Many Disgusting Former World Leaders Lined up to Pay Tribute.

— By Ouch Sony & George Wright | BBC News | Phnom Penh & London

War Criminal, Most Disgusting, Boak Bollocks and Hell Bound 🔥 Henry Kissinger

Former US President War Criminal George W Bastard Bush said the US had "lost one of the most dependable and distinctive voices on foreign affairs".

Former UK War Criminal Prime Minister Bloody British Bastard Tony Blair described the ex-US secretary of state as an artist of diplomacy, who was motivated by "a genuine love of the free world and the need to protect it". Boris Johnson called Kissinger "a giant of diplomacy and strategy - and peace-making".

But peacemaker is not a term you're likely to hear many in Cambodia use when describing Henry Kissinger.

During the Vietnam War War Criminals, Kissinger and then-President Richard Nixon ordered clandestine bombing raids on neutral Cambodia, in an effort to flush out Viet Cong forces in the east of country.

Altogether, the US dropped more than 2 Million Tons of Bombs on Cambodia from 1965-1973. For context, the Allies dropped just over 2 Million Tons of bombs during the whole of World War II, including the bombs that struck Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Kissinger maintained that the bombing was aimed at the Vietnamese army inside Cambodia, not at the country itself.

Vorng Chhut Recalls People Being Killed By the War Criminal US Bombing

Vorng Chhut, 76, had never heard the name Henry Kissinger when bombs started dropping down on his village in Svay Rieng province, near the Vietnamese border.

"Nothing was left, not even the bamboo trees. People escaped, while those who stayed in the village died," he said. "A lot of people died, I can't count all their names. The bodies were swollen and when it became quiet, people would come and bury the bodies."

A 2006 Yale University report, Bombs Over Cambodia, stated that "Cambodia may be the most heavily bombed country in history".

A Pentagon report released in 1973 stated that "Kissinger approved each of the 3,875 Cambodia bombing raids in 1969 and 1970" as well as "the methods for keeping them out of the newspapers".

"It's an order, it's to be done. Anything that flies, on anything that moves. You got that?" Kissinger told a deputy in 1970, according to declassified transcripts of his telephone conversations.

The number of people killed by those bombs is not known, but estimates range from 50,000 to upwards of 150,000.

War Criminal US Dropped More Two Million Tons of Bombs on Cambodia 🇰🇭

One of the most notorious incidents was the accidental bombing of the small town of Neak Luong, where at least 137 Cambodians were killed and another 268 were wounded.

A New York Times report by Sydney Schanberg, who was later portrayed in the film the Killing Fields, quoted a man called Keo Chan, whose wife and 10 children had just been killed.

"All my family is dead!" he cried, beating his hand on the wooden bench where he had collapsed. "All my family is dead! Take my picture, take my picture! Let the Americans see me!"

Another man stood near an unexploded bomb in the town asked simply: "When are you Americans going to take it away?"

Unexploded American bombs littered the Cambodian countryside, maiming and killing people for decades to come.

Many also say that another consequence of Nixon and Kissinger's bombing campaign was that it helped pave the way for one of the worst genocides of the 20th century. Around 1.7 million people died at the hands of the Pol Pot-led Khmer Rouge between 1975 and 1979 - almost a quarter of the population.

An Estimated 1.7 Million Died Under Khmer Rouge Rule

Prior to that, the ultra-communists had little support, but its ranks grew as American bombs fell.

The CIA's director of operations reported in 1973 the Khmer Rouge forces were successfully "using damage by B-52 strikes as the main theme of their propaganda".

In 2009, the first Khmer Rouge official to be tried for crimes committed under the regime's reign of terror told the UN-backed court: "Mr Richard Nixon and Kissinger allowed the Khmer Rouge to grasp golden opportunities."

Kissinger always pushed back on criticism regarding the bombing of Cambodia.

"I just wanted to make clear that it was not a bombing of Cambodia, but it was a bombing of North Vietnamese in Cambodia," he said in 1973.

When he was 90, he claimed bombs were only dropped on areas "within five miles of the Vietnamese border that were essentially unpopulated".

Watergate Scandal Criminal Richard Nixon, Seeing Here Pointing at a Map of Cambodia 🇰🇭, and the War Criminal Kissinger Ordered Clandestine Bombing Raid on Cambodia.

Elizabeth Becker, an American journalist who covered the bombing campaign in 1973, said this was not the case.

"First you interviewed the refugees as they were coming away from the bombing, then you'd go to the bombing and there were moonscapes - you'd see the corpses of buffalo, you'd see houses burned, the rice fields gutted," she told the BBC.

"You saw the destruction and you thought: why was this modern air force bombing the countryside so much? In those days the farmers of Cambodia weren't even used to seeing motor vehicles, they routinely said to me: 'Why is fire falling from the sky?'"

Pen Yai, 78, cooperated with the Viet Cong inside Cambodia before the bombing started, but said large numbers of civilians were killed by American bombs, including his father and brother-in-law.

"I was so scared and could not sleep. People died everywhere. We just ran and recognised people who had been killed... we could not do anything," he said.

Many world leaders have praised Kissinger, who shared the 1973 Nobel peace prize for his role in negotiating an end to the Vietnam war and was later handed the Presidential Medal of Freedom - America's highest civilian award.

Prim Hen Says She is Still Angry at the War Criminal US to this Day

But few who were in Cambodia in the 1970s will remember his legacy fondly.

Prum Hen, 70, was forced to flee her village when American bombs started raining down. She said she knew little about Kissinger and felt little sympathy when informed of his death.

"Let him die because he killed a lot of our people," she said, adding that she still feels deep resentment towards the US.

"They bombed our country, killing a lot of people and separating people from their children. Later on, the Khmer Rouge killed husbands, wives and children."

Ms Becker said the gravity of Kissinger's policies in Cambodia cannot be understated.

"To say the bombing was imprecise... it was inhumane. It's not just the number of people, it's the legacy.

"You cannot exaggerate what it did to the country."

[jackiebarnard11]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 6, 2023

Contact: Chris Boneau/ Amy Kass / Michelle Farabaugh / Kenya Williams

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Download Press Materials Here

Manhattan Theatre Club

Announces Full Casting for the

New York Premiere of

Poor Yella Rednecks

By Qui Nguyen

Directed by May Adrales

Previews begin Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Opening on Wednesday, November 1, 2023

At MTC at New York City Center – Stage I

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director) and Chris Jennings (Executive Director) are pleased to announce the full cast for the New York Premiere of Poor Yella Rednecks, written by Qui Nguyen (Vietgone) and directed by May Adrales (Vietgone, Golden Shield). Poor Yella Rednecks will begin previews on Tuesday, October 10 and open on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at New York City Center – Stage I (131 West 55th Street).

The cast of Poor Yella Rednecks will feature Jon Hoche (Vietgone, Life of Pi), Ben Levin (Vietgone, “Kung Fu”), Samantha Quan (Vietgone), Jon Norman Schneider (The Coast Starlight), Maureen Sebastian (The Best We Could: A Family Tragedy), and Paco Tolson (Vietgone).

The creative team for Poor Yella Rednecks includes Tim Mackabee (Scenic Design), Valérie Thérèse Bart (Costume Design), Lap Chi Chu (Lighting Design), Shane Rettig (Original Music & Sound Design), Jared Mezzocchi (Projection Design), David Valentine (Puppet Design), Kenny Seymour (Arrangements), and Alyssa K. Howard (Production Stage Manager).

Qui Nguyen, the wildly inventive playwright (and screenwriter for Marvel and Disney) known for his use of pop culture, pop music and puppetry, reunites with his frequent director, May Adrales, for this funny, sexy and brash new play. A young Vietnamese family attempts to put down roots in Arkansas, a place as different from home as it gets. A mom and dad balance big hopes and low-wage jobs, as old flings threaten to pull them apart. It all makes for a bumpy road to the American dream. From the world of Nguyen’s Vietgone, with its comic book and action movie influences, comes a play that melds a deeply personal story with the playwright’s trademark, killer humor. The New York Times hails the writer’s work as “culturally savvy comedy,” and this production shows you why.

Poor Yella Rednecks is co-commissioned by South Coast Repertory and Manhattan Theatre Club. Support for MTC’s production of Poor Yella Rednecks is provided by the Howard Gilman Foundation and Laurents/Hatcher Foundation. Developed in part in Center Theatre Group’s Writers’ Workshop.

The 2022-23 season marked Lynne Meadow’s 50th Anniversary as Artistic Director of MANHATTAN THEATRE CLUB. Meadow was recently joined at the helm of MTC by Executive Director Chris Jennings, who succeeded Executive Producer Barry Grove. MTC’s mission, which Meadow created in 1972 and has implemented since, is to develop and present new work in a dynamic, supportive environment; to identify and collaborate with the most exciting new as well as accomplished artists; and to produce a diverse repertoire of innovative, entertaining, and thought-provoking plays and musicals by American and international playwrights. Since 1989, MTC Education, which uses the power of live theatre and playwriting to awaken minds, ignite imaginations, open hearts, and change lives, has also been an important part of our work.

Over five decades, MTC has grown from a small off-off-Broadway showcase into one of the country’s most prestigious and award-winning theatre companies, creating approximately 600 world, American, New York and Broadway premieres. Our productions have earned 7 Pulitzer Prizes, 28 Tony Awards, 50 Drama Desk Awards and 49 Obie Awards amongst many other honors. Our Broadway home is the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street) and Off-Broadway at New York City Center (131 West 55th Street). MTC is an anti-racist organization that respects and honors all voices, and upholds the values of community and equity, For more information, please visit www.ManhattanTheatreClub.com. 

TICKETING INFORMATION

Joining MTC’s season of plays is easy! Just call the MTC Clubline at 212-399-3050 or go to www.manhattantheatreclub.com. Group Sales available now, contact Joanna Lee at Jlee@mtc-nyc.org. Single Tickets on Sale September 5.

BIOGRAPHIES

JON HOCHE returns to MTC after performing in the Off-Broadway Premiere of Vietgone and has collaborated with playwright Qui Nguyen for over a decade. Other credits include - Broadway: Life of Pi (Richard Parker Puppeteer, Associate Puppetry and Movement Director), King Kong: Alive on Broadway (Voice of King Kong/Puppeteer). Off-Broadway: Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey 2 puppeteer); Soft Power (The Public Theater - Grammy Nominated); Vietgone (Manhattan Theatre Club); Soul Samurai, The Inexplicable Redemption of Agent G (Ma-Yi Theater/Vampire Cowboys Theater); Hello, From the Children of Planet Earth (Playwright’s Realm). National Tour: Warhorse (Puppeteer/Puppet Captain). Regional: Revenge Song (Geffen Playhouse). TV: “Hello Tomorrow!” (Apple TV+) - @JonHoche

BEN LEVIN’s MTC debut. Ben just wrapped a season-long arc on the CW series “Kung Fu”. Prior to that, he starred in the series Legacies for four seasons. Selected TV credits include “Arrested Development”, “Love”, and a recurring role on ABC’s “Time After Time”. He appeared in a supporting role in the critically acclaimed Independent Spirit Award nominated feature Test Pattern. Ben can also be seen in the Freeform/Hulu feature Turkey Drop. Other features include Allegiant, Admission, and Mike Birbiglia’s indie comedy Sleepwalk with Me. He's thrilled to be reprising the role of Quang in Qui Nguyen’s Vietgone, after starring in the 2018 production at the San Diego Repertory. Ben is New York City born and raised and is a graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. Shout out to TADA Youth Theatre. In addition to acting, Ben makes music under the moniker Grasshapa, available wherever music is found. 

SAMANTHA QUAN’s theatre credits include Poor Yella Rednecks (South Coast Rep); Vietgone (South Coast Rep, MTC); B.F.E. (Just Add Water Festival); Masha No Home (Ensemble Studio Theatre); An Infinite Ache (The Globe Theaters), workshops of To Red Tendons, Peerless, Hannah and the Dread Gazebo, Red Flamboyant, American Hwangap (Ojai Playwrights Conference); Monument: Or Four Sisters (A Sloth Play) (Boston Court New Works Festival).  Television credits include “Home Before Dark”, “Elementary”, “NCIS”, “The Mentalist”, “Blue”, “Suburgatory”, “Castle”. Film credits include 4 Wedding Planners, Sake Bomb, Good Grief and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.

JON NORMAN SCHNEIDER most recently appeared onstage in Keith Bunin's The Coast Starlight at Lincoln Center Theater. Select New York credits include Catch As Catch Can (Playwrights Horizons), The Chinese Lady (The Public), Henry VI Parts 1-3 (NAATCO), Awake and Sing! (NAATCO/The Public), The Oldest Boy (Lincoln Center Theater), Lunch Bunch (Clubbed Thumb), A Map of Virtue (13P), among others. Regionally, he has worked at Actors Theatre of Louisville, The Alley, Alliance, Barrington Stage, Dorset Theatre Festival, The Goodman, Huntington, The Kennedy Center, Long Wharf, Magic, McCarter, Milwaukee Rep, Mosaic, Northern Stage, The Old Globe, and South Coast Rep. His film and TV credits include Bitter Melon, Manila Is Full of Men Named Boy, The Normals, HBO's Angel Rodriguez, “The Endgame”, "Jessica Jones", "Veep", "30 Rock" and "Law & Order: Criminal Intent".

MAUREEN SEBASTIAN’s theatrical credits include, most recently, MTC’s The Best We Could: A Family Tragedy for which she received a Lucille Lortel nomination for Best Featured Performer in a Play; Vietgone (South Coast Repertory) ; Arabian Nights (Berkeley Repertory/Arena Stage); Thunder Above, Deeps Below (Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center/Second Generation); Now Circa Then (Ars Nova); Lonely, I’m Not and Year Zero (Second Stage); and Soul Samurai (Vampire Cowboys/Ma-Yi). Television credits include “Love Life” (HBO), “American Gothic” (CBS), and “Revolution” (NBC). She produced and starred in the web series “Pretty Precious Unicorns” and the short film “Second Province”. She co-created the podcasts “Gulp” and “A Guide to Freedom” with The North Star Fund. She is a member of May-Yi’s Writer’s Lab and The Gotham Film & Media Institute.

PACO TOLSON is thrilled to return to Manhattan Theatre Club where he received a Lortel nomination for his work in Qui Nguyen’s Vietgone. Paco and Qui have enjoyed an artistic collaboration of over 18 years, and Poor Yella Rednecks will mark their ninth full production together. Select Off-Broadway Credits: Fiasco Theater’s productions of Knight of the Burning Pestle (Red Bull), Twelfth Night and Pericles (Classic Stage Company); The Unwritten Song (EST); Slavey (Clubbed Thumb); The Children of Vonderly (MaYi Theater); Soul Samurai (Ma-Yi/Vampire Cowboys). Regional: to the yellow house (La Jolla Playhouse); Fiasco’s Measure for Measure (Actors Theatre of Louisville); The Winter’s Tale and Vietgone (OSF); Peter and the Starcatcher, Vietgone, and Poor Yella Rednecks (South Coast Rep). Audio: (There’s) No Time for Comedy (Playwrights Horizons), The Memory Motel (Two River Theater), Witness (Paramount/Gideon Media), Play On Shakespeare’s Henry V, The Tempest, and Measure for Measure (Next Chapter Podcasts). Film and TV credits include “Billions”, “Law & Order: Organized Crime”, “Law & Order: Criminal Intent”, “Prodigal Son”, “Search Party”, “The Good Fight”, “Madam Secretary”, “Happy!”, “The Code”, and 7 DAY GIG.

QUI NGUYEN (Playwright) is a playwright, screenwriter, and co-founder of the pioneering geek theatre company, Vampire Cowboys. His plays include Vietgone, Poor Yella Rednecks, Bike Wreck, and the critically acclaimed Vampire Cowboys shows Revenge Song, She Kills Monsters, Soul Samurai, The Inexplicable Redemption of Agent G, Alice in Slasherland, Fight Girl Battle World, Men of Steel, and Living Dead in Denmark. For TV/film, he’s written for Marvel Studios, Netflix, AMC, SYFY, and PBS. He most recently wrote Disney’s Raya and The Last Dragon (nominated for a 2022 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature), and he co-directed and wrote Disney's Strange World in 2022.

MAY ADRALES (Director) is a director, artistic leader, teacher and mother; she has directed over 25 world premieres nationally. Her work has been seen most recently at Second Stage (Rajiv Joseph’s Letters of Suresh), Manhattan Theatre Club (Anchuli Felicia King’s Golden Shield, Qui Nguyen’s Vietgone). Awards include: Ammerman Award at Arena Stage; TCG’s Alan Schneider award for freelance directors; Denham fellowship; New Generations Grantee. She is a Drama League Directing Fellow, Van Lier Fellow, WP Lab Director, SoHo Rep Writers/Directors Lab and New York Theater Workshop directing fellow.  She served as an Associate Artistic Director at Milwaukee Rep; Artistic Associate at The Playwrights Center; Artistic Associate at The Public Theater; and Director of Artistic Programs and Artistic Director at The Lark. She serves on the board of Theater Communications Group.  She is currently the Director of the Theatre Program and Assistant Professor at Fordham University.  MFA, Yale School of Drama. (www.mayadrales.net)

# # # #

www.ManhattanTheatreClub.com

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Exciting update! Ben will be making his Off-Broadway debut this Fall! Here is Manhattan Theatre Club's announcement on Instagram and the theatre's press agent BBB's press release that was sent to our magazine.

Poor Yella Rednecks website link:

[vietnamesevoiceoverservice]

When hiring a Vietnamese voice over service, it’s essential to know the nuances of working with local Vietnamese voice talents. Whether you’re looking for voice overs for advertisements, corporate videos, or dubbing services, understanding how to select the right Vietnamese voice actor or voice artist can make a significant difference in your project’s success. In this article, we’ll explore the important factors to consider when hiring Vietnamese voice over services, ensuring you achieve the best results for your project.

[casspurrjoybell-26]

Too Old For This - Chapter 21 - Part 1

*Warning Adult Content*

To Zachary, it didn't seem like much time had passed between him taking off his shoes and being swarmed by two women he assumed to be Leroy's sister and mum.

One minute he was asking where he should put his bag and the next minute two women appeared out of thin air and asked him who he was and how he met Leroy.

"What's your name?" the younger woman said, smiling at him.

She was standing close, with her hands folded across her chest, as she eyed him with interest.

This was probably Leroy's sister.

Zachary was taken aback by how similar they looked.

The same brown hair and dark thick eyebrows, even though hers were a little more groomed.

"Err... Zachary..." he managed, staring at her before doing a quick sweep with his eyes to look for Leroy, who seemed to have disappeared from his sight as quickly as the women appeared.

"You're quite tall. Aye?" the woman said, still smiling at Zachary.

"My name's Emilia, by the way. I'm telling you now because I'm sure my brother will avoid introducing us."

"What's his name?" the older woman said, going in on the conversation as she stopped in front of them.

"Zachary," Emilia said, before he could repeat himself to the older woman.

The older woman smiled a bit and Zachary noticed the wrinkling on the side of her eyes when she did so.

She looked like Leroy but not enough to call it a spitting image.

Although her hair was greying, Zachary could tell its original color was some shade of blonde.

Her eyes were ice blue and he could see a couple of age spots just under her eyelids that could easily be mistaken for freckles.

"I'm cooking some chicken for dinner today. I hope that's okay with you. Any allergies?" the older woman asked and Zachary stared at her, wondering what he should say to that.

"Err, I do... but the chicken's fine, as long as it doesn't have any butter. I can't really say for dressing, it depends on the ingredients but I'm okay just eating chicken and veggies... with as little oil as possible... if that's okay?"

The older woman was starting to give Zachary that look he knew too well... when someone was confused and wondering if he was being serious.

"Err... sure..." the woman trailed off, looking over at Leroy's sister, who seemed just as puzzled by his answer.      

"He has some medical issues. If he can't eat what you make, we'll just grab Vietnamese take-away if that's okay."  

Zachary felt the panic that was boiling inside him wash away at the sound of Leroy's voice.

He turned in its direction to find Leroy standing at the door that led to the hallway.

"Oh, okay. You should have told me that earlier," Leroy's mother said, turning to look at her son.

"I would have tried to be considerate."

"I forgot. I'm sorry," Leroy said, looking from his mother to Zachary.

"We'll figure something out, we always do," he said and Zachary's face began to warm up, remembering the times they would order out or Leroy would grab something from his way from work and they would have to 'unbuild' the food.

Leroy once commented that subway sandwich artists would probably brand Zachary as public enemy number one if they say how he took apart a sandwich to make it edible for himself.  

"Your stuff's upstairs if you want to head up," Leroy said and Zachary blinked, realizing that he'd been standing there staring for the past several seconds.

"I'll come up," he said, walking over to Leroy, who opened the door to let him pass before walking behind him.

The hallway led to a staircase, that Leroy lead Zachary up through.

The younger man gestured to the door at the far end of the hallway, before saying.

"That's my bedroom and that's the office," he said, pointing to the door just on the corner right after the stairs.

"Err... I mostly work in the office but I don't mind taking my laptop to the bedroom if you want to lie down or sit while I work."

"The bedroom, if you don't mind," Zachary said, deciding that he did, in fact, wanted to lie down.

The brief commotion at the entryway was making him feel a little skittish and tired.  

"Okay, I'll go grab my stuff. You can head to the room first, then," Leroy said, smiling at Zachary a little before disappearing into the office.

Zachary hugged himself, staring at the door before walking over to it.

He opened it, sticking his head inside before fully walking in.

He wasn't sure what he'd been expecting but it wasn't what he saw.

Leroy's bedroom looked like it belonged to a teenager, with the posters that covered almost every inch of the wall and the bookcase housing recognizable characters from tabletop campaigns and media.

The place felt nostalgic for Zachary, even though his room had never looked like this... not even a little. 

It was more reminiscence of the bedrooms he saw in movies and his imagination when he'd been like fifteen wanting to put up posters and collect knickknacks.

Hell, even the stormtrooper helmet Leroy had sitting on his dresser was something Zachary had once wanted.

Zachary edged into the room more, noticing the corkboard just about the bed's headboard.

He walked towards it, noticing to-do lists, photos and keepsake media-related cards pinned up.

Zachary awkwardly lifts himself onto the bed to take a sit.

The king mattress sat very high on the box spring that was additionally propped on a high bed frame.

The mattress was on the same level as the window, just beside it.

Zachary was looking out the window when the door creaked.

He turned to find Leroy making his way into the room with a laptop in his hands.

The younger man smiled when they locked eyes but quickly looked away.

'Is he nervous?' Zachary wondered, watching as the younger man turned to close the door before walking towards the bed.

It wasn't like there was anything to be nervous about.

Leroy's bedroom was ten times better looking and organized than his but he guessed having someone new share your space would put one on edge for a bit.

Zachary knew he had felt nervous the first time Leroy entered his bedroom too.

Leroy didn't try to get on the bed as Zachary had expected.

Instead, the younger man sat on the floor at the edge of the bed, before propping his laptop on his lap and opening it up.

"I don't do very well with my laptop on the bed," Leroy said, offering a casual explanation.

"I see," Zachary said, laying down on the bed before resting his head at the edge, just above Leroy's head of cute little waves of hair.

Zachary found himself smiling a bit, was it even possible to envision something cuter?

He didn't think so.

The two stayed in silence for a bit as Leroy worked.

Zachary started reading along... mostly out of boredom but the more he read, the more interested he became.

"What's this for? Is it for a product launch?" Zachary asked, leaning even closer.

He let his fingertips touch Leroy's hair as he glanced at the charts and paragraphs on the screen.  

"Something like that. It's a project proposal," Leroy said, flipping his head up so that he was staring into Zachary's eyes.

"Pretty much, I'm taking the market research findings and interpreting them to lay out a marketing plan going forward."

"The data is social media ads you guys ran?"

"Yes." 

"Sorry, ignore me if you don't like my impute but don't you think concluding young women don't like natural ingredients-based supplements because the age group didn't click the ad enough is a bit weird?" Zachary asked.      

"I... I don't know," Leroy said, looking back at the screen.

"Why do you think it's weird?"  

"If the ad sample is what you have on screen. It's leaning old school. I don't think even if you run that on any you'd get hits from younger people," Zachary explained, reaching out a finger to tap a sentence on the screen.

"There's a hyper-focus on 'family' and 'aging'. Young people don't care about being old yet and they don't have families to give supplements to. You're trying to run an ad to sample consumers for market research but your ad already has a consumer age bias, which leads to sampling bias."

Leroy stared at the screen... blinked... then stared at it again.

'Zachary was... correct.'

"Zachary?" Leroy said, looking up at the older man again.

"Hmm?"  

"Why are you so fucking smart?"

[whatsonmedia]

7 Top Art Exhibitions to Catch This Week!

Immerse yourself in a world of diverse artistic expressions with these must-see exhibitions happening around the globe in February Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind Feb 15 - Sep 1 Tate Modern, London, UK Dive into the mind of a legend. Witness iconic performance pieces like "Cut Piece" and explore seven decades of groundbreaking art spanning conceptual work, film, music, and activism. Over 200 artworks, including installations, photographs, and her powerful peace and environmental campaigns, trace the evolution of this innovative artist. For more visit> tate.org.uk Potluck Feb 10 - Mar 2 Hashimoto Contemporary, Los Angeles, USA Get a taste of playful creativity at this group exhibition where artists serve up their unique "dishes" in diverse mediums. From geometric light meditations by Adrian Kay Wong to Emily Au's realistic porcelain bacon vessel and Nicholas Bono Kennedy's chaotic prepping station painting, prepare to be surprised, amused, and maybe even a little hungry. Don't miss Sara Suppan's "Dusty" for a relatable reminder of snack-stained fingers! For more visit> hashimotocontemporary.com/ Danh Vo: Take Ninagawa Feb 17 - Apr 27 Take Ninagawa, Tokyo, Japan Join Danh Vo on a journey through the complex flow of materials and their political narratives. Witness brand new works combining lithographs with his father's calligraphy, inspired by the unsettling film "The Exorcist." Explore installations delving into the history of wood and plants, where sustainable forestry practices and ancient German-Vietnamese family heirlooms intertwine. For more visit> https://www.takeninagawa.com/ Claudia Andujar: The End of the World Feb 9 - Aug 11 Deichtorhallen Hamburg, Germany Experience the power of photography for social change through Claudia Andujar's impactful exhibition. See decades of her work documenting the lives, struggles, and fight for survival of the Yanomami people facing threats from mining and exploitation in the Amazon rainforest. Raise your voice for social justice inspired by Andujar's powerful call to action. For more visit> deichtorhallen.de Desert X AlUla 2024: In the Presence of Absence Feb 9 - Mar 23 AlUla, Saudi Arabia Embrace the mystery of the unseen in this unique open-air exhibition. International artists create site-specific works that blend seamlessly with the vast desert landscape. Be captivated by pieces that challenge your perception of time, wind, light, and history, inviting you on a silent dialogue with nature and the power of artistic expression. For more visit>desertx.org Gabriel Orozco: Circular Identity Feb 10 - Mar 23 Kurimanzutto, Mexico City, Mexico Find beauty in the everyday with Gabriel Orozco's meditative exploration of nature and the cycle of life. Immerse yourself in his intimate "Diario de Plantas" drawings alongside sculptures carved from local stones. Witness his artistic dialogue between da Vinci's "Vitruvian Man" and the Aztec goddess Coatlicue, exploring the universal themes of humanity and nature across cultures and time. For more visit>kurimanzutto.com Leo Robinson: DREAM-BRIDGE-OMNIGLYPH Feb 1 - Jun 29 London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE, London, UK Uncover a hidden world of symbols and rituals within the historic Mithraeum transformed by Leo Robinson's captivating exhibition. Explore intricate assemblages, vibrant watercolors, and handwritten instructions that invite personal reflection and artistic exploration. Connect with the unseen and discover your own inner sanctuary amidst ancient ruins. For more visit> https://www.londonmithraeum.com/ Let your passion for art guide you on an unforgettable journey with these diverse exhibitions happening around the world! Read the full article

[wikiuntamed]

On this day in Wikipedia: Saturday, 20th January

Welcome, bem-vindo, chào mừng, 欢迎 (huānyíng) 🤗 What does @Wikipedia say about 20th January through the years 🏛️📜🗓️?

20th January 2022 🗓️ : Death - Meat Loaf Meat Loaf, American singer and actor (b. 1947) "Michael Lee Aday (born Marvin Lee Aday; September 27, 1947 – January 20, 2022), known professionally as Meat Loaf, was an American singer and actor known for his powerful, wide-ranging voice and theatrical live shows. He is one of the best selling music artists in history. His Bat Out of Hell..."

Image by Ronden Talent Management

20th January 2018 🗓️ : Event - Taliban A group of Taliban gunmen attacked the Inter-Continental Hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan, sparking a 12-hour battle that left at least 21 people dead. "The Taliban (; Pashto: طَالِبَانْ, romanized: ṭālibān, lit. 'students'), which also refers to itself by its state name, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a militant organization in Afghanistan with an ideology comprising elements of Pashtun nationalism and the Deobandi current of Islamic..."

Image by

Original:

Taliban

 

Vector:

Lexicon

20th January 2014 🗓️ : Death - Jonas Trinkūnas Jonas Trinkūnas, Lithuanian ethnologist and academic (b. 1939) "Jonas Trinkūnas (28 February 1939 – 20 January 2014) was the founder of Lithuania's pagan revival Romuva, as well as being an ethnologist and folklorist...."

Image licensed under GFDL? by Algirdas at Lithuanian Wikipedia

20th January 1974 🗓️ : Event - Paracel Islands China gains control over all the Paracel Islands after a military engagement between the naval forces of China and South Vietnam. "The Paracel Islands, also known as the Xisha Islands (simplified Chinese: 西沙群岛; traditional Chinese: 西沙群島; pinyin: xīshā qúndǎo; lit. 'West Sand Archipelago') and the Hoàng Sa Archipelago (Vietnamese: Quần đảo Hoàng Sa, lit. 'Yellow Sand Archipelago'), are a disputed archipelago in the South China..."

Image by United States Naval Oceanographic Office

20th January 1924 🗓️ : Death - Ivo Crapp Henry "Ivo" Crapp, Australian footballer and umpire (b. 1872) "Henry "Harry" Crapp (1872 – 21 January 1924), commonly known as Ivo Crapp, was a leading Australian rules football field umpire in the Victorian Football League (VFL) at its formation in the 1890s, and with the West Australian Football League across the late 1900s and early 1910s. Known as the VFL's..."

Image by Unknown authorUnknown author

20th January 1819 🗓️ : Death - Charles IV of Spain Charles IV, Spanish king (b. 1748) "Charles IV (Spanish: Carlos Antonio Pascual Francisco Javier Juan Nepomuceno José Januario Serafín Diego de Borbón y Sajonia; 11 November 1748 – 20 January 1819) was King of Spain and ruler of the Spanish Empire from 1788 to 1808. The Spain inherited by Charles IV gave few indications of..."

Image by Francisco Goya

20th January 🗓️ : Holiday - Christian feast day: Abadios "Jacobite Arab Synaxarium or Synaxaire Arabe-Jacobite is a volume containing biographies of several saints and it utilized by the Syriac Orthodox Church. It was initially published into French in 1904 in the Patrologia Orientalis by René Basset. This is not to be confused with the Coptic Synaxarium,..."

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[voicemonkservice]

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We have a large selection of native Vietnamese voice actors that have been checked for quality. These Vietnamese voice over artists have vast experience and are ready to assist you with your upcoming project. For more information visit:- https://voicerecordingstudio.in/

[cristallsnoww]

Listening to the Voice Actors of 4*town:

I'll be commenting my thoughts from me listening to the voice actors of the 4*town members individually

I’ll be mentioning the 4*town members a lot and comparing them to the voice actors + making some headcanons along the way

I'll link the videos I listened to

Let’s gooo

(Warning: this is kind of a long post)

-

Jordan Fisher (Robaire)

I’ve heard of Fisher from Dear Evan Hansen, he was playing the lead role Evan in 2020, and so I was surprised he sang for Turning Red, I mean his voice suits anything ffgk 

He’s a man of talent and sang with LMM (Lin Maneul Miranda, who is a musical god)

I definitely see the charm in Robaire from Fisher, I SEE IT

Fisher’s voice is to die for, I’m not exaggerating

His control is great, sir can hit high notes !!

Videos:

Jordan Fisher - All About Us (Official Video)

"If I Could Tell Her" | DEAR EVAN HANSEN

Jordan Fisher - "Into You" Ariana Grande Acoustic Cover | Elvis Duran Live

Jordan Fisher Covers Troye Sivan's "Fools" + Peforms His Single "All About Us"

Finneas O'Connell (Jesse)

Finneas’ voice is calming and quite deep, I like it, sounds mature and suiting for Jesse.

Literally Finneas and Jesse share the same hairstyle..I just noticed kdjg

His voice suits sadder/serious songs, it makes me imagine Jesse writing the edgier/sadder songs for 4*town. But also romantic songs too.

Not only does Finneas songwrite and produce, he sings! And not only does Jesse do art, he sings too! (not to mention dance) That’s a whole package (we’re not even talking about visuals man omg ok anyway-)

Also hearing Finneas’ voice sounds like Jesse could sing lullabies, like his voice could be soothing and put you to sleep.

Videos:

FINNEAS - Only A Lifetime (Live)

FINNEAS - What They'll Say About Us (Official Video)

FINNEAS - Die Alone (Audio)

Josh Levi (Aaron Z)

Levi’s voice is so HOT.. ILLEGAL. Also Levi dances pretty good, I see why Z is the best dancer in 4*town.

If I were a boy in the 2000s, I would be an Aaron Z stan no doubt, I get you Tyler ;)

I can’t comprehend Z being stoic offstage but his voice is full of emotion and smooth like honey on stage…THAT’S ILLEGAL.

I can totally see Aaron Z and Robaire being rivals with each other because they got vocals and style.

I think his voice impressed me the most, Topher Ngo’s being second place. The Aarons GOT IT !!

Videos

Josh Levi - NASA (LIVE)

Josh Levi - What's The Use (Live Performance)

Topher Ngo (Aaron T)

I can’t believe Aaron T is a bass, I didn’t expect for him to have a deeper voice rkdfjgns that’s so attractive

Ngo being Vietnamese makes me glad, he’s representing us Viets!!

Also his control over his voice is insane, literally I am in love??? Ocean deep y'all

Ngo being an ARMY (BTS fan) totally makes me convinced that T would definitely be a fan of BTS too, I don’t make the rules xD

Another soothing voice I would like to hear if I ever feel stressed.

Videos

billie eilish - my future (but a little riffy)

The Black Keys - Lonely Boy (Cover) | Topher Ngo

Ain't No Sunshine (A cappella Cover) | Topher Ngo

Grayson Villanueva (Tae Young)

Villanueva’s voice is so bright, I see why they casted him as Tae Young, instant serotonin listening to his voice oml

Also Villanueva plays guitar = Tae Young is a guitar player too (it just makes sense!)

(Fisher and Ngo also play guitar, while Finneas plays piano..Aaron T + Tae + Robaire the guitar gang, while Jesse the piano player)

He’s a literal incarnation of an angel.

Also Villanueva said he did beatboxing for the song (I’m guessing Nobody Like U or U Know What's Up?), yo then Tae must does beatboxing for the group too

Videos

I Want You (prod. AYCBeats) - Grayson Villanueva

Fantasy (prod. AYCBeats) - Grayson Villanueva

GRV - WATERMELON SUGAR by Harry Styles (Official Music Video)

-

Bonus: Topher Ngo and Grayson Villanueva collab on “You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” 

( which totally sounds like an Aaron T and Tae Young cover that they would 100% do too omgkmrgslkr the pure talent and comedy)

-

As I listened to these artists individually, I see the resemblance in their 4*town characters, Pixar captured their auras and personalities SO WELL

My favorite voices might be Jordan Fisher (Robaire) and Topher Ngo (Aaron T), but the others are super good voices too. All of  them work well together as a group and sound breathtakingly beautiful in their own unique ways in their individual music/covers.

In K-pop, usually artists debut in groups and they don’t have solo debuts in order to focus on the group projects (mostly solo covers at most) and it builds the hype whenever one member does make their solo though. 

It was actually nice to do the reverse in this case, where I listened to the group first (4*town), then I listened to their individual voices (the voice actors’ solo works).

This was pretty fun, please do check out the voice actors of 4*town and support their work as well.

They’re all so talented and I’m grateful to have them come together to bring 4*town to life 💗

Who’s voice you like the most? Does it differ from your 4*town bias?

Drop some headcanonss if you made new ones after listening to their VAs, I would love to read some too

[lacrimosathedark]

Someone who knows about Lanterns: please tell me about them.

I know next to nothing about the Lanterns.

Here’s the almost full extent of my knowledge:

I know Hal’s an asshole, but also is kinda all over the place about it? He’s genderfluid, or at least some kind of genderqueer, pansexual, and probably poly. And is really close with Ollie and Dinah, and also Barry Allen I think? He was also evil for a bit? And then he became the Spectre for a bit?

I know Guy’s an asshole but he’s loud about it. That’s it. WAIT EDIT I remembered that Batman Saitama-ed him once. Like One Punch knocked his lights out. I only know this because of thepandaredd.

I know John Stewart has a deep authoritative voice. And he was in the military.

I know Kyle is an artist, speaks Spanish, is bisexual af with a major thing for Ace King Conner Hawke, and his girlfriend was the origin of the term “women in refrigerators”. And he’s pretty. And possibly awkward?

I know there’s another guy, I think his name is Simon Baz? I literally know nothing about him. He looks kinda like a wrestler to me with that full face mask.

I apparently mix up Jo Mullein and Jessica Cruz (thank you @supericelight for the correction because I forgot Jessica!) I think Jo is the one with Anime Shades and Jessica is the one who’s agoraphobic. And I think Batman almost adopted Jessica Like He Does. And Jo is queer! I know literally nothing else about them.

I know Keli Quintela isn’t technically a Lantern but idk wtf is up with her glove. Everything I know about her is from the Young Justice comics.

I know there’s another kid who’s Asian (I think Chinese or Vietnamese?) that I know absolutely nothing about.

There’s too much honestly and I can’t focus. I’m a Batfam person, and I’m just being pulled into Arrowfam because of Roy Harper. Looking into all the goddamn Lanterns is too much for my brain right now.

So, tell me about them! Share your favorite scenes or their funniest lines or anything you like about these characters! I want to know them.

[if-fortunate]

an incomplete list of YR headcanons

just been writing my running-away-from-me war au fic and my brain produced a ridiculous number of hcs & people that are included in my YR extended universe. just writing them out / explaining my logic for future reference. Possibly will be added to as others occur to me.

Wille's dad is actually his step-dad. Wille and Erik's biological dad died when Wille was nearly four and Erik was nine. Queen Kristina remarried a career soldier and noble shortly afterwards upon the urging of her own mother. He's pretty unobjectionable, but he's not the most emotionally intelligent person and didn't put in as much effort with Wille and Erik as he could have. Erik has also never forgiven him for replacing their real dad. Wille just...has no feelings about him. Queen Kristina, however, has the line of in public, we are a happy family which they all abide by. Their biological dad was the love of Queen Kristina's life, and after he died she kind of became the cold, job-obsessed woman we see in the show.

Linda came over to Sweden via Spain from Venezuela in 1998 after her mum died, right before Chavez took power. She was on an exchange organised by her school and fell in love with Micke, went back with him to Sweden, and then had Sara and Simon and kind of...got stuck? She had a job working as a healthcare assistant in the hospital, where she met Rosh's mum. After she fled Micke she actually trained to become a fully-fledged nurse.

Rosh's family is from Iraqi Kurdistan. Her parents fled after Halabja Massacre in 1988, but a lot of their family is still there and they go back when they can. The family in Sweden is Rosh, her parents, and her two older sisters. Her mum, Nefel, is a nurse and on literally every possible committee in Bjarstad and is a stalwart of the community. Her dad works for a building company, and her sisters are Viyan, who's mega into politics, and Mina, who is a teacher and an expert martial artist.

Rosh and Simon became best friends on the first day of school, aged five. They've literally been inseperable ever since.

Ayub's family is from Syria. They fled the war in 2012, when Ayub was nine, and wound up in Stockholm, and then moved to Bjarstad when Ayub was eleven. In school, he met Rosh and Simon, and it was instant friendship.

Friendship group dynamics: Rosh is absolutely feral, Simon is...somewhat feral, and Ayub is the lone voice of reason. Which, let's be honest, doesn't count for much.

Wille plays the cello. He got taught cello and piano, but has always preferred the cello.

Erik is a pianist and an artist. He's really into classical music, and painting portraits and scenes. This was inspired by their great aunt, whom he stayed in contact with well after his mother decided that the family weren't to have anything to do with her anymore. He likes art because he can get lost in creating something and take a step back from who he has to be all the time. Same feeling with the piano.

Giang is Erik's university girlfriend. She's Afro-Vietnamese, and was raised in Hanoi, an only child. She studied law at Oxford, specialising in human rights / humanitarian law. She met Erik because she was debating at the Oxford Union, his friends were heckling and being assholes, and so he bought her a drink after as an apology and it just spiralled from there. In some universes, they broke up after university. In others, well...maybe they make it work.

Wille and Erik have a great-aunt who's an ex-soldier, a prepper, and an artist. She died convinced that the apocalypse was nigh, but she was a right laugh and a total radical. She was cut off from the family after her transition, but Erik stayed in contact with her and her then-partner, a music teacher from the local village whom she fell in love with.

[discountalien-pancake]

Favorite asian shows and movies I’ve seen so far, ranked in order of most to least tragic:

My Country: The New Age (kdrama) - compact period drama about a turbulent transition of power in medieval Korea. Childhood best friends turned enemies due to social inequality and interference from hidden players. If you believe the true romance is between Hwi and Huijae, I would like to introduce you to a Nigerian prince. Beautifully shot, lit, and costumed. The music is perfection (and available in spotify). Hands down the best fight choreography I’ve ever seen. Throwaway lines and small moments from earlier episodes come back to haunt you. Starcrossed soulmates try and fail to sever their bonds.

Song Lang (viet movie) - a movie about a (fictional) rising star of traditional vietnamese opera and a gruff debt-collector with his own personal ties to the artform. Incredibly well-crafted loveletter to vietnamese opera and 80s sai gon. Produced by Ngo Thanh Van (yes, Quynh from the Old Guard NTV). Honestly one of my fave queer movies ever, though the romance is only implied. Doesn’t have the same flavor of being made for the straight cis female gaze that chinese danmei do. Starcrossed first love that leaves a mark on the soul. My parents loved it.

Move to Heaven (kdrama) - even more compact contemporary drama about an autistic young man who loses his father. His deadbeat uncle moves in as his guardian, and shenanigans ensue. The episodes roughly follow a Monster of the Week format, each focusing on someone who has passed away and going through the things they’ve left behind in order to give the deceased a voice. Meanwhile the protagonists have to confront the loss they’ve experienced in their own lives. Warnings for some ableism that is addressed as the characters grow. A bittersweet, beautifully crafted story about love, grief, and closure. You will cry. Bring tissues.

The Yin Yang Master: Dream of Eternity (chinese movie) - folks, it’s gay. A giant evil snake is reborn and a young yin yang master has to join forces with a demon-hunter to stop it. The problem is Qingming is rumored to be the son of a fox demon, while Boya’s mother was murdered by a fox demon. Black/White lovers. Fan Gay and Flute Gay. Enemies to soulmates speedrun. A high fantasy chinese drama that doesn’t fall victim to trying to pass off a couple of scrawny prettyboys as martial arts masters (sorry, word of honor, but i could snap those boys like twigs).

Romance of the Tiger and the Rose (cdrama) - 24(?) episodes, ridiculous good fun about a scriptwriter who falls into her own story (yes, i know, just trust me on this one). Unfortunately her character is slated to die in the third episode, and she has to think on her feet to save herself. Murder husband absolutely adores his schemer wife. One questionable scene about midway through ep 19(?) that has its purpose but is definitely deeply uncomfortable and upsetting. You’ll know it when you see it, and you can skip 30 seconds and continue without any issues. Otherwise it is a wonderful commentary on gender roles, family bonds, and social norms.

BeLoved In House: I Do (taiwanese) - 12 half-length episodes—we do not talk about episode 13. Short and sweet, ridiculously trope-filled gay romance about a young executive who takes over as the art director of a small jewelry studio. He immediately makes an enemy of the head artist by implementing a very stupid rule: employees are forbidden from having romantic relationships. Oh, and they were roommates. If you find the secondary romance bland, forgettable, or uncomfy, no worries! They are almost entirely irrelevant to the plot and you can fast-forward through all of their scenes! Definitely is intended for a straight cis female audience but also has a very sincere message that love is love.

[unsymptotally]

Music tag game!

Tagged by: @the-commonplace-book

Rules: Spell out your URL with song titles. Tag as many people as you please.

U - "Under My Umbrella" by Margo Guryan

A poignant pop confection that masterfully combines wistful melody with understated, optimistic lyrics, all tied up with a 60s-shuffle bow.

N - "Noble Nobles" by Esperanza Spalding

Off of my favorite album of hers, Noble Nobles is a reminder of the American upper-class' dependance and exploitation of slaves - a blemish to be powdered over before a debutante ball.

S - "Sài Gòn" - Carol Kim

Play this for a certain generation of Vietnamese immigrants and tears may well up as quickly as the memories. Sunny, carefree "Sài Gòn" is of that genre extolling the beauty of one's city - think "New York, New York" - but is made bittersweet and nostalgic in retrospect by the war that renamed Saigon to Ho Chi Minh and drove my family, like many others, to flee her sunny streets and bustling markets.

Y - "You Still Believe in Me" - The Beach Boys

Pet Sounds is one of my favorite albums, and it's because in between songs as timeless as "Wouldn't It Be Nice?" and "God Only Knows," a roster of haunting, introspective pieces flesh it out. This is one such song - one that, despite its simple lyrics convey a profound feeling of uncertainty, trust, support and affection that resonates more and more as I begin my 20s. Also - brilliant arrangements and production, as with the rest of the album.

M - "Master Song" - Leonard Cohen

Religious and wartime imagery embellish the vague, impressionistic vignette of a complicated emotional and sexual relationship between three people. Although he can be quite literal and detached, is still comes across like a poetic skimming of the surface from someone too involved, and too observant.

P - "Paix sur terre" - Crischa

A French psyché deep-cut masterpiece. Gloriously fuzzy guitar and bass, catchy sax and organ licks result in a head-pounding tumult of psychedelic social critique. For non-francophones, you'll at least catch the Nixon name-drop.

T - "Talk About It" - Harumi

The bewildering history of this album is one thing (an artist emerges, released this album, and then drops off the face of the Earth) but boundary-pushing artistry is really what draws me to Harumi. "Talk About It" captures a sort of cosmic confusion - some unknown, activating force that is too big for one to comprehend but compelling enough to continually motivate.

O - "Odorono" - The Who

A pretty, pretty song about deodorant. It's as earnest as satire can be, and I truly feel for the heroine whose long-awaited engagement is thwarted by her choice of deodorant. The interactions are portrayed with subtlety, and I really love the guitar tone.

T - "Tomorrow Never Knows" - The Beatles

I tried valiantly, you should know, to refrain from filling this list with Beatles tunes. However, its groundbreaking production (courtesy of budding engineer Geoff Emerick, my old-man crush George Martin, and a rotating Leslie organ speaker cabinet) as well lyrics adapted from the Tibetan Book of the Dead and a very, very early example of looping drums (omg - the drum sound? My god.)

For ‘Tomorrow Never Knows’ he said to me he wanted his voice to sound like the Dalai Lama chanting from a hilltop, and I said, ‘It’s a bit expensive, going to Tibet. Can we make do with it here?’" - George Martin

A - "Agathe ou Christie?" - Christie Laume

Speaking of drum sounds, this random yéyé novelty track that was basically written in its entirety to be a set-up for an Agatha Christie pun has incredible, driving 60s drums. Idk what they were putting in the water of French session musicians at the time, but between this and "Paix sur Terre"...

L - "Lolita" - Cannonball Adderley and the Poll Winners

I love this tight, continental style of small group jazz. It's almost as if, in the post-bebop and hard bop age, musicians took a step back and had a little vacation. This whole album is airy, Latin-tinged, and has a playful spontaneity but doesn't let you forget the complexity and skill that these musicians possess. They're just having a bit of fun here.

L - "Les Voyages" - Jeanne Moreau

Another bossa track, this was my first introduction to chanteuse Jeanne Moreau. A lot of the French music I listen to is fluffy, yéyé stuff that is charming, if a little ditzy. Jeanne is grown up - cool, silky voice, sophisticated backings and lyrics that are more poetic. Refreshingly, though, she lacks the stuffiness of other French chanson of yesteryear - she toes the line between both. This song is dreamy and the perfect accompaniment to a cocktail and getaway daydreams. Interestingly, her description of tropical paradise never fails to mention the sinister, dosing her fantasy with a sense of humanistic pragmatism.

Y - "You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here" - Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention

The irreverant Frank Zappa shines on this. This album, their innovative début, wore many hats. It's just as likely to throw you an acerbic assessment of media and politics, as it is a doo-wop parody, love song, or a baritone, double-tracked "Yeah" far too loud in the mix just because it sounds funny. This song contains the latter, but I think it demonstrates well both sides of Zappa humor: biting, deadpan wit and goofy Spike Mulligan-esque antics. There's what I'm pretty sure is a kazoo solo.

I meant to only write a sentence or two about each song, but that obviously devolved as I went on.

Tagging: @djangodurango @exeggcute @monstroso @literarycaterpillar

I put everything into a playlist!

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5qPRj4i28VP1l7YSFFfPBn?si=0d9ba62c1c2045fb

https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/unsymptotally/pl.u-mJy8gP8CNXbxmj9

[vietnamesevoiceoverservice]

In recent years, the field of Vietnamese voice acting has seen significant growth. With the demand for Vietnamese voice over services surging in various industries such as TV commercials, films, e-learning, and even gaming, the country has become a hub for talented Vietnamese voice actors. From Vietnamese dubbing of international films to crafting immersive experiences for video games, these voice artists bring stories to life through their voice acting. In this article, we’ll explore the art of Vietnamese voice acting, the growing industry behind it, and the various opportunities for Vietnamese voice talents.