#Was it by Busker's own involvement???

[n41r]

I forgot to add this Dark Stan 3* image from dobe_dobe_W (Twitter) for that spoiler I was showing

On one hand, we are back to the tradition of having the chapter's protag having a dark knight version of themselves, just like our good old chapter series protags

On the other hand... I am scared- How did Stan even get ahold of that Dark Matter, even- I am scared with the possibilities lsjdghjkdftj--

[luulapants]

25 ways to be a little more punk in 2025

Cut fast fashion - buy used, learn to mend and/or make your own clothes, buy fewer clothes less often so you can save up for ethically made quality

Cancel subscriptions - relearn how to pirate media, spend $10/month buying a digital album from a small artist instead of on Spotify, stream on free services since the paid ones make you watch ads anyway

Green your community - there's lots of ways to do this, like seedbombing or joining a community garden or organizing neighborhood trash pickups

Be kind - stop to give directions, check on stopped cars, smile at kids, let people cut you in line, offer to get stuff off the high shelf, hold the door, ask people if they're okay

Intervene - learn bystander intervention techniques and be prepared to use them, even if it feels awkward

Get closer to your food - grow it yourself, can and preserve it, buy from a farmstand, learn where it's from, go fishing, make it from scratch, learn a new ingredient

Use opensource software - try LibreOffice, try Reaper, learn Linux, use a free Photoshop clone. The next time an app tries to force you to pay, look to see if there's an opensource alternative

Make less trash - start a compost, be mindful of packaging, find another use for that plastic, make it a challenge for yourself!

Get involved in local politics - show up at meetings for city council, the zoning commission, the park district, school boards; fight the NIMBYs that always show up and force them to focus on the things impacting the most vulnerable folks in your community

DIY > fashion - shake off the obsession with pristine presentation that you've been taught! Cut your own hair, use homemade cosmetics, exchange mani/pedis with friends, make your own jewelry, duct tape those broken headphones!

Ditch Google - Chromium browsers (which is almost all of them) are now bloated spyware, and Google search sucks now, so why not finally make the jump to Firefox and another search like DuckDuckGo? Or put the Wikipedia app on your phone and look things up there?

Forage - learn about local edible plants and how to safely and sustainably harvest them or go find fruit trees and such accessible to the public.

Volunteer - every week tutoring at the library or once a month at the humane society or twice a year serving food at the soup kitchen, you can find something that matches your availability

Help your neighbors - which means you have to meet them first and find out how you can help (including your unhoused neighbors), like elderly or disabled folks that might need help with yardwork or who that escape artist dog belongs to or whether the police have been hassling people sleeping rough

Fix stuff - the next time something breaks (a small appliance, an electronic, a piece of furniture, etc.), see if you can figure out what's wrong with it, if there are tutorials on fixing it, or if you can order a replacement part from the manufacturer instead of trashing the whole thing

Mix up your transit - find out what's walkable, try biking instead of driving, try public transit and complain to the city if it sucks, take a train instead of a plane, start a carpool at work

Engage in the arts - go see a local play, check out an art gallery or a small museum, buy art from the farmer's market

Go to the library - to check out a book or a movie or a CD, to use the computers or the printer, to find out if they have other weird rentals like a seed library or luggage, to use meeting space, to file your taxes, to take a class, to ask question

Listen local - see what's happening at local music venues or other events where local musicians will be performing, stop for buskers, find a favorite artist, and support them

Buy local - it's less convenient than online shopping or going to a big box store that sells everything, but try buying what you can from small local shops in your area

Become unmarketable - there are a lot of ways you can disrupt your online marketing surveillance, including buying less, using decoy emails, deleting or removing permissions from apps that spy on you, checking your privacy settings, not clicking advertising links, and...

Use cash - go to the bank and take out cash instead of using your credit card or e-payment for everything! It's better on small businesses and it's untraceable

Give what you can - as capitalism churns on, normal shmucks have less and less, so think about what you can give (time, money, skills, space, stuff) and how it will make the most impact

Talk about wages - with your coworkers, with your friends, while unionizing! Stop thinking about wages as a measure of your worth and talk about whether or not the bosses are paying fairly for the labor they receive

Think about wealthflow - there are a thousand little mechanisms that corporations and billionaires use to capture wealth from the lower class: fees for transactions, interest, vendor platforms, subscriptions, and more. Start thinking about where your money goes, how and where it's getting captured and removed from our class, and where you have the ability to cut off the flow and pass cash directly to your fellow working class people

[dorothylarouge]

Dorothy's Top Five Games of 2024

Honorable Mentions:

Suzerain: A gripping and fully-developed world of politics and international relations, Suzerain released its Rizia DLC this year, and I played through both it and the main campaign. Its realistic portrayal of political and economic processes, in the backdrop of a world almost our own, proved extremely addictive.

Goodbye Volcano High: A heartfelt and moving interactive animated miniseries about coming of age in apocalyptic times, with some great indie rock-flavored music.

We Love Katamari Reroll: A delightful followup to the original Katamari Damacy, We Love Katamari is more of the same - and what more could you ask?

Sea of Stars: A beautiful love letter to classic JRPGs, with gorgeous environments, delightful timing-based combat, endearing characters, and wonderful music, including guest tracks composed by legend Yasunori Mitsuda.

Dragon Age: the Veilguard: Now the story of a studio who lost everything, and the one game that had no choice but to get them back on track. It’s Arrested Development.

And now, the list proper.

Fifth Place: Penny's Big Breakaway (Evening Star)

I have a tremendous soft spot for 3D platformers. Some of my earliest memories of video games involve playing Super Mario Sunshine, Sonic Adventure 2, and Spyro (the bad one) on GameCube.

Penny's Big Breakaway feels like a refugee from that era of platformer, one which would have felt at home on the Dreamcast, GameCube, or even the original Xbox or PlayStation 2. It combines energetic, almost frantic platforming with a high skill ceiling and combo system with a turn-of-the-century graphical aesthetic and fantastic music by Tee Lopes to provide a return to form for a genre which has for too long been permitted to languish.

As with most 3D platformers, story is not a major focus. You play as Penny, a yo-yo-toting busker who ends up running afoul of an emperor and must escape imprisonment by his army of colorful penguins. That's it. That's all you need. This simple premise provides ample excuse for Penny to run, jump, and roll her way through a host of themed worlds. Sometimes, less is more.

With that said, this is not a perfect game. The controls take a lot of time and effort to master, and even after a good amount of play time one is liable to fling oneself off of the map. Health powerups are not as plentiful as they should be, especially in boss encounters, and a lack of camera control can be downright painful at times. Still, these complaints do not ruin the game, and hopefully they can be addressed in a sequel.

The developers of Sonic Mania have created a true gem with this, the debut game from new studio Evening Star, and I look forward to seeing what the studio comes out next - like the best platformer mascots, Penny has the charisma and style to inspire adventures for years to come.

Fourth Place: Neva (Nomada Studio)

Neva is the latest release from Nomada Studio, creators of the brilliant game Gris, and where Gris was a parable of grief and loss, Neva is an ecological fable in which a girl and her dog must make their way through an increasingly-ravaged natural world beset by decay and corruption.

The core gameplay of Neva builds and iterates upon what was seen in Gris, with a dash, double jump, and ground pound, but added in are a sword, which main character Alba uses to fight enemies as well as unlock obstacles, and abilities involving the titular dog which are unlocked over the course of the game. The combat is fun but fairly rudimentary, and I saw it as a garnish on the real focus of the game, which is robust and engaging puzzle platforming of the kind that made Gris such a delight.

The game, as expected of Nomada Studio, is gorgeous, with a beautiful art style, impeccable sound design, brilliant use of color, and haunting, atmospheric music. The level design is also excellent, spanning a number of natural environments which are slowly but surely overtaken by the creeping decay, as well as man-made structures resembling those in Gris, which are also crumbling and in a state of decay. The degradation of nature and collapse of the structures of man are linked in Neva, giving rise to uncomfortable thoughts about the state of the world today.

Neva is defined by cycles, cycles of life, death, decomposition, and the cycle of the seasons, which give each of the game's four chapters their names. The game ends in an echo of its beginning, a beautiful and bittersweet ending I will not spoil here.

Neva is a hauntingly beautiful, if frustratingly short, gaming experience which I think will stay with me for a long time. I felt compelled to hug my dog after it was done.

Third Place: Metaphor: ReFantazio (Studio Zero)

When Metaphor was first announced, the impression that everyone got was that it was fantasy Persona, with a large amount of development staff carried over from the Hashino Persona games, a lot of mechanics and systems carried over from those games, and even some summonable demons from the mainline Persona and Shin Megami Tensei games. Commentators made note that this was fantasy Persona. Journalists endlessly referred to it as fantasy Persona. Reviewers regarded it as fantasy Persona. It was such a cliche, so aggravating to fans, that it became verboten in the fanbase to refer to the game as fantasy Persona.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is fantasy Persona. This is in no way a bad thing. As in the Hashino Persona games, there is an emphasis on social simulation, with the main character forging bonds with his party members and honing his social skills - not to self-actualize as a social being, as in Persona, but to prove his mettle and worthiness as a king to a kingdom cast into chaos after the last king's murder.

It is this emphasis on fantasy that sets Metaphor apart. The game is constantly musing on fantasy tropes and the transformative nature of the genre, and it has a surprising amount to say about the appeal of fantasy narratives, to say nothing of its overarching themes of prejudice and self-determination.

In terms of gameplay, Metaphor actually takes a lot more from the Press Turn system of Shin Megami Tensei than the One More system of Persona, and it took me a while to get into the groove of it. Once I did, though, I had a great time chaining attacks to strike at opponents' weaknesses and finishing my turns with devastating damage via the game's Synthesis mechanic. The game's central gameplay feature, the Archetype system - a sort of job system like those in Sqaure Enix RPGs - was also something I took to readily after some initial fiddling. The game lets you mix and match abilities from different archetypes via the skill inheritance system, and I had a lot of fun creating an ideal build for each playable character.

And then, of course, there's the characters. Metaphor features a large cast of characters, and I was happy to see that all of the social link equivalents featured strong and compelling narratives that made the time needed to invest in each rank of their story a worthy commitment. In particular, I found the narratives of Eupha, Heismay, and Maria especially compelling, and the bonuses provided through spending time with them to be particularly valuable.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is fantasy Persona. And that's a good thing! It's a great game, and I hope it's one that gets revisited sooner rather than later. Studio Zero have produced a real gem for their debut title, and I really hope they keep the momentum going.

Second Place: Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut (Sucker Punch Productions)

I am a huge fan of the works of director Akira Kurosawa - Throne of Blood is my favorite film of all time - and the jidaigeki genre of samurai films in general, so when I learned that Sucker Punch was making a game inspired by the genre I was filled with excitement which turned to dismay when I learned that the game would be PlayStation exclusive. Thankfully, though, little stays PlayStation exclusive for long, and I was happy to finally play Ghost of Tsushima when its Director's Cut released on PC this year.

The setup of Ghost of Tsushima is pretty simple, and slots in nicely with its genre - you play as Jin Sakai, the sole survivor of a massacre of samurai at the hands of invading Mongols, and must use all the tools at your disposal to free the jito, your uncle, and liberate your island home of Tsushima. Along the way, you begin to chafe at the code of honor you are expected to uphold as a samurai and as your uncle's heir apparent. While Ghost does have a simple premise, it is its characters, and their struggles and dreams, which kept me invested throughout the experience.

The game's combat is consistently satisfying, with the player rotating through various swordfighting stances to counter specific enemy types, while also having access to a bow, bombs, poison darts, and various quickfire items which can disrupt enemies and allow you to control the flow of combat. It's a fun system to master and learn how to get through any encounter without taking any damage. Occasionally the game also puts you in one on one duels with certain enemies, which are always fantastic - the one at the end of the game especially.

Where Ghost really shines, though, is in its exploration. I wouldn't call Ghost of Tsushima a true open world game - the player's access to the island's various regions is gated by story progression, and you unlock more of Tsushima as you progress, while having free reign of any area you have access to at any given time. The game heavily rewards exploration with a variety of activities and collectibles, which differentiate themselves from the typical Ubisoft-style open world icons by being fun, useful, and engaging. You'll scale mountains to reach a shrine to a kami, or rest for a while in a hot spring to increase your health, or (anachronistically as the art form did not exist in the 13th century) compose a haiku to earn a new piece of cosmetic gear. You'll also follow a number of character-based side stories, one-off side quests, and mythic tales which unlock powerful abilities and armor, all of which are extremely engaging and memorable. I would liken Ghost of Tsushima to last year's Tears of the Kingdom in terms of just how good it feels to explore and discover the island of Tsushima's beautiful environments, and uncover all of its secrets.

As a lover of the genre, I could barely put Ghost of Tsushima down in my initial playthrough of over 70 hours. It more than earns its spot on the list, but there's just one game I think left even more of a mark on me this year.

First Place: Persona 3 Reload (P-Studio)

I am a recent convert to the Persona series, having first played Persona 5 Royal in 2022 and playing Persona 4 Golden when it released on Xbox in 2023. However, I have fallen deeply in love with the series, and when Persona 3 Reload was announced I made the decision that I had to play it on release day. I called out of work and preordered the game - something I never do - and through a combination of being trapped in my home by a massive storm and losing my job the next week, I ended up plowing through Persona 3 Reload in about a week. I simply couldn't put the game down.

I had very little knowledge of the story or characters of Persona 3, having never played my copy of Persona 3 Portable since this game was announced so soon after that released, and so experiencing this narrative for the first time was an experience I'll never forget. Persona 3 is a game about death which is simultaneously extremely life-affirming, celebrating the relationships, connections, and simple joys that make life worth living, while embracing the fact that everyone must someday die and using that fact as motivation to live every day to the fullest. It is a moving, emotional story anchored by rich, engaging characters. I cried several times throughout.

The gameplay of Persona 3 Reload, a refinement on the turn-based systems of previous entries, is polished to a shine, and I found myself blowing through whole blocks of Tartarus, the game's only dungeon, in a single in-game night due to how engaging and addictive the combat felt. It felt extremely rewarding to find effective combos and a synergistic team that could raise each character's Theurgy gauge as quickly as possible, and the structure of Tartarus hooked me in surprisingly effectively, given that I wasn't a big fan of Persona 4's TV Wortld dungeons, or Persona 5's Mementos, dungeons with a similar structure to Tartarus. It helps that there's a surprising amount to do in Tartarus, from rescuing lost civilians to fulfilling requests for the Velvet Room attendant Elizabeth to exploring the various Monad Doors and plundering their rare items.

Persona 3 Reload is a very special game, one that I think will stick with me for a very long time. I can easily see why fans had been clamoring for a remake for so long, and I am extremely grateful that we finally got this game as a result. It is a genuine masterpiece, and easily takes the title of my game of the year.

[ciaossu-imagines]

For the reaction day of the event, I used the prompt below for Bianchi from KHR! I don’t often get a chance to write for her, so this was a nice little change of pace, and I hope you all enjoy these small headcanons 😊

What would Bianchi do if a stranger asked them for a hug?

Like a lot of things, it really does depend on the situation. Bianchi isn’t cruel or anything and in some situations, she’s going to react a lot more kindly.

Now, if the situation in question involved someone offering ‘free hugs’, kind of like a street performer or a busker kind of deal, just someone trying to entertain people, Bianchi will try her best to ignore it. She gives off strong ‘don’t fuck with me’ vibes to begin with, so she probably isn’t going to be anyone’s first choice to approach in this situation.

If they do though, because she does realize they’re just trying to have fun, she’s going to politely decline. Yeah, it’s likely they’re just an innocent street performer, especially since she gets no murderous vibes from them, but she’s been a hitman long enough to be cautious about letting people get too close to her. She assumes her polite no is going to be enough to make them go away.

If they are persistent though, she’s going to repeat that no. And because Bianchi is a trained hitman, I think like anyone else in that work, she can emit a pretty murderous aura. Even those who aren’t able to pick up on exactly what they’re feeling or why they’re suddenly a little scared of her do really get the feeling that they need to get away from her, that this woman is dangerous. Add on top of that Bianchi’s patented death glare, her clenched jaw, and the casual way her body shifts as if ready to attack at a moment’s notice and that second no normally takes care of anything.

If the person approaching her is someone like a crying child though, she is going to be a little more open to helping them. Despite some people’s beliefs, she’s not entirely heartless and she does actually have a soft spot for children. While she never fully drops her guard because she knows that hitmen can easily come in the form of a child or use one to help make a hit easier, she will do what she can. She won’t get close enough to hug them, but she’ll get close enough to see why they want one. Are they scared? Lost? If the child is crying, she’s going to do what she can to help, while still just kind of being wary about any hidden traps.

Now, if the person approaching her and so casually asking for a hug gives her the creeps or, even worse, if she senses ill intent from them? Well, let’s be completely frank her, my lovelies. Bianchi habitually poisoned her little brother for years and she truly loves Gokudera. She’s known as Poison Scorpion and is a talented hitman in her own right. She’ll definitely give them the hug they want and something a little extra and a little deadly as much as she possibly can.

[adamwatchesmovies]

John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)

How do you follow a film like John Wick? The 2014 ballet of violence was such a pleasant surprise because it took a plot that’s been done to death and revitalized it. That’s where John Wick: Chapter 2 finds its purpose: by expanding on the world at the characters within it to make what was familiar new.

Set about two weeks after the first film, everyone now knows that assassin John Wick (Keanu Reeves) has come out of retirement. For crime boss Santino D’Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio), this is the opportunity to collect a debt John owes him.

Like before, the stunt choreography is the reason to buy an admission ticket. By now we sort of know Wick’s preferred method of dispatching his enemies but it’s still plenty of fun to watch him efficiently and methodically take out anyone foolish enough to stand in his way. Director Chad Stahelski even throws in a couple of new tricks to make our jaws drop, like a scene in a bar that involves a pencil and not much else. There’s a particular death in that scene that’ll have you squirming, and you’ll love it.

If you think the only appeal is the violence, you're wrong. There are several points where the cinematography and staging are a wonder to behold. A climactic scene set in a hall of mirrors is a great example. Amazingly, cinematographer Dan Laustsen was able to shoot real people performing real stunts in this tiny enclosed space while keeping the cameras out of any reflections and making it look as good as it does. Oh, and shoot it in a way that’s easy to follow, which is the most impressive aspect.

So far, we’ve talked about what you’d expect from a John Wick film. What’s new? The side characters and large chunks of world-building. John is back in an environment he sought to escape. We caught a glimpse of it previously but now, writer Derek Kolstad gives us a good look. This world hiding in the shadows has its own politics, codes of conduct, currency, honor system and rules. Piecing how it all works is loads of fun because it makes so little sense it makes perfect sense. Countless assassins are hiding among us. The busker playing violin in the subway? They’re hiding a gun in their instrument and are ready to take someone out as soon as they get the call. Think that’s weird? Try wrapping your head around the secret society of killers disguised as vagrants! You have to believe these people spend most of their bullets taking each other out rather than high-ranking politicians who’ve made enemies, which actually makes the movie much more digestible than you’d expect. Like Sin City’s Marv said “I love hitmen. No matter what you do to them, you don't feel bad.” When these hired killers take each other out, they’re not people with jobs; they’re targets for John to take out. The secret society is so busy with itself that there's no room for police officers to respond or innocent civilians to get in the way/be taken hostage. Anyone and everyone has a gun hidden on their person. It’s so absurd it removes you from the weight of what all of these deaths would mean had this film been set in the real world.

John Wick: Chapter 2 (which is not going to be the last in the series) is not as surprising or fresh as the first but it makes up for it. Common, Ruby Rose, Laurence Fishburne and Claudia Gerini all play memorable characters with small but important roles. They join Lance Reddick, John Leguizamo and Ian McShane in the pool of actors who give the world a lot of personality. Once again, the fight scenes and gunplay are spectacular. It’s got more than a few brilliantly shot scenes, and its fast pace means the 122-minute running time flies by like nothing. If you liked the first, you'll want to see this one too. (March 26, 2022)

[knightotoc]

Musician Heroes

I'm such a sucker for them! Society largely ignores musicians and treats them like shit even though they are the coolest people, so it's always fantastic when we at least throw a bone to a fictional one.

Orpheus of Greek mythology, okay musical Hadestown, and dozens of sentimental Tumblr posts

I like the idea that music on its own is this otherworldly force that can do anything, but music is never on its own, and human nature will always bring us back to reality. Though usually the flaw in human nature is more like "the musician was an antisemite" or "the executives of spotify only pay musicians $0.006," not "the musician loved his wife a lot."

Link of the big medievalist video game franchise for kids

I've seen a bunch of nerds lament that the current Link is no longer left-handed, but I think the far bigger shame is that he is no longer a musician. In past incarnations, he was perhaps the most famous and important fictional musician of them all, not least because you get to push the buttons yourself. In Link's reality, music is the source of magic; in our reality, it's the hard work of genius Koji Kondo; in both realities, it's the bedrock of community and understanding, bonds that make the world worth fighting for. David Collins has an excellent 4-part podcast on Ocarina, and this comment on a video of Majora's Astral Observatory track blew my mind:

The Close Encounters aliens and their influence

The aliens in Spielberg's weird adultery masterpiece "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" initiate first contact with a bizarre but ultimately harmless (?) plan that involves addicting subliminal imagery and a flashy John Williams concert. It's a beautiful and even logical idea that music will be the thing that brings life from other planets together.

There are a ton of direct homages in subsequent works of science fiction, such as the live-action He-Man movie, which inspired this post. "The universe is made of music," Gwildor says to a young Tom Paris actor, and the Earthling teenager is able to use his perfect pitch and melody recall to calibrate the transporter-thingy and build a bridge between Earth and Eternia. The biggest fight takes place in a music store where a ton of instruments gets smashed to pieces with enthrallingly reckless abandon.

A more recent Close Encounters homage is the misunderstood villains of Discovery season 4, species 10-C; but because we can't have any fun anymore, the first-contact-light-show corresponds to hydrocarbons or primary numbers or something, not music.

NOT Cal Kestis of Jedi: Fallen Order

Speaking of musician fake-outs, I was so amped when JFO seemed to actually include music-making. For a franchise so reliant on non-diegetic music, the only musician characters we've ever really gotten have been the turtlenecked Biths in A New Hope's cantina. But Cal is yet another lonely teenage boy who leads a big-budget Star Wars project and doesn't even know how to play the guitar. In this picture, he is using psychometry, a Jedi power that lets you access memories embedded within objects, to play a song that someone else played on it before. That's so cool! But it means he's not technically playing it. It's also a microcosm of JFO's whole story, which is Cal filling in for Cere Junda, confronting people from her past, while you wonder why Cere isn't the main character herself.

Fancy Movies: "Carnival of Souls" and "Boy and the World"

These are two of the best movies about musicians who are really up against it: the nameless busker of "Boy" vs the horrors of economic exploitation, and church organist Mary Henry of "Carnival" vs the horrors of Utah. Great movies to watch while the avoiding the 4th of July fireworks.

Stupid Movies: "Cloud Atlas" and "Dungeons and Dragons"

I have beef with these movies, but that's unrelated to these put-upon, lovable musician characters. Still, Robert Frobisher is better in the book, and Edgin Darvis is better in the version of this movie in my head where death has consequences.

Sad TV Guys

Learning an instrument takes time, and Picard has more than enough of that in famously tragic TNG episode "The Inner Light." He lives an entire life through the mind-altering technology in this alien flute to become the last living memory of a dead civilization. The most musically significant thing about this episode, besides the fact that a real musician is holding the instrument to Patrick Stewart's face, is that they replaced TNG's bombastic credits music with a wistful woodwind.

Another musician who really takes the punch out of being a hero is Ishida Yamato, the bad boy of Digimon. While Yagami Taichi leads the group recklessly through the dangerous digital world, Yamato is most interested in keeping everyone safe, especially his little brother. He manifests the emotional side of their adventure by playing sad songs on his harmonica like a pint-sized cowboy.

Perhaps all this angst is exactly why there are so few Musician Heroes, and quite a few:

Musician Villains!

Tolkein's Melkor/Morgoth and Asimov's The Mule bring discord into their old-timey SFF novels; the sheer force of their free will disrupts the carefully laid plans of wiser, better men, and this free will is represented by their music. Hypnotic and miserable, they are the most interesting people in their universes, and for that the normie heroes must bring them down. Anybody else think the Devil won that fiddle contest?

Webber's Phantom and George Harvey Bone of "Hangover Square" are iconic evil incels detached from reality, exploited and despised by everyone around them, driven to murder by weird and sinister forces. As buildings go up in flames around them, they are left alone with only their music, a fate for only the most committed, and therefore most evil, of musicians.

[omegasmileyface]

may not apply to anybody else but

some notes from my experience gradually becoming more involved with the world immediately around me

(as someone who never got involved in a social life or communities of any sort as a kid and moved a lot and now lives in the middle of nowhere)

taking walks lets me see the houses close to mine and what sort of things they come with (sports team merch, outdoors equipment, political signs, food gardens, etc.)

it also lets me see resources around me. i wouldnt know that there was an open community garden and a storage center just down the street without lookin around on walks

(you can also look around while driving! less time to ruminate but still some)

my state's PBS channel does a ton of local news and documentary coverage! theyre available for free online! its a good place to start

newspapers can be hard to keep up with and also sad if theyre as political as the one here, but they still have relevant stuff

my town and the closest city both have websites, and event newsletters! like, by email!

sometimes things you have zero interest in on their own can be important in your community. .....specifically, im talking about sports. a lot of people like sports by their own right and thats great for them but personally i have never been able to give a shit. ESPECIALLY high school sports (or school spirit in general), which happens to be pretty much The Biggest Thing in a whooole lot of american communities. im currently learning that you can engage a little in the high school sports scene without meaningfully caring the vast majority of the time! ...i havent quite figured out HOW yet, but i know its possible. step one is small talk when people say something about the teams, i guess. or superficially saying you hope Local Team wins State or whatever. the community involvement can be more fun than the actual sport! i spent a lot of words on this one but its a big one to me idk

browsing little stores is one of my favorites. even if you dont actually care what theyre selling. just walking around, making small talk with the employees/owner if youre able to, stuff like that

see if there just happens to be what you want. i have a bad habit of just ASSUMING that they dont have anything here. "i live in the middle of nowhere, of course theres no food not bombs division / punk scene / parkour studio / improv theater" ... its worth actually checking lol. like, recently i learned that theres... well, ok, theres no public transportation. but theres this shuttle service that works between a couple stops a few hours a week thats KINDA like public transportation!

talk to people. its so hard its so hard if you have autism or social anxiety or no practice or a lot of fears or all of the above (hi) and im also sure youve heard it a million times but its usually worth trying

use cash if youre shopping locally. idk it keeps the community independent or whatever. also keeping cash on you is a good habit, since youre gonna want to be giving buskers and homeless people and such money whenever possible. and thats waaay easier with cash.

bank locally? and other such... necessary expenses. if possible! as everything tends toward monopolization its hard to have control over who does your banking or electricity or insurance or what have you. im lucky to live in montana, basically the only state where independent banks thrive. still, worth looking around and seeing what you can do

......i really cant overstate the power of the websites (town chamber of commerce website, local news station website, local radio station website) and newspapers as hubs for finding more stuff. a lot of the time, theyll have little 2 sentence blurbs that tell you that something exists, and then you can look that thing up on its own and maybe find a phone number or a mailing list.

last one ok i havent tried this one out on my own bc im scared (reminder that this is not an instructional post this is an observation of my own experience) but i have a theory that dating apps are a good place to find people your age in your area. they might be upset that youre trying to connect with them as acquaintances on a service literally meant for romance, but... well, they dont exactly have anything like it for friends. (nothing mainstream enough to actually work, anyway.)

also this is gonna sound dumb but look at posters and fliers

[jackwattersdt3gameuiux]

Final button designs

Lvl1:

At the top are the two frames for the bat being hit whilst on the bottom I've got three frames for the knight punching the bat. The reason I went for three frames is because that between frame kind of gives the illusion of movement rather than just being a straight a to b animation.

This is much more satisfying to look at and gives some life to the button.

^ This is what the full animation looks like.

Note, the knight here looks different from the sketch. I wasn't satisfied with the knight I sketched out, it looked to disconnected from medieval design, so I adjusted their design to look more like a traditional medieval knight, and more close to the place holder button knights. I've also given the knight this blood red colour scheme. Mainly to fit/relate the design of the king, who also has red as a central colour.

Lvl2:

Above is the dragon design, and below is the knight with the sword. This time I went for a frame animation because I felt it would benefit the sword swing if it looked like it swung smoothly. It took ages to illustrate so this is the only button with 4 frames. But, luckily, it does look good.

In terms of design here, I just added these swipe streaks to improve the illusion of animation, and it looks quite good and dynamic, that combined with the chunky slashing sound makes this probably my favourite button to press mechanically. I've also made sure to keep my earthy colour pallet here with a classic red/green contrast, but at the same time keeping the colours tame. The dragon is pretty much the same thing as the protobutton, just higher definition.

Lvl3:

Merman at the top, knight at the bottom. This is pretty much the same as the proto button, except instead of the pushing the boat into the merman the knight is just stabbing them with a spear. I found that it'd just save a lot of time not having to redraw the boat over and over again. Also, there's a fun little visual gag with the merman where they're playing the Wonderwall G on the lute thing, just a little reference for those who know.

I've changed the design of the merman significantly, and mainly because I want the merman to look more humanlike. So, what I did was change their beard to a moustache, less wise monk and more busker hipster vibes, and I changed the colour of the head and facial hair to a yellow blondish colour. This is to make it look like human hair without actually having human hair. I've added some small scales to increase the fish-like aspect as well, not to make the character look too human like. I've made the merman a whole lot younger looking, I felt like there were too many monk like creatures. There are also little musical around their mouth to make it look like they're singing, but when you stab them, the note becomes dischorded, so it changes from green to red. This is to make it feel more involved than the previous button. The eye's pupil also shrinks when the creature is hit, this is to further exaggerate the pain and make it look like theres some impact. Mainly because I'm not awfully satisfied with this button. It feels like the visibility of the spear is quite low with it being surrounded by similar tones. Next time I would probably make the spear larger and more apparent. Lvl4:

Top is the lion monk getting hit, the bottom is the knight swinging the hammer.

I'm extremely proud of this design here. I think this looks fantastic, especially with the blurred hammer, it looks super dynamic when pressed, feels quite weighty. This time the third eye is more serpentine looking more inline with the design's serpent quality. The knight looks really good, but I feel like I could've done the first frame a bit better, the legs look too cartoonish and the pelvis isn't really present. Other than that I'm quite happy with how this button turned out. This might even be a design I reuse in my own personal projects as I love it so much.

[rythmicjea]

The Suite Adult Life - November

Here we go! The penultimate chapter. I had the hardest time writing this chapter. I went three months before figuring out what I was going to write. Obviously, it was going to involve the infamous "November 16th, 2023" dinner reservation. Fun fact: Did you know that famous date is also Bailey's birthday? I did not. I don't know how people found that out. I didn't make it up for this story. It's on the wikia for the show. I love easter eggs like that.

“We were never supposed to stay the same. I just… I just want the chance to fall in love with this version of you. If you’ll let me.” The late autumn breeze picked up, wrapping them in the scent of the season. A busker serenaded them to an Adele song about young love. Deftly, Cody pulled her to him tighter, leading her into a slow dance. He marveled at how her dark eyes shimmered in the evening light. With a flourish he spun her out and back to them, twirling them on the ancient cobblestones.

“I’m going to hurt you,” Bailey warned softly. He only smiled in disbelief in response. 

[zoot-marimba]

Holger Czukay

(March 24, 1938-September 5, 2017)

What can I say about Holger Czukay? Bassist, multi-instrumentalist, pioneer, innovator, producer, bandleader, you name it. As bassist and tape editor of seminal Krautrock outfit CAN, it was Holger whose rocksteady bass and musical mind anchored the controlled chaos of one of rock’s most seminal groups. In the process, he would contribute early innovations such as sampling, ambient, and world music.

Holger was born in the Free City of Danzig (present-day Gdańsk, Poland), from which his family was expelled upon the end of World War II. As a result of the turmoil, Holger’s primary education would be limited, but one pivotal experience for him would be when he worked at a radio repair shop in his teens. It was here that he became enchanted with the aural qualities of radio broadcasts as well as learning the basic mechanics and engineering of shortwave radio and transmitters. Holger would also develop a greater interest in music, aspiring to become a composer and conductor. Of course, his ideas proved to be a bit much for many people’s liking, with one jazz festival kicking him off the bill for being “too radical” and Berlin’s Musical Academy similarly expelling him for artistic insubordination. Fortunately for young Holger, he’d soon find a sympathetic figure in legendary composer Karlheinz Stockhausen, who would soon take Holger under his wing as a student. Through his lessons from Stockhausen, Holger would develop and refine his craft, allowing him to grow as an artist and composer as well as leading to him to become a teacher in his own right.

By the time he became a teacher, Holger remained passionate about classical and avant-garde music as well as the burgeoning electronic music that Stockhausen had been a pioneer in. There was also a thing called rock and roll that Holger couldn’t see all the fuss about; that was, until student Michael Karoli exposed him to artists like The Rolling Stones and particularly the Beatles, whose single “I Am The Walrus” particularly caught Holger’s ear. Far from the typical three-chord ditty in four, this was a song with an ever shifting chord progression and structure as well as the odd blasts of radio transmitters much like what had captured his younger self’s imagination all those years ago. Now Holger had a hunger for this kind of avant-rock and pop, leading him to bands like The Velvet Underground and The Mothers of Invention. With a whole new medium to explore, Holger would join forces with his student on guitar along with fellow Stockhausen alumni Irmin Schmidt (keyboards) and David C. Johnson (winds), with the lineup being rounded out by jazz drummer Jaki Liebezeit. Though Johnson’s involvement would ultimately prove short lived, the remaining four soon formed the nucleus of the band soon to be known forever as CAN.

Across four studio albums, Can made its name on a strange brew of rock and roll, avant-garde, jazz, funk, and psychedelia. With the off kilter vocals and lyrics of either American sculptor Malcolm Mooney or Japanese busker Damo Suzuki on vocals, the expressionistic guitar work of Karoli, the trippy keyboard work of Schmidt, and the tribal drumming of Liebezeit, Can was already pure dynamite, but anchoring all of this sonic madness was Holger's bass playing. Moody, groovy, contemplative, filling in the spots that Jaki hadn't, Holger's work was stark and minimalist. The push and pull he and Jaki created gave Can a sense of tension and suspense, as well as providing Can with the rare ability to meld the funky and the cerebral.

While a great bassist, where Holger truly excelled was in his recording and arrangement. He was able to take the extended improvisation Can laid down live or in the studio album and then craft it into fully formed compositions, his attention to detail truly remarkable. Holger was sampling long before it became common place, and he was among the early explorers of both ambient and world music. He possessed a knack for taking things apart and reassembling them in ways few would have ever thought possible. As far as Holger was concerned, anything was possible, all you needed was to look at it from another angle.

After Damo left in 1973, the band would continue sporadically for the remainder of the decade, with Holger soon moving over to transmitters and soundscapes upon bassist Rosko Gee’s arrival before leaving altogether by 1978. As talented as Rosko and percussionist Rebop Kwaku Baah were, Holger’s absence simply left too big a hole for CAN to recover from, and the band would ultimately not last much longer, with two more studio albums before ending together. The band would reunite for 1989’s Rite Time, with the return of original vocalist Malcolm Mooney to boot, but overall, this particular chapter of Holger’s life had firmly concluded.

Never one to lay resting on his laurels, Holger continued to write and create. Having already crafted Canaxis 5 in the late sixties with Rolf Dammers under the name of the Technical Space Composer’s Crew, Holger would begin his solo career in earnest with 1979’s Movies. Though featuring Jaki on drums, plus Rebop playing organ on the opening track “Cool In The Pool” as well as Irmin and Michael playing grand piano and guitar on “Oh Lord, Give Us More Money”, the album was otherwise a one-man band affair on Holger’s part, not only doing his thing on bass and recording and engineering but also showing himself to also be a talented multi-instrumentalist, adept at guitar, French horn, harmonica, keyboards, synthesizers, and percussion. This would continue on subsequent albums such as On the Way to The Peak of Normal, Der Osten ist Rot, Radio Wave Surfer, and La Luna, his dada sensibilities as strong as ever.

I’d be remissed not to mention his work with other artists as well. From contemporaries such as German producer Conny Plank, Cluster, and fellow maverick Brian Eno as an artists with mutual respect, to many younger artists who Holger had inspired. PiL’s Jah Wobble would cite Holger as one of his biggest influences on bass and would collaborate with him on records like Full Circle and Snake Charmers-the latter also featuring The Edge on guitar. Ex-Japan frontman David Sylvian would utilize Holger’s talents on his first two solo offerings Brilliant Trees and Alchemy: An Index of Possibilities, where Holger would contribute his French horn and guitar work and most notably utilize the dictaphone as his means of playing back samples. The two would subsequently do two album-length collaborations in Plight & Premonition as well as Flux+Mutability and remained closed friends for years afterwards. Holger would also play on Eurythmics’ debut album In The Garden as well as working with the likes of ambient techno artist Dr. Walker, German new wave group Trio, Phew, Phantom Band, former bandmate Irmin Schmidt, and singer Ursa Major, or U-She. Holger and U-She would marry in 1989 and collaborate on many multimedia pieces until U-She’s death in 2017, with Holger himself following less than two months later.

Holger was an artist who was truly ahead of his time, somebody we’re still catching up with even decades later. As sad as it is that he’s not here with us anymore, his legacy is one for the ages, and we’ll continue exploring his creations for years if not decades to come.

[filoviet]

September 13 & 15, 2023

This day started with the pressure of an exam for 2 subjects. One of which for me was easy and another that was theoretical and a lot of memorization that was difficult.

I told him to message me if had any questions on the first subject [Database] that I particularly had an easy time in. I also told him for him to message me when he was getting to university - just so that I could say hi to him.

I had to go into school earlier to help a friend setup a laptop (For context, this friend has issues with her laptop on the same week of the exam - so of course, with 0 hesitation I told her that I could lend her my other laptop).

I was with a few other people when we realized that the exam questions were very very very similar to the sample questions. When we realized this, we tried answering them within the few minutes before 4PM; he arrived around 3:45PM and I told him to practice on my machine. He was kind of surprised but I was like, yeah, go for it, answer it on my laptop - no time for you to setup yours.

We got into the classroom and I just wanted to sit next to him; although I answered that exam in about 5 to 15 minutes. I wanted to stay for as long as it made sense plus the fact that I could sit next to him more.

After I finished the exam, I waited outside patiently for the others to finish. Most of the people were out by 4:30PM. We talked about how unrealistically easy that exam was - there was an arbitrary answer on an "uppercase" column name that we debated on whether it was scored or not (astroname vs AstroName).

I spent the next 1.5 hours with him and his other Vietnamese Friend (Tri) to study for the Enabling Enterprise Information Systems exam.

I hated it, a lot of memorization. I didn't absorb all of the information. I did my best though.

I answered the exam fast - 7 minutes, because I just wanted to be over with it [this is relevant later]

Throughout the class, I got stressed also because I hated the Design Thinking session, I hate things that are open-ended answers that require creativity. I was getting a headache from the hunger too because I forgot to eat in all the stress of multiple exams.

He gave me a protein bar just to pass the hunger. It was a raspberry and something else protein bar. I felt his concern when he saw me being stressed out and having a headache.

I took a deep breath and rushed the answers to the tutorial questions and put in my full focus.

After the class it was just the two of us as everyone else had other plans. We decided to walk together to the Central Train station. We walked together to the other building and we took his route to the train - it was the scenic route that involved going to Building 2, Building 1 and then the bridge to building 3. When we went down through Building 3, I saw that there were no people around and I hugged him - he said his iconic line "what are you doing?" and I told him, "recharging".

It was really cold outside when were going outside to George St - he then put in his hands inside his trench coat at the Goods Line. I thought to myself wouldn't it be nice to hold his hand again in this cold. When we were walking through, there were a lot of people going to UTS from George St., so I had to keep a "safe distance that is publicly acceptable" because I also had my own feelings about public displays of affection and about what is acceptable.

When we got to the Central Tunnel and I heard the music from the buskers - I felt a wave of romance come over me and decided to move from his right side to his left side then... put my hand in his pocket and interlace my fingers in his.

It was audacious and brave; and, he didn't tell me to stop. It was acceptable for the most part for him.

There was a tall mid-forties Aussie guy coming through who I didn't even look at - he then told me "that guy saw us and then smiled". I was mildly conscious too but I didn't care because... how often do I get to hold his hand?

In the Central tunnel filled with art & music, walking through while holding hands... was such a lovely experience.

When we entered the station, I had to let go of his hands because we needed to tap to enter the gates; there was also already a lot of people. When I arrived at his platform, we talked and he told me about how reckless I am that I am answering so quickly. I felt like he was scolding me.

Because of how great that experience was... I decided to do something audacious,I didn't want that feeling to end, so I rode with him on his train. I went with him and brought him to his stop. A 50-minute detour.

I dropped him off at Cabramatta then took a transfer train to Glenfield. Perhaps one of the longest train rides I have ever done. It didn't matter.

We talked about so many things; he told me about his work and his responsibilities. He felt awkward to talk about serious feelings-related things.

I decided to write him a letter then:

The date here is incorrect. I was supposed to write "Sept 14" because I was writing this after midnight.

When I asked him what his response was to this letter, all he said is that he is going to buy me milk tea.

Letter Rough Draft:

Dear

Thank you for being concerned of my well-being. I care about you a lot too sooo - I wanted to write this letter because I don't want you to feel bad when I do crazy things like that. For me, that's a new experience to travel to a rural area of Sydney. I won't deny that: being around you makes me happy. Talking to you about anything and everything. Just being next to you recharges me mentally and physically. I told you to focus on your priority list and I will adjust to it; this was one version of me adjusting to your schedule and priorities. I'm sorry for talking a lot in the train - you have to give me a code word to shut up when we are in public and you don't want other people to overhear. I get confused when you say "mixed feelings", I misunderstand it as something that is related to me and not related to the situation. I wasn't too worried because my voice isn't that loud - I promise that majority of my dialog can only be heard by people beside me because of how quietly I speak. But I have to admit, I kind of liked holding your hand while walking through the tunnel in Central and the hug you gave me before we went into the train. I am selfish and I do things that I like sometimes - such as riding on a train to spend more time with you because.. well, I'm not going to be able to spend more time with you this week. [hence this letter too] It was also my first time to Glenfield, so I honestly did have other reasons for doing what I did (the fun of going to new places).

The next time we do have one-on-one time, I have something to share that I don't want to share here; but the motivations behind my way of thinking is all because of a significant event in the past.

Thank you for the protein bar. Thank you for your time. Honestly, you don't have to keep talking to me for an entire train ride - sometimes it's okay to be silent around me. I look forward to the next time we go out again for Art, Music or Nature. So tell me when you're free!

P.S. You still owe me a drink, you said you'd buy me one last Wednesday!

[houseforsaleontario]

Kingston Homes For Sale Is A Pure Luxury With Lifestyle

How Kingston Homes For Sale Is A Pure Luxury With Lifestyle In The Real Estate Market?

When it involves actual property, the phrases "luxurious" as well as "life-style" frequently go hand in hand. Also, inside the picturesque city of Kingston, Ontario, this could not be genuine. Kingston, acknowledged for its ancient charm, beautiful waterfront, and colourful network, offers a unique opportunity for the ones searching for the epitome of luxury dwelling.

Historic Elegance: Kingston homes for sale boasts wealthy records, and this is glaring in its structure. Many of the houses for sale in Kingston exude historical beauty with their properly-preserved facades, intricate detailing, and undying layout. From Georgian and Victorian gem stones to Tudor-fashion estates, proudly owning a historic assets here is like proudly owning a piece of the town's records.

Waterfront Living: Kingston's top place on the seashores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River provides a breath-taking backdrop for waterfront properties. Imagine waking as much as panoramic views of the glistening water, playing your morning coffee on a non-public dock, or taking leisurely strolls along the scenic coastline. Waterfront houses in Kingston provide a remarkable luxury way of life.

Exclusive Estates: The actual property marketplace in Kingston consists of a selection of exclusive estates that redefine luxurious living. These grand homes often characteristic good sized acreages, gated entrances, lush gardens, and facilities like private pools, tennis courts, and guesthouses. Whether you are seeking a secluded oasis or an entertainer's dream, Kingston has it all.

Community Engagement: Kingston is known for its robust sense of community and energetic engagement. The city hosts numerous activities and fairs at some stage in the 12 months, presenting citizens with possibilities to connect with their buddies and make lasting recollections. Whether it's the Kingston Buskers Rendezvous or the Limestone City Blues Festival, there's usually something interesting occurring in Kingston.

Natural Beauty: The Charm of Kitchener homes for sale adds to its charm. The Thousand Islands region, nearby parks, and conservation areas provide outdoor lovers a playground for trekking, boating, and exploring. Whether you are a nature lover or truly in search of a serene escape from city existence, Kingston offers all of it.

Read more articles about Keyword Homes for Sale in North Bay at - http://eggzack.com/article/2023-09-13-take-home-interesting-north-bay-real-estate-market-options.html

[tampon-on-the-sidewalk]

So You’re the Commentator for your party’s Eurovision Experience?

Have we got a list for you! Semi Final 1 facts to tell during the postcards. Every artist in this semi final has had involvement in the songwriting process. (Note- I will be making one of these lists for the Grand Final as well, BUT with different facts for the qualifying acts.)

1. Albania- Ronela Hajati- Sekret. She is 32 years old, Studied ballet and piano as a child. Her first hit single was in May 2013. Lists Michael Jackson as her biggest influence.

2. Latvia- Citi Zeni- Eat Your Salad Formed in 2020 at a song-writing camp! Describe their genre as ‘Alternative Unicorn Pop’. Their goal is to deliver powerful, serious messages in a fun and cheeky way. 

3. Lithuania- Monika Lui- Sentimentai- 34 years old, won a competition at age 16. She studied Jazz and also attended Berklee College of Music. She’s been a recording artist since 2013. 

4. Switzerland- Marius Bear- Boys Do Cry- 29 years old, was a construction mechanic until being drafted into the army. A colleague told him he should pursue music, and he became a professional busker when he returned from the army. Recording debut in 2014. Won a Swiss music award for ‘Best Talent.

5. Slovenia- Last Pizza Slice(LPS)- Disko- Founded in 2018. Half the members are still in highschool, and they actually performed at their own prom shortly before the contest. 

6. Ukraine- Kalush Orchestra- Stefania Named after the founding member’s hometown, Kalush Orchestra a rap group that adds folk elements to their music. They were the runner-up of the national final, chosen after the winner withdrew.

7. Bulgaria- Intelligent Music Project- Intention- Founded in 2012 with a long list of musicians over the years. Drummer Stoyan Yankulov has represented Bulgaria in both 2007 and 2013. 

8. Netherlands- S10- De Diepte- 21 years old, she began her career in 2016. Her debut album won an Edison Award(Dutch equivalent to a Grammy). It is the first song in the Dutch language since 2010. In Dutch, her name would be pronounces ‘Esteen’

9. Moldova- Zdob si Zdub- These Eurovision legends barely need an introduction as they repped Moldova in 2005 and 2011, landing 6th place and 12th place respectively. Formed in 1994. 

10. Portugal- Maro- Saudade, Saudade- 27 years old, she intended on becoming a vet before deciding to pursue music. She also went to the Berklee College of Music. She currently resides in LA, and made her recording debut in 2018.

11. Croatia- Mia Dimsic- Guilty Pleasure- 29 years old, she has a masters degree in translation studies. Started her musical career in 2014, siting Taylor Swift and Willie Nelson of two of her many influences.

12. Denmark- REDDI- The show- Debuted in 2021 and formed for the National final. They cite P!NK and Green Day as their influences. The drummer,  Ihan Haydar, was part of Denmark’s 2012 act. The song is co-wrote by Julia Fabrin, a writer behind Emelie De Forest’s Only Teardrops. 

13. Austria- Lumix ft. Pia Maria- Halo- 19 and 18 years old, respectively. Lumix has been a DJ/Producer since age 14, Nominated for 2 awards and winning 1 of them. Known for working with Gabry Ponte of Eiffel 65.

14. Iceland- Systur-  Með hækkandi sól- Formed in 2011, a group of three sisters. Their father is a composer and keyboardist. Trans Rights activists! Title stranslates to ‘With the Rising Sun.’ 

15. Greece- Amanda Georgiadi Tenfjord-Die Together 25 years old, currently resides in Norway. Studied medicine before putting her studies on hold to pursue music. Recording Artist since 2014. 

16. Norway- Subwoolfer- Give that Wolf a Banana- Keith, Jim and DJ Astronaut. Two wolves from the moon who are known as ‘the best artists in the galaxy’. The song has more than 7 million hits on Spotify.

17. Armenia- Rosa Lynn- Snap- 21 years old, a recording artist as of 2021 but made her TV debut in 2013 for Junior Eurovision’s National final. She has been playing Piano since the age of 6.

[sheepydraws]

I first watched Tokyo Mew Mew in 2010 and haven't watched it since, so I've decided to recount what I remember of the plot before Tokyo Mew Mew New airs later this year (hopefully).

Basic Premise:

First, we meet Ichigo, our lovable, very normal, slightly ditzy protagonist in the vein of Usagi SailorMoon (I don't know either of their last names). She is a high school girl and has the required two mundane friends.

Ichigo has a crush on a guy named Ayoma whose only noticeable personality trait is that he does kendo

Ichigo is having a lovely stroll in the park when a blond guy named Ryu and his brunette friend whose name I don't remember activate...um...

They did something with endangered animal DNA? To meld it with humans? As part of an...awareness campaign about endangered species??? This is never brought up after the first three episodes.

Ichigo merges spiritually with a special kind of wildcat and now she's a catgirl who is also a magical girl.

She also gets the requisite "cutesy magical girl sidekick" in the form of a pink puffball with bat wings. (It is in fact very cute).

Ichigo proceeds to act in weird cat-like ways such as sleeping through class and liking fish (this is strange, I guess?)

Also, her cat ears keep popping out when she's embarrassed, which is terrible because Ayoma has no personality, and therefore no taste, and therefore probably won't find that hot.

Ichigo tracks down Ryu and his friend, who are funding their bizarre experiments by running a maid cafe. Ichigo needs to work with them so her cover is that she is now working at a maid cafe. Sure.

There is a secret lair under the maid cafe for the experiments and stuff. I really hope I'm forgetting that Ryu or his friend came from money because no way does this make sense otherwise.

Monster of The Week Stuff Happens While More Characters Show Up, Namely:

Mint (my favorite character back in the day) shows up. She does ballet, spiritually fused with an endangered bird of some kind and has little red wings that kind of look like birthmarks on her back.

Actually, all the girls were supposed to have little cutie marks like that and I think Ichigo's was on her thigh, but then the animation department ran out of money or something because I don't remember seeing the other girl's marks. (Maybe Zakuro's was on her belly button?)

The unspellable Kisshu/Quiche. I KNOW his name is supposed to be "Quiche" but your average American can barely pronounce that, so 2010s fansubbers trying to decode mangled Frechanese had no chance. They generally transcribed it however they felt was right in their hearts.

Kisshu is a green-haired alien pissbaby whose first appearance involved forcing Ichigo to kiss him. He behaves like a bratty younger brother but is the best love interest on entertainment value alone.

Lettuce (yes, this poor bitch is named Lettuce) who spiritually fused with a dolphin. She was so so lonely her nascent powers caused paranormal activity at her school and Ichigo had to pretend to kill the timid, bullied Lettuce to placebo the girl into gaining some confidence and becoming a magical girl in earnest.

I remember Lettuce was the only chracter who could use her Special Magical Girl AttackTM without moving her arms, so there were a few times she did it while wearing handcuffs.

Lettuce's weapon of choice were castanets. I don't remember any of the others with surety but I don't think this was the weirdest.

Pudding, who spiritually fused with a monkey, and is somehow supporting her five younger siblings as a street busker. I think it was implied that they are for real living in poverty while she's also doing all this magical girl stuff? Weirdly dark subplot for a magical girl anime.

Zakuro, who spitirtually fused with a wolf. We meet her late in the series after she has done some of her own vigilante work, Sailor V style.

I believe her name means "Taro Root" which convinced me to try a taro root bubble tea for the first time when I was a kid. It was purple and tasted like sugar cookies and convinced me that Zakuro was super cool.

Mint is in lesbians with Zakuro.

Zakuro was the only girl who never got an extended trasnformation sequence. (The "animation department ran out of money" theory strikes again.)

Kisshu's Alien Buddies: The stoic, straight laced Pai, who was kind of Lettuce's love interest, and...oh god...I watched this on youtube, back when you could do that as long as all the episodes were split into three parts and there was one part which opened with Pudding shrieking this guy's name so loud it broke my eardrums, but I can not for the life of me remember his name. We'll call him Caramel, he's Puddings love interest.

The Parts of the Plot That Weren't Monster of the Week Stuff:

Ichigo and Ryu had a will-they-won't-they despite the fact that she's in high school, he's a fully grown man, and he experimented on her without her consent.

Actually, between all three of Ichigo's love interests (Ryu, Ayoma, Kisshu) it seems like the writers, in their shameless Sailor Moon rip-off decided "You know what's better than one Tuxedo Mask? Three Tuxedo Masks!" and just carved Damien into three parts.

The...villian? Of the series is something called Deep Blue. It's the planet's life force and the aliens want to steal it because they used to live on earth, and then the ice age happened(???) so they fled to another planet, which was worse because it is also going through an ice age(???).

Either they think earth belongs to them or they just want to harvest Deep Blue and bring it to their new planet where it can stop the ice age.

But wasn't Deep Blue also the force that was creating monsters of the week?

It's possible either that this was badly explained, or I didn't understand it as a kid, or I didn't understand it because it was badly explained.

There was a hot springs filler episode.

A blond elf-type guy is running around with a fancy sword. He looks exactly like Ryu, except with longer hair and elf ears. His name is the Blue Knight and his purpose is the show was....um...to fufil Ichigo's "getting rescued by a handsome elf" fantasy?

All I remember is that he actually turned out to be Ayoma? Mr. Zero-Personality? He never even manages to remember that he is the Blue Knight, but this still tricks Ichigo into thinking he has a personality.

Pai and Lettuce proceeded to have a conversation during their final battle that could only have been conducted through telepathy.

Uh....I don't remember the next bit, but then it goes SECRET TUNNEL THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS SECRET TUNNEL SECRET TUNNEL

The crisis was averted, once again the day was saved thanks to the powerpuff girls, the aliens returned home...empty handed? Fuck them, I guess. Ichigo gets to go back to being a normal girl dating her boring-ass boyfriend.

The only thing I really remember about the ending is being deeply disappointed that no one actually got a hot alien boyfriend.

THE END

[ancientphantom]

We have a bumper crop of new Phantom literature as we race into summer!

Patricia Peacock und das Phantom in der Oper by Tiffany Crockham is a German-language mystery about a crime-solving duo in period times who are stuck trying to protect a famous Italian diva at the Cairo Opera House who is being ruthlessly targeted, along with the rest of the ensemble, by a mysterious figure haunting the place.

The Voyeur of the Opera: Captive in His Lair by Dulcinea Drakos is a sultry retelling of the original story, with plenty of sex scenes and a focus on which of her two lovers Christine will choose in the end.

Not Alone by A.L. Flagg is a flipped-roles modern-day story in which a young woman named Eden is attacked, leaving her severely scarred and hiding from the world, until she falls in love with a newcomer and must decide whether she can come out of isolation and how to deal with the world that hurt her in the first place. (I’d call it a bit more of a Beauty & the Beast story, but like many publishers, this one claims it’s a “fusion” of that story with the Phantom one.)

Chandelier by Michael Leon is the sequel to his previous book, Phantoms, and carries on the story after Erik’s escape from the opera house, moving to the future of the 22nd century where an aging diva hides secrets from other performers and a young pianist is frightened by the sudden and incredible increase of his peformance skills.

The Phantom of Nob Hill Theater by John Luke Maxwell is a gay romance novel about a retired porn actor, the community theater performance he’s involved in, and someone behind the scenes trying to Stop the Show and/or kill the performers. Of course, it’s very sexy. It’s literally in the theater’s name.

The Lost Melody by Joanna Davidson Politano is a period story about a young pianist who, when her parents die, discovers a strange connection to a woman currently being held in an asylum and struggles with strange letters and unearthly music that seem to follow her everywhere she goes.

In Too Deep by Elaine Runmore is a period rewrite of the original story, in which Christina is a street busker singing for coins in an English port and is being followed by a mysterious dark figure in the shadows who would do anything to hear her voice...

Behind the Mask by MaryAnn Sires is a prequel to her long-running The Phantom’s Lady series, although the prerelease announcement doesn’t give us much to go on as far as what it’s about. We can probably safely guess it’s at least got some backstory for the Phantom and the other main characters, though!

Corruption by Jenika Snow is a modern-day version of the story in which the Phantom character is a hired killer for the Russian mafia and struggles with his love for the innocent young ballerina he knew in childhood, only to kidnap her and keep her hostage when he realizes that she is about to marry someone else.

A Dance with Danger by Marisa Wright is the story of a ballet dancer who, after his legs are crushed and he loses the ability to dance or walk, hides from the rest of the world, only to be dragged back into the light when he meets his brother’s beautiful ballerina fiancee and a power struggle begins to determine which of the brothers she will choose.

We also have three “maybe” options this week, for those who like to intrepidly find out exactly how much Phantom influence there is in a suspicious work:

The Vanishing of Willa Sloan by Andrea Dias is a modern-day story about a girl whose mother vanishes during the COVID-19 pandemic, causing her to search for her until she discovers that her mother’s past as a ballerina in Paris was far from idyllic and that only traveling to Paris will allow her to finally learn the truth.

The Phantom Violinist: Play Like the Devil by Nigel Street has a lot of classic Phantom elements: a haunted, possibly evil violin that plays unbelievable music, a performer who isn’t sure whether their talent is their own or from some outside force, and of course dangerous performances that spiral out of control. However, it’s hard to tell if this is just one of those works that riffs on other evil violin stories (like Lovecraft’s Erich Zann) or whether it actually has a connection to the Phantom’s original story or one of its successors (the 1989 Little/Englund film would make sense...).

Ximphonic Versus: Symphony of the Phantom Knight by Scotlynd Xing Xin-Bedford is... well, to be honest, it’s very hard to tell what it is? It’s set five thousand years in the past in a fantasy universe in which a prince named Addonnis, a superlative singer, travels around with his mentor Concerto only to discover other ambitions when he encounters the princess of the faraway glass kingdom. It’s got a lot of music, haunting, and other Phantom-esque elements, but it offers no previews and I have no earthly clue what else is going on, so good luck to those who find out!

That’s it for this time, but let’s hope June’s offerings are just as exciting!

[lovely-lotte]

Her cheeks darkened at his response, similarly to his own reaction to her comment. Christine honestly wasn’t as sure about it though, as sweet and loving as she was, she didn’t have a mother in her early years, and Madame Giry, kind as she was for taking her in after her father passed, wasn’t exactly the warmest person. She always assumed it would just come naturally to a person, but after getting older she realized that wasn’t always the case, and it seemed she was at a disadvantage not having a mother herself growing up.

Christine was soon pulled out of her thoughts as she heard the familiar sound of a violin playing, the gentle melody coming from some buskers beside the market. The music only added to mixed feelings, on one hand, she had grown up with her father playing violin for a living, it brought her comfort knowing no matter what happened, his music would always be there for her. On the other hand, it also brought up more recent memories, ones that involved a certain masked man that tormented both her and Raoul, along with the entire opera house. She gripped onto her husband’s arm a little tighter, looking back down at her basket.

“I-I think we have enough, we should go back home.”

(X)

@vicomte-raoul-de-chagny

Christine was clearly more in her element than she had been in a long time. There was no need for her to keep up appearances, no one to impress and no status to uphold right now, they were simply shopping in a market, just the two of them.

As they walked around, stopping at various stalls to pick up whatever they needed, she saw how a little boy who wasn’t paying attention ran straight into her husband, he was clearly unharmed, but Raoul ensured he was alright before the child ran back off. It was then that he turned to her with a look she recognized.

“Oh, nothing, I just know what you’re thinking is all.” They’d spoken about children before and after they had married, both wanted them, but they hadn’t made any solid plans just yet. Christine briefly leaned her head on his shoulder. “Just for the record though, you’d make a wonderful father.”