#also just remembered twisted twins productions follows this blog.......

[amarycan]

i still think dbd!killer mary would be so sexy

[glimvinty]

Introducing...meeeeee (tap for better quality)

Currently my only really officially posted writing:

^A brief chronicling of a single night spent at a motel in Arizona. Two normal men---Specter, an imperialist, and Tenebri, a socialist---are on a road trip.

Call me Glim! As I type this I am entering one of those identity pits where I can't remember anything about myself. Uhhhhhhh. I'm going to drink some water to escape the event horizon

Worked! I'm restored!

So what am I here for?

The Wip

Well, this is primarily an art blog where I post about the WIP to end all other WIPs, my magnum opus, my disaster child, my manuscript which is steadily gaining on War and Peace's word count and is currently over 1,000 pages long. Yes, it will be adjusted. Yes, I will have to read the whole thing over again. Because I am a little pitiable, I will be posting art of the characters, snippets of my writing, and some lore! Yes, I do fully intend to publish this. It's been 7+ years in the making.

So what's this WIP about, and dear lord?

It's one of those getting-lost-in-another-world adventure stories, but with several twists and a significant spin on it. It's Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, Discworld, and Hitchhiker's all put in a blender. If that sounds horrible, imagine writing it! It follows the protagonist Mallory Noire, who is absolutely nobody and fairly rational, as she dodges cults worshipping eldritch horrors, deftly evades transdimensional fascist regimes, eludes the wizard bureaucracy, befriends mad scientists and attempts to survive a whole slew of other...improbable things. Its most major genres are horror, comedy, and surreal fantasy. I'll tag any posts related to it #misticity.

About Me, a Factor of Production!

I have a condition called anisocoria, and basically I'm blind in one eye! I have no idea what I'm missing though, so it's all good, and David Bowie has the same condition, although I was born with mine and he got punched in the face

I'm trans masc and I'm here to support you as well (all queer people)!

I most likely have Asperger's, as my father had it (formally diagnosed) and I display symptoms, but I have never been formally diagnosed myself

I lived in Germany for a year and can speak (abysmal) conversational German, but my native language is English

What Fandoms Am I In/Can You Talk to Me About?

Twin Peaks

Mob Psycho 100

Discworld

Good Omens

Control

RDR

Night Vale

The Magnus Archives

HLVRAI

Hitchhiker's Guide (is anyone out there?)

Any bad old movies. Any of them. I love those and I'm fairly well-versed

What Should You Ask Me About?

Anything, really. If you have any questions about the WIP, just shoot. I've left it pretty vague.

I also want to make this corner of the Internet into a safe place, and a safe place for other people, so if you're ever in need of an encouraging word or two I'm here! I get the feeling often, so I want to be here for people who feel the way I do.

The Just-in-Case Note

Feel free to correct me if I say something dumb or off. I want to stay openminded and learn from my mistakes.

Anyway, keep it shlunky

[main-bangtansmauyeondan]

Twin Telepathy (Image after Text)

🎄 Day 8 - Twin Telepathy

MASTERLIST

a/n: First of a few written chapters in this series! Enjoy!

“Be careful! Don’t get it all over yourself!” 

YN reached out, a wad of napkins in hand, to sop up the mess that Jimin had made on the table. Her twin brother attempted to drink his beer out of the glass while literally still pouring from the bottle, racing against the foam that bubbles up. As soon as the beer started spilling, Jimin immediately stood up so as not to get it all over himself, and the fit of laughter started between the two. 

YN loves days like this one. The transition between autumn to winter -- it’s generally a cold day, but it’s a manageable cold when you’re indoors. The spot they chose for their sibling lunch date is just near where she lives and is known for a warm and cozy atmosphere aside from its good food. Today is extra special since she misses her twin brother so much. He’s been busy running his chains of dessert bars and take-away kiosks, and on top of that, he’s also working on publishing his first ever cookbook, too. YN on the other hand has just returned to work from a couple of weeks of hiatus after going through a painful break up with her long-term boyfriend. Since the twins no longer live in one apartment, they find it difficult to see each other as often as they’d like since they’ve both been busy especially during the holiday season. Today is one of those spontaneous times that they’re both free, so they decided to meet up for lunch.

“So how was Paris?” Jimin asked her as he sat back down after getting his giggly self together, face twisting into funny expressions as he continued examining if he got beer on his crisp white shirt. 

"Paris is still the same. To be honest, I really didn't get to enjoy my time there since my schedule was packed." YN answered while shaking garlic salt onto her steak. "They took care of me though. People were really nice," she took a bite of the steak and immediately followed it with a forkful of mashed potatoes. 

"It looks like they starved you over there," Jimin's snide comment coupled with a teasing grin didn't escape YN and she stared back menacingly at her brother. Jimin loves watching his sister eat heartily. He used to pick on her a lot growing up because of her appetite, without realizing he also enjoys food just as much as she did. After getting a degree in media arts, she established a startup photography and film production company, Golden Closet Film with her then boyfriend and started blogging her foodie adventures. Her broad knowledge in food coupled with her social media presence has earned her multiple recognition over the years, and lucky for her, she gets to do what she loves for a living. "Do you want some wine with that?" 

"No, thanks. Eww," YN shuddered at the thought of it. She's down with some good cocktails, but never wine. "I'm sticking with my iced tea." She sliced off a piece of her steak, pierced it with a fork and offered it to Jimin, "Here, try it with the garlic salt." 

Jimin's eyes widened as soon as the food hit his tongue, "Ohhh that hits different! Have you reviewed this restaurant before though? So good!" 

"You don't remember? It's one of the first restaurants I covered. I mean, we covered, you know… for GCF." YN looked away from her brother, and suddenly seemed to get lost in her own thoughts. 

Sensing the shift in his sister's mood, Jimin took the opportunity to dive right in and peel back the multiple layers of facade that she has been parading around like a mask ever since Jungkook broke up with her. Everytime he thinks about how Jungkook left his sister for a recording artist he just met while shooting a music video, he still seethes with anger. What more does the thought of it do to her? He looked back to the time when he received the news about their break up. How he dropped everything at the dessert bar in the middle of a busy day and drove straight to her apartment. The sight of his usually self-secure, perky and bubbly sister's tear-stained face and puffy eyes almost tore him apart. He's never seen her that down before, and right then and there, he knew all he could offer her was a warm hug and an assurance that he would go to great lengths just to make sure nobody could hurt her ever again. "How are you holding up? It's been what, over a month already?" 

"I'd be lying if I say I'm a hundred percent okay now, Chim," she put down her fork and shifted slightly on her seat, bracing herself to lay down her cards on the table. "I'm generally doing great. I'm back to work, I've been travelling, I can say his name now without flinching… Jeon Jungkook. See?" Jimin couldn't help but smile at how animated his sister's face and hand gestures are whenever she tells a story. "But sometimes though, especially when I'm alone and see or hear something that reminds me of him, it still stings…" 

"That's normal. I wouldn't expect you to just switch off. But I'm happy you seem to be dealing with it well," he reached out to brush away the strand of hair that has managed to escape his sister's hair clip and onto her face. She smiled back at him. "Anyone in particular that's been a big help for you to take your mind off of JK?" 

"Work keeps me busy. My friends have been busy as well, with Sohee and Yoongi planning their wedding and Suzy with her career and--" 

"And Taehyung?" 

"What about Taehyung?" she asked in return, albeit getting a bit flustered. She turned her head and blankly stared outside through the gigantic floor-to-ceiling restaurant windows. She felt a sudden and unfamiliar drop in her stomach at the mention of Taehyung's name. It almost felt like riding a roller-coaster… Scary yet exhilarating. 

"I dunno…" Jimin shrugged, "you tell me." He took another sip of his beer before leaning back on his chair. He's seen that look on his sister's face before, so he decided to drop the subject before he even began because he knew she would just end up veering away from it and immediately create a diversion. True enough… 

"Taehyung is Taehyung, Jimin. Get off my back," she dramatically rolled her eyes. "What about you, though? Why don't you start going out with people? Why don't you start, you know… dating?" There it is. The diversion. 

"Good question!" Jimin knew the diversion was coming but he didn't know it would be directed to him. "There is someone I've been eyeing, actually…" 

"Oooh. What's her name? Have you asked her out already?" she asked him excitedly. Ever since Jimin established his career as a restaurateur, he barely had any time to go out with friends. Let alone, date. 

Jimin smiled sheepishly before covering his eyes with one hand. "Aaah!" he whined. "I don't know her name."

"What?!" his sister looks at him incredulously. "How old are you? 13?" 

"Noooo… I don't know where to start." he ran his fingers through his hair and heaved a defeated sigh. "She's a regular customer and I may or may not have been sending her complimentary cookies when she comes by." 

"Awww that's so sweet, Chimchim," YN coos at her brother's gesture. "What's she like?" 

"Beautiful, obviously… She seems like a nice and kind person, you know? The way she regards the staff. Considerate. The way she's aware of what's going on around her…" Jimin continues to talk about this No-Name girl. From the way his eyes glimmer, one would think he's talking about someone he's known for a long time. YN couldn't help but feel warm and fuzzy on the inside with the affection apparent on her brother's voice. People say that twins often have the same ESP or often feel what each other is feeling, and although there has not been any scientific evidence, YN and Jimin have an undeniable connection that is almost 100% correct all the time. There have been a lot of heart-to-heart conversations between them, but this is the first time in a long time that YN has seen and heard Jimin talk about someone this way, let alone a stranger. "Do you wanna hear a funny story?" 

"The floor is yours, bro," she encouraged him. 

"So one time, it wasn't that busy at the café, I was in the kitchen. I saw her come in, she sat at the far end of the room, took out her laptop and started setting it up while one of the staff approached her," he smiled at the recollection. "Naturally, I sent out free cookies. As soon as the staff left, she started eating the cookies. When she picked up the last one, she accidentally dropped it on the floor."

"Yikes!" YN cringed. "Did you send out fresh ones?" 

"I was about to!" Jimin buried his face in his hands as he started laughing. "I stopped on my tracks because I saw her quickly picking up the cookie off the floor. She looked around, making sure no one had seen it… THEN she popped the whole thing in her mouth!" Eyes completely disappearing into slits as he carried on laughing. 

"Oh Lord, nooo!" YN gave in to her brother's contagious laugh, "she is you, Chim! That 3-second rule never gets old! Give her the damn cookies, next time, you coward!" 

"I'll figure something out… Maybe figure out what her name is, too, or at least what to call her."

A short and comfortable silence settled between the twins. Something that happens all the time whenever they're thinking about something at the same time, more often than not, the same thing too. Their parents call it twin telepathy and it's accurate most of the time. 

"3-SECOND COOKIE GIRL!" they exclaimed in unison before giving each other a solid high-five.

[gdmli]

Natural Capital Class Thursday, April 11, 2019 Ding Darling Shelter

Welcome to Ding Darling Shelter in Birdland Park in Des Moines!

First, look at this place! Who knew!?!  Probably a lot of people but not me.  What a gem.  As we settled in I looked out the windows to the south and the river was high and running fast.  It looked like it was right below the windows ready to seep into our cozy quarters.  We’ve had many instances and events recently pertaining to water including flooding across the Midwest. 

This class was a great follow up from our last class which included a trip to the Des Moines Water Works for our last class.  Sadly, the recent tragic diagnosis of an aggressive form of pancreatic cancer of Water Works CEO Bill Stowe was ever present.  I think everyone can agree that Bill Stowe was a real water advocate and aficionado.

Another passionate water advocate is Hannah Inman, Executive Director of the Great Outdoors Foundation; Des Moines Water Works Park Foundation Board; Natural Capital Tri-Chair.  Now that’s a resume!

Hannah’s task is to promote the expansive and ambitious Water Trail project which is one of the Capital Crossroads initiatives.  If we can pull it off we might have something like what they enjoy in Columbus, GA.

Hannah was so persuasive that it caused Gunnar to jump back up on a chair……….again.  

No wonder Gunnar was so excited.  Afterall Jay Beyers, CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, declared that “This project is the most transformational quality of life project of our generation in Central Iowa.”

Lets face it, over the years we have become disengaged with our waterways but “times they are a changing”.  People want to safely experience our waterways via kayaks, paddle boards, canoes, etc.  but we don’t currently have the infrastructure to allow that.

If you just aren’t a tree hugger than you can think of this as an “Economic Development” tool.  At 2.5% unemployment in Iowa and generally low unemployment across the entire US we are in competition for talent from everywhere.   People have options!!  We don’t have mountains and we don’t have beaches but we can have waterway trails!!  The business community is aware of this and their supporting the efforts.

150 miles of trails from 86 sites

The Money Slides

Van Meter Phase I is in.  Many communities ready to announce.  Yes, $11mm is a lot of money no doubt about it but where there's a will there's a way.

The Dam Problem.  You know I couldn’t avoid the “Dam” joke.  Its so old but its still makes me giggle.

Center Street Dam will have a “dial” to change the water flow and experience:  Surf wave, kayak rapids, extreme stand up boarding while still maintaining a fish flow.

The Scott Avenue Dam is the most popular fishing spot in all of Iowa according to the DNR.

The Fleur Dam will serve as an “entry point” for many users: residents who are curious in water trails and accessing the water recreationally as well as an educational forum and outdoor classrooms.

Wait. Two more Money Slides……..now I’m confused.  What’s the cost?  Listening and blogging may be too much multi-tasking for me.

But we still have Water Quality issues:  Nitrates, bacteria………how do we address this problem?  The current plan includes implementing 10 water quality monitoring stations to provide feedback to the community possibly in a Green-Yellow-Red format to communicate bacteria and/or nitrate levels for example.  The hope being that this information will help the conversation locally and at a state-wide level to make our water quality more transparent and productive.  The goal being more transparency.

Another issue is sustainability.  Conservation easements and some federal dollars require certain stipulations to preserve these waterways and trails so they are not jeopardized by possible future development.  This will certainly help our waterways to be sustainable.

Fun Fact:  Dragon flies are a leading indicator of really good water quality.  Bring on the Dragon Flies!!

Time to move.  Time for a Field Trip!!!   Well kind of; a short one.  We got up from the cozy cabin and went outside to get our hands dirty or wet anyway!  It’s always nice to get up and moving so we met Darren Fife, the Executive Director of EcoSource, at the river’s edge to test some water.

Once back inside it was time to learn about recycling with help of Cassie Riley and Jenny Koska from Metro Waste Authority.

To Recycle or Trash?  That is the question.  Cassie and Jenny challenged us to see how well we knew which items were recycled and which ones belonged in the trash.  So how did we do? 

Not so good.

We did learn that for recycling; all paper and cardboard, plastics (only if it has a twist off lid except yogurt & margarine containers) were all acceptable items.  But not cottage cheese containers!  What!?!  It’s all about economics.  By limiting it to yogurt & margarine; it meets the demand for recycling.  Remember, pop off lids don’t recycle!  Who knew?  Not me!

For metals- aluminum cans only.

And this stuff?  This is all trash!

Big Myth- that the recyclers sort out items that aren’t recyclable.  In reality; recyclers have 2 seconds to sort out non-recyclables.  It’s our job to get it right in the first place.  They don’t have time to sort it effectively.

But this class wasn’t just about water and trash we came to find out.  It was also about dirt!!  Soil is alive and when we’re lucky; it’s well.  Enter southern Iowa cattle farmer Seth Watkins to explain why we need clean water, healthy soil, and happy cows.

Seth is a believer in the Deming Theory which essentially focuses on Quality over Quantity.  Seth reminded us that Iowa is not only a leader in corn, soybeans, cattle and hogs but we’re also a significant contributor to water pollution.  

Seth shared a very personal story about his children Spencer and Tatum.  Both children have birth defects.  Tatum was a twin that lived while her sister was lost in birth.  Seth clearly believes there is a connection between water quality and health.  Gut punch…..things just got real personal.  This is afterall not just an economic issue; it’s a personal for all of us especially in this state.

So what are the farming practices that can make a farm healthier and more sustainable?

·        Built Ponds.  Better Water.  Healthier Cows.

·        Establishing Legumes & IPM.  Improved Prairies.  Better Food Source.  Healthier Cows.

·        No Till Farming.  Reduces Fossil Fuel Costs.  Reduces Runoff.  Restores Microbial Activity.

·        Crop Rotation.  Seth rotates 3-4 crops where Iowa as a whole typically rotates 1.5 times (soybeans over corn).

·        Cover Crops.  Stop nutrients loss.  It’s a longterm play.

·        Establishing Prairie Strips.  This land can be identified via GPS.  Not productive land anyway, makes no money.  Encourages biodiversity.

And Why does this work?

1.      It’s more Profitable

2.      It’s more Sustainable

3.      It’s Socially Responsible

If a farm isn’t profitable there is not opportunity for sustainability and social responsibility.  A side benefit is an increase in birds which increases pollination and overall wildlife.  Agriculture is afterall an art and a science; not just a science.  Seth wasn’t afraid to speak his mind.  Something he mentioned was Iowa State University not stepping up and leading.  Why is this?  Is it because Iowa State is supported and indeed supports commercial farming?

Overall, Seth’s focus is on nutrients and sustainability; not just production.  Seth takes a Legacy Approach.  His grandmother was credited with starting 4H.  Seth is a lifelong learner and seeker of the truth.  Seth message is starting to be heard.  People are listening.  Corporate America (McDonalds, Walmart, Costco) is demanding sustainability and the end user consumer is expecting more too.  Seth is hopeful that these “social winds” may draw young people back to agriculture and move us towards a more sustainable future.

The Farm Bill is slanted towards increasing crops.  Vicious Cycle.  It doesn’t pay to be a beef farmer but Seth is fighting the good fight.

OK it’s time to get moving again.  Being the class about nature; we left the friendly confines of the shelter and we went outside.

Our tour guides were:

·        Alicia Vasto, Iowa Environmental Council

·        Aaron Putze, IA Soybean Association

·        Adam Hammes, Sustainability in the Workplace

·        John Swanson, Polk Soil & Water Conservation District

  This was speed dating with multiple sustainability partners!

At the end of the day there is so much we can do individually and as a community.  It’s really up to us. No one else is going to do it.  But of course we can't do any of this on an empty stomach!

[crypt-addict]

EXCLUSIVE: Review of ‘Weeping Song/Bells Ring’ by CHURCHGATE.

Wow? Who would have thought the day would come where i...an unimportant reviewer in the depths of tumblrs’ half-arsed pastel, goth and alternative dungeons would have the chance to exclusively preview and review such a spectacular release?! I have tried my hand at reviewing many mainstream albums before, with pretty hit and miss responses; but i assure you - this is one review you definitely need to read through and listen to the end product, because by GOD you need CHURCHGATE in your life, like NOW.

The duo, consisting of Murdo and Jessie, is arguably, one of the best independent queer and alternative/dark synth bands to come out of 2017 so far, and in my opinion, the best. Raining from two very different corners of the country, with a 100 mile journey between them - this is one of the best musical outcomes of a long distance friendship i have seen, in my good decade of observing the DIY and alternative scenes. Mixing earworm guitar and synth leads, with haunting ghostly and scream-like vocals - which seep into your bones and out of your every nerve - shivering your senses and leaving you hungry to press the repeat button, like a hit of the best drug you have encountered; CHURCHGATE are definitely a force to be reckoned with. Don’t sleep on this release, because these guys are going to be big, sooner than you might think! Without any further ado, lets get into the track by track review:

--TRACK BY TRACK REVIEW--

WEEPING SONG: Beginning with sharp, and harsh guitar strikes, with a catchy but off-putting (in the best kind of way) synth structure soon jumping in, pulsating and enrapturing you like a siren of the post-goth era, Weeping Song is the début single everybody wishes they could put together. Reminiscent of some fucked up, euphoric musical smoothie, consisting of Alice Deejay’s ‘Better Off Alone’ and CRIM3S’ ‘BREED’ - with a pinch of Cocteau Twins; CHURCHGATE have clearly redefined the dark electro genre as we know it. 

No ounce of emotion is spared as you focus onto each personal and relatable lyric, from “broken bone, forgotten home” to “still holding hands, we are the weeping” - it’s obvious just how much this song hits home, for me at least. I don’t know about anyone else but what captivates me with music is being able to have a sense of relation with the artist who wrote the lyrics, and with such a powerful tone its clear to see how much effort went into not just the complexity of the lyrics, but the instrumental- which in itself has countless layers of instruments, further drawing out emotion. 

I don’t quite know how to say it in words, without sounding like a psycho - but music really does sometimes have the ultimate power to make you ‘feel’ sadness but also strength, the strength of ‘keeping-on-keeping-on’ and regardless of what shit life throws at you, carrying on with some façade of happiness, which eventually turns into true overcoming of sadness, and a real sense of happiness after all. Few songs manage to draw it out, but those that do leave a lasting memory on your heart and in your head. CHURCHGATE managed to reach that flag-post in their first track; something many bands can’t achieve til their final years together, or never at all. 

My favourite thing about the lyrics is that they are relatable ina  sense that, each verse could be taken with a variety of definitions. For example, my stand out lyric is perhaps one of the verses which could most definitely be interpreted into many different scenario’s - “pierce the night, with our light // held you down, without a fight”. For me the line suggests that whomever the song’s point of view is about, has overcame some trouble, and the light is suggestive of the dark times being over, but the struggle was hard, given that whatever held them back was so easy to give in to. With genre’s constantly moving on in terms of musicality and vocal techniques; it is a constant struggle to have your own sense of uniqueness within the community - but this track has no trouble finding its own benchmark within a variety of genre’s - and for that reason alone, is why i find myself so hexed whilst listening to it.

Musically, the song has a few key ‘changes’ in structure - around the half way point, the guitars become more prominent for a while, before becoming engulfed, but not overshadowed by the synths once more. A synth breakdown follows, where more layers gradually gravitate over the main melody until the bridge - where the guitars become highlighted once more. Leaving no stone unturned, the outro within itself, manages to give you one last shiver - refraining the synth melody that kicked in initially after the intro by itself, before submitting itself into a sea of white noise glory. I cannot do anything but recommend this track to anybody - regardless of their strict genre rules or tastes in music, i have all hope and trust that this track will go far. I’m calling it right now! And for that, this track deserves no less than a 10/10.

BELLS RING: Channeling a twisted take on the original dream pop track, originally by Mazzy Star - this cover is sickeningly sweet, in the strangest of ways. With Murdo’s aggressive, almost demonic mumbling of the lyrics, eerily distorted synth accompanies and Jessie channelling 80′s rock with his guitar leads - this is nothing short of a dark synth-wave take on a once serenading track.

Lines such as “Bells ring into the night, Sounds like a mistress on a rainy night” have a more mellow mumble, whereas the chorus; bearing lyrics such as “Nobody wants to know your reason why” resonate a creepier, more mischievous tone. All the while between the glorious guitar, short bursts of clashing synths give a sense of uneasiness, followed by a warm nostalgic feeling once more.

All in all, this cover is a gem amongst many covers of the song a quick YouTube search can find you. And in comparison to other artists who may decide to play it safe when using a cover as a b-side, CHURCHGATE went far, far, FAR from the ‘norm’ partially by choosing such a track that was little known to begin with, and also by conjuring up such a daring, whimsical and unique take on the track - vocals in particular. 9.7/10

*TOTAL RATING: 9.8/10*

Overall, i see big things happening for these guys. They definitely have their heads screwed on, and their ideas mounted together in order to define themselves within the already diverse musical playing field. With a benign exterior, and an interior almost like being hit in the face with a candy-covered machete; i genuinely have nothing bad to say about this release! Now please excuse me whilst i drown in my tears at how emotional i feel after listening on repeat for days, hahah.

Always remember to support the artist! - you can get your very own copy of the single via churchgates’ bandcamp page ❤

**Also, remember to keep an eye on my blog for next week, where i will be uploading a further review of the bands entire Demonstration (I) EP - but until then, please ensure you bask in the delight of these two teaser tracks - not forgetting to check out the bands Facebook or Soundcloud whilst you’re at it!!**