#and its been one of the most fulfilling experiences for me creatively and in community

[yonpote]

HOLY MOLY

[arewedoneyet]

men's folio article via mens-folio.com/my

With buttery vocals, princely features and the penmanship of a lovelorn poet, Jeff Satur is about to sing his way into your heart — one story at a time.

What makes a good story? And what makes a good storyteller? For music savant Jeff Worakamol Satur, these are the two questions that have kept him on his feet the past decade, fuelling his fearless desire to know, love and showcase his most authentic self to the world.

Magnetic in look, sound and craft, Jeff has managed to dabble in multiple genres of music — and play various instruments — without losing his signature, velvety sound. While he did skyrocket to fame portraying Kim on the TV show KinnPorsche: The Series in 2022, Jeff singing its theme song, “Why Don’t You Stay,” was what converted many casual onlookers into full-time Jeff fans (or SATURDAYs). They are now hooked onto his buttery vocals — which not only eloquently and evocatively sing in Thai, English and Chinese — but Jeff is also the very person who produced and wrote the stories in these tracks.

With ancestral roots tracing back to China, India and Italy, it is no wonder that the Phuket native navigates expression and interaction in these vastly different languages without losing their nuances. It is the openness to embrace diversity in cultures and ideas that his fans continue to grow in numbers from all corners of the world.

Since starting his personal studio — Studio On Saturn — at the end of 2022, Jeff has held concerts all over the region, most recently completing his Space Shuttle No. 8 Asia Tour in April to celebrate the release of his first full album. His appearances on music variety shows like China’s Call Me By Fire Season 3 and, most recently, Chuang Asia: Thailand — a Thai idol survival show spin-off based on the Chuang franchise in China — have also appealed to fans in a new way. His hold over both seniors and juniors in the music industry is a testament to the piercing allure he has that transcends age and gender.

Then there is his relationship with Valentino, which comes to a surging point in this interview’s accompanying visuals — each party egging one another in their courageous pursuit of new, creative frontiers.

This is not the end. There is still so much more power that Jeff has yet to harness from stories — which communicate and entertain without the boundaries of time and space, and have decidedly become a grand purpose that he is working to fulfil. From music, the big screen, and finally the horizon, Men’s Folio sits down with the prodigious artiste to discover what makes him tick and perhaps what kind of tale he would charm us into next.

Hi Jeff! How have you been?
I’ve been very good. Fantastic, actually.

We noticed you have said goodbye to your signature long hair. Why did you decide to cut it?
I had to change my hairstyle for a movie I was filming. I also had to change many other things about myself, including how I spoke, reacted and moved — so much so that I had to attend workshops. So, I thought changing my image would help me immerse myself in the role.

Congratulations on completing the Space Shuttle No.8 Asia tour! You have mentioned before that going on a solo tour has been your dream for the longest time — now that both your debut album and solo tour are done, how are you feeling?
It’s a pretty weird feeling — I just want to do more and more. I wanted to tour more and create more songs. It’s a strange feeling to me. It’s more fun to me now, especially since I’ve completed it. It’s like the end of one dream is leading to the start of another.

What is something new about yourself as an artiste or person you learned from going on tour? It must’ve been tiring, but seeing all that support (from guest artistes or close friends attending) must have been very empowering too.
What I’ve learned along the way is to be present with the audience. They give you so many different experiences and learnings from place to place. The show is never the same, even if the song and setting are. Everything is different. For me, I like to be there with them; I give my all and soak in the moment from my fans. Being in the moment without a script really pushed me to be a better artiste, and I believe it made me a better human being.

We have to talk about about your first on-screen mentoring stint on Chuang Asia, especially after that “Dum Dum” performance. How was it like mentoring so many aspiring artistes-to-be at once?
Guiding and mentoring new artistes is a dream that I only just recently realised (I had). It means a lot to be there, to guide and watch these artistes where they are now, doing things they previously couldn’t. I just have so many feelings. I’m so proud. There are many things in the industry that might break you along the way. While I don’t know it all, I hope what I’ve experienced in my career can be, in some way, helpful to them in their journeys. I hope that with my stories, they can break their boundaries and avoid the same traps they might find along the way. I hope that they not only become great artistes but also become better humans, stay positive in the industry, and are able to create and find themselves along the way.

Did this experience help you reflect — in any way — on your artiste career so far? In retrospect, would you redo anything?
It reminded me of my childhood. It was a time when I had so much passion for music, and seeing all the high-intensity passion in them brought me back to that time. It freshened me up. I wouldn’t change anything because I love the way things are now. Changing the past would mean changing the present, and I love where I’m at and what I’m doing right now.

What do you feel is the most important trait that any aspiring performing artiste should have?
Every artiste is different, but all artistes should try to be themselves. For me, I want to be true to myself, to be able to discover my own direction, create my own work, and be brave enough to show that to the world.

What about in a song? Everyone likes to ask questions about your views on music because your personal touch does not escape any part of your music’s creative process — from melody-making, lyric-writing to the final performance. What is your definition of a good song?
“Good” in itself is a subjective word, and a good song, to me, can mean something very different to another. You can love jazz; you can love metal. So long as you’re satisfied with what you have released, be able to listen to it back and forth, and even enjoy that track after 10 years — that’s what I define as a good song.

Regardless of shape or form, good music should always capture the essence of a story, one’s feelings, or who the artiste is at their core.

Does any existing song come to mind? Either one you are proud of or one from an artiste you look up to.
The first song that comes to mind is “Endless Rain” by Yoshiki Hayashi. I’m not too sure if he wrote it when his mom or dad passed away. But it’s a song written with lots of emotion, and it very clearly shows his style of music. It’s just very Yoshiki.

I have many songs that I am proud of — actually, every song. But if I had to pick one, it might be “Dum Dum”. I had a lot of bad feelings bottled inside me when I wrote the song, and I really wanted to release that toxicity from inside of me. It sounds as angry as I felt when I wrote it, so listening back and feeling that anger gives me satisfaction. I think I wrote it in an honest and heartfelt manner that was true to my emotions at the time.

In your previous interview with us, you talked about the different charms (and challenges) that come with writing lyrics in Thai and English. Your debut album has both English originals and English translations of your Thai songs — which song’s story or specific lyrics are you most proud of putting together, and why?
Like I said, I love and am proud of all my songs. But if I had to pick one, it would be “Black Tie”. In that track, I had to relive many memories and feelings. Honestly, even at 29, I still feel like a kid. Until today, I still address everyone around me with “P” — how people in Thailand show respect to those older than them — because l feel I have a lot more growing up to do, and that spirit to learn is still alive inside me.

As a kid, I was always told to do this and that, learn this and study that. In retrospect, those who ended up following these instructions all somehow turned out the same. I really don’t like that. I don’t want all these rules and boundaries to limit who we can be, and who I could be. That’s why I chose to sing about this in “Black Tie”, using the concept of the suit to talk about breaking those boundaries, tying in with the freedom and individuality that the Valentino collection at the time championed and empowered its wearers to embody.

Are there any stories you are looking to tell with your next music release?
It’s a secret. You’ll know when you know.

More on your love for story-telling — which seems to be a common thread that links all the creative works you have released so far together — what do you think makes a good story?
All stories are worth telling, even those without a happy ending. What makes a good story is how you tell it. Capturing the essence or feeling of the story and delivering that to the listeners is more important. You know it’s good if the listeners can experience the story with you,

You mentioned in an interview that if you were not an artiste today, you would be a writer. These days, it is hard to have an original voice, yet yours (both literal and figurative) is quite luminous in its own way. How do you maintain that voice despite all the noise?
I don’t think an original voice is something that can be created. An original voice can only come from trusting your instincts, being honest in your work, and staying truthful to your feelings. Only then can you create work that represents you. You should never lie to yourself.

And more importantly, never lose that kid inside of you. That’s who is creating the all the art, instead of you.

More importantly, how do you rest? Are there any go-to activities (or non-activities) you like to do to return to yourself and rest your voice?
I actually have a lot of time to rest. Then again, I also don’t feel like my work encompasses “working”. It’s also my vacation. Sure, even when I’m actually on vacation, I have to think about work. But I don’t mind it; I love what I do.

If we’re talking about physical rest, I prioritise resting my voice. I used to sing during my free time, but I try not to use it that often now to be ready when I actually have to sing. I think it’s important to know how to control and use my voice in the right way.

For those who are only discovering your music today, can you compile a three-track introduction to Jeff Satur’s playlist and explain why?
“Dum Dum”, “Fade”, and “Loop”. “Dum Dum” shows my darker side because it’s a release of some pent-up frustration and anger. “Fade” is more romantic — it shows you how I experience love and what I am like in a relationship, and I try to tell that story in a more emotional and evocative manner. Then we have “Loop”, a more introspective exploration of who I am. Listening to these three songs will give you a good idea of the breadth of my personality and style as an artiste.

In recent years, you have been bolder with your style. How would you describe your current relationship with fashion? Has it changed over the years?
I think fashion is about doing what you love, wearing what you love, and enjoying what you see in the mirror. Every morning before I go out, I feel like I should love what I see in the mirror — regardless of what other people think. Your body is a canvas, and whatever colour or pattern you choose to put on yourself that day is a form of self-expression you should enjoy.

Over the years, I’ve definitely become more confident about trying on things out of my comfort zone. I used to be scared of wearing certain things because of what others might think, but I’m no longer as shy. I’m just breaking one boundary at a time.

What values of Maison Valentino does Jeff Satur — the artiste — embody?
I think Valentino and I have many things in common. Fundamentally, we both embrace the act of constant reinvention and enjoy the challenge of finding new ground, and there’s no better expression of this chemistry and kindred spirit than the soundtrack I created with and for Valentino. The brand is quite sentimental and romantic, and my body of work doesn’t stray far from these sensibilities — especially if you listen to the three tracks I mentioned earlier. A valiant kind of courage persists throughout, and I feel like that syncs up nicely with what Valentino stands for as a brand.

What is next on your cards? Will we get to sees Jeff Satur, the actor again soon?
Without a doubt. In fact, more and more because actor Jeff Satur is an important part of me, and there are a lot of upcoming projects that I’m passionate about and very excited to share with the world.

Last but not least, you have said before that any interaction or activities you do for SATURDAYs feels like an everlasting dream. Is there anything you want to say to your fans right now?
Always be happy. Yes, sometimes it’s hard, and sometimes the world isn’t as beautiful as the ones we read about in our favourite fairytales. Focus on the good and avoid the bad. Surround yourself with good people. Never give up on yourself. You’re beautiful, you’re great, and you’re you — and no one else can do what you do. Even I can’t do what you do. Everybody has something unique they can do. Appreciate and love what you do. Follow your dreams, and I’ll follow mine. Someday, we’ll sing together again.

[drdemonprince]

Hi Devon,

I'm a recent grad planning to apply to psych PhD programs in the fall with the plan to pursue a career academia (despite how much I know it'll suck I've thought long and hard about it and truly don't think I would be as fulfilled doing anything else). My research experience has been in cognitive development and I keep on being drawn to questions about autism. I am Autistic myself and pretty much think the way we have historically thought about cognitive abilities in autism is garbage. I want to pursue my questions but am honestly terrified about trying to fight my way through the current status quo in autism research.

You're one of very few people I know of in the realm of academia with views on autism that I actually agree with and respect, so I would love your thoughts. Is there hope for actually Autistic individuals pursuing research into autism? Are there any researchers who you've seen building community with Autistic people and listening to Autistic voices? Do you have any advice for surviving in the field as an Autistic person?

Anything you can say to these questions would be much appreciated, thank you!

I'm the type to be brutally honest rather than uplifting and encouraging, so you know, take that into account when adjusting for the skew of my answers.

Any time a person reaches out to me seeking advice on pursuing a graduate degree in psychology of any kind, I advise them against it for the most part. The field desperately needs more research conducted by Autistic people, for Autistic people (and other neurodivergent groups) but I have never known a graduate program to be anything but extremely abusive, exploitative, ableist, and ill-suited to preparing a graduate student today for the reality of academic life as it now is. These mfers are playing by a rulebook that was tired in the 1980s and its downright detached from reality today. My graduate experience was so traumatic and disillusioning that I chose to abandon academic research or any hope of having a tenure track career altogether. Everyone that I know was either completely abused and traumatized by their advisor, or pod personed by them and transformed into exactly the kind of passive aggressive liberal manipulative ghoul that had once mistreated them. Graduate study ravaged my health and my self-concept.

Is there hope for actually Autistic individuals pursuing research into Autism? Well, there is a growing body of research by us and for us. Journals like Autism in Adulthood do give me hope, and help nourish me intellectually and improve my work.

Are there any researchers whom I've seen building community with Autistic people and listening to Autistic voices? All the ones that I've seen actually operating in practice use methods of communication and workflows that are profoundly inaccessible and harmful to us, even if they are incredibly well intentioned and open to the idea of neurodiversity. There is a lot of decent research coming out these days finally, but I don't know how all of that sausage gets made.

Do I have any advice for surviving in the field as an Autistic person? Make sure you have a very robust support system that exists completely independently from academia. Make sure you have a complete and rich life that has nothing to do with academics and do not give up even a SHRED of it, even if it means accomplishing less and taking more time while you are in school. Have hobbies, friends and loved ones you see daily, a spiritual or physical practice that helps you offload stress, vacations or little adventures within your community that renew you, and work that is applied and grounded rather than just basic/theoretical research. (especially needed if you're in cognitive psych land. shit gets so fuckin abstact and divorced from reality).

Read a lot of fiction or practice some art or do something creative that has nothing to do with your graduate studies. Do not sign up for meaningless committees. Poster presentations do not matter and don't help your CV much at all. Most committees don't either. Read the book The Professor Is In and the blog that goes along with it religiously. Do not trust your advisor. Do not expect your dissertation to be perfect and do not make it your most ambitious project, focus on making it something you can get done quickly that is just "good enough." Cultivate skills that will be useful outside of academia. Do not assume you will ever get an academic job. Read the statistics on how many PhDs there are relative to how many professorships. Speak to people who work outside of academia who have the credentials you are getting. Know how to market yourself and get a job outside of academia if you have to -- consulting especially may be a good fit if you are Autistic and not suited for a 9 to 5 in an office.

Grill any potential advisor at any program you are considered for, hard. if they are defensive being asked questions about their working style, their leadership style, their former students, etc, that means they do not like ever being challenged and that is a red flag. Ask to speak to *FORMER* students. Not current ones. Current ones will not feel safe being honest. Ask for job placement data for graduates of their lab. Look up reviews. Do not pay for graduate school, only apply to fully funded programs otherwise they are scamming you. Remember you can leave at any time. good luck.

[feralwetcat]

I haven't been very sappy on main so *throws sad shit at you* (aka me thanking the fable community and cast again, cuz goddammit you guys are so neat and cool)

Fable smp was, and is probably one of my favorite things I've discovered, i clicked on one of heyhays vods one day on a whim and gods im so glad i did, the way Fable has shaped me as a person and helped me improve is honestly crazy, its how i got into doing art, how i improved, how i met most of my friends, its genuinely been an amazing journey.

For me as a person, my home has always been an odd environment, without getting into too much detail my family has lots of trauma circling around, my brother and dad especially, so the way Fable comforted me through bad days, or when my dad would burst out at me or my mum, its genuinely such a crazy thing that these little block guys have helped me through so fucking much, the way they've helped me discover who i am, to feel represented through so many characters, heck even just hyperfixating with others, its amazing

Its helped me become more confident in my own skin, able to accept my body and how fucked up it is, from the rep with disabilities to identities, seeing something like "hey i have that!" Or "i experience that!", even the small pieces, its so fuckin awesome to see such cool people that are honestly like me

To all the cast: thank you, if not for making Fable, but for representing people, for showing us how much of an outlet being creative can be, and everything in between, all of this is so crazy how cool and detailed it is, truly.

To the fandom: you all are so fuckin cool, the way i get so excited when you guys interact with my stuff, art, silly posts, or just jokes, it's just so cool to interact with y'all, I've made so many friends and i know I'll make more, especially with all the smps y'all promote, keep doin that, i love your stuff guys<3

(now for specifics that have made me feel seen ayo)

To Athena: thank you, genuinely, for making a space that i feel seen in, i feel welcome in, the rep with C!Athenas disability and still having a great time, having a fulfilling life, which I've been told so many times I can't have due to my disabilities, its so amazing, even if its sleepy stardew, lore, or anything in-between, your community and self is so inviting and comforting. Your voice has always been so comforting (like a chill pink mixed with a light coffee brown feel:]), and i genuinely can't thank you enough, if not for representing me, but for becoming a comfort streamer for me

To Ghosty: Caspian as a character was so cool to see, his story was like a good book really, one you could pull up and watch with some tea or hot coco and a blanket, one that was so interesting, I've experienced some of the issues he worked through and it felt so amazing to see, especially a trans character whos entire personality wasn't that he was trans, or a character who struggled with grief but was still happy and able to be *alright* sometimes, thank you.

To Sherb: the way you did lore, and continue to do lore, always excited me, got me feeling genuine emotions, which I've always struggled with, it made me get into storytelling, something I've always enjoyed, it made me get into telling my own stories, its been so enjoyable, and will continue to be ! Icarus as a character made me feel seen in the way that you can care for someone, trust them fully, but they can still be a good person, but the way they treat you makes you believe they're a good person, and thats really important to me. Thank you Sherbert

To Connor: gods your writing is so cool, your fics motivated me to start writing again, and Ulysses as a character as well is such an interesting character, his writing is so neat and his story again made me feel so seen in many ways, and your writing is so good

Finally, To Beck: Arisanna was and continues to be a character i resonate with, always working for someone, never for yourself, feeling alone at times even with many people, having to or feeling like you have to provide for your friends and family, i grew up feeling like i had to protect my older brother, make sure he was alright, and Ari made me feel seen in that way, thanks for that, really

Thank you everyone, for supporting me, through my art, pickup lines, or just dumb jokes

Signed, FeralWetCat (Kai)

[ohnoitstbskyen]

Reflecting on my work in 2022

As this official Hell Of A Year™ draws to a close, I guess it is appropriate to both reflect on what I've been doing this year, as well as do a bit of plugging for work which I am proud of.

So here's a list of some of the videos I made this year, along with some thoughts on their creation and how I feel about them, some self-criticism, some behind-the-scenes, and a little self-congratulation where it is appropriate.

I struggle somewhat with memory and a clear sense of time - to me, time is more of a continuous stream than a series of delineated moments. This is often frustrating - I get lost in it, and when I look back on a list of my work and activities, it is less an experience of "oh yeah, ha ha, that happened" and more of a "wait what do you mean that happened then? And before that other thing? But after that one? What the hell?"

Worst case scenario, it can be kinda distressing, honestly. It feels out of control, anxiety inducing, like I don't have a handle on my life.

... which is an absolutely fantastic tone to strike for a New Year's list of my favourite videos. 2023, woo!

The Boss Designs of Bloodborne Finale (February)

It took me nearly three months after the penultimate episode of the series to finally put this video out. My The Boss Designs Of series is some of the best work I've ever created, at least I think so. It's certainly some of the most creatively fulfilling work I do, and some of the most challenging too.

I try to walk a line between providing a fresh perspective on the games I've played for the series, but not getting contrarian or off-the-wall just for the sake of it. With Bloodborne, I do think I managed some really good critical contributions to the readings of the game, like my reading of the Blood-starved Beast as a self-sacrificing martyr for the beast community of Old Yharnam, which was apparently quite novel, or my crackpot Parasite Theory of Bloodborne's madness.

And I do think I've gotten better and better at editing gameplay footage too, I think I've managed to learn a good balance between joke-edits and continuity and story editing. I always kinda fret on the one hand that the gameplay footage and my live commentary is too boring to stand on its own, and on the other hand that editing in too many jokes and gags would just be obnoxious and tedious to sit through.

The thing Bloodborne nails more than any other horror game I've seen is the sensation of the nightmare. And not just in its visuals or its monster designs or the surface storytelling, but in the push and pull between extremely specific imagery and story beats and complete ambiguity the moment you scratch at the surface. Bloodborne is on the one hand a fairly obvious story about the abuses of organized religion and unethical science, but then underneath that there's also this deep obsession with the violence done to women's bodies specifically, and how that violence spills out and caustically eats into the humanity of everyone who is complicit in it.

And then underneath that there's an exploration of birth trauma, where the Great Ones are parental figures as incomprehensible to the player as parents are to a newborn child, pushing you here and pulling you there and inflicting incomprehensible violations of your bodily autonomy out of apparent sympathy.

And underneath all of that... it's also about how cool it would be to transform into a werewolf, actually. The themes of self-creation and transformation and claiming monsterhood as self-empowerment are incredibly queer and especially apt for trans readings.

It all flows together in this soup of imagery and meaning that I cannot crystalize into a unifying Theory of Bloodborne, no definitive reading, no comprehensive hot take. Which is frustrating when you're trying to create a video essay, but infinitely compelling when trying to think about it.

I don't know that I managed to capture all of that in the The Boss Designs of Bloodborne finale, but I do know that I tried to, and I'm proud of that.

Melina, the Maiden - Boss Designs of Elden Ring #1 (March)

Staying with The Boss Designs of, here's a video about which my feelings have become decidedly mixed. Not because of anything that is in the episode, mind you, but out of a certain disempowered bitterness I've developed about Elden Ring over the course of the year.

I cannot overstate how excited I was for Elden Ring, and how desperately I enjoyed finally getting to play it back in March. It's a brilliant game, an incredibly immersive world, and one which I badly want to return to.

... and then I didn't get to play the game for nine months. It was partly my own mistake - I tried recording an absolute ton of footage for episodes early, playing as much of the game as I could while it was still fresh, hoping to put out a lot of episodes of the series early while the game was fresh and Relevant In The Algorithm™, and also just out of sheer excitement. In so doing, though, I ended up shooting myself in the foot, because as I began to edit episodes together I also found myself feeling more and more distant from the experience of playing.

The pile of footage in front of me, begging to be converted into episodes, became a roadblock of work looming over me, a source of guilt and stress and frustration, that put extra stress on my mind every time I tried to make any other video and which stood between me and getting to play more of the game I have anticipated more than any other for years.

In 2023, I will get back to Elden Ring, I swear to god I will, but in the meantime I am quite happy with how the three episodes I've made of this series so far have turned out.

Also, the new intro song I commissioned from @trewatsonmusic absolutely slaps.

What's the deal with Zeri and Neon (June)

My ambition for the What's the Deal videos has always been to expand them beyond League of Legends (and I have done videos on characters from other things), but being a YouTuber is also my job, and League of Legends is the moneymaking subject on my channel, at least for now.

Not that I resent that. For all that League deserves the criticism it gets, I still insist that it has one of the greatest casts of characters in modern gaming, underserved and ignored though most of them are by Riot Games. There's so much to talk about once you get even a little bit under the surface, and I do feel like I've been doing a better and better job at doing that in the What's the Deal videos over 2022. Zeri, for example, is a fantastic addition to the class warfare dynamics of Piltover and Zaun, especially in her conflict with Renata Glasc and the themes that could be explored through that conflict. And it's not lost of me the extent to which she was a direct response to the xenophobic attacks on Asian-Americans that have surged out of American politics in recent years, either. There is value to proclaiming that someone like Zeri belongs in the worlds of big pop culture institutions like League of Legends, even if (as always) it is the workers at Riot Games making that proclamation, and Riot Games Inc. allowing it because it serves their commercial goals.

I brought in Nickyboi for an assist on this one as well, which is something I want to do more. I want to do more collaboration. First of all because it's nice to offload work to someone else, but also because this job is fundamentally kind of lonely. I'm just a guy in his office making videos 99% of the time, and collaborating with a fellow creator feels like being part of a creative community in a way that solo work and shitposting at each other on Twitter simply doesn't.

And I am proud of the little fanfiction snippets I've started writing in the The Future segments. One of the points of the What's the Deal videos is to communicate to an audience why I'm excited about a character, why I feel like they're worth giving a shit about, and I think those fanfiction segments have done a better job at getting that across than almost all of my character design and animation chatter. Plus, it's nice to flex a bit of creative muscle in that way now and then.

Speaking of which, I still need to write that happier ending for Kai'sa and Taliyah, don't I? I have A Plan™ for that, it's just about finding the time to make it real...

The 15 Most Beautiful Splash Arts in League of Legends (September)

This one is easily the biggest surprise of the year for me. In the latter half of 2022, I took quite a lot of sponsorships - first of all because they were offered (good lord there was a rush of them in August!), but also because I really wanted to save up and pay down debts.

One of the consequences of that was the extreme delay of Elden Ring, but another was that all of a sudden I had to get content out on a very set schedule. Most of my work is done on the steam of Whatever Catches My Creative Attention At The Time, but with a deadline hanging over my head, suddenly I had to find video ideas whether they presented themselves naturally or not.

I feared that a list-video would be a turn-off for my audience, I feared that it would be seen as shallow and tacky, like a 2010s Buzzfeed listicle. I feared that people just wouldn't be interested in the kind of art analysis I like to do, or would find it pretentious to seek meaning in what is - let's be real - commercial artwork meant to promote game cosmetics.

The benefit of a sponsorship is that the video has already made a profit, whether it does well or not, and I thought that in making this video, I was being self-indulgent and "ignoring" the desires of my audience.

Instead, it's one of the best performing videos ever on my channel, and people have cited it as a favorite among my videos quite a number of times.

Which was really... encouraging, honestly. I didn't expect it, but this video really did give me a confidence boost that the things I care about and find interesting do have an audience, even extra-nerdy rambling about League of Legends cosmetics.

Building a Better Soraka (September)

Building a Better is a series title I sometimes regret a little bit, because no matter how much I try to explain in the videos themselves that there is no such thing as a perfect character design and that my revisions and ideas are not meant to be definitive in any way, I always get comments from people accusing me of declaring myself The God of Character Design and sitting in holy judgment over the work I'm critiquing.

To an extent, I guess that's unavoidable on the internet, but... maybe the series title was a bad gamble on that front.

I do stand by, though, that my designs have a reasonable argument that they are improvements over the originals. Arguments that can be interrogated and criticized, but valid, reasonaed arguments, not mere polemics.

Building a Better Soraka was an experiment in creating the series, as instead of working with a single artist to iterate on design improvements, I ended up commissioning more than a half dozen people for artwork and using different renditions to make my argument. It did hurt the coherency of the video a little, I feel, but it did open me up to a much more flexible way to produce videos like it in the future, which I'm happy with.

Plus, I really do like what I came up with here, and I adore the ways that @sabtherobot, @sinizade and @lekyrin executed my ideas and brought their own visions of the character. Soraka is a character who deserves a lot better than the basic design she's stuck with, and whose story can do so much more visually than Riot is willing to allow it to do.

"Not Without You" - the story of Nasus and Renekton (November)

Of all the writing I did this year, this is by far what I am most proud of.

The video itself did not perform very well, nor did I expect it to, but the reactions I saw from the audience on this piece... yeah. That filled a very hungry part of my heart, I'm not gonna lie.

Writing a novel is a life ambition for me, as it is for many people. Actually writing it is a lot more elusive, though, in part because I struggle to feel confidence that my writing would ever hold up to the scrutiny of an audience. I struggle to feel that I would ever be able to connect emotionally with people, that I would be able to make what I feel sensible through writing.

This story proved that I can. Not to a big audience, perhaps, and I certainly don't have any delusions of genius or grandeur. I do not ever expect to be a famous or fêted writer, nor an important one. But... I do feel like with this story, I proved that I can at least be a competent one, which is frankly all I want.

And Nasus and Renekton were grateful subjects, too. Their story is naturally deeply emotional, albeit strangled by Riot's chronic indifference towards their most compelling narratives, and a lot of what I ended up exploring in there did come from a very genuine place in myself. It was nice to touch that part of my soul, and make something out of it, even if it's only silly fanfiction for a silly video game.

I am cautiously optimistic about 2023

Looking back over the videos I made this year, while I have a lot of work that I am proud of, I also see a lot of videos that I think I made less out of a desire to make them and more out of a fear of not making them. Videos that I made because I felt like the audience expected it, because the algorithm demanded it, because rent is always coming due and I am petrified of ever being broke again.

This is normal and natural, it is to some extent just the nature of the creative process under a capitalist market system where your work must always have some sort of price tag. But... I don't want to keep doing it. If I have an ambition for 2023, it is to make more of the videos I want to make, more videos that I only I can make. To give myself a little bit of a break and ease up on the self-recrimination and stress.

I have so many projects I want to get to, and being in my 30s I am becoming more and more conscious that while I (hopefully) have something like twice my current lifetime left to create the things I want, time is a finite resource, and spending it trying to please a website algorithm probably won't do me that much good in the end.

Anyway, some other things I did which I am quite proud of:

Played through God of War: Ragnarök while telling stories about the mythology of my childhood.

Ran around the world of Eorzea, accompanied by some of the funniest, silliest and most generous FFXIV players a man could dream of.

Finished a Pokémon HeartGold Nuzlocke with possibly the most nerve-wracking finish I have ever had to a Pokémon game

Reviewed every single Gen 1 Pokémon

Finished Great Ace Attorney Chronicles 1, probably the let's play with the most voice acting I have ever done. Some of it is even good!

If you've read this far, thank you so much for your time, your attention, your interest and your indulgence. Your 2023 be a good year, and may the tides of history wash gently over us all.

[crystallinestars]

Hello again, it's been a while! (since the last rants after the homophobia thing haha) I just wanted to send you and all the previous anons much love and support! I also hope that all these discussions will be seen as the humble brainstorming / sharing of experiences and ideas that they are.

As for all that was discussed before (loved the rants btw), I've said it before and I'll say it again: many people don't see stories as carefully woven threads / creative tools made by humans, they see it as tropes and mirrors. I feel like at some point experiencing stories has stopped being about "how do these things connect and what kind of interpretations can you draw from the source?" to become "what does this story says about / how can I make this story about me, myself & I?". And it doesn't help that this take echos one of the most common (but also very cliché ngl) thing that can be said about what a story is (I think we've all heard something like "stories help us learn things about ourselves").

If we go from there, what can you say to someone who sees their reflection in a story without looking or sounding like the "bad guy"? After all, how dare others question one's identity? Surely they must be some kind of puritan evil and a "x-phobe"!

I saw discussions on Twitter saying a few years ago that some people have cannibalized "leftist" jargons so much that they end up sounding like the very conservative they're trying to push back against and now "social justice" in many communities (esp in fandoms) is used as a weapon to police what everyone does in their corner, even if they're not bothering anyone else. It's too bad imo that in the court of social justice and its jargon, bullying and harrassment aren't treated as serious offenses, but I digress 🤷🏻‍♀️

Going back to the "people love tropes" thing, while I find it sad that it often seems they do not see anything beyond these tropes, a huge part of the blame definitely lies with the creators / companies providing this content. I agree with you 1000% that Mihoyo knew what they were doing with Alhaitham and Kaveh, what with how popular the phrase "and they were roommates!" has become. This is also why I hate when fandoms tell people like the bi anon for example that they should just "find other people like them in the community <3", because it essentially means "go be a killjoy somewhere else and spend your time dodging the content you don't want to see". I'm also not a big fan of popular fandom activties (shipping being at the top of the list, even if technically I don't mind hearing people talk about their hcs and interpretations, so long as they do it respectfully) so I understand how restrictive the experience can be.

And finally, the Kaveh situation. Both you and the anon made great points and frankly? Thank you so much for addressing all these things! Nothing irks me more than people going "omg x behaviour / outfit is SOO gay". I know it's supposed to be a facetious little joke originally and I'm also not here to bring justice to the pixels, but after hearing this so many times I'm starting to believe that many people genuinely think that you can identify a person's orientation just by looking at them. What happened to "traditional / straight men should embrace their 'femenine' side"? Idk, I think about this a lot and I've yet to truly gather my thoughts on the subject, but I do feel like this way of going about these things is a slippery slope leading straight into stereotyping territory.

Also, I feel you both when you say you don't think kavetham is a viable ship. It's of course a matter of taste and people are definitely allowed to play with different dynamics (healthy or not). I just think it's also a case of latching onto a trope (opposites attract maybe) and rolling with it. I've been friends with people whose personalities were drastically different from mine, and while it was fulfilling because we were constantly challenged by each other, let me tell you that this constant was also EXHAUSTING, to the point that it sometimes felt like having to walk on eggshells to keep the balance stable. So yeah, while I can see the appeal in a ship like kavetham, I'm not a fan. I could enjoy it if people focused more on the fragility and vulnerability that such a relationship can create, but alas. I suppose top/bottom discouse brings much more instant gratification.

Anyway, I think the girlies here (and all those who wish to join) should form an alliance and keep doing their things away from the drama. I'm really glad that your blog is a safe space to vent and talk about these things 💜

Glad to see you again, Anon! 💚

I never imagined that stating I'm not into BL in my bio would spark so much discussion on the topic of modern fandom culture. Not that I mind since I enjoy talking about these things, but it does make me wonder if there should be a dedicated space for it so everyone can talk about it together. In the meantime, I am more than happy to be a safe space for others to vent their frustrations and share their opinions on the topic 😊

We talked before about how people project themselves onto stories and characters, and you also made a really good addition to this that I haven't thought of before. It does seem like people stopped interpreting stories for their message/idea, and are now using it as a way to validate themselves instead. It makes me wonder what it is about modern Western culture that's pushing people to project so heavily onto entertainment media.

I won't comment too much on political jargon since I am not American, and oftentimes struggle to understand American politics. One thing I have noticed, though, is that a lot of Americans view everything around them through a political lens, even when said thing or person has nothing to do with politics. They jump to conclusions about where on the political spectrum said thing or person lies based on whether it aligns with their views, and then judge it to be either good or bad. No in-between.

And I also agree that the social justice camp has done a 180, and went from promoting equality and acceptance, to now policing everyone who doesn't adhere to their strict views of what is morally correct. It has led to a rejection of equality. I also wonder why these people feel the need to police everyone around them. Are they trying to make up for something deep down?

I am also very thankful to the anon for opening discussion on the issue of people assuming character sexuality based on physical attributes or behaviors. As we talked at length prior, the term "coding" is being thrown around everywhere to justify people's headcanons about characters. We've gone past sliding down the slope of stereotyping, because I've seen people use stereotypes to describe characters, and parade them as proof that the character is gay-coded.

For example, I saw someone say Kaveh is gay-coded because he whines and complains a lot, dresses feminine, and shows no interest in women (Said person also said a lot of other WILD things to try and defend their point. It was one of the most surreal conversations I've ever had). Some of this stereotyping started out as a joke, as you said, but lately it doesn't feel like a joke anymore.

Glad you are also of the opinion that Kaveh and Haitham wouldn't make a good romantic couple! Every time I see someone compile a list of how they're designed as a pair, and therefore meant to be lovers, I want to write a list stating why their personalities wouldn't make them work. Or if they do start dating, then why it would inevitably fall apart. But I digress.

I feel you when you say you've been friends with someone who is your polar opposite, and how difficult it can be. Though I wouldn't even call us friends because we are just too different to understand each other's point of view. It's frustrating and exhausting, for sure, which is why I commend you for being able to keep a friendship going.

Sorry for writing so much. I thought I would write less, but somehow I never can.

Thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts with us! It's definitely encouraging and vindicating knowing there are others who share our views out there.

[harmonyhealinghub]

Here We Go, Year Two of Harmony Healing Hub Blog! Shaina Tranquilino July 24, 2024

I can hardly believe it—Harmony Healing Hub is celebrating its first anniversary! A full year of writing, sharing, and connecting with all of you has flown by, and I'm filled with excitement as we embark on this second year together. Reflecting on the journey, I am deeply grateful for the encouragement, suggestions, and engagement from this amazing community. Your input has helped shape the direction of this blog, and I’m thrilled to share what’s coming up in the next couple of years.

Continuing My New Year's Resolution

One of my most fulfilling endeavours this past year has been my New Year's Resolution to donate to a different organization every month. This resolution has connected me with incredible causes and people, broadening my perspective and deepening my commitment to making a positive impact. I will continue to blog about these monthly donations, sharing insights into the organizations I feel called to support, their missions, and the difference they make in the world.

Diving Deeper into Tarot

Tarot has been a personal passion of mine for years, and I’m excited to dedicate more space on this blog to exploring it. I’m planning a special Tarot Blog Edition where I’ll delve into the meanings of each card, both upright and reversed. This series will be a journey through the Tarot deck, offering insights and interpretations that can aid in your personal and spiritual growth. Whether you’re a seasoned tarot reader or a curious beginner, I hope this series will inspire and enlighten you.

Sharing My Poetry

Poetry is another passion I hold dear, and I’m eager to share more of my work with you. Currently, I publish my poems on Instagram as TheTwilightTalesmith and have a few poetry books available on Amazon. This blog will become a new platform for my poetry, where I can connect more intimately with my readers and share the emotions and stories behind each piece. Expect to see a variety of poems that touch on different themes, emotions, and experiences.

Short Stories and Monthly Themes

A friend recently suggested that I share my short stories on the blog, organized by monthly themes. I loved this idea and am excited to incorporate it. Each month, I’ll choose a theme and post short stories that revolve around it. This approach will not only keep the content fresh and engaging but also allow me to explore different genres and styles of writing. From romance to mystery, fantasy to slice-of-life, there will be something for everyone.

A Realistic Approach to Blogging

While I initially considered dedicating one year each to tarot, poetry, and short stories, I realized that life doesn’t always adhere to such a strict schedule. Inspiration strikes unpredictably, and creativity flows best when it’s not confined. So, instead of rigidly sticking to a theme per year, I’ll go with the flow and write about whatever comes to mind that day. This approach will keep the blog dynamic and authentic, reflecting the natural ebb and flow of my creative process.

Thank You for Your Support

As we step into this second year, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each of you for your support, feedback, and engagement. Your presence has made this journey incredibly rewarding, and I’m excited to continue sharing my stories, passions, and reflections with you.

Thank you for being a part of Harmony Healing Hub. Here’s to another year of creativity, connection, and growth!

With love and gratitude, Shaina

[fatratbabyy]

hi! i really love your designs, the colours are always really well done anf the characters are full of life.. and i love how your rewrites give the characters complexity and make them really interesting to me, much more so than canon(though i am a fan of some ideas introduced there, they don’t quite turn out in ways that make sense to me)! i’ve been wondering a few things about helluva troupe for a while however and hopefully the answers aren’t spoilers, lol.. in HT, what is Fizz’s involvement with the ‘troupe’ and what is stolas’s involvement too.? i wish you much luck on your work as it is lovely to see! (also apologies for my silly username)

Thank You!

Thank you so much that means a lot!! waaAahee! It makes me happy to see people interested 🥺👉👈

With Fizz it's,,, a bit Fuzzy, because hilariously he's the whole reason I made this AU among other things But I ended up makinh him a sorta side character antag again because while originally he was going to be part of the main crew from the start of HT's storyline, as I went along in trying to write I saw some cool hcs about his star clown days and so I thought to use the more canonized view- mostly in that he's a star clown during the events of HT instead of dropping the show life to join Blitz in I.M.P. That previous version is why you see him in the I.M.P references- and hinty hoo that ol version isnt completely null and voice to the current HT

ANYWAY so yeah- While Fizz isn't as much a main character as he was he still has a great deal of importance to the story and themes I want to express in HT. When it comes to him and the Troupe itself, I could best describe him as one of the biggest foils or parallels to the main cast. Just,, he's this golden image that represents their every want fulfilled. For Blitz especially given their thick history heehooo. (That's not to say this 'golden image' is entirely as it seems btw...)

Now it sounds much like canon I know but I like to think I'm taking a different direction with it- It's not really just the "haha you suck with relationships, fuck, shit, pénis im doing better look at my good relationship" nonsense cuz for 1. Fizzarozzie does nOT exist anymore- its Mamzie now 😊 (Mammon + Ozzie) and 2. The themes with Fizz and really most of HT has less to do with the melodramatic romance "will they wont they" of Stolitz (which isnt really a thing either) and more the struggle impoverished and oppressed peoples experience with success, failure, identity, community, family, status, history, trauma, etccc. Specifically, because I am an indigenous person from Canada, a lot of the themes are drawn from my own experiences, knowledge and history as an indigenous person. Though with execution, creative liberties were taken to make the fact they're in Hell clear btww-

That very likely did nOT answer jour question but i amn,,,stoopi 😭😭😭 simpler answer i suppose maybe by chance would be Fizz is an eventual antagonist to I.M.P. Specifics and how it happens and wheNNN?? Im still not sure yet if im honest- been really busy the last year or so and so Ive hadnt had any time or energy to work as much on writing all the things! ;u; thats probs disappointing to hear cuz plaNNing and all is important if you're gonna post story stuff at all,,, but !! I do hope to work more on the story this year so i can wrap up all these floating ideas into a Concrete line of stuff cuz truly all im missing is the middle pieces. Maybe an HT comic will be real this/or next year! 👀🏃

ANYHOOT ONTO STOLAS! i rambled a bit too much about Fizz cuz im still figuring him out- Stolas might be a bit shorter cuz his role is sweet and simplisticerr.

So, Stolas is an antagonist. He and Blitz still have an exchange sort of deal, but the deal is Blitz gets to keep the grimoire for I.M.P if he handles Stolas' "errands" and gives it back on the full moon with ofc none of the uh,,hawny stuff, obv. Blitz kinda keeps this deal under wraps from the rest of I.M.P because for him, it hurts his pride to admit he's in need of some big guy's help. And Stolas is somewhat aware of this. And so, Stolas is this looming, cruel threat that Blitz carries the burden of cuz he's stubborn as fuck whilst the rest of I.M.P remain ignorant.

Some bonus notes that dont really have to do with Stolas involvement with imp but jus how stuff ive changed with his canon influence the story diff than canon; so, Stella isnt a thing anymore. In general the Goetia work much differently- majority of the Goetia being the children of Ozzie instead of Paimon (who is Stolas' sibling now btw too) and the Goetia being thousands of years old instead of fucking 30- Also! While Via is existant she is but a baby instead of a moody teen,, ties heavily with Stolas' motives and how he operates as a character, royal, and Goetian and felt it would work better with how HT Stolas is as a character than it would otherwise.

Also no worries about the username! I dont like canon stolas much either lol,,;

I apologize if this didnt answer much 😭 feel free to let me know if you wanna hear about somn else gwahgh 🏃

[writernopal]

Writeblr Positivity Tag

Tagged by the lovely @mariahwritesstuff for this tag she created, see her post here!

Tagging (gently): @kanobarlowe @lexiklecksi @captain-kraken @dragonedged-if @lynnedwardswrites and @autumnalwalker

Blank list of questions below the cut!

1. What motivates you to write?

The fun of it! Writing is like play to me and one of the few ways I can be creative. It also lets me explore all sorts of aspects of the human experience in a unique way. I have an obsession with stepping into the shoes of others, to understand them and also myself, and a penchant for asking questions, as anyone in the writing discord I'm a part of can attest to 😅. I've found writing is the perfect way to play with those things in a way that feels safe and fulfilling.

2. A line/short snippet of your writing that you are most proud/happy of. If not maybe share a line of someone else's work you love (just please credit them)

From AASOAF 2, Axtapor's POV

My grandmother came to me first: going into town with her as a boy, taking tea with her in the gardens on her estate, and visiting her on my ageday just so I could hear her stories of the world. Then came her warmth, her sincerity, and her love. The way she smiled whenever I visited her and how the slant of her writing betrayed her eagerness to respond to my many letters. I squeezed my eyes shut tighter as a wave of nostalgia and melancholy passed over me. I missed her so much. What I wouldn’t give for her loving embrace and to hear her call me ‘hatchling’ the way she always did. Perhaps when all of this was done, I would go see her. Then, as the warm sunshine of spring came Mariel. Her smile, her laugh, the gentleness of her voice, and the many moments we shared in The Deadlands. The way we spent the evenings playing Twenty-One while we told one another about our families and where we came from. The quietness of midday, where she would busy herself with mending or some other still activity while I polished my weapons or smoked, neither of us feeling the need to break the silence that formed, akin to a call for prayer. And the mornings, where she and I breakfasted each day without fail, dreams from the night before still clinging to her eyelashes amongst the bleary-eyed look I’d come to adore. Every kiss we shared, every embrace we locked one another in, and every moment she made my heart race with those eyes colored of autumn. I remembered it all.

3. Which OC makes you smile every time you think/talk about them and what are they like?

Oh this question is so hard haha because I love all of my OCs! But if I had to choose one, it has to go to my boy Axtapor. A close second is Mariel but Axtapor wins because he is just so chaotic and annoying and so easy to dunk on that it's hard not to love him! I think I have a soft spot for him too because the character he was originally conceptualized as was rather brooding and hardly spoke, so of all of my characters, he's seen the biggest transformation and its been such a treat to see him develop into who he's become today!

4. What process of writing do you enjoy the most?

When you tie all of the lore pieces together and it just makes sense! It's like when you take a new route home and everything is unfamiliar until you turn onto your street and the map completes in your brain. I LIVE for that!

5. What part of writing do you think you are the best at? (Yes stroke your own ego it's okay)

Expressing feelings/emotions in a vivid/visceral way. I've been told by many people that this is my strong suit and I will 100% own that. My style is rather flowery (as the answer to no. 3 probably demonstrates) and stems from a frustration of not being adequately 'seen' in the past, so when I want you to feel something, I want you to FEEL it, and I will pull out ALL the stops to make sure that happens.

6. What is something in the writeblr community is most enjoyable?

Ask games! I love being asked questions about stuff I write!

7. A writing tool/device you use that helps you with writing? (It could be speech to text, a writing program etc)

Google Docs. It's simple, easy to use, not bogged down with tons of features which I prefer because when I'm presented with too many options I get overwhelmed. Also, it lets me write on my phone if I'm out and about and get hit with an idea. It also makes it easy to revise later on my laptop/PC without having to move things around.

8. A piece of worldbuilding that you like in your own story? (It could be the magic system, a particular place in the story, a law etc)

The Realm of Dreams and I can say NOTHING about it because it's all spoilers.

9. What piece of advice would you say to encourage others to write if they are having a rough patch?

Be curious! Ask yourself questions, talk yourself through your plot/characters/etc out loud, look at things from another perspective, and nine times out of ten, you will find that the solution/answer you're looking for, has been staring you in the face all along.

10. Tag some people whose works you love/have been your biggest supporters

@captain-kraken @kanobarlowe @elshells @sam-glade

You four have shown my characters and story so much love and are so talented! I feel so lucky to call you my peers! And Kano especially, for letting me troll around his Discord server and for giving me the chance to meet other cool writer friends!

And not a writeblr but I couldn't leave @illjustpretend off this list. She's my biggest cheerleader and I would never have worked up the courage to share my work online, let alone have joined this amazing community without her. Seriously this blog would not exist if she hadn't talked me into it. I love you my sister!💙

1. What motivates you to write?

2. A line/short snippet of your writing that you are most proud/happy of. If not maybe share a line of someone else's work you love (just please credit them)

3. Which OC makes you smile every time you think/talk about them and what are they like?

4. What process of writing do you enjoy the most?

5. What part of writing do you think you are the best at? (Yes stroke your own ego it's okay)

6. What is something in the writeblr community is most enjoyable?

7. A writing tool/device you use that helps you with writing? (It could be speech to text, a writing program etc)

8. A piece of worldbuilding that you like in your own story? (It could be the magic system, a particular place in the story, a law etc)

9. What piece of advice would you say to encourage others to write if they are having a rough patch?

10. Tag some people whose works you love/have been your biggest supporters

[simlicious]

Status update

All your messages of support mean so much to me, thank you! I definitely feel better, I cleaned out my dash a bit and am a bit more relaxed. I see more clearly now that I still have an important role to play and a place in this community! 🥰

I am still not quite ready to go back into creating Sims stuff though, as Anno 1800 has sucked me in a bit at the moment. That game is a serious commitment time-wise, and I am also making my own mods and tweaking the mods of others to create the perfect experience for me personally. In case you are interested to learn more about my Anno experience, you can read more under the cut!

I play a multiplayer map with my boyfriend, or let's say I show him what I have built and he dabbles for a couple of hours too every now and then 😆 I enjoy the optimization/logic aspect of the game. At the moment, I really like games that pick my brain/give me a challenge in that regard, and I think that is also why I like modding. It requires abstract/logical thinking and creativity at the same time. Anno 1800 is a city builder/production strategy game and is mainly about fostering a happy population in a flourishing city. There are different population tiers, such as farmes, workers, artisans, etc. that have different needs that you need to fulfill in order to get to the next one, and they also want luxury goods that improve their happiness. You have to produce these goods and build farms, factories, and public buildings to provide the population with these items. You start out with a small settlement and end up with a huge metropolis. I am about 100 hours into the save and have never advanced this far in Anno 1800 before. Things get more complex the further you go, and you have to establish settlements in different regions and create trading routes to ship goods around to make sure all production lines run flawlessly and your population receives the goods they need.

I also enjoy beauty-building (to some degree at least) and try to make my cities look interesting instead of just boringly uniform. Because I play with a lot of mods, this is easier to accomplish than in a vanilla game, where beauty building and maintaining a good economy at the same time is more challenging. I play Anno 1800 to relax and have fun, not to try to reach record numbers of inhabitants (which is impressive in its own right, but I'm more the casual play type).

Here are a few screenshots of my City Bergblick (Mountain View). These are best viewed at full scale because you can't really see details on the small tumblr dashboard-sized pics.

My farmers are having a festival because they feel so happy!

The artisan village

Amusement park that I built near my skyscrapers and scholar's houses.

View from the harbor. This is the hugest island in the game! In case you are wondering, the reason why do not make (tuning) mods for Sims 3 is that I lack the gameplay experience/knowledge of intricate game mechanics. Only while playing do you notice things that you wish were different, and you get an idea of how they could be. I am a bit out of the loop with Sims 3 gameplay, I'm a bit ashamed to say it has been years since I properly played the game, aside from set building, styling my Sim models, and testing CC. In most games I play, I spend more time modding them/installing/tweaking other people's mods/making my own than actually playing. I am truly a tinkerer at heart! I hope I can bring myself to start learning Python one day (and C# would also be good to know as a modder), as I mainly tweak XML files for now, but many games require proper coding knowledge in order to mod them. I tried a few times to learn but I have a hard time understanding some concepts. I feel like it's just a different mode of thinking and to get into that mode and see how everything fits together is the hardest part. I kinda hope I can get my brain ready for it by doing more logical thinking/tinkering with mods! Other games that I am interested in/would love to be able to do more with mod-wise are Subnautica and The Long Dark. Subnautica is probably my all-time favorite game. It is beautiful, and makes you want to explore and find out about that alien planet, but also creates that feeling of terror of the unknown. It touches on emotions in a way that I never experienced in another game. That said, the Sims games are still the best option for expressing creativity! I am also keeping an eye out for Life by You, the modding possibilities seem very enticing. I'm not sure about the graphical style, but I bet they will polish the game a lot before the final release. Also, Custom Content makes such a huge difference, so I'm not too worried about that at this point.

[nancycastrogiovanni]

Preparing for Our January Performance at ICP English Theatre Club

As summer winds down, I am getting more and more excited about the new season at the ICP English Theatre Club. We’ve just wrapped up the draft of our script for the upcoming musical, set to debut in January. While I’m keeping the details under wraps for now — no spoilers! — I can tell you this project is shaping up to be one of our most ambitious yet. We’re all filled with anticipation for what’s coming.

This year is particularly special because it marks our first-ever musical performance since the ICP English Theatre Club started. Each year, we explore different types of performances, and this time we’ve taken on the challenge of a musical to engage our audience even more. It’s an exciting new direction for us, and I’m eager to see how it all comes together.

We’ve also been fortunate to welcome some fantastic new talent to our team. It’s inspiring to see how people from such varied backgrounds come together, each adding something unique to our creative process. You can already see how their different perspectives are enriching our work.

Honestly, that’s one of the things I love most about theatre — how it brings people together in such a meaningful way.

Starting on September 7th, I’ll be away for a few weeks, but I’m leaving the group in Kamila’s capable hands. She’s one of our seasoned actresses, and she’ll be leading the rehearsals while I’m gone. Kamila has a keen eye for detail and really understands what makes a performance resonate, so I know the group will be in great hands during this crucial stage.

This production, like every show we’ve done before, goes beyond memorizing lines or nailing choreography — although those are important, of course. What really excites me is watching the actors dig deeper into their characters and make them their own. The process of taking a script and turning it into something that feels alive and genuine is what makes theatre such an incredible art form.

I’ve always believed that the real magic happens when actors start to connect with their characters on a personal level, and I can already see that happening as we prepare for January’s show.

Beyond the stage, what makes this club truly special is the friendships and bonds that have developed among the members. Over the summer, I’ve been delighted to see people meeting up for drinks in Prague’s pubs, attending opera and theatre performances together, and just generally spending time outside of rehearsals.

It’s wonderful to see how theatre has become a way not just to create art, but also to build lasting connections and community. This sense of camaraderie is something I hold dear — it’s what turns the hard work of theatre into a truly rewarding experience.

Of course, no production comes without its challenges. Creating a musical, especially for the first time, requires careful planning and constant adaptation. We’ve had moments where things didn’t go quite as planned, but that’s all part of the process.

Watching our initial ideas evolve into something real, something that feels like it’s truly taking shape, is one of the most satisfying parts of this journey. Every rehearsal brings us a little closer to our vision, and that steady progress is something we’re all proud of.

As we move toward January, I’m excited about what lies ahead. There’s still plenty of work to be done, but the enthusiasm and dedication from the team are contagious. I have no doubt that by the time January rolls around, we’ll have something truly special to share with our audience.

For now, our focus is on rehearsing and refining our performance. I invite you to follow along on this journey with us — I’ll be sharing more updates as we get closer to opening night. Whether you’ve been a loyal supporter of the ICP English Theatre Club for years or this is your first time hearing about us, this production promises something for everyone.

Ultimately, what makes this experience so fulfilling isn’t just the final performance — it’s the journey of working together to create something meaningful.

The friendships we’ve formed, the challenges we’ve faced, and the small victories along the way are what make this process so special. I feel incredibly fortunate to be on this adventure with such a talented and diverse group of individuals.

Originally Published At: https://www.nancycastrogiovanni.com/preparing-for-our-january-performance-at-icp-english-theatre-club

[spburns1]

Convention Blog Post

In July 2023, I went to MetroCon in Tampa. This was one of my favorite experiences to this day as I had never been to an anime convention before this. I found my love for anime in 2020 when COVID-19 hit, so this was my first opportunity to attend one of these events.

The venue was amazing, with lots of cosplayers as well as colorful showcases and anime booths, I felt like I was in heaven. MetroCon's colorful, varied ambiance perfectly captures the essence of today's young culture. You enter the convention hall and are immediately engrossed in a world where there is a tangible passion for gaming, comics, and anime. The event draws a varied spectrum of people, most of whom are young, who gather to celebrate their common interests. The intricate costumes, dynamic discussions, and vibrant fan interactions all demonstrate this sense of enthusiasm among attendees.

The convention functions as a miniature representation of young culture. It offers a venue for young people to openly and creatively express themselves, frequently via cosplay. Participants can explore many facets of their personality by dressing up as their favorite characters.

I saw many attendees challenging the traditional gender norms/roles, which we had recently learned about in this latest module.

Cosplay was one of the most obvious ways this was accomplished. Adorned as characters of varying genders, fans demonstrated that their identities and passions transcend conventional norms. To subvert traditional gender norms, male guests may have cosplayed as female characters and vice versa.

The event also included talks and panels that examined gender diversity and included perspectives from the LGBTQ+ community. By offering a forum for discussions on gender identity and expression, these workshops inspired participants to accept and express who they really are.

Gender-neutral areas and activities were also featured during the event, making everyone feel comfortable attending regardless of gender. MetroCon fostered an open atmosphere that made it possible for individuals to question and reconsider conventional gender standards in a safe environment.

At MetroCon, fandom is a significant cultural phenomena that both impacts and is impacted by wider societal trends, outside the realm of hobbyism. The event is evidence of how fandom can unite people in a common cultural experience that goes beyond personal passions. The wide range of discussions, seminars, and displays captures the complexity of fandom, which includes anything from cosplay and video games to anime and manga.

MetroCon is distinguished by its commitment to showcasing fan ingenuity. Numerous fan-run activities, such as cosplay competitions, and fan art exhibitions, are held throughout the convention to display the creativity and commitment of the local community.

Participating at MetroCon was a really fulfilling experience. I saw the convention as a colorful celebration of my hobbies and passions as an anime and manga enthusiast. The chance to interact with other fans, take part in different events, and fully immerse oneself in the anime world was enlightening and thrilling. The event made clear how crucial a sense of belonging and common interests is to the development and validation of cultural identities. MetroCon gave me a place to meet others who share my interests and explore various aspects of my own identity, whether it was through costume competitions or panels discussing the newest trends in anime.

Overall, though I really enjoyed my experience and it helped me to further understand Japanese anime culture and youth culture. I learned more about gender norms as well as cultural identity formation while I was here.

[kvibe-test]

<img src="https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1046530452657279067/1258857371824947220/kvibestudios_Create_a_cinematic_blogpost_thumbnail_for_Revitali_07c9fb91-89e9-4fcc-b513-ae4a70434b7f.png?ex=668991c9&is=66884049&hm=bd649f194f16a0e15e8e7e1e7d8a69be88a3e12402ac5c00c59b96510abdf533&"> Revitalizing Bahamian TV: BTC Starmaker Journey

Embarking on the journey to revitalize Bahamian television with 'BTC Starmaker Season 5' was a thrilling yet daunting adventure for me. I have always been deeply passionate about entrepreneurship and storytelling, and this project allowed me to merge these interests to bring fresh energy to the local television scene. With BTC's sponsorship backing us, my team and I set out to create a show that would not only captivate audiences but also showcase the immense talent we have here in the Bahamas.

The Vision and Challenges

From the start, the goal was clear: inject new life and excitement into Bahamian television. The vision was ambitious, aiming to revive the local entertainment landscape and provide an inspiring platform for emerging artists. Of course, bringing a talent show of this scale to fruition is no small feat. It required substantial planning, securing resources, and most importantly, finding and nurturing the right talent.

One major challenge we faced was overcoming the skepticism that had been built over the previous seasons. While 'BTC Starmaker' had its loyal fans, it was critical to attract a broader audience, especially the younger demographic. We recalibrated the production aspects, infused dynamic content, and modernized the presentation to align with current entertainment trends. Our approach considered the viewer's changing tastes while preserving the essence that made the show beloved by many.

Working with Local Talent

One of the most rewarding aspects of this journey was the opportunity to work with incredible local talent. The Bahamas is brimming with gifted artists, singers, and performers waiting for their moment under the spotlight. The challenge often is not talent scarcity but discovering and polishing raw gems, helping them believe in their potential and giving them a stage to shine. The journey of candidates from their humble beginnings to their live television performances was a rollercoaster ride of emotions, filled with moments of self-doubt and sheer brilliance.

I recall a moment when we were unsure about one contestant during auditions, but something in his voice and demeanor hinted at untapped potential. With dedicated mentoring and rigorous training, watching him bloom into a confident performer on stage made all our efforts worthwhile. These interactions deeply impacted me, reminding me why fostering local talent is crucial for the cultural and economic growth of any community.

Impact on Bahamian Television

'BTC Starmaker Season 5' proved to be a turning point for the Bahamian TV industry. Our innovative approach helped reignite interest in local productions, drawing viewers back to domestic content. More than just a talent show, it became a symbol of pride and inspiration for aspiring artists and production teams in the Bahamas. The positive reception and increased viewership proved that the right mix of creativity, dedication, and understanding of local culture could lead to phenomenal success.

The revitalization of the show had ripple effects—it uplifted the local TV industry, encouraged higher production standards, and spurred a renewed interest in creating quality content. This transformation encouraged me to keep pushing the boundaries of entrepreneurship within the entertainment sector. This experience reinforced my belief in the power of storytelling and its ability to bring people together, inspire change, and create economic opportunities.

Moving forward, I am committed to continuing my entrepreneurial journey with a focus on empowering local artists and exploring new ways to enrich the cultural tapestry of the Bahamas. 'BTC Starmaker Season 5' was a testament to what could be achieved through perseverance, innovation, and a strong community spirit.

The journey wasn’t easy, but it was incredibly fulfilling. I feel immense pride thinking about the impact we made and the doors we opened for many talented individuals. This project reaffirmed my love for entrepreneurship and the endless possibilities it holds, especially when driven by passion and a vision to make a difference.

#Entrepreneurship #BahamianTelevision #LocalTalent #BTCStarmaker

/post/revitalizing-bahamian-tv-btc-starmaker-journey

[fuyuki26]

My Journey in the Course "Writing for New Media"

Starting the "Writing for New Media" course changed my life and made me more aware of the complex world of creating digital content. The experience was both demanding and fulfilling, from learning the subtleties of audience interaction to perfecting the craft of succinct and powerful writing.

A New Perspective on New Media Platforms

I think the most impactful lesson we encountered in the course was a case study about a company that developed a car without taking audience feedback into account. Instead of listening to market recommendations and understanding customer needs, the company proceeded with its own vision, resulting in a vehicle that failed commercially. This case study highlighted the critical importance of communication between a company and its audience. It demonstrated that successful products—and by extension, successful content—are those that resonate with and fulfill the needs of their intended audience. This lesson reshaped my view of new media platforms, emphasizing that effective communication and audience engagement are foundational to creating content that is both meaningful and impactful.

My Contribution to New Media Writing

When I think back on what I've learned, I see that my ability to combine modern digital approaches with traditional storytelling is what makes me a distinctive contributor to new media writing. My ability to combine technical expertise with creativity allows me to create visually and interactively engaging content in addition to instructive stuff. Using data visualization and interactive storytelling tools to convey difficult information in a way that is interesting and approachable for a range of audiences excites me in particular.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the "Writing for New Media" course has equipped me with a comprehensive understanding of the digital landscape and the skills to thrive within it. My journey has been one of discovery and growth, and I am eager to contribute my newfound expertise to the ever-evolving world of new media writing.

[polciascas]

DP2 CAS Final Reflection

Participating in the CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) program has been a transformative experience, shaping both my personal and creative endeavors. What I enjoyed most about CAS was its ability to reignite my creativity and instill a commitment to a healthier lifestyle through regular sports activities.

The greatest challenge I encountered throughout my CAS journey was establishing consistency and effective planning. Balancing the demands of creativity, sports, and service required meticulous scheduling and dedication. Overcoming this challenge involved honing my organizational skills and developing a routine that allowed me to seamlessly integrate CAS activities into my daily life.

One of the most significant achievements through CAS has been the fulfillment derived from volunteering and the adoption of a healthier lifestyle. Volunteering not only provided a sense of purpose but also allowed me to contribute positively to my community. Integrating daily sports activities not only improved my physical well-being but also became a catalyst for maintaining a more balanced and energetic lifestyle.

In terms of skills development, CAS has notably enhanced my creative thinking and instilled a sense of consistency in my work. The program fostered an environment where thinking outside the box was encouraged, allowing me to approach challenges with innovative solutions. Moreover, the need for consistent participation in various activities honed my ability to remain dedicated and focused over an extended period.

Among the learning outcomes, I found demonstrating that challenges had been undertaken and developing new skills (Learning Outcome 2) relatively easy to achieve. However, engaging with issues of global significance (Learning Outcome 6) posed a more significant challenge. While navigating global issues required a broader perspective, CAS pushed me to explore and engage with these matters more deeply, contributing to my understanding of the interconnected world we live in.

As I conclude my CAS experience, I carry forward a renewed sense of creativity, a commitment to a healthier lifestyle, and a profound understanding of the impact one individual can make within a global context. CAS has been more than a program; it has been a journey of self-discovery and growth that will undoubtedly shape my approach to life beyond high school.

[thxnews]

Revolutionizing Youth Justice in Blaenau Gwent

A New Dawn in Youth Justice

Innovative Approaches to Rehabilitation and Support Recently, I had the privilege of visiting the Blaenau Gwent and Caerphilly Youth Offending Service. This visit was part of our increased oversight and focus on the performance of youth justice services. It was enlightening to witness firsthand how the 'Child First' evidence is being implemented in these services, marking a significant shift in how we approach youth justice.  

Integration and Collaboration

Harnessing Collective Expertise for Positive Outcomes One of the most impressive aspects of the service is its integration with children's social services. By bringing together professionals from diverse fields like social care, education, police, probation, health, and the third sector, along with a group of dedicated volunteers, the service fosters a multidisciplinary approach. This collaboration is crucial in reducing offending by children and supporting them to lead fulfilling lives. The synergy of knowledge, skills, and experience among these professionals creates a robust support system for the youth.   Recognition and Progress Celebrating Achievements and Continued Success In May 2022, the service received a 'Good' overall rating from His Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation. Furthermore, from April 2022 to November 2023, the service remarkably had no children in custody, continuing a trend since 2019. This achievement is a testament to the effectiveness of their programs and strategies in youth rehabilitation.  

Strong Leadership at the Helm

Michaela Rogers' Passion and Vision Since 2012, Michaela Rogers has been leading the service with her extensive experience and expertise. Her leadership and passion for supporting both children and staff are evident. Michaela emphasizes the importance of staff training and manageable caseloads, which directly contribute to better outcomes for the children.   Child First Practice in Action Building Pro-social Identities and Positive Futures The service's application of Child First practice focuses on helping children build pro-social identities. This approach leverages their strengths and positive relationships to enable them to fulfill their potential and contribute positively to society. During my visit, the impact of this practice was palpable, with consistent and trusting relationships between staff, volunteers, and children playing a pivotal role.   Tailored Interventions and Programs Personalized Support for Every Child Each child in the youth justice system has unique circumstances and needs. The service's approach of tailoring support to each individual child is producing positive outcomes. Programs like 'Sown and Grown' and 'The Bike Shed' are excellent examples of how the service creatively engages children in activities that cater to their interests and needs, fostering engagement and skill development.  

Empowering Projects and Initiatives

Fostering Wellbeing and Skill Development 'Sown and Grown' is an allotment well-being project that encourages open communication and supports children in understanding their needs. Similarly, 'The Bike Shed' helps children gain practical skills while contributing to their communities. These initiatives not only teach valuable skills but also instill a sense of accomplishment and community responsibility in the children.   Building Confidence and Self-Esteem Success Stories from the 'Be Me' Project The 'Be Me' project is another innovative initiative focused on confidence and self-esteem building. It has been instrumental in transforming the lives of many children, like the girl who found the courage to face her challenges through this program. Such initiatives are crucial in addressing the underlying issues faced by children in the justice system.  

Involving Children in Decision-Making

Listening to and Valuing Children's Voices An essential aspect of the service is its commitment to involving children in decisions that affect them. This approach not only empowers the children but also ensures that the support provided is relevant and effective. The children's involvement in projects like the allotment is a shining example of this practice.  

A Service That Truly Cares

Innovation and Compassion at the Forefront The Blaenau Gwent and Caerphilly Youth Offending Service stand out for its innovative practices and genuine care for the children and families it works with. The staff's dedication to improving their services and their pride in supporting the community is truly commendable. This is further bolstered by a strong Board that supports and guides the service. Michaela Rogers advises other services to focus on strong and consistent leadership and to make the most of available resources. Her guidance underscores the importance of innovative thinking and collaboration in achieving successful outcomes in youth justice.   Continued Excellence in Youth Justice The Impact of Play and Trauma-Informed Practice The service's success is also a reflection of the play and trauma-informed practices that underpin its work with children. These practices, championed by leaders like Michaela, are key to the service's ongoing success and its status as a well-resourced entity. To stay updated on the latest in youth justice, consider signing up for the YJBulletin for regular updates on news, practice, and policy developments.   Sources: THX News & Youth Justice Board for England and Wales. Read the full article