#and the ambiance at the beginning is written so beautifully

[supersoldiersruined-me]

KINKTOBER DAY 4: MULTIPLE PENETRATIONS

Word count: 891 Warnings: oral (m receiving), unprotected vaginal sex, bit of dirty talk, limo sex Pairing: Henry Cavill x Chris Evans x F Reader A/N: This one is late, but it’s still before midnight in some places! I may have written something completely different than the inital idea. Sorry, @eyesfixedonthesun22, xx.

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“Gentlemen,” she greets casually as she walks past them on the dance floor of the packed ballroom. It needs no addition. The way her eyes had worked over them all night made her intentions clear enough. She had stood just the right way so that the slit of her dress showed just enough thigh; they had roamed around her like birds of prey. Her strides towards the backdoor were confident - she needn’t look over her shoulder to make sure they were following her.

The heavy wooden door doesn’t make it shut before she can reach the limousine. Rough hands come to her shoulders and hips, both pair unashamed of claiming their prize.

“Can’t let the lady go home all by herself.” The tall brunette on her left shoots a wink of agreement to his pal.

“Well,” she begins, eyeing them down once more. It would be awful to refuse the attention of two super hero actors. “I guess I can spare some room for you. Both of you,” she accentuates her words, the sly look on her face has them both swallowing hard. She knew how to play with men who thought they were all that. Mostly when they were her men.

“If you please,” the English stud reaches for the handle and walks out of her way.

Somewhere in the middle of two whimpers she had managed to tell the chauffeur to drive around the city - like it wouldn’t take hours to get out of Manhattan anyway. The backseat accommodate the three of them comfortably considering the size of the men at her sides. She’s already hands deep into their slacks, working them to the hardness she craves.

“Chris, baby.” He groans in response. “Go sit over there,” she demands as she points to the seat opposite them on the U shaped bench. He’s quick to obey, his pants making their way off in the process. She licks her lips before leaning forward and attaching them to his tip. She has no time to waste, and they’re not complaining.

“Fuck,” he breathes. “Holy shit that’s good.”

“Lucky bastard,” the other man whispers.

“Oh, come on Henry. I’m not forgetting about you,” she reassures him. She wiggles her ass in his direction, her hands reaching back to help her dress ride up her body. “Always yours.” His eyes go dark at the sight of her pussy spread before him. She climbs onto the seat, knees barely making it but his strong grip keeps her onto him. He allows himself in, grunting over the ambiance music of the limo. 

Her mouth goes back to work, slurping and sucking the cock of no less than Captain America himself. Sure, his body had lost most of his character’s traits, but the natural look made her throb, her mind only thinking about licking up his happy trail. 

She’s working both men to their release. Her ass beautifully rocking onto Henry as she’s placed in an improvised, reverse cowgirl position; her mouth milking poor Chris who’s having trouble keeping up.

“So fucking close.” The downed flutes of champagne enhance the glorious Boston accent. It has her clenching and dripping, her own orgasm impending. 

“Can- shit. Can we switch, love?”

“Of course,” she answers. Squatting, she turns around and before she can climb onto Chris’ lap, he’s moving to kneel on the floor, his dick easily gliding into her heat and mercilessly pounding into her. His hard thrusts make her fall forward, her face landing onto Henry’s glistening chest hair. He chuckles.

“Hi love,” he says with a smile before catching her lips with his like he’d been waiting his whole life to do so. “Suck me off, would’ya?” There again, the accent has her moaning and tightening around Chris; she can hear him grunt and take deep breaths as he holds himself back so she can have her pleasure first. She bends as best as the space will allow, and she takes Henry’s cock entirely in a swift movement. The salty taste of herself has her mouth watering. It mixes delightfully with the small beads of precum that announce the nearing end.

“I’m not gonna last,” the voice behind her admits. “Fuck, just-” Right when he’s about to combust, her own orgasm washes through her body, every muscle spasming in pleasure.

“Yessss,” he drags out and his hips still, thick load filling her up to the brim. He sits down on the floor and watches her drip onto him as she gags over Henry’s dick. He’s not long behind, a quick warning before he has her popping off him and sticking out her tongue. He watches attentively as white ropes gather into her mouth and chin. Her devious chuckle as she swallows as him shivering harder, his head falling back in defeat.

“That was-”

“Yeah,” Chris answers her bafflement. “Long overdue,” he adds.

“Well, if you guys weren’t always on the road... Damn superstars,” she scoffs, a sweet smile spreads onto her face. “So in demand.”

“We’ve already told you, we can get you to fly out anywhere we are,” Henry says. “Whether we’re together or alone.”

“It was nice that you surprised us here, though. I think we both needed to see you.” There’s a hint of nostalgia in Chris’ tone.

“And you’re not done seeing me. I haven’t had the fill I seek, yet.”

[oosteven-universe]

Carson of Venus: The Eye of Amtor #1

Carson of Venus: The Eye of Amtor #1 American Mythology Productions 2020 Written by Mike Wolfer & Matt Betts Illustrated by Vincenzo Carratù Coloured by Periya Pillai Pellucidar: Dark of the Sun Written by Christopher Paul Carey Illustrated by Mike Wolfer Coloured by Periya Pillai All Lettering by Natalie Jane     In 2020, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. will be launching the Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe, an all-new series of interconnected novels by today's top sci-fi writers... And it all begins at American Mythology with a groundbreaking comics prequel series to the first ERB Universe novel, Matt Betts' Carson of Venus: The Edge of All Worlds! In Carson of Venus: Eye of Amtor, stranded Earthman Carson Napier fights against time and the planet Venus itself, tasked with gathering natural artifacts from across wild Amtor before a mad king executes his friends Ero Shan and Nalte. But Carson is not alone, as Princess Duare battles at his side against unearthly creatures and savage landscapes! Then, thrill to the adventures of scientist Jason Gridley and his mysterious protégé Victory Harben in the astounding Pellucidar: Dark of the Sun, a special, three-part, back-up story that launches the epic plot-line that will run throughout the novels in the first ERBU "super-arc!"     For me this is something I find myself enjoying so very much. While Dynamite may utilise the world of John Carter what American Mythology is doing is something else entirely. If for whatever reason you aren't familiar with the worlds that Burroughs created these stories are the most closely resembling what it was he did. So for long-time fans and for those being introduced the effect is nearly the same, we're welcomed into worlds of awe, wonder and pure imagination. Also that I am constantly amazed by what we see within the pages is incredible, it's like opening a new gift with each arc because you just don't know what's going to be inside. The love, care and passion that these are done with shines through every panel of every page and that's something that bleeds into the reader as well.     First of all thank you for this opening splash page because we see these giant zebra hyena's and they are after the ugly brutish my little ponies and it sets the stage for what's to come beautifully. Since Burroughs drew heavily upon the influences he knew it should come as no surprise that we see an isolated “neutral” city that seems to be run by a cross of Roman and Greek influences. I felt the Robot warning me of danger almost immediately and I think that adds something to the mix that is welcome and missing in general. That feeling you get from the mix of writing and illustration that creates the ambiance that is as much a tell as anything else.     The story & plot development here is amazing and how we see the sequence of events unfold and how the reader learns information is perfectly presented. The character development is strong and constantly growing and moving forward. The pacing is superb and as it takes us through the pages revealing the twists and turns along the way while also helping to create the books ebb & flow is so nicely rendered.     The interiors here are phenomenal! The linework is exquisite and the creativity and imagination on display that is brought to life through how the attention to detail shines through, fabulous dahling. I am a fan of the way we see backgrounds and how they work within the composition in the panels to bring depth perception, a sense of scale and that overall size and scope to the book. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show such a strong and beautiful eye for storytelling. The colour work is extremely well handled here and the array of purples we see makes my heart sing, it's regal of course and my favourite colour. The way that we see the highlights, shading and shadow work created through the varying hues and tones within the colours is gorgeously rendered here. Plus that hairy chest on Carson, sigh.     I am definitely looking forward to what is coming next as the pair have to find the materials needed for the job Carson needs to do.     The back-up feature here is as delightful as the main one. Though I have to admit the interiors are a lot more interesting. That first page with the skulls, flowers and vines for the border oh yeah that's what I am talking about! This is the kind of crisp, clean and strong linework that I gravitate towards. The dialogue and what we see happening is fantastic! It is all about the banter between them for me as it has this ring of authenticity and playfulness that is rare to come by. I just wish it were longer lol. ​     So American Mythology and the worlds of Edgar Rice Burroughs continues to thrill audiences as it was always meant to and should be!

[6plussizepromdresses]

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[mediabasedlife]

2017 Year in Review

     This past year was, to put it mildly, rather tumultuous. For every high point of the year, there seemed to be low points all around it. But now the year has ended, and hopefully, this next one brings more good and a hell of a lot less bad than its predecessor. However, as said; 2017 wasn't all bad, and this is what I've decided to write about today. Finding myself inspired by the myriad of posts about people's top five or ten games, movies, shows, and so on, I've decided to continue that trend and catalogue the media I found to be exceptional, the media that helped me through the ups and downs of these twelve long months we just experienced. Some I may have written about before, and some will be new, but all of them deserve praise and recognition abound...at least, in my opinion. So without further ado; here are my most enjoyed pieces of media I experienced in 2017.

     We'll start this article off by discussing a category I haven't really discussed on this blog before - music. The reason I don't usually write about music is due to how disparate my preferences can be for this particular media medium. Some days, I'm all about hard and the heavy, while others I'll dip into instrumentals, jazz, or video game soundtracks. Hence, the music I'll be listing here won't have much of a comparable flow - I just thought it was all pretty good.

     This first album ties into one of my favorite games from 2017, easily a contender for my choice for Game of the Year; the soundtrack to the superb indie game Night in the Woods, as orchestrated by Alec Holowka. The soundtrack is beautifully mellow, pleasantly tuned for ambiance. In the game, the music accentuates and emphasizes all of the game's themes, emotional depth, and down-to-earth feel. Out of the game, the soundtrack is perfect for chilling out, studying, writing, or any such easy-going activity. I frequently found myself playing it in the background whilst reading or doing the few articles I wrote, or using it to relax after a particularly trying moment. Continuing the theme of game soundtracks, another that caught my fancy was the Persona 5 OST, composed by Shoji Meguro. An eclectic mashup of genres, the soundtrack bounces between somber piano, energized guitar, and jazz compositions, with a handful of excellent vocal tracks thrown in for good measure. This album is great for a variety of moods or activities thanks to the numerous tones and tempos the music flows between. And with nearly four hours worth of music to sift through, it stands to reason you'll be able to find something you like.

     Moving from video game music, another album I found myself enjoying through the year was Alestorm's No Grave but the Sea. If you're unfamiliar with Alestorm, they fill a rather particular music niche; Pirate Metal, a fusion of piratical slang and heavy metal. Alestorm further accentuates their distinct sound with frequent usage of brass and string instruments, as well as a synthesized accordion. I found myself intrigued by their music several years ago when the band released the album Back through Time, and have followed them since. No grave but the Sea is relatively short, coming in at under an hour across its ten tracks. If you're a fan of niche genres, or just a metal fan looking for something new, I'd recommend you give it a listen. Closing out the music section is Linkin Park's One More Light. OML released only a few weeks after Alestorm's No Grave but the Sea but usurped it in my music library almost instantly for a brief time before the unfortunate suicide of Chester Bennington. In fact, I would call One more Light one of Linkin Park's best albums, despite it being the starkest departure from the band's hard rock sound to date. That isn't to say the album isn't heavy, though. One More Light is heavy in tone, as opposed to sound; If you want an example, listen to the premier single "Heavy" or the titular "One More Light", and you'll get a firm grasp on how the album feels. One more Light clocks in at a short but sweet thirty-five minutes, and I would wholeheartedly recommend taking the time to sit down and listen to it in full.

     TV shows take the second slot, though I'll be honest; I definitely don't watch a lot of television. Not live, anyway. Most of what I watch is through streaming services, so a few of these aren't technically from 2017, at least not in full. But since I first watched these shows in 2017 it counts. Without further ado, here are my favorite television shows I started or finished in 2017.

     Kicking off the television roster is Twin Peaks. If you're unfamiliar with the show, Twin Peaks was written and directed by David Lynch. It stars Kyle MacLachlan as the charming and amusing Special Agent Dale Cooper, a federal investigator sent to the enigmatic small town of Twin Peaks to solve the murder of local sweetheart Laura Palmer. Not much can be said about the plot of this show without spoiling it or just plain confusing somebody, but suffice it to say that all they appear to be. Everybody has a secret, and the show doesn't take too long to spiral into the surreal in typical Lynchian fashion. Twin Peaks initially debuted in 1990, earning two seasons and a cult following that lasted the 26-year gap until its third season released in 2017. Long story short; the show is great - It has intrigue, comedy, a wide cast of interesting characters, and a story that will keep you guessing until the end and beyond. The show isn't without its faults and can be flat out baffling at times, but despite all of that the show and its story is a fantastic experience to behold.

     The next show on my list both compliments and contrasts Twin Peaks; Broadchurch. Broadchurch is a crime serial taking place in the fictional (and titular) town of Broadchurch, starring David Tennant as Detective Inspector Alec Hardy, and Olivia Colman co-stars as Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller. The series kicks off by investigating the murder of local youth Daniel Latimer, before moving on through its three-season run to investigate another murder case and finally a sexual assault, all the while weaving a compelling tale of a small town trying to cope with and move on from these horrible crimes. Broadchurch is a heavy experience, with very little levity to break up the tension of each investigation. That being said, It's still an excellent show with a genuinely compelling narrative backed up by the top-notch acting of the cast.

     Setting aside the crime drama, we come to the next show - Voltron: Legendary Defender. Technically, the series' first season debuted in 2016, but 2017 saw the release of the second, third, and fourth seasons, meaning it was a pretty Voltron filled year. Legendary Defender is the latest in the long line of Voltron adaptations, following the Paladins of Voltron as they fight to defend the galaxy from the evil Galra Empire. Now I've never watched any of the other Voltron shows, so I can't speak for their quality (or lack thereof). As far as first impressions to a series go, Legendary Defender couldn't be better. Helmed by DreamWorks and Netflix, and written by the creative minds behind Avatar the last Airbender and its sequel Legend of Korra, Legendary Defender was probably the best-animated show I watched all year. In terms of quality, the show is top notch. Excellent voice acting, great animation, and a fun but serious story that has me eagerly anticipating wherever it goes in 2018.

     Wrapping up this section are the many, many Netflix Marvel series. This includes Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, The Defenders, and finally The Punisher. I had already seen some of these before but went in for a rewatch in preparation for all the new stuff coming out in 2017. If you're not familiar with these shows, however unlikely that is, I'll summarize each show in a sentence or two. Daredevil follows Matthew Murdoch who, after losing his sight but gaining superhuman senses as a child, fights crime in hell's kitchen on two fronts; as a lawyer, and as the vigilante Daredevil. Jessica Jones follows former street hero turned private-eye, Jessica Jones, as she tries to deal with the aftermath of a traumatic incident in her past while an old foe comes back to haunt her. Luke Cage follows Ex-Con and titular character Luke Cage as he tries to clean up the streets of Harlem and free it from corruption. Iron Fist follows Danny Rand, boy billionaire and sworn defender of Kun Lun as he tries to combat a mysterious organization known as The Hand. The Defenders finally unites these four heroes for the first time, as they all come together to battle the aforementioned Hand in an attempt to stop them once and for all. Finally, we come to The Punisher, which follows war veteran turned vigilante Frank Castle as he hunts the people responsible for the murder of his wife and children. I won't go into an extended review here, so to keep it simple; Daredevil is amazing (though its second season has some flaws), Jessica Jones is great, Luke Cage is great, Iron Fist is fine, The Defenders is amazing, and the Punisher is fantastic...to summarize, pretty much all of these shows are worth a watch.

     Now, as I said at the beginning of this article, 2017 was a pretty shaky year. A lot of ups, and a lot of downs. Many of these ups, at least for me, are in the next category; 2017 was a pretty great year for movies, in my opinion. It was a busy year for movies, but when isn't it? For every one movie I watched, there were three more I had to wait on, but pretty much every film I watched in 2017 knocked it out of the park. From comic book films to horror flicks, each one of these movies takes the cake.

     The premier movie for this article is Get Out, one of the contenders for my favorite movies of the year. Helmed by Jordan Peele, Get Out is a genuinely uncomfortable horror/thriller about a black boyfriend meeting the family of his white girlfriend. It tells a heavy but undeniably compelling story, one that keeps you guessing and inspires a fair amount of thought after the fact. I won't go into too much here, but I will say that if you haven't seen this movie, you absolutely should. Speaking of movies that make you think, Bright is up next, the new racially-conscious Netflix movie starring will smith and....no, not really. Actually, The Lego Batman Movie is up next; a goofy, charming, and stark contrast to all of the gritty DC movies that have been churned out over the past few years. This movie was genuinely funny and felt fun to watch...something that can't be said about some of the more recent DC films. I've written about this movie before, and my thoughts today still echo that review; This was one of the best Batman movies I've seen. Following The Lego Batman Movie, the next film on my list is John Wick: Chapter 2. There's not much to say about this movie other than the fact that it's a top-notch sequel that keeps all of the pros of its predecessor, and in some cases, improves on them. It isn't a terribly different story than its predecessor; Somebody messes with John Wick, so John Wick messes back by going on a vengeance-fueled spree. It's an action-filled thrill ride that doesn't disappoint.

     Another action-filled thrill ride takes the form of Logan, and....wow. Logan is another contender for my favorite film of the year. The movie serves as equal parts finale for both Patrick Stewart and Hugh Jackman as Charles Xavier and Wolverine respectively, and it does so perfectly. Logan is a shining example of what Comic Book films should aspire to, with an outstanding script, Oscar-worthy acting, and a top-notch story to close out this era of the X-Men cinematic universe. Finally, we come to one of the last movies released in 2017; Star Wars The Last Jedi. I'm sure if you're reading this, you've probably seen this movie. Maybe you liked it, Maybe not. I, however, thought this movie was pretty damn good. One of the better Star Wars films, I think Rian Johnson did well at what he set out to do. I won't say it's the best movie of the year, but it makes my list of favorites.

     Finally, we come to the last section of this year in review: Video Games. I actually got to play a fair few of these this year and liked basically all of them. But, this isn't "Year in Review, things I thought were passable". This is "Year in Review, my favorites", and so what follows are my favorite games of 2017. From AAA titles to simple indie games, each one of these had the right amount of fun, charm, and entertainment to keep me hooked and keep me coming back to them time and again.

     We'll kick this list off with a game that embodies charming simplicity; Slime Rancher. This game debuted back in 2016 as an early access title but finally released in an official capacity in August of 2017. I didn't think much of it when it came out, just grabbed it since it was free through Xbox Live's games with gold program. Color me surprised, then, when it turned out to be one of my favorite games of the year. I previously wrote about this so you can see my full review here, but what I'll say here is that Slime Rancher is a surefire recommendation on my part. The next two games are anything but simple, at least in terms of story; Kingdom Hearts 1.5 and 2.5 HD (PS4). I had played these games before, on the PS2 and PS3, but what can I say? Kingdom Hearts is one of my favorite gaming franchises out there, and the ability to play it again on modern consoles was a treat. With the release of Kingdom Hearts III on the horizon (hopefully), going back to experience the franchise in full was a fantastic refresher. If you've never played Kingdom Hearts before, getting the modern gen remasters is your best way to experience these games right now. 

     Following Kingdom Hearts is Persona 5, one of two games I would strongly consider as Game of the Year. I had never played a persona game before this, at least not in full, and this game almost made me regret that. Persona 5 is near perfect, with a great story, smooth and snappy gameplay, and a top-notch aesthetic balanced between its visuals and its sound design. Atlus has a history of making quality games, and Persona 5 is no exception. Continuing from there, we come to Night in the Woods, the second of my two Game of the Year contenders. In fact, were it not for Persona 5, Night in the woods would be the winner for 2017, at least in my book. This is another game I've written about in full and I would recommend reading that review here because I had a fair amount to say. Night in the Woods saw two releases in 2017, once at the start of the year, and once at the end of it. Because of this, the game both kicked off and closed down my 2017 year, and I couldn't have asked for a better game to do so.

     That about wraps up my Year in Review. 2017 was a full year for media, and I have a lot to catch up on, but luckily I was able to experience just about as much as I missed. Not everything I did this year appeared in this review, but these were the things that elevated themselves above the competition and took the titles of favorites for 2017. I extend my thanks to anybody who stuck with this blog, or even read just one of my articles in the last year, and hope that the new year is kind to all of you. This year promises to be just as good, if not better for media purposes, so I eagerly await whatever comes next. Here's to a great 2018, folks.

[downbeatz]

Joshua Morata - Safe Haven

Listen to the audio narration of this review here.

Joshua Morata is an eclectic artist hailing from Honolulu, Hawaii. His sound is a clever, textural and direct blend of R&B, neo-soul, and hip-hop, echoing the work of artists as diverse as Frank Ocean, J Cole or Kendrick Lamar, just to mention but a few. His recent release, Safe Haven, is a collection of 11 songs that showcase a modern approach to the genre. The album’s opening number, “Old Ways” is a perfect mood-setter. The song begins with some haunting environmental sounds and ambiance samples that make for a really immersive listening experience. The track later develops into a driven and engaging hip-hop song, where the artist’s lyrical flow is even and chill, yer energetic and driven. “New Religion”, produced by Young Taylor, stands out as one of my favorite tracks on this particular release. Joshua explores his talent for melodic singing as well as for rapping, projecting his vocals beautifully upon a textural background track with some amazing melodic components and beautiful synth pads. The third track on the album, “Celebrity”, also follows the concept of combining neo-soul grooves with hip-hop energy and beautiful melodic textures. This is a particularly great album if you like hip-hop and R&B with a nice chill vibe and some cool down-tempo grooves. I particularly love the natural vibe of Joshua’s vocal performances. Many artists in this genre, unfortunately, seem to use a lot of effects and pitch correction on their vocals. There is nothing wrong with that per se, but at times, it really feels like the blanket of production tricker really destroys the inner emotion within the vocal performances. This is definitely not the case of Joshua, whose work is a great example of natural and beautifully performed vocals. Tracks such as “Nothing Is Free” or “Caught In The Feeling” are, in my opinion, some of the best performances on this record, truly highlighting Joshua’s stunning vocal range. Find out more about this artist and listen to Safe Haven directly through Joshua’s page on Bandcamp.

https://jmoratamusic.bandcamp.com/album/safe-haven

We also had the opportunity to chat with Joshua. Read on for a full interview!

I love how you manage to render your tracks so personal and organic. Does the melody come first, or do you focus on the beat the most?

Answer: It depends on what the song’s about. For Safe Haven, I wanted to work with two central themes: lust and honesty. If the beat is “dark” enough for the project, it goes. Most occasions the lyrics will come first, but usually in pieces. “Old Ways” is a primary example. Had no idea what I wanted it to be about; I just had the title in mind and just wrote. There’s about, maybe, 50-60 songs written and scrapped. Some of them were “too edgy” for the album.

Do you perform live? If so, do you feel more comfortable on a stage or within the walls of the recording studio?

Answer: The few times I have ever performed live was at my High School. I never performed any original music in front of anyone; However, I would love to do so. If I have the chance, I’d totally do it.

There’s a difference between going on stage and being in a studio. When you step foot on stage, everyone’s there to see you. They want to see the energy. Those few times I’ve performed live back in school, in a way it trained me for an actual performance. You just gotta be cool and keep your composure when you’re up there. The audience will know if you’re fucking up if you’re not having any fun.

Being in a studio is a much different story. There’s always a new vibe, especially when writing new music. I find myself to be having more fun at both ends (stage and studio). If all works out the way I imagined it, I’m at ease.

If you could only pick one song to make a “first impression” on a new listener, which song would you pick and why?

Answer: Depends on what they’re looking for. Because I like to change genres and styles with every single or album release, it’s hard to really pick just ONE song. I’d more or so pick “Celebrity”; It has that The Weeknd vibe to it, which was what I was going for. If it wasn’t a song from the album, it’d be a single I put out back in January called “Take You There”. That’s my most popular song apparently. Has that Radio-Friendly poppy sound and has a blend of Pop, R&B, and Rap.

What does it take to be “innovative” in music?

Answer: Being dangerous and taking risks. Experimenting with new styles and genres; Just seeing what works and sticks. Ask me the names of artists I look up to for innovation; My answers would be Prince, Michael Jackson, and David Bowie. Right off the bat those three. They know what they were doing within their respective careers. They took risks, they were dangerous, and they simply did not give a shit. You see these characters in music who are trying to replicate that similar style Prince or Bowie pulled. Lady Gaga had these outrageous outfits and costumes. They were strange, but were they surprising? Not exactly, because we’ve seen it all before.

Being “innovative” takes a lot of courage and overall individuality. Sad to say this, but Pop music is at its peak, and not in a good way. Everyone is the same, some, if not most songs are trash, yet people still buy into it. Why? If it has their favorite artist’s name, they’re willing to spend their money. Even if the song is fucking trash, they’ll still find ways around it. The system is all the same.

Take a good look around the underground music scene. You got some dope people slowly changing the game right now. I want to say I’m one of those people, but that would be a stretch, no?

Any upcoming release or tour your way?

Answer: Touring is out of the question, at least for a while. Maybe if the time is right and I get that “magical” opportunity. We’ll see… As for upcoming releases, I’m planning some stuff for next year. A new EP, couple music videos. Then a new album. I’m still working out the kinks on what the concepts are and who’s gonna be on it. The project’s title has been floating around my social media for months now; Been teasing new music on my Snapchat. I’m pretty sure people are getting tired of it hahaha.

Anywhere online where curious fans can listen to your music and find out more about you?

Answer: All of my music and videos are on YouTube, Bandcamp, Spotify, and iTunes. I really dig Spotify the most. I favor that over iTunes but regardless, they can hear my music there. To know more about me (that is if you’d really want to). Follow me on twitter: @muratakansai

[bornhybrid]

Tagged by @ellisindierps. Repost don’t reblog.

What do you do to prepare yourself to write (routines? ambiance?)?

I don’t really have a special routine or anything. With Hope, specifically, I’ve sometimes put The Originals on just to get into the fandom mindset. If it’s been a while since I’ve replied to the thread, I may go back and read a few replies back to get into it again. Sometimes I even read it all from the very beginning.

Who is your favorite character to write?

I suppose Hope, simply because she’s stuck with me the longest? Or I’ve stuck with her-- However you look at it. None of my other blogs (and I’ve had plenty) have lasted as long as Hope’s.

Is there any tense or POV that you struggle to write?

Um. . . I typically struggle with male POV, just because, as a female, it’s much easier for me to get into the mindset of a female character. I don’t know if there’s a tense I struggle with, but I really dislike writing (and reading) first person present. I just don’t like how it looks.

What book, series, or author do you always read to inspire or motivate you?

My top series (plural) would be Harry Potter, Fablehaven and Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children because all of them have shaped me as I’ve grown and matured and they all have such beautifully written characters. I’m reading Miss Peregrine’s for the second time right now and I am absolutely in love with Ransom Riggs’ writing style.

A favorite moment from one of your pieces (maybe the actual scene itself, or maybe in the way it came to be)?

Oooh, I like this one! If we’re talking threads. . . I think it’d have to be the thread where Hope opens up to her boyfriend ( @hellfireprince ) about being bullied at school because there was such raw emotion in it and it was sort of the first time I’d ever written anything like that. Also, I’m pretty sure we were both crying (I definitely was) while writing it. 

What are some goals for you & your writing (get published? find your own style?)?

I would absolutely love to get published, but that requires me to first finish one of the many books I have going on in my head! I think my main goal for writing is to try to produce something that touches people. I had an English teacher once who said “art is anything that makes you feel something, even if it’s ugly.” Whether my writing makes people angry or sad or thrills them, I just want people to feel something when they read my work.

Where’s a setting from either a book you read or a piece you’ve written that you’d love to see in real life?

Fictitious place? Hogwarts (obviously), Diagon Alley, the zombie farm from the second Fablehaven book

Real place? Cairnholm or Prince Edward Island 

Any film adaptations you’d recommend? And/or would you want any of your pieces made into film(s)?

I actually really like Tuck Everlasting, even though it doesn’t follow the book much in terms of Winnie’s age? I also really love The Secret Garden! 

What was your very first story about?

Um. . . radioactive gerbils. My cousin is a really good artist and he drew these creepy hamster things and told me to write a short story about them, so I did. We were eleven, maybe? 

Do you have any stories that you love but wouldn’t want to write (and would you want to share anything about them)?

I think. . . maybe things with abuse? Simply because I feel I wouldn’t be able to accurately portray something like that as I’ve never experienced first hand. One of those things where it’s important to be talked about, but not my story to tell? 

Tagging: @hellfireprince, @deathsdesiign, @wiickedmagic, @badasshybridqueen, @ofwickedminds

[buckyland]

this is INCREDIBLE.

not just the smutty goodness, of course. (we haven’t even gotten to the main part yet, holy shit)

but the details of everything - their environment and its ambiance, the background events leading up to this encounter, the very set up of a chitauri black market auction. it’s so rich and alluring.

it’s already so heated and tense from the very beginning, how bucky and our mystery lady pull at each other. they’re so absolutely destroyed in the mercy of the other’s hands but they love it. it’s addicting.

ughh god, this is written so beautifully (your works always are). i can’t wait for the next part!

Control [1/2]

The Pawn

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Words: 4250

Summary: You and Bucky Barnes slowly take each other to pieces – but at what cost?

Warnings: Swearing. Explicit smut. Unprotected sex (please wrap before you tap, thank you), dirty talk, thigh-riding, oral sex (both m/f receiving), face-fucking, orgasm denial, mild choking, some Sub!Bucky, mostly Dom!Bucky, Bucky’s thighs of betrayal, which is an 18+ only warning in itself – but seriously, this fic is 18+ only.

A/N: This is for my beloved baby Gigi @tropicalcap​ for her 4K Songfic Challenge – CONGRATS ON 4K BABY 🖤🖤 Thank the universe for bringing our dumb-asses together – this is a homage to our sins. My prompt was the song, Special Affair by The Internet – I truly hope I did one of your favourite songs justice. This is part I of II, because there’s only so much smut I can handle in one hit.

Masterlist here.

———

He was staring.

The I’m making this too obvious kind of staring.

The I would let you ride me across the Pacific Ocean kind of staring.

And you knew it.

He knew it too and decided it’d be a gentler death to set himself on fire.

Bucky gritted his teeth, shaking his head by way of trying to clear his thoughts, hair coming a little loose from his bun, gaze turned away and yet he could feel your eyes on him. It prickled a strange hold through him, catching his eyes watching you, steady, waiting, a little fierce and blown hot if he was honest. The thought threw a shiver through his spine and it took him a while to notice he was tracing the rim of his glass a little too enthusiastically.

“James, three o'clock.”

Oh, you were at his three o’ clock alright. It’d be his four o'clock and all the other fucking clocks, turning and rolling beneath and over him, through him if he could just get his damn itching, wanting hands on you and swallow that smirk off your pretty face.

Keep reading

[unnursvanablog]

The books I read in the first half of the year.

The Gentleman’s Guide to Getting Lucky – Mackenzi Lee: ☆☆☆☆ Short, funny, and sweet is the best way to describe this novella. Just some good times with some characters you like and their awkward romance adventure. Really enjoyable read.

Pendragon – James Wilde: ☆☆☆ I liked the Arthurian legend bits; I just wish it had not been as vague or so few and far between. I understand why the author decided to not go full force on the Arthurian legends, but I just didn’t find the plot gripping enough on its own. Everything else was just sort of okay-ish to me. I did feel a bit like the guy was trying to make this Game of Thrones-esque to me without much of the depth of Martins writing, none of the characters really stood out to me and the plot became really repetitive after a while and I really had to push through to finish it in the end. Chasing Merlin – Sarah White: ☆☆ This was not the story I was expecting out of this book for some reason. I thought I was going to get some cool, modern retelling of Merlin, but instead I just got some romance book where most of the characters were just annoying (including Merlin, how dare you!) and the romance just wasn’t doing it for me. I liked some of the references to the myth, but I was not super into the execution of it. The main character was just so dense, even if she LOVED the myth.

The Witcher 2 & 3 – Andrzej Sapkowski: ☆☆☆, ☆☆☆ I am not as into this book series as I thought I would be, or I hoped I would be. I like the dark fairytale elements; I like some of the characters even if I do not find them as deep or far from fantasy-clichés as I had been told a lot of them were. But I just have not been super into where the plot is going for the most part.

The Poppy War 1 & 2 – R.F. Kuang: ☆☆☆☆, ☆☆☆ Fantasy like I have never read it before! Really interesting mix of historical and fantasy and the worldbuilding is neat. I find each character interesting in their own way and I like how I never truly know where they will take me or what they will do. I sometimes find it a bit too gritty and violent, but I can understand why the author chose to write it like that as we explore the devastation of war. I completely fell for the first book, while the second one had a bit of of a second-book syndrome for me as it was trying to bridge the gap between the first and the third one, while also trying to tell it’s own story. But quite a fascinating read and I can’t wait to get my hands on the third one!

The Starless Sea – Erin Morgenstern: ☆☆ Absolutely NOTHING happened in this book. At first, I was quite enjoying myself and the beautiful writing and the slow pacing. I had read the Night Circus; I thought the plot would just slowly reveal itself. But there was barely a plot to be found there. Just the character aimlessly wondering around some rooms, talking about keys and books, and saying some pretty quotes. So little happened and I got so frustrated by it towards the end. I would have traded at least a half of those beautifully written sentences for some actually plot that hooks you in and takes you on a journey, because this was a beautiful bore. And the characters were not even that well fleshed out. Emma – Jane Austen: ☆☆☆ I like the stories Jane Austen writes, but I am not that into reading them. Her style just kinda doesn’t hook me in, so I don’t often pick up her books. The Witches of New York – Ami McKay:☆☆☆☆ I loved the atmosphere, the ambiance, and the aesthetic that this book had and how everything was painted by the author of these witches in New York who operate a tea shop. I mean… I am just a simple girl who lies tea and witches. That and the characters hook me more than the story itself, which was rather slow. The actually story on the back of the book took over 200 pages to arrive and was resolved quite quickly, but I didn’t find myself too bothered by that because I enjoyed the atmosphere, the buildup to those events and the character quite a bit.

Villueyjar – Ragnhildur Hólmgeirsdóttir: ☆☆☆ I liked this more than Koparborgin by the same author. The characters, the world and the story hook me more from the beginning. But it’s the ending that just sort of misses the mark for me, just like her other book. This one just felt too abrupt after all that buildup.

Daisy Jones & The Six – Taylor Jenkins Reid: ☆☆ I hated pretty much every character in this story. A lot of them may have suppose to be unlikable but still fascinating, but I just found myself annoyed by most of the things they were talking about. I just kind of did not really care. It only gets two stars because the very last part of the story made me cry. When everyone was just talking about their lives after the band ended and got all sentimental. That somehow got to me. The rest I hated. The Voyage of the Basilisk – Marie Brennan: ☆☆☆ An incredibly good blend of fantasy and the historical, even if it’s not really historical at all. But you can sense the work and the thought that went into this world, so it feels like I am reading a historical fiction. I feel like I am in a very well-crafted historical drama while reading it. I love the adventure side of this story and the characters. When the story goes to deep into the anatomy of dragons and the naturalist aspect of the journey it does loose me a bit for some reason. And I tend to like the beginning of these books more than the end for some reason. But it’s a fun adventure.

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing – Hank Green: ☆☆ Sci-fi such as this one is supposed to suspend your disbelief as you read about all these impossible events. And I had no trouble with the sci-fi elements in that regard, but I did however find the more humane aspect of the story quite unbelievable; like how all of these characters acted and the social media and internet fame aspect. It just all felt bit too unrealistic at times, or even just pretentious. And I hated how we are left with a cliff-hanger, just like the had decided to just cut the story in two for the sake of it (or more money). Seven Surrenders – Ada Palmer: ☆☆☆☆ I had a much easier time with this one than the first one. I understood the world and the characters a lot better, I had an easier time getting settled into the story and understand what was going on, which character was which and so on. So, it was just a much more enjoyable time and I really enjoyed the story and all its twists and turns that it threw at me.

The Priory of the Orange Tree – Samantha Shannon: ☆☆☆ Well-crafted and written female-centric fantasy story, but I sometimes felt like the over descriptive nature of the story pulled me out of the story a bit. It took me some time to get used to it. The story does drag a bit towards the middle and I had expected a bit of a stronger ending after all of this set-up and world-building. But I liked the world and the characters and all of that. I was expecting it to wow me, which it did not, but I enjoyed myself for the most part reading it.   Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 – Cho Nam Joo: ☆☆☆☆ This story did all it set out to do and it did it in a very short amount of time. The text does feel very dry to read and it maybe it does a bit too much of tell but now show. But I found myself really hooked and interested in what it had to say, and it did that beautifully and in a impactful way. It really touches you, and it made me cry at least and get teary-eyed a few times, as we explore everyday sexism in Korea (but you can also see glimpses of it in your society) and how it’s just seeps in and out of everything. The Library Book - Susan Orlean: ☆☆☆ There were some interesting, moving parts within this book. I love this ode to libraries, but it certainly did not need to tell me that libraries are essential to the society and our culture, because I already knew that. The book is a fun read, but sometimes it does meander a bit and goes on side-quest almost that have nothing to do with the fire that burned down the library or anything, which I wasn’t always as invested in.

The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock – Imogen Hermes Gowar: ☆☆ It felt pretty to read. The writing was pretty, but I did have some trouble connecting to it and the character in it as they didn’t seem to matter all that much to the main story, and for a while the story isn’t really about anything as the plot had very little focus, and I had some trouble remembering who was who for a while. I felt like the romance of Mrs. Hancock sort of came out of nowhere and I did not feel much chemistry between them. I was also just really disappointed by the lack of actual mermaid within the story. I wanted more of that. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes – Suzanne Collins: ☆☆☆ I personally wanted to see more how power and ambition made Snow as the character we know from the original trilogy, and I understand why some people find the ending a bit abrupt as they wanted more from that aspect of the story. But I also understand why Collins did what she did with this this one and why Snows ambitious clime from the poor situation of the Snow family to where is ended up a bit more quieter than I thought it would be. He is just so complicit in this all. He understands the system, he even criticizes it, but he does not do much do put an end to it since he knows what he can gain from it and after all that is what trumps everything. I found that to be really well done and it made Snow a really interesting, yet unlikeable character. And feel a bit more realistic.

There is a bit of a pacing problem at times, and I did feel like we could have gotten more out of those last few chapters than we did and I don’t think it capture the highest highs of the Hunger Games trilogy. But overall, I quite enjoyed this.

The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams: ☆☆☆ I have not read a lot of books like this one. It truly feels one of a kind. It’s a really fun and easy read, but after a while it does feel quite repetitive, both the humor and the plot - and I truly expected it to be funnier from all the talk I had heard about this book for years and years. I found it sometimes go a bit too slow, sometimes a bit too fast and yeah, just a bit too repetitive. I got a bit bored of it after a while and switched to audiobook to try to get through it a bit faster.

Washington Black – Esi Edugyan: ☆☆☆☆ This was such an interesting story, quite easy to read and fast-paced at the beginning which really hooks you in. I did sometimes feel like how it was written (or maybe how it was translated) take me out of the story or the style not always meshing with me and it did have some pacing problems towards the end or certain parts of the story didn’t capture my attention quite as much. But the characters were really interesting and deep.

[islandsunfla]

WHY WE LOVE BRADENTON BEACH (ON ANNA MARIA ISLAND)

Anytime is a good time to soak up the beautiful Florida sunshine on Bradenton Beach, Anna Maria Island! Spend your vacation on the beach, jet skiing, kayaking, or shopping, dining and listening to live music on Bridge Street. Bradenton Beach offers plenty of fun things to do for everyone! Enjoy your next vacation with Anna Maria Island Condo Rentals-601 Gulf Dr. N. Anna Maria Island, Florida 34217 as you make memories that will last a lifetime.

  We are located in Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island, Florida, on the Gulf Coast only a short drive from Bradenton and Sarasota. Bradenton Beach is a small city and home of Anna Maria Island Condo Rentals. Well known for its sugar-white sand beaches, turquoise waters, bright blue sky, fishing piers and a quaint strip of shops, family owned restaurants and businesses. Upon your arrival you will notice the slow pace of Anna Maria Island. The speed limit on most of Gulf Drive (the main road on Anna Maria Island) is 25 mph with some small stretches a maximum of 35 mph. You will not find any hi-rise buildings and drive-through restaurants are prohibited here. Shunning the building of hi-rise hotels and condominiums, Bradenton Beach has kept that friendly family-oriented feel. Instead you will find companies offering bicycle, kayak, paddleboard, sailboats, Segways and fishing equipment rentals. You can rent a car, but most everything on Bradenton Beach is walkable. There is a FREE Island Trolley that rides north to the City of Anna Maria and south to Coquina Beach with lots of stops in between. For your convenience there is a trolley stop right out front of our condo. There is a Publix grocery store and Walgreens on the Island, both a quick trolley ride away.

  The Beach — With miles of beach right out front of our condo, spend your days basking in beach paradise. Each day you will wake to a different beach.  Always soft white sand scattered with beautiful shells, the waters are generally calm, but the wave height can vary from a foot to barely a ripple. Take walks on the beach, run on the beach, find sea shells and listen to the waves gently lapping against the shore. You can see porpoise swimming by, maybe putting on a little show for you. Expect to see lots of pelicans and other wildlife, fishermen and sometimes manatee. You will find beach chairs provided in your condo, then pick your spot on the beach and relax as you breath in the fresh Island air. Soak in the sunshine and the gorgeous Island atmosphere then cool off off in the crystal clear Gulf of Mexico water. Grab a cooler and enjoy some snacks as you relax in paradise.

  Lots of Activities — Book a Parasailing tour and get a different view of Bradenton Beach. Floating above the clear, blue water of the Gulf of Mexico, parasailing off the coast of Anna Maria Island is like sailing in paradise. With breathtaking panoramic views of the Gulf and intracoastal waterways, dolphins, turtles or stingray can possibly be seen.

Rent a Jet-Ski, sailboat or kayak and explore the local waters. With several boat and eco-tours—you are sure to find something that will suit everyone in your party!

  Bradenton Beach Scenic Highway — the word highway confuse some people, because a highway on the quiet, quaint little city of Bradenton Beach, well that’s just not possible. But, it does meet the criteria of a highway (often referred to as a byway). The Bradenton Scenic Highway is a 3 mile section of Gulf Drive/SR 789 beginning at Longboat Pass Bridge extending to the northern city limits of Bradenton Beach. It is pedestrian friendly and you can safely walk or ride a bicycle along this waterfront stretch. It is beautifully greenscaped and offers amazing views of the Gulf of Mexico, Sarasota Bay and Coquina Beach. Walk or ride a bike along the route and stop to view the wildlife, picnic areas The byway intersects Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach, which continues

The island community located along the Scenic Corridor provides both environmental and historic educational opportunities that have maintained the Old Florida ambiance of both the architectural and natural flavor.

  Dining on Bradenton Beach — Whether you consider yourself a foodie or not, you can’t help but love the variety of local dining available. Waterfront dining, French, Italian or Mexican food, dining with live entertainment— Bradenton Beach has it all! Ice cream shops? Pick your flavour cause we have those too! Enjoy a meal or sweet treat from the list below.

Anna Maria Oyster Bar on The Pier

BeachHouse Restaurant

Big Olaf Creamery

Blue Marlin Grill

Bridge Street Bistro

Bridge Tender Inn

French Table

Gulf Drive Café

Island Creperie

Island Time Bar and Grill

Joe’s Eats and Sweets

Oma’z Pizza and Italian Restaurant

Sharky’s Seagrill

Smoqehouse

The Kokonut Hut

Wicked Cantina

  Shopping — If your looking to find the perfect souvenir, piece of jewellery or treasure then you have come to the right place. Search the quaint and cozy boutiques and shop for pieces of Bradenton Beach to take home with you and keep as memories of your vacation. Some great shops to check out are: Bridge Street Bazaar, Back Alley Treasures, Bridge Street Interiors, Green Turtle Shell & Gift Shop, One Stop Shell Shop, Sea-Renity Spa and Boutique and Tide & Moon Jewellery.

Anna Maria Island Condo Rentals invite you to call us today to book your most peaceful and relaxing vacation.

TripAdvisor Reviews-March/April 2018

My husband and I stayed five days at Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island. Our intention was just to unplug and relax. This beach community is perfect! There are good restaurants and access to public beaches easily within walking distance. A free trolley will take you to other communities on the island which makes shopping convenient as well as just exploring the island. Many tours and activities are available from kayak tours, where you’ll likely see dolphins, sea turtles and manatee, to Segway tours. We visited after spring break and the crowds were light. I can see where this area would become less desirable during heavy tourist times because these are small, quaint fishing villages with limited space. I highly recommend this location to enjoy amazing sunsets, fresh fish and tropical cocktails!

Lots of parking. Beautiful white sandy beaches. Nice walking/running path adjacent to the beach. Fun shops and restaurants on Bridge Street.

It was my kids’ first beach vacation. We went to Lido Beach day one, Bradenton Beach day two, and Siesta Key day three. They enjoyed Bradenton the most. Lido sand was pretty rough, Siesta Key’s sand was too fine and was a good quarter mile to get to the water, but they loved Bradenton the most since they had something to do. It wasn’t as busy and there decent sized small shells to find. It kept them interested for hours. Not to mention that the seagulls at Bradenton weren’t nearly as aggressive as Siesta Key.

The ocean is truly good for the soul. I crave the ocean water and waves. Being from northeast North Dakota, one week of beachtime is a means for revival and survival! It’s beautiful living where I do, but there is something medicinal about the ocean! I love the privacy of Bradenton Beach near the location where we stayed. It was our own oasis! Walking on the beach or swimming in the gulf waters were an asylum for us/me. I look forward to coming back for a few more sunsets and the whispering and sometimes turbulent ocean breezes!!

We spent a long weekend here and had a great time enjoying the beach and the beautiful sunsets!! Loved this place!!

For the latest up to date news, things to do, special offers, travel tips and more continue to follow our blog @ Anna Maria Island Condo Rentals/Blog

*Please note — Anna Maria Island Condo Rentals offer the above company names and affiliated links as suggestions only. We are not receiving commissions from the above and are listing only as an aid for our guests. We recommend services that we or close friends and family have experienced so we know you will be well taken care of.

*The content of this blog is not to be copied, adapted or shared without the written consent of Anna Maria Condo Rentals.

The post WHY WE LOVE BRADENTON BEACH (ON ANNA MARIA ISLAND) appeared first on AnnaMariaIslandCondoRentals.com.

http://bit.ly/2rzSqzU

[oosteven-universe]

Out #1

Out #1 AWA Upshot Studios 2021 Written by Rob Williams Illustrated by Will Conrad Coloured by Marco Lesko    In the waning days of World War Two, with the Allies advancing, a desperate Nazi officer unearths an ancient force of evil that he hopes will turn the tide of battle: a vampire. To test the power of his secret weapon, he unleashes the monster on an unsuspecting group of Allied POWs. It's up to Nocona, a Comanche language expert, to communicate with the vampire to find out what it really wants.    One of the first things I thought was this reminds me of The Keep, which by the way is one of my all-time favourite novels and introduced me to F. Paul Wilson.  What Rob is doing here though is taking the idea and making it his own unique story.  I like this too because while the Germans believe they can control this monster we all know that it doesn’t matter to him who he feeds on and it won’t be long until the Germans learn that this monster they’ve unleashed answers to no one but himself.  The introduction of this wide array of characters is done extremely well and I find myself already wondering how many of those introduced will survive this nightmare ordeal.  That’s going to be the hard part for the reader, seeing characters whom they like succumb to the darkness.    I am in love with the way that this is being told.  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is presented exquisitely.  The character development that we see through the dialogue, the character interaction as well as how they act and react to the situations and circumstances which they encounter and this introduces us to the personalities magnificently.  The pacing is excellent and as it takes us through the pages introducing the story, the characters and this world pulls the reader in instantly and leaves you wanting to see so much more.    I greatly appreciate the way we see this being structured and how the layers within the story begin to emerge and grow.  The layers open up avenues that we want to see explored and as they introduce us to the possibilities they add this delicious depth, dimension and complexity to the story.  How we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward is impeccably achieved.      The interiors here are bloody mindbogglingly brilliant to see.  The linework is exquisite and how we see the varying weights and techniques being utilised to create this bewildering detail within the work is truly stunning.  I love that backgrounds are important to the story and that they enhance and expand the moments so beautifully.  They actually feel like they become a part of the story as another character thanks to the ambiance that this brings.  They also work within the composition of the panels to bring out the depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the story.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a masterful eye for storytelling.  The colour work shows a master colourist at work.  The various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work show a brilliant eye for how colour works and how to maximise their effects. ​    This is really something that blew me away.  The moment you see the first page and you take in the artwork you instantly know that this is going to be something utterly amazing.  What we couldn’t know, even with the hype surrounding its release, is that this is going to be the year's biggest hit.  It has that delicious tension, mystery, intrigue and its set in a place that is meant to bring out fear and unease.  It does this with such aplomb too as we get sucked into this for the moment we start reading.  This is brilliantly written with phenomenal characterisation that’s wrapped up in the most stunning mindbogglingly brilliant interiors.

[vacationsoup]

New Post has been published on https://vacationsoup.com/why-we-love-bradenton-beach-on-anna-maria-island/

WHY WE LOVE BRADENTON BEACH (ON ANNA MARIA ISLAND)

Anytime is a good time to soak up the beautiful Florida sunshine on Bradenton Beach, Anna Maria Island! Spend your vacation on the beach, jet skiing, kayaking, or shopping, dining and listening to live music on Bridge Street. Bradenton Beach offers plenty of fun things to do for everyone! Enjoy your next vacation with Anna Maria Island Condo Rentals-601 Gulf Dr. N. Anna Maria Island, Florida 34217 as you make memories that will last a lifetime.

  We are located in Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island, Florida, on the Gulf Coast only a short drive from Bradenton and Sarasota. Bradenton Beach is a small city and home of Anna Maria Island Condo Rentals. Well known for its sugar-white sand beaches, turquoise waters, bright blue sky, fishing piers and a quaint strip of shops, family owned restaurants and businesses. Upon your arrival you will notice the slow pace of Anna Maria Island. The speed limit on most of Gulf Drive (the main road on Anna Maria Island) is 25 mph with some small stretches a maximum of 35 mph. You will not find any hi-rise buildings and drive-through restaurants are prohibited here. Shunning the building of hi-rise hotels and condominiums, Bradenton Beach has kept that friendly family-oriented feel. Instead you will find companies offering bicycle, kayak, paddleboard, sailboats, Segways and fishing equipment rentals. You can rent a car, but most everything on Bradenton Beach is walkable. There is a FREE Island Trolley that rides north to the City of Anna Maria and south to Coquina Beach with lots of stops in between. For your convenience there is a trolley stop right out front of our condo. There is a Publix grocery store and Walgreens on the Island, both a quick trolley ride away.

  The Beach — With miles of beach right out front of our condo, spend your days basking in beach paradise. Each day you will wake to a different beach.  Always soft white sand scattered with beautiful shells, the waters are generally calm, but the wave height can vary from a foot to barely a ripple. Take walks on the beach, run on the beach, find sea shells and listen to the waves gently lapping against the shore. You can see porpoise swimming by, maybe putting on a little show for you. Expect to see lots of pelicans and other wildlife, fishermen and sometimes manatee. You will find beach chairs provided in your condo, then pick your spot on the beach and relax as you breath in the fresh Island air. Soak in the sunshine and the gorgeous Island atmosphere then cool off off in the crystal clear Gulf of Mexico water. Grab a cooler and enjoy some snacks as you relax in paradise.

  Lots of Activities — Book a Parasailing tour and get a different view of Bradenton Beach. Floating above the clear, blue water of the Gulf of Mexico, parasailing off the coast of Anna Maria Island is like sailing in paradise. With breathtaking panoramic views of the Gulf and intracoastal waterways, dolphins, turtles or stingray can possibly be seen.

Rent a Jet-Ski, sailboat or kayak and explore the local waters. With several boat and eco-tours—you are sure to find something that will suit everyone in your party!

  Bradenton Beach Scenic Highway — the word highway confuse some people, because a highway on the quiet, quaint little city of Bradenton Beach, well that’s just not possible. But, it does meet the criteria of a highway (often referred to as a byway). The Bradenton Scenic Highway is a 3 mile section of Gulf Drive/SR 789 beginning at Longboat Pass Bridge extending to the northern city limits of Bradenton Beach. It is pedestrian friendly and you can safely walk or ride a bicycle along this waterfront stretch. It is beautifully greenscaped and offers amazing views of the Gulf of Mexico, Sarasota Bay and Coquina Beach. Walk or ride a bike along the route and stop to view the wildlife, picnic areas The byway intersects Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach, which continues

The island community located along the Scenic Corridor provides both environmental and historic educational opportunities that have maintained the Old Florida ambiance of both the architectural and natural flavor.

  Dining on Bradenton Beach — Whether you consider yourself a foodie or not, you can’t help but love the variety of local dining available. Waterfront dining, French, Italian or Mexican food, dining with live entertainment— Bradenton Beach has it all! Ice cream shops? Pick your flavour cause we have those too! Enjoy a meal or sweet treat from the list below.

Anna Maria Oyster Bar on The Pier

BeachHouse Restaurant

Big Olaf Creamery

Blue Marlin Grill

Bridge Street Bistro

Bridge Tender Inn

French Table

Gulf Drive Café

Island Creperie

Island Time Bar and Grill

Joe’s Eats and Sweets

Oma’z Pizza and Italian Restaurant

Sharky’s Seagrill

Smoqehouse

The Kokonut Hut

Wicked Cantina

  Shopping — If your looking to find the perfect souvenir, piece of jewellery or treasure then you have come to the right place. Search the quaint and cozy boutiques and shop for pieces of Bradenton Beach to take home with you and keep as memories of your vacation. Some great shops to check out are: Bridge Street Bazaar, Back Alley Treasures, Bridge Street Interiors, Green Turtle Shell & Gift Shop, One Stop Shell Shop, Sea-Renity Spa and Boutique and Tide & Moon Jewellery.

Anna Maria Island Condo Rentals invite you to call us today to book your most peaceful and relaxing vacation.

TripAdvisor Reviews-March/April 2018

My husband and I stayed five days at Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island. Our intention was just to unplug and relax. This beach community is perfect! There are good restaurants and access to public beaches easily within walking distance. A free trolley will take you to other communities on the island which makes shopping convenient as well as just exploring the island. Many tours and activities are available from kayak tours, where you’ll likely see dolphins, sea turtles and manatee, to Segway tours. We visited after spring break and the crowds were light. I can see where this area would become less desirable during heavy tourist times because these are small, quaint fishing villages with limited space. I highly recommend this location to enjoy amazing sunsets, fresh fish and tropical cocktails!

Lots of parking. Beautiful white sandy beaches. Nice walking/running path adjacent to the beach. Fun shops and restaurants on Bridge Street.

It was my kids’ first beach vacation. We went to Lido Beach day one, Bradenton Beach day two, and Siesta Key day three. They enjoyed Bradenton the most. Lido sand was pretty rough, Siesta Key’s sand was too fine and was a good quarter mile to get to the water, but they loved Bradenton the most since they had something to do. It wasn’t as busy and there decent sized small shells to find. It kept them interested for hours. Not to mention that the seagulls at Bradenton weren’t nearly as aggressive as Siesta Key.

The ocean is truly good for the soul. I crave the ocean water and waves. Being from northeast North Dakota, one week of beachtime is a means for revival and survival! It’s beautiful living where I do, but there is something medicinal about the ocean! I love the privacy of Bradenton Beach near the location where we stayed. It was our own oasis! Walking on the beach or swimming in the gulf waters were an asylum for us/me. I look forward to coming back for a few more sunsets and the whispering and sometimes turbulent ocean breezes!!

We spent a long weekend here and had a great time enjoying the beach and the beautiful sunsets!! Loved this place!!

For the latest up to date news, things to do, special offers, travel tips and more continue to follow our blog @ Anna Maria Island Condo Rentals/Blog

*Please note — Anna Maria Island Condo Rentals offer the above company names and affiliated links as suggestions only. We are not receiving commissions from the above and are listing only as an aid for our guests. We recommend services that we or close friends and family have experienced so we know you will be well taken care of.

*The content of this blog is not to be copied, adapted or shared without the written consent of Anna Maria Condo Rentals.

[nofoodjustwax]

P. Whitehill  - “Grab the World by the Horns”

Artist Information: 

After 3 full length releases of digital beat-making as El Montaña Negra, Patrick Whitehill decided to trade in his sampler for an analogue synth and drop the moniker for his abbreviated name. Perhaps this simplification is an attempt to cut his music down to its barest essence. While his songs as El Montaña already exhibited an atmospheric backdrop of zen-like ambiance, with spacious washes of midi-keyboards and processed vocals consistently swirling around, they were still anchored to the forward motion of trip-hop beats and catchy basslines. Losing the beats, and the tedious chopping up and left-brain in-the-box labor that comes with them, the artist and listener alike are finally untethered and free to just float in that aural space of contentment and peaceful abandon.

Album Information:

Released May 28, 2017 by Intimate Evening Records

Written, Produced, Mixed & Mastered by Patrick Whitehill

Recorded live at FTG

Format: 10″ Lathe Cut, Clear Vinyl, Screen-printed cover with Glow-in-the-dark ink

Performance Credits:

Guitar/Pedals- Barry Sexton of Georgie’s Paper Boat Guitar/Laptop- Omar Akrouche of Rosehip Orchestra Synth/Delay- P. Whitehill

(Click the artist names to check out their individual bandcamp pages)

Tracklist:

Side One

1. Grab the World by the Horns I - 9:46

Side Two

1. Grab the World by the Horns II - 11:56

Album Review:

P. Whitehill’s initial releases were sparse, yet effective; just a man getting intimate with his new instrument, learning how to utilize it to express the depths of his inner world through sound. On his newest release, Grab the World by the Horns, he invites fellow Orange County ambient artists Georgie’s Paper Boat and Rosehip Orchestra (who each released their own amazing eps this year) to help him construct and flesh out these sonic worlds to a greater extent. 

The music starts with a sequence of warm, melancholic synth chords, each one gently swelling into existence. The spaces between each chord gradually expand, slowing down the breathing of the listener along with them. Slow inhale…Another chord gently swells into being. Exhale…a sweet release of decaying reverb and delays. Inhale…a slow blooming chord. Exhale…empty spaciousness. This pattern becomes the foundation for the rest of the album, with the only measurement of time being the cadence of deep breathing.

Given the live, loose nature of the performance, the collaborators are initially tentative and reserved as Whitehill sets the basic structure and atmosphere. Their guitars sneak in so subtly that they blend almost indistinguishably with the blankets of synths and delays. Once the vibe has been established, their unique colors and textures cautiously start to poke out between the cracks and reveal themselves. Omar’s creeping washes of reverb descend upon the rolling hills of synth like a heavy fog at the break of day; his reverb plug-ins are so wet and slow that the creeks and strums of his guitar are barely audible under layers of digital haze and lo-fi hiss. It’s not until nearly the end of the first movement that Barry’s delayed guitar picking begins to shine through like the morning’s first glimpses of sunlight.

The second movement starts similarly to the first, except the new chord progression replaces melancholy with glimmers of hope and sober bliss. Barry’s muted pinch harmonics and bent notes weave their way through the spaces left in the thick atmosphere; a lone bird flying through a tranquil environment, searching for another living soul. His playing develops into some beautifully restrained picking that provides some lovely melodic relief in an album already so texturally and harmonically rich. 

In a genre based more on creating environments and sustaining feelings than developing in any melodic or structural sense, any distinct change feels much more eventful than it would in another context. So when the synth drops out before the album’s final two minutes, its absence is felt like a vacuum. Without any sort of foundation, Barry’s reversed guitar picking and Omar’s atmospheric reverbs are left to intermingle and drift aimlessly through the void, suspended in a black hole of nothingness. After a twenty second eternity, the synth chords reenter, only this time with a powerful low-end that makes for a brief but monumental final statement. 

I highly recommend this to fans of Stars of the Lid, Winged Victory for the Sullen, Brian Eno, or anyone looking for something that works both as an immersive meditative experience and unobtrusive background music. This album gives you a peaceful, sedate environment to dwell in without preventing you from getting lost in your own thoughts. 

[fic-dreamin]

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb

5.0 out of 5 stars How SF should be written This is the 6th book in my quest to read all of the Nebula Award winning novels this year.THIS is what the Nebula Award should be about. This is an amazing book. The world building is so complete, so detailed, so different, so believable, it is hard to believe that one person could have conceived of it. It almost seems as if it must really exist.In general the beauty of the book is in the ambiance and the compelling story, but there are a few quotes that I want to share.If civilization has an opposite, it is war. Of those two things, you have either one, or the other. Not both.I wondered, not for the first time, what patriotism is, what the love of country truly consists of, how that yearning loyalty that had shaken my friend's voice arises, and how so real a love can become, too often , so foolish and vile a bigotry.If the universe were not expanding, the night sky would not appear to be dark. (Is that true? It seems logical, but then wouldn't people have used this argument?)You can see that the story explores concepts that need exploration. One of the great things about science fiction is its ability to let us examine our values independent of our own lives.Anyway, if you haven't read it, read this book. Go to Amazon

5.0 out of 5 stars Original, intelligent, sophisticated science fiction This was a book I always meant to read, having seen only praise for the writing and plot. It did not disappoint.What a fantastic concept! UKLG has created a wondrous, fully fleshed out alien world. Its inhabitants see themselves as normal and humans as the aberrations – stuck their entire lives in a single, pre-defined sex.The story is told through the eyes of two protagonists: a human ambassador and a Gethenian politician. Both are intricate, well developed characters. The story is so well formulated that at the end, you view the human as the alien that he is, and the Gethenians as the normal ones.This book was written several decades ago, and it shows: sentences are thoughtful and well phrased, and there is a lack of the grammatical and spelling errors which deplorably seem to be so rampant in modern works.I would definitely recommend this book if you enjoy original, intelligent, sophisticated science fiction. I would not recommend it if you are simply looking for fast bang-bang action. Go to Amazon

5.0 out of 5 stars No robots. No lasers. No problem! Ursula K Le Guin. I had heard the name many times growing up. It was always spoken with respect by people who held my respect. And yet, for all of that I had not read her work until now. I wonder how different my life would have been if I had read her work sooner. I'll never know.This book is, at its simplest and least descriptive, a thought experiment. What if there were a world where gender as we know it did not exist.But that is not the half of it. It is not even close.This book examines how nationalism can be wonderful and yet poisonous. It compares the societies of differing nation-states. It looks at humanity's role in nature. It stares unflinchingly at love in various forms and in the end, the reader has gone through a journey nearly as transformative as the one taken by our protagonist, Genly Ai.My only true complaint stems from the idea that Genly's gender biases are so strong that he consistently labels the Gethenians as he despite having been briefed of their genderless status before beginning the assignment.Still ignoring the pronoun confusion, this was an amazing book. It is thoughtful and thought provoking. It is wise and wonderful. And though a world as cold as Winter sounds like my own personal hell, I will revisit the characters again with pleasure. Go to Amazon

5.0 out of 5 stars Still timely, almost 50 years later Some may argue with me about my ratings regarding sex and violence in the novel, but there is nothing graphic, blatant, or--one would hope--offensive in any of it. I've used the novel in my Intro to Literature classes for decades, and students are at first bewildered, then fascinated by the questions about gender and gender roles that are raised by the narrative. Thematically, there are other rich veins to explore as well. Le Guin is one of the great American authors, living or dead, in any field. Don't read this as "science fiction." Read it as literature, because that's what it is. Le Guin's style is elegant, lyrical, profoundly moving. The narrative arc builds slowly--there is a lot of necessary context to build before the "adventure" gets going--but real readers will find even the creation of context beautifully handled. Harold Bloom says that “Le Guin seems never to have written a wrong or bad sentence”: that's putting it mildly. She is a master artist, and this novel is rightly deemed one of her two best (the other being The Dispossessed). Even before I started teaching the novel, I re-read it approximately once a year since I first encountered it in the 1970s--and it never gets old. Go to Amazon

[oosteven-universe]

Return of the Valkyries #1

Return of the Valkyries #1 Marvel Comics 2021 Written by Jason Aaron & Torunn Grønbekk Illustrated by Nina Vakueva Coloured by Tamra Bonvillain Lettered by VC’s Joe Sabino     JANE FOSTER RETURNS!     Once there was an entire army of Valkyries, but now Jane Foster is the only one. When the King in Black comes to Midgard, Jane must rebuild the Valkyries to help stop him -- starting with Hildegarde, a warrior from Asgard’s own hallowed halls, and X-Man Dani Moonstar, a former Valkyrie herself. But what Jane doesn’t know…is that she never was the only Valkyrie after all. Who is the fourth warrior?    Not gonna lie, I wasn’t going to read this because of the whole King In Black mishegas but when you add Dani Moonstar to the mix well that’s all it took to reel me right on in.  Dani has been so many things and the part of her that became a Valkyrie in one of the most amazing X-Men stories ever to be told has always resonated with and stayed with her when she lost her mutant powers.  Plus she is one of my favourite Marvel characters and by golly I cannot wait for her to show up.      So I like the way that this is being told.  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is presented extremely well.  The opening with The Sentry is something I am not sure of, if he’s truly dead then i’m all for it if not then what a waste of an opening.  The character development is interesting, Jane is way oversaturated in the Marvel Universe so to see where she’s going to go is going to be tough.  What I am looking forward to is the return of the others and how we see their personalities.  The pacing here is great and as it takes us through the pages revealing the story we find ourselves zipping right through the issue.    How we see this book being structured and how the layers within the story are beginning to emerge show a solid understanding of how effective storytelling can work.  Also it’s nice to see how everything works together to create the story’s ebb & flow.  If there are going to be only four Valkyries for now then hopefully Jane isn’t going to lead them because in all honesty her name is only thing that stands out about her and there are others who can do a much better job of it.    The interiors here are interesting.  There is a very unique style to the way we see the linework throughout this book.  Faces for example are very simple and then the rest seems to have a different approach so that the contrast creates something different and interesting.  In space they cannot hear you scream, though talking is easy enough, but i would like to see more of the illusion of space continued throughout all the panels instead of that “flat” colour background.  That first page of the bar is what i’d love to see throughout because not only does that really create the ambiance we want to see but it enhances the moments beautifully.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a nice eye for storytelling.  The colour work is well rendered throughout as well.  I like how we see the various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work. ​    Marvel has this very predictable and BAD habit of oversaturating characters who seem to be hot.  Conan for example is everywhere and shouldn’t be.  So Jane while a great character is simply overused in my opinion.  This is a chance to have the Valkyries back and with Dani a part of that I’m actually excited to see what’s coming.  So if we can keep Jane’s role not as prominent to the book then I have a feeling this is going to be a great limited series.