#artist's interpretation of mod's summer

[textfromthelookout]

[haveyouheardthispodcast]

What are your personal favorite podcasts?

Mod Nic here, I just got access to the askbox (Thank you Mods Kat and Axe!) and I'll be getting to the asks and submissions in chronological order except I wanted to answer this first.

My top three podcasts I can't rank because they all feel incomparable. They are Welcome to Night Vale, Wolf 359, and Friends at the Table.

Welcome to Night Vale: A classic. I've listened to this at least four times. Of course, 20 new episodes come out a year (plus bonus episodes on Patreon and liveshows on Bandcamp) so I haven't listened to every episode four times, because on each listen it gets longer and longer. I found it summer of 2013 when I was on an international road trip and could only check Tumblr on my iPod Touch when the hostel/motel/airport/ferryport had WiFi. Everyone was talking about it so I used the Apple podcast app (before it was subsumed by iTunes (before it was later rejected by iTunes)) for the first time. I remember coming back to the US and being at my grandparents and excited for a good WiFi connection and a lack of time pressure so that I could reblog Night Vale art like everyone else. My comfort podcast. Despite many people comparing any fiction podcast to Welcome to Night Vale, the first one to feel similar on an emotional level to me is Hello From The Hallowoods. It has the same sense of yes, the world is filled with horrors, but life is beautiful nonetheless. A narrator's gentle voice will tell me the happenings of many people who may or may not know each other but still make up a broader community.

Wolf 359: This is not the first non-Night Vale podcast I listened to, but it was the one that unlocked podcasts for me. The first one that I could track easily and was always eager for the next episode. The first one that was dangerous for my sleep and my homework the way that books are dangerous — once I start I can't put it down. I started it early fall of 2016 at the beginning of my junior year of college. I remember walking around parks playing Pokémon Go and coloring a page of an adult coloring book. I believe I caught up at Memoria, which was amazing timing. Opposite of a comfort podcast. I think I've listened to seasons 1–3 twice, but since the show finished I can't listen to more than an episode without getting devastated by emotions. Second media property I've ever had a fic idea for that I really want to write.... just as soon as I can manage a relisten. Not really comparable except for that it also has a protagonist that is a diagetic narrator closely backed by an ensemble cast and a show-long plot (instead of a season-long plot), but Hi Nay is probably the fastest I've ever gone from hearing a podcast for the first time to backing it on Patreon (but it was more a replacement for The Magnus Archives in my listening schedule, turns out I need to be exercising to listen to horror).

Friends at the Table: An actual play podcast that ruined me for actual play podcasts. Started listening in 2017 after I needed to temporarily withdraw from school due to my health collapsing causing me to fail classes. I had been listening to The Adventure Zone, but I actually started it because so many amazing Wolf 359 fan artists and fic writers were making art and fic for F@tT and I just had to know what that was about. I caught up just in time to start with Spring in Hieron. Due to my personal audio issues, I often have no idea what's going on in the sci-fi seasons, but that hasn't stopped me from crying because of it anyways. I can give personalized recommended starting points if I know someone, but in general I'm a big advocate for starting with the very first episode. My favorite season is probably still Autumn in Hieron, despite the audio quality. The moment when an interpretation of a roll from a player caused the pirates to become undead pirates was probably the moment when I got excited about wanting to play tabletop roleplaying games myself. Since I found it I've bounced off of every single actual play podcast I've tried listening to, until a few months ago when I started the Ruin's Gate season of The Unexplored Places. Ruin's Gate has the distinction of being the first time I've been able to track what the rolls of a Forged in the Dark game mean from a narrative perspective instead of just a mechanics perspective.

—Mod Nic

[cornucopia-fest]

Cornucopia Fest 2023

Fest mod: prima_vera (@girl-with-goats) 

Contact: cornucopiafestmods@gmail.com

🍂🍂🍂

AO3 Collection | Tumblr

🍂🍂🍂

Prompt Gallery | Claiming form | Submission form

🍂🍂🍂

SCHEDULE

Claiming opens: 18th of August, 2023 (6pm CEST)

Claiming closes: 30th of September, 2023

Works due: 31st of October, 2023

Posting starts: 6th of November, 2023

Authors revealed: depending on the number of fics submitted

🍂🍂🍂

PROMPTS

Prompt gallery is available here.

You can filter the prompts in the gallery based on songs, artists, and vibes to make it easier to make a choice what to claim. (Please note that the vibes tags are subjective. You may interpret the quote differently). 

Prompts are given out by the host, but if you wish to create art based on your own favourite autumn song, you can do so—please see details in the Claiming section for self-prompting.

🍂🍂🍂

RULES

General

The fest is anonymous until author reveals. Please refrain from revealing your authorship too early. You’re free to promote your fic everywhere as soon as the authors are revealed.

All fandoms are allowed. All characters are allowed. All original works are allowed.

All types of media are allowed within the fest as long as they refer to autumn and the song prompt claimed.

All ratings allowed.

The fest follows the YKINMKATO and ship and let ship rules. No author bashing is allowed.

AI-generated content is not allowed and it will be removed from the fest.

Claiming

Claiming opens 18th of August at 6pm CET. 

Claiming will be available through the claiming form opening at the date and time indicated previously. 

Claiming will be open until 30th of September.

You can claim only one prompt. You may claim another prompt only if you finished the first work, added it to the collection and filled the submission prompt.

You may claim a prompt that has already been claimed. 

If you want to pick a different autumnal song to write to and self-prompt, please indicate so in the claiming form. Please include the song in your author notes while posting the fic.

You’ll receive a confirmation email from the host of your successful claiming.

Creating

All media types are allowed for this fest. 

Writing

There’s no minimum or maximum work length for this fest. 

You can write for any fandom you want or create an original work. 

You can interpret the song prompt in any way you want. The only requirements are as follows:

It needs to contain at least some autumn themes that would indicate when the action is set and that you’re referring to autumn. (A rainy summer day won’t cut it.) Please note that I’m not specifying autumn months as they might vary in different parts of the world, so this requirement is subjective. As long as you include autumn vibes in any shape or form, you’re good.

All trigger warnings must be properly tagged. The host will reach out if some tags are missing. If the author doesn’t add them, their work might be removed from the collection.

The fic submitted to the collection must be complete. 

Alpha & Beta readers aren’t mandatory, but it’s encouraged to find one to help out. If you’re unable to find an alpha or beta reader on your own, please reach out to the host. 

If you’re unable to reach the deadline but still want to finish the fic, please contact the host to ask for extension.

Podfics

Podfics are allowed, but they have more restrictions than writing and art given that it’s a song prompts based fest. 

Restrictions:

The original fic must either come from this fest, fulfilling the song prompt, or

The original fic must be a song fic based on some autumn-vibes song. 

If you’re unsure if your podfic meets the requirements, please contact the host.

Art

All types of art are allowed in this fest, including moodboards, photos, digital art, traditional art, painting, as long as it fits in with the prompt you’ve chosen. 

There’s no restriction regarding NSFW themes. 

All art must be appropriately tagged, especially trigger content.

The art should be posted on Ao3 and added to the collection to maintain anonymity. You can repost it after the authors are revealed.

Submitting

All works submitted to the collection must be complete.

Upon finishing and submitting your work to the collection, please fill the submission form. Your work won’t be accepted to the collection unless you fill out the form. 

You’ll receive a posting schedule to the email you’ve indicated in the claiming form. 

It’s recommended to change the date of your fic on the day it’s posted. The host won’t be able to change the fic posting date manually.

Questions? Ask them via tumblr ask box or write me an email at cornucopiafestmods@gmail.com!

Happy Autumn! 🍂

[tolkienrsb]

Hi!

I'm signed up as an artist for the reverse summer bang - and soo excited! I have a question about how to submit my art. In the copy-paste form in the FAQs, I don't see a field resembling anything along the lines of a description - so I'm wondering how people are meant to know what, specifically, my drafts are meant to portray, or if they are indeed meant to know - should it be left up to interpretation? My current plan is to submit rather descriptive titles - ie. So-and-so in such-and-such, during X Age; but I would rather put this information elsewhere, hence my question. Thank you for all the work organizing! <33

Hi - thanks for ask and thanks for reading the FAQs, we love that!!

You can include a brief description of your prompt in the 'additional details/requests' field, along with any DNWs and must haves.

Please just remember that we need to be able to fit the text on a slide with your art to go in the gallery. If we're finding the text is too long, we may request that you edit it down.

Thank you, can't wait to see your art!

Mod Fishing4stars

[tinimmyweek]

Tinimmy Week 2023 FAQs and Guidelines

Event Guidelines

If you participate, please use the tinimmyweek23 tag so that we can see what you’re sharing!

Any creative mediums are welcome! Stories, gifs, art, headcanons, moodboards, or playlists are all examples of ways you can join in.

Your work can include other ships, but please be sure to keep Tina and Jimmy Jr. as the focus of the piece.

If your work includes darker themes or nsfw content, just make sure to tag accordingly. NSFW material can be tagged #tinimmynsfw

FAQs

When is Tinimmy Week?

This ship week will take place from July 24th to July 28th, and each day will have two corresponding prompts.

What are the prompts?

July 24 - Secret/Barrette

July 25 - First/Apology

July 26 - Dream/Summer

July 27 - Jealousy/Nostalgia

July 28 - Dance/Caught

How should prompts be used?

Feel free to interpret the prompts in any manner you see fit. You can use both, one, or neither, and they can be expressed through the artistic medium of your choosing.

Can we submit platonic works?

Platonic works are welcome. In all creative works, the relationship between Tina and Jimmy Jr should be the focus.

Who are the mods?

@jimmyjrsmusoems, @sailoreuterpe, and @babsvibes

Is explicit work allowed?

Yep! NSFW work is allowed, but participants should tag properly (#tinimmynsfw for content on tumblr!) and to mark any potential triggers.

[caelwynn]

Sterling and Hozier

I have a confession.

If you had asked me a year ago who Hozier was, my response would've been, "Isn't that a band?"

Yeah, I know. I, too, am shocked by this. Through a combination of life events and my own tendency to hole up in my own little world, I somehow missed the existence of this man for nearly a decade.

Now, the thing is, I don't know if I would have fallen in love with Hozier's music if I wasn't writing Choices when I finally listened to him. That's not to say I wouldn't have enjoyed it—I certainly would have as it scratches a very specific itch in my brain—but I don't know that I would love it. Why is that?

Well.

After Spotify spent a solid month begging me to listen to something other than Mumford and Sons (I fixate on artists and Spotify hates me for it), I gave in to its algorithm and checked out Hozier's artist page. At that time, three of his top five songs were from his first album: "Take Me to Church," "Work Song," and "Cherry Wine." I enjoyed what I heard, so I put on the entire album to give it a spin.

By the end of the second song, "Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene," I had stopped everything else I was doing, pulled up the lyrics, and sat down to listen to the album in its entirety.

Listening to it, I felt like I'd run into Sterling at the saloon, and he'd decided to pour out his life story to me. Each song reflected some aspect of his character/background/personality that I had in my head but hadn't necessarily made it onto the page yet. "Sedated" and "Cherry Wine," in particular, resonated with how I imagined his prior relationship with Kai (his ex before moving home). This shows up in my most recent chapter of Choices: Summer, and even more so in Choices: Fall as a whole.

More in-depth thoughts on individual tracks (and spoilers for Sterling's mod) beneath the cut:

Honestly, of all the songs on the album, "Take Me to Church" resonates the least for me when it comes to Sterling, outside of how utterly devoted he becomes to whomever he falls in love with. But really, "Work Song" hits those notes better as it reflects how much he wants/needs something, someone, to show him grace.

"Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene," "Jackie and Wilson," and "Someone New" jive so well with how I envision his mentality/how he presented himself to people in Zuzu City. He was just around to get fucked anyway he could, man.

"Sedated," meanwhile, shows the contrast/conflict between that desire to distract himself and his wish that someone would give him a reason to leave all that behind. The echo of the bridge behind the final chorus sounds so much like him begging for Kai to save him from himself even as he seduces Kai into that very lifestyle.

"Cherry Wine," on the other hand, is a reflection not only of how Kai treated Sterling, but also how Sterling treated Kai in the end. Sterling has two lines in his mod that directly influenced this interpretation (and it is definitely an interpretation, not explicitly stated. I more thoroughly explore this idea in Fall):

"Look, you're incredibly cute and all darling. And I really enjoy hitting it off with you but… I can't do relationships right now. Not after Kai… I don't ever want to be that toxic person again. Not to you. Never to you."

That's one of the options for how he responds if you offer him a bouquet after reaching 4 hearts. This next tidbit, however, is a bit of dialogue that can pop up in the saloon:

"Is there a lucky someone in your life, farmer? There's been a few in my own life, though I'd say lucky is the operating word. I'd guess it's a bad combination of attracting toxic people when you're a bit of a toxic person yourself. Sorry, just thinking about my ex. He was a really nice guy, broke up with him before I moved to the valley. It was honestly for the best, the best thing I could do for him that is."

Sterling has so many issues. I love him.

"To Be Alone," could honestly reflect his thoughts/emotions towards either Kai or Callie, depending at on what point in their respective relationships you viewed them from. "From Eden" and "It Will Come Back," however, are very much how he views Callie and his emotional attraction to her. While he knows better than to view her as pure or innocent the way he did Kai in the beginning, he still puts her on a pedestal as someone Good and thinks that all he'd do is sully or break her. Yet, he cannot resist wanting what she represents.

"Like Real People Do" is very much the soundtrack for Sterling and Callie's night together in chapter 18 of Choices: Spring.

But "Work Song" really is the culmination of how Sterling feels about Callie, though Choices will take a long, long time to reach a point where he can even admit it to himself.

(Side Note–I picked an opportune moment to discover Hozier for the record: almost exactly one month before Unreal Unearth came out. I spent two weeks memorizing his first album, another two weeks memorizing Wasteland, Baby!, and then dove head first into Unreal Unearth upon release. Saw him in concert three months later, and plan to see him again for my upcoming birthday.)

If you're interested in how I relate other characters of Choices with specific albums, check here.

[lovebugs-and-snakecharmers]

LBSC Sprint Challenge 7/28-8/4/2021

The LBSC Sprint Challenge is now open for writers and artists! Our theme is Summer this week, the prompts as suggested and voted on by our discord groups are:

1. Can't take the heat (heat wave, suffering in the heat, oh no s/he's hot--be generous with your interpretations of ‘heat’) 2. Summer Storms 3. Beach Week 4. "I tried one of these mermaid swimsuits in the beach and now a merboy/girl thinks I'm a mermaid too, and I think s/he likes me?!" 5. Cooling off in a kiddie pool 6. “I hate summer.” 7. Wildcard - pick any of the prompts available from our sister blog, @mlweeklyprompts, or any previous challenge prompt.

You have until Wednesday, August 4 to complete your 3 15-minute sprints/45 minute art sprint and post the results. Once you’ve completed the sprints, you have 24 hours to edit (which can include some new writing to smooth transitions and make it feel complete, and whatever work you feel appropriate to get your art to a state you consider ‘finished’).

Please note you may sprint in the language of your choice, and you can either translate the final fic before posting, post it in the original language, or both as you choose. You can join us on the sprint challenge discord or sprint on your own! Just be sure to tag @lovebugs-and-snakecharmers in your final post so we will see it and reblog it. The rest of the rules can be found here under the cut.

Rules!

We’ll post a beginning and end date to the challenge, and a prompt.

Writers, If you choose to participate in the event, write for that prompt in up to three 15 minute sprints. No writing outside the sprints until you have completed all three! After the 3 sprints are complete, you have 24 hours to edit (which can include some new writing to smooth transitions, etc). You can also choose to break that 45 minutes up differently if you find a different split works better for you.  After those 24 hours, post what you’ve got. Tag your posts with @lovebugs-and-snakecharmers so we can reblog it to the LBSC blog. If you post your work on AO3 or somewhere other than Tumblr, you can leave a link in our ask box or in the appropriate discord channel so we can be sure to promote it. You’ll have approximately one week to complete the challenge, with the goal being for everyone’s work to be posted by the designated challenge end date.

Artists, you have 45 minutes to sketch and 24 hours to do any cleanup or coloring you’d like to complete. You can split your 45 minutes up however you like, or not at all. There’s no requirements on your finished piece, just aim for whatever goal seems challenging but achievable to you. See additional challenge rules below. 

If you’re wavering as to whether or not you think you can accomplish anything in 45 minutes, we really encourage you to give the challenge a try. You may be surprised what you can do! Feel free to join us in the discord linked above so we can encourage and cheer you on.

Obviously, this has to run a bit on the honor system and we won’t be tracking your times, but please do your best to honor the spirit of the challenge! If your sprint fic becomes an Entire Thing (these things happen sometimes) and you want to continue it, feel free! However, please still post whatever you’ve got after your 3 sprints with the tag. No fair busting out a fully polished fic or art without showing us what it looked like at the challenge stage!

Feel free to sprint in whatever language is most comfortable to you! You can post it in your own language or translate it before posting, or both!

We want to keep this a positive space and event! This does NOT mean that you can’t write or draw anything critical of a character or episode, but it isn’t the space for character bashing or hate either. Please keep the characters in character and save the more speculative work for another time. NSFW sprint works are permitted but must be tagged appropriately (please use “NSFW LBSC sprint challenge” for easy filtering on the blog) and with appropriate warnings.  (More FAQ about the process here)

This is a Lukanette blog and a Lukanette event, so while Lukanette does not need to be the main ship, it needs to at least be included or referenced and considered endgame (in other words, they don’t have to be together by the end of your work, but the intent is that they’re headed in that direction). The decision about what qualifies for reblog rests solely with the LBSC moderators. If a piece hasn’t been reblogged within a couple of days, either the mods felt the piece didn’t meet the criteria or it was simply missed; you are welcome to reach out in the asks to inquire which. There are plenty of other spaces out there for other ships and OT3s, and people are welcome to use the challenge rules and prompts to write for their own ships! They just won���t be reblogged to the LBSC blog, and we ask that you please not use the event tag (a modified form is fine - “InsertAlternateShipName sprint challenge” instead of “LBSC sprint challenge,” for example).

Happy sprinting!

[maroucia]

SanSan Russian Roulette | Summer 2021

Here they are! The results!😄 But first, here’s a reminder of the game’s rules: 

-Your prompt fill should be at least 500 words (one-shot or multi-chapter fic). You can post to the platform of your choice (AO3, FF.net, Tumblr, Twitter, etc.).

-Please tag "SanSan Russian Roulette 2021" on AO3, Tumblr, or Twitter so we can track all the wonderful fics!

-Post by 31 July—For multi-chapter fics, you’ll only need to have posted the first chapter by 31 July. You can post sooner than this. If real life crops up and your fill will be delayed, just post as soon as you can. If you’re unable to fill your prompt, please reach out to maroucia or sansanwritersguild on tumblr or @Mod or @...Maroucia… on Discord.

Now here are the prompts:

1.     To Fleurdeplume: “Dusk. Secret meetings. Stolen kiss. Sansa looks like a little bird but deep down, she's a wolf.” (From Lysae).

2.     To TheImmaculateBastard: “Inspired by a tweet, "I don't know what just happened, but I was at an animal shelter before work and a toddler walked in, pointed to me, and said “I want that one”. His mother looked at me and said “you can’t have that, that’s a grown man”” (From Lorel).

3.     To Jadedelcinismo: “Sansa is in love with Sandor and is jealous of someone in his life. Canon/AU, your choice.” (From Missy-1978).

4.     To Vermilion_Sunrise: “Sandor tucks Sansa in bed after her first day as Queen in the North.” (From Prettybadmagic).

5.     To Meganfence: “Fight, argument or other disagreement. Open to interpretation, minor or major.” (From Redbirdblackdog).

6.     To Sharkaria: “Sandor discovers he's got a good eye for photography. He fills his time taking pictures of his urban landscape, until he spies a Little Bird Muse...” (From Glamgrowl).

7.     To Missy-1978: “Kinda stole this from the Discord, but I love a forced marriage trope! Maybe Sansa got left at the altar and Sandor steps in last minute. Or a role reversal where she has to marry him to save his honor. Something fun and unexpected, can be modern or set in GOT world.” (From Atomic-bomb-shell).

8.     To TailBobSquid: “Jumanji AU - either a game that they are playing comes to life or they get sucked into a game that they are playing.” (From ReadyReaderOne).

9.     To Prettybadmagic: “Sandor is going to do it. He's going to do the kiss your best friend challenge. The friend he just happens to have been in love with since day one.” (From Islandida).

10.  To Glamgrowl: “Feel good and funny modern au where all Starks are alive and well. Sansa makes the first move on Sandor even though she's not sure she's his type as he is much older and works a blue collar job. (Please no Joffrey bashing) Cameos from other Starks would be awesome but not necessary.” (From Rayne).

11.  To Glitterswitch: “Bakery/coffee shop AU Stranger is Sandor’s service animal.” (From OrangeTabby).

12.  To LittleWolfBird: “Sandor joins the Stark family traveling circus when he sees a casting call for "freaks." Bonus points for Sansa on trapeze or tightrope.” (From GlitterGoth114).

13.  To Diverse.lorde: “Sansa playing her high harp (or other instrument) and singing a song that she wrote about/for Sandor.” (From Neleam).

14.  To Lysae : “Sandor finds out Sansa made him TikTok famous after a video of him goes viral: Sansa: hey can I have x/can we go to y? Sandor: no. Sansa, in a sweet voice: pretty please? Sandor, huffing: fine (Daddy on the end of pretty please would be lovely, but if Daddy Sandor isn’t your thing, no problem).” (From TailBobSquid).

15.  To OrangeTabby: “Mafia AU, fancy party. Dominant Sandor, thirsty Sansa Sandor in a suit, hand tattoos, creeping neck tattoo, whiskey - Sansa thirsting.” (From Meganfence).

16.  To Neleam: “Sanson Stark has always been the dutiful yet idealist second son of House Stark. Sandra Clegane is a Silent sister who has been disappointed by the very songs she once admired. A knight of the Seven and a handmaiden of the Stranger unexpectedly find comfort in each other.” (From Jadedelcinismo).

17.  To Redbirdblackdog: “Sansa gets her first tattoo by none other than the famous tattoo artist "The Hound". When she's in pain, she exhales slowly and Sandor says, "Good girl". Sexual tension ensues. (This prompt was inspired by a meme.)” (From Thequeen--in--thenorth).

18.  To Thequeen--in--thenorth: “Following a tumultuous few years, Sansa has spent every penny she's ever earned on a quiet cottage, surrounded by forest and wildlife. Not long after moving, a strange man appears in the pond near her home, half-alive and unable to remember anything about himself except his name: Sandor.” (From Suzi).

19.  To Atomic-bomb-shell: “Crust punk modern AU. Sandor is a crustie squatting in the backyard of an abandoned house. Sansa is a friendly neighbor who offers him a warm meal and access to her laundry room.” (From Diverse.lorde).

20.  To Lorel: “Sansa manages a gallery in King’s Landing. After storming out of a fight with her boyfriend, she drives off into the countryside. That’s when she sees the most amazing art behind some dusty glass in a car repair shop. Now all she has to do is convince the artist, Sandor, to do a show at her gallery.” (From Vermilion_Sunrise).

21.  To GlitterGoth114: “Walked in on. Caught in the act. "Can opened, worms everywhere." (From TheImmaculateBastard).

22.  To Islandida: “Robb comes home from war with a big loyal man behind him. Sansa never thought she'd see her brother again let alone *him*. Modern au or canon.’’  (From LittleWolfBird).

23.  To Rayne: “Modern AU: After finally getting out of an unhappy/controlling relationship with Joffrey that desecrated her self-worth, Sansa enrolls for self-defence classes with martial arts Master Clegane, who proceeds to build up her self esteem and fighting skills while the two fight their mutual attraction.” (From Fleurdeplume).

24.  To Suzi: “Prompt submission -- passionate time travel.” (From Sharkaria).

25.  To ReadyReaderOne: “Sansa leaves with the Hound that night. Their journey thru Westeros is loosely similar - Arya, Twins, etc. They find Elder Brother to help Sandor. After healing, all 3 head for Braavos, and the Dragon Queen. Lots of friendship/bonding b/t all 3; both defend Sandor from Dany. Devoted sansan, HEA!’’ (From Glitterswitch).

[dazatsuzine2020-2021]

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions for everyone for this Dazatsu Zine Project!

What is a zine?

A fanzine is a collaborative booklet project composed of artworks and stories revolving around a specific theme. This zine’s focus will be on Dazai Osamu and Nakajima Atsushi’s relationship from Bungou Stray Dogs (Dazatsu). 

Is the zine for profit or for charity?

This zine will be a digital PDF that will be free to download once it is completed.

Will the zine have a theme?

Yes, the zine will have a theme to follow besides Dazatsu! Our zine’s theme will be based on the Four Seasons (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter). Our zine will be titled Shunkashuuto (春夏秋冬) which translates to four seasons in Japanese!

Who can contribute?

Artists and Writers of all skills can contribute! We advise that contributors be at least over 15!

How will applications be held?

Applications will be conducted via Google Form. There will be two separate forms: one for writers, and one for artists. The zine will follow an open application process, meaning every application sent will be accepted and they can contribute to the zine. Contributors will be sent a confirmation email to confirm their participation in the zine.

How many pieces are we allowed to submit?

You can submit more than one piece if you’d like, as long as they follow the guidelines and are completed by the final deadline.

Will you be allowing NSFW?

Because our digital zine will be open to download, we will not be allowing NSFW or any excessive gore/violence in our submissions.

What if you have not participated in a zine before?

That’s okay! As long as you fill in the application form, you’re good to go. If you need any help at all over the creation process, please don’t hesitate to ask the mods via email, Tumblr or Twitter.

Will you be allowing traditional art?

Traditional art will be accepted, as long as the final submission format is clear to see and follows the guidelines for submissions.

Can we apply as both an artist and a writer?

Yes, you absolutely can! If you’re a writer who would like to illustrate your own story, please do apply for both positions!

What happens if we can’t complete our piece/have to drop out?

Please contact a mod ASAP! We’re happy to discuss a solution! Extensions on pieces will be possible if we are informed early!

Who are the mods running the zine?

Mod Finn: @joesephyfinn (Twitter) Mod Katsu: @katsuwindzats (Twitter) Mod Chou: @chouxneedscafe (Twitter) Mod Natsu: @chuuyasushi (Twitter)

You can also reach out to us via the zine Tumblr and Twitter (@dazatsuzine2020) or our email dazatsuzine2020@gmail.com!

Application Process

Applications will commence on October 10, and close on October 25 (11:59pm UTC -7:00). There are forms for each role: the writer application, and the artist application. Every application will be accepted, and you can apply for both positions.

Here are the links for the Application forms:

Artists Application form (LINKS SOON)

Writers Application form (LINKS SOON)

Writing/Art samples + portfolio  this will have NO effect on your application. The second sample and portfolio work is optional.

Submission Guidelines

The zine will be in A4 (210 x 297mm, 8.3 x 11.7in) size, and RGB colour. There is currently no limit on submissions, however the mods will be asking for check-in updates to keep track of your progress.

Because of our zine theme, we will be requiring contributors to pitch their final idea for approval before they begin working on their pieces. This is to make sure not everyone is working on the same season and to encourage variety for the final zine!

Contributors will have 2 months to create their piece. Final submissions must be sent into the Google Drive folder included in your email by December 31.

Rules:

Pieces must revolve around Dazatsu. Other characters can be included, but the focus must be on Dazatsu.

The seasons theme must be inferred in your pieces. If you’d like to focus on specific seasonal holidays as well, you can do so.

No NSFW entries will be allowed for the zine.

Submissions must be new and belong to you.

Submissions must not contain excessive depictions of gore/violence.

Any other interpretation will be accepted! Feel free to work with angst, fluff, AUs or canonverse!

There is no limit on submissions, so contributors can submit more than one piece as long as they are able to complete them by the final deadline.

You agree not to share more than 40% of your work until after the zine has released. 

Any entry that does not meet the guidelines will be contacted by a mod or will not be included in the zine.

For Writers:

Writers must submit a piece between 1k-5k words that includes Dazatsu. Final pieces must be submitted as a Google Doc file.

Other characters can be included, but the main story must revolve Dazatsu.

Your assigned season must be alluded to in your pieces.

For short poetry/prose pieces: your work must at least be one page long

For Artists:

Artists must submit a portrait A4 piece (3508 x 2480 px, 210 x 297mm, 8.3 x 11.7in) that includes Dazatsu. Please ask a mod if you’re unsure. JPG in 300 dpi for the final format is preferred.

If you’re working with landscape, your piece must be the same A4 size (2480 x 3508 px, 297 x 210mm, 11.7in x 8.3in).

Other characters can be included, but the focus must be Dazatsu.

Your assigned season must be alluded to in your pieces.

Traditional art will be allowed, as long as the final submission follows the size guides!

You can also work with mixed traditional/digital art or submit a comic! For those who are planning on making comics, the comic should not exceed more than 4 pages.

About Final Idea Assignments: Once applications end on Oct 25, you will have 6 days to pitch your idea. These are due for approval on Oct 31. If a mod has not contacted you before then, feel free to reach out to us via Twitter! Please pitch your ideas before you begin working!

After sending in your application, you should receive an email to confirm your participation in the zine. 

Before beginning your piece, we’d like to receive your top 3 ideas based on the seasons you’ve chosen in the application! There may be a chance you will be working with your second or third choice, so please pitch ideas you would like to work on! Once your idea has been approved via email, you can begin working on your piece!

If you are doing more than one piece, these must also be approved by a mod before you begin working! You can work with a different season if you’ll be doing than one piece.

Current Timeline for the Zine

Oct 10 - Applications Open

Oct 25 - Applications Close

Oct 31 - Final Idea Assignments Approved

Dec 31 - Final Deadline

Jan 16 - Zine Preview

Feb 1 - Zine Release (date subject to change)

[homestuckkinstuff]

Shufflemancy For Cronus Maryam, About His Relationship With Damara

-

Song: Not In The Same Way

Artist: 5 Seconds Of Summer

-

"I love you, you love me

But not in the same way

Rip my heart out and leave

On the floor, watch me bleed

I love you, you love me

But not in the same way"

-

"Not today, mascara's running down your face again

I can feel it coming it down on me

Hurricane insert name

We're good at this game, game"

-

"We fuck, then we fight, then you call me a psycho

I walk out the door, but you won't let me let go

Turn right around, throw rocks at your window"

-

"I don't ever wanna lie to you

But I can't say no to you

I know you think I'm bulletproof

But you know how to hurt me too"

-

Interpretation: You and Damara had a dysfunctional kind of relationship, it seems to me that, you both cared very deeply but, had nonconventional ways of expressing it, hence "not in the same way". You two had arguments quite often, maybe even over the dumbest things.

(remember you know your timeline and yourself better than i do! take my interpretations with a grain of salt! trust your gut!)

hope this helps!!

-mod dave

[thetonecontrol]

Interview with Electronic Audio Experiments

Righteous Ryan: When did you decide to become a builder and what motivated you to do so?

Electronic Audio Experiments: Even before I taught myself how to play the guitar I was always interested in what makes instruments work, so naturally I was a pedal nerd as soon as I learned what they were. After studying electronics for fun on the side (took a couple extra courses during undergrad and then read books on my own) it became a natural progression of my interests to start tinkering with my own. I did a few tagboard clone builds before I realized I wanted to have more control over the design process. And that's still my primary motivation: I love the design process with all of its challenges and room for artistic decisions.

EAE as a company formally started in approximately winter/spring of 2015. In February of that year, Boston was slammed over 5 feet of snow. I spent a lot of time in my crummy basement apartment eating frozen pizzas and breadboarding what would eventually become the Longsword V1. I used it on a couple records I was a part of (Perfect Moments by Tiny Fractures and the Native Wildlife s/t - both on bandcamp, for the curious) and that generated enough interest to do a release that summer. The rest has been a whirlwind!

RR: What motivates you to create original circuits?

EAE: Short answer - it's really satisfying to me, basically my favorite pastime.

Longer answer - I love the challenge of making something from scratch that hopefully lets my personality come through. I should qualify; I am not reinventing any wheels here. Designing "from scratch" is like building something out of legos. You can't really design new pieces (which leads some of the more cynical folks out there to say there's nothing new under the sun) but there are lots of building blocks and lots of ways to arrange them. The artistic merit is in the details, and the fun is in the thrill of the chase. It's an obsessive process but endlessly gratifying.

RR: Are you currently working on anything new?

EAE: Oh god, too many things. Here's a sampling:

Halberd - this is a drive which started as the preamp block of Sending, but heavily mutated into its own thing. It features pronounced treble attack/clarity, stupidly high output, and a strong second harmonic response. Been "finalizing" it for a while but I'm trying my damnedest to release it this summer. (If you want to hear a rough demo of an earlier iteration, check this video out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpGgzl3lOgs)

Sending V2 - I'm trying to add some features while I do an SMD conversion - mostly modulation and CV control over delay time. Currently on the back burner while I get the Halberd sorted out.

Hypersleep - this is my weird multi-tap chorus/vibrato/reverb-ish thing (nb: this is also in Ian's video linked above). It's also on the back burner while I get the Halberd sorted out. I really want to put it to production but it depends fully on whether I can source enough MN3011 BBDs to make it happen. If I can get enough to build 50 I'll do a limited run, but I'd really prefer to do 100 if at all possible... so we shall see what happens.

Super secret collab with Electrofoods Pedals - stay tuned, I am very excited

Surveyor - IVP side of the Dude Incredible, will be released later this year. It's ready to rock.

Various contract designs - Caroline Somersault (just wrapped up), Caroline Megabyte (working on the second round of prototypes), Dunable Eidolon (close to done, just needs some code fixes), another 2 or 3 projects all TBA.

RR: What is your design process like?

EAE: Whenever I design something new I have to answer two questions. 1) does it exist already? and 2) does it address a need or want in my own sonic pursuits? For instance, drive pedals will reflect my tone in whatever band I'm currently in. If it's already been done I can go buy it. If it hasn't been done then the work can begin.

If the design is simple or contains simple building blocks I often go straight to the circuit board layout and if necessary, debug from there. I can often turn a project around pretty quick if that's the case. If I'm not sure whether or not a building block will work, I can try simulating or breadboarding. Circuit simulation is extremely powerful but requires interpretation of the results, which also sometimes differ from reality. Breadboarding is great for audible characterization of a new idea, but the added parasitic capacitances can dramatically alter the frequency response of a circuit - especially a high gain drive or something with lots of complex filters. So there's usually a loop of steps where I move between a breadboard, circuit simulations, and a working prototype until everything works out. Sometimes I just have to resort to plain old math to get what I want.

The first pass of design is a go/no-go check. Does it work? Once it does, I refine it until it can produce sounds I truly like. This is also the step where I do the most work to address noise, oscillation, unwanted artifacts, etc. The final step is to identify which controls I want to keep, and then I determine the tapers/ranges of those controls.

Once there's a working prototype I do extensive beta testing with friends, local musicians and engineers, etc. When testing at home I can lose sight of how good (or not good) a prototype sounds. So a sanity check helps! Once this feedback is incorporated into the process we can go to production. At that point we get the artwork done and start working with our local SMD shop to get boards going.

RR: What's your setup (guitar, amps, pedalboard)?

EAE: I've been awful about maintaining a static setup. I realized that when you're not in a band you can just buy whatever sounds good instead of worrying about serving a song or particular mix. I have a wide assortment of guitars and amps that I use to test pedals during the R&D phase but listing those won't really tell you a coherent story. BUT I started a new band and we're tracking a record (we just did guitars + drums at GodCity) so I can tell you all about the gear I used for that. It's a post-metal sort of outfit so there are lots of heavy sounds but lots of unique mid-gain tones as well. This is also a great chance to plug some work by my friends...

Guitars - Travis Bean TB1000S, which is essentially vintage correct after some restoration work at Electrical Guitar Company (new bridge + pickups). Sounds like a piano. A very angry piano.

My very heavily modified Classic Player Jazzmaster with EGC JM500 pickups and a Robot Graves neck. It can do pristine, chimey cleans or a savage clang depending how much gain you use.

Amps - Traynor YBA1 MKII - Basically a marshall-ish amp with really big transformers. I modded the preamp to roughly superlead specs, but it's got way more bandwidth than a typical marshall.

Traynor YBA3 - not mine, lives at GodCity. Was extensively modified by my friend Scot from SnK pedals, who is also a gifted amp tech. It's loud and clean with a sound that's almost like an ampeg.

For cabs we mostly used an emperor 6x12 with an assortment of speakers. The mic was placed on a Texas Heat.

For my own use I have a pair of Joe's TL806 cabs (Thiele 1x12 design) with EVM12Ls.

Pedals - Halberd proto - great for slamming tube amps!

Electrofoods Oprichniki - the highest gain big muff variant around. I don't even know if it should be called a muff variant because of how twisted and souped up the circuit is. It is an absolute beast.

Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler - another extraordinarily high gain fuzz which sounds like absolutely nothing I've ever heard. It's a nice contrast to the more scooped flavor of the Oprich.

SnK VHD - a high gain distortion, used extensively for lead parts especially. Super tight and clear.

Sending V1-ish prototype - also has a tone control. It works ok I guess. Still very much a work in progress!

Lastgasp Misty Cave - weird drone-y reverb/flange thing? Hard to describe. Sounds heavenly.

Hypersleep proto - for room-ish reverb

Red Panda Tensor - Used for a particularly glitchy "solo"

Dirge Slowly Melting - I saw the end of the world, and it was terrifying

Lots of other stuff - I forgot!

Other - Yamaha FX500. The ultimate digital pad machine.

Roland RE-501 Chorus Echo - my drummer owns this, holy hell it is magic

My modular synth - a whole goddamn mess of its own

[trupearlweek]

Trupearl week theme explanations!

We did some deliberately vague themes so that people can have artistic freedom, but here are a few quick descriptions and suggestions for the themes! Feel free to come up with your own interpretations and don’t feel like you should stick to the themes if you have ideas of your own, though~!

Sunday, August 6: First Date/First Kiss What did the two of them do their first date? Who asked who? Did they go somewhere romantic for their first kiss?

Monday, August 7: Magic/Spirits Maybe Trucy goes to the mountains to help Pearl with her spirit channeling, or maybe Pearl is the beautiful assistant in Trucy’s magic show?

Tuesday, August 8: Nightmare/Daydream Does Pearl still have nightmares about her mom, or is Trucy day dreaming class away dreaming about weddings?

Wednesday, August 9: Summer/Winter A day at the beach with watermelons, shaved ice, and swimsuits, or a winter day with ice skating and scarves and hot cocoa?

Thursday August 10: Family/Friends Who did they tell about their relationship first- Phoenix, maybe? A double date with their best friends Athena and Junie? Issues about their parents? You decide!

Friday, August 11: Performance/Birthday Maybe it’s a magic show at the wonder bar, or a puppet show for friends, or some school band practice! Or maybe it’s one of the girl’s birthday- maybe Trucy throws a surprise party for Pearl, or maybe Pearl gives Trucy a super special home made gift? (Today is also Mod Athena’s birthday, so its extra fun!)

Saturday, August 12: Free day! Anything you’ve been wanting to draw or write about our lovely girls!

[mikemortgage]

5 Happening Cultural Destinations to Visit in 2019

HONG KONG — Hong Kong There’s never really a sleepy year to visit Hong Kong, but 2019 is particularly ripe for visitors. Spearheaded by the dynamic entrepreneur Adrian Cheng of K11 and New World Development, the rejuvenation of Tsim Sha Tsui harbourfront is just the starting point. The city’s iconic harbourside walkway, Avenue of Stars, has just received a much-awaited makeover that’s the brainchild of Cheng and visually conceived by James Corner, the landscape architect responsible for the High Line in New York. It sees the addition of design-driven rest areas, kiosks featuring homegrown brands, hand prints from Asian film stars and interactive digital elements. Featuring Hong Kong’s first wave energy demonstrator that produces electricity for the Avenue, the place is turned into one of the most sustainable promenades in Hong Kong. This is just one part of Cheng and his company’s grander urban revitalisation plan, Victoria Dockside, a new art and design district which will fully open in the third quarter of this year that has been transformed from a go-down terminal, and will include the flagship museum-cum-retail complex K11 MUSEA, luxury residences K11 ARTUS and the already functioning K11 ATELIER modern workplace, as well as the most hotly anticipated global hotel opening of the year, the Rosewood Hong Kong. This urban bolthole will feature a mix of short-stay rooms and suites and long-stay residences, alongside eight F&B outlets and a wellness offering. A little further afield, the long-awaited Herzog & de Meuron-designed M+ building in West Kowloon Cultural District is set to open its doors, and visitors will finally be able to set foot in one of the world’s best museums for modern and contemporary art.

Copenhagen The Danish capital has become a mecca for foodies, but there’s lots happening in Copenhagen this year that isn’t related to gastronomy (unless you have a taste for bamboo). The Copenhagen Zoo will this year welcome a duo of pandas to its custom-built Panda House, a yin-yang shaped enclosure that’s being designed by starchitect Bjarke Ingels, who worked on the newly reopened Noma. He’s also involved in another big-ticket opening across town, an ambitious green project called Copenhill that will be a sustainable waste-to-energy plant, but also include a rooftop artificial ski slope and the world’s tallest climbing wall. Reinvention is truly the name of the game in Copenhagen, where Enigma, a “museum of communication”, will be fully unveiled since its move into a shared post-office space. Originally an archive featuring artefacts like old telephones, it’s now an institution that explores the meaning of digital communication through formats ranging from intellectual debates to robot rentals for kids. Of course, don’t forget to put Noma 2.0 on your list, too.

Sharjah The emirate just 20 minutes from Dubai is hosting the inaugural Sharjah Architecture Triennial come November through February of 2020, with claims to be “first major platform for architecture and urbanism in the Middle East, North and East Africa, and South and Southeast Asia”. If you can’t wait that long, from 7 March till 10 June the Sharjah Biennial is exploring the theme of producing art in an era of fake news. This month, Sharjah is hosting the IWAS World Games, one of the most important qualifier events in the run-up to the Paralympics. The hospitality scene is also ramping up – recent launches include the stunning luxury conservation project Al Bait and the safari-style eco-lodge Kingfisher Lodge, with two more major new builds set for completion this year: Al Badayer Oasis, situated some 40 minutes from the city centre, is described as a luxury desert adventure, while Fossil Rock Lodge is set in an archaeologically significant area for adventure and exploration.

Berlin The city is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall on November 9, and there will be a plethora of events in the run-up to that date, from historical exhibitions to artistic interpretations and of course, parties that celebrate nothing more than the spirit of freedom since the symbolic structure fell. While the opening Bauhaus Festival was last month, there are plenty of other happenings throughout the year that will celebrate the German university that had such an enduring global influence on art and architecture. The Humboldt Forum is also opening in the reconstructed Berlin Palace right in the heart of the city, and will house the Ethnological Museum of Berlin and the Museum of Asian Art. Touted as the German equivalent of the British Museum, it will be an important addition to Berlin’s already thriving cultural scene, and will focus on showcasing Berlin’s role in the world arena.

Los Angeles The museum on the tip of everyone’s lips this year in L.A will be the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, paying homage to the industry this city is best known for: filmmaking. Pritzker Prize winner Renzo Piano has the honour of designing the structure, which will be unveiled in late 2019, and debut exhibitions will include a retrospective of the work of Hayao Miyazaki, the Japanese filmmaker behind Totoro and Spirited Away. The hotel scene is also hot – the Park Hyatt is landing in DTLA, while Palihotel opened a hotel in Culver City last month and will add a boutique property in hipster Silverlake later this spring. On the food front, mod-Mex maestro and Final Table judge Enrique Olvera, whose restaurant Pujol is number 20 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, is introducing his first West coast restaurant this summer in the Arts District.

Writer: Christina Ko

Hong Kong-based writer and editor Christina has covered the luxury scene for over a decade. She writes on topics ranging from beauty and wellness to arts and culture. Formerly the editorial director of Prestige Hong Kong, she now contributes to various publications including Hong Kong Tatler, SCMP, Discovery and Silverkris, as well as working with clients such as Louis Vuitton, Dior, Estee Lauder and Lane Crawford.

Contacts

Chance Communications Karen Liang karen@chancecomm.com

from Financial Post http://bit.ly/2IgT6FW via IFTTT Blogger Mortgage Tumblr Mortgage Evernote Mortgage Wordpress Mortgage href="https://www.diigo.com/user/gelsi11">Diigo Mortgage

[tolkienrsb]

Hello! I'm confused :( The links in the FAQ post all lead back to the same FAQ post, is it supposed to be that way? Where could I find out more about the whole hands on/hands off approach? Or will it be explained in the sign up form? I want to be as informed as I can before I make the decision to sign up, but I seem to be missing some information. Thank you!

Hi Nonny,

I’ve just tried a few random links in the FAQs and (at least for me) they definitely don’t all go to the same page, although a lot of them lead to other screens in our blog, so the formatting is similar.  Which specific link are you having trouble with?The question and answer about the different collaboration levels is here:

WHAT KIND OF COLLABORATION IS EXPECTED?

When artists submit their art for previews, they will be required to state their preference(s) from a list of predefined collaboration levels. Here’s a quick overview of what the levels are and what they mean:

Total free rein for author– what it says. The artist is saying they want to be hands-off and are happy to be surprised; as an author, you can let your imagination go wild, as long as you stay in line with your artist’s stated must-haves and do-not-wants. (NB – if you choose this option as an artist, you must provide the completed piece to your author by 7 June).

Cheerleading – the author has free rein, but is welcome to go to the artist for encouragement and support throughout the process.

Brainstorming – the artist would like to bounce ideas with the author before the author starts writing. This could include sharing headcanons and character interpretations, discussing tone, or even plot ideas (although this does not extend to giving your author an outline and telling them what to write).

Regular input – the artist would like to be in touch with their author throughout the summer, and is happy to look at drafts, outlines and snippets on a regular basis (again, this does not extend to giving your author an outline and telling them what to write).

Beta-read only – fairly self-explanatory. The author has free rein, but the artist is willing to read through the story before posting and provide feedback in line with the author’s stated needs (for example, story flow, spelling and grammar, canon compliance, etc.). This does not mean the author is obliged to give the story to the artist for pre-approval; it means the artist is willing to provide feedback at the end of the process if the author asks for it.

Author’s Choice – again, self-explanatory. (If the artist picks this option, and the author decides they would like to be hands-off, the early art submission deadline does not apply; the onus is on the author to ensure they have everything they need before they start working.)  Please don’t choose this option unless you really would be comfortable with any of the above collaboration levels!  Instead, if there are two or three collaboration levels you would be happy with, specifically state these at submission.

So – artists, think carefully when choosing your collaboration levels. Authors, bear them in mind when you’re reviewing the art during previews. Don’t pick a collaboration level you’re uncomfortable with.

Whichever collaboration level you choose, you should be prepared to respond to questions from your partner within 48 hours. If you don’t think you’ll be able to do this for some reason, provide a heads up to your partner and the mods in advance, and let us know when you think you’ll be back online.If there’s any more specific information you need then just ask, but those are the definitions of the collaboration levels - if something isn’t clear, please tell us!

Mod Narya

[soysaucevictim]

It’s Gladiator Training Plan time.

-

Sept. 21

I woke up a bit after 11AM.

I started on some exercise after a bit of gaming/YouTube.

First, today’s DD. 40 single leg bridges with EC. Not much to say other than this was very doable! :P

Second, 2′ Warmup Workout. That felt very nice for some tight neck/shoulder muscles from those katana workouts.

Third, Day 1 of my Gladiator Training Plan, focusing on strength and tone. I did the “Robin Hood Workout” at Level 1, but with EC (resting only 1�� in between sets.) That got me pretty bushed, not helped by wearing long sleeves in the summer, but I’m happy I got through it.

Last, Day 12 of the B&CP, with Dad. Mods abound, as expected. Though I encouraged dad to try to make the uneven knee planks a bit tough by creating a straight line from knees to head to get more engagement since he remarked them to be too easy that way. Didn’t do that - but there’s always next time.

After making dinner, doing a bit of the usual downtime, and getting mad at my computer... I did spend a bit of time drawing again, tonight.

-

Sept. 22

I woke up around the same time as yesterday.

First, today’s DD. 2′ overhead punches with EC. I counted 220 reps by the end. This got a bit tough with sore shoulders, but still quite enjoyable! :D

Second, Classic Warmup Workout.

Third, Day 2 of my GTP. Today’s workout was “Ab Attack“, as “casual training”, done at Level 1, but with EC. I did all the flutter kicks with head up as illustrated. Ooof, my abs really barely put up with that last set of knee-to-elbow crunches (I opted to stay balanced on the butt for full engagement throughout). And neck still wasn’t a huge fan of high crunches, but I was the one who picked this workout in the first place, pffft! :,D

-

Sept. 23

I got up a bit after 11AM.

Outside of a few moments of downtime - I felt I was pretty busy today. But that’s Mondays for you.

First, today’s DD. 60 shoulder taps with EC (30/30). This was doable but certainly got pretty tough near the end. Loading one side than the next is always a different experience to alternating every rep. Ooof. :U

Second, 4′ Warmup Workout.

Third, Day 3 of my GTP. Today’s workout was “Hardgainer“, for upper-body strength, starting with 10 lbs weights per arm, before realizing I had to take the weight down to 8 lbs after the upward rows. Shoulder presses and tricep extensions suucked, but they’re no less important exercises. Deadlifts are deceptively intense - but more fun to get though.

(After taking a shower, putting laundry in the wash, and more downtime...)

Last, Day 13 of the B&CP with Dad. Yoga Day, like last time, this kicked his ass. But we managed to get through it, with various mods. One being reclined cobblers instead of reclining heroes. Another being instead of pigeon, we did a sitting posture with rear leg bent to 90° or front leg also bent instead of tucked in - I think dad’s ankles and hips need to get a bit more flexible.

Got to bed a bit too late, showing pops some YouTube vids before getting to bed, afterwards.

-

Sept. 24

I woke up a bit before 8AM.

Got to the facility, socialized, went to Seeking Safety, had breakfast at the diner, and did some drawing while there. My triceps, and generally my arms/shoulders have been so sore from recent workouts, too. :.D

Got home and was really busy, despite so badly wanting a nap. orz

I picked up my meds, baked some take ‘n bake pizza, did the dishes, packed the pizza, filled some pill cases and emptied some wastebins. All before starting on some exercise.

First, today’s DD. 5 reverse grip push-ups without EC. Did them with dumbbells and way too sloppy form to count for EC. This variation is... frustrating and awkward, not helped by requiring the hands planted below waist rather than shoulders. Always felt like I'm going to face-plant and psyche myself out. :/

Second, 2′ Warmup Workout.

Third, Day 4 of my GTP. Today’s workout was “Muscle Factory Lowerbody“, for lower-body strength, done with 10 lbs weights per arm (except I did the goblet squats with 15 lbs on the bar). I looked at this going, "Looks like the calf raises, single leg deadlifts, and the wall-sit will be the easy parts."

I was only right about one of those (calf raises.) I think the fact I did normal deadlifts yesterday meant my lower back was a bit stiff/sore - to add the balance work involved on one leg was quite the test.

I can normally sail through a 2' wall-sit when I have fresh quads and/or enough fucking sleep. That wasn't the case today. Wound up bracing with my arms for the last minute or so. The mat was also sliding away from wall precariously, too. Normally having something funny like Sanders Sides helps - but man I was running on fumes at that point. orz

Despite a tired back, I did get around to putting away my laundry after that.

-

Sept. 25

I got up proper at about noon, decided I needed a bit more rest for how sore I was and catch up on some sleep a bit.

After a bit of gaming, I got going with my exercise again.

First, today’s DD. 30 circle crunches with EC. This was fun and my abs felt that, but it was also a nice massage for some very sore trapezius muscles.

Second, Day 5 of my GTP. Today’s workout was “Ab on Fire“, as “casual training” done at Level 1 (no EC, wanted to keep things relatively chill). Ah yes, I forgot I picked a workout that required hollow holds - arguably the least favorite part. But I got through it. I did and do enjoy knee-to-elbow crunches!

Third, Classic Warmup Workout... okay, I slotted this AFTER the main workout. Mostly because I forgot to switch tabs, but still felt it was worth doing as a bit of cool-down. :,D

-

Sept. 26

Been up since a bit before 8AM.

Got to the facility, debated on whether to take a nap but decided I would spend the time leading up to WRAP Group drawing some more. Group went well enough, did debate on doing something crafty with the beads and strings in the art room.

But I decided to do the DD instead. 60 balance side swings with EC. This was a pretty fun and doable! :D

Spent a bit of time playing Solitaire, waiting for my ride. Got home a bit cranky about silly stuff, before spending some time with YouTube, playing games, and the rest of my exercise.

First, Quick Warmup Workout. I like all the warmup routines - but I like this one a lot for the half jacks. =w=

Last, Day 6 of my GTP. Today’s workout was “Ravager“, for overall strength, done at Level 1, with EC. I also mixed up alternating sides and doing things half/half throughout the workout. I definitely looked at this with hesitation due to being so sleep deprived and recklessly drinking too much coffee. So it took a bit of a willpower dig to get through that, but I managed well enough. Liked about half the exercises, too. :P

I spent the rest of my night fiddling with that art project a bit before getting to bed. Which was so needed at that point.

-

Sept. 27

I woke up a bit before noon.

I spent most of my day on the usual, including music binging (I was looking at LGBTQ+ artists and then looking at Middle Eastern Folk Metal bands... fun, if overstimulating.)

But I did get around to my exercise, if quite late.

First, today’s DD. 1′ squat hold with EC. This was pretty brutal, the last 10" being the worst. Pffft! :U

(After updating my DD log and whatnot...)

Second, Day 15 of the B&CP with Dad. A balance & coordination day, so it was pretty chill. We did use the wall  for assist and reps/counts instead of timing intervals.

Third, Classic Warmup Workout. I know, in some respects, doing that program would count a little bit.

Last, Day 7 of my GTP. I decided to do more old DDs with EC as “casual training”. As usual, I did make attempts at others but deemed I wasn’t up for EC’ing them just yet (therefore unrecorded).

December 14, 2015 - 4′ side splits. I warmed up with 50 half jacks, as recommended, which was DEFINITELY a good call. I think my depth was somewhere between A & B - it was pretty intense in my knees. Watching some SaSi was reasonably helpful and this is a fun exercise, but it did take some digging in to get through that last minute.

December 17, 2015 - 20 tricep extensions. Oooh boy, that was brutal. The first 10 or so was alright, but it took some willpower to keep the arms synchronized (up/down planks are easier, being driven by one side then the next, and almost did a couple reps like that).

January 5, 2016 - 3′ uppercuts, swapping sides at 1′30″. I counted 121 reps and oh MAN was that aerobic - because of all the squatting. Probably one of  the most intense kind of punch, but managing 40/minute was pretty satisfying.

January 19, 2016 - 1′ single arm plank, interpreting as the standard 30″/30″. It was a bit awkward keeping my timer on my computer, craning the neck to check where I was. And I did get to trembling there. But mission accomplished!

January 30, 2016 - 120 side leg raises (lateral decubitus; 60/60.) That really made some hip tendons burn good. I enjoyed it though! :D

February 12, 2016 - 40 dead bugs. I remember when coordination for these were tripping me up a lot. So it’s nice having the procedural memory down and I do consider it a favorite.

February 24, 2016 - 80 back leg knee strikes (40/40). This was a lot of fun - but then combat exercises are my bag. I was also starting to feel the accrued fatigue, at that point.

February 25, 2016 - 45″ single leg hops, I decided to double the time and do it with both legs. I counted 171 hops in total and oh that was tough and winding. The last 10″ or so per side meant heavy thuds to the ground due to calf fatigue - but I got through it.

I did 8 additional DDs for a reason - so I can hit a nice 1,300 total ECs (out of 1368 completed). \o/

---

I think this training plan was kind of a mixed bag - did pick workouts that had less-favored exercises in them, but it all was still worth doing!

With that, I'm set up for a week of the Fighter Training Plan, tomorrow!

(Aaand... I’m gonna post this now and try to wind down soon...)

[promomagazine]

Marianna Rosati: Her Life in Leather

By: Maggie Kelly

Marianna Rosati has continued her father’s leather legacy with their joint label, DROMe: a luxed-out reinterpretation of one of the world’s most traditional materials. But, as you will find out, there’s nothing traditional about the kooky and candid Marianna Rosati.

Q: Marianna, you started the DROMe label with your father, Ferrero Rosati, who spent over three decades in leather development for major design houses such as Prada, Gucci and Fendi. What did he teach you about working with leather?

A: Working with my father mostly taught me to always believe in your dreams and always work hard for what is the aim I have. He is such an inspirational figure for the way he faces life and the way he applies his values to the work. Then, of course, I learn all the technics of garment making, not only in leather but also in fabric and knitwear thanks to the great people that have been working in our company for a long time and who dedicate an enormous amount of passion to their daily work.

Q: Leather in apparel traditionally has connotations of being tough, biker-style, broody, even punk. How have you worked to challenge this is the DROMe collections? Your clothes are so soft and buttery some are hard to believe that they’re leather.

A: Well, I really deeply love the punk and biker connotation of leather because I’m a big lover of the punk era! Having said that, I think leather can be many more things, it is such a versatile material, beautiful in its texture and great to experiment with. I always start from thinking about creating a fabric out of leather in order to create a completely different approach to the material. Working on its softness and weight, on the colour shades, interpreting it in unconventional shapes has been my challenge all along.

Q: You have a side project called Twisty Parallel Universe, a collection that overlays fashion with photography, art, and pop culture. How did this come about? Tell us a little more about it.

A: I don’t have TWISTY anymore sadly! I had to be more focused on DROMe, so I quit it. Although I have to say I hope to create a new project in the future of a similar nature! I am anyway combining art and photography in DROMe a lot!

Q: In both DROMe and Twisty Parallel Universe we see a heavy 1960’s mod influence: lots of pastel shades clashed with olive greens, tan, big checks, and chunky shapes. It’s almost a bit Wes Anderson in its vintage-kooky-femme vibe. What inspired this style?

A: I love Wes Anderson of course!! I think that I am very attracted by the mod style, mostly for the music and the era it represents. I really love the colours of that period and I love mixing these atmospheres with more punkie and rocky inputs. But, if I look at the recent ages of fashion, I find myself falling in love with aspects of all of them. Now I’m obsessed with the eighties and the nineties, obviously not all of them but some details, maybe some movies or artists that made history in those times.

Q: Before starting DROMe with your father, you were head designer at Italian label Santacroce, earning that title at just 26. You were so young! Did you feel at the time it was a large role to fill, or was it a natural progression?

A: Working for Santacroce when I was so young has been a great learning ground for me. I have to say I didn’t find it scary, we were a great team and I wasn’t alone, the teamwork is so important in our job! It was very interesting but at the same time I wanted to create a brand from scratch in order to apply all my ideas, all my filters to something new.

 Q: Like a potter works with clay, or a dancer works with their body, leather is your chosen medium. What do you love about it?

A: I love the fact that is a difficult material to work with, that has a natural elegance; it can be strong and sexy, or romantic and smooth. And we are really talking about just one material. I like that there are more limits that need to be broken and I like the fact that this is a challenge!

Q: Marianna, you come from a family of wild creatives: as well as designing, you participate in physical theatre workshops; while your brother Gabriele Rosati studied painting and sculpture before settling into photography. What was it about your upbringing that sparked such creative genius?

A: I don’t know! I think the open minds of our parents have helped a lot! Gabriele is 16 years younger than me so I have been taking him with me since he was very, very young to experience theatre, music and the art of beauty. Our dad is a very passionate figure that always gave us the possibility of travelling and of believing in big things. Our mother is a very strong woman, bit more rational but very determined in everything she does in her life. And, even if we come from a small village in Tuscany, around us there has always been a great creative energy, we have met people that literally opened our minds such as theatre Director Firenza Guidi who introduced me to the contemporary theatre and circus and with whom I’ve worked for the last 15 years. I think people with a certain kind of sensitivity are destined to meet each other and to share projects and ideas.

Q: The DROMe S/S ‘17 collection returns to soft, feminine shapes and a floral print that is all undeniably very girly and sweet. However, much of it is created with leather – traditionally a ‘hard’ medium. Do you feel there is strength and power in this juxtaposition?

A: The Spring/Summer season for DROMe is always the hardest! I tend to work mostly with soft materials to express lightness and softness. The Resort collection was inspired by Martin Parr photos, the world of flowery interior design, an eighties vibe that was going through the entire collection. That is where the romantic but still not too feminine part was coming from. The show in Paris was taking something from Resort but mostly was a wild interpretation of colours and deconstruction. I wanted to play with simple elements like ruffles and asymmetric cuts to restyle them into a smoothly sexy silhouette where the clothes could stay on the body with just one knot. The colourful pop abstract print, the golden, the paintbrushes and the amazing iridescent leather where the spaceship of the collection: a triumph of light and colours to express the joy of summer.

Q: Let’s play a game, ok? You are a DROMe leather dress: tell us about a day in the life of your owner.

A: Oh, if I have to choose to be one of my dresses I would definitely be the iridescent outfit with ruffled top and sexy pencil skirt! Well I’d sleep in my pink closet with my friends the feathers and in the morning. I would go out in the sparkling sunny day of Palm Springs! I would have a nice breakfast in my favourite cafe, have a walk in the main street of Palm Springs, having lunch at the Parker Hotel and then I would head to some vintage furniture shopping! I’d definitely buy some pink flamingos for my garden. I would end my day with a lovely cocktail by the pool to get ready for some kind of party!