#canton pop

[modernagegarbage]

Haha it reminds me of a canton pop song that mentions takuya’s eyes.

「記得拓哉的��睛 戴妃的背影 告訴我有呼吸太好」

Takuya’s eyes and Princess Diana’s back remind me how good it is to be alive.

Albert Leung, who wrote the lyrics of this song, is a very big fan of takuya. He said he wrote the lyrics for 紅豆(red bean), one of Faye Wong’s most famous mandarin songs, after watching a scene in concerto where Hana was crying while cooking kintoki, which is a type of big red beans in Japan, knowing that she was abt to break up with Kakeru.

Back to this photoshoot session, I remember reading it somewhere that it took place in a swimming pool in a fancy 5-star hotel. They had to wait until around 6pm to start shooting when the lighting was most flattering and perfect for creating such a mysterious vibe.

his stare brings this song to mind…

bit terrifying 👍😁

Kimura Takuya’s First Photobook (1996)

[perfectimpressions]

Why to Invest in car wraps in Detroit and Troy, MI

Due to their many advantages, pop-up tents have become increasingly popular for outdoor events in Canton and Novi, MI. From easy set-up to portability and protection from the elements, pop up tents offer a range of benefits that make them an excellent choice for outdoor events of all kinds.

 One of the primary advantages of using pop up tents for outdoor events is their ease of set-up. Unlike traditional tents, which require significant time and effort to assemble, pop up tents can be set up quickly and easily. This is because they come pre-assembled, so all one needs to do is unfold them and extend the legs to erect them. This can be especially beneficial for events that require a quick set-up, such as fairs, festivals, and other outdoor gatherings.

 Another advantage of pop up tents in Canton and Novi, MI, is their portability. Pop up tents are designed to be lightweight and easy to transport, making them an excellent choice for outdoor events where one needs to move quickly and easily from one location to another. They can be easily packed up and moved to another location, making them ideal for events that require flexibility and mobility.

 Pop up tents also provide protection from the elements, which is essential for outdoor events in Canton and Novi, where the weather can be unpredictable. Whether one is hosting an event in the middle of summer or in the cooler months, a pop up tent can provide shade and shelter from the sun, wind, rain, and other elements. This can be especially important for events that require protection from extreme weather conditions, such as food fairs or outdoor concerts.

 In addition to their practical benefits, pop up tents also offer aesthetic advantages. Pop up tents come in a variety of colors and designs, allowing one to choose a tent that matches the theme or branding of the event. This can help to create a more cohesive and professional look and feel, which can be especially important for events that require a strong visual identity, such as trade shows or marketing events.

 Overall, the advantages of using pop up tents for outdoor events in Canton and Novi, MI, are clear. They offer easy set-up, portability, protection from the elements, and a range of aesthetic benefits that can help to make the event more successful and memorable. Business owners planning an outdoor event in Canton and Novi can consider using pop up tents to help make the event a success. With their many advantages, pop up tents are an excellent choice for any outdoor event apart from car wraps in Detroit and Troy, MI which also plays an excellent role in catching the attention of the onlookers.

 Car wraps too can be effectively utilized by companies to turn their commercial vehicles into an advertising medium. Stationed outdoors, near the tents can also help share valuable information with the visitors and help gain future clients.

[penfight]

This saturday (and next) I'll be at Canton House in China Town for the Ancoats Popup indoor xmas market, with 50 other Manchester based indie and handmade sellers over 3 floors. Come be cosy and get some treats x

[brendanbrissonswh0re]

You really hurt my feelings

It was finally summer which meant all the hughes boys had a break, luke and I were currently driving to his house in canton. When we make it to his house I immediately get out the car while luke goes to the trunk to get our luggage, as I go to knock on the door Ellen opens it “y/n honey how are you” “im doing good I missed you so much Ellen” I say before we hug “nice to see you too mom” Luke says “oh hey Luke” I just giggle in response to what Ellen says “luke honey go take the luggage to your room y/n and I have so much to catch up on, Jim went to pick up Quinn and jack from the airport they should be here any moment now” as ellen and I sit down on the couch to talk about all the recent drama in canton luke comes down from his room and sits beside on the couch “hi baby” I say as he leans his head on my chest “mmm my favorite pillow” I give him a light slap on head “luke not in front of your mom” ellen just laughs “are you two hungry” “no thanks I ate in the car” “nah I’m good mom” right after luke finished his sentence Jim walks in with the two boys trailing behind him. As soon as jack walks through the door he spots me “Y/N” “hi jack” I say as I walk over to him and hug him after my hug with Jack i over I give quinn a hug “hi Quinn” “hey y/n/n how are you” “doing good quinner” Luke quickly hugs all all boys and his dad before he sits back down.

At dinner

“Y/n did you do something with your hair” jack asks me “I did actually I lightened it” “looks good” I blush a little because he was the only one who seemed to notice, not even luke noticed, I looked at luke and he just rolled his eyes i furrow my brows in response.

After dinner

The boys and I decided we would go to the basement and watch a movie, I was the first one on the couch because the 3 boys were up stairs getting ice cream and pop corn. I hear the stairs creek and down walks jack “hey y/n/n” “hi jackey” he sits down beside of me and puts his arm behind the couch which I thought nothing of “so what are we watching” “I don’t know i really can’t decide” “here let me pick” he says as I give him the remote. As he’s choosing which movie to watch Luke walks down the stairs before he does a double take “dude jack why is your arm around my girl” he sounds a little mad “ chill I didn’t mean it like that” jack says as he removes his arm from the back of the couch, luke walks over to the couch but sits on the other end “lulu sit beside me, I wanted to cuddle” “I’m fine right here y/n” y/n he never calls me y/n it’s always babe or baby or even sometimes honey never just y/n “it’s ok y/n/n I’ll cuddle you” Jack says before I let out a giggle “I think I’m good thanks for the offer tho jack” soon enough quinn walks down and looks at me and mouths “why isn’t luke next to you” I just shrug.after the movie is over luke and I walk into his room he gets right into bed as I take a shower after I walk out the bathroom I see Luke in bed on his phone he doesn’t even spare me a glance, weird. As I get into bed I speak up “lulu wanna cuddle” he just ignores me “luke what’s wrong” he ignores me again “seriously luke this is getting annoying” he finally answers “oh you wanna know what’s annoying you flirting with jack, why don’t you just go sleep in his bed, or better yet just go date him” “what are you talking about” “Y/N GET OUT OF MY FUCKING ROOM” he yelled he never yells at me. I slowly get up from his bed and walk out of his room tears spilling from my eyes as I walk into jacks room, I slowly knock on jacks door when he opens it he sees my tears “y/n/n what’s wrong” “I think luke just broke up with me” I say as I cry into his arms. He walks me into his room as I cry jack calls quinn into his room and tells him what happened, as soon as quinn heard what jack told him he walked angrily into Luke’s room. Quinn returns about 5 minutes later to jacks room with Luke in tow I look up at look and he had regret in his eyes he walks to me as jack and Quinn both walk out of the room. “Y/n/n baby I’m sorry I was just jealous I didn’t mean to scream at you or make you cry I promise I’ll never ever break up with you, I love you so much baby I promise” “lulu you really hurt my feelings” I say still crying “I know love and I’m sorry”

This has been sitting in my drafts for so long, also luke is officially a New Jersey devil, it’s bittersweet I’m sad they lost but happy he’s moving on to bigger and better things. Also if you like this plz make sure to follow me, reblog, and heart the post!!!🥰

[bearwildered]

One of my all time favourite albums 10/10!!

[greazyfloz]

Bend Til We Break - Chapter 13

previous chapters

Quinn has really been putting in the effort to be my friend and to be a good father. He asks every other day what I need for the nursery at my apartment. Today is December 5th, and I still don’t have cribs for the babies. I took Quinn’s offer to go look at cribs together. 

As I am getting ready my parents sent me a picture of them at the airport. I completely forgot they were going the whole month of December. Being the hormonal mess I am I start to panic, Quinn walks in to my apartment and rushes to my side when he witnesses me walking back and forth fanning my eyes. 

“What happened?” he says urgently

“I’m going to be alone on Christmas” I say trying not to cry

“No you aren’t”

“Yes, my parents booked a trip in the summer for the whole month on December because they thought I was going to your house”

“Well, you can still come home with me”

“Quinn…”

“Just pretend like it’s their first Christmas at dad’s house, then next year mom can have them” Quinn says, making me chuckle. 

“Are you sure?”

“Of course” he says, “we can just do the gender reveal while we are home and Facetime your parents” Quinn suggest

“You wanted your team to be there though”

“I’ll send them pictures, they’re fine” Quinn laughs

“Fine, just a small one then”

We go out looking for cribs and buy way more stuff then needed. Once we get back to my place, Quinn helps me bring everything up to my apartment. He offers to help me set up the cribs, and we both sit out spreading all the parts all over the nursery. 

A couple weeks later I found myself at the Canucks games with Bella, Brock’s girlfriend. At this point I am pregnant enough to look as if I could have a child tomorrow, but I’m having twins so I’m only getting bigger. “Oh my god, you have the cutest bump” Bella says as I show her a picture I made Quinn take of me before the game. 

“I know, It randomly grew overnight. Like I just popped” I laugh

“You need to post that!” Bella says

“You think?”

“Yes, do it”

I take my phone out and upload the picture to Instagram. 

“So Christmas in Michigan?” she asks hesitantly

“Yeah, it’ll be fine”

“You and Quinn are???”

“Just friends” I say sadly

“You sound like you want more with him”

“Of course I do, he just messed up way too bad so I won’t let him back in”

“Well that is a good idea” she says and the final horn goes off. 

Bella and I go downstairs to the ice level and wait for Brock and Quinn. Quinn comes out first and makes his way over. “Hey beautiful” Quinn says

“Quinn..” I say making Bella laugh

“What I was talking to our girl” Quinn says

“A girl?!” Bella exclaims and I give Quinn a look

“Shit oops” Quinn says 

“I won't say anything!! 2 girls or boy and a girl?” she asks

“Boy and a girl”

“So cute, oh my god!” Bella says, making me smile.

“Well we have a flight to catch, I will see you in a couple of days!” I say to Bella giving her a hug before Quinn and I head out. 

Quinn drives us to the airport and we make our way to the hangar as we are flying private to Michigan. We walk up onto the plane and sit in the seat across the small plane from Quinn. “You should get some sleep, It’ll be 7 by the time we get to Canton” Quinn says. I nod and close my eyes before drifting off. 

I am awoken by Quinn stroking my cheek with his hand, “Hey Y/n, we’re landing soon” I hear Quinn say. I sit up a little and look over at him. Quinn is looking at something on his phone and I watch him smile.

“What are you looking at?” I ask

“You’re post” he says as he looks back down to type something in the comment box

Yourusername

Liked by _quinnhughes, jackhughes & others

yourusername 28 weeks & 5 days and I’m still growing #twins

View all 209 comments

_quinnhughes the whole crew😍

Canucks congrats Quinn & Y/n!!!

Fan6549 OMG CONGRATS

We make our way to the parking lot where Ellen is waiting for us. She brings both of us in for a big hug then helps us put our bags in the car. “You are glowing Y/n” she says. I smile and thank her and I hop in the backseat. 

We get to the Hughes’ and I hop out of the back making my way into the house. I bring my bags up to Quinn’s and fall on his bed for a nap. I wake up around 10:30 and open my bag and get my dress and makeup and get ready for the day. 

I make my way downstairs and to the kitchen, and Jack is there eating cereal. He stands up and walks over giving me a hug. “You look amazing,” he says, flashing a smile.

“Thanks Jack” I say and pour some cereal. We chat in the kitchen for a bit about the flight and vancouver until Quinn comes in to tell me that we should start getting ready because most of the guests have arrived. 

I follow Quinn into the living room where everyone was and greeted a bunch of people and thanked them for coming. A lot of people were asking questions about my pregnancy and how I was doing before Ellen caught everyone’s attention. 

“Y/n, Quinn. Each of you get a balloon and a needle. Time to reveal” Ellen says. I smiled at Quinn as I stood up and grabbed a balloon. “Okay, on the count of three” Ellen says

“One… Two… Three!!” everyone yells. On three Quinn and I popped our balloons revealing both pink and blue confetti. Ellen walks over and gives Quinn and big hug while Jack jumps up and quickly gives me a hug whispering “congratulations” in my ear. 

Jack pulls away and Luke comes in giving me a hug after. I talked to a bunch of people for a bit before I get tired again. I sneak off upstairs and into Quinn’s room. “Where are you going?” I hear Jack say from his room. I walk over and lean on his door frame. 

“I need to take this dress off, I feel huge” I say laughing

“You are not huge” Jack says, “I think you look great”

“Thanks Jack” I say and sit on his bed. Jack sits beside me.

“So how are you really?” he asks

“I’m- I’m freaking terrified Jack. Twins. I can’t do this!”

“Stop worrying, you will be fine. You got Quinn, and me” he says resting a hand on my thigh. I look down at his hand “You’re going to do an amazing job rai- oh sorry” he says realizing his hand placement was starting to get a little high as he rubbed my leg. I reach down and put my hand on top of his, stopping him from pulling his hand away. We sit for a second looking in each others eyes until Jack leans in, I meet him halfway and we press our lips together. The kiss becomes deeper and deeper turning into a full makeout session Jack pulls away to take his shirt off then reconnects his lips with mine. “Wait” I say pulling away from Jack, “This is so wrong, I can’t do this right now Jack” I say standing and making my way to Quinn’s room. Leaving Jack there watching me leave.

[sentavoarts]

hey, ur oc is super cool! got any hcs w/ them in adwd? i’d love to know!!

HI THANK U FOR THAT but yeah i have some:

His name is Sen btw! (where i basically got my name from)

Post will include these things: -Basic info about him (fav color, food, music taste, etc) -More detailed things (previous jobs he worked, body details like scars and tats, etc) -Hcs with them and grim (uses his actual name)

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ

Basic stuff:

-He/they pronouns

-Sennes is his actual first name with Sen being a nickname

-Fav color is this specific shade of blue ( 8BECFF)

I can't even explain why he likes it he just does and thinks that's awesome of him.

-Fav foods would be those local filipino noodles (pancit canton if u wanna look it up) and that samanco ice cream

-His overall genre of music would be a mix of indie , jazz and, somewhat pop

-Fav artist is arctic monkeys or laufey!! (projecting here)

-He doesn't really have a style he just wears whatever he thinks looks good on him but it may range from vintage to things those skateboard boys wear!

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ

More detailed things about him:

-He's quite scared actually not sure if it was seen that much in that art but he has a scar across his face from accident (technically an attempt of casp trying to take his soul) from when a wine bottle fell on his face.

-On the note of wine he actually had a bartending job while he was in college to help pay for his rent. He's had some other previous jobs before this one and here they are in order: flower shop cashier > cafe barista > bartender.

-Honestly the job i was gonna give him wasn't in the list of jobs (psychiatrist) but if i were to pick in the list it would be mortician i just think he would probably kinda enjoy it??? because if you think about it being a mortician is like those asmr tiktok games where you give a make over to a zombie or smth...

-Tattoos! All over his arms! And on his nape:

the one on his nape is inspired by a song called "crying lightning" by arctic monkeys!!!!

-He has a mole on top of his eyelid and freckles everywhere.

-Actually pretty buff as he can bench press around 291 lb (strong baby boy)

-He's actually had some self defense training from his parents when he was younger and picked up boxing and fencing as a hobby.

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ

Hcs with Casper!

-Like one of the options in the game, Sen would absolutely ENJOY putting little ribbons all over Casper's hair. He might even play around a bit and make him have goofy hairstyles (that Casper would KILL him for but we ignore that).

-He calls Casper "Casp" because he just thinks its really cute. Along with "Cas" "Buwan"(filipino for moon) and "Vinegar" (Teasing)

-Inspired by that convo in their official discord server, They would have a BLAST doing each other's skincare/ make up while listening to 2015 white girl songs!

-Following the one before this they would ROCK karaoke night.

-Sen is a avid music listener and would probably try and get Casp into so many other artists.

-(based on the game) Sen's teased Casp about his plush Azrael but really Sen has a whole ARMY of plushies and Casp REALLY gets back at him for that. Basically would go like:

"Your not really all BIG and SCARY with that plushie thats so PINK and CUTE!"

"Says the shithead with a army of plushies on his bed... seriously why do you need that many"

"SHUT UP DON'T SAY THAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN"

"THE CHILDREN??????????????????"

-Idk why but i feel like he would let Casp use markers to color in his tats!

-Sen would 100% bring him on a whole road trip to a more country/rural place to just enjoy the peace and quiet (Like one of those aesthetic vanlife tiktoks

-Sen is pretty decent at drawing and i feel like Casp would be too if he tried hard enough but i just imagined them giving each other lil drawings they made (could even be on little notes left on the fridge or little letters scattered everywhere)

-On those days Casp is in the soul sickness time will be spent snuggled in bed and having nice warm meals!

-Sen would probably always ask Casper for a sparring session because that seems like it would actually be fun! Plus we don't really know much about how Casp fights so... that would be interesting (he would be butt hurt if he loses).

-Their def a >:| and :3 duo

-I feel like deep in my bones Casper would probably like playing guitar/bass. So basically what im saying is they could sing and play TOGETHER! YIPPPEEEEEEEE!

nyways i think i better stop here because this list is getting LONG. And currently thats all the hcs i can think of.

THANK U FOR ASKING THIS AND READING THIS WHOLE INFO DUMP!!! YIPPEE!

[buffetlicious]

Went to Canton Paradise (乐天小香港) at Junction 8 after praying at the temple. We were seated at two different tables, so each ordered their dishes separately. This Braised Peanut & Chestnut was the appetizer they placed on the table. Whole savoury peanuts with sweet chestnuts perked up the tastebuds as we poured ourselves the Glutinous Rice Pu-Erh Tea (糯米沱普洱茶).

We started off with the classic dim sum Siew Mai or Steamed Pork Dumpling (鱼子蒸烧卖皇). The pork and prawn filling with sprinkling of flying fish roe adding specks of colour is both meaty and wholesome tasting. Then came the Har Gow or Steamed Prawn Dumpling (笋尖鲜虾饺) with chunky succulent and crunchy prawn enclosed inside the translucent skin.

The Steamed Xiao Long Bao (上海小笼包) or soup dumpling is also another must order item. Pick it up gently with chopsticks into a soup spoon. Take a small bite in the dumpling skin and proceed to suck out the soup (beware, it's hot) then popped the whole thing into the mouth.

[jeannereames]

Kind of related to the ask on Cleopatra, and even your one way earlier on Krateros… What do you think Alexander would’ve been like if he weren’t an Argead, and instead fated to be a Marshal for whoever else was meant for the throne? Do you think he would’ve been rebellious? Or cutthroat and ambitious like Krateros? Or more-so disciplined and loyal? I kind of see him as a combination of all three because I don’t peg Alexander for someone who can be contained, lol.

To answer this, we must keep in mind that, for the ancient Greeks, belief in divine parentage for certain family lines was very real. A given family and/or person ruled due to their descent. The heroes in Homer had divine parents/grandparents/great-grandparents. This notion continued into the Archaic period with oligarchic city-states ruled by hoi aristoi: “the best men.” (Yes, our word “aristocrat” comes from that.) Many of these wealthy families claimed divine ancestry; that’s why they were “best.”

In the south, this began to break down from the 5th century into the 4th. But not in Macedonia, Thessaly, or Epiros. In fact, even by Alexander’s day, many Greek poleis remained oligarchies, not democracies. And in democracies, “equality” was reserved for a select group: adult free male citizens. Competition (agonía) was how to prove personal excellence (aretȇ), and thereby gain fame (timȇ) and glory (kléos). All this was still regarded as the favor of the gods.

Alexander believed himself destined for great things because he was raised to believe that, as a result of his birth. Pop history sometimes presents only Olympias as encouraging his “special” status. But Philip also inculcated in Alexander a belief he was unique. He (and Olympias) got Alexander an Epirote prince as a lesson-master, then Aristotle as a personal tutor. Philip made Alexander regent at 16 and general at 18. That’s serious “fast track.” Alexander didn’t earn these promotions in the usual way; he was literally born to them.

If Alexander hadn’t been an Argead, that would have impacted his sense of his place in the world no less than it did because he was an Argead. What he might have reasonably expected his life path to take would have depended heavily on what strata of society he was born into.

Were he a commoner, in the Macedonian military system, his ambitions might have peaked at decadarch/dekadarchos (leader of a file). Higher officer positions were reserved for aristocrats through Philip’s reign. With Alexander himself, after Gaugamela, things started to change for the infantry, at least below the highest levels (but not in the cavalry, as owning a horse itself was an elite marker). Under Philip, skilled infantry might be tagged for the Pezhetairoi (who became the Hypaspists under ATG). But Alexander himself wouldn’t have qualified because those slots weren’t just for the best infantrymen, but the LARGEST ones. (In infantry combat, being large in frame was a distinct advantage.) So as a commoner, Alexander’s options would have been severely limited.

Things would have got more interesting if he’d been born into the ranks of the Hetairoi families, especially if from the Upper Macedonian cantons.

Lower cantons were Macedonian way back. If born into those, he (and his parents) would have been jockeying for a position as syntrophos (companion) of a prince. Then, he’d try to impress that prince and gain a position as close to him as possible, which could result in becoming a taxiarch/taxiarchos or ilarch/ilarchos in the infantry or cavalry. But he’d better pick the RIGHT prince, as if his wound up failing to secure the kingship, he might die, or at least fall under heavy suspicion that could permanently curtain real advancement.

That was the usual expectation for Lower Macedonian elites. Place as a Hetairos of the king and, if proven worthy in combat, relatively high military command. Yes, like Krateros. But hot-headedness could curtail advancement, as apparently happened to Meleagros, who started out well but never advanced far. The higher one rose, the more one became a potential target: witness Philotas, and later Perdikkas. In contrast, Hephaistion was Teflon (until his death). Yet Hephaistion’s status rested entirely on his importance to Alexander. And he probably wasn’t Macedonian anyway; nor was Perdikkas from Lower Macedonia, for that matter.

The northern cantons were semi-independent to fully autonomous earlier in Macedonian history. Their rulers also wore the title “basileus” (king); we just tend to translate it as “prince” to acknowledge they became subservient to Pella/Aigai. Philip incorporated them early in his reign, and I think there’s a tendency to overlook lingering resentment (and rebellion) even in Philip’s latter years. Philip’s mother was from Lynkestis, and his first wife (Phila) from Elimeia. Those marriages (his father’s and his) were political, not love matches.

Similarly, Oretis was independent, and originally more connected to Epiros. Note that Perdikkas, son of Orontes, was commanding entire battalions when he, too, was comparatively young. Like Alexander, he was “born” to it. Carol King has a very interesting chapter on him in the upcoming collection I’m editing, one that makes several excellent points about how later Successors really did a number on Perdikkas’s reputation (and not just Ptolemy).

If Alexander had been born into one of these royal families from the upper cantons, quasi-rebellious attitudes might be more likely. Much would depend on how he wanted to position himself. Harpalos, Perdikkas, Leonnatos, Ptolemy…all were from upper or at least middle cantons. They faired well. For that matter, Parmenion himself may have been from an upper canton and decided to throw in his hat with Philip.

By Philip’s day, trying to be independent of Pella was not a wise political choice, but if one came from a royal family previously independent, we can see why that might be seductive. Lower Macedonia had always been the larger/stronger kingdom. But prior to Philip, Lynkestis and Elimeia both had histories of conflict with Macedonia, and of supporting alternate claimants for the Macedonian throne. At one point in (I think?) the Peloponnesian War, Elimeia was singled out as having the best cavalry in the north. Aiani, the main capital, had long ties WEST to Corinthian trade (and Epirote ports). It was a powerful kingdom in the Archaic/early Classical era, after which, it faded.

So, these places had proud histories. If Alexander had been born in Aiani, would he have been willing to submit to Philip’s heir? Maybe not. But realistically, could he have resisted? That’s more dubious. By then, Elimeia just didn’t have the resources in men and finances.

I hope this gives some insight into how much one’s social rank influenced how one learned to think about one’s self. Also, it gives some insight into political factions in Macedonia itself. As noted, I believe we fail to recognize just how much influence Philip had in uniting Lower and Upper Macedonia. Nor how resentment may have lingered for decades. I play with this in Dancing with the Lion: Rise, as I do think it had an impact on Philip’s assassination.

(Spoiler!)

Philips discussion with his son in the Rise, and his “counter-plot” (that goes awry) may be my own invention, but it’s based in what I believe were very real lingering resentments, 20+ years into Philip’s rule.

[g0atmama]

Helpless, 3

Part 6/9 (nice) of the Tribunal attending a gala with their beloveds

Part 6 includes my Hannabi Sendas and Vivec

It didn’t take long for them to settle on a style of dress. Not even really a dress, more like a skirt and top. Simple but elegant, with her midriff exposed to accent Vivec's own attire he’d be wearing. The tailor worked silently, pinning the fabric of the skirt in place while the warrior-poet floated ahead, watching and helping with how it looked.

The skirt was long, made of black silk. It would have a long cut, revealing almost all of her left leg. There’d be a Redoran-shade sash around her hips, holding the skirt in place and offering the pop of color that was to be expected of a House dunmer. However, there would also be a more subtle declaration of faction. A soft purple-ish blue trim wrapping around the fabric that would drape over her chest. Under, she’d wear something to ensure wind wouldn’t cause a wardrobe malfunction. But still, she’d wear little.

And, by the look Vivec was giving her, he would love it. Love seeing her in such loose clothes, free to dance as she wanted. And perhaps, he’d adore seeing the way other mer looked at her. How the races of man would look upon the young dunmer lady.

All the while, as the tailor worked and Vivec assisted, Hannabi’s mind wandered. Wandered to the gala. To what her mother would possibly say about it. How her grandfather, the one on her mother’s side, would insist she wear the tiny circlet he’d helped his daughter pay to have made. This was a House dunmer event, after all. She should have nothing to betray she was part Ashlander.

The thought brought a sigh. Louder than she intended. Both men paused. Vivec the first to speak.

“Dove, is everything okay?”

She blinked… Then nodded. It wasn’t a secret who her grandmother was. It was no secret, not in this city. She carried Ahemmusa blood, as well as Redoran. She gave one of their small, barely visible signals. A sign she would tell him later, and that it was about her blood. Vivec nodded, turning attention back to the tailor… And dismissed him, sending off to get to sewing the fabric together.

The tailor bowed, gathering up the fabric and pins, and departed. Off to his workspace, his store down in St Olms canton. Vivec allowed Hannabi sit, in the plush bed they’d often share. His hands moved over her body, now bare to him. Gentle touches, sweet massages of the muscles he knew would be sore after even a partial work day.

She didn’t even need to say it. He knew. He was learning her mind, learning of the challenges she faced. So she didn’t need to say it. Instead, he produced a new circlet. Similar to the one her mother had made, but the elytra of the beetle was made from tiny, glittering scales. It would be eye-catching. But, more importantly, it was another subtle way of showing she was proud of both bloodlines that connected within her. No matter what her mother said.

And, that he was proud to declare the granddaughter of an Ashlander as his beloved.

[egginfroggin]

I wasn't expecting this, either, but the line "Not all dogs are born to be leashed," popped into my head and I proceeded to explode and write this.

Mistborn AU Snippet: In which Hilda and Hilbert accept a deal with a particular Inquisitor and trade one fear for another.

(In other words, I have thoughts about Emmet going behind the backs of literally all his colleagues in the Canton of Inquisition to find allies in Hilda and Hilbert because they can get him to Ingo)

(And Ingo, unfortunately, harbors a deep, grief-concentrated hatred for the Steel Inquisitors; including, unknowingly, his own twin)

(If Emmet wants to talk to him and not get knifed with speed and haste, he'll need a bit of help)

Not really beta'ed. Enjoy, and have a good day.

-----------------

"And why should we trust you?" Hilbert demanded, arms folded, one hand brushing against the hilt of the knife under his arm.

"I am not telling you to trust me," Dari retorted, face directed towards Hilbert, head tilted at an angle as if to look the boy in the eyes despite the spikes driven through his skull. "I am offering you my services."

"That entails trust," Hilda said, and his head turned ever so slightly towards her. She was far more open in her threats, a black dagger already out and being flipped back and forth between her palms, obsidian singing easily loud enough for Dari to hear whenever it brushed against her leather gloves. "Deals require trust, and you're just one of the Lord Ruler's dogs, with how loyal you Inquisitors are."

"Not all dogs are born to be leashed," he said, the grin already stretched across his lips widening further, a disconcerting scimitar of teeth. "And do not think that I am not risking myself for this, either. The other Inquisitors will have my head if they find out. Assuming your Wraith friend does not kill me first."

Hilda twisted her mouth to the side, glancing at Hilbert. She cocked an eyebrow while he furrowed his own.

Their emotions were settled -- there was no gentle touch of brass, nor the subtle shove of zinc, trying to make their choice err one way or another.

"You can help us get closer to the Lord Ruler?" Hilbert asked, holding off on his answer.

"Yes."

"And you're risking your own hide as much as ours?" he pressed.

Dari shrugged. "Not quite. But my execution would follow your own. Verrrrry quickly."

The boy scrunched his nose and looked at Hilda.

"Well?" he whispered, not particularly caring if Dari could hear them or not -- he'd find out their decision soon enough, regardless of what it was. "If he's serious...."

Hilda sighed, weighing the odds, the cons, the pros, a pair of conflicted scales eventually settling between her and her twin as she nodded reluctantly.

"Ingo is going to kill us," she muttered.

[highwaymanstories]

Highwayman. Part One

Pearls Before Swine

It’s their honeymoon, I think. The couple stands, hand in hand in hand in hand, at the front of their luxury cruiser, staring off at the gleaming, distant stars of the cosmic Elsewhere. The cruiser’s a rental. At least, I hope it’s a rental. This sort of two-crew personal ship, with Ley capacity no less, cost about as much as a matched pair of human kidneys on the Githem gray market. But based on our quarry, they can afford it.

They were Perchlor in the FIS, which made them easy targets. Not too many four-armed humanoids in these parts, save the more insectoid chimeras. Bring a bottle of Itoan hooch to the customs guy who works nights out of the Githem North-Central travel depot, and ze’d give out a goddamn Com-Pop star’s hotel room number. Easy enough to get the travel path of Lucy and Reggie Proper. They were taking the scenic route to Vybes in the Appenzell Canton, heading to one of those coastal resorts by the planet’s South Pole. Fancy. Expensive. And they were bringing their wedding presents along with them.

From my perch inside the Nickel, I activate remote access and refocus the security camera on Lucy’s face. Handsome Perchlor, not our type — my type— but a strong jawline can make anyone look good. I’d been told Lucy Proper was the child of an old nightclub crooner and a picture star, and I could tell. Ve has on those wraparound shades that the Perchlor all wear, but had lowered them enough that ver top eye is visible. Vivid blue, blue that almost makes me think ve can see me when ve glances up at the camera.

But then Reggie takes Lucy’s hand in zirs. The couple turns, looks at each other. I can’t read their expressions behind those glasses, but that doesn’t make the thoughts behind that glance any less obvious. Hominids are so oozy.

But, they are distracted. So I tap a few keys on the retrofitted QWERTY and deactivate the shields on the cruiser. Neither lovebird notices the tiny blinking light on the console. So far, so good. I take another look at the real-time map simulation. The program takes a few minutes to process the information, but it’s running off a processor ripped from and old ‘167 Soviet gaming console, so I try not to be too harsh with it. As the CRT prints the model, I thank the old motherboard. It does good work, best it can at least. I relate to that.

I examine the render: a wireframe of the ship, with spots of density shaped out in dark colors. The cruiser’s light on security, shields deactivated, cargo kept in a compartment under the sleeping suite. That should be where we’ll find the target. Client told us it’s a pearl, gifted to the newlyweds as a present, but taken from them without rights. So, we’re getting it back for them. At a fair price, of course.

The sleeping suite’s a bit cluttered, but static on the render, with no security system, not even cameras. Probably smart to take the cameras out of the honeymoon suite. I trace the path from the airlock into the suite; it starts in the cockpit, where the locking couple had intertwined the fingers on both sets of hands and were pressing close together. Physical proximity indicates romantic relationship and emotional intimacy for nearly every sapient species in the Somewhere; it’s one of the few things they all have in common. Except the Gyo. I have — we have — they have, on the homeworld, no concept of intimacy, the same way fish don’t have a concept of water.

But a clean path, just a couple cameras. I do a visual check on the hallways, cycling through the cams. No turrets, no tripwires, not even a smoke alarm. Almost too easy. I start up a second scan, just in case the first missed something, but I think we’re good to go.

I run the tip of an arm over the QWERTY, settling on the J. I love the little bumps humans leave on the QWERTYs, to remind themselves where their fingers are supposed to go. I could have replaced the interface with a touchscreen, but the QWERTY is so tactile, so physical, so extant. It feels like I’m doing something when I press those keys.

The J is my favorite key, so I mapped my favorite control to it. I feel the nub under my arm and press down, activating comms.

“Path’s clear,” I say. “Lovebirds in the cockpit. I got eyes on everything except the suite. Get ‘em, cowboy.” Then I switch cameras back to the cockpit and watch the show.

Dime hisses as it hooks onto the airlock, pirate screws overriding the latches with a satisfying clunk. Reggie’s too lost in lust to notice, but Lucy looks over at the airlock, surprise plain on vir face. Ve can almost get out the words, “What was —“

Then the airlock opens, and you step inside, guns drawn. You grin, like a madman, like you always do, and tell them, “Reach for the sky, friendos.”

Wyatt Hobb, you are my favorite person. You say those words every single time. “Reach for the sky.” We are in space. The sky is everywhere. It’s stupid. Everything about you is stupid: your stupid hat and your stupid boots and your stupid long jacket and your stupid little face that folds into a perfect pout when I don’t laugh at your jokes and just — I have never met another person like you, and that thrills me like you cannot believe.

Reggie and Lucy freeze. Reggie looks about ready to vomit. The sight is almost comical; the two Perchlor must each be nearly seven feet tall, and here’s little five-foot-nothing you, and they’re piss-terrified. But these two have never been in a fight, probably never even thrown a punch. I can see that clean across their faces. They definitely have never had pair of Colt six-shooters pointed in their faces, not least because that gun hasn’t existed in a usable state for two, three hundred years now. And these aren’t antiques. These guns kill people.

But you don’t like to kill people. So you cock your head to one side and give them that little smirk, the same smirk you gave me two years ago, the first time we met. And you say the same thing to them you said to me, too.

“Now empty your pockets, nice and easy. Don’t want no one to get hurt. I certainly don’t, and I doubt you kind folks want that either. So no funny moves.”

Reggie glances at Lucy, looking for confirmation. Lucy’s steelier than vir spouse, I can see that on the monitor clear as day. But ve still nods and pulls a wallet out of vir jacket pocket. Reggie follows suit, and the two of them toss down wallets, keys, the little CommSlabs the Perchlor use for wireless communication. No weapons, of course. You give them an easy smile, tip the brim of your hat.

“Thank you kindly,” you say, and you sound like you mean it. I’ve never heard you lie. You say things that aren’t true, sure, say things that aren’t true all the time. But out of your mouth, they don’t feel like lies, just truths from another timeline. Like I all I would need is your perspective, and I’d get it, bones and all. You have a voice that begs people to see things your way. “Now,” you add, holstering one gun and pocketing the wallets and CommSlabs, “I’m just gonna ease on past you, get what I came here for. You don’t make any business for me, I’ll have no business with you. Sound amenable?” Reggie looks at Lucy again, and Lucy nods. “Y’all on your honeymoon?” you ask.

Lucy speaks up now. “Yes,” ve says, and damn, if you weren’t you, you’d probably fall in love with just that word out of vir mouth. Parents were a crooner and a picture star, no fucking kidding. “We don’t want any trouble,” Lucy adds, and I believe vir. “We’ll do what you say.”

That just makes you smile wider. “Got a feeling we’re gonna be real amigos, then. I trust y’all, which you should wear as a badge of honor. Now, I just want one thing from y’all, and then we can part ways, never the twain shall meet again. Sound clean?”

I can tell Lucy has no idea what you’re saying. I don’t either, usually. But ve just nods vir head.

“Neato.” You move past them, cool as cream, and into the hallway. I switch cameras, follow you through, and turn on comms again.

“Starfish to Cowboy, can you hear me?”

“Cowboy to Starfish, nearly home and clear. Now, where’s that pearl?”

“Should be in the sleeping suite. Render tells me there’s a cargo space loaded with goods under the floorboards. Those are probably the gifts, and if so, the pearl will be among them.”

You look up at the camera and grin and I just about melt. “Damn, Mai. You’re a goddamn treat. Don’t know how I did this before you.” I can feel my core flush, my arms twitch a little.

“You did it well, Wyatt. Now let’s finish this job and hit the Lines. Door on your left.”

Just as I say that, the second scan finishes, and the render prints out on my monitor.

Something’s wrong. I see it immediately. Inside the suite there’s an innocuous little lump, I thought it was piled blanket maybe. But it’s moved.

I jam my arm back onto the J.

“Wyatt, stop, something’s wrong.”

But it’s too late. You opened the door already. Still you touch your ear, activate your comm.

“What —“

Then a tiny, fluffy ball of rage flies out of the room and knocks you to the floor.

It can’t be more than thirty pounds and two feet long, but this little monster digs its claws into your chest and you scream like your soul’s been ripped out by the devil himself. The gun drops from your hand, clattering on the floor.

The creature is dark gray, four-legged, with tiny, pointed ears and a long, thin snout with tiny razor teeth. Its claws don’t look sharp, but they’re long and ragged and carve a gash across your arm as you lift your hands to protect your face.

“Shit.” I hit the J. “Wyatt, what’s happening? What is this?”

“Fucking dog!”

I have no idea that what means. Judging by the tone in your voice, though, you don’t like it. And it doesn’t seem like you’re making any progress at removing it from your limbs. I grab my nullSuit, slipping my arms into the nine sleeves and closing the zipper around my core. The helmet fogs up around my eye before I turn on the systems manager, which floods the suit with oxygen and clears the glass.

Before I jet off the Nickel, I glance at the security feed again. You’ve managed to stand up, though this… dog… is latched around one of your ankles now. You’re shaking your leg, trying to fling it loose, and I’m momentarily reminded of the “square-dance” you showed me that night we found a half-full bottle of Soviet Kentucky Whiskey on a junker.

Then something glints around the dog’s neck. I bring my arms back to the QWERTY, zoom in the camera, run and artificial enhancement filter.

It’s a collar, and a tag. There, engraved in cursive lettering, is a word, a name.

“Shit,” I say, again, and hurry to the back of the ship, pull myself through the zero-gravity and into the airlock. I double-check the seal, then jet out into the void.

This isn’t the first time I’ve had to do field work, but still, I get a little chill each time I head into the fray. My job is dangerous, you won’t let me forget that, but even so, my perch in the Nickel feels removed, shielded from the violence, and the elegance, of the work. On site, with the targets, it feels like I’m in the mud. Most of me hates it, wants to get back to the Nickel as quickly as possible. But there’s a little sliver of me, a tingle in one of my arms, that loves it.

And the journey across the gap between our ships is something else entirely. Out here, floating past the endless lengths of the Somewhere, the distant Elsewhere stars twinkling faintly, I truly feel alone. It’s the greatest feeling in the world.

I land on the Dime, a little jet pod hooked on the cruiser’s airlock like a tick. I pop the access hatch, wriggle inside, shut it behind me. Instantly, the raiding ship pressurizes. I hurry through the airlock and into the cruiser.

Reggie and Lucy still haven’t moved. But then they see me scramble onto their ship and I can see Reggie flinch. It still bothers me. It shouldn’t. But, even though the Gyo have been around longer than almost any other spacefaring sapients, I guess it’s hardwired in the hominids to recoil at the sight of a four-foot-tall, nine-armed starfish. Evolutionary design. Doesn’t make it sting any less. But that’s something I love about you, I guess. You didn’t even flinch the first time you robbed me.

At least they don’t try to stop me as I roll into the hallway. You’re on the ground again, dog latched onto your arm, biting through the coat. You look up and see me, and the relief on your face almost knocks me flat.

“Mai!” You say. “Thank heaven. Get this feller off me ‘fore he rips off my goddamn hand!”

I’m honored you think I can do that. But I’d like to keep all my limbs today, thank you, so I hurl myself into the sleeping suite to search for something to help. It’s a big, round, pink room, with a seven-sided bed I recognize as the symbol of love on Perchlorate. I find the spot in the floor where the cargo showed up on the render and pry the hatch up.

Goddamn decadent. The gifts in this compartment must be worth more collectively than I’ll make in my lifetime. Platinum necklaces. Massive, raw gemstones. Kitchen gadgetry that could run half of Mars’s computing needs.

And a small plastic cage, just the right size for the dog-creature.

I grab the cage and drag it back out into the hall. You’re on your stomach now, the murder-fluff trying to tear though the small of your back.

“Wyatt!” I say, “I found a cage.”

“Great,” you say, through gritted teeth. “Now grab the little shit, lock him up, and throw away the key.”

I set the cage down and open it. I look at the fuzzy little animal and say, “Dog, go into the cage.”

The dog does not go into the cage. It doesn’t seem to notice the cage is even there.

You stand up now, the dog scaling your leg, claws digging into your skin. I can see tears of pain welling in your eyes.

“Mai. Please. Just grab the dog, and put it in the cage.”

I creep forward, reach toward the dog. Then it turns, and snaps at me, and it looks in my eye and I look in its eyes and I know this miniature demon could rip through my nullSuit like tissue paper and would do so without a first thought, let alone a second. So I retreat back into the sleeping suite.

“Maiiiiiiiiiii.” Your voice whines after me, but I’m not abandoning you. I’m regrouping. I dig back into the cargo hold, searching for something to distract the dog. But I still barely know what a dog is, let alone what it might like. Maybe shiny things? I grab a few gemstones and fling them into the hallway. Nothing. So I grab everything: electronics, jewelry, statues, antique books, every last gift, and fling them at your flailing form.

But the dog doesn’t seem to care about anything except getting to your throat. And it’s getting close, and you’re getting tired, and the dog isn’t.

There’s one thing left. I lift the chunk of solid rubber out of the hold. It has an odd shape, a long cylinder with two lumps on either end. As I cradle it in my hand, the center compresses slightly, and it lets out a squeak.

The dog suddenly stops growling. I turn and see the dog staring at the chunk of rubber. I hold it up, and the dog’s eyes follow it. I squeeze it again, and suddenly the dog has its tongue sticking out, its tail wagging as it hops off of your arm and to the floor.

You collapse back against the wall, gasping, exhausted.

“Looks like you found its toy,” you say.

I slowly approach the dog, then squeak the toy again. Suddenly, the dog sprints at me, mouth wide, slobber dripping from its fangs.

I want to flee. I want to drop the toy and jet out into space. Instead, I stand my ground, and wait. And just as the dog is about to leap at me, I toss the toy into the cage, and the dog follows it inside.

I slam the door shut, close the latch. The dog doesn’t seem to notice as it curls up in the back, gnawing on the toy.

You stumble over next to me. “Thanks, Mai. Saved my hide there.” I try to act nonchalant, but inside I’m brimming with pride. You look around at the smashed and scattered presents. “Well,” you say, “there doesn’t seem to be a pearl here. Hope we don’t have to take off one of Reggie’s toes to get its location out of those two.” I laugh, and you give me a look. “What’s so funny?”

“Check the collar,” I say. You crouch down, peering into the cage.

There, glinting in a sliver of light, is the dog’s name written on the tag: “Pearl.”

You chuckle and step back, then put your hands on your stomach and let out a deep, guttural laugh. I love your laugh, so much. You don’t laugh like a Gyo, or like any sapient I’ve met, other humans included. You laugh like you want the whole entire Somewhere to know how pleased you are. It’s contagious, so I start laughing too, and now we’re laughing together, until a voice calls out from the cockpit.

“Can we move now?” asks Reggie.

You scoop up the cage and I follow you back into the cockpit. You grin at the loving couple, tip your hat.

“We’ll just get out of your hair,” you say, “and take this with us. Honestly, we’re doing y’all a favor. Congratulations on the matrimony, and here’s to a long and happy union.” You bow low, taking off your hat and sweeping the floor with it. I’ve never loved anyone like I love you, and it drives me mad. But I stay quiet and follow back into the Dime. Reggie and Lucy stare at us as we leave, and I wonder how long they’ll stay together, now that they’ve met you. You tend to break hearts without even trying.

Back on the Nickel, we crash in the lounge. Pearl sits in its cage on the table, still gnawing at that bone. You stare at the dog, brow furrowed. “Funny,” you say, “Client could’ve made things a hell of a lot easier, they clarified what kinda pearl we was searching for. Still, if they had, I might not have taken the gig. Not really a dog person, always preferred cats.”

“I don’t think I’m a dog person either,” I say, and you laugh like you know a secret I’ll never understand.

“Guess not.” You stand and stretch. The hem of your shirt rises up, exposes a thin strip of skin along your midsection. I don’t know why, but I’m fascinated by this part of your body. Is it a human thing, or a Gyo thing? Maybe it’s just a Mai thing. I’d be happy if that’s the case. I like having my own things. You give me a look and a smile. “Ready to jet?”

“Sure.” I swing up onto my perch, rest my arms across the controls. I don’t know how anyone does this with just two hands. I turn off the gravity anchor and set the thrusters.

You take a seat in the cockpit and lower the light shields so you can see through the windows. No matter how many times we shift into the Ley Lines, you love to watch it happen. “We’ve got to see Ramos to get our pay, so mark out for Skelter. Ready?”

I punch in the coordinates, then open the protective case around the deactualizer and wrap an arm around the switch. “Ready.”

You lean back and grin. “Then hit it.” I pull the switch.

Outside the windows, we can see the stars of the Somewhere, mapped space. And beyond them, the stars of the Elsewhere, the rest of universe, home to the great mysteries of the cosmos. And then the lights double, as if layering a semi-transparent image of space over itself. Then space doubles again, and again, until the black between the stars is blotted out by light, until the deep dark void is gone and all that’s left is blinding white and we shift from reality to unreality, from physics to philosophy, from the universe into the Ley Lines. And we’re here, and we’re together, and we’re free.

[gcorvetti]

Musica in agonia?

Ieri Ho visto l'ennesimo video di Silvestrin che analizza un pò la situazione bands attraverso una sua rubrica all'interno dei suoi programmi, rubrica che faceva tempo fa. L'idea è semplice bands o artisti singoli mandano un link attraverso i canali e lui ascolta e analizza il brano; levando il fatto che è un pò riduttivo analizzare una band da un brano solo, ma il tema di questo post non è il modus di Enrico, che nonostante non sia al 100% in linea con lui rispetto e seguo con tanto di cappello per il lavoro che fa. Il punto è che nel video lui si concentra sul fatto che l'età media dei rockettari è sui 40 anni, diciamo dai 35 ai 50, toh, e i giovani? Questa è la domanda che si pone, cosa suonano i giovani? Beh le sale prove oramai sono una cosa un pò atavica, diciamo dei miei tempi e molti hanno capito che unendo i soldi si può avere una sala prove propria dove non si ha limite di tempo, l'hanno capito anche gli estoni :D. Questo però delle sale prove non può essere un metro di giudizio per vedere se i giovani suonano rock, ma in linea di massima fa statistica. Quindi dice che i giovani suonano altro e che il rock piano piano sta sparendo o sparirà da qua a qualche anno. Beh, io credo che essendoci un ventaglio di generi più ampio è logico che le persone si distribuiscano lungo il cerchio e quindi verso generi diversi, se contiamo però che i giovani, quindi la generazione Z, ascoltano musica prettamente dal web e che nella maggior parte dei casi è pop, anche se molti pensano che basta accendere un minimo di overdrive per dire che è rock, quindi se io da 20enne voglio fare della musica e i miei riferimenti sono quelli farò quello, se invece cresco con il papà che ascolta rock magari i miei riferimenti sono altri; questo discorso è veramente ampio e dipende molto dal posto e da come si sviluppa la situazione cultural-musicale. Per esempio qua non c'è quasi nulla perché si pensa che la musica sia solo un sotto fondo, abusata al peggio, che il concerto sia solo una tantum che spezza la monotonia, molto monotona.

Non si può vivere di musica in un posto dove il pubblico è poco e troppo sparpagliato e unito solo quando arriva il big dall'estero, ne ho parlato ampiamente in tanti post. Oggi per esempio c'è Reverend beat man, dal cantone tedesco-svizzero, non ho chiesto il giorno libero per andare, se ero libero andavo; il motivo è semplice, non mi dice niente, cioè è uno dei one-man band più quotati in Europa perché il suo spettacolo è simpatico, definiamolo così, ma niente di così eclatante, posto in fondo una sua esibizione. E' un personaggione, ma onestamente c'è di meglio, altri one-man band sono più dotati a livello tecnico e hanno brani più interessanti, ma questo concerto è un grand'evento se vivendo qua seguite pagine inerenti alla musica, ne parlano tanti, tanti di quelli che conosco e che suonano, c'è poi la band garage locale di cui conosco il bassita quindi probabilmente i post messi sull'evento mi escono per questo; ma levando sta cosa non c'è altro, ok si, il chitarrista tuareg il primo Agosto, già biglietti presi, e poi? Il nulla. Quindi riprendendo un pò il discorso, anche leggendo i commenti al video, in Italia vi lamentate e avete comunque gruppi e spesso concerti, perché anche se le band fanno musica trita e ritrita comunque si esibiscono e ci sono i locali per farlo, qua un cazzo, quindi non vi lamentate e pensate che c'è chi sta peggio di voi. Per concludere, anche un pò il cruccio di Enrico che poi è anche il mio, non c'è chi propone musica nuova, anche se penso che ci siano band o solisti che fanno sperimentazione e che hanno brani magari d'avanguardia, il problema è l'ascoltatore, chi andrebbe ad un concerto, anche gratis per carità, ad ascoltare una band che fa per esempio musica non lineare, che sarebbero brani che non hanno una sequenza canonica (intro, strofa, ritornello, ecc ecc), che non hanno un tempo ballabile per esempio o che sia groovy? Quindi se io, ipotetico, propongo avanguardia o qualcosa di nuovo, diciamo, chi mi fa suonare, se pensiamo che i locali sono messi su per fare soldi e se io vado a suonare e il locale si svuota, non suono più. E' il solito cane che si morde la coda, per questo Gaber diceva che i musicisti sono di 3 tipi, il primo fa quello che vuole ma non vende e non suona, il secondo fa quello che vuole il pubblico e passa alla cassa sorridendo ma è prostituzione, il terzo cerca un compromesso tra il suo gusto e quello del pubblico, aggiungo io difficilissimo da trovare. Eccovi il blasonato Reverendo svizzero tedesco.

[pbandjesse]

Today was a pretty good day off. I did a lot and that was nice. I then had an intense allergy attack and now I feel pretty exhausted. But it was still a good day.

I woke up this morning to say goodbye to James. And then slept until 9. When I got up I had texts and emails that stressed me out. First it was Mike asking me if I could come give a tour this afternoon. I immediately said I could not. This is now the third time I have said no to working today. Which is frustrating. And then I felt guilty for saying no. Then I had emails for a commission I'm doing for the wedding tomorrow that was confusing. Thankfully that was handled pretty fast. And then it was just someone not answering my questions at awah that had me stressed out. But I just had to leave it. There was nothing else I could do.

I stayed in bed for a while. But once I got up I would feel fine. My hair is bothering me right now. Like it looks fine but also it's not curling or really doing much of anything. I want to grow it out for the summer so I'm trying not to be annoyed with it but it is hard to not just go and chop it.

I would do a little vacuuming. But soon I decided I would go out.

I drove to Canton to go get a bagel. I struggled with ordering because I couldn't figure out how to tell them I wanted my bagel toasted. But I asked someone and they said it's standard now. Neat. So I got a bagel and a soda. And I got James two bagels for them to have for breakfasts this week. They had old bay everything bagels which smelled nice. The bagel place was surprisingly busy for 1030 on a weekday. But it didn't take long, though other people were acting like waiting was the worst thing to ever happen to them.

I had my bagel outside and enjoyed watching the water for a little while. And then I headed to target.

I had a few things we needed. And a few things we didn't. But I mostly stuck to the list. I didn't even look at clothes, was proud of myself there. I was annoyed with myself for forgetting my soda stream canister but it's fine. It'll get it replaced soon.

I went to the car to drop everything off. And then walked to five below to walk around. I did get a Tshirt there, I saw someone wearing it on TikTok and thought it was cute. It is just a grey Hanes Tshirt that says "wellness club" in rainbow letters. No idea why I like it but I think it'll be good for camp.

I went to Michaels next. I needed a few things for my anniversary project I'm working on for James. And I had fun looking at the clearance section. I chatted with a woman about the clearance totebags I found. A really good price. And then I headed home.

I had purchased dunkaroos at target. And ate those while I drove home. When I got back here I brought my stuff inside and then got start working on my gift.

I spent about 3 hours organizing and planning and then executing my ideas. And I'm thrilled with how it came out. I don't want to share much just in case but it was a big labor of love. Also used almost all of our picture paper. But I'm super proud and I'm excited for next weekend when I can share it.

It was late in the afternoon at this point. James wasnt home yet. And my allergies were starting to bug me. I had a snack and laid on the couch with Sweetp. Who has choked on a treat I gave them and I was feeling some kind of way about it. My poor baby.

James got home and my allergies were popping off. They would get me some medicine and would just chill on the couch with me. Eventually they would go for a walk and I would take a bath.

James made us a little dinner. And now we are just chilling in bed. I am tired but I feel happy. It was nice to just be by myself today.

Especially because tomorrow is going to be really busy. I am running the market tomorrow. And then I have the print commission for the wedding. And then I'm working the wedding! So I am assuming I won't have time to sleep in the afternoon. But we will see what happens. Maybe I'll still make it happen. I hope it's a fun day.

Goodnight everyone. Take care of yourself! Sleep good!

[burlveneer-music]

Lorenzo Morresi & Le Isole - Pop Flop - Morresi’s albums are like master classes in neo-library music composition & production

In March 2022 Lorenzo and Luciano started pre-producing ‘Pop Flop’ at Schema Records headquarters in Milan. Part of the album has also been produced at ‘Museo Del Synth Marchigiano & Italiano’, an incredible collection of rare Italian vintage synthesizers located in Le Marche region where Lorenzo was born. These Italian synthesizers (manufacturers such as Farfisa, Crumar and Elka) were very popular in the 1970s for library music and soundtracks, and they were also used outside of Italy by the likes of John Paul Jones from Led Zeppelin, Keith Emerson, Jean-Michel Jarre and Ray Manzarek from the Doors. As Morresi himself explains, “I tried as a form of respect and love to avoid an album that simply imitates those fifty year old masterpieces, so my idea has been to add contemporary musical elements and genres together with modern production techniques to create something original”. Pop Flop has a warm, cinematic and philological feel; well balanced between tradition and innovation, fusing elements of funk, classical, acid jazz, afrobeat, trip hop - to name a few - and all whilst paying homage to those fantastic years. The song titles sound like we’ve been transported back to 1972 in a time machine: “Odeon," "Slalom," "Savana Urbana", "Beta Erotica”, “Allegro Funerario," "Rio De Janeiro Filter," and so on. We are sure that masters like Umiliani, Tommasi and Brugnolini will be pleased with the end result and will undoubtedly be smiling down from the sky. -- Stefano Gilardino

Lorenzo Morresi: Guitars, Bass, Crumar Composer, Davoli Synth, Elgam ES-200, Farfisa Polychrome, Roland Juno-60, Synket by Paolo Ketoff. Luciano Cantone: Drums and Percussion Archelao Macrillò: Drums on “Odeon”, “Allegro Funerario” and “Track ID” Edward Cawthorne aka Tenderlonious: Flutes Giovanni Guerretti: Electric Piano Fabio Mina: Hulusi Flute on “Savana Urbana” Alberto Napolioni: Electric Piano on “Savana Urbana” Francesco Savoretti: Percussions on “Savana Urbana” Agostino Maria Ticino: Synthesizers Supervisor at Museo Del Synth Marchigiano Photography by Ludovica De Santis Layout by Eugenio Crippa

[ohc-and-the-music-tapes-archive]

Fragments from Debris Slide column in Flagpole, 22 December 1999, regarding Elephant 6 bands

[source]

transcript:

HURRAH KRYZSTOF KOMEDA: The Olivia Tremor Control and Robert Schneider of The Apples in Stereo have composed the original score for a film called Dean Quixote (which, according to word on the street, “isn’t very good.”) The soundtrack will also feature songs from Songs:Ohia, Tim Keegan, The Bevis Frond and Dustin Nguyen of “21 Jump Street.” Guided By Voices reputedly pop-up in the film.

HURRAH BOB GELDOF: Orange Twin, the Elephant 6’s charity branch, recently successfully saved the roof to the Brewer Bell Museum in Canton, TX. The museum, run by and devoted to the hand-painted bells of Virginia Belle Brewer, was hobbled by damage to the roof that pushed it to the verge of collapse. Ms. Brewer began to sell hand-painted bells to raise funds for a repair effort, but the money she raised was not nearly enough to cover expenses. In steps £6. Jeff Mangum drew and Laura Carter painted 40 t-shirts and put them up for sale at $20 a pop on the Orange Twin web site (home.earthlink.net/%7Eorangetwin/). The shirts sold out immediately, helping toward a new roof for the museum. For further information or to make a donation to the Brewer Bell Museum write: Brewer's Bell Museum, Route 7, Box 314, Canton, TX 75103. For further information or to make a donation to Orange Twin write: Orange Twin, 475 Forest Rd., Athens, GA 30605, or go to the web site.

HURRAH CAMILLE PAGLIA: Online content king Salon.com listed Jack Logan’s Buzz Me In, the Olivia Tremor Control's Black Foliage, and the Music Tapes’ 1st Imaginary Symphony For Nomad among the best CDs of 1999. Music Tapes’ Julian Koster was called the “Roald Dahl” of the Elephant 6 collective. Apparently, Scott Spillane is the “Judy Blume” of the Elephant 6 collective.