#dickens was a blogger

[gublerie]

a little get to know the blogger cause i saw @venusbyline doing and i just love this kinda stuff !

name/nickname: my name is actually vitória but i go by vivi everywhere

gender: female

star sign: aquarius

height: 5’7 i think, im 170cm

time: of birth..? 5h51pm

birthday: january 25th

favourite band: i dont listen to bands actually but i used to loooove wallows and occasionally i listen to hey violet

favourite solo artist: taylor swift, sabrina carpenter and olivia rodrigo

song that's stuck in my head: number one girl by rosé and american teenager by ethel cain

last movie: when harry met sally

last show: im rewatching criminal minds but i paused it to rewatch you s1 but i just started law & order svu lol a mess

when did i make this blog: september

what i post: mgg and spencer reid my pookies and also all things cm related

last thing i googled: pfp of men cause i was thinking of a meme but couldnt find it ☹️

do i get asks: yes !! i love talking to people specially abt spencer reid and mgg send me your thoughts always 🫶

how did i chose my username: i talked abt this here!!

following: 90

followers: 222 omg angel number

average sleep: honestly around 10 hours lol but if its a day i have to wake up early id say about 6 hours

lucky number: 5 and 25

instruments: none

what am i wearing rn: my t swift shirt 🙂‍↕️ and pink pyjama shorts

dream trip: paris!! since i was a kid i dream of paris

favourite food: pizza and probably japanese food

nationality: brazilian

favourite song: could never pick just one favorite song but hits different by taylor swift, all-american bitch by olivia rodrigo and dumb & poetic by sabrina carpenter describe me as a person

last book: a charles dickens one i just started i think its called the pickwick papers in english ? idk

top 3 fictional universes: criminal minds, one tree hill (i dream of being a cheer with brooke davis)

favourite colour: pink and yellow 🩷💛

[grandhotelabyss]

Any thoughts on nick land / mark fisher?

I've encountered both of them essentially as bloggers—I don't think I've ever read a word of either on paper—so I can't say I've studied them formally or mastered their thinking.

Land's concept of capital as autonomous alien intelligence assembling itself through retroaction on human agents—do I have this right?—is fun science fiction. I accept that as a theory of cultural temporality in general but not necessarily as a theory of technology or capitalism in particular. As for his more (shall we say) "ethnic" idea about "exit" and the Anglo character—maybe there's something to that. Modern history as the struggle between decentralized commercial sea empires (UK, US) and despotic communist land empires (Germany, Russia, China). And his new thing about Anglo-Zionism—I believe he's read Milton deeply—is right on time. All his Compact pieces on the English canon are paywalled, so I haven't read them, but it seems like he's approaching the idea that the God of the Bible is the force he previously identified as capital. (I think this is similar to what Mitchell Heisman outlined in his Suicide Note, but I only read some of that, and only once, on one sleepless night over 10 years ago, and doubt I'll revisit it. Does Heisman cite Land? I don't recall.) Hyperstition is real, as any manifestation girl on here or on TikTok or on YouTube will tell you.

Now Fisher was a sad case. I think all that anti-humanist theory did him no favors, personally. I'm not sure he could stand in that desolate place, the way Land could. I don't believe I ever directly interacted with him online when we both were bloggers in the same milieu circa 2005 or so. Maybe once or twice. He had a positive Marxist take on Batman Begins, and I had a negative one, and I think somebody sent him mine when he had comments open. (He had a whole thing, which anticipated the "vampire's castle" image, about "gray vampires" who stalk the comments section and suck the life out of your imaginative assertions with their point-missing nitpickery. He wasn't wrong!) I'm sure he thought I was hideously naive if he ever thought about me at all, and I was naive, I was essentially a Stalinist, an obvious example of humanist theory gone wrong, but there are limits, too, to that gothic style he picked up from Land and the CCRU.

I think he said Kafka was his first major author. There's a case to be made that you should read Kafka only after Dickens. (I don't mean literally but metonymically. Nor do I mean the 19th century vs. the 20th or even realism vs. modernism. Replace Kafka with Baudelaire and Dickens with Joyce and it'll mean the same.) And I'm not talking about politics here or even ethics. No panacea for politics and ethics can be found in books. Kafka, for that matter, was probably a nicer guy qua guy than Dickens was. But, just as someone who has to live in the world in your skin, it can't hurt to read a non-anti-humanist book from time to time if you're a bookish person. To not always try to conceptually outflank as a ruse of power every obvious humane sentiment. And to try not to need your humane sentiments to be conveyed only by the most alienating stimulus, to need them to come in the form of their opposite. I never got over his review of The Passion of the Christ:

What, from one perspective, is the utter humiliation and degradation of Jesus's body is on the other a coldly ruthless vision of the body liberated from the 'wisdom and limits of the organism'.

Masochristianity.

Christ's Example is simply this: it is better to die than to pass on abuse virus or to in any way vindicate the idiot vacuity and stupidity of the World of authority.

Power depends upon the weakness of the organism. When authority is seriously challenged, when its tolerance is tested to the limit, it has the ultimate recourse of torture. The slow, graphic scenes of mindless physical degradation in The Passion of the Christ are necessary for revealing the horrors to which Jesus' organism was subject. It is made clear that he could have escaped the excruciating agony simply by renouncing his Truth and by assenting to the Authority of the World. Christ's Example insists: better to let the organism be tortured to death ('If thine own eye offend thee, pluck it out') than to bow, bent-headed, to Authority.

This is what is perhaps most astonishing about Gibson's film. Far from being a statement of Catholic bigotry, it can only be read as an anti-authoritarian AND THEREFORE anti-Catholic film. For the Pharisees of two millennia ago, puffed up in their absurd finery, substitute the child-abuser apologists of today's gilt-laden, guilt-ridden Vatican. Against all the odds, against two thousand years of cover-ups and dissimulation, The Passion of the Christ recovers the original Christ, the anti-Wordly but not otherwordly Christ of Liberation Theology: the Gnostic herald of Apocalypse Now.

This is why I found him frustrating when I read him as a daily blogger almost 20 years ago. Plus the over-solemnity about pop-culture ephemera. I found him a bit naive, too, in the end, though he was almost 15 years my senior. I also sometimes just didn't and don't know what he was talking about, because I sort of hated and hate theory.

In his purely political commentary, he was right, however, to focus on bureaucratization as an effect of neoliberalism—the way capitalism and communism converge in the present for the worst of both worlds, everything is at once a competition and frozen in a statist hierarchy. I'm not sure I'm persuaded by the "hauntology" thesis. I've thought through that issue in a different way and am not convinced the end of the myth of the revolution or the myth of the avant-garde has to mean that we have no future. In fact it might mean the opposite. But good for him for putting into public consciousness an interesting and melancholically beautiful idea that would otherwise have remained confined to smug Derrida-readers.

He is fun to read. That's the highest compliment I can pay. I'm sure the big K-Punk book is a wonderful thing to own and to browse through: to watch a movie or read a book or listen to an album and then see what he had to say about it. He was one model of the blogger as true essayist.

[oldbutnotyetwise]

So You Want to Be a Writer

     So about six and a half years ago I started a blog, I was inspired by my daughter who had started her own blog, and followed her lead starting my own.  I recently was notified I am now up to twenty five entries on my blog which was started about six and a half years ago.  It sat dormant for many years but after I retired and moved north I joined a Writing Group at the local library and that has been the spark I needed to bring my Blog back to life.  I write under the pseudonym oldbutnotyetwise, all one word.  I write on an online forum called Tumblr, and brace for it, yes I have four or five followers …. who are friends who are kind enough to read and add a nice comment from time to time.  Although I write my blog I would be hard pressed to call myself a writer, I think I am a simple story teller or perhaps ponderer of life.

     So what is an author?  Webster’s dictionary defines an author as a storyteller, biographer, blogger, wordsmith, novelist, and many other similar titles.  I like the title Wordsmith, it suggests someone who knows how to craft a story using just the right words.  Sort of a Craftsman of the written word.  

     So who are the worlds best writers of all time?�� According to the Internet that would be people like H.G. Wells, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Jane Austen and George Orwell.  I think it is sad that there is only one woman on that list, but then a lot of the names on that list lived when no one would publish a woman author, thankfully the world is different now…I think.

     So who are my favourite authors or books?  Probably one of my favourite books of all time is Tuesdays with Morrie written by Mitch Albom.  Now is he a great author, I don’t know about that, but he sure wrote a great book.  I really liked the writing of Robert James Waller who is best known for Bridges of Madison County, his writing appealed to me and I really liked everything he wrote but that’s just me, I expect for most folks he was just a one hit wonder.  John Irving wrote some amazing novels despite the eccentric nature of some of his stories.  Irving just wrote such interesting characters.  I am just realizing that although I have a list of my favourite movies, I don’t have a list of my favourite books.  I may have to work on that.  

     I have struck up a friendship with Darrell who shares some similarities with me.  He is also a Published Author among many other things, his book has both Prose and Poetry in it.  It took me a while to read his book, not that it wasn’t good but rather it is the kind of book I liked to read, ponder, go back and reread and ponder it more.  I don’t normally care for poetry but I must tell you that some of his poems were so well crafted that they just touched me and stayed with me.  The last piece of prose was so well written that I felt I was in the story, that is how well he painted the picture with his words.

     I just recently exchanged messages with Sheree who is a pretty well known children’s author who has published many, many books and lives in Nova Scotia.  Someone who has made her living at writing books.  She and I have been talking about life challenges that we are both facing.  I must admit to feeling a little intimidated by “real authors”.

     I think authors must be kin to songwriters and artists.  People who I suspect tend to be right brained and somehow just are able to express themselves artistically whether it be through music, art or writing.    

     As much as I pretend I can write I have to accept that I am a left brained person.  I am boringly logical, matter or fact kind of person.  Add to that 31 years of writing Police Reports where like my good friend Joe Friday liked to say “just the facts ma’am”.   I tend to write factually, I don’t have the ability to paint the picture with words no matter how hard I try.    

      Now the conflict is I am full of stories, now getting those stories out of my head and finished on the computer screen is the challenge.  What I work so hard at is that middle part of translating that jumble of thoughts and ponderances and transforming them into a readable piece that someone might enjoy reading and that just maybe gives them something for their brain to chew on when the story is done.  

     Now one of the all time great books is supposed to be On Walden Pond by Henry David Thoreau.  Trying to better myself and my exposure to great literature I tried to read it.  I absolutely hated the book, and to be honest didn’t like Thoreau either.  I would best describe this book as and exercise in turning what should have been a paragraph into twenty pages of drivel.  Yet I am sure that there are many who love this book.  There are many other examples of great books that some of us just don’t like.

      So obviously different styles, topics, characters must appeal to everyone differently.  Now I honestly do not ever expect to be a published author, but if I did ever finish a book then I would hope that I really liked what I had written.  I guess that is the luxury  of writing what I want, for like minded souls and not needing to make a living at it.  There is a freedom to that that a professional author does not have.  

      Now I think that we all have great stories in us, and older folks can be a Gold Mine of great material.  So for now I will continue to keep tapping out my ponderances on life, and maybe from time to time putting down to paper an interesting story that I have heard from someone.  So if you have the time and the inclination feel free to read my stories, and perhaps even better share a story or two with me.  If I was to ask you to tell me an interesting story from your life, what story would you choose to tell me?

[warriorprincesstramp]

girl she talks about wanting dick like every day of her life. you have to move on....

the fact that gay sabrina truthers exist fascinates me...I wish I could be that delusional

[brookston]

Holidays 11.29

Holidays

Andrzejki (Poland)

Anniversary of the Employees’ Corps (Indonesia)

Avascular Necrosis/Osteonecrosis Awareness Day

Chadwick Boseman Day

Chia Pet Day

Customer is Wrong Day

Dita e Çlirimit (Liberation Day; Albania)

Don Cheadle Day

Electronic Greetings Day

Family Day (Palau)

Feast of Great Expectations

Get Rid of Clutter Day

Global MRKH Awareness Day (Australia)

Insotrancevia Day

International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (UN)

International Day of the Bible [also 11.24]

International Jaguar Day

International Women Human Rights Defenders Day

Invisible Ink Day

Isdal Woman Day

Juniper Day (French Republic)

Liberation Day (Albania)

London Bridge Stabbing Anniversary Day (UK)

National Day of Listening

National Electronic Greetings Day

National Email Unsubscribe Day

National Evan Day

National Square Dancing Day [also 1.24]

National Tuxedo Cat Day

National Unity Day (Vanuatu)

Newspaper Day

Pay A Blogger Day

Republic Day (Yugoslavia)

Rolling Stones Day (Colorado)

Schrödinger's Cat Day

Tori No Ichi (Rooster Day #3; Japan)

Unity Day (Vanuatu)

Westland Day (New Zealand)

William V.S. Tubman Day (Liberia)

World Anteater Day

World Movement Disorders Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Gnocchi Day (Argentina)

Good Meat Day (Ii Niku no Hi; Japan)

Maize Day

National Chocolates Day

National Lemon Cream Pie Day

National Rice Cake Day

Pop-Tarts Day

Independence & Related Days

Barbados (Independence Proclaimed; 1966)

Paravia (Declared; 2014) [unrecognized]

Yugoslavia (Day of the Republic; 1945)

5th & Last Friday in November

Black Hole Friday [Last Friday]

Comfort Food Friday [Every Friday]

Field Trip Friday [Last Friday of Each Month]

Finally Friday [Last Friday of Each Month]

Five For Friday [Every Friday]

Flashback Friday [Every Friday]

Flatbread Friday [Last Friday of Each Month]

Friday after Thanksgiving (US) [5th Friday] (a.k.a. ... 

Black Friday

Bleak Friday (UK)

Buy Nothing Day

Buy Nothing (But Beer) Day

Family Day (Nevada)

Friendsgiving [Friday after Thanksgiving] (also Wednesday before Thanksgiving & 3rd Thursday)

Green Friday

Maize Day

National Day of Listening

National Farm to Pints Day

National Flossing Day

National Leftovers Day

National Throw Out Your Leftovers Day

National Turkey Sandwich Day

Native American Heritage Day

Plaid Friday

Planetary Buy Nothing Day

Plan Your Dagwood Sandwich Day

Random Acts of Kindness Friday

Robert E. Lee Day (Georgia)

Sinkie Day (celebrates eating over the sink)

You’re Welcome Day (a.k.a. You're Welcomegiving Day)

Friday Finds [Every Friday]

Fry Day (Pastafarian; Fritism) [Every Friday]

Fur-Free Friday [Last Friday]

Green Friday [Last Friday]

International Systems Engineer Day [Last Friday]

National Day of Thanksgiving (Turks and Caicos) [Last Friday]

Systems Engineer Day [Last Friday]

TGIF (Thank God It's Friday) [Every Friday]

Thank a Property Manager Day [Last Friday]

Worldwide Fur Free Friday [Last Friday]

Weekly Holidays beginning November 29 (4th Full Week of November)

None Known

Festivals Beginning November 29, 2024

Anime Festival Asia (Singapore, Singapore) [thru 12.1]

Belleville Christkindlmarkt (Belleville, Illinois) [thru 12.23]

Brussels Christmas Market (Brussels, Belgium) [thru 1.5.2025]

Clockenflap Music and Arts Festival (Hong Kong, Hong Kong) [thru 12.1]

Creede Chocolate Festival (Creede, Colorado) [thru 11.30]

Dickens Village Festival (Garrison, North Dakota) [thru 12.14]

Festival of Gingerbread (Fort Wayne, Indiana) [thru 12.14]

Foods & Feasts of Colonial Virginia (Williamsburg, Virginia) [thru 11.30]

Gingerbread House Festival (South Windsor, Connecticut) [thru 12.14]

Grass Valley Cornish Christmas Celebration (Grass Valley, California) [thru 12.20]

Helsinki Christmas Market (Helsinki, Finland) [thru 12.22]

Holiday Lighting Extravaganza (Pueblo, Colorado)

Holiday Wine Trail (Phillipsburg, New Jersey) [thru 12.1]

Krakow Christmas Market (Krakow, Poland) [thru 1.1.2025]

Liège Christmas Market (Liège, Belgium) [thru 12.30]

Madrid Christmas Market (Madrid, Spain) [thru 12.31]

Merano Christmas Market (Merano, Italy) [thru 1.6.2025]

Night of the Proms (Mannheim, Germany) [thru 1.5.2025]

Nuremberg Christmas Market (Nuremberg, Germany) [thru 12.24]

Riga Christmas Market (Riga, Latvia) [thru 1.2.2025]

Sarasota Fall Seafood & Music Festival (Sarasota, Florida) [thru 12.1]

Vilnius Christmas Market (Vilnius, Lithuania) [thru 12.29]

Waikiki Holiday Parade (Honolulu, Hawaii)

Warsaw Christmas Market (Warsaw, Poland) [thru 1.6.2025]

Winterfest (Seattle, Washington) [thru 12.31]

Winterfest (Tulsa, Oklahoma) [thru 1.4.2025]

World's Championship Duck Calling Contest & Wings Over the Prairie Festival (Stuttgart, Arkansas) [thru 11.30]

Wroclaw Christmas Market (Wroclaw, Poland) [thru 1.7.2025]

Zecchino d’Oro (Bologna, Italy) [thru 12.1]

Feast Days

Abibos of Nekresi (Christian; Saint)

Alexander Brullov (Artology)

Alex Grey (Artology)

Ashi Vanguhi (Ancient Persian/Zoroastrian) [2 Days after Full Moon]

Bernardo de Hoyos (Christian; Blessed)

Brendan of Birr (Christian; Saint)

Clement IV, Pope (Christian; Saint)

C.S. Lewis (Writerism)

Cuthbert Mayne (Christian; Martyr)

Cutlass Sharpening Day (Pastafarian)

Fairy Flute Fantasy (Shamanism)

Feast of All Saints of the Seraphic Order

Feast of Hathor at Sekhmet (Ancient Egypt; Everyday Wicca)

Festival of Saturnia (for the Sons of Saturn)

Francis Dodd (Artology)

Francis Fasani (Christian; Saint)

Gregory Gillespie (Artology)

The Hobos (Muppetism)

Illuminata (Christian; Saint)

James Rosenquist (Artology)

Jefferson (Positivist; Saint)

Louisa May Alcott (Writerism)

Madeleine L’Engle (Writerism)

Make a Winter Solstice Advent Candle Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Our Lady of Beauraing (Christian; Saint)

Pryderi (Celtic Book of Days)

Radboud of Utrecht (Roman Catholic; Saint)

Sadiron (Christian; Saint)

Saturnin (a.k.a. Saturnius of Toulouse; Christian; Saint)

Sekhmet’s Day (Pagan)

Tahir Salahov (Artology)

Ummm Bacon Day (Church of the SubGenius)

Vampire’s Rise Up Day (Ancient Rumania)

Vegetarian Remission Day (Church of the SubGenius)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Tomobiki (友引 Japan) [Good luck all day, except at noon.]

Unlucky Day (Grafton’s Manual of 1565) [54 of 60]

Premieres

Alice’s Spanish Guitar (Ub Iwerks Disney Cartoon; 1926)

Astral Weeks, by Van Morrison (Album; 1968)

The Bank Dick (Film; 1940)

Boulevard of Broken Dreams, by Green Day (Song; 2004)

Bullwinkle’s Ride or Goodbye, Dollink (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S1, Ep. 2; 1959)

Calling All Cars (Radio Series; 1933)

The Dog House (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1952)

The Gay Divorce, by Cole Porter (Broadway Musical; 1932)

Double Fantasy, by John Lennon (Album; 1980)

The Fistic Mystic (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1946)

Hawaiian War Chant, recorded by Tommy Dorsey (Song; 1938)

It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (TV Movie; 2002)

I Want to Hold Your Hand, by The Beatles (Song; 1963)

Jet Fuel Formula, Episode One (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S1, Ep. 1; 1959)

Lavender Haze, by Taylor Swift (Song; 2022)

Like a Hurricane, recorded by Neil Young (Song; 1975)

The Lorelei (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1931)

The Lost Weekend (Film; 1945)

Mirai (Anime Film; 2018)

Mommy Loves Puppy (Animated Antics Cartoon; 1940)

My Life, by Mary J. Blige (Album; 1994)

The Mysterious Jug (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1937)

9 to 5 (Film; 1980)

9 to 5, by Dolly Parton (Song; 1980)

Plane Goofy, featuring Farmer Al Falfa (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1940)

Pong (Video Game; 1972)

Rolling in the Deep, by Adele (Song; 2010)

Southern Horse-Pitality (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1935)

Terrier Stricken (WB MM Cartoon; 1952)

The Uninvited Pests, featuring Farmer Al Falfa (Heckle & Jeckle Cartoon; 1946)

Zelda, by Nancy Milford (Biography; 1970)

Today’s Name Days

Christine, Friederike, Friedrich (Austria)

Iluminata, Saturnin, Svjetlana, Vlasta (Croatia)

Zina (Czech Republic)

Saturnius (Denmark)

Edgar, Egert (Estonia)

Aimo (Finland)

Saturnin (France)

Berta, Friedrich, Friederike (Germany)

Fedra, Fedros, Filoumeni, Filoumenos (Greece)

Taksony (Hungary)

Saturnino (Italy)

Ignats, Ojars, Veseta (Latvia)

Butvydė, Daujotas, Saturninas (Lithuania)

Sofie, Sonja (Norway)

Błażej, Bolemysł, Fryderyk, Przemysł, Saturnin, Saturnina, Walter (Poland)

Filumen, Paramon, Valerian (Romania)

Vratko (Slovakia)

Iluminada, Saturnino (Spain)

Sune (Sweden)

Philemona (Ukraine)

Dahlia, Dalia, Daphne (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 334 of 2024; 32 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 5 of Week 48 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ngetal (Reed) [Day 6 of 28]

Chinese: Month 10 (Yi-Hai), Day 29 (Ding-You)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 28 Heshvan 5785

Islamic: 27 Jumada I 1446

J Cal: 4 Black; Foursday [4 of 30]

Julian: 16 November 2024

Moon: 3%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 26 Frederic (12th Month) [Toussaint L’Ouverture / Bolivar]

Runic Half Month: Is (Stasis) [Day 8 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 68 of 90)

Week: 4th Full Week of November

Zodiac: Sagittarius (Day 8 of 30)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 11.29

Holidays

Andrzejki (Poland)

Anniversary of the Employees’ Corps (Indonesia)

Avascular Necrosis/Osteonecrosis Awareness Day

Chadwick Boseman Day

Chia Pet Day

Customer is Wrong Day

Dita e Çlirimit (Liberation Day; Albania)

Don Cheadle Day

Electronic Greetings Day

Family Day (Palau)

Feast of Great Expectations

Get Rid of Clutter Day

Global MRKH Awareness Day (Australia)

Insotrancevia Day

International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (UN)

International Day of the Bible [also 11.24]

International Jaguar Day

International Women Human Rights Defenders Day

Invisible Ink Day

Isdal Woman Day

Juniper Day (French Republic)

Liberation Day (Albania)

London Bridge Stabbing Anniversary Day (UK)

National Day of Listening

National Electronic Greetings Day

National Email Unsubscribe Day

National Evan Day

National Square Dancing Day [also 1.24]

National Tuxedo Cat Day

National Unity Day (Vanuatu)

Newspaper Day

Pay A Blogger Day

Republic Day (Yugoslavia)

Rolling Stones Day (Colorado)

Schrödinger's Cat Day

Tori No Ichi (Rooster Day #3; Japan)

Unity Day (Vanuatu)

Westland Day (New Zealand)

William V.S. Tubman Day (Liberia)

World Anteater Day

World Movement Disorders Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Gnocchi Day (Argentina)

Good Meat Day (Ii Niku no Hi; Japan)

Maize Day

National Chocolates Day

National Lemon Cream Pie Day

National Rice Cake Day

Pop-Tarts Day

Independence & Related Days

Barbados (Independence Proclaimed; 1966)

Paravia (Declared; 2014) [unrecognized]

Yugoslavia (Day of the Republic; 1945)

5th & Last Friday in November

Black Hole Friday [Last Friday]

Comfort Food Friday [Every Friday]

Field Trip Friday [Last Friday of Each Month]

Finally Friday [Last Friday of Each Month]

Five For Friday [Every Friday]

Flashback Friday [Every Friday]

Flatbread Friday [Last Friday of Each Month]

Friday after Thanksgiving (US) [5th Friday] (a.k.a. ... 

Black Friday

Bleak Friday (UK)

Buy Nothing Day

Buy Nothing (But Beer) Day

Family Day (Nevada)

Friendsgiving [Friday after Thanksgiving] (also Wednesday before Thanksgiving & 3rd Thursday)

Green Friday

Maize Day

National Day of Listening

National Farm to Pints Day

National Flossing Day

National Leftovers Day

National Throw Out Your Leftovers Day

National Turkey Sandwich Day

Native American Heritage Day

Plaid Friday

Planetary Buy Nothing Day

Plan Your Dagwood Sandwich Day

Random Acts of Kindness Friday

Robert E. Lee Day (Georgia)

Sinkie Day (celebrates eating over the sink)

You’re Welcome Day (a.k.a. You're Welcomegiving Day)

Friday Finds [Every Friday]

Fry Day (Pastafarian; Fritism) [Every Friday]

Fur-Free Friday [Last Friday]

Green Friday [Last Friday]

International Systems Engineer Day [Last Friday]

National Day of Thanksgiving (Turks and Caicos) [Last Friday]

Systems Engineer Day [Last Friday]

TGIF (Thank God It's Friday) [Every Friday]

Thank a Property Manager Day [Last Friday]

Worldwide Fur Free Friday [Last Friday]

Weekly Holidays beginning November 29 (4th Full Week of November)

None Known

Festivals Beginning November 29, 2024

Anime Festival Asia (Singapore, Singapore) [thru 12.1]

Belleville Christkindlmarkt (Belleville, Illinois) [thru 12.23]

Brussels Christmas Market (Brussels, Belgium) [thru 1.5.2025]

Clockenflap Music and Arts Festival (Hong Kong, Hong Kong) [thru 12.1]

Creede Chocolate Festival (Creede, Colorado) [thru 11.30]

Dickens Village Festival (Garrison, North Dakota) [thru 12.14]

Festival of Gingerbread (Fort Wayne, Indiana) [thru 12.14]

Foods & Feasts of Colonial Virginia (Williamsburg, Virginia) [thru 11.30]

Gingerbread House Festival (South Windsor, Connecticut) [thru 12.14]

Grass Valley Cornish Christmas Celebration (Grass Valley, California) [thru 12.20]

Helsinki Christmas Market (Helsinki, Finland) [thru 12.22]

Holiday Lighting Extravaganza (Pueblo, Colorado)

Holiday Wine Trail (Phillipsburg, New Jersey) [thru 12.1]

Krakow Christmas Market (Krakow, Poland) [thru 1.1.2025]

Liège Christmas Market (Liège, Belgium) [thru 12.30]

Madrid Christmas Market (Madrid, Spain) [thru 12.31]

Merano Christmas Market (Merano, Italy) [thru 1.6.2025]

Night of the Proms (Mannheim, Germany) [thru 1.5.2025]

Nuremberg Christmas Market (Nuremberg, Germany) [thru 12.24]

Riga Christmas Market (Riga, Latvia) [thru 1.2.2025]

Sarasota Fall Seafood & Music Festival (Sarasota, Florida) [thru 12.1]

Vilnius Christmas Market (Vilnius, Lithuania) [thru 12.29]

Waikiki Holiday Parade (Honolulu, Hawaii)

Warsaw Christmas Market (Warsaw, Poland) [thru 1.6.2025]

Winterfest (Seattle, Washington) [thru 12.31]

Winterfest (Tulsa, Oklahoma) [thru 1.4.2025]

World's Championship Duck Calling Contest & Wings Over the Prairie Festival (Stuttgart, Arkansas) [thru 11.30]

Wroclaw Christmas Market (Wroclaw, Poland) [thru 1.7.2025]

Zecchino d’Oro (Bologna, Italy) [thru 12.1]

Feast Days

Abibos of Nekresi (Christian; Saint)

Alexander Brullov (Artology)

Alex Grey (Artology)

Ashi Vanguhi (Ancient Persian/Zoroastrian) [2 Days after Full Moon]

Bernardo de Hoyos (Christian; Blessed)

Brendan of Birr (Christian; Saint)

Clement IV, Pope (Christian; Saint)

C.S. Lewis (Writerism)

Cuthbert Mayne (Christian; Martyr)

Cutlass Sharpening Day (Pastafarian)

Fairy Flute Fantasy (Shamanism)

Feast of All Saints of the Seraphic Order

Feast of Hathor at Sekhmet (Ancient Egypt; Everyday Wicca)

Festival of Saturnia (for the Sons of Saturn)

Francis Dodd (Artology)

Francis Fasani (Christian; Saint)

Gregory Gillespie (Artology)

The Hobos (Muppetism)

Illuminata (Christian; Saint)

James Rosenquist (Artology)

Jefferson (Positivist; Saint)

Louisa May Alcott (Writerism)

Madeleine L’Engle (Writerism)

Make a Winter Solstice Advent Candle Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Our Lady of Beauraing (Christian; Saint)

Pryderi (Celtic Book of Days)

Radboud of Utrecht (Roman Catholic; Saint)

Sadiron (Christian; Saint)

Saturnin (a.k.a. Saturnius of Toulouse; Christian; Saint)

Sekhmet’s Day (Pagan)

Tahir Salahov (Artology)

Ummm Bacon Day (Church of the SubGenius)

Vampire’s Rise Up Day (Ancient Rumania)

Vegetarian Remission Day (Church of the SubGenius)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Tomobiki (友引 Japan) [Good luck all day, except at noon.]

Unlucky Day (Grafton’s Manual of 1565) [54 of 60]

Premieres

Alice’s Spanish Guitar (Ub Iwerks Disney Cartoon; 1926)

Astral Weeks, by Van Morrison (Album; 1968)

The Bank Dick (Film; 1940)

Boulevard of Broken Dreams, by Green Day (Song; 2004)

Bullwinkle’s Ride or Goodbye, Dollink (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S1, Ep. 2; 1959)

Calling All Cars (Radio Series; 1933)

The Dog House (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1952)

The Gay Divorce, by Cole Porter (Broadway Musical; 1932)

Double Fantasy, by John Lennon (Album; 1980)

The Fistic Mystic (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1946)

Hawaiian War Chant, recorded by Tommy Dorsey (Song; 1938)

It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (TV Movie; 2002)

I Want to Hold Your Hand, by The Beatles (Song; 1963)

Jet Fuel Formula, Episode One (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S1, Ep. 1; 1959)

Lavender Haze, by Taylor Swift (Song; 2022)

Like a Hurricane, recorded by Neil Young (Song; 1975)

The Lorelei (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1931)

The Lost Weekend (Film; 1945)

Mirai (Anime Film; 2018)

Mommy Loves Puppy (Animated Antics Cartoon; 1940)

My Life, by Mary J. Blige (Album; 1994)

The Mysterious Jug (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1937)

9 to 5 (Film; 1980)

9 to 5, by Dolly Parton (Song; 1980)

Plane Goofy, featuring Farmer Al Falfa (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1940)

Pong (Video Game; 1972)

Rolling in the Deep, by Adele (Song; 2010)

Southern Horse-Pitality (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1935)

Terrier Stricken (WB MM Cartoon; 1952)

The Uninvited Pests, featuring Farmer Al Falfa (Heckle & Jeckle Cartoon; 1946)

Zelda, by Nancy Milford (Biography; 1970)

Today’s Name Days

Christine, Friederike, Friedrich (Austria)

Iluminata, Saturnin, Svjetlana, Vlasta (Croatia)

Zina (Czech Republic)

Saturnius (Denmark)

Edgar, Egert (Estonia)

Aimo (Finland)

Saturnin (France)

Berta, Friedrich, Friederike (Germany)

Fedra, Fedros, Filoumeni, Filoumenos (Greece)

Taksony (Hungary)

Saturnino (Italy)

Ignats, Ojars, Veseta (Latvia)

Butvydė, Daujotas, Saturninas (Lithuania)

Sofie, Sonja (Norway)

Błażej, Bolemysł, Fryderyk, Przemysł, Saturnin, Saturnina, Walter (Poland)

Filumen, Paramon, Valerian (Romania)

Vratko (Slovakia)

Iluminada, Saturnino (Spain)

Sune (Sweden)

Philemona (Ukraine)

Dahlia, Dalia, Daphne (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 334 of 2024; 32 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 5 of Week 48 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ngetal (Reed) [Day 6 of 28]

Chinese: Month 10 (Yi-Hai), Day 29 (Ding-You)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 28 Heshvan 5785

Islamic: 27 Jumada I 1446

J Cal: 4 Black; Foursday [4 of 30]

Julian: 16 November 2024

Moon: 3%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 26 Frederic (12th Month) [Toussaint L’Ouverture / Bolivar]

Runic Half Month: Is (Stasis) [Day 8 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 68 of 90)

Week: 4th Full Week of November

Zodiac: Sagittarius (Day 8 of 30)

[lalacrimafacile]

La Magia della Serialità: Tra Novità e Dejà Vu

Indice

Il gusto del nuovo con un retrogusto di “già visto”

Benvenuti nel Mondo della Serialità: Innovazione e ripetizione

Quando l’Innovazione Ci Fa Dire “Wow!”

L’Arte del Colpo di Scena

Personaggi che Evolvono: Più Sorprese di un Uovo di Pasqua

La Dolce Sicurezza della Ripetizione

Il Comfort del Dejà Vu

I Motivi Ricorrenti: Una Sinfonia di Emozioni

L’Equilibrio Perfetto

Il Mix Vincente tra Innovazione e Ripetizione

Conclusione: Inno alla Serialità

Il gusto del nuovo con un retrogusto di “già visto”

Benvenuti nel Mondo della Serialità: Innovazione e ripetizione

Cari amanti delle serie TV, preparatevi a tuffarvi nel magico mondo della serialità!

Come blogger venticinquenne che si è fatta una cultura più sui divani di Netflix che nelle aule universitarie, sono qui per esplorare insieme a voi il delicato equilibrio tra innovazione e ripetizione che rende le nostre serie preferite così irresistibili.

La serialità è quello che più si avvicina alla modalità di narrazione citata all’inizio di questo post. I poemi epici, le storie di cavalieri, fino ad arrivare ai primi romanzi pubblicati sui periodici. Queste storie venivano trasmesse ad “episodi”. Oltre a giocare sull’attesa e i cliffhanger tra una parte e l’altra, gli autori sapevano come attirare l’attenzione di un pubblico molto vasto ed eterogeneo. Dai ceti più alti ai cittadini londinesi meno istruiti: Charles Dickens, per esempio, è riuscito a tenere col fiato sospeso tutti i suoi lettori tra una pubblicazione e l’altra.

Ora gli show runner fanno la stessa cosa: concedono elementi già conosciuti e familiari per riempire il cuore degli spettatori di nostalgia, per poi sorprenderli con colpi di scena emozionanti.

Il vecchio e il nuovo. Il noto e l’ignoto. Un familiare richiamo al passato assieme ad un’intrigante senso di sorpresa. Sono certa che avete capito quello che sto descrivendo. Sicuramente l’avete vissuto ogni volta che avete iniziato una nuova serie televisiva.

Quando l’Innovazione Ci Fa Dire “Wow!”

L’Arte del Colpo di Scena

La novità e la sorpresa, sono quelle scintille che ci tengono incollati allo schermo, boccheggiando come pesciolini fuori dall’acqua. Chi non ama un bel colpo di scena? Quella sensazione di non sapere cosa diavolo succederà dopo è una delle ragioni per cui siamo così dipendenti.

Prendiamo per esempio “Breaking Bad”: chi si aspettava che il tranquillo professorino di chimica si trasformasse nel signore della droga Heisenberg? Quelle sorprese che ci fanno esclamare “Ma dai, non ci credo!” sono ciò che mantiene fresca ogni stagione.

Pensate a “Lost”, una delle serie televisive che più hanno causato lievi aritmie al proprio pubblico. Nel bene o nel male, ogni episodio aveva al suo interno una nuova rivelazione che creava un vero e proprio senso di sconvolgimento all’interno del già fragile equilibrio della trama.

Personaggi che Evolvono: Più Sorprese di un Uovo di Pasqua

Un altro aspetto innovativo che adoriamo sono i personaggi che crescono, cambiano e ci sorprendono. Pensate a “Game of Thrones” (escludendo l’ultima stagione, ovviamente). Vedere il viaggio di Arya Stark, da ragazzina ribelle a spietata assassina, è stato come scartare un uovo di Pasqua pieno di sorprese. Questi cambiamenti mantengono viva la nostra curiosità e ci fanno tornare episodio dopo episodio.

La Dolce Sicurezza della Ripetizione

Il Comfort del Dejà Vu

Nonostante amiamo le sorprese, c’è qualcosa di rassicurante nella ripetizione. Sapere che ogni episodio di “Friends” seguirà un certo schema ci dà un senso di comfort. È come la copertina di Linus per gli adulti! Che siano le battute ricorrenti di Chandler o le disavventure romantiche di Ross, questi elementi familiari ci fanno sentire a casa, soprattutto quando abbiamo bisogno di un po’ di relax dopo una lunga giornata.

I Motivi Ricorrenti: Una Sinfonia di Emozioni

Parliamo dei motivi ricorrenti: quegli elementi narrativi che tornano stagione dopo stagione, proprio quando pensavamo di essercene liberati.

Chi avrebbe mai immaginato che avremmo visto infinite variazioni della frase “Winter is coming” in “Game of Thrones”? O che “How I Met Your Mother” ci avrebbe torturato con innumerevoli episodi prima di rivelarci chi fosse la madre?

Questi motivi sono come il ritornello di una canzone che non riusciamo a smettere di canticchiare. Nella stessa colonna sonora delle serie TV (come già nelle opere liriche e nel soundtrack dei film) ritroviamo dei leitmotiv che ricollegano il nostro udito ad una particolare situazione, ad un preciso personaggio o ad un luogo iconico del mondo narrativo. Le sigle che separano il cold open e il resto della puntata, per esempio, sono un modo per riequilibrare le emozioni degli spettatori.

L’Equilibrio Perfetto

Il Mix Vincente tra Innovazione e Ripetizione

La verità è che le migliori serie TV riescono a bilanciare innovazione e ripetizione in modo magistrale. Ci sorprendono abbastanza da tenerci interessati, ma ci danno anche quella dose di familiarità che ci fa sentire al sicuro. È un po’ come mettere il ketchup sulla pasta: innovativo per alcuni, un’eresia per altri, ma per chi lo ama, è il mix perfetto!

Conclusione: Inno alla Serialità

Ecco a voi, cari binge-watchers, la magia della serialità. Un viaggio tra innovazione e ripetizione che ci tiene incollati allo schermo, settimana dopo settimana, stagione dopo stagione. Quindi, prendete il vostro snack preferito, mettetevi comodi sul divano e lasciatevi trasportare dal prossimo episodio. Chi sa quali sorprese (e ripetizioni) ci aspettano? Buona visione!

Spero che questo articolo vi abbia strappato un sorriso e vi abbia fatto riflettere sul perché amiamo tanto le serie TV. Se volete leggere altro non perdete gli altri articoli di questo Blog.

Se avete pensieri o serie da consigliarmi, lasciate un commento qui sotto.

Alla prossima puntata! La vostra EasyTears

[robynthinks]

Interview R.I.P. Through These Eyes

Interview mit Robin aka rrrobyn (Through These Eyes Rec.)

Through These Eyes war ein aktives Plattenlabel von 2016 - 2020 mit Sitz in Berlin, Deutschland. Es wurde von dem DJ und Blogger Robin aka RBYN gegründet und betrieben. In seinen Worten war Through These Eyes "ein Label, das sich um seine Künstler und deren qualitativ hochwertiges musikalisches Repertoire und dessen Up-Tempo-Resonanz kümmerte. Es konzentrierte sich auf Halfstep- und Jungle-Sounds im Bereich von 160-170 BPM und verfolgt einen unabhängigen und Do-It-Yourself-Ansatz.".

Am 12. März 2024 erhielten alle Fans von Through These Eyes Records auf Bandcamp eine Email, die über den neuesten Community Post informierte:

Hello everyone! Please note that I will delete this Bandcamp page until the end of march 2024. I don't have time to run the label anymore and don't plan to release any new music through TTE. Please download your purchases if you haven't already.

Cheers, Robin

Obwohl das Label seit vier Jahren keine Musik mehr veröffentlicht hatte und inoffiziell auch keine Fortführung plante, so war es das erste offizielle Statement zum Ende von Through These Eyes. Wer als Fan Musik auf Bandcamp kauft, kann sich Musik sowohl in verschiedenen Formaten jederzeit laden als auch die Musik streamen. Eine Schließung des Labels auf Bandcamp bringt nicht nur praktische Lücken für Fans mit sich, die die Musik gekauft haben, sondern hinterlässt auch ein kulturgeschichtliches Loch. Die Leipziger LXC und Booga, die beide ebenfalls im weitesten Sinne Bassmusik/Jungle Labels im DIY Modus betreiben (Alphacut und Defrostatica), hatten daraufhin die Idee, Robin zu interviewen. Das Interview wurde redigiert und in deutscher Sprache auf Robins Blog und in englischer Sprache auf Boogas Blog veröffentlicht.

Booga: Was war deine erste für einen DJ Gig gekaufte Platte?

Robin: Ich habe ja als Dubstep DJ angefangen, weil alle meine Freunde Drum & Bass DJs waren und ich ihnen nicht die Platten wegkaufen wollte. Als Dubstep kam, hatte ich endlich “meins”. Wie bei so vielen ist meine erste Platte, glaube ich, recht unspektakulär, jedenfalls kein “Midnight Request Line” oder ähnlich richtungsweisendes Release:

Elemental / Mathhead – Bleep / Stagger Dub https://www.discogs.com/master/1356713-Elemental-4-Mathhead-Bleep-Stagger-Dub

Dieses 12”-Vinyl vereint aber immer noch alles, was ich an Dubstep so gerne mag. Einflüsse aus verschiedenen anderen Lieblingsgenres und eine Menge Bass. 

Booga: Was hat dich dazu bewegt, DJ zu werden?

Robin: Wie oben geschrieben: alle meine Freunde waren DJs und somit war es nur klar, dass ich auch auflege, als ich “meinen” Sound gefunden hatte. Am Anfang von Dubstep hat in Bielefeld das auch niemand außer mir gespielt, wenn ich es also laut auf dicken Anlagen hören wollte, musste ich selber ran. ;)

Booga: Kannst du dich an deinen ersten DJ Gig erinnern, was ist dir in Erinnerung geblieben?

Robin: Haha ja, ich konnte nicht wirklich beatmatchen und durfte das Warm-up vom Warm-up spielen, einfach weil meine Freunde gerne mal Dubstep hören wollten. Ich war danach auf jeden Fall angefixt und hatte Bock auf mehr. 

Booga: Was waren deine wichtigsten DJ Gigs und weshalb? 

Robin: 2008 Mobilat, ich war das erste Mal außerhalb von Bielefeld gebucht und allein die Anreise war schon abenteuerlich, es war auf jeden Fall super lustig und ich war 3 Tage wach …

2014 Gremlinz Berlin. Ich war gerade Resident DJ auf der Partyreihe geworden und bei der Party waren gefühlt alle meiner Berliner Freund*innen aus den unterschiedlichsten Bubbles. Rückblickend: die perfekte Party

2018 Fusion, das dritte Mal auf dem Festival war das beste. Die Aufregung war ein bisschen weg und endlich konnte ich das Set spielen, das ich immer schon mal auf einem Festival spielen wollte. Als dann der Bühnenmanager sagte, dass immer noch so viele Leute da sind und sie den Hangar jetzt erstmal doch nicht schließen, damit die Leute davor noch tanzen können, war das schon ein geiles Gefühl.

Booga: In Leipzig habe ich dich beim Tieffrequenz-Festival als leidenschaftlichen DJ erlebt, der voll im Flow der Breakbeats agiert hat. Vermisst du das Auflegen manchmal? 

Robin: Ja klar. Ich glaube, das geht jedem Menschen so, die/der schon öfter vor einer größeren Crowd gespielt hat. Gerade wenn man mal wieder einen richtig genialen Track gefunden hat und sich im Kopf ausmalt, in welchem Setting man den gerne mal spielen würde. Da juckt es dann schon ganz arg in den Fingern. 

Booga: Und wie schätzt du Tieffrequenz-Festival im Nachhinein ein, können städteübergreifende Veranstaltungskonzepte zur Verbreitung von hybrider Bassmusik / Footworkjungle sinnvoll beitragen oder müssen das die Locals selbst auf die Reihe bekommen?

Robin: Schwierige Kiste. Ich finde diesen “wander” Aspekt super und denke, dass durch die verschiedenen Städte als Standorte definitiv neue Connections entstanden sind. Aber ich glaube ganz ehrlich, dass daraus nicht viel mehr als eine Handvoll Folge Gigs entstanden sind. Ich glaube gerade bei neueren Sounds und Genres müssen die Locals ran. 

Booga: Welcher Typ bist du: Clubgig oder Festival und weshalb?

Robin: Club Gigs fand ich immer am besten. Dunkel, guter Sound für die Heads und danach schlafen im Bett nicht im Zelt. ;)

Booga: Ich habe dich zuerst als Musikblogger https://robynthinks.wordpress.com/ wahrgenommen, der mit viel Liebe und Kenntnis Releases, Mix-Sets und Interviews aus dem weiten Feld der Bass-Music veröffentlicht hat. Was war dein Antrieb dafür?

Robin: Auch hier wieder: Musikblogs für Bassmusik auf deutsch gab es nicht. Wollte ich also machen. Vorher habe ich beim Musikmagazin Resident mitgemacht und auch dadurch hatte ich schon ein wenig Übung im Schreiben von Artikeln und Reviews und wollte das gerne noch weiter ausleben. Und da ich damals viele Blogs gelesen habe, war das ein logischer Schritt.

Booga: 2020 hast du das Blog eingestellt und du veröffentlichst auf https://robynthinks.tumblr.com/ in großen Abständen größtenteils unkommentiert Releases und Mix-Sets - so richtig loslassen kannst und willst du nicht - richtig? Wirst du hier weitere Signale senden?

Robin: Haha ja, gut erkannt. Ich habe mir immer schon gedacht: gute Musik gehört geteilt und auch da juckt es mir halt immer wieder in den Fingern. Tumblr ist ein relativ einfacher und schneller Weg, etwas zu teilen. Also ja: bestimmt gibt es immer mal wieder unregelmäßige Empfehlungen.

Booga: Bei deinen DJ Mix Sets arbeitest du gern thematisch. Ich schätze das sehr, weil ich dann automatisch davon ausgehe, dass diesen Sets ein erheblicher Aussiebungsprozess an Tracks vorangegangen ist, damit das Thema in der Form für dich eine Weile Bestand hat. Gehst du so vor, oder hast du einen anderen Modus Operandi?

Robin: Ja, genau. Seit einer Weile haben alle meine Sets ein gewisses Thema, das ihnen Struktur verleiht und nach dem ich die Tracks auswähle. Oft kann das auch nur ein Track sein, den ich unbedingt unterbringen will. Ich mag das super gerne und habe dabei viel mehr davon als wenn ich z.B. die neusten Releases/Promos runter mixen würde. 

Booga: Was hat dich dazu bewegt, den Schritt vom DJ zum Labelinhaber und -manager zu gehen?

Robin: Das lag zunächst wirklich nur an dem ersten Track von DigiD, den ich unbedingt veröffentlichen wollte, weil er eben noch nirgendwo veröffentlicht war. Ich habe eine Weile darüber nachgedacht und mir den Namen/das Logo überlegt und dann ging's mit ganz viel Support von Freunden auch schon los. Auch hier war es für mich der nächste logische Schritt: ich war DJ, wusste, dass ich einen ganz guten Musikgeschmack habe und konnte die Releases gut über mein Blog bewerben.

Booga: Du hast zu Beginn von TTE strikt auf Vinyl gesetzt - keine Digitalangebote, auch nicht auf Bandcamp. Die Releases waren von Hand gestempelt, alles sehr minimalistisch und DIY aber klar stilistisch geprägt. Wie kam es zu dieser Vorgehensweise und hattest du Vorbilder, die dich inspiriert haben?

Robin: Bereits  zum Zeitpunkt von TTE001 waren digitale Formate auf dem Vormarsch und jedes Release ab Release Datum als illegaler Download verfügbar. Ich habe mir die Frage gestellt, was die Fans eigentlich bekommen, wenn sie 10-15 € für eine Platte ausgeben. Da war schnell klar: “Vinyl only” bietet da viele Vorteile. Auch wenn das jedesmal ein extremer Hustle war, weil Bandcamp null dafür ausgerichtet ist. Durch das Vinyl Format haben sich die Releases meiner Meinung nach länger gehalten und haben so eine andere Wertigkeit bekommen als digitale Releases. DIY war schon ein Anspruch von mir, ich wollte so viel wie möglich in eigener Hand haben. Andererseits hatte es natürlich auch Kostengründe. Ich konnte die Platten so zu einem humanen Preis anbieten.

Booga: Die Artists auf TTE kommen aus den Niederlanden, Österreich, UK, Italien, Deutschland, Russland. Wie hast du eine A&R Arbeit mit den unterschiedlichen Mentalitäten der Artists gehalten, wolltest du dich an der Artist-Entwicklung beteiligen oder warst du klar auf Releases fokussiert? Wie konntest du deine Label-Vision den Artists übermitteln?

Robin: USA hast du vergessen! ;) Teilweise war es schon kompliziert, eben gerade wegen der angesprochenen Mentalitäten und der Wünsche. Aber die meisten waren sehr glücklich, dass ihre Musik auf Vinyl veröffentlicht wird und mochten meine Vision. An der Entwicklung war ich bei einigen auf jeden Fall beteiligt, da hat man schon nach bestimmten Releases gesehen, wie erfolgreich es weiter für die Artists ging. Besonders stolz bin ich immer noch auf die Yoofee EP, genau aus diesem Grund. 

Booga: Vor vier Jahren hast du mit Omega eine Compilation als Schlusspunkt für das Label veröffentlicht. War Through These Eyes für dich eine Achterbahnfahrt mit Höhe- und Tiefpunkten oder eine konstante, geradlinige Arbeit?

Robin: Die absolute Achterbahn! Mehrmals dachte ich schon, ich schmeiß alles hin und habe diesmal einen zu großen Fehler gemacht. Dazu dann noch Artists die Tunes versprechen und dich dann über Monate ghosten, fehlendes Geld, fehlende Zeit und dieses ewige Warten. Warten auf die Tunes, warten auf die Masters, warten auf die Testpress, warten auf 300 Platten… dann noch Beef mit dem Designer des Logos usw. Aber irgendwie ging es dann doch noch und in entscheidenden Momenten kam dann sowas wie ein guter Deal mit Unearthed Sounds (RIP seit 31.07.2023), so dass ich nicht 300 Platten pro Release selber lagern und verkaufen musste. Bei dem Omega Release hatte ich dann das Problem von vorher genau anders herum: ein vinyl-only-Label, das jetzt eine rein digitale Compilation veröffentlicht… Ich habe mir einige Ideen für eine physische Veröffentlichung angeguckt, aber nichts passte so wirklich.

Booga: Wenn es um die internationale Wahrnehmung von Through These Eyes geht, was waren für dich da die Highlights?

Robin: Ich glaube, das ist definitiv die "Sun People - Fight Dem Back” Platte. Irgendwie ging vom Signing bis zum Release und dem Hype und Verkauf alles glatt und lief perfekt. Als ich gesehen habe, dass Anna Morgan den in Brooklyn auf einem Soundsystem, Ticklish auf seiner US Tour und diverse DJs aus England auf Rinse und beim Outlook gespielt haben, war das DAS Highlight von TTE. Selbst Tracy & Ezra von ZamZam Sounds wollten einen Remix von dem Tune machen…  

Booga: Wie schätzt du im Nachhinein die Zusammenarbeit mit Magazinen und Online-Presse ein, so als Blogger mit eigener Veröffentlichungserfahrung?

Robin: Für die erste Review im Mixmag bin ich durch halb Berlin gefahren, um eine Kopie von dem Mag zu kaufen. Schnell kam ich zu der Frage:  Wie viele Menschen haben sich die Platte wohl nach dem Lesen dieser Besprechung gekauft? Ich denke aber, dass Menschen eher durch DJs oder Selectors im Radio beeinflusst wurden/werden. Zumal ich an das Review nur durch bezahlte Promo über eine Agentur gekommen bin. Was immer gut läuft, sind Premieren von Tunes auf Soundcloud Accounts, die für einen gewissen Sound stehen. Das habe ich auch oft in Anspruch genommen.

Booga: 2020 hast du das aktive Betreiben deines Blogs eingestellt als auch das Through These Eyes Label. Was waren deine Gründe dafür?

Robin: Der Grund ist eigentlich die Zeit. Bis vor ein paar Jahren hatte ich noch keinen so zeitintensiven Job, und meine Familie ist seitdem auch gewachsen. Für das Label habe ich gemerkt, dass ich nicht mehr eine ganz so eindeutige Linie verfolgen könnte. Vinyl wurde langsam irrelevanter als Medium, die Preise für die Produktion gingen stark nach oben und mehr Pressen machten dicht, was die anderen Hersteller noch mehr überlastete. Dann auch noch die Insolvenz von Unearthed… und Artists, die einen als Vinyl-Label sehen und enttäuscht sind, wenn man nur ein digitale Veröffentlichung anbieten konnte.  Zudem war der Sound, den ich mit meinem Label gepusht habe ein wenig “out”, Labels haben entweder wieder viel mehr straighten 174 bpm Drum & Bass veröffentlicht oder sich auf Jungle spezialisiert. Meine klare Linie habe ich da nicht mehr so gesehen und da passte vieles nicht mehr.

Booga: Würdest du etwas anders machen, wenn du nochmal ein Label starten würdest?

Robin: Von TTE001 habe ich nur 100 Stück pressen lassen, weil ich absolut nicht wusste, wie sie sich verkaufen würde. Das war wahnsinnig teuer, ich konnte die Platte aber (gerade als erste auf meinem Label) nicht für einen so hohen Preis anbieten. Glaube mit der Platte habe ich ordentlich Verlust eingefahren! Also das würde ich definitiv anders machen. Und natürlich mit dem Wissen von heute, ein Release nur als digitalen Download anzubieten und nicht als 12”-Vinyl.

LXC: Einige engere Peers hier haben sich über die Schließung gewundert, vor allem über die Formulierung, dass das TTE-Bandcamp ganz gelöscht wird - wie kommt's zum Komplettabbruch, welche Vorteile siehst du dadurch?

Robin: Da ich selbst keinen Track auf TTE veröffentlicht habe, verwalte ich im Moment nur noch die Einnahmen aus Downloads & Streaming. Es ist unglaublich zeitaufwendig, die einzelnen Abrechnungen für die Artists zu erstellen. Deshalb war mein Gedanke: Alle Produzenten bekommen von mir alle Rechte an ihrem Tune zurück und verkaufen ihn selbst bei Bandcamp. Dann habe ich nichts mehr mit dem Verwalten der Einkünfte zu tun. Ich möchte dann niemandem noch Geld schulden. Jetzt habe ich aber gehört, dass einige aus archivarischen Gründen dafür sind, die Releases da zu lassen. Zudem weiß ich von Künstlern, die keinen Bandcamp-Account haben oder anderen Jobs nachgehen. Deren Tunes wären dann wirklich nicht mehr verfügbar. Sie bleiben also oben. Nur so, dass man sie nicht mehr kaufen kann.

LXC: Hast du noch Backstock von TTE-Platten auf Lager und wenn ja, wie ist deine Strategie damit?

Robin: Das meiste ist mit Unearthed in die Insolvenz gegangen, das sehe ich nie wieder. Ich habe noch ein wenig Backstock von TTE005 & TTE007, aber die bleiben dann erstmal auf dem Dachboden. Strategie gibts also nicht so wirklich.

LXC: Dein Blog war definitiv ein krasses Sammelbecken aktueller Bassmusik, danke nochmal für den ganzen Input - es war stellenweise fast schwierig, überall mitzukommen. Hattest du da (ab einem Punkt) auch Zuarbeiten und Bemusterungen durch z.B. Labels, oder hast du da wirklich den halben Tag über Soundcloud geäugt?

Robin: Nein, das war wirklich ein abendfüllendes Programm. Die Ausnahme waren mal so 1-2 Promos im Monat für eine Review. Irgendwann habe ich aufgehört, Parties zu bewerben, mit denen ich nichts zu tun hatte, weil ich das irgendwie komisch fand. Aber ansonsten war das alles handselektierter Content von mir.

LXC: Welche Labels, KünsterInnen und vergleichbare Blogs siehst du aktuell, wer tritt sozusagen die vielversprechendste Nachfolge in deinen Augen an?

Robin: Ich kenne keins mehr. Wenn, dann noch Ronny / Kraftfuttermischwerk, aber er schrieb neulich selbst, dass Musik/Mixe bei ihm gar nicht mehr so viel angeklickt werden. Auch auf die Gefahr hin, dass ich jetzt sehr alt klinge: Ich wünschte, es gäbe ein Zurück zu Foren. Dort hat für mich der beste Austausch stattgefunden. 

LXC: In den letzten 20 Jahren ist ja doch einiges Richtungsweisendes im weiten Feld der Bassmusik passiert: Dubstep, Halftime, Jungle-Revamps, you name it ... Wohin blickst du heute am liebsten, was sind frische Spielwiesen in naher Zukunft? Was würdest du gern erleben, wo siehst du Potentiale?

Robin: Was ich super spannend finde, ist wenn Footwork Producer die traditionellen Wege verlassen und ihren Sound erweitern. Jlin schafft das super, die neue LP von Heavee geht auch in die Richtung. 160 bpm bleibt also auf jeden Fall noch ein super Bereich um zu experimentieren.

LXC: Wie stehst du zu Diversität in der Landschaft der Veröffentlichungen? TTE war soweit einsehbar komplett männlich gelesen besetzt, oder? Hattest du das Thema trotzdem auf dem Schirm und Ausschau nach Flinta- und BIPoc-Repräsentationsmöglichkeiten gehalten?

Robin: Ja, tatsächlich habe ich nur männliche Producer auf dem Label gehabt und bin selbst auch einer. Das Thema finde ich super wichtig und ich hätte da auch definitiv in den Jahren nach “Omega” daran gearbeitet. 

Weiterführende Links:

Through These Eyes Records

ROBYN THINKS blog

Robyn Thinks lite

Tieffrequenz-Festival

Unearthed Sounds distribution closure

LXC / Alphacut

DJ Booga

Defrostatica

Krach am Bach Festival 2018, Foto: Chris aka Moonwalka

[ravingsofamadsoutherner]

Bah Humbug…I’m Blessed but I’m not Happy or Merry

Bah Humbug…I’m Blessed but I’m not Happy or Merry #Blog #Blogger #Blogging #ChristmasBlues #Sorrow #Blessings #Scrooge #Grinch

“Reflect upon your present blessings — of which every man has many — not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” ― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, and Other Christmas Writings It is a drizzly Christmas morning…perfect. The puppies hate me. I’m struggling. I want to be happy and merry. Afterall, it is “tis the season….” I can’t be happy and will not make merry in the…

[annafshr]

The best places to visit in Europe

The best cities in Europe

What is your dream place to visit?

Have you already been there?

I think that my favorite places on this planet are really similar but, at the same time, ate totally different. 

London

UK's capital city. The history of this city is unbelievable. There were born the most famous rulers of the past, the best poets and musicians, scientists, and politicians. This city gathers the history of all humankind in one place. 

There is a bunch of things you can do there. 

Firstly, you can go for a walk to see some city sights, then go to the parks like Richmond Park or Hampstead Heath, and world-famous flea markets like Spitalfields or Maltby StreetMarket. 

In the evening you can spend time in a British pub, like a real Londoner. Furthermore, if you are a bookworm, you have a brilliant opportunity to visit favorite bars of world-famous authors like Shakespeare or Charles Dickens. 

My favorite way to see London is from a duck sight. Yes, you read it right! You can explore London by canoe. It's an unusual but super fun way to see London. 

Barcelona

I fell in love with Barcelona and the country when I first saw it. The culture, people, history, food, music, and architecture. Everything there is amazing. 

Obviously, the first thing that comes to your mind is Sagrda Familia by Gaudi. Not my favorite place in Barcelona, but inside, it's beautiful. My absolute favorite is La Rambla. It's a huge street where you can find everything that tourists may need to see: from local artists to live statues.

Among all the beaches in Barcelona, my choice is La Barcelonetta and Sant Sebastia Beach; they are clean and beautiful with a tone of attractions and beach bars. 

The best place for food travelers is El Born. It has a great offer of restaurants, markets, and cafes where you can try anything you wish. In another Barcelona district - Gotico, you can visit a favorite bar of Antoni Gaudi and Pablo Picasso. The second artist launched his first and second exhibitions there. 

My discovery in Barcelona is a stunning Parc Guell designed by Gaudi, which is one of the most peaceful places in the city, with lots of animals like cute parrots. 

Costs

Of course, we all like to travel. However, our budget is not unlimited. I discovered a lot of travel tips and hacks from travel bloggers like Zuzana, Simon, and Milan. They are really cool guys that will teach you how to see the world and don't spend all of your money. 

My choice for booking flights, trains, and buses; is the Kiwi app for travelers. I can plan an entire transportation for my trip there and check in within a few seconds. Also, it provides handy features for tourists, like luggage size and weight up to your airways, etc.

Have a nice trip!

[bookaddict24-7]

We never tire of the friendships we form with books.

Charles Dickens

[nasolireads]

5⭐️

I didn’t think I would love it as much as I did lol I even cried at the end. Such a lovely story. It even gave me the spooks reading it in the dark lmao

[that-bookworm-guy]

Time for some Classics

What's your favourite classic??

[deborahdeshoftim5779]

Self-publishing isn’t as new a phenomenon as we might think today. Renowned Victorian author, Charles Dickens, took charge of almost the entire publishing process for his acclaimed novels, all of which were published in installments. 

In fact, while researching the background behind Great Expectations, I found that reader responses influenced his future output. So angry were they when Pip did not end up with Estella, that Dickens had to write an alternative ending. (As a purist, I prefer the original). 

This shows how readers who come along for the journey can help you better develop as a writer. 

This article also has an infographic with fascinating details about the genius. I did not know, for example, that he handled the printing, binding, and publishing himself, too.

I have been a huge fan of Blog Your Book, and this is, in effect, what Charles Dickens did for the rest of his life: publishing chapter installments via a platform, rather than the whole book at once. Isn’t this practically the same thing that fanfiction authors do? As was once said famously, there is nothing new under the sun. The only thing that has changed is how fast you can deliver your content to readers. 

Some people complain about the amount of poor quality material available via self-published routes. However, as this article shows, quality material not only gets noticed, but reread and replayed. The fact that it is now easier for anyone to get published compared to Charles Dickens’ day does not change that essential fact. Put the effort into producing high quality work-- in Dickens’ case, marvellous stories with rich vocabulary-- and whether or not you become as rich as he did, you will gain a readership. 

I think this article can really help those who feel illegitimate as a writer, because they do not have this or that (a degree, experience, a platform, etc.). While I have nothing against traditional publishing, I do enjoy the liberty of self-publishing. Today, even traditionally published authors are responsible for their own branding. This is what Dickens did himself, often going on lengthy, exhausting tours to promote his literature. 

Highly recommend this article for writers and authors! 

[aworldinpages]

A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Books ~ Charles Dickens

I will admit, reading a Christmas book in January is not my normal cup of tea. In fact, it felt very weird to read a quintessential Christmas story not long after the festivities have completely finished. However, A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Books by Charles Dickens is the first novel I’m due to study when I start my uni course next week (and that’s a lot closer than I am ready for). 

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