#dim is another planet..... that album is for another post

[zeraphimtwins]

Okay but wait

The Jrocker in me could be coming back in a different force than before

In the Gazette's discography,

did we really get Casiss, Baretta, and then D.L.N in the same album?

[doomedandstoned]

Bristol Doomers TORPOR Share Massive 3rd LP ‘Abscission’

~Doomed & Stoned Debuts~

By Billy Goate

TORPOR hail from Bristol and took part in Doomed & Stoned in England, a sweeping survey of the country that gave birth to doom, contributing their track "Agalma." Sadly, we've never featured the doom-drone trio in these pages properly, though the band has persevered to release their third full-length record. We'll try to make up for lost time with a review of 'Abscission' (2023) and an advance listen for you all, as well.

First track "Interior Gestures" fights with screeching feedback for a few seconds and it’s almost like a brain cleanse. Then we encounter a smokey, dimly lit basement of sound that envelops the consciousness. Drums and strings collide for some damning opening notes. It’s a sound that seems to emanate the true nature of reality as it ripples past your eardrums. It's a near 11-minute piece that features a beautiful mid-section of contemplative strumming and picking against a pacing percussive rhythm. Gradually and true to the band's name, the walking pace slows to an ambient hum. The drone is godly here, with signals that practically massaged my cerebral cortex, and is coupled with text spoken in an almost dreamlike fashion.

"As Shadow Follows Body" is likely a reference to the sayings of Buddha (as we think, so we become). This is the sort of riff worship where the guitars are tuned way down, obsessed with low notes and angry notions. As I listen, I'm drawn to the opening paragraph of Philip K. Dick's Pay For The Printer: "Ash, black, and desolate, stretched out on both sides of the road. Uneven heaps extended as far as the eye could see -- the dim ruins of buildings, cities, a civilization -- a corroded planet of debris, wind-whipped black particles of bone and steel and concrete mixed together in an aimless mortar." As with its predecessor, this song dons a quiet section, and it's a brief respite from the storm. Then haunting ancient voices awe us from the charcoal skies, whilst the guitar's tremolo notes summon ashen rain; the drums pounding thunder.

Third track "Accidie" conjures such beautiful despair, in the groaning of the guitar, the oppressive thumping of the drums. The song title alludes to a state of apathy and mental fog; the album title to the way dead leaves detach from a tree. Speaking of trees, the album cover seems to put two different materials at odds with one another. On the right hand side, we have wood; on the left not merely stone, but concrete -- a hallmark of this fast encroaching concrete jungle. It seems to make a statement about the natural coming at odds with the artificial. Indeed, the band's name implies that everything is running down, getting slower, becoming weaker in this world of ours. There is a sense of despondency in Torpor's words and symbols that resonate as authentic and relatable to our times. Meanwhile, throaty vocals roar through the snowstorm of fuzz. As in so many of their songs, rhythm rules the day and escorts us to a mess of haze and feedback and muffled yelling that leads into the next track.

"Carbon" feels truly savage in this company. It's a rip-roarer with nothing but chaos to offer. Guitars assail us with dissonance, and a black metal aesthetic takes control of the piece. But soon the noisy swarm is quieted and contrasted with softer, haunting vocals, then guttural growls melt us into a muddle of sludge.

With "Island of Abandonment," Torpor goes for epic sound. But to start, it's in a post-metal delirium, with ambient vibrations and the gentle, hypnotic strumming of a single note. Rising tensions release with big drumming, brash cymbals, raspy vocals, steely riffage, and ample swaths of fuzz.

Despite its sinister and depressive gloom, there is a warmness that pervades Torpor's Abscission that I found easy to relax into (especially with headphones). I've given the album several listens and it's got great staying power. Out September 16th on Human Worth Records (pre-order here). Stick it on a playlist with Primitive Man, Body Void, Conan, Undersmile, and Heavy Death.

Give ear...

Abscission by TORPOR

Upcoming Tour Dates with Modern Technology

OCT 12th - Moor Beer Vaults, London W/ Remote Viewing

OCT 13th - The Port Mahon, Oxford W/ Prey + Holy Wounds

OCT 14th - Hope & Ruin, Brighton* W/ Beehoover + Human Leather

OCT 15th - The Lanes, Bristol W/ The Malefic Grip

NOV 10th - Chameleon Arts Cafe, Nottingham Supports TBC

NOV 11th - Human Worth All-Dayer, Wharf Chambers, Leeds W/ Beige Palace, Grub Nap, Friend and more.

*TORPOR only

ALL TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM @HUMANWORTHMUSIC

Follow The Band

Get Their Music

[silverwhiteraven]

Borne of the Stars - Chapter 4 - An MLB Kryptonian AU

Tag List:  @eve-valution @weird-pale-blonde-person @kris-pines04 @soulmate-game @abrx2002 @amayakans @vixen-uchiha @heldtogetherbysafetypins @raisuke06 @dorkus-minimus @captainartsypants @mopester-is-here @moonlightstar64 @annabellabrookes @daminett4life @toodaloo-kangaroo @the-navistar-carol @elspethshadow

[ Posted on Ao3 ] [ Chapter 1 ] [ Chapter 3 ] [ Chapter 5 ]

[ A/N: Alright! The Metropolis ‘Intro Arc’ comes to a close, and leads right into a bit of time-skipping! Chapter 5 begins Marinette’s journey into gaining superpowers in strange ways. ]

[ Summary: Answers are given and some backstory is filled in, but blanks still remain. It’s time for new friends to part ways. ]

“Meteor shower?”

Marinette looked quizzically towards her parents, knowing nothing of such an event ever happening. But she also knew there was a chance it had happened before they had ever met her.

Sabine stepped up, a more passive, if not helpless, look of cluelessness on her features. “No, as far as Tom and I are aware, she wasn’t. But, perhaps, she may have been. You see,” she began to elaborate, wrapping a reassuring arm around her daughter alongside her husband, “Marinette is adopted.”

Supergirl blinked at that, and Tom continued where Sabine left off before the superhero could ask any premature questions. 

“There was some kind of accident that happened with her original parents. Not her birth ones as far as the adoption agency knew. They claimed the DNA didn’t match any of the residents where she was found, and there was no birth certificate.” 

Tom patted his daughter’s head and she smiled reassuringly. She knew the story, and came to terms with it long ago. It had never really been a crisis for her, it was simply a fact of her life.

Marinette decided to pick up the tale herself and explain the rest.

“They don't know what exactly caused it, but the whole building had collapsed, and I was the only survivor. They suspected some kind of explosion from the debris. 

“The people who rescued me from the aftermath knew my name was Marinette because of a note that I had been swaddled with, but that was it. The note was too damaged to read anything else, but they suspect it may have been a simple baby-care to-do list for new parents. 

“So, I guess to answer your question… We have no clue. Why? You said you saw something, an old injury, could it have been debris from the accident?” 

Tom pipes up once more to fill in more blanks and open more questions. “There was no report of injuries from that, just your pre-existing scars.”

“And I don’t think they ever checked those,” Sabine adds, “likely assuming they were taken care of before the accident.”

“Scars…” Supergirl mused, looking Marinette over once more. “Marigold, they wouldn't happen to be over your right shoulder, back, and leg, would they?”

The Dupain-Chengs’ eyes were wide as they looked at each other before Marinette stepped closer, pushing down the right shoulder of her re-dawned over-shirt and the shirt underneath, twisting around to be able to show the faint scarring there in strange jagged, spotty patterns. It definitely looked like it had been something done by multiple culprits such as a dense scattering of tiny meteors. Or shrapnel from something much closer. 

Supergirl’s resolve seemed to solidify at the sight and nodded, stepping up closer and pointing to one of the largest of the scars between her shoulder and collarbone, then another at her shoulder blade. “Your back and leg have big ones like these too, right?” A nod in response, and she continues. 

“All of those spots have large chunks of crystals that I suspect might be from… a place I call home. I felt them when I helped you out back there.” Marinette furrowed her brow, wondering if that seeming uncharacteristic weakness and tiredness of the two superheroes had been because of these hidden crystals. Did she somehow really have a weakness to the indestructible heroes just sitting around inside her?

“Oh, sorry for being snippy back there by the way, I thought the crystals had been put in you on purpose, it didn't help that I recognized that other guy, too, I hope you can forgive me, Starshine.” Marinette flushed at the attention, not expecting the apology and another nickname, but she nodded in affirmation to the apology. Supergirl then stepped back as she continued on with a returned nod, and Marinette took it to put her sleeves back in place. 

“Anyways, I’ll bet my hat, metaphorically of course, that all the smaller pieces were removed by your body naturally as you grew, but the bigger ones stuck around. Get those checked out, long term exposure of my homeworld’s rocks can have bad effects on humans. To have none so far, you're lucky. Well, as lucky as you can get with already having, ya’know… Yeah…” The hero looked sheepish now, and Marinette just laughed softly, Tom and Sabine chuckling behind her.

“We’ll be sure to get it taken care of,” Marinette nods glad to have gotten help for something she hadn't even known was wrong. “Thank you, Supergirl. For everything.”

“Hah, it was nothin’,” the hero grins, reaching up to touch her hair, and instead clocked herself in the temple with Marinette’s sketchbook that she still held. “Owch! Oh! Ha-hah, that- that's definitely not mine, here- Actually…” Before she hands it back, she pulls one of the pencils out from between the bindings and scribbles down into the blank spaces between the Superman sketches. 

When Marinette finally takes the sketchbook back, there's two names and two numbers. The first, situated below the most detailed of the Superman designs, is the name Clark Kent, and a number labeled personal cell. The second number is vertically written between the Supergirl skirt and the sash design Supergirl had been admiring, and the name was Supergirl, also labeled with personal cell. 

Marinette’s eyes go wide at both, and she slams the sketchbook closed to hide them from prying eyes. “But these are-! You-! I can’t-!” 

She’s cut off by a full and gleeful laugh from the superhero. “Geode, It’s fine, don't worry ‘bout it! Really! Superman already told me to give you Kent’s for your reporter friend, the other one you can just consider an emergency contact for anything about those crystals you’ve got. That's acceptable, right? Good!” she beams when Marinette gives a speechless nod, and the designer could swear that Supergirl was actually doing something to make herself glow with the sun framing her from above her head. 

“I should be heading off then,” the superhero continued, and her glow dimmed with it, but she stayed grinning and proud, more content in the moment. “Think you need anything else or we good?”

Having a quick thought, Marinette reached into her back and slipped out one of her home-made business cards. She never actually used them, she wasn't ready to start her own business just yet, but they were convenient if she ever needed to give her contact info to anyone. This was as good a time as any to put them to use. 

She stepped up quickly and grabbed Supergirl’s hand in her own, slipping the paper into the other teen’s fingers. 

“Thank you again, Supergirl, I mean it. Thank you.”

The hero softens just a bit as she looks back at the bright, dirt covered girl she rescued from the Daily Planet’s main symbol. Her grin returns full force and she winks. “Any time, cutie, it’s what I do.” 

Marinette let's go with a laugh at the superhero’s antics, and finally releases her hand. 

With a wave from both Supergirl and the Dupain-Chengs, they part ways. 

A few things happen for Marinette after that day in Metropolis. 

First, after Marinette got back to the hotel her family was staying in, she made a call to Alya back in Paris. She told her about the villain attack, the destruction, and the heroes rescuing her. She made sure to spare any and every personal detail, both of her own and of the heroes’. Marinette didn't want to be teased or prodded about it, and she strongly guessed the heroes didn't want the wrong things getting out. Alya had dropped her phone upon hearing about her getting not just the contact for a well known reporter, but also securing a promise for an interview in her name. Alya at least gracefully respected that Marinette refused to give up the number, and planned to set the interview up herself to make sure she didn't break their trust in her.

After that, Marinette and her parents discussed the whole alien crystals in her body thing, and decided they should get them removed as soon as they returned home, not wanting their daughter recovering from surgeries like that while travelling. Figuring Supergirl would be too busy to answer a call, she sent a text instead about the decision. A fitting string of emojis followed by a ‘sweet! update me soon, ttyl’ was the reply.

Marinette didn't encounter either of the Super-Duo for the rest of her trip, but she texted the teen again a few days before they were set to leave. She asked about music recommendations, stating a desire to get a gift of CDs or records for one of her long-time best friends back home. Not only did she get a good long list of album recommendations, but also a short list of the best music stores in the city, in order of ‘best to still-best-but-slightly-less-awesome’, as Supergirl put it. 

After the Dupain-Chengs returned to Paris, the renovations of the bakery almost complete, they set up everything they needed for the removal of the foreign crystals. Once more, Marinette made sure to text Supergirl. And this time, they did see each other again. The American hero flew all the way to France to bring Marinette something, a Non-Disclosure Agreement for the doctors handling Marinette and the crystals. Apparently, her and her cousin used them in emergencies to keep their identities safe, and their weaknesses out of the wrong hands, as best they could. It only confirmed for Marinette that the crystals were indeed weaknesses to them, and she vowed to keep them secret.

Supergirl stayed in Paris to oversee the surgeries, despite how much it embarrassed Marinatte to have a superhero acting like a bodyguard at the hospital, let alone how much the girl told the hero it was alright to leave her on her own. Yet again, Marinette vowed to never tell Alya. She made the hero swear to it, too, though she was sure that promise wouldn't hold if Alya ever got an interview. Truthfully, she wouldn't really hold the other teen to it anyways, but it was nice to know Supergirl would still make the effort to keep it the promise. 

After the crystals were removed and Marinette was home free, Supergirl handed her a leather-bound wooden box, decorated in brass bands and studs, and lined on the inside with lead and velvet. Inside sat several chunks of glowing, ethereal crystals. Most of them were shades of green, but one sat in the center and radiated a brilliant gold. Each had been carefully coated in something clear, meant to prevent skin-to-skin contact when handling, without diminishing the beauty.

“Kryptonite,” Supergirl confessed with a sheepish grin. “Pieces of Krypton, the home planet Kryptonians like Kal-El and I are from. You kept them safe without even knowing it, I can’t imagine how safe they'll be now that you know they're here. Better than being anywhere near us or our enemies, am I right?”

Marinette had laughed, exasperated at Supergirl’s antics, but decided, for once, not to refuse the gift, and accept the new responsibility that came with them. It was the least she could do for a friend from an ocean and a few galaxies away. 

After a few weeks in Paris, Supergirl had to go back to Metropolis a week before Marinette’s last year of collège started, admitting to needing to return to start her first year of high school. 

Her final statement to Marinette had been to make a bet.

Marinette had laughed and fallen down giggling when she first expressed her want to make it. She was so used to Kim and Alix doing the same thing, realizing that they would get along well with Supergirl if they ever met. 

“Geode!” She had called out and declared with the largest air of confidence she could muster, “Geode, Blue Starshine, Princess, Macaroon, Cookie Dough, Buttercup, Blossom, Lil’ Butterfly, Darlin’, Cutie. Marinette! I mean it, and this is my bet! I am going to learn French! It’s going to suck, and I’m going to hate it, but you learned English, so I’ll try to learn something else, too, and maybe I’ll do it in time to surprise you with how awesome I am at it next year.”

“And if you can’t do it?” Marinette had giggled, the last of her laughter simmering down after the bold declaration. 

“I won’t,” was the answer. Yet she still added, “But if I do fail, I’ll take you to the one place only Kal and I can go, a little piece of Home on Earth. Deal?”

Marinette softened at the whole thing, and nodded with a soft smile.

“Deal.”

[chappedandfadedvds]

Dec 30th, Wednesday 19:59

Goliath&In Your Likeness - Woodkid

Two first songs of Woodkid’s newest album, played back to back

No strong triggers apply in this one, I think. Nonetheless, the cancer is mentioned and it is still full of angst. So if you wish to skip at any point, the summary is at the end of this post.

__ __ __

„I didn’t mean to worry you.“

He had found his voice after minutes spent staring at the wooden surface of the table he sat at. There was a hot steaming cup of tea patiently waiting to be tasted. A kind gesture that fell flat against the sheer pain he felt, when he had no injury to show for. No one else had dared to speak as they all took their respectively seats around the table dressed in nothing but low burned candles. And his tea. The room was dim from the little lights reminding of christmas spend in laughter. Jens was thankful to be able to hide in the half-litted dark as his eyes flew across his friends’s faces.

„You don’t have to apologise.“ Senne had raised his voice first, before other’s were quick to follow. All of them reassuring, even if they couldn’t fathom why he had run out into the freezing cold. Jens wasn’t even sure on his reasons either. It all became a blur.

„It was a panic attack, not your fault.“ Of course Sander would know. Jens was sure, after Lucas, he probably was the best to understand him, given their late night conversation only two days ago.

„We were just really scared for you.“ Zoe said it like he hadn’t been scared for himself as well. 

„What happened?“ The one question that weighed the heaviest on him, and perhaps was the most honest of them all, as eyes watched him carefully from all sides. He stiffened. Involuntary, but he couldn’t help himself, as Lucas began to gently brush his fingers up and down his back, while he edged his chair closer towards Jens. So close that the wooden frames clashed soundly against each other. Luca who had been so brave to ask in the first place, quickly backtracked. „If you don’t mind me asking. Sorry.“

His throat was incredibly sore. Perhaps from the crying, maybe from the gasping, definitely from the coughing on his way in. He wetted his dry lips, in an attempt to stop biting them til they bled. He shook his head, his gaze dropping back down towards the table.

„I should have told you a while ago.“

Jens really should have. Regret lingered in his heart, when he thought that this would have been easier, had they known month ago. But they would have treated him differently, right? They had to. If not, if his belief had been wrong, he had made himself suffer for nothing, right? All he wanted was a bit more time to be the Jens that his friends knew him to be.

Everyone watched him as he pondered on what to say. Nothing would be good enough to explain his lies and secrecy. He didn’t minded so much about others, but entirely about Robbe. His best friend, who knew his mother for a decade. Who should have known. Who should had have the opportunity to come to terms with it at his own pace. 

Jens looked back up, his eyes searching for Robbe’s, while a treacherous new sob dared to take over, but he tried to surpress it to manage the little words he could muster.

„Robbe...I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to tell you like this. I should have month ago. I should have back in the car. I’m so sorry. You are my best friend and I. I just. I didn’t.“ His messed up voice was tripping over itself, stuttering at all the wrong places, when he apparently handled to say more as he had expected of himself a second ago. 

„It’s okay. Really. Nothing to be sorry for. We are just really worried. And we love you. You can just talk when you are comfortable, okay?“ Robbe interrupted him promptly, his tone full of sympathy. And pity, if one would have asked Jens.

He had to say something. He couldn’t take all of this into the new year. Not when his mom would disappear from his side too soon, and Lotte would replace all of his concious attention, always lingering in his perception. Lotte. He hadn’t even thought about her yet. He’d have to take her home to a house that no longer hold their mother. How was he supposed to do this? How was he supposed to explain it to her?

How, when he couldn’t even begin to let his closest friends know.

„I recieved a call.“ He dully stated, his eyes darting towards nothingness in their group’s centre. Unfocused as his hands desperately grasped onto Lucas’s in his lap, who surely must had felt pained from the tight clasp of fingers. Yet his boyfriend remained stubbornly calm, when he only went to rest his head on Jens’s shoulder.

He should just give them the reason for his distraught reaction, caught in a panic. Out there it couldn’t hurt him as much as from within, he believed.

„My mom has cancer. She is dying.“ He tilted his head for a second of quiet contemplation. Jens spoke more to himself, to the air between them, than to any person unfortunate enough to have to listen to his whisper. „No, that’s not quite right, is it? She is already dead. Just breathing for a while longer, I think. But her doctor wants her in the hospital.That’s why she had called. To tell me that we’ve reached the end.“ He drew in a sharp breath, bruning his lungs. „We just lost.“

His voice died down, when it shouldn’t even had been considered a sound, so low, to only be audible as no one had moved nor spoken. There they were again, the familiar tears. How was it still possible to cry after all that? Wasn’t he dried up yet? He certainly felt the part, when his confession had reached it’s conclusion.

He also realised that he had just ruined their trip.

„Oh Jens.“ Jana breathed out before anyone else, her voice broken in a reflection of his own sorrow. Robbe swift to push himself up to his feet and rush to hug Jens tightly from Lucas’s opposite side. His boyfriend softly gasping, who hadn’t known about the call yet, but only clung to him stronger in return as the realisation settled. His arm who had only loosely covered his back, now wrapped around his middle.

„Since when?“ Yasmina asked. A steady voice of reason, now heavy from her own sadness. She still managed to possess the strenght in her words to reach him from the other end of the table.

„Since march.“ It barely came over his lips. How was it only nine month? It felt like an eternity. A life worth of lies to cover the inevitable. Another apology stuck on his tounge. He hadn’t had any excuses left.

„Fuck.“ Aaron cursed into the silence that settled between them, each one of them dwelled upon their own thoughts, remembering back towards the summer and fall, in which it hadn’t felt as dire as now in december.

„She recieved treatments and surgery, but...“ The failure to help his mom’s battle stood unspoken. Not needed when it was clearly written all over his surrendered expression.

„Dude. I’m so fucking sorry, for all the times I got mad at you for ghosting us. I. Shit.“ Moyo rambled rueful from his seat, swallowing down more words, that weren’t important enough to say out loud.

„Why didn’t you tell anyone?“ Aaron asked absentmindedly, Amber tearing up silently next to him, as he rubbed her arm.

„Lucas knew.“ Jens felt like the worst friend on this forsaken planet, for having confided in his boyfriend first. Lucas, who he knew for a fraction of the time he knew his friends. Did he betray their trust? Even if he made himself remember Robbe’s words from their kitchen talk weeks back, did it still feel terribly wrong at times. Just like it did now. He had kept such an immense part of his life deliberatly away from the people closest to him. He was a horrible person, an even worse friend.

„So what does that mean for you? I mean, are you going to move to your older sister or your father or something else? I have so many questions. Sorry.“ Milan’s questions tumbled from his lips unhindered. Jens knew he didn’t mean harm in asking, but it was such a grand subject, he unfortunately, or in actuality fortunately, already knew most answers to, he immediately felt exhausted.

„No, uhm, everythings settled. I own it all. I’ve made up my mind. And I’m going to raise Lotte myself.“

His friends were all stunned in a thick layer of complete silence, as their eyes were frozen solely on him.

He fidget restless on his chair, uncomfortable to be the single source of everyone’s unabated focus. Lucas lifted his head in order to face Jens for the first time since they had taken their seats. A worn out expression and a silent plea in the older boy’s eyes, enough for his boyfriend to understand.

„I think we are going to head to bed. We all can talk another time about this, right?“

Lucas undoubtedly was the best thing that had happened to him at the worst and most unlucky time in his still young life. Jens once more let himself be helped up to his feet and steadied by the younger boy’s arms. As he didn’t trusted his knees to not give in outright. They took the stairs, still without any kind of reaction of their friends left behind to their stupor. Only eyes watching on in silent contemplation. If they had stayed to discuss the bit of truth Jens had unveiled, he hadn’t heard it.

It was the first night without him being told a good night. Quite obvious that he wouldn’t have one. 

He doubted his friends would find a restful sleep either.

And it was all his fault.

__ __ __ tagged: @odi-et-amo85, @tayspots summary:

Everyone gathers around the dining table. Jens finally confides in his friends and tells them that his mother is dying of cancer, as well as Lotte being left in his care. It is all very brief and undetailed. But the group is clearly taken aback and feels sorry for their friend. Lucas and him leave to go to bed, needing to be up early for their drive home. Jens feels guilty for ruining their trip.

[troped-fanfic-challenge]

ROUND ONE

It’s time to VOTE!!

Hey guys! It’s officially time to vote in Round 1 of Chopped Madness! The structure is simple! The fifteen (15) fics we received this round have been paired up head-to-head. Your job is to go through the eight pairings and select which author of the two fics you think deserves to move on to Round 2! The first poll, you will be asked to rank all 15 fics, the way you did in the Qualifying Round. This will help us to break any ties, and we will use this ranking to reorder the authors for the Bunker Brackets for Round 2.

At the end of the voting period, we will announce the EIGHT (8) authors who have been Chopped!! If you are not Chopped, that means you will be moving on to the next round, so keep an eye out for that post to be sure! If you aren’t sure you can always send us a message to check!

You can vote here at the updated survey!

Updated Voting Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QM5B5TP

---

Unfortunately, one of our authors was unable to write. We have included a “BYE” in the position where their fic would be in the head to head, and informed their bracket partner. The author has been “Chopped”, and their Qualifying Round fic will be revealed in our Chopping Block post after the voting has ended.

---

The 15 fics that we receieved for this round can be found below, or on AO3 here! Each fic follows the Theme [Angst], includes the Tropes [Strangers to Lovers] and [Roadtrip], and has a central Character focus on [Harper McIntyre]! When you vote, please be sure to take into consideration the USE of all these elements, because, as with all other Chopped events, the purpose is to select the authors who best utilize the requirements!

into a cloven pine (Rated T) [Harper/Maya]

Summary: Maya starts sitting with her at meals, shrugging aside the judgmental looks of delinquents and Mountain Men alike. When Harper tries to delicately suggest that she sit somewhere else for her own good, Maya levels her with an icy glare and threatens to kick her under the table.

For some reason, that makes Harper giggle and she figures that someone who makes her giggle must be alright to sit with.

So, she ignores Miller’s warning head shakes and Fox’s teary-eyed frowns and she plays footsie with Maya Vie. Life is weird.

She might as well just go with it.

I Need You (Like I Need a Gaping Head Wound) (Rated T) [Harper/Echo] *Graphic Depictions of Violence, Major Character Death*

Summary: “And that was the new track from Lou Bega: ‘Mambo No. 5' off his new album ‘A Little Bit of Mambo'. Stay tuned for Backstreet, Britney Spears, and The Red Hot Chili Peppers comin’ at’cha in the next hour.” 

Harper shuts off the radio and leans back in the driver’s seat, taking her hands off the wheel and rubbing her temples. Traffic is worse than normal today, meaning she’s gonna be late. She’s already 45 minutes late getting back from lunch, meaning that Roan will probably call her into his office. That’s the last thing she needs today. 

Harper nearly jumps out of her skin when the passenger door opens and a tall, brunette woman vaults into the car. 

“WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU D--” 

“Drive,” the woman says, voice barely above a whisper.

venus, planet of love was destroyed by global warming (Rated G) [Harper/Monty]

Summary: In a world tainted by darkness, Harper meets Monty.

Take back my life (Prove I’m alright) (Rated T) [Harper/Monty]

Summary: Harper and Monty have been married for ten years and she is beginning to notice the cracks in their marriage.  Will a road trip for a job interview be able to save their marriage?

Like dust behind the wagon (Rated T) [Harper/Monre] *Major Character Death*

Summary: Harper and her family were in search of a better life in Oregon when tragedy struck.  She didn't think she would ever recover, and then she met Monroe, a lone traveler looking for a ride to Fort Bridger.

you can bloom again (Rated T) [Harper/Clarke]

Summary: Harper's always been a survivor.

She's survived an orphaned childhood, kidnapping, and torture. When a wave of fire stretches across the sky, she knows that she'll survive this, too - but when she meets a girl with a smile brighter than the sun, Harper wonders if surviving alone is what she really wants.

The Hardest Thing (Rated T) [Harper/Emori]

Summary: After shooting Baylis and escaping to the woods, Emori was utterly alone. She travelled through the lands of the Coalition, stealing from anyone and everyone. All of that changed when she met the last sky girl after the Mountain Men wiped out the rest of her people.

Harper had a map to a peaceful village across the sea, and Emori had nothing to lose.

Release (Rated T) [Harper/Murphy]

Summary: Her whole body is still tense, but this long habit of distrust has been formed in her, is not native to her, and his lazy, laconic air tempts her to put herself at ease. And she is curious. Behind them, the Detention Center is teeming, yet the desolation of the dim light and barren highway makes Harper feel as if they were the only two on the wide Earth.

Upon being released from the Arkadia Juvenile Detention Center, Harper takes a road trip to California with an old friend, his boyfriend, and another recently released delinquent.

What the Hell is a Pulmonary Embolism? (Rated T) [Harper & Clarke/Murphy]

Summary: Harper McIntyre wasn’t trained for this.

She was just a tour guide, how was she supposed to deal with the bus crashing in the middle of nowhere?

something more than momentary (Rated T) [Harper/Murphy]

Summary: The first rule of working for the Princess Protection Program was, well, keep your princess safe no matter the cost.

The second rule was don't get attached. Agent Murphy had followed that rule to the letter for years and never had an issue.

But now he's stuck in a car for the foreseeable future with a princess and a gunshot wound, and everything he's ever believed in just might be changing.

and the road gets tough (Rated M) [Harper/Monty]

Summary: It’s the end of the world and Harper McIntyre is done running. She’s done fighting against a life that relentlessly keeps pushing her down. But she has her son to worry about and she desperately wants him to have a new life and to experience it all. When they hit the road, she’s helped by a kind stranger who changes the course of things. Monty Green represents a life she wished she had been able to have, but it might still be too late.

everyone’s a different flower (Rated T) [Harper/Monty]

Summary: Harper McIntyre's life on Earth has been a simple one, and she's always been happy with that. But with a single diagnosis, her simple life is completely upended.

Her best friends think that an intergalactic trip across the universe is just what she needs to get her mind off of things. Raven thinks the change in scenery will do Harper some good. Clarke thinks the girl time will help.

(Harper thinks the cute space-botanist she meets might just do the trick.)

I wanna shoot the whole day down (Rated T) [Harper/Monty] *Major Character Death*

Summary:  Tell me why I don't like Mondays...

Or Tuesdays, or Wednesdays, or any day since you left us.

Never Gonna Give You Up (Rated T) [Harper/Raven]

Summary: Unknown: Hey, Monty guilted me into a road trip with those damned puppy dog eyes and seeing as neither of you can be in the same car, I am your road trip Uber. Name's Raven.  

Harper: Rookie mistake, you never look Monty in the eyes. That's how you lose.  

A road trip, huh?

Macushla (Rated T) [Harper/Monty]

Summary: Harper Noelle Margaret McIntyre, Countess of Rothes, must survive the unthinkable, when the unsinkable ship hits an iceberg in the middle of the Atlantic

// aka the Titanic AU that isn't Jack and Rose

---

[readablenoise]

Modest Mouse at Hard Rock Live

In a glorifying mix of chaos, indulgence and intensity, Modest Mouse deliver an unforgettable performance to South Florida.

Orlando, FL- The audience is deafening. Lighters have emerged, dispersed throughout the audience, the floor is trembling and my glasses are in pieces, a lens somewhere in a beer puddle while while my lip is bleeding. No, this isn't Marilyn Manson. It's Modest Mouse.

And their audience has always been this passionate. The chorus of which is ringing throughout the coliseum in a incredible manner, the stage having been dark for nearly 5 minutes now for an uncertain encore and no one is yielding. This type of passion isn't always present, something rare. Fervent, wild and ferocious, like the spark from two stones to make fire. It's the most combustible type of energy, which is exactly what this band has always been able to do: form emotion into a performance. Take the angst, frustration, confusion and unbridled happiness that often comes into life and in both words and music, give a soul the words to speak.

And of course the ability to completely and utterly let go of inhibition, on a day when everyone would be, well, relaxed, the perfume of a good and bad kush mixing in with the smoke from the stage to a scenery Cheech and Chong would enjoy. As well as liquid indulgence, which leads us to that earlier freeze-framed moment of "Float On", where gravity has made it's best attempt to remind everyone if you tried to do it literally, it wouldn't work.

But this is Modest Mouse, and the ability to think the impossible, possible, comes with the price of the ticket.

From even before the stage was set, in a sold out Hard Rock Live in Citywalk. Where it's more modest competition in House of Blues is an oasis, the Hard Rock is as always, a luxury. The Roman inspired architecture is an addition to the 90's mosh dance hall that is the GA pit, with a sweat bath heating the place before the main festivities. Regrettably, I was not able to make opening act Mass Gothic who from the last 5 minutes I was able to catch, were a beautiful mix of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and My Bloody Valentine, and therefore highly recommend.

And one that, to new fans of the band, may be surprised at. Modest Mouse hit the jackpot with '05's "Float On", garnering the success the band had worked hard to deserve, starting as an indie/coffeehouse favorite. For fans of the act though, the range of emotion has always been there. If you look through a more than impressive discography resulting in and impressive 17 albums including EP's, there is something of the rawness of post-rock that has always been with them, disguised in 90's contemplative morsels. So the fact the queue music is peppered with TR/ST, New Order, dark wave, and post-rock tinged songs is further proof of how unappreciated a range they have.

The type of talent of which comes with the ability to extract patience for something worth it. With the band seemingly at a 45 minute delay before showtime, the crowd never expressed impatience, nor any slivers of disappointment but instead an atmosphere that would hang throughout the show, which for lack of a better word, was that of a house party. With patrons even politely determined to get to the already crowded barrier, everyone was treated as friends of your roommates third cousin in a kid's parents house that was vacated for the weekend. A communal vibration that was pleasantly surprising, and a slight wish more shows were this way.

When the lights did finally dim, the band coming out to the disorienting cacophony of buzzing bees slowly increasing in volume as they jumped into dizzying "The Tortoise and the Tourist", not letting a breath be caught before following with "Tiny Cities Made of Ashes".

And it's right there that the level never wavered. Though the floor exploded with favorites such as "Dance Hall" and "Black Cadillac's", the room resembled Europe or Mexico as every song, every word, was accompanied with the voices of the entire venue swaying and jumping to the notes.

The act thrive in this type of infectious intensity, propelled by multi-instrumentalist Tom Peloso who jumped magnificently from trumpets against a stark red background, slide guitar, upright bass and keys, adding even more to the 7+ piece act, and the explosive/eccentric vocal stylings of Isaac Brock. Brock's attitude is unique, being incomparable to other vocalists, falling somewhere in the range of Jack White meets Josh Homme put through a barely working coffeehouse filter. It is the angst we spoke of earlier, morose lyrics against rumbling, arguably arena type compositions, leading to the never ceasing throbbing of the floor.

And back to that first encore we spoke of earlier following "Sugar Boats". The usual hoots and hollers progressing just as with the band's songs, increasing to chants, screams and finally, flames. Lighters unprovoked suddenly popping up along with phone flash lights held down as the five plus minute darkness continued, ending apparently when one fan simply yelled "Fuck you!" to the stage. Which, really is a play on what the band represent, as "Float On" begins, a song about being somehow optimistic against a tide of life's strangest dilemmas and when that crowd surfer decided I was good place to test if gravity truly did ride on everything.

Remaining together, embracing the madness life gives and sing through it. Shout it from the rooftops and whistle to the empty space in front of you, dance to songs no one can yet hear. And if you can, find another group of misfits to do it with.

As the group wrapped with "Invisible", a possible encore hanging in the air though seemingly scrapped for the same reason of the other delays, Brock's recovery from a flu contracted a month ago, the crowd shuffled out once again without bitterness, that house party atmosphere in the air once again. Every patron coming out and speaking as friends, before heading into the pleasureland of Citywalk outside.

With the stage lights shining like a sun onto the hardwood floors, it's time to step off Planet Modest Mouse. And bring just a piece of the maddening atmosphere, with you.

More information on remaining dates of the Modest Mouse/Mass Gothic US Tour can be found here https://www.modestmouse.com/tour/

-Jenelle DeGuzman

[fillthevoid-with-space]

The last episode I posted went up on a very special birthday that I failed to acknowledge or, well, realize was even happening until I saw it on the Google homepage. So, to rectify this oversight, I’m talking about the history of cosmological photography and how we reached the high point of the Hubble Space Telescope, which turned 27 this past April 24th!

Below the cut is some elaboration on the episode itself, including my sources, music credits, a glossary, and a transcript (not an exact record of this episode, but it’s the loose, fairly conversational script I was working with). I mention a couple of books and authors in this episode so if you want to see that written down, those are there too (one of the authors is Chinese and listen, Chinese is at least as hard for me to pronounce as French. I did try though). I’m also on Twitter at @HDandtheVoid, though I keep forgetting I have it. Talk to me on there and maybe I won’t forget!

Let me know what you think of this episode, let me know what you think I should research next*, tell me a fun space fact… anything’s helpful at this point!

*(Move fast if you feel strongly about what I research next, though, cuz I have to get it done by May 22nd! My thoughts were henges because I didn’t get to them this week, probes and satellites, the planets, spectroscopy, or maybe black holes? Please hit me up by May 11th so I can start working on it!)

Glossary:

catadioptric/Cassegrain telescope - use lenses and mirrors in combination.

focal length - the distance between the lens and the image sensor of a camera when the subject of the photo is in focus. According to the Nikon website this is usually measured in millimeters, but I’ll take a wild guess and say it’s probably easier to measure it in feet on the Hubble Telescope because that thing is school bus-sized.

Lagrange points -  five points where three bodies can orbit each other, yet stay in the same position relative to each other in a stable configuration. L1-L3 are in line with each other, while L4 and L5 are at the points of equilateral triangles in the configuration. See an example specific to the James Webb Telescope in the link.

objective lens - the optical element that gathers light from the object being observed and focuses the light rays to produce an image at the focal point.

reflection telescope - reflects light rays off the concave surface of a parabolic mirror to get an image of a distant object. Higher contrast image, worse color quality.

refraction telescope - uses convex lenses to focus a far-off, dim image. Good color quality, poor contrast.

satellites - objects that move around a larger object. Can be man-made or natural. Geostationary satellites orbit west to east over the equator, moving in the same direction and at the same rate as Earth. Polar-orbiting satellites orbit north to south, which allows them to scan the Earth along longitude lines.

Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe—a spacecraft operating from 2001 to 2010 which measured temperature differences in the cosmic microwave background radiation leftover from the Big Bang. It orbited at L2, just like the James Webb Telescope will!

Script/Transcript (I do tend to embellish in the moment of recording so it’s not exact, but all the facts are there and I can’t know a fact and not talk about it so trust me, all you’re missing is probably another swear word or two)

Sources:

Facts about telescopes via the Naperville Astronomical Association

More facts about telescopes via Western Washington University

Earth’s atmosphere definition via the Encyclopedia Britannica Online

Correcting for atmospheric interference in astronomical imaging

Info on satellites for K-4th grade via NASA

Info on satellites for 5th-8th grade via NASA

What focal length means in photography via Nikon (the camera brand)

Hermann Oberth’s museum website

The history of NASA’s Orbiting Astronomical Observatories, which an older British gentleman seems to like enough to run a website about it

The history of OAO-3 aka Copernicus via NASA

Info on the Hubble Space Telescope for K-4th grade via NASA

Hubble-T’s 25th anniversary website, which I highly recommend. The timeline is a dream come true in terms of organization and brevity. It was last updated in December 2014, though, since that was when the Hubble was 25, so not a lot of new info there.

What the Hubble Space Telescope looks like, all its parts, and some of its history

What Hubble-T is looking at right now and why

The history of maintenance missions to the Hubble-T

Hubble: The Beginning, a 4-minute documentary video with a couple interviews, including Nancy Roman!

Hubble’s YouTube channel!!!!!!!!

Spitzer Space Telescope website

James Webb Space Telescope website

Hirshfeld, Alan. Starlight Detectives. Bellevue Library Press: NY, 2014.

Liu, Cixin. The Three-Body Problem. Trans. Ken Liu. Tor Books: NY, 2016.

Intro Music: ‘Better Times Will Come’ by No Luck Club off their album Prosperity

Filler Music: ‘Supermassive Black Hole’ by Muse off their album Black Holes and Revelations

Outro Music: ‘Fields of Russia’ by Mutefish off their album On Draught

[drkreviews]

🎄Album Selection of 2016 | September🎄

Versailles - The Greatest Hits ~2007-2016~ (14.09.2016) [★★★★★]

2016 featured the most awaited comeback of visual kei in recent times, happened after four years, passed between other solid musical projects. The aristocratic metal band per defintion releases a compilation, including some classical hits, revisited, and two new songs, for a majestical product; in the older songs each note seems converted in something more powerful and engaging, where the new works can only enrich the structure of the album, where what makes it distinguishable is the incredible maturity by the excellent singer Kamijo Yuuji.

TRACKLIST

Melodic Thorn -Bi no boryoku- (Melodic thorn -Violence of beauty-)

The Revenant Choir

Ascendead Master

Shout & Bites

Destiny -The Lovers-

The Love from a Dead Orchestra

Zombie

After Cloudia

Serenade

Masquerade

Philia

Aristocrat’s Symphony

Chandelier

The Novembers - Hallelujah (21.09.2016) [★★★★★]

Following up the dark and seducing work made in Elegance, The Novembers bring out the sixth album, which this time takes its own energy from all the best aspects of their music. The melodies go from an extreme grungy rock, to an indie nostalgical ballad, adding even some shoegaze hints, belonging to their early works; an album which suits perfectly to old and new supporters of this wonderful rock band.

TRACKLIST

Hallelujah

Black Rainbow

1000 Years

Beautiful Fire

What Little Love

Wind

Even Time Ages

!!!!!!!!!!

Just Going Far

I Want to Love You

Ikouyo (Let’s go)

Buck-Tick - Atom Miraiha no.9 (Futurism Atom no.9) (28.09.2016) [★★★★★]

One of the most awaited releases of the year was the 20th full album by the legendary visual kei band Buck-Tick, highly anticipated by the single New World. With this release, the band explores their own sound, going through their darkest and rebel notes, breaking any possible canon and rebuilding at their own pleasure, between aggressive melodies and nostalgical themes, for a greatly structured album.

TRACKLIST

Cum uh sol nu -Flask no besshu- (Cum uh sol nu -Another type of flask-)

PINOA ICCHIO -Odoru Atom- (PINOA ICCHIO -Dancing Atom-)

Devil’s Wings

El Dorado

Bi Neo Universe (Beauty neo universe)

BOY septem peccata mortalia

Jukai (Wide forest)

The Seaside Story

Future Song -Mirai ga touru- (Future Song -Through the future-)

Manjushage manjushaka (Red spider lily manjushaka)

Cuba Libre

Ai no souretsu (Funeral procession of love)

New World -Beginning-

Keel - Raison d’etre et de sang (21.09.2016) [★★★★★] (REVIEW)

Along with the claimed band Hollowgram, the singer Ryo has founded another awesome project, made with illustrious names of Japanese rock scene, which already last year managed to be on my personal list. On the past year they released the third mini-album, where their compositions are deeper and more articulated than expected, continuing the work they started since their debut, with complex and technical songs.

TRACKLIST

Swans (Album ver.)

Gogou no shasatsu (Shot dead in the afternoon) 

Rain song

Taiyou yori atsui natsu (Hotter summer than the sun) 

Shiri sugita shinzou (Being aware of the heart) 

May your life be always fulfilled with love

Lynch. - Avantgarde (14.09.2016) [★★★★] (REVIEW)

Lynch. retakes their own style, after the dim and successful work made in the previous year with D.A.R.K. -In the name of the evil-, bringing out the ninth full release for them. In general it brings the typical energetic and powerful sound that this band always had, but with some avantgarde-ish things here and there (not fulfilling the expectations coming from the title), which didn’t diminuish the relevance of this release, from a band which is now passing a bad moment, because of Akinori’a arrest.

TRACKLIST

Avantgarde

Evidence

Pledge

F.A.K.E.

Damned

Unelma

Phantom

Killing Cult

Prayer

Needlez

The Outrage Sexuality

Farewell

-HONORABLE MENTIONS-

I Love You Orchestra - Crack (14.09.2016)

The first mention is one of the most curious discoveries I have ever done, represented by the instrumental rock act I Love You Orchestra. I admit that instrumental rock is not something which I listen to everyday (apart from some exceptions), but their style, well shown in the third album, is great and has an huge impact, with efficient melodies and rhythmical works, which will surely hook any new listener, as happened to me.

TRACKLIST

Universe

Sunshine Freeway

Spoooon

Herb is Justice

Sakura (Cherrytree)

Bye bye, your yesterdays

Kenroku-en (Full ver.)

Off Limit

Frankensteiner

F**k Bumpkin F**k

Crack

Small Money, Sweet Honey (Zekkyō suru 60-do ver.)

Aimer - Daydream (21.09.2016)

One of the most promising Japanese pop singers of modern scene marks the second mention of this month. Coming out from the success of the song Re:I Am, she developed an interesting image, fulfilled with her fourth album, a togetherness of styles, shades and experimentations, without forgetting the interesting duets with other famous singers of the scene, working perfectly with the sweet and pulsing identity of Aimer, a sure bet of J-pop.

TRACKLIST

Insane Dream

Ninelie (with Cherry from Egoist)

Twoface

Higher Ground

for Lonely (with Mao Abe)

Chouchou musubi (Butterfly knot)

Kataomoi (Unrequited Love)

Hz

Kowairo (Tone of voice)

Closer

Falling Alone

Us

Stars in the rain

Kra - Uchuu Traveler -Core&Cell- (Universe Traveler) (14.09.2016)

The final mention is for the visual kei band Kra, which this time released something which appeared quite interesting. The twelfth mini-album, divided in two parts, unleashes the true aspect of Kra’s sound; Core is about their energy and positive spirit, while Cell is about their passion and deep feelings, for a compelling work, fit for fans and not only.

TRACKLIST

-CORE-

Uchuu Traveler

Campanella e (For Campanella)

Attention Please

Black Hole

Soujisei plan (Cleaning plan)

-CELL-

Ai no wakusei (Love planet)

May Day

Eclipse

Ryuusei signal (Meteor plan)

Yoru no hate de (At the end of the night)

TO BE CONTINUED...

*I am sorry for the late posting, but I am experiencing serious technical problems, which I am solving slowly; meanwhile the posting will continue as planned, so the blog is still active. Stay tuned!*

[littleachari]

Long ramble I'll try to do a line break right [nvm this app is wack oh well TW fyi]

I'm just going to long post here because this "reblog blog" has become a mess that I don't take care of anymore anyway.

I'm listening to the newest album from Rainbow Kitten Surprise- When It Lands is playing. I'm amazed that there's no YouTube app on my iPad. I have way too many screens on. I also have Juno playing on low volume just so there can be something on- and I thought we had Easy A but I can't find it. And my room is also illuminated by the dim light of an LED cherry blossom tree that I bought in 2014 to use on my side of the bed to stay up and read but it was awfully dim for that. I still read Patti Smith's "Just Kids" because I was stubborn, impatient, and wanted to stay in my bed instead of going to another room. Eventually I got a different light, but I also abandoned reading for exactly three nights to play and quickly 100% A Link Between Worlds.

Anyway, the point.

I started watching Girls on HBO (rather, the HBO extension of Hulu that is only an additional $5 until November and I wanted to watch Silicon Valley and Barry, also Barry is so great holy fuck). I know, it has 6 seasons I think, I'm really late to the party. I like Judd Apatow. And yet, I've literally never in my life heard ANYONE saying they watch this show. So what prompted this? I don't know. Whatever. I'm on the second season and episode five hit too close to home for me. It was uncomfortable to watch so here I am, babbling about.

I related too much to some bizarre fantasy the main character was living out. I've had these similar moments when realizing in some surreal experiences that oh holy fuck- I want to be happy. Which I'm not ready for or I don't know how to do. Which only ever comes in packages that just seem unrealistic or painfully temporary. Not only do I not know how to do happiness, it just feels like it's so far from a piece of my identity that I'd be turning my back on myself not to be wallowing in my journal, sharing moments of intimacy or suicide, discussing animal cruelty, being angry at the injustices of the whole planet. I don't know really how to be good at anything other than anger and sadness. I excel at this. I'm convincing this way. Maybe not on Tumblr, but hey my Facebook feed- I have friends who miss me when I'm not moody because I apparently turn a phrase and sound woke AF and they "need" it I don't know. Happiness? I get fewer likes, so obviously if I'm using social media to measure my abilities with emotions, I'm not good at it.

And I've had those one day, two day, fantasies in real life. Not many times. Twice. The first time should be more tragic to me because it resulted in my very first ever bacterial infection (and last? Like fuck yeah clean sex), AND a few months ago this guy came public about being an abuser and oh holy jesus fucking christ, his victims seem endless. I know it's not about me, but I still think I'm allowed to feel some kind of fucked up over the fact that I willingly flew to another state to fuck a guy who turns out, has a laundry list of rape and sexual assault victims. Just for the record- keeping score, I've slept with 3 rapists, and been the victim of 2 of them. And the rest of the guys I've ever been involved with are just... really manipulative. One guy used to call me and ask where I was, and when I told him he'd say he was there and asked me to find him- he was never actually in the same place, but he wanted to say if I couldn't find him it wasn't fate and I mean fuck, I had classes to go to. One guy pretended he'd gotten his license and then never picked me up because oh, he actually hadn't gotten his license he just told me he did and told me to get dressed to go out. Aside from rapists, these are the guys I date because I have excellent taste.

But those fantasies are strange to live out. Play house with an older guy in another state for a few days, just laying around, watching movies, cooking food, having sex in different rooms, only going out to walk on the beach and get desserts. Feeling like some luxurious adult in a big house. Or flying to another state to share a room with- oh never mind. I can't really write about that one. Because hahahaha, I'm not cool in any way whatsoever and I'm still not over that one.

I also got mad about the male myth that females are hard to please, sexually. Nah. That's not true. What's difficult for men who buy into this myth is not being a selfish jerk. Or the myth that losing virginity hurts. Maybe that's just my experience, though. (It didn't hurt, but I maintain that he was a considerate lover).

This vacation is going to suck, but at least I'm going to the beach in a day. Run away, sail away, wash away. Be eaten by the sea.

Also, the character Shoshanna is ridiculously cute. If she were my real friend, I'd probably be a very unkind and potentially violent person to anyone who ever hurt her feelings.

[shutter16]

LONG WAY TO THE TOP DOCUMENTARY FEATURING MEMBERS OF #THESWORD, #DEFLEPPARD, #LIMPBIZKIT, #WEEZER AND MORE, NOW AVAILABLE ON DIGITAL OUTLETS

Now Available on Digital Platforms (iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Vudu, InDemand, Vubiquity, Microsoft, Dishtv, Sling, Microsoft Xbox)

(Feb 3, 2017) Los Angeles –The house lights dim and the crowd surges forward. Moments ago the crowd was loud and boisterous; now, they are hushed. It’s a special brand of reverence saved up for this once in a lifetime event. Together they experience the show. The band takes the stage. The lights pulse, the drums kick, the bass pumps, the guitar wails, and the singer croons; its magic. There is a sweaty goodbye and the fans are left with an unforgettable night. But what happens to the band after they strike the set? Long Way To The Top, a new rock documentary that recently digital outlets, takes you on the road with professional musicians to look at the highs and lows of living the dream.

While newcomers The Sword, Grizfolk and David Ramirez hold center stage through musical performances and looks behind the scenes of their tours, other interview subjects include members of Def Leppard, Weezer, Phantom Planet, Limp Bizkit, Nine Inch Nails and more. As director Rob Montague stresses, “It’s important to showcase every genre of music. Though one band may consider themselves heavy metal and another pop, the journey they take is the same. It’s just the details that are different.”

Montague and his producers really clicked with metal band The Sword, recognizing a driven and commitment to their art, “They are a blue collar band, living on the road.” Producer Taylor Wallace, who is an event manager for the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheater and other venues, agrees, noting, “The Sword is a band that takes the time to talk to their fans and savor the crowd every show. They’re in it for the music.”

Formed in 2003 and hailing from music capital, Austin, TX, the heavy metal band is currently celebrating the release of their album “Low Country.” 2012’s “Apocryphon” debuted at #17 on the Billboard Top 200, marking their highest entry on the chart. Since first emerging with 2006’s “Age of Winters,” the group has been extolled by everyone from Rolling Stone and The Washington Post to Revolver and Decibel. Metallica personally chose them as support for a global tour, and they’ve earned high-profile syncs in movies including “Jennifer’s Body” and Jonas Åkerlund’s “Horsemen.”

Three years in the making, Long Way to the Top is a story about the trials and tribulations of working musicians, with heavy emphasis of life on the road. From unexpected tour line-ups, to unforgiving weather, the undying love of their fans, to their unsympathetic landlords; LWTTT presents an uncompromising, behind-the-scenes glimpse of what it is really like being a career musician in our modern era.

Says film co-producer Thom Hazart (also responsible for day to day operations for powerhouse independent record label EMP LABEL GROUP) says, “I watched Rob and Taylor work on this film for YEARS, with the kind of determination I can barely even fathom. At the end, it is such an accurate and intimate look at the heart of the independent touring musician. I recommend ANYONE to check it out.”

The film initially screened at the 39th Annual Cleveland International Film Festival, Ink’s Middle of the Map Fest, and Skyline Indie Film Festival. It was nominated for Best Documentary at NewFilmmakers and won Best Rock Documentary at the Albuquerque Film Festival before signing with Quiver

[stephaniemarlowftw]

WATCH DRAB MAJESTY’S MUSIC VIDEO FOR “TOO SOON TO TELL”

Appears on new album The Demonstration out January 20th on DAIS; North American tour with COLD CAVE starts this Thursday

“…the best interdimensional being making post-punk right now." - CLRVYNT“

exquisite, genuine, and expansive” - Music & Riots 

“…occupies the creative sweet spot between ice and warmth... the aural equivalent of floating suspended in an isolation tank.  - LA Record

Check out another brilliant music video from Drab Majesty’s forthcoming sophomore LP The Demonstration; “Too Soon To Tell” was directed by Amanda Siegel and premieres today via CVLT Nation or (directly on YouTube). In support of The Demonstration, which is due out January 20th, 2017 from DAIS Records, Drab Majesty will tour extensively around planet Earth. Tour kicks off this Thursday with a North American jaunt supporting COLD CAVE followed by a European tour with the band as well. Closing out the European tour, Drab Majesty will support King Dude for two weeks in April. Check out the dates below.

Recorded by Josh Eustis (NIN, Telefon Tel Aviv), The Demonstration features 11 new songs from Drab Majesty, who began in 2012 as a warbled transmission received via 4-track cassette in a dim, Los Angeles bedroom. The entity known as Deb Demure, an interdimensional muse of sorts, lent an otherworldly vision to a human contact; one to be realized through meticulously composed lo-fi recordings. Focusing on the aesthetics of cult ritual and the devastating power of music, Drab Majesty’s manifesto to humanity was revealed: revel in the power of artistic influences that reside beyond the self. From its incarnation, Drab Majesty was a solo act; an interplay between guitar and triggered machines. In 2016, with growing audiences and heightened interest, Drab expanded into a duo, employing the keyboard accompaniment of far-out twin, Mona D – filling out frequencies and upping the spectacle of the live performance.

Drab Majesty tour dates:

January 12  Las Vegas, NV @ Bunkhouse *

January 13  Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge *

January 14  Denver, CO @ Lipgloss / Larimer *

January 15  Omaha, NE @ Waiting Room *

January 17  Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle 

January 18  Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick *

January 19  Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Place *

January 20  Montreal, QC @ Fairmont *

January 21  Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts *

January 22  Brooklyn, NY @ Saint Vitus *

January 24  Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery *

January 25  Washington, DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel *

January 26  Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter *

January 27  Durham, NC @ Motorco *

January 28  Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West *

January 29  Nashville, TN @ Exit/In *

January 31  New Orleans, LA @ Siberia 

February 1  Houston, TX @ Walters *

February 2  San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger *

February 3  Austin, TX @ Barracuda *

February 4  Dallas, TX @ Dada *

February 5  McAllen, TX @ Yerberia Cultura 

February 7  Tucson, AZ @ Flycatcher ^

February 8  Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar ^

February 9  San Diego, CA @ The Hideout ^

February 14  Los Angeles, CA @ The Regent %

February 15  San Francisco, CA @ Elbo Room 

February 16  Sacramento, CA @ TBA 

February 17  Portland, OR @ Lovecraft

February 18  Seattle, WA @ Timbre Room

March 21 Wiesbaden, Germany @ Schlachthof *

March 22 Berlin, Germany @ Berghain Kantine *

March 23 Hamburg, Germany @ Molotow *

March 24 Koln, Germany @ MTC Club *

March 25 Essen, Germany @ Zeche Carl *

March 26 Munchen, Germany @ Hansa 39 *

March 30 Torino, Italy @ Superbudda *

March 31 Padova, Italy @ Mame Club *

April 1 Ravenna, Italy @ Bronson *

April 4 Roma, Italy @ Quirinetta *

April 5 Milano, Italy @ Circolo Magnolia 

April 12  Courtrai, Belgium @ De Kreun +

April 15  Hannover, Germany @ Chez Heinz +

April 16  Frankfurt, Germany @ Das Bett +

April 18  Prague, Czech Republic @ Futurum +

April 19  Wien, Austria @ Viper Room +

April 20  Budapest, Hungary @ Durer Kert, Room 041 +

April 21  Wroclaw, Poland @ Firlej +

April 22  Warsaw, Poland @ Proxima +

April 23  Gdansk, Poland @ B90 +

April 25  Copenhagen, Denmark @ Pumphuset +

* w/ Cold Cave

^ w/ Body of Light 

% w/ Black Marble

+ w/ King Dude

The Demonstration, track listing:

1.  Induction

2.  Dot In The Sky

3.  39 By Design

4.  Not Just A Name

5.  Hath No Form

6.  Too Soon To Tell

7.  Cold Souls

8.  A Spire Points At The Heavens

9.  Kissing The Ground

10.  Forget Tomorrow

11.  Behind The Wall

*top photo by Nedda Asfari

[fillthevoid-with-space]

Stars are too distant to really peer at and they have all that radiation and heat and blinding light and such so it’s doubtful that we will ever be able to prod the Sun, but astronomers can certainly classify what stars we’ve been able to observe! This is the first part of a two-part series on star classification systems. This podcast focuses on variable stars, how they were discovered, the awesome women who started developing the basis of a major star classification system, and what variable stars did for our understanding of the universe. 

There is a lot of technical talk and I did my best to make it comprehensible but you can absolutely hit me up with questions if you have them! I’m also on Twitter at @HDandtheVoid if you’d rather ask me there. And go ahead and check out the podcast on iTunes, rate it or review it if you’d like, and subscribe! I’ll always post all the extras here on tumblr but iTunes might be more convenient for downloading and podcast apps and all that good stuff.

Below the cut is some elaboration on the episode itself, including my sources, music credits, a BIG glossary, a quote on women and emotional labor that really hits home for me, and a transcript. I mention a couple of books and quote a couple people in this episode so if you want to see that written down, those sources are there as well. Let me know what you think of this episode, let me know what you think I should research next*, tell me a fun space fact… anything’s helpful! 

*(The June 19th podcast is already set, it’s going to be part 2 on star classifications, but in July I could start talking about things like spectroscopy, planets, dark matter, or I have a book in at the library on longitude.)

Glossary:

arcsecond - an infinitesimal measurement of a degree; in 1 degree there are 3,600 arcseconds.

cosmic distance measurements: light-years - a way to imagine distance scales on an astronomical level; the distance light can travel in one year, or about 6 trillion miles. parsecs - a measurement of distance on an astronomical scale; the distance to a star that shifts by one arcsecond from one side of Earth’s orbit to the other. It’s more common than using light-years when discussing deep space astronomy. One parsec is about 19 trillion miles (30 trillion kilometers), a bit over 3 light-years.

magnitude - the measurement of a star’s brightness as seen from earth. The brighter it is, the lower its magnitude value; the Sun has an apparent magnitude of -27.

Malmquist Bias - the stars that are visible in a cluster are the brightest ones. Astronomers rely on them to compute average luminosity, but the fact that they’re the brightest ones inevitably skews the results.

parallax - the apparent shift of an object when viewed through two different lines of sight.

radial velocity - the speed at which a star is moving away from or towards Earth.

standard candle - a kind of celestial object that has a known luminosity due to some characteristic that the entire class of objects possesses.

stellar photometry - measuring and recording the magnitude of stars.

triangulation - a technique to measure the distance of an object by observing it from two different locations, knowing the distance between both observation locations and measuring the angle at which the distant object moves (its parallax angle).

variable stars: variable stars - stars that change brightness. Reasons for the brightness changes vary, and certain types of variable stars can be used to determine relative distance. They are either intrinsic (when a change in brightness is caused by a star’s own physical changes, like pulsation or eruption) or extrinsic (when the variance has an external cause, such as an eclipse of one star by another or stellar rotation). Cepheid variables - variable stars with a period between 1 and 70 days, with light variations from 0.1 to 2 magnitudes. They’re massive, with a high luminosity and are usually classified between F and G or K. They obey the period-luminosity relationship and played a major part in calculating distances to far-away galaxies as well as helping to determine the age of the Universe. eclipsing binaries - binary systems of stars where the components regularly eclipse one another, causing an apparent decrease in the brightness of the system. irregular variables - variable stars, typically red giants, without a measurable period to their luminosity. Long Period Variables - LPVs have periods ranging from 30 to 1,000 days. They’re red giants or supergiants, typically classified M, R, C, or N. There are subclasses, too: Mira, which have light variations of more than 2.5 magnitudes and are the future evolution of our own star, the Sun; and semiregular, which have some regular periods and some irregular light variation and have light variations less than 2.5 magnitudes. RR Lyrae - variable stars with a period of 0.05 to 1.2 days and a light variation between 0.3 and 2 magnitudes. They’re older and smaller than Cepheids, and are white giant stars typically classified as A. RV Tauri - variable stars that have periods between 30 and 150 days, light variation up to 3 magnitudes, and possible cycle variations that can be hundreds or thousands of days long. They’re yellow supergiants classified between G and K.

cataclysmic variables: dwarf nova - a close binary system of a red dwarf, a white dwarf, and an accretion disk around the white dwarf. They brighten by 2 to 6 magnitudes depending on the stability of the disk, which loses material to the white dwarf. nova - a close binary system of a white dwarf and a secondary star that’s a little cooler than the Sun. The system brightens 7 to 16 magnitudes in 1 to 100 days, and then the star fades slowly to the initial brightness over a period of several years or decades. At maximum brightness, it’s similar to an A or F giant star. Recurrent novae are similar to this category of variable but have several outbursts during their recorded history. R Coronae Borealis - an eruptive variable, a supergiant star that is hydrogen-poor and carbon-rich and spends most of its time at maximum light, fading as much as 9 magnitudes at irregular intervals. Most often classified between F and K or R. supernova - a massive star that explodes with a magnitude increase of 20 or more. Supernovae have led us to realize that the expansion of the Universe is accelerating. symbiotic stars -  close binary systems of a red giant and a hot blue star. They have nova-like outbursts up to 3 magnitudes.

Script/Transcript

Sources:

What stars are made of via NASA

Stars, Cepheid Variable by T. Lloyd Evans via the California Institute of Technology aka CalTech

Variable stars via the Australia Telescope National Facility

American Association of Variable Star Observers website. I used a couple of pages from this one but the whole organization is kinda on the nose.

Stellar magnitude via EarthSky

A star magnitude scale via Harvard

Harvard Observatory’s Astronomical Photographic Plate Collection, which has a history of the collection and the women computers.

Definitions and differences for parsecs and light-years, and a description of parallax and triangulation via EarthSky

Standard candle breakdowns via some magical wonderful person with the best accessible online science book project I have ever encountered. Mad props to whoever is doing this, it’s a noble cause.

Info on Walter Baade via the Online Archives of California

A very math-y breakdown of the Malmquist Bias in the article “Observational Selection Bias Affecting the Determination of the Extragalactic Distance Scale” by P. Teerikorpi, published 1997

Johnson, George. Miss Leavitt’s Stars. Atlas Books: NY, 2005.

Henrietta Swan Leavitt quote: “It is worthy of notice [that] the brighter variables have the longer periods” (38).

“If a theory or observation seemed to suggest that we, the observers, happen to occupy an exalted place in the heavens, then it was probably wrong” (110)

Edwin Hubble quote: “With increasing distance, our knowledge fades, and fades rapidly. Eventually, we reach the dim boundary—the utmost limits of our telescopes. There, we measure shadows, and search among ghostly errors of measurements for landmarks that are scarcely more substantial” (130)

Pickover, Clifford A. “Leavitt’s Luminosity Law.” Archimedes to Hawking: Laws of Science and the Great Minds Behind Them. Oxford UP: NY, 2008. 475.

Soba, Dava. The Glass Universe: How the Ladies of the Harvard Observatory Took the Measure of the Stars. Viking: New York, 2016.

From Claire Messud’s The Woman Upstairs (I haven’t read the book, I just collect quotes, so this isn’t me endorsing the book; I know nothing about it except this paragraph): “I’m a good girl, I’m a nice girl, I’m a straight-A, strait-laced, good daughter, good career girl, and I never stole anybody’s boyfriend and I never ran out on a girlfriend, and I put up with my parents’ shit and my brother’s shit, and I’m not a girl anyhow, I’m over forty fucking years old, and I’m good at my job and I’m great with kids and I held my mother’s hand when she died, after four years of holding her hand while she was dying and I speak to my father every day on the telephone–every day, mind you, and what kind of weather do you have on your side of the river, because here it’s pretty gray and a bit muggy too? It was supposed to say ‘Great Artist’ on my tombstone, but if I died right now it would say ‘such a good teacher/daughter/friend’ instead; and what I really want to shout, and want in big letters on that grave, too, is FUCK YOU ALL.”

Intro Music: ‘Better Times Will Come’ by No Luck Club off their album Prosperity

Filler Music: 'River Man’ by Nick Drake off his album Five Leaves Left.

Outro Music: ‘Fields of Russia’ by Mutefish off their album On Draught