#folk horror chic

[horrorlesbians]

Alexander McQueen Autumn / Winter 2024

[girlactionfigure]

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the most paradoxical ceremony of the year—the Pallywood Awards—where the tales spun are so outlandish, they make the plot twists of a telenovela look like child’s play!

This has been a very good year for the folks in Pallywood. This year Palestine is set to dethrone Pandora from its spot as the highest-grossing fictional world in history. They’re selling a narrative so profitable that James Cameron would is here taking notes and crying into his director’s cut of ‘Titanic’.

They’re not just breaking box office records either; they’re shattering sensibilities and twisting tropes. Holocaust inversion? Check. Accusing the only democracy in the Middle East of genocide while their own missiles rain down? Double check. It’s like they’re trying to win an Oscar for ‘Most Dramatic Irony.’

And let’s not forget the ceasefires! Their supporters chant ceasefire now, while their leaders are the ones refusing them. If contradiction were an art form, Pallywood would be the Picasso of the gallery. It’s so surreal, Dali’s clocks aren’t the only things melting—so are the facts.

Then, there’s the popular support — You know who they are. Those misguided celebrities, journalists, and students who cheer from the sidelines. The ones supporting terrorists like it’s the latest trend. “What are you wearing today?” “Oh, this old thing? It’s just my cognitive dissonance chic.”

So here we are, folks—at the grand farce of Pallywood, laughing to keep from crying because if you didn’t laugh, you’d have to face the horror of a narrative so dystopian, it makes ‘1984’ look like a sitcom.

Remember, the real plot twist is when the world sees past the smoke and mirrors. Good night, and here’s to hoping for a future ceremony where truth isn’t just a guest appearance.

grouchomaccabee

[the-breath-in-air]

Madeliene explains the whole 'fucking a Nazi' thing pretty succinctly in s2e4. He gave her food and cigarettes. And when there's death everywhere, being physically close with someone and experiencing physical pleasure can be a comfort, even if that someone is a fucking Nazi. Is that ethically good or excusable? No. But it's also not the same as being a collaborator.

And then in s2e6 she gives that example of the woman in chic clothes starving to death and it highlights how necessary it was to have a line on extra food in order to stay alive.

So, yeah, she was a monster (as she says in s2e6)...she prioritized her own survival (physical and mental) above any morality or ethics. But, uh 1: that's a very human thing to do; we are all fallible. And 2: every other vampire has done that and worse.

Folks gotta stop assuming these characters are morally pure. They're not. They're also not completely villainous masterminds. They're all just fucked up people who're trying to make it through the night without sinking into dispair and tasting the fire. They all have very human failings, and just have supernatural ways of coping.

In my opinion, part of the horror of this series is seeing how your own moral failures could lead you to act similarly to one or more of the vampires, given the right set of circumstances.

(ETA: Also all these characters are fictional...which is why this is compelling. Because they arent real people...so you can explore this shit in a story without harming anyone.)

[sahonithereadwolf]

It gets thrown around a lot that white folk don't know how to protest and shit like this is why. Just, not engaging with a thing is the lowest bar on the planet and y'all still get chic-fil-a. And if you can't do that you definitely can't do the actual work. Some folks entire protest culture continues to be dictated by consumerism. It can't be bad if thinking about it will make me feel bad, I'll donate to a queer group like a capitalist carbon footprint offset, how much different does my 15 dollars make? People mad their actions don't exist actually in a fucking bubble. Homie made 5 nights because people kept making fun of his cgi in budget christen kids propaganda films as "creepy" and "offputtingly lifeless". I promise, you you can watch your favorite pasty youtuber who will never be affected by the shit policies of these people scream at something else or for the of of god engage with horror where things are made with intent and purpose instead of happy accidents and game theory lore videos

😐

[fashioneditswebsite]

Nine things you missed from London Fashion Week

There were many surprises on and off the catwalks. The world of luxury fashion knew no bounds during London Fashion Week. This season highlighted top designers, as usual. Here's what you might have missed… Burberry paid tribute to Amy Winehouse. During the 2024 autumn/winter Burberry show, the heritage brand paid tribute to the late Amy Winehouse. The event ended with Back to Black playing as legacy models walked the runway for the last time. The show was at Victoria Park. Lee Daniels is the brand's creative director. It was their third collection. Riccardo Tisci was the previous creative director. The show took place in a large marquee. Other sports, fashion, and entertainment stars attended, including Vogue's editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, British screen star Olivia Colman, and British-Nigerian rapper Skepta. Zendaya wore a new 16Arlington dress. While promoting her latest film, Dune: Part Two, as LFW kicked off, Zendaya wore a dress straight from the latest 16Arlington autumn/winter collection called 'I'm Not Sorry, It's Human Nature.' Styled by long-term stylist Law Roach, the dress was a strapless maxi gown that featured fringed beaded tassels and large sequins. She wore it with her hair pulled back into a bun. The 16Arlington show took place at the Barbican Centre, which was transformed and draped in black cloth that mirrored the gothic chic aesthetic of the show. Models emerged wearing a racer neck silver tassel dress, super long black tailored coat, and a hot pink jumper with a dog motif, inspired by curator Charlie Fox's book, The Young Monster. It made the 30-year-old London-born Marco Capaldo – the man behind the brand – think more deeply about what it means to be a freak, horror, and the human psyche. Additionally, he believed it was better for people to express themselves rather than suppress their feelings, thoughts, and emotions. Nicola Coughlan, stunned at Erdem. Bridgerton and Derry Girls star Nicola Coughlan attended Erdem wearing a showstopper gown. The 37-year-old actor chose a red ruched cherry red dress with a deep V and oversized, off-the-shoulder sleeves – topped off with matching gloves. It was a star-studded line-up, with actors Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, Zawe Ashton, and Lily James sitting alongside her. The autumn/winter collection models, including draped asymmetric dresses and asymmetric opera wraps, walked down the runway. Some featured 'facelift tapes' pulling against their temples. Simone Rocha models walked in bedazzled Crocs. The Irish designer unveiled her latest collaboration with Crocs at Simone Rocha's show. Models wore tulle and corset dresses with bedazzled Crocs and trainers adorned with faux diamonds and pearls. Quiet luxury at JW Anderson Northern Irish designer JW Anderson showed that the quiet luxury trend is still alive and kicking with his autumn/winter 2024 collection. Anderson is Loewe's creative director—his eponymous brand experiments with traditional silhouettes and forms. The collection featured luxurious knitwear, chic bags, and accessories - all signature to JW Anderson. Plenty of stars were on the front row – including Jameela Jamil, fresh off her appearance on the latest British Vogue cover, artist Tracey Emin, and actress Ruth Wilson. Balenciaga and Dior gowns inspired Molly Goddard. On day two of LFW, Molly Goddard shared her 2024 autumn/winter collection near an English folk music venue, Cecil Sharp House, near Regent's Park. The British fashion designer was inspired by voluminous Balenciaga and Dior evening gowns from the 60s. Furthermore, it is worth noting that she gave a modern touch to traditional garments. However, she deliberately avoided featuring the common tight corsets worn during that era. Goddard made corsets comfortable by using elastic waists instead of metal boning. In addition, it's interesting to note that the show was graced by the presence of actor Rosamund Pike, who recently starred in Saltburn. She was seen seated next to model Edie Campbell, adding to the overall elegance of the occasion. She braved the cold and wore a black mini-dress hemmed with large white frills. Pike finished the look by throwing on a black blazer, Mary Roger Vivier court shoes, and Malone Souliers' handbag. A mural inspired by Roksanda Serbian designer Roksanda Ilinčić's autumn/winter 2024 collection was all about extreme experimentation after visiting the Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier's 12-square-foot holiday cabin on the Côte d'Azur in France. She was inspired by the murals painted on his entrance walls and experimented with texture. Models walked down the runway in ankle-length skirts, sleeveless tops, and capes. Evidence of this is seen. Bridgeton's Golda Rosheuvel sat next to Roach, singer-songwriter Lianne La Havas, TV presenter Miquita Oliver, rapper Eve, and model and founder of charity Malaika at the show. The actress wore a red oversized poncho top, silver-grey culotte trousers, and black chunky boots. She wore a high bun and side bangs. Roach had a black coat with a red design. Puffy sleeves will be huge. Voluminous silhouettes – particularly sleeves and shoulders – were everywhere at London Fashion Week, from Irish designers Paul Costelloe and Simone Rocha to Bora Aksu – whose AW24 collection was inspired by sculptor Eva Hesse. Plus-size models walk the Ahluwalia show. Ahluwalia's 'Reveries' collection reimagined storytelling. Model Leomie Anderson wore a burnt orange silk outfit. Additionally, it's worth noting that two plus-sized models also graced the runway. It was presented on Saturday for autumn/winter 2024. One also wore a burnt orange two-piece with a hooded bustier and high-slit maxi skirt. All garments were dedicated to exchanging wisdom, usually found in the "old Indian and Nigerian folklore and fairytales." Read the full article

[thegoregoregirls]

31 Days of Halloween: Day 28-29-30 - Cuando Acecha la Maldad

Regia – Demián Rugna (2023) Ho avuto un fine settimana abbastanza turbolento e quindi non ho avuto molto tempo per fare una relazione dettagliata della challenge di Halloween. IL Day 28 richiedeva un film su un mostro classico e io ho rivisto per la settecentoventesima volta Il Mostro della Laguna Nera che è chic, non impegna e va su tutto; Il Day 29 è invece dedicato al folk horror e quale…

[my-weird-news]

🔥 NYC's Real-Life 'Wolverine' Guilty! Attacked BLM with Deadly Claws! 😱

NYC Man vs. BLM Protesters: The Serrated Glove Showdown! Hey there, folks! 🎉 I've got a story that's crazier than a squirrel on an espresso binge. So, picture this: Frank Cavalluzzi, a 57-year-old New Yorker, decided one day that his SUV wasn't just for driving – it was his ticket to becoming the city's very own "Wolverine." Yeah, you heard me right. 🐺 In the not-so-peaceful summer of 2020, when Black Lives Matter protesters were voicing their opinions loud and clear, Frank must have thought, "You know what would make a statement? A leather glove with FOUR serrated blades attached to it!" Oh, absolutely, Frank, because nothing screams "let's chat" like a glove that could double as a deli slicer.🔪🧤 So, there he was, cruising through the Queens neighborhood like a medieval knight preparing for battle. He spots a group of BLM demonstrators and decides, "Hey, why not greet them with a touch of swordplay?" Because waving a hello just isn't exciting enough, apparently. 🤷‍♂️ Frank slams on the brakes, jumps out of his SUV, and starts bellowing a colorful collection of swear words and racial slurs at the protesters. Classy move, Frank. Then, he unleashes the pièce de résistance – the leather glove of doom! With blades glinting in the sunlight, he gives these folks a taste of his fashionable weapon while doing his best impression of a madman waltzing through a horror movie.🔪☀️ But wait, there's more! Frank hops back into his SUV, revs the engine, and yells his version of "ready or not, here I come." And by "come," I mean "careen onto the sidewalk and aim for the protesters." He's like a twisted mix of bumper cars and a really bad car chase scene. 🚗🤪 Thankfully, no one was hurt, though a protester named Lorraine McShea declared it "extremely scary." You don't say, Lorraine! I'm sure facing off against a glove-wielding SUV enthusiast is like playing hide-and-seek with a grizzly bear wearing tap shoes. 🐻👞 Now, fast forward to the trial. The verdict? Frank's attempt at being the city's own superhero has landed him nine counts of attempted murder. 🦸‍♂️🚓 And let me tell you, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz was ecstatic: "A dangerous man is going to jail. It's a good day for New York and the First Amendment." I can just imagine Frank standing in court with his leather glove on, trying to wave it around while looking like a confused magician. Ta-daa! But wait, there's a twist! Frank's attorney, Michael Horn, claimed his client was just struggling to grasp the "evolving city" he lives in. Sure, Michael, because every city evolves by adding blades to their fashion accessories. "New York Fashion Week presents: Serrated Chic!" 🔪👠 And who could forget our star witness, Arianna Agudo, who managed to capture the whole glove-drama on video? She declared that the glove contraption was "literally out of a movie." Ah, yes, a movie where Edward Scissorhands meets Mad Max meets a confused contestant on "Project Runway." Bravo, Frank, bravo! 👏🎬 So, there you have it, folks. A story of a man, his SUV, and a glove that could make a salad and a point. Just when you thought New York couldn't get any weirder, along comes Frank Cavalluzzi – a true "cutting-edge" character. Stay safe out there, and remember, fashion advice from Frank is probably best avoided. 👕🔪# NYC Man vs. BLM Protesters: The Serrated Glove Showdown! Hey there, folks! 🎉 I've got a story that's crazier than a squirrel on an espresso binge. So, picture this: Frank Cavalluzzi, a 57-year-old New Yorker, decided one day that his SUV wasn't just for driving – it was his ticket to becoming the city's very own "Wolverine." Yeah, you heard me right. 🐺 In the not-so-peaceful summer of 2020, when Black Lives Matter protesters were voicing their opinions loud and clear, Frank must have thought, "You know what would make a statement? A leather glove with FOUR serrated blades attached to it!" Oh, absolutely, Frank, because nothing screams "let's chat" like a glove that could double as a deli slicer.🔪🧤 So, there he was, cruising through the Queens neighborhood like a medieval knight preparing for battle. He spots a group of BLM demonstrators and decides, "Hey, why not greet them with a touch of swordplay?" Because waving a hello just isn't exciting enough, apparently. 🤷‍♂️ Frank slams on the brakes, jumps out of his SUV, and starts bellowing a colorful collection of swear words and racial slurs at the protesters. Classy move, Frank. Then, he unleashes the pièce de résistance – the leather glove of doom! With blades glinting in the sunlight, he gives these folks a taste of his fashionable weapon while doing his best impression of a madman waltzing through a horror movie.🔪☀️ But wait, there's more! Frank hops back into his SUV, revs the engine, and yells his version of "ready or not, here I come." And by "come," I mean "careen onto the sidewalk and aim for the protesters." He's like a twisted mix of bumper cars and a really bad car chase scene. 🚗🤪 Thankfully, no one was hurt, though a protester named Lorraine McShea declared it "extremely scary." You don't say, Lorraine! I'm sure facing off against a glove-wielding SUV enthusiast is like playing hide-and-seek with a grizzly bear wearing tap shoes. 🐻👞 Now, fast forward to the trial. The verdict? Frank's attempt at being the city's own superhero has landed him nine counts of attempted murder. 🦸‍♂️🚓 And let me tell you, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz was ecstatic: "A dangerous man is going to jail. It's a good day for New York and the First Amendment." I can just imagine Frank standing in court with his leather glove on, trying to wave it around while looking like a confused magician. Ta-daa! But wait, there's a twist! Frank's attorney, Michael Horn, claimed his client was just struggling to grasp the "evolving city" he lives in. Sure, Michael, because every city evolves by adding blades to their fashion accessories. "New York Fashion Week presents: Serrated Chic!" 🔪👠 And who could forget our star witness, Arianna Agudo, who managed to capture the whole glove-drama on video? She declared that the glove contraption was "literally out of a movie." Ah, yes, a movie where Edward Scissorhands meets Mad Max meets a confused contestant on "Project Runway." Bravo, Frank, bravo! 👏🎬 So, there you have it, folks. A story of a man, his SUV, and a glove that could make a salad and a point. Just when you thought New York couldn't get any weirder, along comes Frank Cavalluzzi – a true "cutting-edge" character. Stay safe out there, and remember, fashion advice from Frank is probably best avoided. 👕🔪 Read the full article

[crows-feet-studio]

Midwest gothic

[sisitrip]

Ivan's Hop(e)ak

We happen upon Ivan, our indefatigable romantic, impatiently waiting in the wings for his chance to take a certain someone's (Ian) blood pressure to levels requiring medical attention. Das comrades. He's on some next level shit.

But fret not, for our Russian rival is micro-dosing on his plans to dazzle his Ukrainian love-muffin with fashionable elegance and above all ... dance. *jazz hands*

Let's look closer and share in this moment with the thirstiest, the most bombastic, the utterly, dare I say, shameless Russki ever to grace the great landscape of love.

____________________________________

“Baby boy you stay on my mind…”

He sings softly to himself as he edits the video, growing excited by the prospect of his raven-haired love seeing it. 

“Fulfill my  fantasies …”

Eager, he crops the video to a nine second test run. Maybe he will share the outtake with Mikhailo in the fiery remains of his bed after another Olympian bout of lovemaking.

“I think about you all the time …”

He grins as the clip plays. The lighting is perfect. His outfit is the latest from Russia, retro-60s chic. The double-knit has him looking so bounce-a-nickel tight, how could his little spider monkey resist climbing him in lust? It is a certainty.

“I see you in my dreams …”

He sets up the TikTok post, befuddled by this new way of wooing. Drugs and the offer of sex are passé now? There must be dancing? Synch-lipping? It is all too much. Yet, his Mikhailo is worth it. 

“Baby boy, not a day goes by without my fantasies …”

He unthinkingly hits the “Post Now” button with an unseeing grin. The screen flashes “Successfully Uploaded.”

He blanches and shoots up in horror.

“Yebena mat’!”

Hopak - Ukrainian folk dance

Yebena mat' - Holy shit!

[noramoya]

“I don’t consider myself a singer,” says Paris Jackson. “I can carry a tune. I can sing in key. But there are people who are professional singers n’ they will blow your socks off. I don’t do stuff like that.” “I can reach a register that is so high that it sounds like I’m whistling,” adds the L.A. native. “but the only time I really use it is if I am singing along to a Van Halen song. I can scream like David Lee Roth, but it’s more of a party trick. That’s not how I express myself. I’m a songwriter more than anything else.”

“It’s a hot, midsummer afternoon, and the 24-year-old musician, model and actress – the only daughter of the legendary Michael Jackson – is settled into an armchair in the lobby of a West Hollywood hotel. Jackson, whose layered blond hair is lightly streaked red, is wearing dark, loose clothing – an unbuttoned billowy burgundy blouse over a brown cropped tank top, and grey, three-quarter-length pants with a pair of sandals. Except for a touch of makeup on her striking green eyes, her face is otherwise bare. With Jackson’s acute sense of fashion, her Prada bag, John Lennon-style sunglasses, rings on almost every finger, nose piercings, plus a necklace, anklet, and toe ring, she looks every bit boho rock star chic. Over the last several years, Jackson, who has been playing guitar since age 13, has been establishing a solid music career, which began with The Soundflowers, an indie folk duo with her then-boyfriend, Gabriel Glenn. The pair met at the famed Rainbow Bar & Grill on the Sunset Strip in 2018 and immediately began dating. Within a week they were living in Glenn’s van and making music together”.

“In June 2020, they officially launched The Soundflowers with a self-titled EP and a six-part Facebook Watch docuseries, Unfiltered: Paris Jackson & Gabriel Glenn, providing an intimate view of the couple and their musical journey. With strife brewing in their relationship in the final episode, however, the pair broke up shortly thereafter, leaving Jackson heartbroken. “It was the deepest I’ve ever loved someone. It was the most intense that I’d felt so far, and the most intense betrayal that I’d felt so far and experienced...,” Jackson told Willow Smith on Red Table Talk last year. Jackson is reticent about discussing her breakup at this point, preferring to speak, instead, through her art. Politely, she says answers to questions about her former relationship can be found in her music, which is where she turned, writing songs to channel her pain. The end of Jackson's relationship sparked the start of her solo musical path, and it didn't take long before she landed her first record deal, signing with Republic Records in fall 2020. From there, she wasted almost no time, releasing her debut solo LP, “WILTED”, a melancholy, ethereal alt-folk concept record about love, heartbreak, grief, and rebirth”.

“Called “well-crafted indie pop” by Rolling Stone, “WILTED” reached #1 on the U.S. iTunes Alternative Albums chart. Lead single “Let Down” racked up 1.5 million streams within the first two weeks of its release and was accompanied by a gothic music video that was executive-produced by horror director Eli Roth and directed by Meredith Alloway. The video opens with the sound of a heartbeat as Jackson wipes away blood streaming down from her eye. “Head hanging down / Shredded evening gown / Eyes painted black / A tragic paperback,” she sings plaintively, reflecting on a tragic romance. Wearing flowers in her hair and a Victorian gown, Jackson dances with her lover at a masquerade ball. As the night progresses, things take a dark turn, leaving her anguished and alone. “Let me down again / Break me, flush me down the drain / Let me down again,“ she sings, reuniting with her beloved for a final dance that turns fatal when he dips her, rips out her heart, and sets it down next to Jackson’s dead body lying on the floor. She’s like, ‘Here’s my pain and struggle and what I’ve gone through and, boom, here are my songs.’ It’s all so personal and I respect and admire that,” says Manchester Orchestra singer/songwriter Andy Hull, one of Jackson’s songwriting heroes, who co-produced “Wilted” with his band’s lead guitarist, Robert McDowell. “I love anyone who is willing to let it out in the open, especially somebody like her who deserves as much privacy as she wants.”

“Indeed, it’s a testament to Jackson’s strength of character that she writes unguardedly, with a down-to-earth quality that belies growing up in the spotlight. With raw, personal and earnest lyrics, Jackson articulates her pain and longing with rich metaphors and vivid imagery, effectively conveying the emotional trajectory of her broken heart, and expressed by her sweet, warm and soulful vocals. “I want to be descriptive and poetic,” she says. “I like to go into deep detail and see what I can get out of it.” For years, Jackson kept her soul-baring songs to herself, afraid to reveal them publicly: “The songs I write are very vulnerable, and we can all be scared to be that level of vulnerable — not just with another person, which is already scary, but with a crowd of people, it’s pretty terrifying.” It was even more terrifying for Jackson to conceive of releasing music while shouldering the weight of her father’s legacy. As she carves out her own musical path, she faces the understandable yet wholly unfair pressure, both from within and without, to live up to an impossible standard. The intensity ebbs and flows: “It depends on the day,” she says. “Some days I feel that pressure, and some days I feel…well, the music I make is completely different. I’m not making R&B and soul and funk.” The media often calls Jackson “pop royalty,” but she is extremely talented in her own right. When reminded of the nepotistic title, she says, matter-of-factly, “I don’t use labels.”

“Jackson is quick to set straight her father’s title, though, when he is referred to as the “King of Pop.” “Pop, rock and soul. That is actually the full name that he was given,” she says. “When he was introduced [at the 1989 Soul Train Awards], it was Liz Taylor …she labeled him the ‘King of Pop, Rock and Soul’… Everyone else decided to shorten it to ‘King of Pop,’ but it’s a lot more than that. He had Eddie Van Halen and Slash play on some of his [music] and Carlos Santana. That’s not necessarily pop. There’s nothing wrong with Pop, but there are a lot more layers to it.” There are also more layers to being the musician offspring of an icon beyond being planted in the obvious shadow. While most performers have the freedom to develop their skills in anonymity, Jackson was under the microscope right from the start. “Those first couple of tours that you go on are where you put your hours in, you find your way, get comfortable and you learn how to handle mistakes,” she says. “Every artist that is going to go on tour and play has that experience but for me…those mistakes that everyone makes…mine will get magnified.”

https://open.spotify.com/artist/11I8qWK4foqycuPFRDFH6e

@swift-fated @mjslays @mj-fans-alliance-blog @mj-confessions @mjvideos @mjjsecretlovers-blog @mjjproductionz @mjjsourcesblog @mjjofficial @mjjalways @anneke-treasure @annievvv7 @annievvv77 @anniemjjloverr @anniemjjloverr @jackson-royalty-blog @jackson8520yuleidy @jacksonprince @michael-jackson-blog @michaeljacksonslegend @michaeljacksonlooks @michael-jackson-is-invincib-blog @kingofpopmichaeljosephjackson @kingmjjpop @kingmjjpop

[cinenthusiast]

feeling great about my record collection (maybe not so much in size, it has much growing to do!) now that i’ve arranged to my liking by genre groups. these took a long time to settle on because of overlap & trying to parse things out based on a. what i own and the genres i love/listen to b. what i associate w/ each other and c. the listening moods/vibes i’m in/looking for. some are more specific and some are superrrrr broad. jazz / standards (artists include miles davis, herbie hancock, peggy lee, abbey lincoln, billie holliday, frank sinatra, hiroshi suzuki, etc) soul / funk (artists include curtis mayfield, roberta flack, millie jackson, p-funk, marvin gaye, betty davis, etc) disco / smooth & euro-pop / city pop (artists include chic, abba, halina frackowiak, minnie riperton, rupa, early prince, city pop compilations, etc) electro-disco / italo / progressive electronic / ambient (artists include giorgio moroder, jean-michel jarre, uncut gems soundtrack, software, etc) synthpop / new wave / new romantic (artists include early to mid 80s prince, a-ha, human league, new order, soft cell, etc) art pop / pop / soft rock (too broad for sure but fine for now) (artists include kate bush, akiko yano, madonna, paul mccartney, peter gabriel, fleetwood mac, weyes blood, etc) post-punk / cold wave / CBGB / punk / early new wave / gothic rock (artists include talking heads, b-52s, blondie, bauhaus, chandra, iggy pop, grauzone, etc) alt rock / general 90s / new art rock (artists include the cranberries, garbage, radiohead, etc) 70s rock (glam, prog, krautrock) (artists include can, bowie, roxy music, jobriath, brian eno, yosui inoue, captain beefheart etc) singer-songwriter / folk (artists include leonard cohen, bob dylan, neil diamond, harry nilsson, bruce springsteen, neil young (sans trans), joanna newsom, hako yamazaki, dennis wilson, etc) psych of all kinds / baroque pop / sunshine pop / girl-groups (artists include david axelrod, love, mamas and the papas, the beatles, meiko kaji, ace of cups, the byrds, the daisy chain, nancy sinatra, various soundtracks, etc) space age pop / exotica / library music / surf rock (artists include martin denny, hosono/suzuki/yamashita, eden ahbez, piccioni in orbit, the ventures, etc) italian / horror synth (includes a mix of jazz, lounge, psych, and synth) (artists include ennio morricone, goblin, library of sound grooves compilations, fabio frizzi, susan justin, many soundtracks, etc early rock / country / novelty & holiday / blues (a catch-all for what i have left) (artists include elvis presley, alberta hunter, christmas albums, etc) miscellaneous soundtracks (a lot of soundtracks got filtered into various genres but these are what’s left. i’d like to separate them a bit more at some point)

[gamer-logic]

Since my state, Georgia, is having the annual Peaches to Beaches event which is two days of statewide yard sales, I thought it would be interesting to show how America, the states, and any other countries wanting to participate both 1p and 2p would be during this event. So here you go!

Georgia is happily selling fresh produce like boiled peanuts and Vidalia onions and peach-based deserts. Her homemade peach cobbler and ice cream are to die for!

Antonio (Spain) also sells many fresh tomatoes, olives, and other vegetables. He doesn't understand why no one wants his Olive Juice though.

Hawaii and Alaska make a killing selling lemonade at their stand with a free complimentary handmade flower crown with every purchase. While using their sheer cuteness to attract everyone including one of those sweet biker gangs. It's really surreal to see a huge gang of buff, tattooed, tough-looking guys in leather wearing flower crowns and drinking lemonade. Allen's also there to supervise and ward of creep. Also, to provide people more 'incentive' to buy their lemonade.

Texas breaks out the Texas BBQ and is in a Barbecuing turf war with Jett (Australia). They draw huge crowds for the five-alarm chili as well and hold a competition who can eat the most without burning out their tongues and/or passing out.

Florida sells some of the weirdest stuff you'll ever see. "Want a full-scale model of a gator made entirely out of bottle caps? Only ten bucks! Want a portrait of Florida Man painted with orange juice? 15 bucks!"

Nevada also tries to sell weird and sketchy stuff to scam everyone. "This piece is the genuine article folks! One napkin gently used by Elvis Presley himself! Just 500 bucks! Also, gets into a haggling war with Lars (Netherlands). Somewhere Alfred's dad instincts go off and he reminds himself to ground Nevada.

California, Oregon, and Washington collaborate and California sells anything vegan or made with avocadoes and the autographs of Hollywood stars, Oregon sells his old tye-dyed shirts and records, they also made him sell his old groovy hippy bus from the sixties he'd never got rid of no one knew they had. Oregon can be a bit of a hoarder, so they had to tie him to a chair and gag him because he wouldn't surrender the bus without a fight. Washington also tries to sell and drink cups of coffee, but in the hot Southern heat, this doesn't end well.

Louisiana sells anything Cajun-style from frog legs to fresh gumbo, to beignets. Also has a full collection of Mardi Gras masks and shrunken voodoo heads on sale for two bucks a pop.

Gilbert (Prussia) gets tricked by Nevada and gets a ton of stupid things he doesn't need. Ludwig (Germany) tries unsuccessfully to keep him on a metaphorical leash.

Ludwig always checks the quality of things he sees and buys dog toys and supplies for Blackie, Berlitz, and Astor. Later, he actually buys a kiddie leash for Gilbert.

All the while Lutz (2p! Germany) is asleep in a lawn chair with his hat on his face after drinking like six cold beers from this really good booth. All the while, Klaus (2p! Prussia) finds an antique Teutonic Knights flag from a vendor whose family was from Germany.

Vash (Switzerland) buys antique guns from Alabama and Roderich (Austria) also checks out some of Tennessee's guitars. He's horrified upon seeing Alabama's banjo and washboard.

Mathew (Canada) and Emma (Belgium) combine their powers and tag team to sell the best pancakes and waffles on earth with genuine Canadian maple syrup.

New York sells tons of baseball memorabilia and collectibles. Allen, trying to save his bad-boy image, tries to be discreet when buying some while taking Hawaii and Alaska around to get something with their lemonade money. James also gets some hockey memorabilia with Michigan and Minnesota who also got snow cones.

Alaska and Hawaii see a giant deluxe dollhouse but are almost in tears when they don't have enough money. But they end up getting it for free because no one can resist their weaponized puppy dog eyes. Also, no one can resist a growling Allen. Using the leftover money, they buy cute little rainbow umbrella hats for everyone and have Allen wear one who begrudgingly accepts it.

James, walking by with an armful hockey gear and flannel shirts, bursts out laughing when he sees this. In revenge, Allen forces him to wear one too and help him carry the dollhouse, much to Hawaii and Alaska's delight! "I said go my way puck head!" "No, it's my way, you vegan loving hoser!" A passing Francis (France)' is in stylish horror when they also make him and a nonchalant Luis (2p! France), holding a case of vintage wines, wear them too. Hawaii and Alaska go around giving umbrella hats to everyone including a sleeping Lutz they pass by.

Loving (Romano) practically has to supervise Feliciano (Italy) and keep him from buying anything too stupid on impulse or get scammed. They still end up with stacks upon stacks of cookbooks, kitchen wear, and a Mona Lisa made entirely out of Macaroni. They also get umbrella hats.

Flavio (2p! Romano) browses through clothing racks to get ideas for his vintage line. Also checks out the handmade fabrics like quilts. "Such craftsmanship! This pattern is so unique and chic! I simply must have it! What's your price Bella?" The nice old woman selling the quilt just smiles, "Oh just about five dollars young man." "Perfect!" Flavio hands the quilts off to Andreas (2p! Spain) who's practically buried underneath the fabric. Luciano (2p! Italy) facepalms while holding a new knife set in its case. "Oooh! Look at those adorable hats I just have to have one." Cue three more umbrella hats and a humiliated Luciano. "Just kill me now..."

Katyusha (Ukraine), Elizaveta (Hungary), Lillie (Liechtenstein), Natalya, (Belarus), Katya( 2p! Ukraine) and Anastasia (2p! Belarus), and Michelle (Seychelles) explore with armfuls of clothes, new ribbons, and a gun case for Switzerland (Lillie), cast iron frying pans (Elizaveta, watch out Prussia!), farm tools (Katyusha), Jewelry and unmentionables (Katya), dresses (Anastasia), an assortment of switchblades (Natalya), and one of those singing fish on a plague (Michelle). It's definitely an interesting group.

Kiku (Japan) and Kuro (2p! Japan) find a nerd booth selling comics, manga, and Japanese weapons like katanas. Kuro test swings a blade and tries to slice the table so hard it breaks the blade, "Hmmm, not sharp enough for me, got anything else?" He throws it on the pile of broken blades he's already tested. Kiku stockpiles on limited-edition manga and he and the vendor end up getting into a huge, heated by Kiku standards, debate on who's waifu is best. Further down, Alfred reads every Marvel/DC comic while keeping an ear out on every state's location. He checks on Texas via his glasses and notices he's beating Australia in the chili contest. "That's my boy!"

Wisconsin wearing a cheese head sells anything cheese-based. He's got cheddar, goat cheese, string cheese, cheese spray, gorgonzola, grilled cheese, cheese curds, Mac n' Cheese, cheese sculptures of all world monuments, you name it he's got it! He also starts a war with Iowa's corn dishes and Idaho's potato dishes. They eventually end up flinging cheese, potatoes, and corn after they start dissing each other's foods. "Take this cheese brain!" "Nice aim, I-da-ho!" "I told you not to call me that!" "I'm gonna go children of the corn on y'all's behinds!" Poor Nebraska is stuck in the middle.

Alfred (America) hears the commotion and using his parent radar, immediately knows who it is and reminds himself to ground Iowa, Wisconsin, and Idaho later along with Nevada who, though still grounded for sure, makes him feel a little proud of since he managed to out haggle Netherlands.

New Mexico and Arizona also sell Native American handicrafts along with things like dreamcatchers and giant inflatable aliens. While Delaware, being the boring stick in the mud that he is, walks by with a framed and complete U.S. quarter collection from a vendor.

Kansas sells out of every sunflower she had courtesy of Ivan (Russia). Ivan and her the team up to buy out every sunflower seed from here to kingdom come. Viktor (2p! Russia) buys all the vodka he can find and a new shovel while Xiao (2p! China) tries giving people tattoos for 10 bucks a pop.

He tries to convince Yao (China) to get a hello kitty one to match the giant plushie he's holding, with the encouragement of Leon (Hong Kong) and Yong Soo (South Korea) who all collectively agree he needs to quit being such a grandpa. They also like calling him an antique-like the items on sale. " Aiyah! I'm not that old, aru!" "Yeah, you are Sensei." "Don't deny it! Da Ze!" Respect your elders!" "Tattoos originated in Korea da ze!" He totally is that old.

Oliver (2p! England) holds a bake sale and has people lined up for blocks to get some. Arthur (England), after having his scones shut down after it poisoned some unlucky squirrels, fries selling authentic magical items like unicorn hair or pixie dust. Everyone thinks he's a little crazy but he did sell a good bit of old magic books he needed to get out of his house, after making sure no one could actually use them of course.

The Nordics also went perusing for antique and handmade furniture when Mathias (Denmark) spots two full sets of Viking costumes and tries to get Lukas (Norway) to try them on with him. Lukas wasn't amused.

Berwald (Sweden) and Tino (Finland) also find a great handmade table to get after inspecting the workmanship and a full Lego set for Peter (Sealand), now if only Mathias would stop squealing like a little kid at the full piece lego death star. Emil (Iceland) keeps thinking he's the mature one until he spots a mini top hat and cane for Mr. Puffin.

In the end, everyone ends up wearing umbrella hats courtesy of Hawaii and Alaska, loving all the strange things they bought or counting the profits they made. Alfred (America) is proud of his kids and visits everyone one of their stands. He ends up looking pretty funny with an umbrella hat (HW, AK), a washboard, (AL),a picture of Florida Man, (FL), a balloon alien (NM, AZ), a tye dye shirt (CA, WA, OR), hockey stick shaped glasses (MN, MI), a giant stack of comics with a replica Thor hammer and Captain America shield on his back, all in a shopping cart (NV), and a giant turkey leg in his hand (Tx). Unsurprisingly, it was a tie between Oliver, Texas, and Australia for who earned the most with their food. Georgia just smiled as this was another great year for her state and people!

[kingstylesdaily]

The Pure Joy of Harry Styles Got Me Through 2020

BY MICHELLE RUIZ

Some people turned to controlled substances, tie-dye matching sets, or the ubiquitous sourdough, but it was Harry Styles in a Gucci chick egg sweater, crooning about oral pleasure on NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series, that got me though some of the gloomiest days of 2020.

Shot in pre-pandemic February, the dreamy acoustic set, including riffs on the smash singles "Watermelon Sugar" and "Adore You," is a 16-minute serotonin rush: Styles, in his gravelly tenor, singing that he'd walk through fire for you; Styles, with his perfect, princely hair and rugged stubble, dancing on a swiveling office chair. It's unbearably charming, sensual, and fundamentally joyful; the 26-year-old Brit feel like a burst of confetti in a relentlessly terrible year.

Styles's sophomore solo album, Fine Line, was released at the tail end of 2019, but it fully bloomed in 2020: "Watermelon Sugar," his first number-one solo single in the U.S., was the undisputed earworm of summer; "Adore You" was the second most-listened-to song of the year, according to Variety, which named Styles Hitmaker of the Year. It's no coincidence that Fine Line was streamed more than 1 billion times in the throes of a global, deadly pandemic: "It's an album full of uptempo, unabashedly fun bops," Tia Williams, beauty writer, author of the forthcoming novel Seven Days in June, and avowed Styles fan, told Vogue. "'Watermelon Sugar,' 'Adore You,' and 'Sunflower' are like rays of light beaming on Laurel Canyon."

Styles's shiny, happy, summer-of-love aura provided a desperately-needed antidote to 2020: The "Watermelon Sugar" video, dropped in May, was "dedicated to touching," a technicolor, quasi-orgy on the beach that both made me long for the innocence of the Before Times, but also felt—for three minutes, anyway—like an escape from the horrors of the news cycle.

"2020 has been such a terrifying year," Williams said, but the cheeky world of "Watermelon Sugar" "can't help but take you away from our grim reality." Tyler McCall, editor-in-chief of Fashionista.com, has been "listening to Fine Line on repeat just to get through the year," she told me. "I think it's impossible to be in a bad mood when you're listening to 'Golden.'" (It must be noted, too, that album's breakup suite of songs, like "Cherry," spoke to the forlorn, aching nature of the pandemic.)

McCall and Williams both took a shine to Styles during the One Direction era, with Williams citing his "ethereal beauty, tats, and 70's rock-style songs." I made the grave mistake of overlooking Styles in his 1D infancy, shrugging him off as just another basic, beanie-clad boy band member. But I learned this year that he's a sex god like Jagger, a showman like Elton and a boundary-pusher in the grand tradition of Bowie, with his own personal ethos of inclusivity and sweetness. The 11th track on Fine Line—the retro-groovy "Treat People with Kindness"—is also a Styles mantra, splashed on official merch and backed up by vocal support of the LGBTQ+ community, a pledge to back Black Lives Matter, the legendary act of feeding a fan's fish after taking temporary shelter when his car broke down in October and not speaking ill of his exes, even on Howard Stern. “I just don’t think you need to be a dick to be a good artist," Styles told The Guardian last year.

"He makes niceness chic," Williams said, choosing an "un-edgy, totally earnest mantra" despite his rock star bonafides. "Harry Styles is the heart-eyes emoji, sprung to life." (At first, Williams says she felt peculiar fangirling a former boy-bander as a 40-something Black mom. "I wondered if I was having a midlife crisis," she told me, "but then, I was introduced to actress/producer/novelist Robinne Lee, whose brilliant novel The Idea of You, was inspired by him, and who is, herself, a 40-something Black mom, and I was like, 'Yes, I've found my people.'")

Style's beautiful soul is just one reason why I stand by my own budding fandom, even as I'm mocked by certain family members and even my six-year-old daughter for requesting t-shirts from his official store as my only Christmas gift, or vaulting myself down the Harry YouTube rabbit hole (please seek out his duet with Lizzo on "Juice" at her Miami show at the Fillmore back in January, another world ago). But it's not just that he reads Alain de Botton, writes his own music, wears insane sweaters and has a cosmic connection with Stevie Nicks. Styles also strikes me as a man uniquely suited to the moment.

In an era of grotesque, Trump-fueled toxic masculinity, the sexiest thing about Styles is that he's comfortable in his femininity. What began with his sheer blouse and single drop-earring at the 2019 Met Gala flourished in 2020 with a spate of traditionally femme fashion, including fishnets, a signature pearl necklace and a Gucci dress, as the first male to ever appear on the cover of Vogue.

Tyler Mitchell's Vogue shoot "felt significant because it's still so rare to see male celebrities challenge conventional ideals of masculinity," Liz Plank, author of For the Love of Men, told Vogue. "We still live in a culture that encourages us to protect girls from gendered expectations and stereotypes, but that gets very uncomfortable when we suggest doing the same for boys."

The way Styles dresses, the fact that he paints his nails and wears stacked heels beneath his sailor pants, continually prompts speculation about sexuality, and I can't help but notice that this doesn't trigger him, or elicit passionate defenses or assertions that he is not gay. When The Guardian asked if he'd ever been asked if he is bisexual, Styles replied, “It’s just: who cares?" He denies he's “sprinkling in nuggets of sexual ambiguity to try and be more interesting," as he puts it. "I want things to look a certain way. Not because it makes me look gay, or it makes me look straight, or it makes me look bisexual, but because I think it looks cool... I just think sexuality’s something that’s fun."

Styles's splendor-in-the-grass moment in Vogue sparked now-infamous backlash from conservative talking head Candace Owens, who whined: "Bring back manly men." That reaction "is proof that women can be just as sexist and drunk on the patriarchal kool-aid as men," Plank said, adding that the right-wing is creating a "moral masculinity panic, this idea that men are under attack by feminism." Plank credits Styles, but also notes that "there's a courageous pack of masculinity-bending, often LGBTQ or gender non-binary men, who have been rocking these same looks for decades getting punished for it, rather than celebrated for it."

Styles has become a fashion influencer for folks across the gender spectrum, including McCall, who now feels inspired to wear her grandmother's pearls "without seeming prim and uptight," and Ryan Kazmarek, a Harry devotee and stylist at IGK Soho in New York who is still mourning the fact that coronavirus thwarted his plan to fly to Styles's now-postponed Manchester, United Kingdom shows with his boyfriend, William. Styles's fearlessness "has opened my eyes," Kazmarek told me. "I have recently been like, 'Okay, I'm going to check the women's section.'"

For his next act, Styles, who had a small but memorable role as a British soldier Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk, will star in Olivia Wilde's forthcoming psychological-horror film, Don't Worry, Darling—and the photos of a dapper, suited Styles on the set has already overwhelmed Harries. "I don't even like horror movies—they literally give me nightmares—and still I am mentally handing my money over to Olivia Wilde," McCall said.

via vogue.com

[wallwriterstuff]

Am I allowed to place in a request for Mr svelte tracker boi Demetri? I need my greek boi fix. 😅😂 My stimming (due to my slight autism and anxiety) has been kinda bad lately and I was wondering if you could do some headcanons on how he would be with a reader who has that going on? (For example, some of my stimming signs are restless, uncontrollable finger twitches sometimes, and sudden limb movements and facial twitches I can't control 😅) Thanks! Also, sorry if this is too touchy a subject!🙈

You most certainly are allowed and I cannot express how hard I fangirled when I realised it was you in my ask box. I played it very cool but just know I was dying inside from the moment I saw your username come up XD 

TW: Mentions of anxiety and sensory overload. If that’s a little personal to you please be cautious about reading this one!

I’m incapable of writing short things it seems so it’s another long one.

Self-stimulating behaviour, known more commonly as stimming, usually involves repetitive movements and/or sounds. Though it is most often associated with autism (I know when I first saw the word stimming that was where my mind immediately went to) everybody stims in some way, shape or form to relieve stress, tension, anxiety, boredom etc. Some ways are less noticeable than others such as nail biting or finger tapping, while others can be more obvious and disruptive to your social/daily life like licking certain objects or scratching at skin.

I learned all this from doing a bit of reading before taking on this request and if you want to know more then the link to the article I read is right -----> HERE <------ ! It’s informed my ideas for this headcanon request and though I’m open to discussions about the topic to help educate myself and anyone else who wishes to learn more, what I will not tolerate is any sort of hate or discrimination based on the links to developmental disorders and mental illness that stimming has. This blog has and always will be a safe space for anyone and everyone and a little respect for one another will help keep it that way. Be kind folks!

So without further ado, how would Demetri react to you stimming I wonder?

Part 1: Headcanons below the Keep Reading Line Part 2: Teeth (fic) Part 3: Control (fic) 

·         He honestly wouldn’t really notice for a while because, well, humans aren’t exactly designed to be as flawless as vampires

·         Impromptu nosebleeds, migraines, sneezes…they’re just glitches in a faulty system so why is the way your leg just bounced up off of the floor while your sitting any different to those other equally as involuntary things

·         He’s struggling right now to, after all he just met his very human mate and it’s quite overwhelming for him to have to adapt to all these new feelings and situations he finds himself in, but he deals because he can

·         Some days, you just…can’t

·         Getting attacked by a man with some bizarre fascination with your neck is bad enough but being whisked away by strangers is somehow even worse. At least in the first scenario once it’s over it’s over, now you’re just living an anxious person’s nightmare in a new place full of new people

·         Volterra was beautiful, but it wasn’t home. No cosy apartment, no neighbours cat to feed, no monotonous shifts at work…

·         Actually, most of the time you’re left utterly alone to navigate an unfamiliar castle, and the times you aren’t alone is when there’s a man claiming to be your eternal lover in front of you

·         Try to convince me this man doesn’t rip the band aid off and profess his love for you with dramatic flair just TRY

·         Your days are filled with endless boredom where you’re doing nothing at all until someone checks on you, and then fight or flight kicks in because oh HELLO Mr Vampire guard are you here to give me lunch or kill me?

 ·         Demetri had thought that perhaps you were okay with that, since you hadn’t really outwardly reacted beyond the way your cheek twitched up into a smirk once or twice as he spoke. Hell, you’d even winked at him…right?

·         You did that a lot so he really genuinely thought that maybe you were just trying to flirt with him, build a relationship with him. Your constant little winks and the way your fingers twitched when he was nearby, like you so desperately wanted to reach out to him…

·         It took a few weeks before he realised how wrong he was

·         You’d reached for a sip of water and your arm had just whipped outward from your body

          + You’d absolutely drenched him with your entire glass of water and could only stare in abject horror wondering what the supposed vampire would do next, since you’d interrupted him rather smugly detailing his plans for your first date

·         Silence

·         There was just silence

·         It only made your anxiety worse and the muscles in your face just spasmed without your permission and - god did you just smirk at him again, oh no        

         + “I’m glad one of us finds this amusing. If you did not like the idea there were other ways to tell me so.”

 ·         You almost want to cry from sheer embarrassment at this point because the date really had sounded like it could be fun and now you’d just straight up thrown water in his face like he’d insulted you in the worst way imaginable

·         So you come clean and tell him about your stimming

·         He’s really worried at first because autism? Anxiety he’s heard of but autism sounds very dangerous, are you dying? You’re probably dying. He’s going to lose his mate –

·         Another involuntary finger twitch from you forces him to calm down because your anxious enough without his worrying on top, so he kind of brushes it off and makes no big deal out of it

·         Squeezes your hand and kisses your forehead to try and reassure you all is forgiven, even if he does have to go change a very expensive looking designer shirt and god you’re so sorry

·         Of course, that kind of makes it worse for you because anxiety brain is activated and your 99.9999% sure he’s actually furious with you still and has only pretended to forget it while he’s plotting his revenge

·         You see him late at night when you struggle to fall and stay asleep, reading in the low lamplight at his desk across the room, his laptop propped open and a notebook before him but you’re too scared still to ask what it is he’s reading so intently (probably good suggestions on places to bury your body welp)

·         It’s a complete surprise to you therefore when he does take you out on that date he promised you not two weeks later

 ·         He’s chosen a nice overcast day so he’s in the least conspicuous clothing he owns

            + Demetri’s least conspicuous clothes still consist of the most chic and expensive brands you know of and he sticks out like a sore thumb amongst the quaint little market stalls he’s brought you to see

·         Despite the gloomy weather the people of Volterra are out in full force though, swarming the market stalls and chattering and laughing as flashes of gold and silver from jewelry hit your eyes, bright coloured fabrics following

·         It’s all just too much

·         There’s people everywhere and so much noise, so many colours and lights and people brushing past you…

·         Your fingers clench tight around his, his hand immersed in a glove to keep his freezing skin from chilling you too much

·         He squeezes back lightly, eyes shifting to glance down at you with the kindest smile on his lips

         + “Keep squeezing my hand whilst we find somewhere quieter to stand.”

·         Your fingers seemed to take turns pressing into his rock solid skin, an odd sort of comfort coming from the fact you know you can press down hard and he won’t so much as register the sensation, and Demetri squeezes back, just firm enough he knows you can feel the pressure of his palm on yours

·         He takes you to a quiet little side road where the noise is much more faded and there is so much free space around you you feel like you can finally breathe again

·         He still hasn’t stopped squeezing your hand, taking turns with you as you take some steady breaths and try to focus your senses a bit, one thing you can feel, two things you can see, three you can smell...

 ·         “I hope you can forgive me, I did not expect the market to be so busy today with the weather like this.”

·         His apology takes you completely by surprise because how would he even know you struggled with crowds? You barely know each other?

·         Seeing your surprise Demetri rather sheepishly admits as to what exactly he’s been reading all those nights you’ve seen him at his desk, and you’re a little overwhelmed to realise he’s been reading about you

·         Medical journals, mummyblogs, charity websites and more, if it had any information about autism and stimming he’s browsed through it and taken copious amounts of notes, observing you religiously to see what might be relevant to you and how he can help ·         +  “I read somewhere you self-stimulate to calm yourself when you are anxious or your senses feel overwhelmed, is that what happened?”                                    “Well, yes, actually, I…I…”

            “And did it help? Taking you away from the source of stress and letting you squeeze my hand like that?”

·         It had actually, you felt much calmer and Demetri’s obvious acceptance and willingness to help you manage your stimming and anxiety today were one of the first little moments you fell in love with him, looking back on it 

·         He didn’t stop there either. Together you sat down and made a list of all the things that you found most often triggered your stimming, and all of the things that brought you joy so he could figure out things to avoid and things you might like for your future dates

·         Within hours of arriving home you’d gotten a whole new daily routine set up so you weren’t left to languish and wonder what was going to happen next

·         Three days later an express shipment of your favourite smelling scented candles arrived alongside a Bluetooth speaker, supplies Demetri insisted were necessary for nice calming baths on the days your anxiety was playing up

·         He started doing mindfulness practices with you in the evenings

·         He never touched the volume controls for his laptop, speaker or TV, leaving it to you to control the volume so you could set it to a level you were comfortable with, and he religiously policed the noise on his floor to           + “Where are you going? The movie just started…”                                                    “To tell Felix to turn his music down.”               “You’re vampiring again Metri, I can’t even hear that.”

·         When he signed you up for Yoga and meditation classes at a centre in town you drew the line and told him he was going overboard, but bless him he had tried

·         Overall he’s a solid 15/10 for effort, even if some ideas are still experimental - you’re enjoying the deep pressure massages a lot though – and he sometimes goes a bit mother-hen trying to get you out of situations he thinks you’ll struggle with, when actually you’re coping just fine today

·         You love him dearly for it

[fashioneditswebsite]

Nine things you missed from London Fashion Week

There were many surprises on and off the catwalks. The world of luxury fashion knew no bounds during London Fashion Week. This season highlighted top designers, as usual. Here's what you might have missed… Burberry paid tribute to Amy Winehouse. During the 2024 autumn/winter Burberry show, the heritage brand paid tribute to the late Amy Winehouse. The event ended with Back to Black playing as legacy models walked the runway for the last time. The show was at Victoria Park. Lee Daniels is the brand's creative director. It was their third collection. Riccardo Tisci was the previous creative director. The show took place in a large marquee. Other sports, fashion, and entertainment stars attended, including Vogue's editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, British screen star Olivia Colman, and British-Nigerian rapper Skepta. Zendaya wore a new 16Arlington dress. While promoting her latest film, Dune: Part Two, as LFW kicked off, Zendaya wore a dress straight from the latest 16Arlington autumn/winter collection called 'I'm Not Sorry, It's Human Nature.' Styled by long-term stylist Law Roach, the dress was a strapless maxi gown that featured fringed beaded tassels and large sequins. She wore it with her hair pulled back into a bun. The 16Arlington show took place at the Barbican Centre, which was transformed and draped in black cloth that mirrored the gothic chic aesthetic of the show. Models emerged wearing a racer neck silver tassel dress, super long black tailored coat, and a hot pink jumper with a dog motif, inspired by curator Charlie Fox's book, The Young Monster. It made the 30-year-old London-born Marco Capaldo – the man behind the brand – think more deeply about what it means to be a freak, horror, and the human psyche. Additionally, he believed it was better for people to express themselves rather than suppress their feelings, thoughts, and emotions. Nicola Coughlan, stunned at Erdem. Bridgerton and Derry Girls star Nicola Coughlan attended Erdem wearing a showstopper gown. The 37-year-old actor chose a red ruched cherry red dress with a deep V and oversized, off-the-shoulder sleeves – topped off with matching gloves. It was a star-studded line-up, with actors Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, Zawe Ashton, and Lily James sitting alongside her. The autumn/winter collection models, including draped asymmetric dresses and asymmetric opera wraps, walked down the runway. Some featured 'facelift tapes' pulling against their temples. Simone Rocha models walked in bedazzled Crocs. The Irish designer unveiled her latest collaboration with Crocs at Simone Rocha's show. Models wore tulle and corset dresses with bedazzled Crocs and trainers adorned with faux diamonds and pearls. Quiet luxury at JW Anderson Northern Irish designer JW Anderson showed that the quiet luxury trend is still alive and kicking with his autumn/winter 2024 collection. Anderson is Loewe's creative director—his eponymous brand experiments with traditional silhouettes and forms. The collection featured luxurious knitwear, chic bags, and accessories - all signature to JW Anderson. Plenty of stars were on the front row – including Jameela Jamil, fresh off her appearance on the latest British Vogue cover, artist Tracey Emin, and actress Ruth Wilson. Balenciaga and Dior gowns inspired Molly Goddard. On day two of LFW, Molly Goddard shared her 2024 autumn/winter collection near an English folk music venue, Cecil Sharp House, near Regent's Park. The British fashion designer was inspired by voluminous Balenciaga and Dior evening gowns from the 60s. Furthermore, it is worth noting that she gave a modern touch to traditional garments. However, she deliberately avoided featuring the common tight corsets worn during that era. Goddard made corsets comfortable by using elastic waists instead of metal boning. In addition, it's interesting to note that the show was graced by the presence of actor Rosamund Pike, who recently starred in Saltburn. She was seen seated next to model Edie Campbell, adding to the overall elegance of the occasion. She braved the cold and wore a black mini-dress hemmed with large white frills. Pike finished the look by throwing on a black blazer, Mary Roger Vivier court shoes, and Malone Souliers' handbag. A mural inspired by Roksanda Serbian designer Roksanda Ilinčić's autumn/winter 2024 collection was all about extreme experimentation after visiting the Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier's 12-square-foot holiday cabin on the Côte d'Azur in France. She was inspired by the murals painted on his entrance walls and experimented with texture. Models walked down the runway in ankle-length skirts, sleeveless tops, and capes. Evidence of this is seen. Bridgeton's Golda Rosheuvel sat next to Roach, singer-songwriter Lianne La Havas, TV presenter Miquita Oliver, rapper Eve, and model and founder of charity Malaika at the show. The actress wore a red oversized poncho top, silver-grey culotte trousers, and black chunky boots. She wore a high bun and side bangs. Roach had a black coat with a red design. Puffy sleeves will be huge. Voluminous silhouettes – particularly sleeves and shoulders – were everywhere at London Fashion Week, from Irish designers Paul Costelloe and Simone Rocha to Bora Aksu – whose AW24 collection was inspired by sculptor Eva Hesse. Plus-size models walk the Ahluwalia show. Ahluwalia's 'Reveries' collection reimagined storytelling. Model Leomie Anderson wore a burnt orange silk outfit. Additionally, it's worth noting that two plus-sized models also graced the runway. It was presented on Saturday for autumn/winter 2024. One also wore a burnt orange two-piece with a hooded bustier and high-slit maxi skirt. All garments were dedicated to exchanging wisdom, usually found in the "old Indian and Nigerian folklore and fairytales." Read the full article

[tilbageidanmark]

Movies I watched this week - 25

Was 1973 the greatest year in cinema?

Besides the ones below, 1973 was also the year of The Holy Mountain, Day for Night, Mean Streets, Badlands, La Planete Sauvage, Paper Moon, Scenes from a Marriage, Amarcord, Oh Lucky Man, American Graffiti, Enter the Dragon, The Sting, The Exorcist...

✳️✳️✳️ 1973: The Spirit Of The Beehive (El espíritu de la colmena) - one of the most beautiful Spanish films of all time.

It’s 1940, and six-year-old Anna lives with her family in an isolated Castilian village. A mobile cinema truck bring Frankenstein to the village.

Quiet, symbolic and deeply moving.

The trailer.

✳️✳️✳️ 1973: The Last Detail, written by Robert Towne, with Jack Nicholson at his peak and with cameos by Gilda Radner, Nancy Allen and Carol Kane. 9/10

“Welcome to the wonderful world of pussy, kid..”

Going to watch the few other Hal Ashby films again.

✳️✳️✳️ 1973: Critically-acclaimed Robert Altman’s anachronistic neo-noir The Long Goodbye, with chain smoking Elliott Gould as unconvincing and bumbling Philip Marlowe.

Also, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s first movie appearance.

✳️✳️✳️ 1973! I don’t know why I haven’t revisited Don’t Look Now for at least 15 years: I always considered it to be Nicolas Roeg’s best film, but it’s actually one of the greatest films I ever saw! Cinematically, emotionally, with extraordinary sound editing (The first 8 min.! The dressing / undressing scene!)..

With Renato Scarpa as the police inspector: ”AH! MIS-ter BAX-ter!”

Simply perfect!

✳️✳️✳️ 1973: In La Grande Bouffe four friends, Marcello, Ugo, Michel and Philippe (played by Marcello Mastroianni, Ugo Tognazzi, Michel Piccoli, Philippe Noiret) decide to binge-eat themselves to death on fine cuisine. A decadent and perverted food and sex orgy, full of excess and anarchy that doesn’t end until the last one shits himself to death. But why?

Bon appétit!

✳️✳️✳️ 1973: Honest cop and whistleblower Serpico fights obsessively against systemic corruption at the New York Police Department.

With Who’s Who of the time in small parts: Hank Garrett, ‘The Mailman’ from ‘Three days of the Condor’, Jack Kehoe, Midnight Run’s ‘Jerry’, James Tolkan as Steiger, M. Emmet Walsh, F. Murray Abraham, John Randolph, Allan Rich ...

✳️✳️✳️ 1973 / First watch - The Wicker Man, a British folk horror number about a Christian copper vs. a Scottish village of pagan heathens. With younger Christopher Lee in a hippie drag.

It had a unique way of combing folk songs, sung by the characters, nearly like a strange musical.

✳️✳️✳️ 1973: Westworld, the robots malfunction and revolt at a futuristic, adult-themed amusement park. Yul Brynner as the original Terminator. 3/10.

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Queen of Hearts, a complex erotic drama by Danish-Egyptian director May el-Toukhy. An illicit affair between gorgeous Trine Dyrholm and her stepson Gustav Lindh (From Riders of Justice!). Shockingly explicit sex and unexpected third act reverse expectations and sympathies.

Best film of the week!

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Jackie Chan’s 1985 Police Story, a “broadly” choreographed slapstick / martial arts film. With young and chubby-faced Maggie Cheung, before she became world-class gorgeous.

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This isn't a rental car - it's privately owned.

How come I’ve never seen David Byrne’s True Stories before? Written by Ned Ryerson himself. Kooky characters in small town Vernon, TX. inspired by actual supermarket tabloid stories. Like Nashville for the 80′s..

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Crimes and Misdemeanors, a classic Woody Allen nihilist drama with a dual storyline that still holds its power.

“The eyes of God are always watching us” .

Toddler Dylan Farrow appears in a cameo at the wedding, and a distinct sub-plot has Allen wooing his teenage niece by taking her to see old movies and buying her art books... So, yuck to that part.

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“It’s good to be king.”

Mel Brooks’ 40 year old class-conscience History of the world, Part 1 - narrated by Orson Welles, with cameos by John Hurt as Jesus and Hugh Hefner, who also supplied the harem of vestal virgins. While ‘The Meaning of Life’ which came 2 years later was about philosophy, this was about history.

But everybody had such pearly white teeth.

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I started watching Jojo Rabbit 3 times before I could finish this pretentious Holocaust comedy of revisionist Nazi-chic cuteness. A ten-year-old Hitler Youth boy finds out that his mother, Scarlett Johansson, is hiding a Jewish girl in their attic. Kitschy, cowardly and lazy. This is not ‘The Great Dictator’ or ‘The Producers’, or even ‘Look who’s back’. It’s Hitler 101 explained to 10 year olds who never heard of him.

I wonder how they got the rights to The Beatles and Bowie songs.

Also, Hitler was not a smoker. 2/10. (Photo above)

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Picked up a random Apple’s TV series, Home before dark, about a 9 year old girl playing a journalist. I tried to get into it, and saw 2.5 episodes, but it was so ordinary, and soul-less, and full of teenager flick cliches, that I had to quit. Even the Jason Robards quotes from ‘All the President’s Men’ couldn’t help it. PASS!

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✳️✳️✳️ Woodward and Bernstein X 2

So, prompted by the series above, I watched All the President's Men again (for the 10? time). What a masterful film! Romancing investigative journalism never looked so good.

With a script by William Goldman, cinematography by Gordon Willis, and Robert Walden playing Donald Segretti.

The sparse score by Michael Small, who was Pakula’s go-to composer (and which I already mentioned here earlier)! Compared to his Parallax View theme.

True fact: Frank Wills, the black security guard who discovered the break-in, was fired without explanation a few days later. He was out of work for three years until he played himself (one day's work) in this film, and never had a full-time job again, until his death in 2000, at the age of 52.  

✳️✳️✳️ Also, All the President's Men Revisited, a 2012 documentary featuring all the players, and just before Trump, so they all could comfortably predict that Watergate will happen again, but none of them realized how terribly soon it will be.

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The company Men is about 3 senior executives trying to survive during the financial crisis of 2010 after getting fired, downsized, becoming redundant.

The Corporate-speak sounded fake, and Ben Affleck is not a good actor, so it wasn’t too engaging. 3/10

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(My complete movie list is here)