#hes tge most recent art :3

[sm0lshr00m]

Silly art dump!!

[lilallama]

(Sorry if I spell something wrongly lol) Idk, This is my opinion? Gryffindor, Jungkook. Hufflepuff, Taehyung & Yoongi. Ravenclaw, Namjoon & Jin. Slytherin, Jimin & Hobi??? I literally just searched the meaning of each house and just picked one based on the personality shown. Also, If you don't think this matches them, Sorry ;-;

[Don't worry, sweetie ^^. You don't have to apologise! 💕🍑]

Hoseok is a lot more two faced than I actually tend to show. The way he presents himself is mostly a mask. While he seems mostly calm on the outside, he's actually quite the opposite on the inside. Out of all the boys it'd be easiest for him to manipulate/influence Y/n (@bangtans-apollo Tae is quacking-) and he's aware of that. That's one of the reasons why they started the club 1. To protect Y/n, 2. The club concept came because it'd be easier to meet up and they would automatically get a clubroom and 3. Hoseok threatened to tell on them if they don't join, he'd make Y/n despise each one of them.

He is a strong leader (one of the Slytherin traits), I try to make him resourceful (but I am not myself so that might not shine through too much), he is definitely cunning. The whole ordeal with wanting to be with Y/n no matter what is pretty ambitious, I'd say. And lastly the traditionalism trait, he is very into tradition and has to keep his domestic fantasies with Y/n a secret. His parents raised him very traditional, he would hate it if (female) Y/n would ask him out first or would propose first and would at first frown upon his attention to (male or non binary) Y/n.

All in all Slytherin seems very accurate.

Now concerning Jimin; similar to Hoseok he too can be a two faced snake. He doesn't hide his true thoughts from Y/n or the boys, if anything he overshares sometimes (one time he started talking to Taehyung about some... rather inappropriate things concerning Y/n. That got his Y/n privilege taken away for a whole month). And despite practically pleading to be the "dumb bimbo" stereotype, he is surprisingly clever and intelligent. Before Highschool, before he made his first experiences with popular boys, he was a straight A's and B's student. Yet once he had his first boyfriend, he discovered that the people surrounding him typically preferred the dumb blondes. (He actually broke up with the captain of the football team for Y/n.)

He also sometimes displays ambitious, just in a whiney sort of way. Self preservation is definitely something. Unlike Taehyung, Yoongi, Namjoon or Jeongguk, he wouldn't let himself be killed for Y/n's sake. If Y/n were to be killed he would end up deluding himself into thinking a person who looks similar to them is them and would force Y/n's personality and style on them. Cunningness is 100% accurate. He's fake. He pretends to be a silly sweetheart who loves everyone but will spread rumours about you, blame things on you etc. and everyone believes him. His cunningness concerning Y/n is more whiney than anything.

So I do think Jimin fits Slytherin.

Namjoon was raised by strict parents who forbade him a tremendous amount of things and painted his world for him. It was engraved in his head, he was going to be the CEO of their company one day. Yet despite everything he still had a head of his own. Maye it was because if his high IQ that he understood that his parents weren't the only opinion in his life. Don't get me wrong, they still left him scarred (sadly literally, as his father once hit him bloody) and traumatised but not without a mind of his own. Ever since he was small creativity and originality was something he admired and loved. It was partly reason of why he fell for Y/n, their individuality, their mind, their heart, their soul.

We will not need to discuss intelligence, it's a trait he undoubtedly has. He is always willing to learn and showed interest in many different things before Y/n captured his focus. He is most likely one of the wisest members as he is aware of how twisted his love for them truly is (once again something I tend to fail at portraying) and tried to stop it when it started. But somehow that only made everything worse and by now he doesn't care anymore at all. When he was a child he used to be more openly curious than nowadays (as it caused him many punishments from his parents).

I feel that Namjoon would fit Ravenclaw.

Seokjin was spoiled all his life. His parents adored him, other kids adored him, everyone adored him. While he might've acted oblivious he knew that it's because of his money. Similar to Jimin, Seokjin changed when he entered high school. While he always was a pretty intelligent and well behaved student (still very arrogant though) he then became less concerned with studies and once made a teacher cry (that was before he met Y/n). He loves standing out as an individual, that includes making anyone change who crosses his path with the same outfit (not in school as they wear a school uniform. But outside, yes, he has that much power. Everyone knows Kim Seokjin).

As said before, Seokjin is far from stupid. He is a very intelligent individual but doesn't show the extent of his nolage. Instead aiming for a cool "Queen B" persona. He is witty with his comebacks (something I cannot write because I do not possess that superpower), he's quick with his words. He holds respect for people who are 60+ years old as he believes they've been through a lot in life already. These people have wisdom he could only gain by experience and that he respects (there is one very sweet lady that lives alone in a very big mansion a few streets away from his penthouse. He always visits her because he loves her genuine kindness. When he met Y/n she recently passed away and he saw a part of her in them).

Seokjin could qualify for a Ravenclaw.

Taehyung was raised by a very Christian family that he still cherishes very much. Because of their intense belief he was raised to worship. He never fell in love, so when Y/n crossed paths with his, he started showing love how he's used to it (Out of all the boys Taehyung is straight up insane. Something in his brain might be wired wrong, there is no explanation on why he likes them, on why he believed that's what love is because his parents treated him with normal, familiar love. So he is simply sick, there is no "saving" him. He's better of in a mental hospital). But he was always a very kind boy. Giving instead of taking, never wanting anything in return. Out of everyone, Taehyung was the one who welcomed new students and made tons of friends. But he grew out of it as his focus turned to art. He aimed to make his parents proud so he didn't have time for friends.

His loyalty is unlike any other. You could torture him half dead and he'd still forgive you, stay loyal to you, serve you. He is Y/n's servant. He works hard on improving his artistic abilities and also to maintain fairly good grades. For Y/n any labour he'd have to be put through would seem like a blessing. Another trait for Hufflepuff would be fairness and he surely is fair. As one of the least jealous members of the club he really only cares if Y/n's okay with what's happening or could get hurt (he always kets the other members have more privileges than he has because he believes it'd be not only greedy but prideful to want Y/n to hinself. He avoids any sin when it comes to Y/n, envy, wrath, pride, sloth, nothing will ever come near his modern day Jesus).

Taehyung definitely is a Hufflepuff.

If the boy who works two parttime jobs, to pay for rent, bills and food, cleans the shabby apartment by himself because his alcoholic mother is busy messing it up again, yet still treats his mother with kindness, only to be treated like trash by seven more powerful and successful guys in his school who all like the same person he does and still manages to maintain the position as intern and honour roll student at a prestigious school for roch people, isn't in Hufflepuff then I don't know what. This poor soul is incredibly sensitive and kind. He isn't judgemental (as he himself is used to people judging him). All round very sweet.

I think it's very clear that he's very diligent and hard working. He holds great passion for music and enjoys writing poetry, a very sensitive soul. Yoongi isn't someone to complain about something being unfair (cough cough Jimin cough cough) or try and steal Y/n away from them. His day dreams consist of imagining Y/n liking him back, but he is certain that would never happen (according to you guys, it seems a lot of you would pick Yoongi if you'd get to decide). Not only is Yoongi kind but loyal as well, he'd never imagine leaving anyone behind even his useless mother.

Yoongi is 1000% a Hufflepuff.

Jeongguk tends to be hot tempered, he goes from zero to a hundred in a matter of seconds. Everything in life seems like a challenge to prove he's better than others think (his father was a notorious serial killer who killed twenty one people yet got away with a ten year prison sentence and got released after six, ten months later Jeongguk was born). In truth he did not care for anyone else, only Y/n. So all tge chivalry he could muster was directed at them.

He is one brave guy who doesn't get easily scared (I guess living with as well as being a serial killer at sixteen years old desensitised him). Jeongguk is courageous just not in/for a positive way/purpose. He deluted himself into thinking that Y/n needs protection, HIS protection. He once attacked a teacher because they were helping Y/n with a question, that's very daring (more like stupid) just not in a good way. A (still not) more positive example of his daringness is when he wants to impress Y/n. He hung from a skyscraper for five minutes doing pullups, just to inpress them. One time he also jumped across his luxurious pool at home (and almost slipped, almost bashing his head in) just to prove that he can jump further than someone they talked about.

I could very much picture him as a Griffendor.

If you enjoyed reading my work, please consider reblogging it. Thank you for reading

[carewyncromwell]

Jacob, if you founded a magic school what would it be like? Where would it be? What courses would you teach? What sort of protections would be put in place, both for protecting tge school itself and for making sure the students don't come to harm (like no casting curses on other students unless you're dueling with an adult present sort of thing) Anything else?

[Ooooh, Jacob’s gaze is drifting off toward the ceiling at this question! He loves topics that make him think!! <3]

“(absently) ...My own school...Merlin, would that be a sight!”

After being expelled from Hogwarts -- after having my whole future upended, all of my dreams thrown away --

[As Jacob starts to ramble, his hands move animatedly in front of his chest -- a sure sign that the topic has gotten him excited.]

“...I think first and foremost, I’d want my school to encourage higher learning -- like a university, but for younger children too! Magic is so multifaceted...but the Wizarding World is so backwards when it comes to adapting it or expanding its boundaries. You’ll see new magics developed sometimes when it comes to selling products, like broomsticks, but you almost never see magics being pushed further like Muggles are constantly pushing the boundaries of science. Hell, most witches and wizards don’t even seem to care about investigating how to apply Muggle technology and sciences to our own magic! The only real, somewhat-recent case was the Ministry developing the Hogwarts Express back in the 1850′s, and all the mummies and daddies threw such a bloody fit about that...”

[Insert eye roll here.]

“But yeah, to address both security and location...I think I’d want a location that -- like the Portrait Vault -- one can only access by Portkey. It could be an underground location -- one that could be made Unplottable without causing a lot of disruption to the Muggles. ...Perhaps I could modify the old catacombs under London -- those things are plenty spooky that you’d only need the most basic of Muggle-warding enchantments to keep away any unwanted visitors. Using Portkeys would also make it so that it wouldn’t matter where the student lived -- wouldn’t have any Scottish tots having to travel all the way to London just to take a train back to Scotland, you dig it? It’d also be a good way to teach Muggle-born kids about Portkeys -- I mean, they’re so common in the Wizarding World: learning how to use them early would be cool. You could then use different Portkeys to travel to other areas too for more hands-on classes, like Care of Magical Creatures or Flying...or even to travel home on the weekends, if the students so chose.”

I would’ve loved that option while I was at school...then I could’ve been able to check up on Pip and Mum more often...

“Hmm...I reckon one thing you could do to keep the kids from fighting would be keeping your class sizes small -- you know, make it so that the teachers know absolutely everyone. And I reckon having a formal dueling class could help too...the dueling club at Hogwarts is great, but it’s optional -- and you kind of get free reign to do whatever you want. A supervised and structured class that happens several times a week could give students plenty of chance to blow off some steam...and since it’d be a class, dueling wouldn’t probably seem so...well, like forbidden fruit, you dig? If everyone’s able and expected to do it, then it won’t be so exciting to break the rules just to do it.

“As for classes...well, obviously the core classes like Charms, Potions, Herbology, Transfiguration, and Defense Against the Dark Arts would be a must. But besides that, Muggle Studies would be another core subject -- not just teaching students about aspects of the Muggle World, but helping them explore how they can use those same Muggle aspects in conjunction with what they’ve learned from their other classes! Applying their History of Magic lessons to Muggle history, comparing and contrasting the two. Applying their knowledge to Astronomy to the study of the planets and astrophysics. And the more advanced students could complete their own thesis investigating something related to one of their core studies...something that, if done well, could be published for the whole of the Wizarding World to see and be used as a kick-off point for them or their professors in further research on the subject!

[This thought process is so unbelievably exciting to Jacob, his face is practically consumed by a massive grin.

His eyes then soften slightly upon the ceiling.]

“...I dunno exactly what I’d call it...but I think I’d want Mum’s name in it somehow. 'Lane,’ I mean -- not ‘Cromwell.’”

Her name deserves to be remembered -- not theirs.

Talk to Jacob Cromwell!

[littlenemoonhbo]

Hey mom. I went to church and prayed over the matter of the crazy person and Jesus put it on my heart that its best to talk to him since he stole a picture of my birth certificate and the prayer gave me the instinct to check on it so he doesn't steal my apartment.  The preacher at the West Park Church (my preacher I booked art/film sessions for 2011-2012 occupy wallstreet before my roommate and fellow occupier died of crack in 2013 (after teddy died they sold me room and then preacher sent me to the shelter over homelessness)lost the room/got forwarded to the shelter after working with the preacher for living and ballerina dance bookings + Christian attendance housing via Occupy Wallstreet.  Living at the church for 3 years the preacher robert breuscheur of the west park presyptarian church has become a good friend and source of legal advice about the shelter which I frequently think of sueing (for inhuman conditions I have documented) Im very much afraid of this guy who keeps making paper copies of my information I already got and telling staff he's going to take my a (Preacher robert l breuscheur of the west park Presbyterian church who forwarded me to this shelter after my roommate died of crack in 2013 and his assistant from Columbia University Danielle gave me paperwork validating my work so I didn't have to go homeless. who I worked for under occupy film I visited for help on the stimulus fraud) said this crazy guy at the shelter who copied my info could/wants to file me as an dependent or try and says he's going to pretend to be you filing me as a dependent? The whole thing has become really insulting, he hugs me says were best friends, then says he's gonna committee suicide and then says I don't deserve a mom has gonna spit on her give her Corina Virus tell her to send me to rehab and steal her stimulus calms down offers me medication to help with my narcolepsy and then gets in fights with people. I don't want the guy to get staff to take away my apartment

by bothering them so I learned to talk to no one the guy says he's gonna kill himself daily but the preacher said to check up on him because he has my info. He keeps questioning my sleep labs and gets his medication with a fake name, says he sympathizes with my narcolepsy gives out free weak medications and then screams rehab, I learned not to talk to him, the preacher says he is trying to steal my picture to say he has narcolepsy and went to sleep labs to steal my apartment and telling them to send me to rehab so I can get Corona Virus not him, I walk away after saying hi to be nice.

I tried to kill him with kindness but realize he's schitzophrenic. Its really insulting you that makes me cringe, I told him I was going to Connecticut to avoid him and he keeps bringing it up and drooling on me (This person pretends to have ADD but has schitzophrenic ) (since I told the pasteurize of his insane behavior-fighting any homeless person that came near me "claiming were brothers one second offering me medication to help with my narcolepsy to then START screaming and tell me I don't have narcolepsy and didn't deserve an apartment should die of COVID and need rehab (after being friendly asking about how my treatments are coming along and my student loan President biden school work-he's unstable keeps claiming unto me!

[YOUR]"mother filed me as a dependent and she has my business loan money." As on her believes he's going to steal your social security/by telling YOU! MY! MOTHER! im dead and get my apartment and stimulus by saying he's stimulus shelter help...he keeps saying this daily! Never so insulted! Staff no care! Very afraid preacher Robert Bruecheur at West Park Church says document it. 

AND he keeps telling me im LITERALLYthe virus I don't deserve a mother or to go to SCHOOL (when I was praying he told me im satanic and killed her! I documented this for lawyers.) 

I avoid staff so I dont get sent away get apartment. Looking into another shelter called Brightpoint Health the church suggested after my most recent visit. 

He claims he needed money more looked into credit freeze/social security freeze incase he is using my number. Is literally saying he made my bushwick brooklyn apartment and attended my school of visual arts education. He mimics what I say I dont even think he told the shelter his teal name.  said a lot of weird things like he was going to take my apartment/disability for My state apartment "and is giving me a corporate credit card just needs to document me as an emplyee". He jeeps saying really insulting things like he's going to tell my mother to give him my money and "he knows she owes money still on her house". He bought my novel on Amazon.com and is pretending to be me / trying to steal my university of hartford transcript which they wont give him (I looked up credit activity and put a freeze on it. Getting IRS on this! Just aboiding him and following preachers advice.) 

He claims hes going to tell "my mother im crazy and expose me to my doctors that I have hypersomnia not narcolepsy and get my mother to give him my stimulus? Very threatening and odd person and gets in fights all the time screams at me after getting in a fight in the street he gonna kill himself if I dont listen to him. I [He doesn't know what this is but appears to believe he can steal my info and apartment placement by claiming im ill undeserving and never went to the school of visual arts or sleep labratories (since he got very jealous! Of my apartment interview! I told him I went to my mothers and he just kept claiming "SHE FILED YOU AS A DEPENDENT: TOOK YOIR STIMULIS YOU NEED REHAB (after giving me my OWN medication he gets under a false name! Says he gonna take my apartment placement and SNAP identification: ALL BECAUSE HE SAW MY PAPER APPLICATION TO FILM SCHOOL+ AND APARTMENT! (Which the state asks for diagnose for President Biden/Shelter to pay for your rent/electric.

Most insane person ever claims he gonna tell the government/STIMULIS and social security people IM DIEING OF COVID! Even said I don't deserve a mom he gonna call her and tell her im dieing of COVID and steal stimulus from me by screaming at my moms im not narcoleptic im a drug addict (so he can steal my apartment! This after seeing my sleep lab photos and doctor papers on getting into new medication! He offers me MY OWN MEDICATION as a friend one minute sees I have narcolepsy and cares about my film school Joe Biden application (and then another second claims I am rehab addict and dont have narcolepsy because he saw my papers saw hypersomnia tells me he worships the devil is going to kill himself, throws chairs to threaten me or scare me (after saying im his only friend he has no family been crying and begs me to talk to him kr he'll kill himself!) and claims he'll have staff send me to rehab (so he can have my apartment) AND CALL MY MOM TO HAVE HER ADD HIm AS A DEPEDNDENT (take my stimulus and demand she give him "the business credit sign off he deserves, because he is going to tell my mother im dead and get her to give him my stimulus money?" Also claims he will tell my mother im dead to switch my social security application in his name (by showing he has my picture over a video and saying I died from the virus? I documeted this encase I have to send this to court/IRS to get the stimulus back. Pure schitzophrenic. I avoid rhis person most days. 

   HE GAVE ME A BIRTHDAY PRESENT told me im his only friend and then said he was gonna kill himself if I dont talk to him and start a business. Breaks down after veibg friendly and demand I die of corona virus go to rehab to staff and then they give him my apartment (but he's lieing about his real name and going to the school of visual arts which is on my application for the apartment they interviewed me for! The preacher and staff said to ignore him so I guess he cant oretend to be me and say im dead to steal my apartment and call my mom and tell her I killed his wife im satanic )which he claimed when I prayed to Joel olstein….then went back to normal.  I am working with the pasteurize from the church on finding other Section-8 housing but he said to stick it through and avoid him,just pray for him, document his words on saying "he's going to call my mom tell her im dead orin rehab to steal my stimulus" and kt listen to his claimms im satanic. Im pretty afraid offended by this guy but will just document for lawyers in case he stole my stimulus. Hopefully I dot have to call the cops. He got in another fight yesterday and said he was gonna kill himself. But tge staff said hopefully I hear back soon. Pray for me. Baby angels love you mom just keeping you updated but I think I have it under control and have a new doctor appointment scheduled, since he stole the phone number and then practice probably will not wish to continue after being heckled. Third time I lost a narcolepsy/ADD sleep lab doctor to tjis shelter. Hope to move soon. Love you mom have a good day at work. Talk soon. 

[this-is-for-the-record-blog]

Pearl Jam - Riot Act - Album Review

Riot Act is the seventh record from the alternative rock band and is the first Pearl Jam record I purchased upon release in 2002. It was a few months after the albums release that I saw the band live for the first time, my first major concert. The concert was at the Irvine Medows Amphitheater, the last time the band would play the beautiful outdoor venue and is a venue that sadly was just recently torn down. Riot Act contained the bands most politically driven work and offered a very gloomy and angsty sound. After the release of Binaural the band had played the Roskilde Festival, where nine Pearl Jam fans were trampled to death and 30 others injured during the bands rainy, muddy set. This led to the band questioning continuation as a band and ultimately became the factor for why they quit playing festivals for the next 7 years. Seemed everything the band did from then on had more purpose and meaning especially when it came to social and political issues. Also, republican governor of Texas George W. Bush would be elected for president of the United States who manipulated the country into a war in the middle east after the tragic events that took place in New York on September 11 2001 and finally Dee Dee Ramone, bassis for the Ramones and Layne Staley singer of Alice in Chains and Mad Season both died in 2002 of an overdose to heroin. All of this played a role in the writing and production on Riot Act. The record would mark the first album produced by Adam Kasper, producer for Soundgarden and is also the first record with organist Boom Gasper who gets a big spotlight on the tracks “Love Boat Captain” and “I Am Mine” and was the last record with major label Epic Records.

With the band out of the spotlight completely now and many of the 90s bands disbanded the genres of new metal (Slipknot, Korn, Disturbed, System of a Down, Deftones) emo/pop punk (AFI, Green Day, Taking Back Sunday, My Chemical Romance, The Used) and post grunge (3 Doors Down, Staind, Puddle of Mudd, Seether, Creed, Nickleback) were dominating the radio. Pearl Jam didnt seem to fit the mold anywhere and nor did they want to, but after some time staying away from music videos on MTV, a silence they broke with the release of Yield in 1998, the band made a pretty big return offering 4 music videos from Riot Act that actually featured the band members and this time produced in a similar fashion as the record live raw and seemingly uncut. The videos feature the band paying the respected song live in a room and even the audio was captured in live form rather than the typical conceptual lip sync video you normally see. Pearl Jam would also partake in published interviews for the first time in 10 years with the release of this record. Some background behind the records concept, the name Riot Act comes from an English statute of 1715 which provided that if 12 or more persons assemble unlawfully and riotously, to the disturbance of the public peace, and refuse to disperse upon proclamation would be considered guilty of a felony. Being a very political record that stands against the President and the current policies, in a very tumultuous way, the records title would have likely been named after this Act, however an act that was implemented here domestically in the United States after 9/11 was the Patriot Act an Act of Congress that was signed into law by President George W. Bush. With its ten-letter abbreviation (USA PATRIOT) expanded, the full title is “Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism”. The Act led to a lot of racial profiling and seemed to legally allow the FBI to wrongfully accuse individuals based on these racial profiles, which went against the 14th amendment in the US Constitution. The band may be calling this Act that president Bush signed as riotous or the patRIOT ACT. Either way the band is rioting in protest against the government on this record and for good reason. The records cover art was an artistic photo taken by Jeff Ament which features two skeletons wearing crowns appearing to be a king and prince. Two monarchs who lie dead smoldering in a tomb. A kingdom now just dusted ruins of what was. Based on the records themes Its safe to assume this fallen kingdom depicted had crumbled due to the greed, corruption and deception of its leadership and that tge skeletons may represent presidents Bush senior and Bush Jr.

Like the last couple records from the band each member brought songs to the table and collaboratively contributed to the writing process. The songs again here are more structured like their previous two records. Many times in the past, despite a couple records in the mid 90s, the band would redo parts over again when they feel mistakes were made in the recording of the songs or when they feel they could perform better with a second or third take, with this record many times the band would do one take and not overthink it. The record has a live soundscape and went through very little editing in the production department and written last minute and recorded in a very natural way, much like the bands No Code and Vitalogy records. If errors were made they were left in and would be apart of the final cut. Much of this record experiments with many sounds and styles like folk rock, and art rock. After the turn of the century organ and keyboards were a big instrument in music especially in the alternative rock genre. Bringing Boom Gasper into the band and incorporating him on their old songs in the live setting really opened the band to a much more dynamic sound and new styles. The guitars on the record are very textured. At times Mike McCreadys guitar tremolo effect mimics a Hammond Organ’s Leslie rotary speaker. Other times is soaked in tube driven distortion, delay and reverb. McCready and Stone Gossard really seems to be channeling guitarists Jimi Hendrix, John Fogerty,  Larry Parypa, Joe Strummer, Pete Townshend, Johnny Marr and Jimmy Page.

Riot Act opens up with “Cant Keep” a song that reminds me of Led Zeppelin’s “Poor Tom” with its rumbling drum beat and triad of guitars, slowly building with a gloomy, melodic, atmosphere like an impending storm. The song was originally written on ukulele by Eddie Vedder, but then transposed into the full band version. Many of the songs on Riot Act feature alternate tunnings like on the experimental and rhythmically unique love song “You Are” written by drummer Matt Cameron. The track features a guitar played through a drum machine giving a sound similar to The Smith’s “How Soon Is Now”, “All or None” a bittersweet, somber and folky tune and the dark and moody spoken word of “Bu$hleaguer” all feature varied tunnings. A few of the songs have a live, warm and acoustic rich ambiance to them like the tracks “I Am Mine”, “Bu$hleaguer”, “Cant Keep”, “All or None” and “Thumbing My Way” a song played by Jeff Ament on the upright bass. The track “Save You”, the fuzzy and grungy Mudhoney inspired “Ghost” and “Get Right”, and the blues stomping, bar rocking “1/2 Full” are some of the heavier tracks on the album; in fact “Save You” got so intense in the studio during the recording of the song, drummer Matt Cameron lost his headphones. He was able to finish the recording of the song by watching bassist Jeff Ament’s fingers as he played the bass. Cameron said “It was me watching Jeff’s fingers and hoping I was in time, you know? There’s a breakdown of just me and Jeff. I hit a cymbal, moved my head, and the headphones went flying.”  These songs capture a very Vitalogy era Pearl Jam while the song “Green Disease” has a drum driven pacing that reminds a bit of “Reviewmirror” from VS. and “Cropduster” is a midtempo rocker that contains a pounding tambourine and has a riff and rhythm very similar to Skid Rows “Into Another”, a band that also just so happens to have a song called “Riot Act”. Experimentation with vocals and harmony is more present this time around like on the tracks “Help Help”, and “Bu$hleaguer” as well as the track “Arc” is an experimental track that features layers of Eddies vocal harmony and is a tribute to those who died at Roskilde. Eddie’s vocals for the most part on this record are very subdued and laid back. Hes very much the mumbler hes always been but a bit more calm and centered even on the more energetic songs a sound and vocal style very similar to The Boss Bruce Springsteen especially on one of Eddie Vedders first acoustic written songs, “Thumbing My Way”.

Lyrically, much of the records messages revolve around love, loss and the struggle to stay positive after mournful events such as the September 11 attacks and the accidental death of nine fans during Pearl Jam’s performance at the 2000 Roskilde Festival, with a big emphasis on the theme of love and seeking positive leadership. The track “Love Boat Captain” a song that promotes love as an answer in a time of anger, grief and mourning and mentions those 9 fans who died when Vedder sings “Lost nine friends we’ll never know… two years ago today”. The song “Ghost” is about TV adds and their manipulative agenda and expresses how true love never fails. Vedder said “Love is one resource that the corporations aren’t going to be able to monopolize.” Empirical tracks like these as well as “Cropduster” a song about a self centered egoist, addresses the idea of Darwinism v Creationism and the optimistically determined and inner spirited waltzing “I Am Mine” were born from tragedy and in response to political angst and personal struggles. The words “We’re safe tonight” in “I Am Mine” are a reminder that the band and their audience or America in general will make it through ok, a hopeful notion in response to the Roskilde tragedy and 9/11. Also in the song Eddie writes “And the meaning it gets left behind. All the innocents lost at one time.” could refer to either Roskilde or 9/11. Eddie said “There’s been a lot of mortality…It’s a weird time to be writing. Roskilde changed the shape of us as people, and our filter for seeing the world changed.” Themes of exile, war, peace, friendship, past, greed, politics, changes and love as higher salvation, similar subjects found on their previous record Binaural but are presented with a bit more explicitness and passion here. “You start feeling like, ‘What do I have to say? What is my opinion?’ Then I realized I did have an opinion. Not only did I have one, but I felt like it was formed by processing a lot of information and having good influences.” Vedder said. Bassist Jeff Ament also added “I think the time’s right to turn our voice up a bit… And Ed did it in a great way, with humor and a mystical, magical approach. It isn’t just, ‘We’re pissed off, and fuck you! Riot! Anarchy!’ Cos I don’t think that’s the method. At least at this point.”

Many of the lyrics on Riot Act Eddie wrote last minute before recording and were written raw on a typewriter. Eddies lyrics can be seen in their typewriter form errors and all in the bands liner notes. Riot Act is Pearl Jam’s most politically direct and forward record up to its point. Its a record of protest and at times seems to attempt to change society for the better with songs like “Green Disease”, “Bu$hleaguer” and “1/2 Full,” being politically driven songs about a world lead by disconnected politicians and business men, and point out social classes, big corporate CEO business profits, the destruction of capitalism and President George W Bush’s influence on the country at the time. Vedder said, “I have to admit this record came out a bit one-sided, but I think we as a country need to understand why we’re involved in the Middle East. This hollow patriotism frightens me.” Singer Eddie Vedder said that Riot Act‘s lyrics “represent my state of mind these days. I’m optimistic yet disillusioned, hopeful yet frustrated.” “1/2 Full” reprises some lyrics and themes from their song “Porch” when Eddie sings “There’s ain’t gonna be/No middle anymore/It’s been said before.” The track “Save You” is an angry track that expresses the frustration of watching some one you care about waste their life away. The song may reflect the struggles with drug addictions that led to the fatal overdoses of Dee Dee Ramone, Layne Staley and John Entwistle in 2002. Eddie commented on the song that “One thing I’ve learned about addiction in the last few years is that having seen other folk go through it, and really not having done that, with heroin which can grip you that intensely. I didn’t have a complete understanding and a lot of times it was easy to come to the conclusion that you place blame on the person or accuse them of weakness or ask, “Why couldn’t Kurt [Cobain] keep it together?” There was always that in the back of your mind.” The song “Thumbing My Way” is a song about walking wounded with a broken heart but has hope for something positive down the road. Sometimes you hope for anything to come along and pick you up when you are down.

Finally Riot Act is one of my favorite Pearl Jam records, definitely in my top 5 and maybe from a bias stand point, but i truly think the band was very driven and inspired in a very deep way at the time even if it was being channeled from some dark places, a spark had ignited in the band. Where Eddie faced severe writers block on Binaural, Riot Act came at the perfect time when Eddie had a lot to say because he had a lot he was feeling. I love the diversity on Riot Act from experimentation to the rich folky art rock tunes to angsty moody garage rock vibe. It brings to mind an older more angry Pearl Jam. The record is like Vitalogy meets Yield. The angsty rebellion of Vitalogy meets the maturity and melodic drive of Yield. Its a record with determination for hope, love and positivity during a bleak and hopeless time. With the heavy collaboration in song writing on Riot Act, many songs were cut from the record. Songs like the Social Distortion inspired “Down”, as well as the folky Neil Young meets Phil Ochs “Last Soldier”, “Undone”, “Other Side”, and “4/20/02” a song written in tribute to Alice In Chains lead singer Layne Staley after his tragic heroin overdose. The date reflects the day Eddie Vedder had heard the news of the singers death. A spoken word song “Im Still Here” similar to “Im Open” sounds like it may have been more of the story behind Black or his recent divorce with ex wife Beth. Their cover of Sonics’ “Dont Believe In Christmas was recorded at this time too. If you like Temple of the Dog, Mad Season, The Rockfords, Soundgarden, Skin Yard, Brad, Wellwater Conspiracy, Hater, Candlebox, Three Fish, Mother Love Bone, Neil Young, Our Lady Peace, 3 Doors Down, Pete Yorn, The Doors, The Who, The Walkabouts, The Wallflowers, Queens of the Stone Age, Foo Fighters, Stone Temple Pilots, Seether, Green River, Mudhoney, Seven Mary Three, Credence Clearwater Revival, Skid Row, Electronic, Sleater Kinney, Bruce Springsteen, The Clash, Led Zeppelin, or John Lennon you will love this record. If you voted for Bush youll probably hate it. My favorite songs are “Love Boat Captain”, “I Am Mine”, “Thumbing My Way”, “You Are”, “1/2 Full”, and “All or None”.

[lifelongjay]

Does the world need my story yet?

In book form, anyway. My testimony short and sweet, raised by a single-mom is a christian household with my brother. Dealt with learning comprehension dissabilities, spending most of my education in special education. I just pressed on despite my critics, graduating from college with a BA and MA in Communication Arts-Journalism. A few inspiring local news segments, a published article in women's world magazine. My mom always says my testimony needs to be a book. A friend of hers even asked her last week, "Has Jason written his book yet?" To be honest, I feel like I'm still fleshing out who I am so that my audience can see "in my own words," how much I've grown and am still growing. Finding my Why and how a book about my experiences would fit into that. A guest on Lewis Howles' School of Greatness podcast recently suggested tge following format to writing a book:

1. Set a specific goal for it, why am I writing this book?

2. What audience do i want to reach?

3. What information do i have that my audience will find valuable?

The speaker concluded in saying books that flopped were because the author did not create value for other people, they were just celebrating themself.

[allthefawkesigive]

1-15??

1: Is there a girl/boy in your life?Well there's someone I like but they aren't physically here in my life2: Think of the last person who hurt you, do you forgive them?Yeah i did.. had some guy tell me to "just move on" when i said I missed by ex when he had recently been through a brake up anf allwayyys said he missed her3: What do you think when you hear the word "meow"?Cats, lots and lots of cats4: Whats something you really want right now?Hugs, kisses and so food5: Are you afraid of falling in love?Oh god yes..6: Do you like tge beach??I can do if its a nice day7: Have you ever slept on a couch with someone? Yeah, I was watching a film with a friend and its was like 2pm and we both hust fell asleep haha8: Whats the back ground of your cell?Usually it would be a 3 concrete walls and the bars?Joking.. ayy.. my lock screen used to be for pictures: Benedict Cumberfluff, the ravenclaw embelm, Benedict Cumberfluff and the Billie Joe Armstrong. My wallpaper when unlocked in just the night sky with lots of starsa9: Name the last four beds you sat on?Mine own at my mums, my mums bed, my own at my dads and then my friends friend on sunday10: Do you like your phone?Yesahh 11: Honestly, are things going the way you planned?Nope, but then again... do thing ever go as planned?12: Who was the last person you added to your contacts?Ummm i think my mum because she got a new phone13: Would yiu rather have a poodle or a rottweiler?A Rotty because they are they are so god damn adorable... plus people might be scared of me ayyyy14: Which hurts the most, Physical or Emotional pain?Personally emotional pain15: Would yiu rather visit a zoo or an art museum?Depends on my mood... right now im tired and can'tbe bothered so the museum.

[welcomerandumbness]

Good morning!! We're bringing in the new year with quite a bang folks! This is Kenny Moertl aka Blazin Asian. Here's a bit more about him and what he does.

Ok kool I could draw since I was like 5. Won awards in grade school and HS, then started working at Miskeen originals in like 2005. Made a name for myself and learned alot from other artists. The first rapper I did a painting for was Gillie da Kid who I met while working my evening job. the painting ended up in one of GDKs videos. eventually, I started a street team with a couple of the artists at miskeen and began attending events and doing portraits for celebs in town. Rick Ross, Keyshia Cole, Nas, Jadakiss, DJ Khaled and many other artist received artwork during this period. I worked there on and off till like 09 honing my skills. I parted with Miskeen and began freelancing. I began produced some logos, book covers, and the like, a couple of body painting, but adopted portraits and paintings as "my lane". Since branching off , I've done paintings for Meagan Good, Jamie Foxx, Ice-T, Kevin Hart and many others as well as having my artwork featured on the ESPN show Mike & Mike in the Morning. Since then I've just kind of been chugging along doing custom work for people and continuing to learn and grow professionally and artistically. I try to reinvent myself every year to keep it fresh and new.

He's pretty amazing to have met so many awesome people. I love it so much.

Now enjoy more about this talented guru.

1. What motivated you to make portraits for other people?

I really like to see the way people's faces light up when they see themselves immortalized on canvas. truly inspirational. i also wanted to do portraits of people that dont necessarily get painted often. capture classic movie scenes. etc Hip Hop culture all day.

2. How long is the drawing process of one of your works?

It varies, I have paintings I've been working on for years, and I've done portraits in like 2hrs. One time Fat Joe was in town and I was gonna paint him something, long story short I was on my way to Target with my son, and heard the Fat Joe promo on the radio. Like Slick Rick, i knew the time, but totally forgot about the date. i went back home and started at 10:00pm. I knocked out the painting, showered, got dressed and to the club right before 1am. #Beast

3. How has your art practice changed since you first started drawing?

Well I started at like 5yrs old lo l so its' changed a lot over time. I guess its most recently changed in the sense that I don't practice at all anymore. I kinda see what I want to do and do it. I've watched YouTube sometimes to pick up tips. Bob Ross is the g.o.a.t. Also, a lot of times, in my experience, amazing new things are created while covering up a mistake.

4. Any part of your art process you don't enjoy as much?

I hate "writer's" block. sometimes I'm uninspired and go into a "pre-production" mode. That sounds better than "hiatus",b lol and universally, I'm forever irked by the occasional unruly customer. I think everyone encounters that issue though.

5. Anyone in your life give you advice in how to grow in your style?

They say good artists borrow and great artists steal. Idk if that's necessarily true, but I usually sponge up techniques subconsciously. I don't know when the last time someone actually gave me art advice, as I've been the best artist in my class since like 2nd grade. But I definitely help myself to new styles. When at Miskeens peak, I worked with like 30 artists. I picked up alot during that period.

6. What's your favorite part of the art process?

My favorite part of the process besides being financially compensated, I would say is the reaction to the art, once completed. I get some compliments on the way to deliver art, but usually the reaction from someone who was illustrated or had a loved one illustrated is pretty emotional. Many times, people have told me that their painting is their most prized possession in the whole world. I've had some good cries. Being able to give someone that type of happiness is inspirational to me.

7. What plans you have in mind for tge new year to come?

You always have to reinvent yourself. Like Jay Z said, you want my old sh**, buy my old album. I definitely have some new styles on the horizon, but no spoilers. I also want to do some mural work this year. maybe some pro-bono work for the kids. I might add tattooing to my arsenal this year as well, that is if time providing. In addition to some moves I havent thought of yet.

8. Have advice for someone younger, that wants to pursue art?

Advice for the young guns. I would definitely say to stick to your script. Never let anyone tell you how to express yurself artistically or otherwise, its your vision. Also, never undervalue your product. your talent is priceless dont give it away. My uncle Saga once told me, "just because i can do something in 5 mins doesnt lessen the value. It took me my whole life to be able to do that in 5 mins". invest in yourself and never give up. Always think big.

You can follow Kenny here:

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/BlazinAsian

And there you have it folks!! I really enjoyed getting to know Mr. Kenny, he really knows how to get a party going. Thanks for reading the first post of the year see you all again really soon!!