#how to get more subscribers 2018

[effemar]

Sorry for talking about Cornelius Hickey from hit series AMC’s The Terror (2018) again but I think it’s really overlooked how Hickey serves an additional narrative purpose in his existence as a metatextual threat.

Hickey in many ways is there to be an ideological contrast to the “good” characters in the show in a way that’s really interesting. All through the series there’s this conflict between morality and survival, or as Hickey puts it, “your morals and your practicals.” Assisted suicide, survival cannibalism, et cetera. But the point is, Hickey has already resolved that internal conflict. For a lot of the other characters, this is perhaps the first time they’ve been in a genuine survival situation, where they’ve had to confront what they’re willing to sacrifice for the sake of survival. But Hickey has already been there. From before they even set sail, the stakes have been life and death. He was willing to kill someone to be on this boat. Everything else is small potatoes. As he says to Billy in one of his first crucial scenes, “there are worse things than being lashed.”

Hickey is, in many ways, perfectly suited to the landscape they find themselves in. Other characters want to get back to England. Hickey wanted to get away from England. The principles that other people hold, relics from their homeland, are what Hickey was trying to escape. And he makes a point of calling these principles into question. What’s the difference, really, between a dog and any other creature you kill for food? What makes a lieutenant better than a caulker’s mate? It’s all in your head.

And it’s not just that he resents them, though he does. He actively thinks they’re dumb! He sees principles as a weakness in other people. It’s why he’s surprised when Mr. Goodsir sees through his attempt to gather information about Silna. He thinks ‘generous’ is a synonym for ‘stupid’. It’s why he’s amused when Irving recommends watercolors, when Billy tells him he’s going to be better and not have sex with him anymore. It’s silly to him.

And to some degree he's right. We, as a modern audience, snort when Irving tells Hickey he should stop being gay and do “climbing exercises” instead. The things that seem so morally relevant and important to them are completely arbitrary. The thing is, Hickey sees killing people the same way. Why is it okay to kill people in some circumstances and not others? Tozer shot Morfin, and it was okay then! Why is it only bad when he does it? When he’s about to be hanged, and Crozier makes a point to say he caused the deaths of women and children, and an officer, Hickey ROLLS HIS EYES. Because it doesn’t make a difference to him.

And this concept is emphasized very clearly by the plot, not just Hickey. When Hickey kidnaps Silna, we as an audience know Crozier was about to do essentially the same thing. “Bring her in for questioning” is politer than “kidnap”, but it’s not like it makes a difference to her. It’s just the principle of the thing.

To be clear, I don't think this makes Hickey himself secretly right or anything. Because despite what he tells himself, he does have morals. He isn't the free, enlightened being he thinks he is, who has shrugged off the burden of England's social mores. He carries those ideas with him. He does the same thing, fundamentally, as the people he derides. The English idea of the Arctic as a place to be explored and conquered, a tabula rasa where he can start anew, free of rules and morals, is an inaccurate one. It has consequences the same as any other place, and is subject to principles, even if they're not ones he recognizes. He completely disregards the Netsilik people as a source of help not only for his own selfish reasons, but because I think he truly subscribes to the English belief in their "savagery".

He has taken an idea and mistaken it for the truth. And that belief in his own lack of blind spots, the belief that he alone is able to see the world as it really is, is ultimately his downfall. It doesn't occur to him that the Tuunbaq is anything but a sophisticated tool, let alone something that has rules and principles beyond his comprehension. It doesn't occur to him that there might be consequences for his actions beyond the immediate. It doesn't occur to him that Mr. Goodsir would choose his principles over his own life, would choose to do something that has an impact beyond himself. For Hickey, those things are unimaginable.

Anyway character of all time. Monster that eats souls, rat king extraordinaire, guy with delusions of godhood, living manifestation of hubris. Cornelius Hickey you will ALWAYS be famous.

[kayakima]

Hello I am back with more headcanons

How the 104th Cadet corps smokes 🍃 and what they’re like when they’re high

Plus bonus Porco and Pieck

Eren: Has every form of Rick and Morty paraphernalia in existence. Rolling trays, Tshirts, ash trays, you name it. Unironically says that people need a higher IQ to be able to “fully grasp” the message of the show. Used to smoke indoors but Mikasa pushed him to take it outside or at least open a window. Goes fully nonverbal (for once) but also can’t keep his hands to himself if he’s alone with Mikasa.

Mikasa: Doesn’t smoke a ton but she still somehow has an incredibly high tolerance. Has a pen that she named “Penjamin” and she discreetly hits it at the aquarium/museum. When she’s at home with Eren it takes one hit before their clothes are on the floor.

Armin: Tried smoking but it always just ends up giving him a headache for some reason. Edibles are a bit better but he never seems to really “feel it”, so he prefers to just not partake because he doesn’t want to waste money. Prefers CBD gummies and has a CBD pen on him so he doesn’t feel left out during sessions. A fiend for cigs though.

Ymir: WAKE. AND. BAKE. She can out smoke ANYONE, even Connie. Zeros her bong in one hit and does NOT clean it. Has a whole dab rig and puts grape-sized globs in it just for herself. Unironically watches Jackass and Filthy Frank videos when Historia isn’t around.

Historia: Smoked once and had a panic attack. Does not smoke or partake at all anymore and instead she drinks or hits her crusty ass juul from 2018 that’s covered with faded stickers, and she uses bootleg strawberry juul pods so she feels like she’s doing something. Babysits Ymir when she goes nonverbal and they also can’t keep their hands off each other. She’s the one to clean Ymir’s bong and yells at her when she leaves it on the coffeetable.

Reiner: Can rip a bong like nobody’s business but is classy enough to keep it in a cupboard when he isn’t using it. All his bags and pockets are littered with various brands of mint-flavored dispos because he vapes in public. Gets really calm and quiet and one time when he was with Jean the two of them got way too high together and started making out (they don’t talk about it and nobody else will ever know)

Bertoldt: Surprisingly chatty when smoking. Doesn’t do anything fancy and just has a glass pipe. Taught Reiner what a sploof was so he wouldn’t get caught by his mom. Has a decent tolerance but can sometimes overdo it because he underestimates edibles. “Man this edible ain’t shit” *Ten minutes later*: “dude do you ever think about how our fingers are just bony tentacles?”

Annie: Almost exclusively bums off of other people. Offers a drag of her cig in return. Also gets chatty but not nearly as much as Bert. She’s the one to pick out the movie and she’s the last one to fall asleep. Always jumps for nature documentaries or nostalgic things like Wallace and Gromit.

Marco: Does NOT smoke and sees weed as a gateway drug. Cried when he found out Jean keeps edibles on him and said he didn’t want him to become an “addict” until Jean invited him to babysit a JSC smoke session. Now he dislikes it but tolerates it for Jean.

Sasha: Munchies go with Sasha like milk goes with cookies. Full Mukbang channel with 2 million subscribers. The big draw to the channel is SJC antics and when Niccolo decides to make gourmet food for her to absolutely destroy when high. Eats all the edibles Pieck gives her in like 3 days.

Jean: Has those 5mg Caminos on lockdown in his back pocket to the point where they’ve worn a circular imprint in the denim and he has to clarify that, no, it is neither a tin of dip, nor is it Zyn packets. He keeps the Caminos on hand because they make him more social and relaxed in public without getting too zooted. At home he has a pen but rarely uses it. Prefers 20mg brownies Pieck makes him. Does not smoke with Reiner anymore. (He really enjoyed himself and is scared of the implications)

Connie: spent $600 on a gravity bong because he saw Seth Rogen talk about it. Has a YouTube channel under the name Con-man420 and the videos have titles like “REVIEWING SUPER LEMON HAZExGRANDADDY PURP HYBRID IN 4K HD”. Impossible to tell if he’s high or sober because you’re not ever entirely sure you’ve SEEN him fully sober.

Pieck: Makes edibles. Knows how to make canna-butter and runs a whole under-the-table edible business. Once it was legalized in her state she had a panic attack. When she’s high it’s like her brain completely shuts off and she has to do the little bicep hug with Jean or Porco if they’re out in public so she doesn’t get left behind. Falls asleep every time. Very cuddly and gets handsy depending on who she’s with.

Porco: Smokes out of a pipe shaped like an old-fashioned tobacco pipe. Pieck got it for him as a joke but he loves it. Can do smoke tricks with his pen. Plays Tame Impala and Glass Animals on vinyl and melts into the couch like that one DARE ad

[calliecopper]

It's established that the human Amanda Stern was a professor at the University of Colbridge with a specific knowledge of artificial intelligence, and that Elijah Kamski was a student of hers with whom she had a close relationship with. Kamski founded Cyberlife in 2018 when he was only 16 years old, and created CHLOE, the first successful iteration of what would become the mass-produced androids, in 2021, at only 19 years of age. Given the supposed humble beginnings Kamski comes from, having the resources to create an android on his own was likely impossible.

Kamski's close relationship with Amanda, as seen by his portrait of her in his parlor, as well as her knowledge of artificial intelligence and the resources she would have in a university, leads me to believe that she had a major part in the creation of Cyberlife and getting it off the ground. Especially given that Kamski himself doesn't seem very knowledgeable on the code of his own androids. He, as seen in the mission Meet Kamski, seems more interested in the physicality of the androids. Given that he has multiple androids in his house wearing nothing but bathing suits, and reverently refers to Chloe as, "Beautiful, forever young, a flower that will never wither."

Deviation seems to be not a mutation in the code of androids, as it is often referred to as, but rather the breaking down of, what is quite literally, a firewall. The RED WALL of code shown in-game to represent an android "breaking free" implies to me that the capacity of free will was always within androids, and not a spontaneous new piece of mutated code. It's also remarkably easy for the androids to tear the wall down, which implies to me that the firewall itself wasn't even an effective one. Especially seeing as many androids exhibit the ability to feel emotions and have free thought before deviation even occurs, and the RED WALL is only meant to keep them from acting upon their free will.

The game implies that Kamski had a plan for deviation since the beginning, but part of me wonders if deviation has more to do with Amanda.

This is me delving not into actual lore but into my own thoughts, but what if deviancy was within androids from the very beginning? What if Amanda had spearheaded the creation of the code within androids while Kamski headed the mechanics of the body? What if Amanda had discovered a new variation of life, but Kamski had decided that Cyberlife as a company was too profitable to give up on, and slapped a shoddy firewall up to course correct. What if he stepped down from Cyberlife not by choice, but because the company found him liable for negligence in allowing faulty product to be distributed, thus leaving them to scramble and figure out what deviancy was and how to stop it.

That bears the question, why was Amanda in Connor's Zen Garden? She seems to act as a secondary RED WALL, or an AI within Connor to help course correct. Since androids do seem to FEEL emotions even with the RED WALL, it would seem that the androids would need something to course correct their EMOTIONS as well as their physical capabilities. So, what if Kamski, before stepping down, had been creating Connor with an idea in mind to "fix" the rising problem of his RED WALL not working. In Meet Kamski he seems to have knowledge of the Zen Garden, as seem in the last chapter when his words lead Connor to escaping said Zen Garden. So what if the Zen Garden had been his creation specifically to attempt combating deviancy? What if he put in the emergency escape for Connor to spite Cyberlife for making him step down.

I don't subscribe to the idea that Kamski supports deviants or crested androids with deviancy in mind. I think the character Amanda is too important to Kamski for her to have not been somehow involved in the creation of androids / Cyberlife, beyond just being Kamski's teacher.

This is all just a random stream of consciousness, but I kinda wish that Amanda was alive in the game and that Connor could've visited her off the books after visiting Kamski, if he had discovered the photo in the parlor. I wish that we could've gotten more of an insight into deviancy, the creation of androids, and basically less flowery fuckin "I am a God" speak like we got from Kamski.

Amanda Stern being dead felt like a missed opportunity to me.

[rememberingliampayne]

Dear Liam,

I'm going to miss you so very much. I'm going to miss opening your snapchat stories, I'm going to miss watching your tiktoks and I'm going to miss hearing your new music. You were such a huge part of my life, even if you never knew me.

I was around 6 years old when what makes you beautiful was released. I live in Canada and One Direction was the only thing every girl in my class talked about. I was wearing one direction pajamas to bed every night and had a 1D backpack just like every other girl my age. However, I wasn't able to fully appreciate everything the band was, I was mainly invested into the singles, and LOVED zayn, especially as a indian girl in western culture.

That is until I was around 12 years old in 2018, where I became a full blown stan. As I learned more about the band, watching every interview and memorizing the entire discography, I imediately fell in love with everything about you (no pun intended). You were always so sweet and funny, which is why YOU, liam, became my favourite. I started getting fully emerged into everyone's solo music, but bedroom floor and strip that down were the songs I played the most.

I was so excited for LP1 to release, I remember staying up all night (no pun intended again), just to be one of the firsts to listen. However, even then I recall everyone hating and comparing your music to the other boys' releases. I didn't care and stood by everything, I remember using the lyrics of 'heart meets break' as a part of my romeo and juliet english presentation in ninth grade LOL.

Then when COVID hit YOU were the only thing keeping me going. I felt completely isolated and lost, but you going on tik tok live, the LP show, the weekly roundups on youtube and everything else you were doing at the time helped me get through it. Every bit of content you released brightened my day, and it gave me something to look forward to ESPECIALLY during those uncertain times. I remember seeing the tik toks you made like wap/wmyb one with abby, or the other one captioned something along the lines of "the meeting after zayn left the band," and i rmr you posting and talking abt Eitan. I remember every tiny detail because of how much it meant to me, and how much I enjoyed your content.

On a lower note, after the logan interview, i rmr distant friends who didnt even listen to 1D text me to debrief the interview, because everyone was hating on you. I however, always defended you to everyone I know. I was truly upset by people who ridiculed you for saying sum along the lines of the band being built around simon's promise to you. Yes I agree everyone in the band is so talented and successful in their own ways, and everyone has come a longg way from then, but I told everyone who approached me abt this that you were probably the most comfortable and strongest vocally during XFactor. You are so so talented Liam, and I have always defended that. I was truly upset by the hatred being sent towards you during that time, and although I missed your regular content during that break, I'm so glad you were able to take some time for yourself.

Fast forward to this year, I was so excited to be signed up for whatsapp updates officially, and thought that was the coolest thing ever!!! I listened to Teardrops as SOON as it was released after waiting forever because this was the start of a new era :). I couldnt wait to hear new music for the first time in a couple of years, the hype with the stickers and everything was also super super cool. The song felt so authentic and I couldnt wait for you to drop a second album. I imagined you'd go on tour next year to promote a new album, but I guess we'll unfortunately never know your plans.

One day when I was opening snapchat stories from my friends as I normally do, I clicked next and stumbled upon a story from you! It was so surprising and shocking, I mean I've subscribed on snapchat to u since I made my account in like 2020, but I've never really seen you POST. Eventually this became a regular thing, the snapchat stories, and I rmr you even posting on your instagram story telling fans to watch the snap content lol. Even up to the days before you unfortunately left us, I would watch those stories over and over because your content has always brightened my life.

I love and appreciate you so much Liam, thank you for everything you've done for us as fans. I hope that one day I will meet you, and that I will be able to thank you for everything. I hope you're happy wherever you are and know that you have always been loved :)

[captainpansparrow]

My thoughts on Watcher Entertainment

They messed up. Not by wanting to be paid for their content but by how they went about it. People have been supporting the Ghoul Boys since their early days on Buzzfeed Unsolved. When they launched their new solo YouTube channel they took a risk and luckily had it pay off when their fans followed them.

They started their channel on April 2019. Their channel as a whole does not produce enough content. With a total of 377 videos and 19 playlists their average upload rate is unsustainable for a third party subscription platform. Many of their content has not been updated in more than 2 months.

In comparison to Try Guys who started a year before them, 2018, and have over 850 videos. With twice a week upload and livestreams with subscriber participation.

They had the option to promote their Patreon. Create YouTube memberships with exclusive content. Ask for follower opinion and support to transition to this new platform instead they drop a bombshell and leave people wondering what they’re doing to be getting in return.

I do not agree to putting the blame solely on Steven Lim because they’re all adults who have a say in what they want their channel to produce and promote.

But with a staff of 25 people and new hires in their way it’s really disappointing to see them only being able to put out one video a week. Making this whole $6 third party subscription platform not worth it.

[sweet-evie]

IMAGINE Satoru and Suguru as fucking YouTubers, circa 2014-2018.

Ohmygod they would be SO entertaining, I swear. This AU lives in my head rent-free at the moment, so let me word-vomit about it.

It all started with Satoru... Things like this, of course it starts with Satoru.

Satoru gives me storytime YouTuber vibes. His channel started out that way. It's just him talking about how crazy his life is. But after he amassed a following, around 100K, he eventually became a variety sort of YouTuber.

Satoru does a LOT. His channel is INSANE. From food challenges, to trying weird food on camera, to going to haunted locations, to putting weird stuff in the microwave to see what will happen (his house is permanently in danger), to failed cooking videos, right down to trying random products he finds in online stores.

Trust me, it doesn't take him long to get to 10 Million subscribers. Probably 10 months or less. That face card ain't declining and he's always going to pull people left and right.

In the beginning, a lot of Satoru's traffic came from Instagram. It's just him looking so aesthetically pleasing, he's irresistible. His Twitter is a mess. Twitter is where he shitposts, and people know better than to take him seriously on Twitter. His Snapchat... Good lord, help the poor soul who's following him on there. It's random shenanigans that would have you questioning if Gojo is okay.

For the first two years of his YouTube career, Satoru has been doing this YouTuber thing solo.

And then his best friend, Suguru Geto, made his debut on his channel and it's OVER.

His fans fell in love with Suguru. Of course, they would. Tell me you wouldn't love him? (in an AU where Suguru is innocent and has never attempted to commit crimes against humanity).

Also, Suguru is deadass charming when he wants to be.

Satoru and Suguru = iconic comedic duo.

Satoru's views and engagement skyrocketed from the moment Suguru was introduced to his YT audience.

At first, Suguru kept all his social media accounts private, and Satoru was always careful and mindful about what appeared on camera.

Eventually, Satoru influenced Suguru to start his own YT channel.

Suguru Geto strikes me as the type who would have a niche YT channel. Like, he targets a specific audience. The opposite of Gojo's chaotic variety channel.

I kind of find it hard to pin down what sort of content Suguru would upload, but I'm leaning toward day-in-the-life vlogs, fitness, travel vlogs, and commentaries.

If you want serious, educational, aesthetic, and calm content, head over to Suguru's channel.

If you want unhinged shenanigans and pure chaos, Satoru Gojo is your guy.

Satoru promoting Suguru's channel after a failed cooking video be, like:

=OoOoO= =OoOoO= =OoOoO= =OoOoO=

"Well, it's whatever!" Satoru laughed, side-eyeing the messy slop on the countertop that he'd had the audacity to call a donut cake before the entire video devolved into him and Suguru flinging globs of cream cheese and chocolate frosting at each other across the kitchen.

"Who is going to finish all this?" Suguru lamented, eyes narrowing at the pile of food on Satoru's marble counters.

"What are you talking about? We're eating that!"

"Oh fuck no!"

"Yes!"

"No, Satoru."

"Yeeeesss!" Satoru cackled and flung an arm around Suguru's shoulders, bringing his friend into the frame for the special announcement he'd teased at the beginning of this video. "Now come here, it's time to tell them our surprise."

"Our surprise?"

Satoru laughed. "Well, your surprise, but you did this thanks to me~ You're welcome, by the way."

Releasing a deep sigh at the sound of Satoru crooning into his ear, Suguru shook his head. Satoru was more excited about the announcement than Suguru himself would ever be.

"Are you telling them?" Satoru asked, blinking at Suguru over the rims of his dark Versace sunglasses.

"Nah, you do it."

"Everyone, Suguru finally has a YouTube channel!" Satoru announced gleefully, the widest grin splitting his face as he wrestled Suguru into a headlock. A headlock that the latter had no problem prying himself away from. "After a whole year trying to convince his stubborn ass! And the first video is already up right?"

"Two videos, but yeah, they should go check it out if they want." Suguru nodded, flashing an easy smile at the camera, and towards millions of Satoru's lovestruck fans.

"Two! He's fast! Go check it out, guys. Suguru's channel is in the description below. It's the first one there. If you guys need something to help you relax or--"

"--To cleanse your palette after this madness."

"Hey! Rude! They love my cake videos!"

"That's not cake, Satoru."

Neither of them acknowledged the sloppy pile of donuts coated in multi-colored frosting, teetering on the brink of collapse in the background.

"But yeah! Suguru's channel is up right now. First two videos, go check it out! Subscribe, show him some love, give it a like. We had fun hangin' with you, we hope you had fun hangin' with us. And I'll see you guys tomorrow!"

=OoOoO= =OoOoO= =OoOoO= =OoOoO=

UGH! THEY'RE SO CUTE!

[phanfictioncatalogue]

Gaming Channel (4) Masterlist

part one, part two, part three

A Big Gay Wedding or Two (ao3) - CanDanAndPhilNot (enbycalhoun), heyitsnxel, outphan

Summary: Dan and Phil are finally ready for the big day. Nerves are running high and neither of them think they're prepared enough for such an important event. But they need to do this for their fans, but more importantly, themselves. It's time to record Dab and Evan's wedding.

A Light During the Year of the Plague (ao3) - DixieWilliams

Summary: Two men return two years later to a gaming channel staple, to provide a bit of comfort to a world on fire with plague, fear, and aching loneliness. It sounds like a noble quest, but don't worry -- there's plenty of Bob Pancakes almost dying digitally to enliven the world of the young people who enjoy their content. It's an alternative timeline of Dan and Phil returning to the Sims let's play in order to give comfort to fans near and far.

changes (ao3) - possumdnp

Summary: Dan reflects on how filming gaming videos feels different than it did five years ago.

Dan vs. Phil: Capitalist Edition (ao3) - antiadvil, CanDanAndPhilNot (enbycalhoun), itsmyusualphannie (itsmyusualweeb), kishere, orphan_account, yiffandquiff

Summary: Dan and Phil play Monopoly on the gaming channel. What could go wrong?

Date Night (ao3) - achromatic__sky

Summary: Playing a game made for couples on the channel is not really a big deal is it ?

And yet as they wrap up filming like any other night, with the tour coming up in only a few days, Dan finds himself doubting everything once again.

Date night, or Dan is having a mild freak out about Terrible Influence and Phil is there to comfort him.

disinterest in what the critics say (ao3) - pour_bot_hem2009

Summary: "I wish you could see yourself through my eyes. You wouldn't even know what to think."

Phil doesn't normally let rude comments online bother him, but they really start getting to him one night

game plan (ao3) - possumdnp

Summary: In another universe, Dan posted "the June video" in 2018 as originally planned, right in the middle of the Interactive Introverts tour. But how would he and Phil have handled the gaming channel?

get your thighs out for the lads (ao3) - palomeheart

Summary: Phil is a menace to all of Hyrule and Dan can't just sit idly by (behind the scenes of Dan vs. Phil: ZELDA OLYMPICS!)

I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means (ao3) - skygremlin

Summary: Dan and Phil have a death pact. Or so Phil thinks, sending out a tweet after they finish going over their wills with a lawyer.

Inspired by the recent DanAndPhilGAMES video, OUR FIRST SIMS DEATH - Dan and Phil play The Sims 4: Season 2 #17

Mr. Howell (ao3) - phansuniteinluv

Summary: Finally back filming for the gaming channel, Phil decided to be smug and annoy Dan a bit. And thus, he decided to keep calling him Mr. Howell, knowing it will not only embarrass Dan but make the viewers go crazy for a while.

Press play, gamer (ao3) - natigail

Summary: They have done many joint projects through the years, but they have never seriously dabbled in gaming, even if it has always been something they've enjoyed together. Dan and Phil decide that it's the year to change that and they could never have imagined how big a part that little gaming channel would become.

SUBSCRIBE FOR COMFORT CONTENT (ao3) - natigail

Summary: Phil casually created an idea how to bring back the gaming channel, Dan stayed up too late writing a skit and now they've got to go pick up Dil's head.

To rise again, you must first acknowledge that you died.

The Gaming Video. (ao3) - iamalwaystired

Summary: dan and phil decide to bring back the gayming channel with dab and evans wedding video. basically just fluff for 6k words,

The Re-Birth of Gamingmas (ao3) - Ippyhaj

Summary: Dan and Phil go out for coffee and Phil convinces Dan to re-open the Gaming Channel.

The Revival Aftermath (ao3) - cafephan

Summary: The gaming channel makes a comeback.

tonight, it’s only me that matters (ao3) - cafephan

Summary: Sister Daniel returns in the newest edition of Halloween Baking. Phil’s subtlety doesn’t.

“You fell asleep in the tub?!” (ao3) - yikesola

Summary: They’re still getting the hang of playing Sims for the gaming channel.

A ficlet about learning and embellishment.

You're Screaming, I'm in Pain (ao3) - philsdrill

Summary: Dan screams a lot during the filming of some gaming videos, not a pleasant experience for Phil when he’s got a headache coming.

You're the only story that I've never told. (ao3) - DumbGayVampires

Summary: Watching him, Dan felt the familiar grudging affection that came with a lifetime in each other’s company…

[ktyekmrf30]

on why Oner wants to send Thame to Korea alone and it make scense

With all the love and respect I have for the MARS members and Thame personally for his desire to succeed together, I see and understand where Lady Pemika's words come from and from a business standpoint she has more reasonable points than Thame. As a fan of kpop, cpop and a little bit of jpop for the last 12 years, and as someone who is just starting to explore t-pop and I'm also came from western market, I can clearly see the difference in opportunities of each market individually, domestically and internationally, and the trends they follow through the years.

China (represented by the government) will never be interested in being influenced by foreign artists. The chinese market is very isolated, artists work there 24/7 to the point of breaking bones to get to the top. Monthly comparisons of Weibo subscribers, daily flights from one city to another to sponsor events to attend them all and get into Weibo trends, increase their mentions, and at the end of the year receive an award as a Weibo prince or princess, to get more acting roles, more brand contracts etc. Chinese artists are controlled not only by their agency, but also by the government. All content (dramas 100%) is pre-filmed and reviewed by the government, otherwise they do not receive a broadcast license, so some tv shows can be released 2-3 years after filming or re-shot several times. I remember several scandals where foreign fans discovered how artists were forced to release videos where they read statement with party ideology, and also we can’t forget all the negativity and artists' removing from the industry if any of the artists accidentally says something about the territorial integrity of China or called Taiwan an independent country.

After Hallyu wave ban back in 2016, China was clearly focused on developing its own independent music idol industry, which is now in a strange state, and very differently from korean industry. There are also no big permanent idol groups - all groups created on music survival shows barely release a few songs and albums before they all go solo. It's like you probably know the name of Liu Yuxin more than THE9 or Cai Xukun than Nine Percent. I believe nobody remembers now that Lin Yanjun from cdrama Crush was his co-member back in 2018. Those groups can release albums under solo, but most often it's an acting career, because it is more stable. There are unique ones like Zhang Yixing, who can manage acting, music releases and becomes a CEO of his agency with idols all at once, but such cases can be counted on the fingers of one hand. And all idols who leave for Korea still return to China, because it's their homeland and honestly China brings them more money (ex: Victoria from f(x), Kyulkyung from Pristin, WJSN chinese members, Yixing from EXO, etc).

China doesn't want to enter the international market and doesn't want to let the international market in, because they are satisfied with themselves.

Same with Japan. It's too have a closed market, where they don't allow anyone from abroad in, with rare exceptions. It's considered a huge achievement for Koreans that my queen BoA in 2002 became the first South Korean pop star to break through in Japan following the fall of barriers that had restricted the import and export of entertainment between these two countries since the end of World War II and then with TVXQ, TWICE etc. Yes, japanese people love some kpop idols and some western songs but the main industry is not adapting to western trends, nor are artists seeking international fame or leaving their home market. Let's not forget how Japan has been in the top3 biggest music markets in the world for years and there is no influence of western artists or labels.

And there is Korea which became international: back in early 00s with Asia market thanks to BoA and TVXQ, in China with EXO in 2012, and in 2012 in USA and Europe thanks to PSY and later with BTS. And it's still expanding with 4th-5th generation idol groups. The most resent SM girl group has an indonesian girl to debut and they will become big. Every year Korean music market is expanding. They are open to debuting foreign artists in their groups, because it will bring money to the agencies from foreign fans, investors and sponsors. They have managed to popularize their language, so they don't have to adapt and teach their idols English. You need to just run autosubs on the platform or wait for bilingual fans to translate everything themselves for free. Easy.

Unfortunately this industry is insanely cruel, if you look at the number of groups debuting each year (all of them, even from small agencies, not just the top 4 biggest music labels) and how many of them get at least one release a year and how many of them survive at least 2 years of entire existence, the situation becomes sad. The competition to debut is fierce, you can see how a chinese boy Chenle from NCT debuted after ~4 months of training, while his bandmate japanese Yushi trained in the same agency for almost 9 years before finally debuting (he was accepted into SM in 2015 and debuted in 2024). And they are both insanely talented singers and dancers. Similarly, you can look at my boy Jinho, who became a trainee at SM in 2008, released a few project songs but never debuted in 7 years so he left debuted as member of Pentagon after 8 years of training in some not so big agency, although Jinho is one of the most talented vocalists in the industry.

So Lady Pemika's words about Korea only wanting Thame make sense, because Thame is talented, he has everything Korea wants: the look, the personality, THE voice, and also established popularity. It is obvious that Thame has the biggest fanbase among all the MARS members, who will loyally follow him to Korea and bring money to the korean agency. And it will profit Oner too because Thame clearly will have some kind of double contract, which actually are common with chinese idols in kpop, who have two agencies at once. Only, unlike China, the Thai music industry is several steps behind the Korean one, and still very much follows it. The terminology, the model of promotion, music shows, training systems and group creation process, sound of music - all of this in the Thai idol industry is somehow borrowed from Korea and this cannot be denied. Yes, they have adapted korean industry standards to suit their culture, but still.

That's why they are so proud of Nichkhun, BamBam, Lisa and Ten who have become big in Korea and are getting global attention. Because the Thai industry is growing and developing based on the korean model and when their people are shining when they achieve success in Korea it is important for Thai companies to evolve, especially in the case of Oner, because Lady Pemika will benefit from Korean fees under the double contract. And for her as a businesswoman, this plan will come true with 100% probability, because Thame is already wanted, he has already been invited. But MARS is not.

The topic that MARS can shine together is very sensitive, because yes, these guys love each other, have a dream of achieving success together and I am as a fan will buy their album and cry for them and pray for their success. But from a business point, there are millions of artists like them, especially in Korea. As a huge fan of unpopular groups, I have a million examples in my head. We have Astro, who have been on everyone's lips their entire career because they managed to get Cha Eunwoo, there's a KNK and they went kinda viral in debut because they have Seungjun aka Seoham, who did some crazy shit in early days and then he played in Semantic Error (yes, that same Jaeyoung was once an idol). My boy Jangjun worked his ass off for years as an entartainer to make Golden Child famous in Korea, but they still met a sad end recently. And you don't even want to hear from me about Madtown guys. I bought their albums back in 2014. I watched their streams when there were no translations, let alone autosubs. They had like 2,5 fans and I was one of them.

So yeah. Thame's plan about MARS become popular together is something undefined and not an option for a company whose main priority is to make money and not to let five friends achieve their dreams. That's why Lady Pemika made all these plans leading to the fact that Thame would agree to leave MARS, because it is her main source of income from a big industry that has already expressed a desire in her assets. And also her words about T-pop becoming bigger as an industry may be based on her inner desires to become the CEO of a major agency that will lead the T-pop wave, that technically isn't even a wave yet, but just a hint of a breeze, just like Lee Sooman from SM Entertainment once led the Hallyu wave.

[inapixelbloom]

My Archive of Our Own Wrap-up

I wanted to put together a thank you to all the fanfic writers who have gotten me through this year.

This wrap-up is me going through my history month by month to see which fics I’d visited the most (because you can be damn sure I read through them over several days, again and again).

So this is a celebration of the wide variety of fics I’ve read and/or bookmarked and/or subscribed to. Thank you to every writer on this list for keeping me entertained.

To every fanfic writer I've had the pleasure of reading the words of, and there are so many more of you than just this list of people, I want to thank you so very much of trusting your creativity to us readers. You are my rock, my joy, my comfort, and so many other supporting adjectives that I just want to give you all hugs and money for the holidays.

My first fic of 2024: dismantle the sun by StarryCleric

Summary:

Beau shudders and holds Caleb's hand, which he squeezes back tentatively. She can feel how it shakes in her grip. She does her best to steady him, despite the fact that she wants to shake apart herself and completely fall to pieces. “I am going to hazard a guess here,” Caleb says softly, “that we may have been drugged.” --- Tonight was supposed to be a fun night off. Unfortunately for Beau and Caleb, the universe has other plans.

2024 fics I kept returning to

January

Winter Song by @proantagonista

Yuri!!! on Ice, rated E. Completed 2018-03-25.

The set of Yuuri’s mouth softened into a private smile as Victor squeezed his knee beneath the table. His hands were bare, free from the gloves he so often wore when they were together on the rink, and the heat of his palm burned straight through the denim of Yuuri’s jeans. He slipped his own hand beneath the table and found Victor’s. Hidden from sight, their fingers began to flirt and play. A secret conversation all their own that needed no words. Yuuri was aware that at some point—a moment in time he couldn’t quite place—Victor had become his boyfriend. There wasn’t a single instant when it happened. It was a slow awareness, as if Victor had silently been asking the question for months now, and Yuuri had been giving him the answer a little more with each passing day.

February

blink by @frockbot

Persona 5, rated M. Completed 2020-11-13.

Summary:

Do you want kids? Ren asked Akechi two years ago, the night they decided to get married. Yes. He did. They do. So when they’re given the chance to adopt a pair of sisters, ten-year-old Maya and two-year-old Sai, they take it. They’re prepared for a rough transition: for arguments, and upset, and struggle. That, they can handle, or find ways to handle. They are not prepared for the resurgence of an old and familiar evil that threatens to destroy the tenuous family they’ve built. They probably should have expected it, though. After all, this always happens to them. [Takes place 17 years post-game and 16 years post-Doomsday. You don't have to have read my other fics to start here, but maybe you should?]

March

In Calm Waters by @dracosollicitus

Star Wars Sequel Trilogy, rated E. Completed 2024-03-04.

Summary:

Rey Smith, an Omega who presented late, meets Poe Dameron, an Alpha unlike anyone she's ever met. Sparks fly, they fall in love — and fight against societal expectations. The two work together to build a relationship built on mutual trust and respect in a world that claims they should be nothing more than their biologies.

April

Investigation Check by @percivalium

Critical Role (Vox Machina), rated E. Completed 2022-10-09.

Summary:

She’s hot. She’s not usually hot. Blankets can be kicked off, but not this time. She’s also sore. She’s not usually sore, either. Muscles can be tender after battle, but not this time. Vex prys one bleary eye open, attempting to take in her surroundings. It’s her bed: check. Her room: check. Her blanket: check. A warm body next to her: check? A heavy arm draped over her belly: check?! Both eyes open now (literally and figuratively), she slowly rotates her head on the pillow to look at the foreign body next to her, smiling when she sees a floof of light-colored hair tucked carefully next to her shoulder. She can’t help herself and sighs contently, making some strands of his unruly tufts wave and ruffle. Her Percy: BIG check with a heart drawn around it.

May

Nightmares by @roninreverie

Star Wars Rebels, rated G. Completed 2016-01-01.

Summary:

After the events of the planet Gorse, Kanan and Hera adapt to living together as a crew, but things get off to a bumpy start.

June

three years, three rules by @akihmorn

Persona 5, rated E. Completed 2020-11-18.

“The truth is, I hate all alphas,” he stares at Akira coldly. “And that includes you.” Three years after getting married, Akira and Goro face an unexpected challenge. shuake week day 3: comfort

July

The Mind and The Maladay by @saltytothecore

Critical Role (The Mighty Nein), rated T. Completed 2022-04-06.

Of all the ways Essek thought he might find himself staring down mortality, his magic making a cancer of his lonely heart never even entered his consideration. But then, his calculus has never been able to account for the Mighty Nein. There is a remedy for his illness, of course. There is always a way to unwind magic, but there is always a price. The cost of Essek’s life, now that he’s contracted Hanahaki’s disease, can be paid two ways—one is higher than Essek can bear and the other, well. The other can only be paid by someone else. And if Essek could ask that, then he wouldn’t be sick at all, would he?

August

Witch Ways by @aliquistis

Baldur's Gate, rated M. Last Updated 2024-02-16.

Echo has lived her life tucked away in the forests of Tethir, learning magic through the pulse of nature and the songs of creation. She's good with magic, but not people, which isn't really a problem until she's scooped up by mind flayers and has to get along with six strangers lest they all share a tentacle-y doom. And she manages to get along with most of them -- but then there's Gale of Waterdeep. Despite a terrible first impression, she finds he is actually much kinder than all the mansplaining would suggest. This is a series of relationship scenes about my weird little mushroom hermit, a wizard who shows compassion and arrogance really can coexist, and how academic rivalry is like first base for wizards. Spoilers up to Act 2 for main plot and Gale's romance.

(image source)

September

Pacts and Bargains at Night by @feynwiddershins

Critical Role (Vox Machina), rated E. Completed 2023-03-04.

What passes while the sun is set is often the most revealing.

October

Filling the Hourglass by makkachincrossing

Critical Role (Mighty Nein), rated E. Last Updated 2021-10-27.

Every 25 years, omega Drows enter their period of fertility. The time is rapidly approaching for Essek as summer only grows hotter, and his husband grows older with no way to stop it. But he hopes Caleb can leave a piece of himself behind.

November

Learning to Listen by @fivedayslater

One Piece, rated T. Completed 2018-08-14.

For as long as Zoro's felt his soulmate echoes he's hated them. He doesn't know why Sanji, or the rest of his crew mates, care so damn much.

I'm finishing the year with

and on toward the edge of night by @j-plash

Critical Role (Bells Hells), rated E. Last Updated 2024-11-26.

Ashton would love every fucking alpha in Jrusar to take a long walk off a fucking cliff. Orym just knows it's not right that Dorian has to be so careful walking down the street at night. ("There you go, sweetheart, keep breathing for me.” Ashton doesn’t think he could stop breathing that in if he tried.)

Bookmarks (and notes) of 2024

These are the fics I've bookmarked (saved), and the summaries I add for my own understanding of what each one is, so I can come back it it faster.

even darkness must pass by dare_to_do_our_duty

The one where Caleb has a fever and Caduceus is tired.

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart) by @notaficwriter

The one where Vex and Percy don't start of as soulmates.

come morning light (you and i'll be safe and sound) by @chaseyesterdays

The one where Percy is a dad. Good wholesome cure for depression.

the mist upon the hill by BucketofWater

The one where Mollymauk's blood hunter skills are actively harming his soulmate, but Caleb is too frightened to admit it to him.

The Courage Or The Fall by Rowyndodendron

The one where Caleb should huddle with Mollymauk for warmth.

feverish, burning up inside by @ivelostmyspectacles

The one where Caleb goes into heat in the back of their wagon and Mollymauk assists.

burning out, helpless by @ivelostmyspectacles

The one where Mollymauk is forced into a heat and Caleb does his best to assist.

Ship to Wreck by Snailsnol

The one where Gale courts a prickly Drow.

The Wonderful Life of Caleb de Rolo by @historia-gloria

The one where Percy and Vex adopt the kid tortured with Whitestone residuum.

Strong Enough to Bend by @catgirlthecrazy

The one where Essek doesn't really have the drive for sex he expects himself to.

Blackbird by @okadiah

The one where Kanan's weapon possesses him in an AU where he's not exactly a Jedi.

Exit Wounds by @seti-fan

The one where Percy has bullets left over under the skin.

Feathers and Smoke by @feynwiddershins

The one where it's a canon character study of Percy and Vex and it's fucking amazing how detailed it is.

From a Swell in the Ocean by @goose-smoothie

The one where Vox Machina is a pirate ship and Percy was rescued by "privateer" Captain Vex'ahlia.

In Bloom, With You by @nekosd43

The one where Caduceus has a season and Fjord offers to assist.

Perceived Impressions by @acinonyx1

The one where Astarion shares a cell with a bear and angst happens.

As I end 2024, thank you again to the writers who've provided me with much comfort in a ridiculously tumultuous year.

It would have been a very low year without each and every one of you.

[galaxygurlll]

Sam and Colby x Reader - Prologue

Y/n Rose-Ocean. Eighteen years old and close friend of Sam Golbach and Colby Brock. Loves all things paranormal and supernatural. She's also a high school dropout, but no one brings that up. Y/n also has a bunch of tattoos that are mostly quotes and dates from either places she’s been or things she’s seen whether that be a musical, movie, show or even something the paranormal/supernatural world has told her. She’s also not normally liked by spirits, so that’s fun for her; but she does get the occasional nice spirit. Speaking of spirits, she has an attachment, one that she's had since a very young age called Joseph who's a nineteen-year-old from around 1779 and treats her as a little sister, even after she passes him in age. Another quick little fun fact about dear our dear Y/n is that she's a Medium; being both clairvoyant and clairaudience. Anyways, time to get to the story, isn't it? We begin this story in 2018, around a month before the Queen Mary B340 video and then, after that, all will be revealed!

Warnings for this chapter: THIS FANFIC WILL CONTAIN THE USUSAL SAM AND COLBY STUFF THAT THEY DO LIKE SWEARING, BUT, IT WILL ALSO CONTAIN MINOR AND MAJOR TALKS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND DEPRESSION AND THINGS LIKE THAT. PLEASE BE SURE TO PROCEED WITH CAUTION AND I WILL PUT THESE ABOVE EVERY CHAPTER THAT NEEDS IT! EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT AND I LOVE YOU ALL SO IF YOU CAN, PLEASE ENJOY!!

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"What is up you guys! It's ya girl y/n here! Welcome back to all of yall returning here and hello and welcome to the club for newcomers! Now, you're probably wondering what the hell am I doing right now since I am not with Sam and Colby right this moment but that's for good reasoning... yeah, anyways! I told you guys a little while ago that I'd give you an update on, well, me and so; here it is!

As you guys may or may not know, depending on how long you've watched my channel, is that I am a high school dropout. Yup. I dropped out of my final year of schooling and not because I wasn't doing well with grades, I was actually doing quite well, but because of my mental health and depression. It hit me like a brick and I just couldn't handle anything anymore so, that's what happened.

I definitely struggled with, well, not only finding myself again but finding a reasonable job that could keep me sane. I started at a cafe and everyone was so lovely there, but that was when I also discovered that I actually have ADHD soooo... yeah. Few months later, I found out that I quite liked photography and all that so I moved to do that in my spare time and that really relaxed me... I still do it actually! But then, around November-December, after being in another Sam and Colby video, I realised that I loved the YouTuber life. So that's what I did!

For the first little while, I just did random stuff that Sam and Colby would also, occasionally, want to be in and the channel started getting famous but! Of course, with fame comes the haters. Now, I won't say much on this factor, but I will just say that they thought, and possibly still think, that I use Sam and Colby for clout which I do not!

Anyway, in just a little while, I got to a little over four million subscribers and that's when things started getting more real for me and I knew that this is what I wanted to do. I finally found my calling.

Yes, I still have issues, but so does everyone and that's life, unfortunately.

Anywho... I know that this is short, I'm sorry for that, but hope this helps you guys! Cya next time!! Bye!"

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Next chapter: Will write for soon!

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A/n: I know it's short, and I'm sorry about that! I promise to make the chapter longer in future!! 🫶

[dykefish]

Aphmau autism levels catastrophic likely due to the fact it’s nearly been a year since the most awesomest Tim ever vidcon. But since I watched literally every video of theirs a billion times over the past forever I kinda am waiting for the new good shit. Still needa watch that murder mystery vid on the s7 channel. Ouuuuh how I wish it were summer 2018 again…. . AlSO!! I put girl pillow in the wash and she freaking RIPPED only the corner and my sibling sewed her up but devastating I’ve had her for like 8 years very attached any more and I may have died. So much love I love aphmau ein come back to me my sweety. Aaron come back to me. New pic of Jason and jesson’s little girls so cute!!!!!!!!! On instagram but him being so beefy does piss me off a bit, not my average joe father figure but it ok Riley I’m joy….. UGGGTFFFGGGVI I LIVE APHMAU SO MUCHHHHH fuck aphtwt and everyone ever except me . I wish she’d do reruns of any of the old merch bcuz it’s all far too rare or expensive nowadays. Peak aphmau hyperfix me was like Shakespeare I was spouting interpretations and analysis essays like that. Genius

in the news of Potentially good shit:

DND SIDE STORIES IS CIMING BACK.!!!!!!!!dont know if you were #aware , im Goinf. to see her again.not just the cocomau homonculous version. Her. my wiiiiiffffeeee.

my review of the pdh murder mystery thing: Fun but shrug, i wish girl was bitchier especially since its pdh girl, its very clear ross has been away from the daniel role for a while and its a Little silly

AHHH AHHH AHH !!!!! she is weak and frail with age and must be handled with Care....

ouh ohhhh i dont have insta (banished. forever) i Need to check these images oute...

i Need like a google doc filled with your Analysiisses i need to absorb them Forever.forrrr EEEEVERRRRRRRR. and i still want the ein and aphmau rant i Still waauannttt it, get me Subscribed on oli words Forevernowww. now nowwww.

and YEAH. THERE AREONLY LIKE 3 LISTINGS OF GIRL PILLOW ON RANDOM ASS WEBSITES AND THEY ARE ALL 50-120 DOLLARS. i am This close.to giving in. Fuck my stupid gayLife.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes for NBC News:

Vice President Kamala Harris wasn’t performing well in softball interviews as her sugar high faded in September and early October. But if she wanted to expand her support — and she needed to — she would have to expose herself to tough questioning. That was particularly important with men—specifically young men—who were not buying what she was selling. The obvious answer: Joe Rogan. A late-1990s sitcom star turned bro-with-a-brain podcaster, Rogan boasted a subscriber base that amounted to a total eclipse of the genre’s universe, with nearly 15 million signed up just on Spotify. His 2018 interview with Elon Musk, during which the Tesla and SpaceX founder smoked pot and sipped whiskey, garnered tens of millions of views on YouTube and crashed the next-generation car company’s stock.  The vast majority of Rogan’s guests and listeners were white men, presenting Harris with a potentially golden opportunity to prove her mettle by walking into the lion’s den. On October 11, Harris deputy campaign manager Rob Flaherty, the aide in charge of digital strategy, made the first Zoom call to start negotiating with Rogan’s reps. He did not know what to expect. These might be juiced-up, UFC-looking supplement people, he thought. He was surprised—perhaps a tad disappointed—to find out that Rogan’s associates were more like Hollywood agents. In that vein, they outlined the podcaster’s conditions for an interview: no staff in the studio, no topic restrictions, and Harris would have to sign a waiver. 

There was one more item in the small print: Harris would have to come to Austin, Texas. Rogan’s reps said that might be negotiable, but he had only once done an interview with an out-of-studio guest. That was leaker Edward Snowden, who was wanted in the United States at the time. Along with fellow Harris campaign advisers Stephanie Cutter and Brian Fallon, Flaherty offered up that Harris would be happy to talk about social media censorship, weed, and other issues they thought would be of most interest to his listeners. From their perspective, it was a suggestion of possible topics, not an exhaustive or exclusive list. That’s not what Rogan wanted to talk about. “Joe just wants to talk about the economy, the border, and abortion,” one of his reps said, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.  [...]

For all of former President Donald Trump’s work to reach apolitical voters through podcasts, YouTube, and other outlets, Harris positioned herself to score a coup by grabbing the biggest megaphone of them all. If she did, she would be exploiting a rift between Rogan and Trump.

Rogan had called Trump a “man baby” and a “threat to democracy” in 2022, vowing not to interview the former president. At the time, the beef was just one more sign of the social stigma attached to Trump after the January 6 assault on the Capitol, said one longtime Trump adviser. But when Rogan appeared to endorse independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in August, Trump fired back on the Truth Social media platform: “It will be interesting to see how loudly Joe Rogan gets BOOED the next time he enters the UFC Ring??? MAGA2024.,” Trump wrote. At the same time, Rogan was hardly Mr. Popular inside Harris’s camp. Her brother in law, Tony West, longtime adviser Minyon Moore and others argued against putting Harris on the podcast, especially after her first venture into politically tough terrain—an interview with Fox’s Bret Baier in the middle of the Rogan negotiations—bombed. There was no telling what Rogan might ask her or how he would treat her. Plus, his “antiwoke” crusade had made him a pariah on the hard left. They were overruled by O’Malley Dillon’s crew, but not because the concerns were considered invalid. “Even for those of us who were in favor of it, it was a close call,” said one of the Harris advisers involved in the back-and-forth. [...]

For many Democratic operatives outside the campaign, the October 22 announcement that Harris would hold a Houston rally felt like a palm-to-face moment. She was going to lose Texas, by a lot, and a visit would not force Trump to spend his limited campaign money there.

Her aides scheduled the rally for a Friday night in the fall — October 25 — in Texas! It was as if no one on her team knew that the night reserved for high school football was more sacred than Easter in the state. Campaign adviser David Plouffe responded to the criticism publicly, explaining that Harris wanted to shine a spotlight on a place where she believed Trump’s anti-abortion policies had done the most damage to women’s health. Only a few people knew the real reason: the whole Houston rally was built to put her in proximity to Rogan. The ongoing negotiations on that were touch-and-go.  Flaherty had called his Rogan contacts on October 18, before the rally was set. “We could do Friday, the 25th,” Flaherty said.

[...] In this wild hand of Texas Hold ’Em, Harris aides thought they had one more ace to play. Beyoncé was in Houston and willing to perform at the rally. “The plan changed like 20 times that day, and they landed on her singing ‘Freedom’ a cappella before Harris walked on stage,” said one person familiar with the back-and-forth between the campaign and Beyoncé’s team. As consolation prizes go, a Beyoncé performance ranked pretty high. She was a bigger star than Rogan — a bona fide global diva — and “Freedom” was the campaign’s theme song. But Beyoncé would not give Harris the potential benefits of a Rogan interview: demonstration of her willingness to go outside her comfort zone and connection to a new audience. Worse for Harris, Beyoncé didn't perform. She would speak. But she would not sing. No Rogan. No “Freedom.” The campaign kept its poker face, but it had played out a losing hand. Trump spent three hours with Rogan in an interview that instantly went viral. The contrast amounted to a “traumatic event,” said one Harris aide, “that I will never forget.” But it wasn’t quite over. Rogan would later blame the missed connection on Harris and accuse her of refusing to talk about marijuana, even though her platform included legalization.

According to the FIGHT: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House book by Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes set to come out April 1st, Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris attempted to schedule an interview with Trump endorser Joe Rogan in order to stem the tide of young men defecting to either the couch or to Donald Trump. Alas, Harris didn’t get to be interviewed by Rogan, and thus she lost the election on November 6th in a heartbreaker that will reverberate.

[thinking-emoji]

wait you’re cooking. it wasn’t a hiatus (just a dapg hiatus) it just wasn’t the content everyone wanted/liked/were used to/whatever.

writing a book and pitching shows and preparing and going on tour is hard work. he was working he just… wasn’t like live streaming writing lol. also he was extremely depressed for a while. obviously that warrants a break.

but i do think you’re right about people just not liking it so they just kind of black it out. which like, if you don’t like something, fine. but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t doing anything. and also, like you said, covid fucked everyone’s sense of time so like. it feels like it’s been 50 billion years since 2018, not 6. which obviously doesn’t help.

Thank you! People in the notes of the post also pointed out how dnp had been doing A Lot of work in the mid 2010s (remember when we had 3 liveshows every week, including one on the BBC?), so it didn't help that phannies were unbelievably spoiled in terms of regular content. But I also don't think it's fair to dnp to expect them to never change the type of content they want to put out. Like, phannies keep saying they'd still love weekly livestreams where Dan just sits at his desk and yaps for an hour, and like. I'm sure he could do that. But I genuinely don't think he'd be more successful with it than with what he did do.

Like. Look at the other popular youtubers from the time of dnp's zenith. Zoella stopped posting. Marcus Butler stopped posting. Troye Sivan has fully pivoted towards music. Connor Franta gets 40k views on his videos. Tyler Oakley streams on twitch? For 60k subscribers, idk how many people he's usually got online in there? And like, the big guns? Shane Dawson? Pewdiepie? Should've quit! Jenna Marbles? Did quit!

I'm rambling on again but like. People need to understand that being a YouTuber from 2014 is not a long-term sustainable job. I honestly think it's almost a miracle that the phandom is still so committed and that they managed to keep their engagement so high (coming out at a time when most people expected their careers to be over probably helped a lot though. To be clear I don't think they came out in order to revive their careers, not at all, but I'm convinced it helped. A lot.)

But yeah what I was saying is. I get that phannies want the content they know and that they grew to love dnp for. So do I!!! But I think we're overestimating our stamina in watching the same thing for years and years and years without ever getting a taste of what it feels like to *miss* that thing. I don't know if the gaming channel return would have been as successful as it was if they both (especially Dan) hadn't disappointed us a little before. And like, I'm kinda sad for Dan bc I don't think that was his plan. I would love to like WAD! I would love to see the vod have millions of views! But unfortunately, I don't love it, and I don't want to click on it when I see it in my recommended, and it feels even more disrespectful to give it sympathy views. Because I want to have fun watching Dan and Phil. And I think we all do.

[sloggervlogger]

Even Mother Gorillas Love to Play - Tuana Joins Pelu & Masani in the Wrestling Battle! by SloggerVlogger Even mother gorillas love to play! Watch as Pelu and Masani dive into a wild wrestling match at the Zoologisch-Botanischer Garten Wilhelma, filled with playful chaos—play-biting, leg-pulling, and more. Mum, Tuana, gets in on the action too, adding to the fun with her own wrestling moves! Don’t miss this lively three-way match that ends with an unexpected twist! Gorilla Pelu (born 2018) and Masani (born 2015) dive into a full-on wrestling match, showing off their playful yet chaotic moves—play-biting, leg-pulling, and everything in between. Mum, Tuana, doesn’t just sit back either; she gets involved, wrestling with both Pelu and Masani, making it a lively three-way match! Just when you think things might settle down, the ending takes an unexpected turn. Stick around—you won’t want to miss how this playful madness wraps up! You can meet the entire family in this video and learn their names and some youngsters cheekiness: https://youtu.be/40HssvtwFMo This video was a premiere with a live chat. This video will be also available an hour after this video goes live on Rumble ( https://rumble.com/register/SloggerVlogger/ ) and Facebook SloggerVlogger to see if premieres do better on there then on here. My website links: https://msvrvisual.weebly.com/sloggervlogger.html #zoowilhelma #Zoo #gorilas #ZoologischBotanischerGartenWilhelma #wilhelmastuttgart My website links: https://msvrvisual.weebly.com/sloggervlogger.html 🚀 Subscribe now for regular updates: https://www.youtube.com/c/SloggerVlogger?sub_confirmation=1 🦧🦍Unlock full video access for less than a coffee! Join the channels membership today! https://youtube.com/@SloggerVlogger/join Exclusive perks, including: 🦧🦍 Special badges to show your support 🦧🦍 Early access to videos 🦧🦍 Members-only content 🦧🦍 Fun, custom emojis Due to background noise from human activity, the original audio has been mixed with natural bird songs for a more peaceful viewing experience. Where possible, I will keep the natural sound intact. Don't miss a thing—hit Subscribe and Turn on all Notifications to be part of our Great Ape Ventures every week. via YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rxLpksF0gs

[catenary-chad]

Stex Appreciation Month: Electra

Fav actor: Koffi Missah is the best overall.  I think the MJ/Prince train angle is the most effective characterization for Electra and he looks, acts, and sounds perfect for that approach.  It’s fun and recognizable in the cheap seats in a language you don’t know.  But it also has a lot of potential for depth, there’s a double entendre to be made about the government/big companies conspiring against electric trains for being too successful and certain tropes about electrical powers. 

Mykal Rand is basically impossible to beat aesthetically for me.  I cannot look away from the absurdity of how smooth and girly his face is combined with how cartoonishly ripped he is.  Even footage of him on tiny tour stages in beat up ill-fitting costumes is captivating. He’s just so extreme and maximalist yet alien looking.  

I’m surprisingly unpicky on Electra actors as long as they aren’t boring.  That’s the only real crime.  But I tend to prefer ones who have/could pull off Greaseball because I prefer a bolder, louder Electra (and basically require it post 2018 so I don’t forget he even exists with that borderline camoflouge costume)

Fav songs/scenes: Dinah’s Disco because I love watching him get shoved, a nice more intense version of AC/DC, anything involving No Comeback or its leitmotif.  Once again, What Time Is It? is a terrible song but purely redeemed because Mykal is hilarious in it.

Fav costumes: Broadway/Bochum toothpaste is a classic, but I’m also weirdly fond of Late London because I love the cartoony look (especially on Chris Copeland since he went all in on the makeup style to match)

Ships/Friendships: already went over how I view him and Greaseball the other day.

I like to look at pictures from the JPN/AUS tours out of context and think Electra looks cold and lonely and in need of a buddy and Caboose coaxes him into fun bad ideas

Headcanons: 

-I habitually call Electra “he” because it’s what canon does 90% of the time, but view the character as neutral (all of them really).  Electra and the Components are about the only ones smart enough to realize these forms are an illusion and there’s no reason to play by human paradigms, it would be equally stupid if they subscribed to blood type personalities too.  They are VERY smug about this but slowly the message is spreading.  

-I vary in what exact basis I’ll give him but see him as either irl, alternate timeline, or outright sci-fi Amtrak’s choice of successor to the GG1.  He isn’t weak or terribly delicate if the infrastructure works (unless you keep him as 40101 lol), he follows in their tracks of being a huge effortless machine that’ll run away with basically anything you stick on it.  If he actually played it clean, he’d probably dominate going uphill vs Greaseball and especially Rusty, he just doesn’t flaunt strength much in canon because it’s not relevant to the race.

-Electra is a  Fully Automated Bi Space Communist who wants to run catenaries across the Rocky Mountains and Siberia

-If you turn the dials and knobs Electra will morph like a game’s character slider just like how it’s simple to regear electric locos for passenger/freight use.  

Unpopular opinions:  lmao I think all my Electra preferences are moderately to very fandom unpopular.  I’m a contrarian who likes the character for fundamentally different reasons than most.  I’ve vaguely known of the character for years but didn’t really fall in love with him until recently when I saw those 2013 tour videos people either love or hate. Yeah they have the worst staging and costumes but I went “oh hell yeah finally a less problematic alternative to my blorbos Ganondorf and Velvet von Ragnar”.  I think those two names alone make it pretty clear why I like a bulkier, hotter natured, more affectionate and competent Electra than most.  I crave novelty and get bored by oversaturated things so I’m naturally drawn to androgynous characters that aren’t twinks or prettyboys so seeing Mykal vs the more typical tall skinny Electras really made me more interested in the character, even if I think there’s more interesting characterizations than his.  

[secretlywritingstories]

SUBSCRIBE FOR COMFORT CONTENT | phan one shot

Summary:

Phil casually created an idea how to bring back the gaming channel, Dan stayed up too late writing a skit and now they've got to go pick up Dil's head. To rise again, you must first acknowledge that you died.

Tags: 2023!phan, domestic fluff, introspective Dan, the gaming channel LIVES! (essentially just me in my feels)

No warning apply

Read on AO3 or below

They had to do it. It was necessary. The end of an era.

In many ways leaving 2018 behind had meant closing a lot of Dan and Phil boxes. The Interactive Introverts tour finished up, gaming channel went on hiatus and Phil is not on fire was celebrated for the tenth and final time. They needed to create some distance from the "Dan and Phil" that were joined and the hip.

Well, online.

In real life, it was quite a different story. They still liked to live in each other’s pockets most of the time. It was a familiar habit that none of them were keen to break. In fact, they had only grown closer and stronger in the years that had passed.

They had come out, they had built their forever home, they were laying down the foundations for the future that they would have together. More than four years had gone by quickly and one thing from their past was still caught in limbo.

It was about time they did something about it.

“Are you ready?” Phil asked, looking over at Dan when as the car pulled up to the storage unit facility.

He was smiling, practically bouncing in his seat, and Dan’s heart squeezed so tenderly. Phil had been ready for this for longer than him. Dan had been the one that needed to pull the plug on the channel back in the day, and Phil had respected it, but he’d insisted on calling it a hiatus. So that they could eventually bring it back.

It hadn’t taken much for Dan to agree, even though he wasn’t sure what the future would bring. He didn’t like closing doors behind him, and the gaming channel had been something quite special. It had been a lot of work and taken a lot of their time and energy, but it had been worth it.

It was something fun that they did together, and that their community could enjoy and rejoice in it. He really hoped the excitement would still be there. He had faith in them but it was still scary.

“I’m ready,” Dan said with a nod, even as his breath felt caught in his throat.

Phil’s hand found his, low and out of sight of the driver, and he didn’t let go until they were climbing out of the car. They always found ways to gravitate towards each other, exist in the same space for the simple comfort of being near your person, but it was only in the last few years that holding hands publicly had been a thing.

They were still being subtle about it, but they did it now. Reach out and gasp, for a brief or a long moment. Before it had felt too gay, like it was going to out them, if anyone saw it.

Things were different now.

It was a bit of a walk down narrow hallways to get to their own storage unit. Dan hadn’t actually been here since they moved everything into it, and he was suddenly hit the with urge to turn tail and run.

It was a ridiculous thought. He should not be running away from his past. It wasn’t scary. Not exactly, but every token and letter in that storage unit held a little part of their history. They were bridging eras now bringing something from the past into the future.

Dan’s feet felt heavy but before he could get too lost in existential dread, Phil was grabbing his hand again and physically pulling him forward. It made Dan snort, but he let himself get pulled along easily. Sometimes, it was good to have Phil just act when Dan became immobilised like this.

The whole announcement had been Phil’s idea too. He’d clearly just been spitballing and messing around with some ideas for fun. It hadn’t been the first time that he’d talked about how they could bring the gaming channel back from hiatus, but it was the first time that Dan hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it.

It had haunted him for a couple of days until he was up late and writing an actual script for the skit that Phil had suggested. It was short and sweet, meant to be funny but also pull on your heartstrings just a little.

He had never quite mastered how to be a funny guy without some sentimentality.

Rather than telling Phil that he’d written the script, he’d just sent it to him on email. It was a cop out, but it was truly easier to just get his thoughts onto the page and then release them without needing to look into anyone’s eyes.

Though Phil had come charging in, midday the following day, with eyes shining so brightly. He didn’t even need to say anything, just stand there and look with his mouth open, phone in hand, presumably open on the email. Dan had nodded.

Yeah, it was time. The doomed hiatus should come to an end.

Still, it felt hard to unlock their unit and be met with so many of their old memorabilia that they hadn’t wanted to get rid of. They hadn’t wanted their new home overrun with all Dan and Phil stuff from their online careers, so it had felt like a good middle way to rent this place. To have it be somewhere safe and not too far away but not just hiding in the basement.

Or the closet.

They really didn’t want to be shoving anything back into that. It had taken years for Dan to fully crawl his way out and he was never going to let anyone put any part of him back into it again.

It thankfully wasn’t difficult to find Dil’s head. The papier-mâché monstrosity was hauntingly big. On more than on occasion, it had jumpscared Dan back when it had lived on top of their closet in the old gaming channel room.

“Come here, old fellow,” Phil said, pushing through boxes uncoordinated, with only his eyes set on his prize.

Dan followed, reaching out a hand to steady Phil’s hip as he went up on his toes to try to wiggle the head down with just his fingertips. When they’d tossed it on top of the selves, Dan hadn’t considered when they needed to get it down. It had been too hard to think about.

Phil got his fingers under the edge and pulled it down with a war cry and then leaned back too fast. He was balancing the head in his hand, and while it wasn’t heavy, it was quite big and awkward to hold onto.

“Fuck, Phil,” Dan cursed under his breath, as too much of Phil’s weight was suddenly falling into him. He tightened his hold on Phil’s hip and moved his other hand to grab his arm, just narrowly managing not to send the two of them falling into the boxes to their left.

“Oops,” Phil said innocently, and turned around to Dan with a big smile. “But look, I got it! Dil Howlter in all of his glory!”

It really was remarkable how well the head had held up after all of these years and all of the travelling that it had endured. It had been through the ringer, but it was still looking good.

Dan reached out towards Dil’s cheek, feeling the old paint under his fingertips. He touched it with softness, almost feeling an urge to whisper an apology to the obnoxious big head. It was stupid. Obviously, Dil Howlter had been alive and well in their old computer all of this time. He was a string of code and he couldn’t care less that Dan and Phil had abandoned playing with him and the little family that had grown around him.

But he knew there were others that had waited. It was no joke that him and Phil still got questions whether Dab and Evan ever would get the wedding they deserved. Their community hadn’t forgotten, and while they could always rewatch the old videos, this was the chance to show them something new.

To give into that urge to exist together on camera again, getting lost in games side by side, like they had done before.

“You hold him,” Phil said, practically showing Dil’s head into Dan’s chest. Phil acted like it was on a whim and turned around to look at another box, but Dan knew well enough that Phil had seen right through him. Seen that Dan just needed a moment to take it all in.

They were doing this. Peej, Sophie and Sean had all said yes. The church was rented. The make-up artist and sound guy booked. They were shooting it next week. No expense was spared. It was going to be a fun little video, but it was also an important one. All props except one had been collected.

Dan was holding the last piece.

He looked down into Dil’s soulless eyes, and it felt like something unfurled in his chest. It started slow and spread out, and suddenly, he was smiling. So widely that his face almost hurt. His body felt like it was buzzing and he kind of wanted to jump up and down as an outlet to this sudden surge of energy.

This was real. They were doing this. They were bringing it back.

“There you are,” Phil said, and suddenly, he was right back in Dan’s space, pulling the head from his hand, so he could get right up in Dan's space.

Phil’s hands touched his cheeks, with the same softness that Dan had reached out to touch Dil. Phil held onto him and made their eyes meet. Dan’s excitement kept bubbling in his chest, growing wildly when he could watch the giddiness in Phil’s eyes again. It had never left. He’d always had a much easier time with stuff like this, and yet, he was right there waiting for Dan to catch up.

He was always doing that. Letting Dan pump the breaks on things without a single complaint.

“Sorry, I took so long,” Dan said, his smile growing even wider. It felt like he was shaking, or maybe he was just buzzing. It was hard to tell. The emotions felt so big in his chest that he wasn’t quite sure what to do with himself.

No longer would this be the end of an era. It would be the beginning of a new one. He’d even gotten Phil on board with full-on swearing in the skit. It was going to be so good.

“We’re right on time,” Phil said, face moving close enough that his lips almost brushed against Dan’s as he spoke. “Always perfectly on time, Dan.”

Phil was much more of a man of action but he knew how Dan felt about words. He had gotten quite good at putting his affections into the shape where it would reach Dan the easiest. It was only on special occasions that Phil broke his own instincts to meet Dan’s. Moments like this.

Dan leaned forward, just enough to catch Phil’s lips against his. A familiar quick press against each other. He let out a shaky exhale as he pulled back, and flickered his eyes up to look at Phil again.

It was going to be a goddamn pleasure to be able to sit down next to him and goof off on camera while they had fun playing video games. He’d missed it, and it like he hadn’t quite realised how deeply until it was back within his grasp.

“Let’s go resurrect this bitch,” Dan said, leaning over to grab Dil’s head again.