#i also like the way the caption is aligned it's original

[jade-curtiss]

I like how my icon is just a mashup of every decent reaction to have in every circumstances. They don't make them that good normally.

[man-moth-hook-hand]

What Mythical Creature are they?

Masterlist

Resourcess: Dwayne: Sisiutl David: Gremlin Marko: Byssus Galeto/Bisso Galetos Paul: Näcken

Dwayne: Sisitul (Native American)

Since Billy Wirth is Native, I thought researching Native American creatures was the best option. I chose the Sisiutl since it's not depicted as evil and instead a protector. I feel like this is similar to Dwayne's relationship with Laddie. Personally, I believe that Dwayne is the least "evil" of the boys, he's just more into going with the flow when finding a meal instead of toying with them. During the movie, he also neve outright attacks anyone except Sam, at the end of the movie. This can relate back to the Sisiutl being protectors since Dwayne was protecting his family.

The Kwakwaka'wakw tribe depicts the Sisiutl as a tri-headed serpent, with two snake heads on either side of a human one in the middle. Shaman believed its blood would transfer healing magic into a person. Warriors adorned the image for protection, believing that the blood would make them invincible in battle. Sometimes, the faces of the Sisiutl were carved into entrances or canoes to ward off evil spirits. Others believed that mica, the mineral found in soil and beaches, were the scales of the Sisiutl.

David: Gremlin (British/American)

David is a nasty little Gremlin throughout the film. These creatures are described as mischievous and hate the light, which is fitting for David. He is the only reason that the movie happened, without him creating these mischievous problems, Micheal would've never met Star or had to help kill Max. Also, the aversion to light is pretty aligned with Vampires. David is definitely the type to push everything three inches to the left so that someone bumps into everything.

Gremlins were seen in mainstream culture around the beginning of the early 20th century. Originally, they were blamed for the malfunctions in aircraft and later on in other machinery. There was a large prominence of "Gremlins" during WWII in posters regarding safety in the workplace. Captions such as "Gremlins LOVE to pitch things at your eyes," "Gremlins are floor greasers," and "Gremlins will push you around. Look where you're going," warned the workers about the consequences of not cleaning or doing their job properly.

Marko: Byssus Galetus (Italian)

I chose a creature from Italian folklore since I headcanon that Marko is Italian. A creator who I don't remember the name of originally headcanons him and Italian and I agree. The Byssus Galetus is a spiteful creature hailing from the Veronese Valleys in Verona, Italy. The creature has the head and body of a rooster (galetus) with wings full of thorns and a snake's tail (byssus). I chose this for Marko since they're born from spite and live that way. You cannot tell me that Marko would not go out of his way to be full of hatred and spite in his life and afterlife. Also, Marko is seen playing with pigeons in the movie, which in my mind, help connect him to the Byssus Galetus because it's half chicken.

While they're small creatures, the Byssus Galetus is an incredibly poisonous creature. They wander into houses at night and kill people with their toxic breath. The gaze of the creature can dry out and kill plants, along with contaminating water. It's said that the Byssus Galetus is laid by an elderly rooster and hatched by a snake or toad for nine years. If a Byssus Galetus sees it's own image it dies.

Paul: Näcken/Strömkarl (Swedish)

While Brooke McCarter isn't Swedish, I headcanon that Paul is. He's tall, blond, and it literally built like a Viking. The Näcken are male water spirit found by lakes, streams, or other bodies of water. They play enchanting music to lure their victims to the water and drown them. However, some believe that the water spirits are harmless and if approached properly, teach a musician to play perfectly. The Näcken come mostly from Germanic and Scandinavian folklore.

I chose the Näcken for Paul since most media depicts Paul with a rockbox or some other instance of music. If you didn't know, Brooke McCarter is a composer and has multiple songs and is listed as the composer for the documentary America the Violent. I headcanon that Paul is a really good singer and has learned to play instruments throughout the years, which leads to his love of music.

[littlelordfuckler0y]

Can I just say I love, love your klaus au!!! It's great!! But question? What do you use to edit stuff like that? I can never get a clear answer </3 but n e ways, all your aus are adorable!!!

HIII awww man thanks that’s so sweet of you ilysm I hope you have a good day <33333

Ok so for the post originally I gather a rough idea of what I’d do, I generally do 5 posts or 4 if I’m lazy, I go on Pinterest and find scenarios images I can make a post of off, sometimes I know what scenario I want sometimes I see the photo and get an idea, the comments I write as I start I don’t think them through beforehand

As for the layout I have a standard type but I make trivial changes sometimes bc I forget but nothing so major and I just edit them on here on tumblr

-For a post originally made by reader/character I select and make the caption username in bold which is just below the picture like:

yourusername what a nice day!

-then I write the comments as I go I think of a conversation, joke, I make the comments in Aa (you’ll find it on the left side of keyboard when you start a draft) tumblr writing option

-then for comments I make the comment users all in blue to differentiate l them

-and I just use regular fonts for comment REPLIES but I have to *space space space* and align them right below each other and the original commenter username like:

@dam0nsalvat0re you cannot leave me alone with Stefan on a weekend (this is where he’s most boring)

@yourusrname I’ll come to the party if I can borrow your car for 2 weeks?

@dam0nsalvat0re absolutely not??????

@yourusrname 1 week??

@dam0nsalvat0re I said no.

@yourusrname 3 days?

@dam0nsalvat0re 1 evening

@yourusrname done

^^ just an example, and then I use intended for every new comment but not all replies, replies are just in regular

-sometimes it so happens that some usernames are already someone’s blogs so you just make slight modifications nobody notices like “yourusername” is literally someone’s blog so I just change it to yourusrname when I add an @…nobody’s gonna know…how will they know…? /j

-it’s not a big deal but it just tags some people sometimes and also changes the designated colours that’s why otherwise you change the username too like add a number or a “.” “_” in the username not a big deal

I’m not sure if this is very clear but in case you have any doubts pls pls pls hit me up again I’m so very happy to answer :)

[musicarenagh]

Soulful Revival: d'Z and Sandra St. Victor on 'Freedom!' Hey, do you get to know that d’Z is out with a new song. It is a song from the well-known artist George Michael, titled Freedom and I think it is quite great. He collaborated with Sandra St. Victor, a soulful singer who has been nominated for the Grammy Awards twice. So, it is quite nice to see that d’Z has provided vocals for the tenth time this time, which is quite unique for a drummer. They have also collaborated in the past on the song titled ‘CONNECTED’ and one can tell that they are good friends and understand each other’s muses well. This radio edit of “Freedom” seems so new but at the same time, it gives me some certain feeling that I remember listening to in the past and that I like. Right from the first note this song has some energy which seems to pull you in. The drumming is on point as from the previous album of d’Z and they have incorporated this smooth fender rhodes sound that gives the music to the perfect feel. [caption id="attachment_56132" align="alignnone" width="2000"] The drumming is on point as from the previous album of d’Z and they have incorporated this smooth fender rhodes sound that gives the music to the perfect feel.[/caption] Especially if she comes in singing those deep, powerful notes, it just brings the whole thing to another level. One thing that really stands out is that they have fully fleshed out the music with some funky horns, locked in rhythms, and even a Hammond organ. All of it culminates into this big finish where the trumpet and sax really lay it in extra. What I like about it is that they are starting from scratch but at the same time they have found a way to pay tribute to the original. It has this perfect fusion of funk and soul which I knew both d’Z and Sandra lovers are going to enjoy. Also, it is just a very nice way to pay homage to George Michael’s career and work. In case you like some soulful covers or just simple good music – this one is worth listening. It is the sort of recording that does not easily fade from memory. Listen to Freedom https://open.spotify.com/album/4KTc0u19lQm2Asaw4uHvDZ Follow d'Z on Facebook Spotify Bandcamp Youtube Instagram

[2023-512kaylawilliams]

wk3_specimen analysis

Quick analysis of the type specimen examples we were given to look at this week.

Filosofia:

This type specimen book reflected the style i have in mind the most. It is a very clean layout and makes use of consistency of layout very well.

The use of colour is really striking as well, the three colours (blue, red and off-white) really compliment eachother whilst also being easy on the eye. A lot of type speicmen's i've seen so far have used very high contrast colour combinations for a bold look.

The pages that stood out were the cover, i like the use of the symbol (very subtle being dark against dark colour) and the two double spreads. The two double spreads were very balanced in both showing the weight variations of character sets in a centre alignment against left aligned body text.

The booklet also had elements where larger text, like the page in red below, with a block of colour highlighting the different in size, weight and format.

They used line elements to divide sections of text (parallel and hairline styles). They had font comparison (between 'original' and the type specimen typeface). Explanation text/captions to explain how that page or certain text elements on that page are features of the typeface. Also have a section on most of the pages noting which type setting each text element is in (is a good element to have when space allows).

2. Alda:

Features of Alda that distinguished it from the others were the up-scaled type features pages. An different way of showcasing type anatomy by highlighting how the form changes with +/- in weight x italics.

The booklet does have a full variety of type settings, sizes and weights displayed in quite full spreads (detail wise). They do use inset small caps titles for different sections of text. It is a very text heavy booklet but does show all possible formats of the typeface.

3. Base 900:

Uses the simple contract of black on white. The specimen focuses largely on typeface form analysis/anatomy. Takes more of a technical approach. Also points out the stylistic alternative. The balance between all the pages is consistent in terms of grid and body text (dense and busy) with large scale text (more white space).

4. Base mono:

The only monospaced example in the specimens we got. A few of the features i liked from this one were the use of outline text on the cover, it creates an interesting graphic, also shows the the prominance of the circle shape in the type form.

Again they had a significant stylisitc alternatives page. I also noticed that used white space in an interesting way, they lined the page fold with landscape character sets contrasting the left aligned paragraphs. A lot of variation of scale within each page as well.

5. Tribute:

This was the most 'print set' heavy specimen. But they did have a lot of features displayed on each page. Type anatomy, case, point size, width, italics, stylistic alternatives and image symbols all used together to show very used based examples. This specimen plays with a mix of the above features within single sentences > right most image below.

[biztellersng]

By Funmilayo Olusanya Veteran actor and producer, Kunle Afolayan, has explained why he chose to put his daughter, Eyiyemi, in his recent film, Anikulapo. [caption id="attachment_37339" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Kunle & Eyiyemi[/caption] Eyiyemi played a role as Princess Omowunmi in the movie. Afolayan said the role required someone beautiful, and his daughter is unquestionably beautiful. He posted a brief video clip of his daughter and himself on his Instagram account on Wednesday. The young person, he continued, is also a talented singer in addition to being an acting natural. Read also>>>Halima Abubakar Quits Acting Over Illness The first child of Afolayan, Eyiyemi, made her acting debut on the set of Anikulapo. Afolayan said, “If you want to portray the role of a princess, I think there is no giving that the person has to be beautiful and she is beautiful. “It felt good because I did not have to pay her, even though I was paying her directly or indirectly.” When asked about her role as Princess Omowunmi in the movie, Eyiyemi said, “Omowunmi is very foolish because Saro never proposed love to her but she already started having ideas in her head. She is beautiful no doubt, but also gullible.” A statement by Kunle Afolayan Productions, commenting on the debut of Eyiyemi said, “Train up a child in the way he should go so that when he is old he won’t depart from it. It is obvious that Kunle Afolayan takes it upon himself to imbibe valuable teachings in his children. Everyone attests to how respectful they are and humble regardless of their father’s societal status. “Not only is Eyiyemi Afolayan a natural at acting, her father attests to the fact that she sings well too, just like her brother Diekoloreoluwa Afolayan – Kunle Afolayan’s second child and first son.” Recall that Afolayan's blockbuster topped Netflix's weekly global ranking for the most watched non-English Netflix original movie between October 3 and October 9, 2022 with 8,730,000 watched hours.

[jjheejz]

What is Fate?

[Part 5/5] WOH concert and after

WOH Concert (3-4 May 2021)

- The fact that they even have a grand scale wedding ceremony drama concert

- GJ did not attend ZZH's first solo concert, but both of them have their own concert together for the first time

- Chinese have a traditional tradition of calculating auspicious dates (metaphysics). It can be calculated commonly for when to move in to a new house, bury a deceased, open a business, hold a wedding etc. 3 - 4 May were auspicious dates for Wedding and marriage registration.

- The concert was held at a stadium in Su Zhou, but the entire city was blatantly supporting everything and anything about WenZhou like it's New Year's Eve. Eg. Building, helicopter banners, bus advertising, drone show, lantern display, subway endorsement, city's official account using WOH quotes applying to safety regulations, curated photo booths, life sized figurine of WenZhou (YouKu kept it as prideful display at their office entrance after the concert), crowds of fan support and cheers etc.

Drone show snippet:

- Both of them were given the center of attention for the entire 2 days of WOH concert. It was WenZhou/JunZhe concert in disguise as WOH concert.

= This gave them both the opportunity to show what they feel for each other openly (whether as WenZhou themselves or as JunZhe)

- To have a stage to be what they are* and have fun, while being accepted and greatly supported by a sea of Mountain people (山人), no matter how one sees it, it's an extremely touching form of support for them

*Disclaimer: obviously they weren't 100% themselves, mindful of the fact that this stage was monitored by important media bodies (not exactly sure what kind, but somewhat government-ish regulators I presume), but their gaze and body language is just as natural as what they are.

= The fact that the country in general is not open to this kind of relationship, yet they were in a place where most of the people were supportive.

- Yes, there were some important bodies (or eyes) during the 2 days concert. Which was why all the actors and actresses were warned. For whatever reason they chose to continue in their own way, it's daring consensus of support. And for whatever reason the regulators didn't do anything (there weren't any big news at all from them), is also a miracle.

- They had the opportunity to sing a duet on stage, live. For the audience, GJ's singing skills started from November 2020, ZZH likes GJ's singing, and 5 months later, they have a duet on stage.

- Official acknowledgement of cpfans

= First in history where the recognition was officially verbally mentioned in-person. You can say this fate belong to the fans.

- ZZH had the opportunity to vow a promise to GJ witnessed by X million of people in the stadium and those watching livestream, that he will always be there for GJ. He did not only vow as a companion to GJ, in ZZH terms, he actually vowed "I will love you forever" [ZZH on 'love' saga]

- The in-ear mic had the voices of the backstage crew's coordination. ZZH took it off early, but GJ was still wearing them during the exchange. That itself is a stressor as the backstage coordinator must have warned extremely sternly and loudly and GJ was shakingly nervous. When ZZH was giving this vow (which in the concert BTS release, we see him say "Don't I have a segment to speak to WKX?" Note, it's WKX, not GJ), the backstage crew was cursing and swearing when ZZH went with "I have things to say to Jun Jun." (as WenZhou, they have a disguise/a shield, with direct GJ, it's just...danger danger red light) Try imagine being the backstage crew and going all mad and crazy over what ZZH said that moment.

= ZZH's daring courage to say things like these was probably built up from his sportsmanship, hot-blooded passion from his past. It's beyond my peasant mortal's comprehension.

- Supporting Cast shenanigans and warnings for them, link here

After

- After the concert was over, solo fans expect the main leads to break up even as co-workers or say, being even in the same frame. This expectation is extremely strong in the industry for years. The same goes for JunZhe despite this time many are cpfans but they do know this prevalent expectation. So imagine crying over the vow and the next moment, just hours after the concert, JunZhe is happily sticking to each other singing in the same frame as if they did nothing big a few hours ago. They sang a phrase together with this lyrics: 30% arranged by fate/god, 70% arranged by hard work. A love for perseverance will lead to success/winning.

= Debunking expectations, breaking many years of industry's common consensus successfully. They invented after after-sales CP service.

- Stage, endorsements, film scripts, major public events, variety shows, top brands etc. Poured in, and although it's all solo events, we see traces of the other half.

- Aside from that, we now see social media exchanges (almost always for the other half), brand endorsement captions (almost always about the other half), official brands partnering with each other because of them (despite being legit competitors) etc.

- The word 'support' or at least 'love seeing them together', is the general reason CPfans are fans of them. But to both GJ and ZZH, it really goes beyond the word itself. Acknowledging is just the beginning. ZZH does take LLD to heart and GJ is very interactive with LLDs in his own quirky way.

*From the [Star X Moon Saga], to the developed feelings because of this drama and actually accepting their feelings, to the fact that the pitiful budgeted amount for WOH was not well received at all before it was broadcasted but boomed records in the end, to the open shipping support by the production crew/casts/general media/fans/brands/cities, to the climbing successes and mountainous opportunities opened for GJ and ZZH overnight, everything was unprecedented and unexpected, but they all dramatically happened to the two of them in a span of one year.

Bonus

A fan went to a temple to check out JunZhe's fate. You can only check for one person and she checked for GJ. She passed her result to a Master and he immediately tell her to give up because that person is taken and turned away. The fan quickly corrected and say she's actually checking for someone else, the master turned back and checked her read again and said, everything is aligned to their favour, it's blessed by the Gods. (If I can find the full article again, will add on more but that's the gist, surfing in China made me love Google's search engine algorithm so much more).

A few other fans who 抽签 (Chinese praying tradition - simply put: draw a stick of varying luck). They all got the bestest of luck for JunZhe. (Reading the readings, I'm just...in awe...I...)

= Borrowing the meaning of another famous novel title, to me, this is a true "Heaven's official blessing" pair.

-------End of series-------

🌻To returning readers: Updated info are in purple for your easy references!

🌸Part 1 - Before filming here

🌸Part 2 - During filming here

🌸Part 3 - After filming, before broadcast here

🌸Part 4 - Broadcast/Promotion period here

🌻Upcoming: JunZhe Saga series

🌻[Ongoing updates] Will add if I remember or found new ones - last updated 220721

🌻For long posts like this, I tend to look back for grammar and phrasing mistakes (sometimes info updates), so when you reblog for future references, do keep in mind that there may be updates in the original post! :)

[duggardata]

Anna and Mary Maxwell Might Be Attending [Bible] College.  (Wow!)

Recently, an eagle–eyed Anon spotted the 2 Youngest Maxwell Girls, Anna (28) and Mary (25), in the absolute last place you'd ever expect—a college campus.  It's all on Facebook... Anna and Mary appear in a photo posted by Appalachian Bible College to its official Facebook Page, along with caption: "The first day of classes. That's something to smile about!"  (Permalink.)

Why Are We So Surprised By This?

Ordinarily, two young women attending college wouldn't be at all shocking, but the Maxwells are not ordinary.  Anna and Mary's Parents, Steve + Teri Maxwell, are openly anti–college.  Steve thinks that state–run education, including higher education, is "a godless, promiscuity–promoting, humanistic environment," and that it traps young people in debt.  He is wary even of Christian colleges, since he believes they cause children to rebel.  He’s proud of his sons' lack of higher education, and praised them for "avoid[ing] the influence and cost of college." Teri is, sadly, just as opposed to college—especially for women.  Back in 1999, she wrote an article speculating that college may undermine a woman's ability to be a good and godly wife.  Her article laments—

"As far as our daughters go, I wonder how many of us developed independent spirits during our college or working days. Has this made it more difficult for us to submit to our husbands in the meek and quiet way we would like?"

Finally...  Anna and Mary's views on this topic seemed to be aligned with their parents, until now. According to Steve + Teri, all of the Maxwell Daughters had planned to be Stay–at–Home–Daughters until marriage.  (See Also.)  (And all 3 Daughters seemed to be doing so, since none had moved out.)  What is more, in 2010, Anna described college as "silly," and said that she thought attending would expose her to unsavory influences, and possibly hold her back from her ultimate goal of "be[ing] a stay–at–home wife and mother."

So, yeah...  This is quite a surprise!  And, while neither Steve + Teri, nor Anna or Mary, has actually confirmed that they’re enrolled at Appalachian Bible College, their appearance on the Facebook Page is definitely suspicious!

Tell Me About Appalachian Bible College.

TL;DR   If you just want to know how conservative and restrictive Appalachian Bible College is, skip down to “Student Life.”

Appalachian Bible College (ABC) is a tiny (~250 Students), insular bible college, located on 150 Acres in rural Mount Hope, West Virginia.  (The Maxwell Family hails from Leavenworth, Kansas, which >800 Miles Away.)  It self–describes as a “non–denominational and fundamental” institution, primarily associated with “Baptist and Bible churches.”  Unlike many so–called “bible colleges,” ABC is nationally and regionally accredited.  (Hurray!)

A lot, lot more information...  After the jump.

Admissions—

ABC requires prospective students to submit an application; transcripts from high school or home school; ACT, SAT, or CLT test scores; and two reference letters, one from a pastor and one from another mentor, e.g., teacher or youth group leader.  A high school diploma or GED is required, unless the student is homeschooled.  In that case, a detailed homeschool transcript is needed, and standardized test scores are “especially important.”

As part of the application, prospective students must attest that they agree w/ the college’s Doctrinal Statement.

Academics—

ABC offers four degree programs—Bible Certificate (1 Year), Associate of Arts (A.A.) (2 Years), Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) (4 Years), and Master of Arts (M.A.).  In addition, it runs an online program for degree–seeking or non–degree seeking students.  (But, Anna and Mary were spotted on–campus, so they don’t seem to be in the online program!)  Anna and Mary haven’t gone to college, so they almost certainly aren’t in the Master’s program.  Let’s just look at the rest...

(Sidenote—Before we go on, just want to point out...  All ABC graduates must, in addition to completing academic requirements, show that they are members of a church and that they possess good Christian character.  If they don’t, they won’t give their diploma!) 

Bible Certificate—ABC describes the one–year program as an “opportunit[y] for you to dig into Scripture and build your life on its unchanging truths.”  The program has two tracks—Bible + General Education and Bible + Ministry.  As the names suggest, both tracks’ core curriculum is the Bible and Bible study.  Both also require three courses in ministry—Foundations of Ministry, Biblical Theology of Missions, and Personal Evangelism & Discipleship.  Where they differ is is what else they require...

For the Bible + General Education Certificate, students must also take four ‘core’ classes—English Composition, Speech, Physical Education, Music, and “Success Seminar”—plus, an elective of their choice.  (This curriculum also mirrors the first–year curriculum of ABC’s A.A. and B.A. Degree Programs, so students can easily continue their studies, should they decide to do so.)

For Bible + Ministry, ‘core’ classes are waived in favor of extra theology.  Students take Principles of Biblical Interpretation, along with classes on Systematic Theology (2 Classes), the New Testament (Survey Class + 2 Classes), and the Old Testament (Survey Class + 2 Classes).

Associate’s Degree (A.A.)—ABC also offers a 2–Year A.A. Degree in Bible + Theology.  (That’s the only major offered.)  For this degree, the curriculum is a 50/50 split between General Education and Bible + Theology courses, plus a few ministry classes and electives.  All students take the following courses—

General Education   English Composition (2 Classes), Speech, Physical Education, Music, Biblical Worldview, and Ethical Issues in Ministry

Bible + Theology   Principles of Biblical Interpretation, Survey of the Old Testament, Survey of the New Testament, Matthew to Acts, Genesis to Deuteronomy, Paul’s Letters (2 Classes), and Doctrine (2 Classes)

Ministry   Theology of Missions, Foundations of Ministry, Evangelism & Discipleship, and Homiletics I (Males) / Bible Teaching (Females)  

Additionally, students must take a history class, a science or sociology class, and an elective.

Bachelor’s Degree (B.A.)—Finally, ABC offers a 4–Year B.A. Dual Degree in Bible + Theology and in Ministry.  Each student completes General Education classes.  Beyond that, each student is also a “double major.”  Everyone’s first major is Bible + Theology and everyone’s second major is ministry–focused—but, not everyone has the exact same Ministry Major.  (More on that in a bit...)  As far as curriculum, students must complete the General Education, Bible + Theology, and Ministry courses required for the Associate’s Degree, plus the following additional core classes—

General Education   Health, Psychology, Sociology, Finance, 2 History Classes (History of Western Civilization and American Church History), and 1 Science Class (Earth Science or Biology)

Bible + Theology   Joshua to Esther, Hebrews to Revelation, Isaiah to Malachi, Job to Song of Soloman, Doctrine (2 Additional Classes), and Bible Capstone 

Ministry   World Religion and Cults, and Homiletics II (Men) / Women’s Ministry (Women)

Finally, students must also pick a Ministry Major and complete its mandatory coursework.  At ABC, there are seven ministry majors to pick from—some of which have concentrations.  Here’s the list of Ministry Majors, with additional concentrations or sub–specialties listed in parentheses—

Biblical Counseling  (Youth & Family or Women’s Ministries)

Camping Ministry 

Elementary Education

Missions  (Biblical Languages, Foreign Language / Spanish, International Studies, Nursing, or Teaching English)

Music  (Pedagogy, Performance, or Worship)

Pastoral Ministry  (Biblical Languages or Youth & Family Pastoring)

Interdisciplinary

The Pastor Ministry Major seems to be limited to male students.

Click the links to check out the coursework each Ministry Major requires.

Student Life—

So, yeah...  ABC is not a progressive place.  At all.  They’re upfront about it, though, which is nice.  Their Student Handbook is online, available for all to read.  Here are some highlights...  (All italics are mine, not in original.)

Discipline / Consequences—Students who break the rules face discipline in the form of “a verbal or written Carefrontation, a fine, a work assignment, a temporary room or dorm confinement, a social [or] ... campus restriction,” or “some other determination.”  Egregious offenses may result in the student being “suspended ... , asked to withdraw from the college, or dismissed.”

Dress Code—There’s a detailed Dress Code, with different different activities requiring different standards of dress.  Perhaps surprisingly, pants are allowed for female students for all but the fanciest standard of dress.  (For that, they’ll have to wear skirts or dresses.)  Here are a few of the rules...

“Earrings may be worn by females only,” and “all other body piercing is prohibited.”

ABC students are prohibited from getting new tattoos.  If a student has an old tattoo, they may be required to cover it at all times if the Dean of Students deems it “offensive.” 

Prohibited Activities—ABC says that, “in order to remain above reproach,” students are prohibited from the following “questionable activities”...

Consuming “alcohol as a beverage,” tobacco in any form (including e–cigarettes), or drugs for non–medicinal purposes.  (Penalty for violating this rule is dismissal.)

Serving alcohol to others, even if done in the course of a student’s off–campus employment.

Gossiping, or engaging in “other forms of impure speech.”

Listening to, viewing, or reading “unwholesome” media or literature, or accessing websites “that do not promote godliness.”  (See Prohibited Media and Prohibited Music.)

Attending “commercial movie theaters.”

Gambling.

Dancing.

Prohibited Media—Per the ABC Student Handbook, ABC students shall not consume “any media (including social media) that features vulgar or obscene language, sexual innuendo, nudity, immodest clothing, or ... a blatantly non–Christian message.”  Additionally, students may not—  

Watch movies rated PG–13, R, X, or NC–17, or shows rated TV–MA.

Play video games or use apps rated A, M, or RP.

... and, they’re strongly cautioned to avoid media that promotes “unbiblical definitions of love”; endorses “witchcraft or the occult”; mocks “law or law enforcement”; denigrates “marriage and the traditional family”; or contains “excessive violence.”  Students are urged not to consume media made by people—e.g., actors, producers, directors—“known for their stand against Christian values.”

Prohibited Music—Students are banned from listening to music “that includes God–dishonoring language, anti–biblical messages ... , a prominent resurfacing beat, pulsating and driving or dance rhythms, or sensual overtones in the music itself or in the performance.”  They’re specifically cautioned to avoid...

Rock—Because the “lyrics may be unacceptable” and “[t]he beat of the music may become the most prominent element.”

Country—Because the “lyrics may be unacceptable” and the underlying “music may be connected to a heavy rock beat.”

Folk—As “[e]xistentialism, humanism, or hedonism may be propagated through the lyrics.”

Jazz—Since syncopation may be “extensive[ly] use[d],” and “a sensual performance style may be employed.”

Contemporary Christian—Since “a sensual performance style may be employed,” “a beat may be overly prominent,” and the “lyrics may be theologically incorrect or existential in their emphasis.”

Relationships—

“The Bible restricts sexual activity to marriage between a man and a woman.  Thus, fornication, adultery, incest, sexual abuse of a minor, homosexuality, indecent exposure, sexual harassment, and other such activities are forbidden.” 

“[N]o display of affection through physical contact (including holding hands) on the part of non–married couples, on or off campus.”

Dating students are forbidden from sitting together in class or chapel.

No male–female pair, dating or not, may be alone together in anyone’s home or residence, on– or off–campus.

No male–female pair, dating or not, may socialize off–campus without a chaperone, unless they’ve been at ABC for at least 4 Semesters.

Divorced students “shall not be permitted to date other ... students.”

According to ABC’s Student Handbook, all these rules apply to all students, at all times, on– or off–campus.

All in all, it’s great if Anna and Mary are attending college, even if it’s a super–duper conservative one, like ABC clearly is.  The fact that they’ve possibly left home and are out there, living on their own...  Crazy to even think about, given Steve’s apparent iron grip on his household.  It can only be good from them to venture out on their own, even if it’s just to a slightly less stifling place.

[imagesbyele]

Ele #theme01 or ‘Jemma loves the stars’ - super customizable theme

preview - pastebin

a remastered version here + optimized (as this was my first theme and I learned a lot more, and with plenty extras added, including script fixes for tumblr-originated problems and optional unnested captions)

This is my very first theme from scratch (or second if we count a way more basic container blog) and it took me one entire week to do it, because I decided to learn how to make/use the if-switches, the calc function, the linear gradients, and the container themes with sidebar in it all of the same time (which was slightly stressful).

I also wanted to be part of the New Year, New Theme color challenge so the colors I decided to use (which were picked not only because I liked them but because I associate most of them and/or the words with Jemma Simmons) are dabbed, #b055ed/bossed, #7007ed/tooted, #1c1e57/iciest, #def1e5/defied, #dec1de/decide, #b0bca7/bobcat, 0b0157/oboist, #ceA5e5/ceases, #5C0075/scoots, #bab1e5/babies. 

I couldn’t have done it without the tutorials/coding posts of @octomoosey​, @agirlingrey​ and @evansyhelp​ (plus, of course, w3schools, dash and codepen). Icons from linearicons, fonts from googlefonts. *as of feb 14 I added the video fix by @shythemes​ and styled the audio posts again. See my credit page in my pinned post for more!

so, you get:

a theme that is always centered no matter how big your screen is 

the ability to pick nearly every possible color, including the background of a customized pop-up askbox, and even the type of blockquotes (and of course font-size) right in your theme options. If you remove the container’s background image you get to pick a gradient to fill it (or make it one color by putting the same one in both)

the options that will give your container and your description a glow or not, colors or colors only if you hover, and the option whether to have a subtitle and the updates tab (a dropdown menu) visible on the sidebar 

post sizes: 400px, 500px, 540px, and you can easily get into the editor and add your own preferred size, the rest of blog will adapt to it. There are instructions on how to do it in the editor itself, after the metanames area

speaking of which, you also get all my notes in the editor page, which may be needed if you are new to html but want to customize the blog even more  

several (animated) popup links - there are already templates for the navi page, the verses page with tabs, the popup customized askbox I mentioned earlier, etc. But also sidebar’s tiny links. 

at the beginning of the html editor you’ll find how to add a message on top of your ‘regular’ askbox, which people will see when they send you a message from the dash and are redirected to the default one and which doesn’t shrink.

update of 24/02 - added npf posts fix by glenthemes and video fix by shythemes + optimized posts size (no more images 10px on the left to be aligned with the text, I added a padding and changed the container size to make it fit.)

please, like or reblog if you take (or even just if you like). Edit as much as you want but don’t erase the credit nor claim as yours (I’d recommend being careful if you edit anything that has to do with the calc function, I probably can’t help you if you mess it up. For everything else you got my notes too).

obligatory reminder I have a ko-fi if anyone feels like donating. ♡

[shijiujun]

Are you captioning your own gifs? Just curious if you're watching all the shl episodes on Youku and if the subtitles were theirs or yours. Thank you for the pretty gifs!

Heyaaaa hahaha just a PSA in case any of you have the same questions (this is my fifth time answering this 😂 I really should pin it)

There are NO English subtitles on YouKu right now. I doubt there will be, since it’s for solely Chinese speaking audience only (in China only technically) as it is a Chinese video steaming platform so subs are only on YouTube.

Here’s YouTube’s subbed schedule:

This week 8-11 Mar - Ep 9-12

Next week 15-17 Mar - Ep 13-15

Week after 22-24 Mar - Ep 16-18 and so forth, 3 eps a week subbed.

ANYTHING you see that is further beyond this according to the weeks above on anyone’s blog (most creators I see tag the episodes on their original post visible on tumblr dashboard) are definitely without a doubt their own subs etc.!

Here’s the Chinese Youku schedule in comparison:

This week 8-14 March - Eps 17-23 (Regular VIP) or Eps 17-25 (Extra VIP)

Next week 15-21 March - Eps 24-30 (Regular VIP) or Eps 26-32 (Extra VIP)

The week after 22-27 March - Eps 31-30 (Regular VIP) or Eps 33-36 on Tuesday 23 March for Extra VIP

All subs not by Youku are fan subs (in my case yes I’m doing my own subs on gifs) and you can find snippets either here on my blog and on @leonzhng who does gorgeous sets everyday OR you can search SHL on Twitter there are a few big accounts that will sub snippets on the spot if you prefer that.

I don’t think anyone else is doing actual proper fan subs because it’s terribly time consuming (at least while we are waiting for the last episode to air) when Youku is already doing official subs. Unfortunately the way the schedule goes Youku will officially be at least 4-5 weeks ahead of the subbing schedule.

Also a note that most if not any subs you see on my blog for a Chinese show will definitely be my own because I don’t read EN subs at all. Which also means it’s not the official translation but my take on whatever sentence I see - some are straightforward others like SHL where poems and idioms pop up every 10 seconds yeah that’s gonna be a bit tough to align hahaha and you are free to take my subs with a pinch of salt and for consideration purposes only!

Some phrases or words I translate literally as it should be BUT also due to censorship and different interpretations/treatment of the content we will not know how they may end up being translated as well for example we are used to translating soulmates for 知己 but technically it could mean confidant if they decided to go with that and it’s greattt that they also approved of soulmate!! I did a recent one where WKX called ZZS husband but oh wells there are other ways to interpret that too hahahaha

Hope this helps! 💖💖

[allsassnoclass]

hi hazel!! how about “i got you for secret santa so i got you this really expensive but sentimental gift that you’ve always wanted, hoping you’ll never find out it’s from me - and that i’ve been in love with you 1234567 years” with hmmmm mashton? maybe? feels mashton-y to me but whatever u think works best is good with me <3 love you <3

anything for you Iba <3

Ficmas day 10

Rating: T for language

Read on AO3

Getting Ashton for Secret Santa is both a blessing and a curse: a blessing because Michael already knows what he wants to give him, a curse because he wants to give him the world.  Well, more accurately he wants to give him the entire universe.

Ashton Irwin is arguably the universe’s finest creation, founded on stardust and made up of infinite galaxies.  Michael has been in love with him since around the time they met.  Ashton deserves something as wonderful and celestial as himself, but that would require Michael to suddenly develop the ability to trap the universe in the palm of his hands, cradled close until he could hand it off to someone worthy enough to hold it.  Even if he could, the universe seems like a fragile thing.  He’d probably drop it, knowing him.

Maybe getting Ashton was more of a curse than a blessing.  If he can’t give him some sort of celestial body, he’s out of ideas.  It’s probably for the best, because he’s not exactly keen on letting Ashton know that he’s been in love with him for so long, and you can’t give someone the entire universe without prompting a few questions.

He seeks out Calum for advice, because Calum is great at gifts, but he doesn’t want him to know who he got so he asks what he would give Luke instead.

It turns out Calum is so great at gifts because he knows exactly what each person needs.  Knowing what Luke needs does nothing to help Michael figure out what to get Ashton.

Michael spends a lot of time googling stuff like good gifts for friends and good gifts for crushes and then backtracks, because most of those imply that he would be revealing his crush.  The search for good gifts for someone you’re in love with who is also one of your best friends WITHOUT letting them know you love them but still the best present yields no useful results.  Michael doesn’t want to regurgitate generic “sentimental” gifts suggested in lists on various websites, he wants something that Ashton will truly appreciate.  He wants to get him something that only someone who knows him would give him.

He’s pretty sure buying presents isn’t supposed to make you want to pull out all of your hair, but Michael wants to pull out all of his hair.  The one solace is that they selected their people early, so he still has a lot of time to figure out a suitable present.

-/-

Michael mostly forgets about the stresses of Secret Santa for a while.  He has to get presents for other people, too, so he focuses on that, and decorating the house, and baking some Christmas cookies, and everything except Ashton’s present.  Unfortunately, this means that by the time Ashton hosts his yearly It’s a Wonderful Life watch party, it’s late enough that Michael should start panicking a little.

Each year, Ashton invites as many friends as can fit in his basement over to watch his favorite Christmas movie.  He used to watch it with his mom every year, and even though they live physically far apart he once told Michael that it makes him feel closer to her.  Over the years, the night has turned into an entire event.  Ashton sets up a projector and prepares more snacks than can be eaten.  Michael attends every year, even though the movie seems to get longer every time he watches it.  Last year he kept dozing off, enough so that Ashton had let him curl on the couch with his head in his lap and sleep for most of the second half.  The weight of Ashton’s hand resting on his shoulder and the occasional gentle fingers brushing over his hair are something Michael thinks about often.

This year he ends up in an armchair, Luke between his legs on the floor and Ashton all the way on the other side of the room.  It makes him focus on the movie a bit more, and during the scene where George asks what Mary wants and says he’ll lasso the moon Michael thinks yeah dude, you get it.

Unfortunately he is not George and Ashton is not Mary, and by the time he leaves his house that night, lingering late enough that Ashton offers to let him stay, he is no closer to figuring out his gift.

-/-

Michael can’t lasso the moon, but maybe he was onto something there.

He can’t stop thinking about space.  Ashton has always had an appreciation for it, but since his trip to the desert where he was finally able to see the Milky Way unobstructed he’s developed a new fascination with it.  He’s not going to be an astronomer, but he knows more about constellations than Michael does, and he knows a lot about astrology even if he doesn’t fully believe in it.

Michael has wanted to give him the universe this entire time.  Maybe instead of finding a different present, he should focus on figuring out a way to do that.

Maybe he should just get Ashton one of those model solar system kits that kids assemble for science projects.  That would be giving him the universe in a punny way that he might appreciate, but then he’ll have to explain that give you the universe was his original goal, which will still prompt questions.  Without that sentiment, it’s kind of a crummy gift.

He needs something that isn’t punny but that manages to accomplish his goal without revealing that he’s in love.  He’ll find a way to accomplish that out of sheer stubbornness if he has to.

-/-

Schedules don’t properly align for a full group Secret Santa exchange, so everyone is tasked with contacting their present recipient and setting up a time to give them their gift.  Michael sends Ashton a text that reads hey when do you want your secret santa present and gets a string of emojis in response.  Eventually he manages to wrangle a time from him and loads the present into his car.

It’s a decent gift, in his opinion.  He’s both relieved and nervous about having to give it to Ashton without the full group, because there’s significantly less people who can judge him but there’s significantly more opportunity for Ashton to ask uncomfortable questions.

The drive feels longer than it should.  That doesn’t bode well.

Michael lets himself in once he gets to the house, because there’s no telling where inside Ashton might be.  He calls his name and gets an answer in the direction of the bedroom, toeing off his shoes and getting rid of his coat before setting off towards his destination.  Ashton is sitting on the bed, scribbling something furiously in a journal.  Michael waits until he’s done and tosses the small leather book aside to fully enter the space.

“Hi,” Ashton says, beaming.

“Hi,” Michael says.  “Special delivery.”

The package in his hands is rectangular and flat, covered with shiny red and green paper.  Ashton eyes it curiously, taking it when offered and frowning at the weight.

“There’s a few parts, so be careful,” Michael says.

“I will.”

Ashton tears through the paper inelegantly, strips of it floating down to the floor, and Michael watches him read the framed certificate on top.

“I got you a star,” Michael says.  “That’s the certificate for it, and it’s under your name in a database.  There’s a star map, so you can try to find it the next time you have a clear sky.”

“Michael, this is amazing,” Ashton says, aglow with enthusiasm.  “This is so fucking cool!”

He looks at the star map, eyes tracking over the many tiny dots on it and the one circled that’s his.

“Wow.  My very own star.”

It wasn't quite the whole universe or lassoing the moon, but Michael thinks he did alright given the circumstances.

The next frame is a bit bigger, a blue background with a white star chart and lettering at the bottom that reads July 7, 1994 - a star is born.

“Tell me something, boy,” Ashton croons.  “Which one of us is Lady Gaga and which one of us is Bradley Cooper?”

“Neither of us,” Michael sighs.  He wants to facepalm.  He knew this was a risk when he put that inscription.  “Did you even watch that movie?  You want us to end up like them?”

“No,” Ashton says.

“You’re the star,” Michael says.  “It’s a map of the sky when you were born.  I thought it was a fitting caption.”

“Aw,” Ashton says.  “That’s the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.”

“You don’t have to make fun,” Michael says, embarrassment flaring inside him.  This was a last-minute decision off one of those generic lists, and he’s regretting it.  Getting teased for his crush was not something he anticipated nor wanted today, especially since Ashton should know better.

“I’m not making fun,” Ashton says, tearing his eyes away from the chart to look up at Michael and frown.  “You just compared me to an actual celestial body.  That’s really fucking sweet.  The only thing sweeter would be if someone wrote me a proper love song.”

Michael could try his hand at that.

He shrugs.

“It’s almost romantic,” Ashton says.  Michael’s breath freezes in his chest.  Ashton puts the gifts down on his bed and shifts so he can face Michael fully, eyes assessing.

“Do you have feelings for me?” he asks.

Brush it off, Michael tells himself.  Laugh and call him bro and say you don’t.

There seems to be a communication delay between his mind and his body, because Michael doesn’t do any of those things.  He stands there like a deer in headlights, paralyzed the longer Ashton looks at him.

“It’s okay if you do,” Ashton says.  “I just want to know.”

Well what the fuck is he supposed to say to that?

No!

What comes out sounds more like a choking cat.

“Okay,” Ashton says.  “You want to sit down?”

Again the answer is no, but that word seems to have left his vocabulary, so he sinks onto the bed next to Ashton.  He reaches out a gentle hand and places it on his forearm.

“You know, you not saying anything is making me nervous, but I’m just going to keep going.  You can tell me to stop at any time,” Ashton says.  “I like you, and I’ve been getting the impression that you like me, too.  If that’s wrong, then correct me, but if that’s right then you don’t have to be embarrassed or upset, because it’s mutual.”

Michael turns the words over in his head, giving them a second perusal to ensure he had heard correctly.

“What?”

“Oh, he speaks,” Ashton says dryly.

“I was not picking up any vibes from you,” Michael says.  “Now you expect me to believe you like me?”

“Well it’s not like I wanted you to know,” Ashton says.  “Seriously, do you think I let anyone sleep through It’s a Wonderful Life?  You got lucky last year because I like you.”

Now that he thinks about it, Ashton might have a point.  Other people who doze off get food thrown at them with the excuse that they should have stayed home if they were planning on sleeping.

“Huh,” Michael says.

“So,” Ashton says, “do you like me?  You never actually confirmed it.”

“Oh.  Yeah, I guess.”

“You guess?”

“Look, I’m processing a lot right now.  I bought you a fucking star, Ashton.  Use your context clues.”

“Use my context clues?  What are you, my literature teacher?”

“What about your boyfriend?”

Nice.  That was smooth.

Ashton smiles.  Just like that, the bridge Michael was standing on made of their banter melts into a gooey mess, dropping him into a bunch of sappy feelings below.  He could bask in that smile forever, shining brighter than all of the stars in the sky.

“That sounds good to me,” Ashton says.  Michael smiles shyly back, something that makes Ashton’s eyes crinkle at the edges.  He reaches out and squeezes his hand, something he’s going to be able to do freely now, and Ashton tangles their fingers together.

All things considered, Michael thinks he one-upped George Bailey here.  George said he was going to lasso the moon and then didn’t even do that.  Michael bought Ashton a whole fucking star and got his own star in return.  He’s probably the luckiest man in the universe.

[the-writer-muse]

Making Your Content Accessible

Introduction

On social media, being able to read and understand posts is essential. However, some sacrifice comprehension and efficiency for their aesthetic, which only hurts their audience. Content accessibility benefits people with disabilities most, but everyone and anyone can make use of it!

This is a noncomprehensive list of things you can do to make your account accessible. Feel free to add on in the comments!

Backgrounds

When you’re making a post, the text and the background must be 1.) different colors, 2.) contrasting, and 3.) not too bright or dark.

That should be pretty self-explanatory, but I’m going to elaborate on number 3. Don’t use pure white or too-bright colors in general for your backgrounds because it creates eye strain.

Maybe you have images as your backgrounds, which gives you a bit more to consider. One way to lessen eye strain is to put a layer between the background and the text. Another thing you can do is choose images that are not crowded or busy.

Text

Some people use fancy, cursive script for their post titles, which looks cool, but it can be hard to read. This doesn’t mean you have to remove it, though. Instead, use alternative text, which describes something that is inaccessible or difficult to read/see. In this case, you duplicate the post title in a more readable font on the cover slide. Good fonts for dyslexia include Open Dyslexic, Comic Sans, and most sans serif fonts.

Alt text should also be present if the original text has been manipulated in some way or has had effects added. For example, the titles of my posts are curved, so I add alt text.

Save cursive fonts for your post titles and headings. Cursive body fonts may sound great in theory, but in reality they are highly inefficient and make people people less likely to read through the entire post.

Also, if you type long paragraphs, you may want to separate it into smaller bulletpoints. People are more likely to skim (or just skip over) long sections of text. Make sure there’s enough space between the lines as well--reading crowded text can give some people headaches.

Alignment is also a factor in readable text. Align body text to the left, rather than centering or justifying it, because it lets people follow the lines of the text more easily. You can align your titles however you want because anything goes for them.

Screen Readers

Visually impaired people, dyslexic people, or people who get migraines may use screen readers, which read the text of a post to them.

One of the first things you’ll have to sacrifice here is aesthetic font. I know, I know, it looks cool, but screen readers don’t pick up on it, not to mention the more stylistic it is, the harder it is to read.

Hashtags are also difficult for screen readers to understand, because it might read the entire hashtag as one word. Instead, capitalize letters where a new word starts. For example: #WritersOfInstagram.

Another thing you can do is provide alt text for your entire post. Instagram lets you do this in the post but they only allow 100 characters, so if your posts run long you should just type them in the comments.

Descriptions

If you’re posting an image, for example, a meme, add an image description, or ID. When you’re writing an ID, include all details, even ones that might seem obvious. Consider color, position, shape, expression, etc. 

For example: “ID: A blonde, curly-haired girl dressed in an orange T-shirt and denim shorts sits on a mossy log surrounded by pine trees. Her head is bent in concentration as she cleans a bronze knife with a gray rag.”

Closed Captioning

As a hard-of-hearing person, I really appreciate closed captioning on videos that require me to understand what someone is saying.

When typing out your captions, abbreviate closed captioning to “CC:” and then write your text after it. For example: “CC: These are my favorite tropes.” 

Another thing to remember is not to censor swear words or leave out anything. Besides being annoying to people with hearing loss, it can also be patronizing.

In a video, keep closed captioning away from anything that might block it. Also, make sure the text is large enough to easily read. If you don’t want to type out what you’re saying, automatic captioning is available on Instagram, although like any automatic closed captioning, it can be unreliable.

[musicarenagh]

Meet Minno, The Man Who's Making Music from the Heart Prepare for a journey into the world of Minno, an electronic music genius whose new single “Through The Day, Through The Night” has caught people’s attention. Working with different singers, his latest album represents the ups and down we go through in life; from high moments to low points represented by day vs night dichotomy. Although Minno did not receive proper training, music has always been his passion. Throughout his childhood, he would fiddle with the piano fueled by an underlying passion for melodies. He cited that his family was creative but because they did not develop it, Minno altered the situation when he happened across music production in a technology class. His creative process is dynamic in that it begins with a chord progression upon which he builds his piece. Minno’s music evokes the spirit of indie rock, electro-pop and EDM but is also in its own category by being catchy and melodic. Apart from music, Minno’s hobbies include reading, staying active and working as a Mechanical Engineer. Although the process of marketing introduces some problems, Minno intends to share his music honestly with fans. Listen to Through The Day, Through The Night https://open.spotify.com/album/63aTXg50Y1XQJdf85AEdO2 Follow Minno on Facebook Twitter Spotify Soundcloud Youtube Instagram What is your stage name Minno Is there a story behind your stage name? Originally I was just going by my real name (Chris Minatti) and then once I felt my music was good enough I changed it up and created a stage name. Minno was kind of just randomly derived from the first three letters of my last name and I though it sounded cool. Where do you find inspiration? Inspiration can come from many things. Usually it is other songs or albums but it can also just be beautiful things in the world like mountains, paintings, cathedrals etc. Music-wise I listen to a lot of Indie Rock, Alt-Electro-Pop, and EDM and I think my music comes out as a blend of all that. What was the role of music in the early years of your life? I always loved music as a kid. I’d listen non-stop and would always try to learn to play songs on the piano without being able to read music or knowing how to properly play. Music has helped me through hard times and brought greater joy to the good times. Are you from a musical or artistic family? I think my family was always very artistic but was suppressed in a way. They never really pursued their creative talents. My Father for example, started painting at 60 years old and is actually really good, but he never had a creative outlet when he was younger. Who inspired you to be a part of the music industry? I just enjoy making music. Even if I were to never post any of my songs publically and I was the only one to ever hear them, I’d still make music. [caption id="attachment_53916" align="alignnone" width="1440"] I just enjoy making music.[/caption] How did you learn to sing/write/to play? I briefly played the Clarinet in 5th/6th grade. I was good at it but thought it was kind of lame. In 7th/8th grade I got put in a Music Tech class for all the slacker kids that quit band. A few of the weeks of that class we went over music production and learned how to use a DAW. I immediately was hooked and downloaded my own at home and started learning how to make music. What was the first concert that you ever went to and who did you see perform? It honestly might have been Avicii. Can’t remember if there were any before that. How could you describe your music? Electronic-EDM-Alt-Indie-Pop? I never know how to describe it. Hope that works. Describe your creative process. I generally start with a chord progression I like and then go from there. Usually I’ll add in synths and melodies and then do drums after I have basic foundation. Sometimes I’ll sit on a half done idea for years then finish it. Other times like my song Glory I’ll produce, mix, and master it in 4 days and release it 7 days after starting it.

What musician do you admire most and why? Kanye might have the most impressive discography of any musician in my lifetime. I certainly admire his music and his ability to continuously make incredible albums. Danger Mouse is also one of my favorite producers. Every Album he touches is gold. Did your style evolve since the beginning of your career? I think starting out I felt strong pressure to make “EDM” or songs that you can DJ live and people will dance. Now I don’t really care about that and make whatever I want. I think I’ve gotten a lot better as the years have gone by. Hopefully my Album shows that. What are your interests outside of music? I like to read a lot and learn about random topics. I’m also very into working out and playing sports. If it wasn't a music career, what would you be doing? I’m a Mechanical Engineer and that is still my primary source of income. So, probably that. What is the biggest problem you have encountered in the journey of music? Marketing is really tough. It is such a competitive landscape. I know so many talented artists that have hardly any plays. As a musician you just want to make music but if you want people to hear it you need to spend a good amount of time on marketing and social media which is really boring. If you could change one thing in the music industry, what would it be? There are a lot of scammers. Less scammers would be nice. https://open.spotify.com/artist/0jrZCNvQPfovBYGzifdQuo?si=t6_waxL8QQeCUUJR3ALJng Why did you choose this as the title of this project? Through The Day, Through The Night just felt like the right name. The songs convey a wide range of styles and emotions. I think it captures the feeling of all the highs and lows in life. And no matter what life brings us whether its day or night, light or darkness, we keep pushing on through. What are your plans for the coming months? Promote my album and start experimenting with new music J Do you have any artistic collaboration plans Yes I do. Stay tuned. What message would you like to give to your fans? Thank you to everyone that listens to my music. I hope you enjoy my Album. It has been quite the ride and your support means the world.

[daresplaining]

[ID: Excerpt from Lee’s Daredevil run. Jack Murdock is boxing with a blond-haired opponent in front of a large crowd. College-age Matt and Foggy are cheering him on from the sidelines.]

Jack: “The Fixer said I have to take a dive in the first round tonight! But my boy’s here tonight, to root for his dad! I’ve always trained him to do his best... I can’t disappoint him now!”

Fixer: “Murdock! You fool! Take it easy! What are you doin’?! If you’re tryin’ to double-cross me, you’ll live to regret it! You’re supposed to dive now... hear? Dive!”

Foggy: “He’s winnin’, Matt! Your dad’s pulverizing him!”

Matt: “(I know it! I can follow the fight perfectly, by hearing the sound of each blow, each footstep!)” 

Jack: “It’s my one chance! ...Maybe my last chance... to do something to make my son proud of me! I’m not gonna fail him! I’m gonna win... do ya hear... I’m gonna win!”

Daredevil vol. 1 #1 by Stan Lee, Bill Everett, and Sam Rosen

    This is unprompted by anything, but since it’s on my mind, I wanted to discuss it: 

    There’s a conversation that can be had about Jack’s decision to not throw his final fight, and whether or not it was a responsible thing to do. On the one hand, it was a powerful move that symbolically shaped the rest of Matt’s life. Jack makes the decision to stand up for his morals, and for himself, and with his son cheering for him, he does the impossible and wins a fight everyone told him he had to lose. This type of persistence against incredible odds is a major Daredevil motif. Jack’s decision to stand up to the Fixer and his cronies aligns with the bullying themes that exist throughout Matt’s origin story, and is reflected afterward by Matt’s decision to take that same stand and become a superhero. It’s also a beautiful, emotional depiction of a man who has struggled his entire life and finally achieves a sense of self-worth and empowerment. Jack’s final fight is a powerful picture of heroism, and this is why it is such a frequently-referenced moment in DD history. 

    But it also got Jack killed, and-- and this is the tricky bit-- he presumably knew it would. Jack was born and raised in a neighborhood dominated by organized crime. Whether or not you subscribe to the version of continuity in which he was blackmailed into working as a mob enforcer for a while, it’s a clear fact that Jack, having grown up in this environment, would have a sense of how gangsters operated, which means knowing what happens to those who anger them. While the earliest versions of the story (in Daredevil #1 and #53) gloss over the actual conversation between Jack and the Fixer before the big fight, Roger McKenzie spells it right out in his retelling in #164:

[ID: Excerpt from McKenzie’s Daredevil run. Jack Murdock is working out in a gym in nothing but short shorts (I swear...) when two gangster-looking men in fedoras come in. One (the Fixer) is short, the other is tall.]

Fixer: “Jackie boy, you been workin’ too hard. You ought’a take it easy. Real easy. So easy you lose your next fight, know what I mean?”

Jack: “Why, you lousy little--! I never threw a fight in my life! I sure as hell ain’t gonna start now!”

[ID: Jack tries to punch the Fixer, but the tall gangster grabs his wrist.]

Fixer: “Jackie boy, you either take a dive... or you’re a dead man!”

Daredevil vol. 1 #164 by Roger McKenzie, Frank Miller, and Glynis Wein

    Jack knows the stakes: if he doesn’t throw the match, he’ll be killed. Entering into this impossible situation is part of the tragedy of his story. He was previously aware of the Fixer by reputation, and avoided having anything to do with him until he had no other option. For Matt’s sake, Jack sacrifices both his morals and his personal safety by agreeing to associate with a manager who is known within the boxing community to be crooked and dangerous. 

[ID: Two panels from Thomas’s Daredevil run. In the first, Jack is walking down the street, away from the viewer, with his hands in his pockets. In the next he is in the office of a boxing manager, leaning over his desk. The manager is lighting a cigar.]

Jack: “I’m too old... haven’t been able to land a fight in weeks! But, I’ve got to keep fightin’... till Matt gets thru college! I owe him that!”

Matt (caption): “Finally, in desperation, Dad made a fatal decision...”

Guy: “Sorry, Murdock... but the only guy who’ll manage a has-been like you is... the Fixer!”

Jack: “The Fixer! I always swore to steer clear of a guy with his reputation! But now I’ve got no choice... I have to get a fight!”

Daredevil vol. 1 #53 by Roy Thomas, Gene Colan, and Artie Simek

    But in spite of this knowledge, Jack also shows a surprising degree of naivete in this situation. He’s a good person, maybe a little too trusting, maybe not quite as street smart as he ought to be. He is a victim, toyed with by people who are happy to prey on his earnestness and desperation. Despite being aware of how shady the Fixer is, Jack is still shocked to learn that his fights are being fixed, and affronted by the suggestion that he would agree to take part in that deception. But even so, once the situation becomes clear to him, he does know that the consequences will be dire for him if he refuses to throw the fight. For Jack, deciding to welcome those consequences and finding the strength to actually win the fight is a personal victory, but there’s an uncomfortable grey area within that decision, because by choosing to set a moral example for his son in spite of the risk, he is also choosing to abandon Matt. 

[ID: Excerpt from the Battlin’ Jack Murdock mini-series. Jack is in an alley, getting beaten up by several gangsters in fedoras. His face is bloody. One of the gangsters, Slade, holds a handgun to Jack’s head.]

Slade: “You ain’t scared, huh, tough guy?! Maybe after we’re done with you, we’ll go get your boy. Maybe we’ll make him deaf and dumb too! Whaddaya think about that, Murdock? You think we should go see your boy?”

Jack: “Heh heh. You... you do that. Ha. You go see my boy. Ha ha ha!”

Daredevil: Battlin’ Jack Murdock #4 by Zeb Wells and Carmine Di Giandomenico

    The Battlin’ Jack Murdock mini-series makes an effort to break down Jack’s mindset regarding this decision. Ultimately, it resorts to using a retcon (or at least, an addition to the canon not seen elsewhere) to justify Jack’s actions: Jack discovers Matt’s fighting abilities shortly before the match, and goes to his death safe in the knowledge that his son can take care of himself. I like this plot point just because the idea of Jack discovering Matt’s secret is fun to consider. But it doesn’t really work to smooth over this wrinkly bit of characterization, because a parent’s concern for their child’s wellbeing usually goes further than just “can my kid physically defend themself against possible future retribution stemming from my actions?”. Jack’s “Oh phew, Matt’s a badass!” doesn’t, I feel, go deep enough. Without Jack, Matt only has one other significant person in his life at this point: Foggy. And that does end up being enough-- Foggy’s support gets him through the initial anguish of losing his father, and Matt graduates college and builds a successful life for himself-- but it still looks a lot like selfishness. Jack may be trying to set a moral example for Matt by winning the fight, but what good is that when it’s a decision that ends up harming them both? Jack may be willing to die for the sake of taking a stand, but shouldn’t Matt, who is forced to suffer the emotional toll of losing his father, have a say in that decision too? 

    Jack wins that fight for himself and for the message it sends to Matt. This is firmly established. But what is also firmly established is that Jack would have done anything for Matt. He sacrificed everything to give his child the best life he could, and for a long time, the two of them only had each other. Jack certainly made mistakes, but it seems wrong to think that he would willingly choose to leave Matt alone. It is possible to read this moment as Jack deciding that Matt is ready to be left alone-- he was in college, well on his way to adulthood and independence, he had a caring best friend, and thus Jack felt safe in letting Matt go off on his own. I think that’s part of what Battlin’ Jack Murdock was trying to get at, and I do certainly think that was a factor. But I also believe strongly in the sheer emotional force of that moment in the ring when Jack made his fateful choice. 

[ID: Excerpt from the Daredevil: Yellow mini-series. Jack, in the ring, punches his opponent in the face while Matt and Foggy cheer him on from the sidelines.]

Matt: “Take him, Dad!”

Announcer: “Unbelievable! ‘Southpaw’ Jack Murdock has floored Creel with a hard right to the jaw!”

Daredevil: Yellow #1 by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale

    I want nothing more than to give Jack the benefit of the doubt, and my personal interpretation of the decision is that there was no forethought involved. Jack goes into this fight angry and horribly conflicted, and then in the heat of it all he realizes he can win, he hears Matt cheering for him, and he just goes for it, unleashing a lifetime of grief and frustration, determined to behave heroically in front of the son who means more to him than his own life. Maybe, in the elation of the moment, he convinces himself that he’ll be able to handle the Fixer’s retribution, or maybe he no longer cares one way or the other. But it’s such a visceral scene that for me, I’m convinced that emotion was the main driving factor behind Jack’s decision. 

[rainofaugustsith]

Dark SWTOR predictions

From my most recent post on SWTOR, I made a few predictions in the comments. Since I have been right about things in the past, I thought I’d leave these here and see if any of them come to pass in the game.  I’ll be honest: I hope most of them don’t.  This isn’t based on datamining, just my own conjecture as to what they may be setting up in the game.  Obviously, spoilers for Onslaught. 

1. We will be able to convince Arn to leave the Jedi and/or become DS.  

They already have set this up. There are a few dialogue choices where you can remind Arn that he can be great without being a Jedi. You can back him up when he slaughters the Brothers, which seems to be an Anakin-murdering-the-Sand-People moment where he completely breaks. There's this email from Arn, too. As well as one from Lana where she says he has...potential. It's coming.

Caption: About Mek-Sha From: Arn Peralun I can’t get what happened on Mek-Sha out of my head. When I saw those slavers just going about their disgusting business like it was njo big deal, I got so angry. I lost control. I am truly sorry I put our mission at risk. I realize now it wasn’t the time to take on the Brothers like that. I should have waited. 

I’m not sure how to deal with that anger. Part of me is still glad I cut so many of them down, but Tau keeps telling me there are better ways, that letting rage control me can only lead to the dark side. But if I have this power- if I can stop them - then why should I hold back? On some level, I do feel like what I did was wrong, but I don’t feel any empathy for those slavers. The road to becoming a Jedi feels longer than it ever has now. 

2. Tau and Lana might have a fight to the death. 

Tau hates the Sith and mentions this constantly. She doesn't seem happy to see Lana. Lana has trolled her more than once. If Tau finds out that the Republic PC is a saboteur and Lana has been helping? She's going to want to kill Lana, and she's going to try.   3. Theron might leave.   Theron gets very upset if the Imperial PC makes certain choices, and walks off at the cantina after Onslaught’s events. He walks off when he finds out the Republic PC is a saboteur. He sends an upset email when Gnost-Dural is killed. He also sends Republic PCs a letter where he's happily talking about killing Sith. He's not happy unless the PC is Republic and in total sync with their goals, and I think this discontent is going to grow.   4. Lana might leave.   Lana hasn't shown as much open dissent, but she does tell the PC that she is relieved if they don't hook up with the Republic or Empire. Especially the Republic. I think she will go along with a PC's choices if they remain Imperial, but I think that if the player is Republic-aligned, she's only going to work well with saboteurs after a while. There was a tweet from Charles Boyd a while back where he said that Lana will leave if the PC commits war crimes against the Empire. I think this is true. Even if Lana is pragmatic I can't see her accepting the Republic's desire to exterminate the Sith and the DS.   5. Theron might be a plague victim.   Okay, explanation. I really think that Theron survives even if you leave him to die on Nathema. There's that cut to an image of Satele Shan looking angry. If Theron can survive long enough to get all the way back to Odessen, which on the map is literally across the galaxy from Nathema, I think he could survive long enough for Satele to get there and pick him up. Aaaaand we know where Satlee is now.   And if Theron was asked to leave, I think this could happen too. Theron might have wanted to help his mother, and...yeah.

6. Killing Satele might be a deal breaker for Theron.   If Theron is still with the Alliance, if there is a kill option for Satele Shan, I think that might be a deal breaker for him. Especially if the PC sided Imperial on Iokath and Jace Malcom died.   7. Satele Shan will have a kill option.   Scourge pretty much says this after Onslaught. Either you're going to cure the plague or destroy it. Which would mean...blowing up the ship with all the plague victims. Damn you Bioware, can we not keep anyone alive?!   8. You might only get to keep one of Kira and Scourge unless you're a JK.   I think alignment/actions/faction may determine which of these two sticks around after the Tenebrae Plague storyline.   9. Companions will rebel against the PC.   Remember that bug where your companions attacked you within the Odessen base? I think that maaaay have been a bit of coding that accidentally got released too early.   We know that canonically, many the companions from the opposing faction have already left, since you get those goodbye letters after Ossus. But not all of them did. And if you're a saboteur, your original faction's companions have remained, believing that you're still on the same side.   When the truth of the saboteur's status comes out, and I think it will? If the PC does something especially heinous to the other side? I think some of those remaining companions are going to freak the fuck out, and it's not going to be pretty. I'm sitting here imagining Elara Dorne and Fourex finding out that a Trooper is sabotaging the Republic. As I said before I really think they'd blow up the base.   I also think some romantic companions will break up with the PC when they learn of saboteur plans. I can't envision DS Jaesa staying with someone supporting the Republic or Kira remaining with a saboteur. I think Theron might be hurt enough to leave if you are a saboteur and chose not to tell him, too. 10. The factions will continue to encroach on the base, until the Alliance is basically occupied.  They have set this up, too. There are flags all over the base even if you chose to remain independent. The faction heads cheerfully tell you they’ve brought ships. Um. Odessen isn’t going to be yours anymore, is it? That would be another broken promise from Bioware - I don’t know why they even gave the illusion of choice, of staying independent, if they didn’t intend to follow through. That’s how it seems right now, though.