#i was watching music reviews on major hits today and just thinking. musing.

[ninthwav]

adele doesn’t do much for me (immortal banger rolling in the deep aside— i’m just not one for the ballads) but someone said something about easy on me earlier and i can’t stop thinking about how jesus christ “go easy on me” is like. mindboggling as a sentiment. like knife to the gut girl that is SO raw. the song doesn’t do anything for me in practice or in concept but like in that very abstract way i am just out here like

[har-rison-s]

CAPTAIN MARVEL

I basically just got home from the movie theater and I am so thrilled for this movie, still pumped and excited.

WARNING: There may be spoilers for the movie ahead, so read at your own risk. There'll be bold exclamation marks when possible spoilers are ahead.

So, let's start with the simple fact—this movie was as good as it was anticipated to be. They didn't invest so much on the marketing, and that's a good thing, since we all know how it goes for DC movies. MARVEL didn't tell too much about the script, and yes, at first, I was worried that it might be a flop, but the movie kept me watching through the two plus hours without ever getting bored or slipping away from the story and dialogue.

THE VERY BEGINNING!! THAT MONTAGE OF STAN LEE! OH MY GOD. They've done such a great job at paying tribute to him. Spoiler - he was in the movie. I loved the introduction, so lovely and heart-warming. 

Carol Denvers doesn't change the way she behaves, as most characters do in a situation where they've been a completely different person from what they are now and have memory loss of their past life. She's the same courageous, persistent, funny and loving person on Kree as she was on Earth. I like that aspect, even though it's such a small thing that barely anyone notices, it makes the movie even better.

The storyline and plots were very well planned, every dot seemed to connect and every hole was filled. They didn't make it too hurried or too slow, it was perfect. 

Character development—OH MY! That's something to talk about. Very much mistrust and disloyalty, but yielding and warming up with time are the best words to describe this movie. The relationship between Fury and the Skrulls, Carol's and Maria's lost friendship, Carol's friendship with Monica, I could go on. Very lovely.

Dialogue was amazing. Never too much movie-tized, if you know what I mean, perfect lines for each character so the audience can see them from every aspect and know them better, no banality in the way the sentences and dialogues were built. Some jokes here and there, honesty, sincerity, understanding. 

Music—wouldn't say it was the best soundtrack (not speaking about the soundtrack written for the movie, speaking about the songs of the 90ties). BUT I liked that they didn't put in the hit-hits, you know, the songs that everybody knows, including the wannabe-cool teenagers and my peers. I knew most of the songs, and I like that they added the songs that people who truly grew up with 90ties music or in the 90ties knew, not the banal radio hits from the 1990s.

! The one thing that keeps me wondering is the Tesseract. They (Carol, Skrulls and S.H.I.E.L.D) found it in a ship outside earth in 1995, and yet they found laying in the ocean with Captain America in 2011. It just doesn't add up to me, but if anyone here is smarter than me in this, please let me know how this plothole can be filled and I'll thank you very much.

Feminism. God, it's strong here. Women = scientists! Women = pilots! Women = warriors! Women = HEROES!! This is what I've been waiting for. I don't consider this movie as made for feminism and its followers, but it definitely has its features in the movie. I also love that Carol has this “No Man Can Stop Me” attitude by nature, it's what I grew up with and how I look at myself from my childhood, actually. Of course, I've had my doubts and self-hate moments, bringing myself down, but I'm human, and so is she, so it's only natural. It doesn't even need to be said.

When Carol agreed to Highest Intelligence “You're right. I am human.” and her younger selves stood up one by one—I actually felt that in my heart and teared up. It's so beautiful. It's exactly like saying “Yes, I'm human, and yes, I fall down. But I get right back up because I'm not a quitter.” Probably my favourite moment in the whole movie.

The scenes where young Carol is told that she can't do this, can't do that is so understandable, but honestly, ever since I heard that women are and have been oppressed and discriminated simply because of their gender, I was very bewildered and confused. It just seems... normal just perfectly understandable to treat everyone equally, no matter their gender, sexuality, ethnicity or anything else! It stills shocks me, although I've experienced it as well. 

! When Jude Law's character (I forgot his name) told Carol that he'd made her the best version of herself that she can be, I laughed out loud. Like, really? No offense, Jude, I love you, but for a man to say that he's made a woman—listen, man, that ain't it. That ain't right. Also, when he said that he'll be pleased when she beats him down without her powers and Carol didn't prove that to him was a major power move. Finally a movie without cliché feminism!

! I saw this movie in 3D and the special effects and just everything was so beautiful and detailed and epic and just... WOW! For example, the scene where the engine explodes and the power morphs itself into Carol's body—that scene right there is the most beautiful scenery in the movie, in my mind.

Carol's costume is so well-made and powerful. Through out the whole movie, all I could think was “I have to draw her”. Larson's features are basically made by the gods, and seeing her in Captain Marvel costume makes my small self feel like a goddess and she looks like such a muse. I will definitely draw her as soon as I get the chance. 

! The skrulls - very interesting turn of events and characteristics for them. At the start of the movie, I already suspected something about them wasn't entirely evil. Poor them, honestly. I like that they had a sense of humor. And really, when Talos says to Carol that he's got his hands dirty in this war as well as she has—that is what you call a character showing all his colours and being close to human, with regrets and feelings and sadness and longing. 

In conclusion, I give this movie a 9/10. It was well made, well edited, actors = BRILLIANT (I'm glad they didn't choose too many stars for this movie), outfits = splendid, everything else = MAGNIFICENT. I don't want to say this too soon, but this might be one of my favourite MARVEL movies. I saw exactly what I wanted on the big screen after months and months of waiting for this epic movie, and I'm still biast of MARVEL making the best comic book movies ever. 

!! ALSO!! The after-credits scene!!! Since I was already emotional tonight, a tear slipped down my cheek when I saw Steve. It's been too long without seeing him, and I've missed my favourite characters - Cap, Loki, Bucky, T'Challa, Natasha... all of them, really. I'm probably going to have a small marathon of my favourite MARVEL movies later this week. I can't work out how they got Fury's communication device yet, but it'll probably be all over youtube in a couple of days. Nat's almost crying AND SO AM I. I cannot wait for Endgame. !!

That's all I have for today, folks. Have a safe night and go watch Captain Marvel as soon as you can. If you have any questions or want to share your opinion on the movie or my review, don't hesitate to pop into my messages and tell me all about it :)) I'll be waiting. Hope you enjoyed my review.

[topweeklyupdate]

TØP Weekly Update #42: You Guys All OK? (6/25/17)

Well, fellas. It’s been a crazy week. The era ends today. That means another long, long, long update. Let’s do it, and then lets all watch Twitter all night to see how things all wrap up.

This Week’s TØPics:

Complete Tour de Columbus Recap (Plus More Cryptic Nonsense)

UPCOMING: Schott Tonight

Teen Choice Nominations

Yours Truly Makes TØP History (Not Really)

Major News and Announcements:

The only major piece of news from this week was that “Stressed Out” hit one billion views on YouTube. I fully take the credit for this achievement, as I asked you guys to turn out to make sure this happened (joking). 

The band was also nominated for three Teen’s Choice Awards for Choice Music and Rock Groups and Choice Group Song for “Heathens”.

Oh, and there was this thing called Tour de Columbus. You guys heard of it? Just a little thing we’ll. A lot of a thing. Let’s get into it in the recap section.

Performances, Interviews, and Other Shenanigans:

Whoo, boy. Obviously, this was a very busy week. However, it wasn’t quite as busy as I expected when writing the Upcoming section last week. For the most part, the shows have all stuck to the basic Emotional Roadshow setlist, with the minor changes of using the 2016 Old Songs Medley and including “Truce” at the beginning of the encore. That said, there were a few points that set each of the shows apart from each other. These include:

Basement

The Basement opened with Tyler running out (with the keytar!) and playing “Fake You Out” for the first time since before Blurryface’s release. I may or may not have wept.

Tyler’s Trees Speech for Basement was notably old school, featuring him pacing the stage, talking more directly to the crowd, and even rambling a bit. In fact, Tyler in general was looser in this show than we’ve seen him in a long time. He was constantly smiling, joked about how the first time he played the venue he lost a Battle of the Bands, thanked a fan who said he was doing great, and stated that people didn’t need to “whoo” to fill awkward pauses. This looseness was likely because, as Tyler explains it, he and Josh just came straight from their homes to play music with their friends. And that’s why this tour is so amazing. (A pretty well-edited together version of the full show can be viewed here.)

To prove their hardcore cred, they kept the cryo and confetti for “Trees”. Yes, they shot the full load into the tiny room, smoking it out the Basement (heh) almost instantly and even knocking out some people in the front row (Tyler stumbling over his “We are…” speech while watching security bridal-carry an unconscious girl away with great concern is a great image). Still, it was hardcore.

Newport

Apparently, somebody in the management (possibly Tyler and Josh themselves) ordered Chipotle for the folks in line at Newport.

Newport featured Tyler pointing out that one of the exits was the exact spot he and Josh met for the first time (tears).

Ohio Governor John Kasich was apparently in the audience at Newport (I believe his daughters are fans).

Don’t have a good video of it with clear audio, but multiple sources have corroborated the story that the crowd chanted “TAXI CAB” multiple times before Tyler played “Trees”. He appears to have said “Sorry”, but sadly, folks, it doesn’t look like we’ll be getting “Taxi Cab” this week.

The ending screen got me feeling something. 

Express

Express Live had a bit of a kerfuffle in the line. That’s all I’m getting into that drama. Moving on.

New TOPxMM colla-

Oh, screw it, I’m addressing it: the line stuff was nonsense, and was the only part of the week that really bummed me out. It seems pretty clear that Express Live HUGELY underestimated the number of workers and planning that would be necessary to handle the huge crowds and failed to provide adequate care for their patrons. That said, I have a real hard time criticizing only them when looking at what they had to deal with. Perhaps I’m biased because I’ve worked events of this size before, but it is an incredibly difficult job to manage thousands of people, especially when those people act as a mob and do not pay attention to any directions they’re issued. Let’s be clear: There is no excuse for those people who ignoring the venues’ orders not to camp and then were angry that their position in line wasn’t honored. There’s also no excuse for the many people who broke laws by rushing across a busy street, pushing and shoving to get to the front of the line, and leaving buckets of trash everywhere. It’s a shame that so much of the Clique appears to be so entitled that they’re blind to their own shared responsibility for the chaos.

Erm… moving on.

New TOPxMM, complete with more awkward dance moves from Tyler.

Tyler told people to be sure to pick up their trash, since he used to have to clean up the LC.

Tyler stopped the show during “Stressed Out” to help someone out of the pit. He joked that the song had just hit a billion views and they didn’t need to finish it, but, at the crowd’s insistence, he pushed through.

The Trees Speech on this one was lengthy and more structured than any I can think of since MSG last year. Tyler framed it around the idea of belief and how much of a positive impact it has on people, and thanked their families (who put up with having TV programs ruined by drumming and screaming from the basement), Fueled By Ramen (who were in attendance), and the fans for believing in them.

Nationwide

This show might have had the most lit crowd of any Twenty One Pilots arena show, with several dance-offs, a conga line, and a beautiful, peaceful circle during “Trees”.

The Trees Speech was another stellar one, with Tyler thanking the fans for making the journey from around the world to make Tour de Columbus so special.

The band’s activity this week was not limited to their performances. The boys also hopped around a couple of local radio stations and gave good, lengthy interviews for the first time in quite awhile. Here’s some highlights:

Dave and Jimmy Show, 97.9

These guys were pretty casual and open, enjoyed the conversations. I particularly appreciated that they didn’t sugar coat a lot of aspects about the entertainment industry, freely dissing award shows, SNL, and even some artists for their fakeness. I can dig it.

Lots of Grammy underwear talk, which is to be expected. Honestly, it’s Tyler’s fault as much as anyone else, he kept redirecting the convo to the underwear. “How does it feel when they call your name for an actual Grammy?” Tyler: “I mean, I was just thinking about the buttons on my pants.”

Tyler: “Just to clarify, there were more than just us two. There were multiple dudes in their underwear.” Josh: “For sure no females though.” Tyler: “Yeah, just a bunch of bros getting drafty.” (Oh my God.)

They brought the underwear issue to a vote with their friends and family on the van ride over to the Grammys, resulting in an evenly split vote. Tyler claims they called their manager to make the final decision; he said, “Go for it,” making history.

Tyler: “[Walking up to the stage in my underwear] was a long moment in my life.”

Perhaps the most groundbreaking news: Tyler was approached by SAXX underwear to join Kevin Love in promoting their product after he demonstrated it live on national television. Though he turned it down, he still stands by the underwear as his favorite and its compartmentalizing mesh.

They chat a little bit about how the Grammys are the only award shows that actually don’t tell the artists beforehand who has won and seem to confirm that they won’t go to a show they’ve been nominated for but know they won’t win. Tyler: “The people who go and lose just really have nothing else to do that day.”

Interviewer: “So let’s talk about “Heathens”. I think that song did better than the movie.” Tyler tries to stay on script and say that they both loved the movie when they saw it, even making the argument that no one really knows that a movie’s bad until they go home and read the reviews, but there’s just enough backpeddling and trademarked Joseph sarcasm that I’m not sure I buy it. 

Their discussion of their appearance on SNL is actually probably my favorite part of the whole interview, since it’s pretty darn upfront about the whole thing. Tyler said that he was honored to be invited on, but as soon as one of the hosts says that he’s actually been to it and observed the disconnect between the audience and artist, Tyler immediately opens up and discusses his quibbles with the show’s format. Specifically, he points to how the opening dress rehearsal has great energy, with all the jokes landing perfectly and the younger crowd of “slops” off the street really being into it. However, by the live filming, the audience has been replaced mostly by more reserved people with connections and the show becomes more stiff. The interviewers muse that it must have something to do with the greater pressure, but Tyler makes the interesting point that it likely has more to do with doing the same thing in front of the same camera guys, comparing it to when he does multiple shows in a single city and becomes aware that the security guards see right through him when his apparently spontaneous performances and speeches are exactly the same.

Tyler throws Kyle Mooney under the bus again, and also criticizes the entire ending schtick of SNL where they all hug each other as “the most awkward thing I’ve ever done in my life.” Tyler says that it was the first time they had ever met most of the crew, making it especially weird to have to act like they all had worked together to put on a show.

While in the process of burning bridges with the entertainment industry, Tyler and Josh both talk about how they never even met Kimmel and Conan despite playing their shows, calling the whole thing “garbage”. Specifically, Tyler goes in on Conan, revealing that they performed their set on that show to an empty audience and no Conan. They speculate it was either because Jennifer Aniston and her team requested it, or perhaps that Conan just was on vacation.

The interviewers ask the guys if they mind when they’re asked about old content (though it seems to just be a way for them to complain about the Chainsmokers). Tyler says that he doesn’t mind, because they make sure to put meaning into all of their stuff (which I’m taking as a Chainsmokers dig).

Andre on Air, 102.5

This interview really gets into the nitty gritty of Tour de Columbus and the band’s relationship with their hometown.

Andre asks the big question lots of us have been wondering about: what about playing Ohio Stadium, one of the largest venues in the world (at 100,000 capacity, they could fit the crowds of all the Columbus shows in the stadium and not even fill it halfway). Tyler says that still sounds “ridiculous” to them, but he also fully admits that they still expect people not to show up to their shows.

Andre points out the remarkably close connection the boys have to their hometown, between this tour, featuring the city in their Grammys speech, and a million other things, even going so far as to say that Twenty One Pilots put Columbus back on the map and is the thing the city is most well-known for now behind Ohio State football (which, to be honest, I think is accurate). Tyler says that he’s honored by that praise. He says further that he likely wouldn’t have left Columbus if not for his music, stating that before touring took him and Josh all over the world, he’d only been on a plane once. Even now, though, he still prefers the city to anyplace else.

Tyler: “We’ve been all over now, but whenever anyone asks what our favorite place is, it’s Columbus. There’s nothing better. We’re not trying to be sentimental, we really… we like the highways here.” 

Josh speaks to the experience of being at home while being famous. He says that there’s a real sense of normalcy so long as they’re hanging out with their families, but going out with their families to do something and having to take a picture with fans has become the new normal. (Tyler jokes that he’s found out that he’s had more cousins than he’s ever known.)

Tyler reveals that Zach was skipping out on a few concerts to play rec league basketball, and that his dad skipped shows to watch him. Perf.

No tattoos planned for these shows.

Tyler states that, while they planned to make minor alterations to every show to make them special, they were never going to be able to have drastically different setlists for each space for logistical reasons. Tyler says the tour’s less about the content of the shows and more about just honoring the city.

Discussing the “HeavyDirtySoul” video, Josh was glad for the flames due to how freezing cold it was (roughly eight degrees). Tyler: “I thought we were going to lose him.”

For what I think is the first time, Tyler talks a bit about recording “Heathens” in a very DIY fashion in European greenrooms. Tyler says that he has demos of a bunch of songs that have the sounds of people in the background banging on the door of the hotel room asking him to keep it down. 

When discussing their favorite cover songs, Tyler says that his is probably “My Heart Will Go On”, telling a story of a concert where he found out that Kate Winslet was in the audience and that she sang her heart out, despite the fact that she probably is sick of that song.

Andre suggests that they should recruit Jack Hannah at Columbus Zoo to get a hold of the giraffe whose birth was livestreamed for the last show of TDC to fulfill their greatest career goals. Josh says Tyler should ride the baby since he’s smaller. They joke that they really shouldn’t try to actually use giraffes, as it would represent a peak in their career they could never top, but Tyler points out that if they keep talking about it, they will inevitably get to bring giraffes onstage at their final show.

Tyler says that they’re definitely taking a break, and that he’s looking forward to get away from all the external pressures and getting back to making songs he likes with Josh.

In honor of TDC, The Columbus Dispatch did a front-page spotlight on the band. It’s honestly kind of amusing: since they weren’t able to secure interviews with anyone in the band or their families, their main sources are fans, the owner of the PromoWest venues, Tyler’s high school basketball coach, a guy who worked with Josh at Guitar Center (lol), and Chris Salih. The only new information the article provides is that Chris was the one who actually took the picture of Josh with the wedding crashers that set the Clique on-fire last week. That’s quality journalism.

I would also be totally remiss not to talk about Artopia. The Facebook stream for the event was very well produced, and David McCreary did a pretty good job at keeping things high energy. The stream contained hours of interviews and interactions with the Clique, hundreds of amazing pieces of art, and cameos from Mark. After the stream was over, Tyler and Josh surprised all the folks who stuck around at the free event by coming out to thank the artists and do a meet and greet with everyone. Some of my favorite moments:

David challenging some fan to cartwheeling contests. Not only did the girls own him, they criticized Josh’s form in the backflips.

After David jokingly asked people to ask him questions about the band, he got a bunch of questions (”Latin America tour!” “When’s the new album?”) that he was not able to answer. When asked their favorite song: “We Are Young” by Fun (Mark laughed).

Tyler’s mom showed up and talked trashed him (and oh my god she sounds just like him and has his sarcasm, omg).

All the people from across the country. All of the concert stories. All the dads.

Outside of TDC, which has understandably overwhelmed a lot of other news, Josh also filmed a promo for Columbus’s Roosevelt Coffee, a favorite spot of both band members (they gave their only 2016 performance in Columbus at the shop) that also serves as a charity that fights hunger, disease, and human trafficking. The promo notably makes use of the TØP deep cut “Clear” from Regional at Best; it fits the theme perfectly. One last minor point: here’s Josh doing an unboxing video of his own drum. Hear that’s popular YouTube content.

Upcoming Shows:

Show 5: Schottenstein Center at Value City Arena, (6/25)

Capacity: 18,800

It’s all led up to this: the last show of the Blurryface era, and the last show for the foreseeable future. Despite being a tad smaller than Nationwide, this is the obvious spot to host the final concert: located on the Ohio State campus, the Schott was the first arena the boys ever headlined and is one of Columbus’s premier venues. I don’t know what to expect from this one. MisterWives are opening, so I think we’d be pretty safe in assuming that we should get a trumpet assist on a song or two. I doubt we’ll be getting too much else, but I do know one thing: that Trees Speech is gonna make me cry. The curtain’s falling on the Blurryface Era, ladies and gents. Hold each other.

BLIND SPECULATION OF THE WEEK:

Each concert so far has had a unique opening. Basement played some audio of Tyler and Josh talking to each other; Newport featured this image of the repeated word “WAIT”. Express featured an extended montage of the band’s history with a Nigel voiceover questioning “how many days” it takes to reach where the band is now. It is entirely possible that some of these things were actually features of the venue and have nothing to do with a Blurryface-style viral marketing campaign. 

It’s all come down to this. Depending on what happens between now and then, next week’s update might be the last for a good while. We’ll see. Regardless, as always: Power to the local dreamer.

|-/

[singingrainbows]

Tag Thing

Nicknames: No nicknames (but I do go by Molly in games and such)

Star sign: Scorpio (also my chinese zodiac is a dragon :D )

Height:165,5cm (I think *shrug*)

Time right now: 01:39(start)

Favourite music artist: It's unusual for me to like more than a few songs pr artist lol, so I guess the ones who are the exception to that could kinda be called my favs, even if even that's a stretch for many. I do very much adore the Danish artist Kim Larsen he's like one of our national treasures. He's kinda like wierd cross between Bob Dylan, David Bowie and Elton John among others lol. So yeah I love Kim Larsen. I also love a lot of music by the danish Rasmus Seebach. I have a fondness for Backstreet Boy's second album (I think it was second, the one with the ”everybody rock your body” song (my first ever cd actually)), I really like a lot of Eminems work too; I really love most of Westlife's old works (they also did one of my top fav song of all time Flying Without Wings), I also have a fondness for some of Avril Lavign's old works. Gah let's just say my fav singers/bands off the top of my head are Kim Larsen, Westlife, Rasmus Seebach, and Yui (japanese). I listen to little bi of everything. From Fallout Boy and the occasional Lincon Park and Evanescnese; to Neon Trees, Paramore, and even those two one direction songs (best night ever, and perfect); to oldies like Dolly Parton, and Bob Dylon (yeah prolly add Dylan to fav list too). I like a few Gwen Stefani and Beyonce songs, and even a Taylor Swift songs. I also love Bruno Mars (yeah he should prolly be on the list, maybe, Iunno). I like classic musik and some opera, I like some rap, I folk songs, and country and old and some new. My fav song to listen to atm is prolly All Of You/Me by John Legend (which may just be the most romantic song I've ever heard). I DON'T like synths, and autotunes and all the horrible thing like that, which is sadly the norm in so much music today. I've very rarely seen it used well. It grates, and while some of it may be ok to dance to in a club (like the unholy racket that was crazy frog, actually kinda fun to really dance to on a sugar high) but the problem is that it's never kept there. It bombards the radio stations, which in turn, bombards shopping malls and recntly my god damn grocery stores! WTF? D:  So yeah I fucking HATE modern club music! I literally hurts my ears, and stabs at my head. FUUUUCK! (sorry for the rant ^^; ) Not much for Disco, I find the majority of Elvis songs kinda boring, and I'm not much for punk. I do love a good rock song, and I have a fondness for most of the hits thats came out when I was a kid. I like exactly one Spice Girls song (three guesses which, lol) but I REALLY do like that one. I love Aqua and while Barbie Girl will always scream ultra Nostalgia my fav is Doctor Jones. The VangaBoys too, Boom Boom, and Ibiza stand out lol. Achy Brachy Heart will always be fondly smiled at, and Over My Shoulder is still one of my favs (for some inexplicable reason, despite its subject matter being sad, it never fails to make me smile. Must be the upbeat melody, lol.) The danish band Shubidua was played to redicluous levels in my early teens, someone was always putting it on, lol. (That and Kim Larsen.) Their silly, silly songs made us laugh and smile and sing along. Also the Danish song Videoman. I Swear by All 4 One evokes memories of when my parents were still in love and not estraged divorcees, (while I don't regret them splitting in hindsight, no kid likes going through a divorce. Let alone moving a country away and leaving one parent behind. *forget ”every other weekend” I saw my dad 2-4 weeks a year if that.*) that song reminds me of simpler times (not that I long for them, I like my life now, but still). The Soop Shoop Song aka In His Kiss by Betty Everett is and always will be awesome. Las Ketchup was rediculous but fun. Yeah I  could go on, but I think that's beyond enough lol. Sorry long babble is long. XD

Song stuck in my head: Can't remember for a blessed moment and I want to keep it that way lol.

Last movie watched: Uh. Prolly a drama or some scifi movie.

Last TV show watched: Underground, Handmaid's Tale, American Gods, so many more. (Also, Game Of Thrones needs to start NOW not in two weeks :O )

What are you doing right now: Writing this, reading an awesome Naruto fanfic, arguing with my cat, smiling at my cat, enjoying that my cat is currently not screaming his head off and hoping lasts, considering attempting to gather my sweet kitty for a cuddle, watching a few anime Hero Academia, *just finished a few too* just started the first ep of Spiral; cat's yelling again ”be quite I'm not giving you a snack! Top scratching the table gah!”; quiet again, please last; playing Pokemon Sun.

When did you create this blog: Uh, like last year I think. It's fairly new.

What kind of stuff I usually post: Mostly reblogs. I'm planning to start psoting some fan theories, musings on stories, and maybe a review or two, I dunno. Who knows.

Do you have any other blogs: Twitter (my primary hang out) and Deviantart.

Do you get asks regularly: No

Why did you choose your url: Uh.

Hogwarts house: Swings between Slytherin and Hufflepuff, with the potential but not really the desire for Gryffyndor.

Pokémon team: I think it was Valor, but I dunno. Also, if I really lived in the pkmn world my occupation would totally be treasure hunter/adventurer.

Favourite colour: Pastel/baby/pale pink and pastel/baby/pale/sky blu are tied for first place, second  is pastel/baby/pale purplish blue and pastel lavenderish. I just love pastels, and I'm fond of all lighter shades of blue. I like some reds too. Bright orange and yellow in nature. If it's found on a real rainbow I likely have a fondness for it. Flowers and nature make me happy. I love the sky, and bodies of water. My dream is to live near a lake and a meadow. (I hate grey.)

Average hours of sleep: It swings. But for an otimal nights sleep I require around ten hours min.

Lucky number: 7

Favourite Character: Lucy Heartfilia from Fairy Tail (probably one of the best female characters (and characters period) ever; Naruto Uzumaki (pre Tobi ”reveal”) from Naruto; Sakura Haruno (pre Tobi reveal), various other Naruto characters; Madoka from Madoka Magica, Usagi/Sailor Moon; various Madoka Magica characters; various FairyTail characters; various Digimon Characters; Harry Potter from HP; various HP charas. A ton of others too, but this list is long enough.

How many blankets do you sleep with: Two summer duvets (sometimes I forgo the one if it's REALLY hot, but my body goes into super shut down mode when I sleep, so I get super chilly. This is not fun on a plane.) In the winter I sometimes pile on one or two or even three blankets. (Then despar when I wake to one or more on the floor.)

Following: 6

Followers: 11 but not because tumblr spazzed out. The real number is iffy. :P

I was kinda tagged by Amarevia. I tag those who wanna give it a go.

[thefaeriereview]

Inside the Mind: KC Freeman

https://ift.tt/3dZxxoX

  Welcome to Inside the Mind where we here at The Faerie Review interview authors and creators.

Our guest today is KC Freeman, the author behind Rekindled Prophecy.

Lily: ​ Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview KC I really enjoyed reading ​Rekindled Prophecy​. What inspired you to write about guardian angels? 

KC:   I have always had an affinity for guardian angels. As a child I would dream up stories about my guardian angel. As I grew up the stories started to take a more solid definition. So when I finally decided it was long past time for me to pursue my life’s dream/desire/soul purpose of writing, I knew guardian angels would be my “thing”.

Lily: ​ That's wonderful! I've always loved the idea of a guardian angel watching over me, although I'm sure mine has probably face palmed more than once. Greylyn is such a unique name, how did you come up with it? 

KC:   I’ve always loved the name Greyson for a boy, but my protagonist is female so I needed to use something else. I tried Grace, Gracen, and every other version but none felt right so I made up Greylyn – or so thought. On the way back from the dentist one day (long after I wrote the first book) I saw a street sign for “Greylyn Drive” so guess I’m not 100% original with the name.

Lily: ​ I think it's still pretty unique! Were Kael and Greylyn based on anyone? 

KC:   Based on anyone? Not really. However, I have often used Jensen Ackles as my muse when I write Kael. And I wanted Greylyn to be petite with delicate features like Vivien Leigh (one of my favorite actresses) but she also needed to be a total badass. 

Lily: ​ I have to admit I LOVE Jensen Ackles (he may be a major reason why I watch Supernatural). Vivian Leigh was absolutely beautiful and I loved her in Anna Karenina. Why call Kael a dark guardian instead of a demon? 

KC:  He’s not exactly a demon. Demons have no trace of humanity left in them. No human weaknesses. No soul. They are simply demons in the truest sense of the word. Dark guardians have some demon in them, but they retain their humanity. You see mostly the dark aspects of that humanity, but the other is hidden away deep in their soul. They just need to access it.

Lily: ​ I love that distinction, and how they're not full demon. Now we’d like to talk about you as a writer. What’s your favorite time of day to write? 

KC:  Early afternoon until early evening if I get that much time. Some writers wait until the wee hours of the night/morning to write, but I need my sleep.   

Lily: ​ Hehe I'm definitely most productive late at night. If you could build your ideal writing space, what would it look like? 

KC: I have my ideal space except with the pandemic causing everyone to work/school from home, my office has been taken over by my husband. He and my son just recently renovated the entire office “for me” but I spent less than a week in it. It’s open, spacious, lots of bookshelves, my crystals all around (particularly in the dormer window). The only other thing I would add is to have the entire house located on a large, clear lake (Lake Tahoe or Lake Nantahala would be perfect) so I could look out over the water for inspiration.

Lily: ​ That sounds like a wonderful writing space! Hopefully you're able to get it back soon. How do you keep track of ideas when inspiration strikes? 

KC:     Inspiration usually hits when I don’t have something to write with (like when I’m dreaming or driving). I need to invest in a voice to text app for my phone, but for now anything will do – post it notes, napkins, notebooks intended for other uses, whatever is available.

Lily: ​ I probably have a notebook in every room in the house at this point to jot down notes honestly. A voice recorder app sounds like a good idea though! Let’s finish up with some fun questions and get inside your mind. What’s one book that you could reread any number of times? 

KC:   One book? You know that’s the impossible question. How to pick one book? I would probably have to go with Angelology by Danielle Trussoni or Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen.

Lily: ​ Ok, I admit, I couldn't pick just one! What’s your favorite and least favorite color? 

KC:   Favorite color of all time is forest green. Least favorite is any shade of pink.

Lily: ​ I love forest green, it's so soothing. Do you have a favorite drink?

KC:  It’s mentioned in the book – Godfather (one part scotch/one part Amaretto) 

Lily: ​ I've never had one but that sounds delicious. Describe the best dessert you ever had.

KC:   My mom’s chocolate chip chocolate pound cake.

Lily:  Now that sounds interesting and yummy. I've had lemon and plain pound cake but never one with chocolate. What object would be the most annoying if it played loud pop music every time you used​ it? 

KC:   My ponytail holder. I’m constantly pulling my hair up in or out of ponytails. 

Lily:  Oh that would make me crazy! I always have my hair pulled back or up in a scrunchie. Would you rather be able to only eat ice cream, pie, cake, or donuts for dessert for the​ rest of your life? 

KC:   PIE!!!!! 

Lily:  I have to agree there are some I just couldn't give up. Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t included?​  

KC:  While the Greylyn series is definitely more PG13/TV14, if you prefer something with a higher rating (more R or NC-17), I have a couple of short stories in anthologies that would fit that bill. One even has one of the characters from the Greylyn series (featured more in Book 2 and 3). One is After Dark: 9 Modern Takes on Classic Fairy Tales and the other is Bowman’s Inn: Autumn-Winter 2017 Anthology. However, the Greylyn series, while a fantasy romance, will remain PG13 so the story can be enjoyed by both adult readers and Young Adult readers. I had to keep it tame so my daughter wouldn’t be too embarrassed for her friends to read it.

Lily:  I'll definitely have to put After Dark on my list I'm a sucker for fairy tale retellings. How can readers discover more about you and you work?​  

KC:  Check out any of the below social media accounts, and my website. I just started up a readers’ group on Facebook for the series called Freeman’s Urban Fantasy Fanatics.

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System S8 versus iPhone 8: Winning Has Little to Do With Phones

The new Samsung Galaxy S8 has propelled, and its objective of decision is the up 'til now unlaunched Apple iPhone 8 Anniversary Edition. These telephones are basic for both organizations. Apple survives generally off the iPhone today, and Samsung is attempting to recoup both from its consuming telephone issue and from its top official being captured on pay off charges.

Neither one of the firms can bear the cost of a major misfortune to the next, and Samsung just left the door with one hellfire of an opening salvo.

A major contrast is that Apple can concentrate on item, while Samsung needs to reestablish its picture, and that is a far harder thing to do.

I'll share a few musings about this coming fight and close with the nearest thing in market to an iPod-like gadget, in spite of the fact that it doesn't play music. It's a printer called the "Sprocket."

Apple's Problem

Apple's iPhone both astounded and, for a period, drove the cell phone advertise. It wiped out Palm, constrained BlackBerry to roll out huge improvements, and thumped the once-predominant Nokia down to the third level of cell phone players.

Then again, Apple's endeavors at enhancement haven't gone exceptionally well. The iPad is no longer the PC executioner it once was thought to be, the iPod is everything except gone, and the Apple Watch was a baffling failure to discharge. (Incidentally, it is as yet the best single item in its class, recommending an up 'til now uncertain class issue.)

Apple no longer controls the cell phone showcase, however. Control now is shared - and firms utilizing Google's Android stage speak to an altogether bigger share. In this new Android-drove world, Samsung has been the organization to beat.

Apple has had a stunning run as of late, to a great extent in light of the fact that Samsung's radiance telephone, the Samsung Note 7, had an awful propensity to burst into flames. Samsung didn't address that issue well by any means, prompting the telephone being prohibited from planes and eventually reviewed.

That didn't give Apple a manageable preferred standpoint, however, on the grounds that Samsung didn't fall flat. That implies the increases that Apple got likely will leave once Samsung re-enters the top of the line section and recoups its image, which truly is the more concerning issue. It has made a begin - recouping the telephone is the thing that it simply did.

The long haul issue for Apple is that Apple's edges are industry-driving yet Samsung's aren't. That implies Samsung and others can place more into their telephones and still charge less. That is the reason the S8 is so startling. It is an innovation feature that Apple can't coordinate unless it cuts into edges, and Apple can't do that without caving in its valuation.

In actuality, Apple is in a sticky situation if Samsung can execute - yet execution isn't simple.

Samsung's Problem

On account of the consuming telephones and a propensity for some of Samsung's clothes washers to detonate generally, people aren't putting stock in Samsung much. This has brought about Samsung running a costly battle to recoup its image.

Having dealt with a comparative venture at IBM decades prior, I know this sort of issue is neither shoddy nor fast to settle. It took IBM millions and five years to recoup its image. Samsung's market is both all the more sympathetic and more whimsical, which proposes it could do it far speedier, yet despite everything I think it will take no less than two years of strong execution and millions in promoting.

This may not be aided by the reality it at present is offering repaired Galaxy Note 7s, which still are restricted from planes. Given that the disappointment was brought on by a plan highlight as opposed to a segment issue, these telephones still could burst into flames.

This appears like a continuation of the strategic suspecting that got Samsung into this wreckage in any case, and on the off chance that one of these renovated telephones ought to burst into flames, it could bring about a tremendous favorable position for Apple.

It additionally recommends that the issue made money liquidity issues that possible brought about this extraordinarily dangerous choice.

A considerable measure of people have hypothesized that if the new telephone bursts into flames, then Samsung is screwed. Notwithstanding, actually none of its telephones can burst into flames, since that will make individuals distrust the message of another, greater quality-centered Samsung.

Along these lines, the telephone it propelled might be up to the test of reestablishing Samsung's image, yet the organization's execution seems, by all accounts, to be missing the mark in different regards. Despite everything it could bomb because of the choice to exchange the hazardous Note 7s and the sheer time it will take to recuperate its picture.

Wrapping Up

With a solid and well-executing Samsung, the new Galaxy Note S8 could have done unnerving things to Apple's iPhone 8 deals, especially in light of the fact that Apple essentially can't bear to coordinate in its telephone the sorts of progressions that Samsung has exhibited.

In any case, Samsung isn't solid, and its choice to exchange the risky Note 7 is a feature of what has been a string of intemperate dangers. An Apple supporter could fix a revamped Note 7 to burst into flames in a basic area, and the hazard that Samsung speaks to could be expelled. That is one serious enticement for a considerable measure of Apple workers and accomplices, regardless of the possibility that Apple administration weren't required in such a move.

Encourage, Apple just torpedoed Andy Rubin's iPhone executioner before it propelled, recommending Samsung ought to think significantly more protectively. Evidently, Tim Cook picked up no less than one Steve Jobs expertise - and if Samsung doesn't look out, this one will chomp it in the butt.

Unless Samsung all of a sudden gets a ton more intelligent, this round likely will go resoundingly to Apple, regardless of what generally is an extremely solid exertion with its new S8 telephone.

Against Apple, it for the most part is the execution, not the item, that has the basic effect, and Samsung remains overmatched.

The iPod's strategy for achievement really was characterized a long time before the iPod propelled and displayed by before victories, similar to the Sony Walkman, Flip and Polaroid Cameras. Individuals will rush to items that effectively accomplish something they need done however that right now is excessively troublesome, making it impossible to do.

Back in the iPod time, on account of the record names, it was truly difficult to put music onto a genuinely compact player. The iPod settled that. Despite the fact that it was fiendish costly at the time and took three renditions to take off, it changed the market once it did.

The nearest item to the iPod at present in market is, oddly, a printer. It is the HP Sprocket - a pocketable printer that does only one thing effortlessly and well: It prints little pictures in shading from your cell phone. You can give these photos to companions or family, especially the individuals who don't have cell phones, or you can stick them to things.

Clearly, this little printer has been a genuine hit with people who jump at the chance to bring selfies and with the individuals who get a kick out of the chance to stick pictures to things. It costs around US$130. The photos cost around 50 pennies each to print, and they have glue backs so you can stick them to things.

You know, what I believe is especially interesting is that Apple's new iPhone advertisement has at its center printed stickers that people stick on individuals. iPhones can't do this, however the Sprocket can (though significantly littler).

Quite a while back, Apple deceived HP into not propelling a MP3 player that terrified Steve Jobs enough to get by and by required in the trick. It would be amusing if the following "iPod" were a printer from HP. Consequently, and in light of the fact that this thing is in reality entirely cool, the HP Sprocket is my result of the week.