#it's the 5th anniversary of it so it would be cool to celebrate. however.

[brinxxxx]

A Bang Chan FF (content warning 18+!!) (smut)

Chan is your boss. He runs his own sharing of the JYP SKZ company. You've been working there for 5 years. Ever now and then he would compliment you. How hard you work to how you were looking at that day.

Until one day he did not take no for an answer. Your relationship with him. It’s hot. Steamy, it’s wrong. You love it. He loves it. It’s the most secretive thing to ever been kept.

Will your relationship be a smooth breeze or will there be complications along the way?

Whipped For You: chapter 1:pro prolog

It's your 5th anniversary of working in with JYP-SKZ. 25th of march 2018 is when you were hired. You remember it as if it was yesterday, you loved your job and if you really wanting to be fully honest...you loved your boss too. Bang Christopher Chan. He was the higher boss out of the company of SKZ, boy was he a hottie.

You worked on his floor. You managed to work your way up the previous floors. Each boss stricter than the last however, with chan he seemed more...relaxed with you. More engaged about you, always bubbly, chattie...even flirty at times.

You always take his flirtatious jokes very well and sometimes have the balls to reply back and he likes that about you. Not afraid to joke around and take jokes. You were always uplifting and cheerful in the workplace. It always brought people smiles and made their day. They call you "The Sunshine of the company" you make everyone's day that little bit brighter.

Anyways so...March 25th 2023 is where we are right now. It's the 5th anniversary of your job in JYP-SKZ. Chan made sure it wasn't forgotten about. You don't usually celebrate these things however, since it's half a century of working in the best job you could ever ask for you know you wanted to do something for it.

Chan bet you to it unfortunately *a/N: I can already hear Han screaming NO every time I hear or say the word UNFORTUNATELY.... You're welcome!"

As you arrive on this day your desk of lined up of 8 cards, gifts of different varieties but a massive, I mean MASSIVE bouquet of flowers, they were stunning, beautiful and bright. All from your previous bosses and now Boss Chan.

You get a call to come to Chan's office. You usually don't hear from him till afternoon as he's a busy man during the mornings but this morning his schedule you notice is a little empty. You walk in to see your boss with No neck tie, shirt slightly unbuttoned, very strong smell of his aftershave, sleeves rolled up and crossing his legs with his skin tight trousers that could pop easily with the slightest bit more tension.

It was so attractive. You try keep it cool, a straight face trying not to let it show how whipped your are for him. He could ask you to bark for him and you would do it in a second...pathetic right? Having a massive crush on your boss is one thing but allowing your fantasies and imagination roam freely is and will always be a dangerous game.

"Good morning princess, did we sleep well? You're looking very very beautiful this morning. Oh by the way happy 5th anniversary! Here have this gift as a token as a thank you for staying with us for this long, it must of not been easy!"

The man rushes up to you with a small Jewellery bag. Giving you the biggest bear hug ever as he leaves your touch his lips lightly brush past your neck and cheek causing you to flush red instantly. He knows what he has done and he knows he can do it again. Not that he will take advantage. As much as chan is a flirt but he's very much a gentleman. That's a reason you're so whipped for him. He has two sides and both make you wanting to laugh and or cry.

As he look at you with a little smirk on his face knowning he has succeeded his mission to fluster you he gives your the bag. It has a little ring box inside and you open it it's a small but beautiful silver ring engraved on the inside "StrayKids everywhere all around the world, you make StrayKids..."

And on the outside it says "STAY<3"

The company slogan was always etched into your mind from the day you started. It was beautiful "thank you Mr Bang. It's beautiful..." you put it on without hesitation. "Anything for my baby girl..." he mumbles. You heard what he said but you pretend you don't.

Butterflies grow In your stomach, from waist down you're having a tingly feeling. That nickname. Is he a mind reader? Your legs give away your reaction as your thighs tighten at the thought of the nickname. You don't realise it.

"Well thank you Mr Bang. If this is you way to try and keep me for another 5 years, it' might be working" you give him a wink and you both laugh.

His face turns a little red as he rubs the nape of his neck with a nervous giggle. "Listen, me and the others bosses want to take you out for a celebratory dinner? What do you say? It's on us. Please...."

You've never been invited to a dinner before. Let alone never been invited out in general. You're the type of girl is careeer driven. Never have time to relax, never had time to make friends, never had time for a relationship. This list is endless. As if mr Bang knew you were battling your answer inside your head "infact Miss Cho. It's an order. You have to. I'm your boss so you have to obey my order okay"

"Obey..." you whisper very quietly. A trigger word that sends more tingles down your body. Again Mr Bang watches know no he's getting the right reactions from you. You look back at him with a small smile. "If that's what the boss wants that's what the boss gets. What time and where?"

"I'll pick you up 8.now let's get back to work. Go home at 4 today. You deserve to have a pamper day before tonight." You give off a sheepish smile nod, bow and walk back to your desk you wear the ring he gave you. It's beautiful.

*3 hours later*

Lunch time. Your favourite break. You receive and email from Mr Bang. "Hello Y/N Cho. Can you come to my office please."

"Y/N Cho... mr Bang has never called me by first name before. Oh my god. I'm getting fired!"

[doomedandstoned]

Iron Man Cement 30-Year Career with Monumental Double Album (+ new song!)

~Doomed & Stoned Debuts~

Review by Billy Goate

This is more than an album. It is more, even, than a portrait of quintessential New England doom metal. It is a testament to the enduring power of music and friendship to bring a collective dream to life and to sustain it to the bitter end.

The new double album 'Hail To The Riff' (2021) showcases 14 anthems by Maryland doom legends IRON MAN. With the exception of one previously unreleased studio song, the bulk of the material was performed live at Castle of Doom Festival in Pagazzano, Italy on Saturday, July 5th, 2014. It was the band's one and only trip to Italy, now being released for the first time (appropriately enough) by Italian label Argonauta Records.

Many of you know the Iron Man story. Founded back in '88 as a Black Sabbath cover band, the guys gradually started playing their own compositions and were ecstatic by the positive reception the original material received. Iron Man released their first album in '93 and over the course of many decades, went on to tour the world with the likes of Cathedral and Pentagram, composing many a doom standard along the way ("Hail To The Haze" will forever be my fav).

"In the beginning, Iron Man had two jobs," guitarist Al Morris told Doomed & Stoned some years back. "First, we were a Sabbath tribute. We were able to headline shows and get people talking about the band. Second, we were writing original music for a demo to shop. Everything went as planned! By May of 1992, we got signed to Hellhound Records in Germany. That kind of history, coupled with the internet, gave us worldwide exposure. The fans did not let us get frustrated! We are totally motivated by our fans. We have them in mind at all times." (Read the classic Doomed & Stoned interview with Iron Man.)

It should surprise no one that Hail To The Riff   is dedicated straight up to Alfred Morris III, who sadly died in 2018. As he was the longest-standing member of Iron Man and its most consistent face, it made sense when the group disbanded after the passing of its founding member.

"The Type of person my father was," Al's daughter reflects, "he never expected anything huge. He just enjoyed doing what he loved. Music was in his blood; part of his DNA and he wasn’t complete without it...As long as I can remember, Iron Man was a large part of my dad’s life, and mine. My first rock show? My dad’s band. The first live show I ever saw was Iron Man. Watching my dad perform, I saw him transform. He had this amazing stage presence. An effortless grace when he played guitar that was mesmerizing. Even though I had seen him play a thousand times, I was always impressed!"

I spoke with Screaming Mad Dee Calhoun in 2018, near the 30th anniversary of Iron man and just a few months following Al's death. "Just on a personal note, I don't think anything I'm doing now," Dee reflected, in reference to his burgeoning solo career, "would have been possible without being a part of Al and Iron Man. Al was very supportive of my efforts outside of Iron Man, be it music or writing or what not. I can never thank him enough for just tapping me on the shoulder and saying, 'Hey I want you to join my band?'" Dee continued, "No one I ever knew who knew Al ever had a bad word to say about him. He was just one of those guys who was a positive influence on people. Once he touched a project, it was better than before he touched it. We certainly miss him.

As a follow-up I asked hnw people could get better acquainted with Al's contribution and really hear his spirit. Dee replied, "Just start with Black Night and work forward. He would want to be remembered by his music. Just sit back and enjoy what he had to bring to the world." That album's title track is no. 13 on the playlist below us, and Al shines just as bright on it here as he did on their cardinal opus. What band could hope for a better life than Iron Man had, with their unlikely success leading them to record five LPs and three EPs, crossing some of the world's greatest record labels?

Hail To The Riff   begins with a cheering throng and the grungy downtuned riffing of Al Morris, to be joined in short order by Louis Strachan on bass and Jason "Mot" Waldmann on drums. At last, Screaming Mad Dee belts out hellfire and brimstone in his scratchy quasi-operatic style (who, it must said, has one of the most intimidating voices in all of metal). "Make some goddamn noise!" The crowd eats it up, of course.

At this point, I'd advise you to make any room corrections you need to, as live recordings tend to be a unique beast all their own. They always sound a little "thin" and "boxy" to me. I found simply turning the volume up a few notches more than for casual listening brought this live recording alive for me. I did not, however, tempt fate by listening with earphones (I'm already dealing with enough tinnitus from my many years of filming live shows).

"The time is here to strike fear. We are Iron Man, bringing you 25 years of Maryland doom!" That really fires up the festival for what would become the band's third and final live albums. If this had been your first time hearing Iron Man, you would encounter a group in top form with accessible songs like "Run From The Light" that capture so powerfully the spirit of metal, itself a kind of freak born of the age of electricity.

Since I don't have perfect pitch, I would be hard pressed to determine just where Al's axe is tuned for this set. Judging from tracks like "The Worst and Longest Day'' and "South of the Earth," let's just say it's low enough to confuse the guitar sometimes for the bass (and when you listen a second time, the bass is often hitting a similar if not lower range). Remind me to ask the guys next time I get a chance and I'll add a note to this article with their answer. I'll be there were a lot of fans that day who were really feeling that Iron Man vibe on a raw, gut level as the sound reverberated through from their internal organs, ultimately grabbing hold of their spine with a mighty grip of doom, and shaking their bones like a rattle.

I've always said the acid test of any band is their ability to pull their songs off convincingly in a live setting. So many things can go wrong, but the way a band bounces through the hurdles of that 30-60 minute set tells you everything. You know right away whether you're dealing with confident musicians who believe it to the core, or wannabes who are fronting a hype machine. To hear Dee make "South of the Earth" work without the cool vocal layering from the recording and still give you chills says everything you need to know about the integrity of Iron Man as a band.

Time for the bottom line. Hail To The Riff   is nothing less than a celebration of metal-making, friendship, and the mysterious power of the riff to compel us -- no matter who we are, what language we speak, or what our differences may be -- to assemble together as a sweaty mass under a hot Italian sun in the middle of summer and revel in the pure love of heavy music. If you close your eyes, you can almost picture yourself there.

Of course, the real treat for Iron Man acolytes is going to be the solemn 14th and final track, "Black Morning." The band recorded it in late-September of 2013, just days before South of the Earth saw its release on Rise Above Records (later on Metal Blade Records, too). Hearing the words and the instruments meet in such perfect execution and conviction brought a single thought to my mind: "These guys really get doom." Long live the ferocity and might of Iron Man!

The album is officially out this Friday on digital outlets, with a special gold vinyl 2XLP available via Argonauta Records. Right now, Doomed & Stoned is letting you revel in it all! So sit back, turn those speakers up, and...

...give ear.

Iron Man - Hail The Riff

Tracklist

The Fury

Run From the Light

The Worst and Longest Day

Ruler of Ruin

South of the Earth

Grown

As the Gods Have Spoken

Hail to the Haze

Sodden With Sin

A Whore in Confession

On the Mountain

Fallen Angel

Black Night

Black Morning

Follow The Band

Get Their Music

[valshe-eng]

『UNIFY -10th Anniversary BEST-』Official Interview English translation

Interview/original text by: Yamamoto Hiroko

Original: http://valshe.jp/interview-unify

-

—Interviewer questions

VALSHE’s answers

Interview text under the cut!

— The 10th anniversary major debut Best album『UNIFY -10th Anniversary BEST-』has the title “UNIFY”, was this word been with VALSHE for a long time?

Yes. There’s also the word “Certify” in the lead song “UNIFY”, both are the keywords for the best album.

— Is “UNIFY” done in a way that it connects all the paths VALSHE has taken so far?

I wanted to create something that was the “peak” of what VALSHE has done in the last decade for fans when producing this best work. This is also the first work where I really wanted to be in the leading role, I want to show that VALSHE will be in the frontlines to prove its sound and worldview. So, instead of compiling works together and labeling it as “I’ve shown various songs, faces, and appearances”, I wanted to show the original VALSHE that was the core of this.

— You mentioned that you wanted to be the leading role for the first time, but how did you feel before that?

Of course, the songs I released so far are also under VALSHE, and since I was in the front, what I mentioned were just the emotional parts. For example: when 5th Anniversary 『DISPLAY -Now&Best-』was released, from the perspective of VALSHE, many staff were involved in the sound making, music video, and live performances. There were also the feelings of fans helping to move things forward. It was “VALSHE”, but it’s not VALSHE.

— Is it due to the fact that many people are involved in VALSHE’s work?

Yes. It was a bit rough, but I think that thanks to everyone during the 5th anniversary, I couldn’t think even at the slightest that “I came this far because of my hard work”. Now that I worked in the long run, I was able to admit to myself that “VALSHE did her best too” thus thought that 「UNIFY」 was an appropriate title.

— 2 new songs are included in the Best of 2-disc set, but I felt the title song “UNIFY” was uplifting and powerful. It has a loud element and a gospel taste, please give us an episode on when you wrote this song.

The song 「UNIFY」 has existed for about 2 years. Before the production of last year’s single 「SYM-BOLIC XXX」 started, I held a competition for songs suitable for VALSHE’s 100th song with the sound producer and doriko, who has been providing songs for work at that time.  However, when I listened to the song I made, I thought “It’s too heavy for a 100th song, and only my song has a strong anniversary sense” Thus, this song is kept.

— So it’s a song that was saved for the anniversary?

Yes. At the time, I was working on its arrangement, so the image did not change much. During its demo stage, I could see the majestic and profound sound of it, so I didn’t have to rebuild the song. And since I had 2 years, I had time to fine tune and brush up more, so I feel like I was finally able to release it at the right time. I think it’s a song where you can see VALSHE standing on a stage.

— Earlier you mentioned “Certify” was an important keyword, but what are you thoughts about that?

The word “Certify” is included not only in the title song but also the entire best album, as the work itself feels like a certificate. It’s the same for me, thought it’s not like “I have completed a 10-year course” to the fans who are receiving it, but more of “We made something and have gone beyond all sorts of activities, we did our best.” In that sense, it’s an important keyword.

— Then, tell us about the visual. There seems to be white-coloured costumes in the past, but they aren’t dressy-like.

Based on the fact that all of the VALSHE so far have been intergraded in this album, I consulted with people around me about the costume. “Black? Red? Gold?” Looking back on the discography, I thought it was very multicoloured, though I was also told that white can be dyed in any colour, but in response to the theme of the anniversary: “Why not try a wedding dress on VALSHE? VALSHE will wear it cool.” Thus, the costume this time has a wedding dress-like design from the waist down, the top is a napoleon jacket that was very VALSHE-like.

— The MV started with receiving the key ring, but are those the same keys that VALSHE, the guardian, had in the 5th anniversary best song “DISPLAY”?

Various VALSHE that appeared in the past MVs appeared in 「DISPLAY」, but at the start of 「UNIFY」, VALSHE of the previous single 『ACE of WING』 handed over the key. 「DISPLAY」 ends with the latest VALSHE in a cell, which indicated that 「DISPLAY」 is also an old record, meaning, the moment when the work is seen, it becomes a thing of the past. The key has been handed down for a long time, and 「UNIFY」 is made to clarify that VALSHE will continue after celebrating its 10th anniversary. For those who sees this for the first time at this moment, that element may appear ordinary, but for those who had supported me for a long time, the choreography, situation and shooting methods of the past songs are included, if you follow VALSHE, I think there are many points to be noticed. The English sentences that appeared in the second half are also meaningful, it’s a content that you can understand by reading what you expressed in 「UNIFY」, so I hope fans who are good at English can translate and spread it (laughs)

— It seems that VALSHE always has a mystery every time

That’s right. Though not limited to MVs, I wanted to make this best album more meaningful to the people who have supported me so far. And by extension, I also want people who are new to VALSHE to know what VALSHE has done consistently for 10 years.

— Disc 1 also includes the self-cover 『Myself -DECADE-』,the title of the lead song in the debut mini album 『storyteller』, and the approach that has strengthen the rock-style is impressive.  Disc 1 is mainly made up of songs from 2015 to the present, and while incorporating digital sounds, the use of live sounds are increasing, and I can feel the transition of VALSHE, where the rock-style has become stronger.

『Jitsuroku Kumonoito』(2015) and 『RIOT』(2017) are both turning points, and from that point on, there are more opportunities to make sounds with the band. From 「RIOT」, I became more involved in composing, so I personally think that Disc 1 is chapter 2 and Disc 2 is chapter 1. There were rock songs in the early days, but I wonder if the ratio of digital and live sound mixes has changed. Every time I think about the distribution of digital and rock, I did some trial and error and thought “I wonder if this is far apart?”. If you try to arrange the songs in the best way like this, the amount of ingredients will be different. Disc 1’s loud music, gets heavier by one-shot and one-shot, my ears felt busier in compared to Disc 2. I think that the sound of 「UNIFY」 controls that.

— What does VALSHE feel now when listening to the songs on Disc 2 in the first 5 years?

When it was newly mastered in the studio, the sound of joy was better, but when I listened to Disc 2 now, I often remember the people who were working together at the time, the events at the time, and things other than music.

— There were various milestones, such as the songs from the time where VALSHE has not revealed her face, and 「Butterfly Core」 (2013) being set as the theme song for the anime 『Detective Conan』

That’s right. However, Disc 2 has the basis of the sound that leads to the sound composition of Disc 1 at this time, so this is the one that was the starting point. I’m glad that I felt that it was in a single line after all when I managed it this way.

— Disc 2 also includes 「Butterfly on your Right Shoulder -2020-」 which is a new recording of the cover song 「Butterfly on your Right Shoulder」 posted on niconico douga by VALSHE before her debut. The new song 「Filament」　which concludes the end, was composed by Noripi and the lyrics were written by doriko, I was impressed by the sound as if it was congratulating VALSHE on the 10th anniversary.

I wanted to make the new song 「Filament」 for the 11th year, but I didn’t want to write this myself. This time, I was able to get involved with 「Butterfly on your Right Shoulder」, so I asked Noripi but told him that I would like him to write freely using the image of VALSHE. The lyrics have an affinity with 「UNIFY」, so I asked doriko, who can be said to be the only witness of VALSHE.

— is it because he has been involved in activities for 10 years?

That’s right. He is also a member of Team VALSHE, and he has seen various events, including private ones, from the standpoint of a third party. I asked him, “Become a witness, write down the VALSHE you’ve seen.” The keyword “Certify” sometimes appears in 「UNIFY」, so I thought that a witness was necessary for this Best album.

— The lyrics “Let’s turn all the directed smiles and tears into power” reminds me of VALSHE, who has overcome various things, and “Let’s continue on for 100 years from now while thinking about Memento Mori” I also felt VALSHE’s attitude

I was frankly impressed when I read the lyrics for the first time. The title 「Filament」 is also an honour, I was told by doriko that “VALSHE is not an LED”, filament means the core of an incandescent light bulb, it looks like it shines on its own (laughs). He told me that VALSHE is not an LED that keeps the same amount of light with a single switch, but it shines as much as you pour heat into it, I was happy.

— 「Filament」’s position is the bridge to the future?

Yes. That’s why I put it at the end of Disc 2.

— The concept live ＜VALSHE CONCEPT LIVE 2020 「VVV -VALSHE VS VALSHE-」＞will be held at TSUTAYA-O-EAST on December 18th, but will the cards that announce activities on the special site will continue to gradually release in the future?

Yes. First of all,  while enjoying the best of the 10th anniversary, I think that the days of being controlled by COVID-19 will continue, but while at that, I will do my best without giving up and turn all of the cards. I believe that each decision will be an important step for everyone, and I will continue my activities, so I hope you will follow me.

[8ofdecember]

The last time I did something like this was 4(?) years ago, but this is just so funny! They’re attending ZIP! from their own houses. Any weirdness is purely on my grasp of what they’re saying. I don’t own the video btw.

Masu pretends to press a button and connect the call: Ah, we’re connected! Good morning everyone!

Everyone wave and say good morning.

Masu: Amazing. This is quite the sight! Ah but I feel that there are people present who are giving out this sense of “who’s this?!” First there’s Naoki.

Kenjiro: Eh? Naoki? Why?

Masu: Probably his hairstyle?

Kenjiro: Recently he’s going for this singed Naoki style.

Naoki: Please allow me to burn you.

Masu: I also feel that Imaichi’s image is a little different?

Ryuji: Oh really?

Naoto: He feels fresher.

Kenjiro: Yeah that’s right. There isn’t that prickly feeling

Someone says he feels softer (more approachable)

Ryuji: I am at home after all.

Voice in the backgroud: The members who are showing a different side of themselves because they are at home.

Masu: There’s something I’m a bit curious about. Are the wallpapers of the homes of the members of Sandaime J soul brothers all matching brick wall patterns?

Iwata: It’s just coincidence that Naoto and I have brick wallpapers:

Masu: You’re not living together, are you?

Kenjiro laughs out loud.

Iwata, Naoto: No.

Masu: And Elly’s house is full of Marilyn Monroe (actually you only see two portraits XD)

Elly: I really like Marilyn Monroe.

Masu: How many Marilyns do you have?

Elly: All in all, 4 Marilyns.

Background voice: And then we go to this request

Masu: Since this a precious opportunity where you’re doing an interview from home, if it’s alright with you, we were wondering if you could share a treasured item with us.

Naoto: This thing (as he brings a big box into view), I’m not sure I should call it a treasure. It’s more like a treasure and a bother. Gun-chan told me, “Naoto-san this is your birthday present.” The bag holding it was really really big. I bought it home and it was really heavy and I was wondering what it was. I opened it with a great deal of excitement and it turned out to be a kayak!

Everyone just starts laughing.

Iwata: Isn’t a kayak great!

Naoto: I wanted to ask the guys: do I look like I go kayaking?

Ryuji: No you don’t.

Meanwhile Tosaka claps gleefully.

Iwata: Naoto-san is the kind who likes hills and rivers (Naoto agrees) and I have this image of him going to these places. I had this thought where maybe he would just happen to go to a river in private and think “AH, there’s a kayak loaded in my car, why don’t I bring it out for a run?”

Tosaka: Do you really expect that kind of miracle to happen?

Background voice: Although the conversation doesn’t stop here, we need to move on to the main theme.

Masu: To the members of sandaime J soul brothers, it’s still a bit early, but this year’s November 10th is the 10th anniversary of your debut. Congratulations! (The members thank him) This is a great opportunity so we would like to look back on ZIP! and sandaime’s history from our first meeting.

Background voice: From the precious archive footage of ZIP!, let’s look back on the 10 year history of sandaime J soul brothers. The first one is from June 2011 at their first album release event.

Footage-Naoto: From the bottom of my heart, I’m really happy.

Tosaka: His face was sharp!

Naoto: My eyebrows were so thin!

Background: Then two years later in April 2013 we have an interview. The members who are watching this footage (Elly and Kenjiro were partnered up: cooking demonstration + beatboxing) 7 years later are curious about-

Naoto: At the back, Naoki’s hairstyle was eyecatching.

Elly: Yes! I noticed too!

Ryuji: I noticed the hair.

Kenjiro: It was a refreshing bob cut.

Naoto: It looks like a bob.

Naoki: It was not a bob. It was an Okappa (おかっぱ, google it :D)!

Background voice: They were curious about the long hair. It’s totally different from what it is now. Then we have footage from December in the same year of their first live performance in the ZIP! studio. After that in March of the next year, Sandaime’s first participation in ZIP!’s spring fest. Here the event that left the most impression on the members was the dance collaboration with Announcer Masu. (They did 君の瞳に恋してる~can’t take my eyes off you)

Elly: For Masu-san to have managed to remembered all of that choreography, it was really quite hard.

Masu: Yes, they gave me a week and so I had the time to turn the steps into words and from there I managed to remember.

Tosaka: Oh yeah you turned them into words

Naoto: You transcribed the dance moves.

Footage-Masu: I transcribed your steps into words. (someone comments that he was all serious business) Macho pose~Macho~macho

Footage-Naoto: This has never been heard of before right? This transcription of dance choreography into words.

The clip switched to Elly rolling across the stage while everyone took turns jumping over him.

Ryuji: Masu jumped over Elly.

Masu: Elly told me, “It’s okay if you step on me”, but there was no mirth in his eyes at all so I was really afraid.

Background voice: Then in June 2014 the release of Ryusei whose dance moves became a social phenomenon. After that the star studded Sandaime J soul brothers also appeared on ZIP! several times. How much of the interview do they remember? Let’s find out! The interview we have prepared is from November 2015, where after appearing on the music special “Best artist”, they were asked about a recent “Best scene”

Naoki: So on November 10th we will celebrate our 5th anniversary, and it is coincidentally also my birthday.

Background voice: That’s right. November 10th is an important anniversary for Sandaime J soul brothers: Debut anniversary and Naoki’s birthday! On that day-

Footage-Naoki: Naoto invited me to go eat very casually, when we got there and I opened the door______

Background voice: To give Naoki a suprise, Naoto prepared a surprise. What kind of surprise did he prepare? Everyone remembers, right?

Tosaka: Eh? What was it? I don’t know.

Iwata: What was it?

Masu: Naoki you yourself remember don’t you?

Naoki: No, I forgot.

Naoto: OI! You cold hearted man!

Background voice: And we start off unexpectedly with Naoki himself not remembering what happened, but what of the other members? We asked, just in case.

Elly: Something like Naoto dressed up as a girl waiting for him?

Naoto: My image in Elly’s mind is that?!

Ryuji: Other members were also present?

Kenjiro: Isn’t that it? That’s it right? November 10th to me is a special day. Since it was a birthday, the surprise was all members gathering together right?

Masu: So if Naoki asked you all to gather together for a surprise you will all gather together?

Kenjiro: If we can gather around on that day we will.

Masu: Ah then let’s go to the video showing the correct answer

Footage-Naoki: Naoto invited me to go eat very casually, when we got there and I opened the door and Gun-chan was waiting there (as a surprise)

Kenjiro: Gun-chan?

Elly covers his face and laughs uncontrollably.

Footage-Naoto: My plan was to have all 6 members waiting for him, but after I informed everyone, only Gun-chan turned up.

Footage-Gun: I was also wondering, “What kind of energy should I be using to welcome him?” “Sorry it’s just me?”

Iwata: We’re so bad at gatherings!

Kenjiro: It’s so bad that we were all asked to go but no one went!

Naoto: And you just said, “If you ask us to go we’ll go”! That was such a huge lie.

Masu: Kenjiro-san, what were you doing on that day?

Kenjiro: I really no longer remember.

Masu: Naoki how do you feel?

Naoki: It’s really lonely. I was thinking that I should always maintain a good relationship with Gun-chan.

Iwata: That’s good. That’s good.

Background voice: A fray in a 10 year bond? and then we go to another interview, this is right before their debut, about the pose that Iwata showed the fans.

Footage-Iwata: At the time I was still an amateur who couldn’t tell left from right, and I was standing on the stage without any clue as to what posing meant. and I ended up doing _____ weird pose. (footage-naoto agreed) They’re still laughing about it today.

Background voice: The weird pose that Iwata did when he was still a newbie, does anyone remember?

Kenjiro: This one, yeah

Ryuji: This I know.

Masu: Does everyone remember?

Tosaka: If you cue us, we can all do it at the same time.

Masu: The pose from Iwata’s newbie days, cue!

They all do the exact same pose

Masu (laughing loudly): That’s right, Let’s go to the answer video.

Footage-Iwata: It was simply a pose where I held my right wrist with my left hand. They’re still laughing about it today.

Masu: Iwata-san, are they still teasing you about this today?

Iwata: 10 years later today it’s still a joke that can be thrown around, that’s conversely quite alright. At the time I couldn’t quite make my hands calm down, and while thinking that I had to do something, I ended up with this pose where I looked like I was holding an injured wrist.

Background voice: We have the actual footage here. among all the members who had cool poses, there was Iwata: holding his right wrist tightly with his left hand.

Masu: Iwata-san, would you mind showing us that pose a second time?

Iwata: Ah it’s our 10th anniversary so I would like to promote this

Naoto: Promote?

Tosaka: I’d like to see that!

Background voice: This strong bond that Sandaime J soul brothers have built up over a 10 year period, another strong bond that goes without saying is their bond with the fans. Although they were supposed to celebrate this important year together with the fans, they faced extraordinary circumstances. However, the members are already prepared for this

Tosaka: The time when we can’t meetup, whether it’s the fans or the members, the frustration that builds up from wanting to “have fun at a live performance”, that’s a good kind frustration. Of course we all hold these feelings of wanting have a live performance, the build up of these feelings clash and lead to the birth of a tremendous amount of anticipation for both us and the fans.

Naoto: After the lifting of this emergency state and we overcome all this with everyone, we hope to be able to bring you all a lot of fun with the power we have accumulated, the ideas that we have thought up in this period. We are doing all these preparations. So let’s look forward to the day when we meet up in a live performance. We hope to continue to have your support.

Lady in the studio: You could really feel their bond in the interview

Masu: I’m sure the viewers at home also have this feeling, when you’re doing meetings remotely there’s usually a clash where everyone tries to speak, but the sandaime members didn’t face this situation and everything was smooth so I felt this was the result of a 10 year bond.

Kenjiro (laughs): Really? I think you’re praising us a little too much. (Masu: no really!) Looking at the footage from when we debuted, you can only feel a sense of wonder realising that that artist has successfully stood on the stage of a dome tour. The 10th year anniversary is a really special year to the sandaime J soul brothers, although it’s shame that we can’t do any live performances, we will fully utilise this time, arrange meetings. so that when this emergency state is lifted, we can deliver unbelievably fun live performances and entertainment. I have the confidence that we will be able to deliver, so please look forward to that.

Masu: Please work hard on that. ZIP! is also in its 10th year so I hope to continue to have your support.

[granvarones]

in 1990, madonna was arguably the most popular and consistent pop artist on the planet. at the time, she had already sold millions upon millions of records and amassed an astounding 17 consecutive top 10 singles. sixteen of the singles reached top 5 including 7 number ones on the billboard hot 100. madonna was a decade into her recording career and with the release of a surprise single, she was about to enter another imperial phase of her career.

madonna was still actively promoting her 1989 album “like a prayer” in the spring of 1990. in fact, the album’s fifth and final single, “keep it together” was still in the top 20 of the hot 100 after peaking at #10 in march of 1990. but a chance meeting with luis and jose xtravaganza of the legendary house of xtravaganza would inspire the creation of a song that became one the biggest culture moments of 1990.

released on march 27, 1990, “vogue” quickly became the most successful single of madonna’s career selling 6 million copies worldwide and reaching #1 in over 30 countries, including topping the us hit 100 in may of 1990. jose and luis not only served as lead choreographers, they were prominently featured in the “vogue” music video. it was through madonna’s and producer shep pettibone’s deep house track that the two xtravaganzas provided a glimpse of black and latinx ballroom culture in the accompanying music video that mainstream america had not yet seen.

since it’s release, the black queer and trans created art form of voguing has re-emerged in the mainstream via shows like “rupaul’s drag race,” the vice docu-series “my house” and most notably, the ever popular and critically acclaimed fx show, “pose.” in fact, the 1990 release and cultural impact of madonna’s “vogue” was a story arc across several episodes of the second season of “pose.”

so here we are 30 years after the release of one of pop music’s most commercially and culturally successful songs by one of pop’s most polarizing figures. i can attest to all of this because i was around to witness most of it. i have a clear memory of watching the teasers for “vogue’s” world premiere on mtv. i remember being in awe by the video’s imagery and wondering to myself, “is that a titty?”. i knew i was watching something so queer at a time when all things gay were associated to deviancy, aids and death. i also remember learning the choreography and showing it off to my aunt who quickly responded, “don’t you think those moves are kinda gay?” i didn’t respond but internally i was like, “bitch, duh!”

https://youtu.be/GuJQSAiODqI

so in celebration of the “vogue’s” 30th anniversary, i wanted to ask a few friends around my grown and sexy age what they remember about the song. i asked my good friend, fellow queer historian and longtime madonna fan, juan, peter, who has long history in the philadelphia ballroom including being a member of the house of africa and my former mentor and former father of the house of ferraramo, kwame to share their memories of “vogue.”

louie: do you remember when you first heard “vogue”?

JUAN: i was in 5th or 6th grade when i first heard madonna’s vogue. that song was everywhere but it never really appealed to me. it didn’t really hit me till i was 14 and went to my first gay club, arena in hollywood, ca. the “older guys” i met through that scene – about 18-20 years old but at the time they seemed very adult – showed my friends and i what vogue was. i never really connected to the song till i saw live vogueing at arena. around that age, i also saw the “blonde ambition” tour broadcast on hbo, that whole thing became my obsession and my entry into queer culture. later in high school, a counselor in my lgbt support group showed us “paris is burning” and everything felt complete. being a madonna fan back then, when aids was still at the forefront of the lgbt community, being a madonna fan was code. now that i think about it, the song became a hit at the time that i came out and went to my first gay club.

KWAME: i think it was the world premiere of the video on mtv. if i had heard it before it wasn’t as exciting as waiting to see the visual.

louie: what were your initial thoughts about the song? about the video?

PETER: my initial thoughts about “vogue” when i first heard it, i was in delaware. i was hyped! i like “oh look, its gonna be on tv and there’s gonna be a video.” i was hype because voguing was coming out to the mainstream.

JUAN: i didn’t really care for the song. i still don’t. for some reason, i’ve always known all the lyrics so it definitely made an impression. the video was cool because her dancers were hot, and “fancy,” they were being sexualized in a way that was empowering to their nuanced body language. i would argue that without that specific group of dancers, that era in her career wouldn’t have been as exciting. the mtv awards performance where she lip-synced in marie antoinette drag was way more exciting than the video. when i hear the song, it just doesn’t process or register the way vogue and ball culture does. i was a madonna fanatic for decades, and in some ways still am, but that song isn’t my favorite. it does carry strong memories of coming out to my friends and a type of nostalgic, youthful freedom and for that i appreciate it. i remember when the club kids were on geraldo and they played vogue during an intro and they all gave geraldo shit, like, “we don’t listen to that!” – that’s how i feel about it now.

louie: were you aware of voguing before the song’s release? what was your entry into the world of voguing?

PETER: oh yes, i was well aware of the whole ballroom scene and vogueing long before madonna. and i was already in philadelphia way before that song.

JUAN: my entry to vogue was simultaneous to the first time i went to gay club and i met trans sex workers, and gays in the party scene doing this thing from new york. i remember all the queens talking about new york, looking to new york, walking runways on dancefloors and trying to vogue. the origins of vogue were unknown till a few years later when i was in high school. the song was also powerful in how it gave the working class access to “feel their fantasy.”

KWAME: yes, but I never walked before the song was released. i started walking (the category) later that year.

louie: how would you describe the impact of the song in 1990?

PETER: i think the impact was a lot for mainstream. because mainstream got to see what ballroom and voguing was because it had already existed for decades and it was interesting to see mainstream try to do it. really, really interesting.

KWAME: it (partnered with the release of “paris is burning”) brought visibility to the ballroom scene, and I think it helped create a dialogue that brought ballroom across the US in a big way. it definitely influenced choreography for a few years. although other artists (most notably, Jody Watley) had featured vogueing in some visual format before madonna, “vogue” became the anthem that made the dance a staple movement.

louie: how would you describe the song’s impact over the last 30 years?

JUAN: now we have the language to say she culturally appropriated an entire subculture (her career relied on it), we can say she exploited a whole community. that statement would not be wrong; but with vogue, she also highlighted a space and language that was entirely invisible and needed a lift. people were dying of aids, and tons of scared queer kids found joy in this song. in some ways it was a gift. rupaul’s “supermodel” (1992) could not have existed without vogue. deee-lite before that. underground club culture and dance music got a hand from this awkward single.

KWAME: for me, the power of the song waned as the visibility true ball culture rose. it’s a cute song about a dance, kinda like “the twist”. but i feel the video is ICONIC, and would even say her “live” performances (MTV awards; blond ambition tour) of the song are probably still entertaining. let me see… it’s one of those culture phenom moments, which is to be expected for madonna. and “vogue” is probably one of her three career defining songs!

PETER: i think after 30 years, madonna’s vogue has a small impact because ballroom has changed in the past 30 years, it has evolved. and it’s gone to different places with different songs from around the world, but it has a small part of the history.

there is no debating that “vogue” was a pop-culture moment in 1990 and like most things that are consumed by the american populous, the moment that madonna’s vogue ushered in didn’t last. however, the art form continued to thrive in the ballroom scene. so as we remember the impact of “vogue”, we must honor and raise up the black and brown queer and trans people from the new york ballroom scene who carried the beautiful art of vogueing before, during and after madonna’s cultural moment in 1990.

[ramesh64937593]

Happy Nice Wishes For Anniversary

Regardless of whether you've been dating for a couple of years or wedded for 10 years, a commemoration is something to celebrate. It's daily that holds an exceptional spot in your heart (and schedule) since it denotes your choice to go through your time on earth together. From sweet to amusing, each couple has an alternate style of communicating their adoration.

Finding the ideal parity of sentiment and attentiveness can appear to be testing when you're keeping in touch with one of the general population you care most about on the planet. In case you're battling with what to write in your commemoration card, some commemoration statements or messages will enable you to articulate your sentiments.

To the most delightful lady who has given me the most wonderful life, a glad commemoration.

Each romantic tale is exceptional, remarkable and wonderful—yet our own is my top pick.

At the point when an adoration is valid, there is no consummation. I trust we get the chance to celebrate for a long time to come. Upbeat commemoration!

I need to cherish you, revere you, deal with you and make you the most joyful individual there ever was for all of time.

I didn't think it was conceivable to adore you anything else than I did the day I wedded you, however by one way or another my adoration just develops. I adore you today and dependably.

Glad commemoration to the main individual on the planet that I need close to me consistently and consistently for the rest my life. I cherish you, sweetheart. Upbeat commemoration!

I'm so amped up for the future since I can hardly wait to make the majority we had always wanted materialized. Glad commemoration and cheers to some more.

I think everything occurs for a reason since it drove me to you. I cherish you, upbeat commemoration.

Everlastingly wouldn't be long enough with you. Glad commemoration, with all my affection.

Having you close by makes me the most joyful, most appreciative and most fortunate individual on the planet. Cheerful commemoration to my perfect partner.

You're my preferred spouse.

There's nobody I'd preferably sit on the sofa staring at the television with. Glad commemoration!

It's entirely cool that we've been as one for anyway long we've been as one. Cheerful commemoration!

Once in a while I wonder how you endure me, however then I recollect that I endure you as well, with the goal that makes us even. I adore you!

You're okay I presume. Upbeat commemoration!

Despite the fact that your wheezing makes me insane, I wouldn't pick any other individual on the planet to impart my bed to. Glad commemoration!

Glad commemoration! How about we request takeout and be sleeping by 10pm.

I'm yours. No discounts.

You wedded this insane. Glad commemoration!

Here and there I get envious of you. All things considered, you wedded the world's most excellent and splendid lady. Cheerful commemoration, dearest spouse!

Cheerful commemoration to my better-inside and out half. Truly, you're astonishing.

I cherish doing existence with you. Glad commemoration!

Like the grins in our selfies, you light up my life. I cherish you! Glad commemoration.

From sending you great night writings to wishing you great morning, everything appears to be better since I met you. Cheerful commemoration.

The beneficial things in life are better with you.

I am so honored to be hitched to somebody as brilliant as you. Glad commemoration.

I can never disclose to you enough how delightful you are, the amount you make me grin and the amount you intend to me. Upbeat commemoration to my one genuine romance.

Upbeat commemoration! Much obliged to you for continually adoring me for my identity.

There's no place else I'd preferably be over ideal here close by with your submit mine. Upbeat commemoration.

In our current reality where such a significant number of things can be unsure, you are the one thing that I will dependably make certain of.

Despite the fact that the years keep on passing, my adoration for you just becomes more grounded. Upbeat [25th] commemoration!

It began with a fantasy of a coexistence, and the fantasy just shows signs of improvement. Cheers to [one] year of marriage!

Indeed, even after [20] years, I've never known anybody progressively delightful, more kind and more adoring than you. Cheerful Commemoration to my unrivaled genuine romance.

Glad [5th] commemoration, angel. I adore you increasingly more consistently!

After so long there's no spot I would prefer to be than ideal here with you. Cheerful [50th] commemoration!

Upbeat [10th] commemoration. We've had such huge numbers of great recollections together as of now. Here's to some more!

There are no words to depict the adoration I feel for you on our [first] commemoration—unflinching, delicate and endless just start to entirety it up.

We may have changed since we initially met [10] years prior, however through that we have just developed nearer. I adore you to such an extent! Glad commemoration sweetheart.

Glad commemoration! I can't resist the urge to grin recalling the majority of our most joyful recollections from the past [10] years, and I'm energized for what the following [10] will bring!

I realized we'd make it this long when I wedded you. I'm likewise foreseeing that we'll make it any longer. Cheers to another [20] years together!

Check......

[pamphletstoinspire]

100th Anniversary of Stigmata of Padre Pio

On this day, 100 years ago, Padre Pio received the stigmata, which are visible wounds like Christ's. Not even science can explain how these wounds appeared or persisted for the remainder of his life:

On the morning of the 20th September 1918, after having celebrated Holy Mass, the priest Padre Pio retired to the choir stalls for his usual thanksgiving. The place was S. Giovanni Rotondo and the church, Our Lady of Grace.

Outside in the small piazza the morning was similar to most other mornings on the Gargano. The friary, lying at the foot of the mountain, high above the village, seemed isolated and remote, altogether cut off from the world. Peace and quiet hung heavy in the mountain air filling the huge spaces with indescribable serenity and calm.

Padre PioChirpings of birds, muted and subdued, coming as if from far off and the monotonous drone of myriad flying insects were sounds to accentuate the silence of the place. They adorned but did not disturb it. Already the clear lines of morning were fading and merging into the heat of midday. High up, a blazing sun seared the massive garganic granite, sending all creatures hurrying to the cool oasis of shuttered rooms.

Only a few old folk long accustomed to this midday furnace moved slowly about, entering the small church to say their devotions, then emerging and making their way across to the ancient yew-tree dominating the middle of the piazza to rest silently in its shadow. A day like other September days with little hint that it could be any different from those which had preceded it or from those which must assuredly follow it.

For the young priest, however, just then kneeling in the chapel of the church, this morning was to be very different, a fateful morning like no other, containing within it a destiny, a summons whose imperious and exalted demands he would attempt to fulfill to the end. Here inside the church the silence was very great. Not a sound penetrated the thick walls from outside as P. Pio, oblivious to everything except the memory of his recent Mass, slowly prostrated in loving adoration before the outspread, bloodied figure on the crucifix.

With that marvelous facility possessed by the mystics by which all external objects are abandoned he withdrew into himself, his spirit yielding to the peacefulness which invaded his whole being, a peacefulness, he later wrote, "similar to a sweet sleep". In this absolute silence he prayed, mind and heart totally wrapped in the burning love which consumed him like some incurable fever. A sweet calm heralding the forthcoming storm.

What happened next can best be told in the simple, unadorned words of P. Pio writing to P. Benedetto little more than a month afterwards: "It all happened in a flash. While all this was taking place, I saw before me a mysterious Person, similar to the one I had seen on August 5th, differing only because His hands, feet and side were dripping blood. The sight of Him frightened me: what I felt at that moment is indescribable. 'I thought I would die, and would have died if the Lord hadn't intervened and strengthened my heart which was about to burst out of my chest. The Person disappeared and I became aware that my hands, feet and side were pierced and were dripping with blood" (Ep., V. 1, no. 5 10, p. 1094). P. Pio had just received the visible stigmata. There was nobody about. Silence settled once more round the brown robed figure now lying huddled on the floor.

The StigmataA long Calvary had just begun and with it the answer to a prayer: the prayer of his profound desire to identify with Christ crucified not only by participation in the priestly apostolate but in some mysterious way in that supreme immolation of Our Lord on Calvary (cf. Le Stimmate di P. Pio, G. Cruchon, SJ, Colana "Spiritualità", No. 1, p. 102).

He had not desired this physical conformity and when he had recovered somewhat from the immediate experience his embarrassment was extreme: "I am dying of pain because of the wound and because of the resulting embarrassment which I feel deep within my soul. . . Will Jesus who is so good grant me this grace ? Will he at least relieve me of the embarrassment which these outward signs cause me" (Ep., V. 1, p. 1904). Not the wound, not the pain did he wish removed but only the visible signs which at the time he considered to be an indescribable and almost unbearable humiliation.

Later, much later, however, he would come to love and cherish these divine marks of predilection, drawing from them that rich source of superhuman energy which from then on marked his apostolate of love and suffering. With Catherine of Siena he could truly say: "My wounds not only do not afflict my body, but they sustain and fortify it. I feel that what formerly depressed me, now invigorates me." His wounds, hitherto invisible but now manifested exteriorly, mark a definitive stage of his soul's transformation into the object loved, namely, the Lord who suffered and was crucified.

For the next fifty years they would confound impartial science; their continuous and profuse effusion of blood, accompanied often by the sweetest fragrance, came to be regarded as a prolonged miracle, because, as the experts correctly state, blood for its production requires nourishment while this friar's extraordinary frugality was such as hardly to maintain the life of a small child.

The remarkable nature of this miraculous gift becomes more apparent when it is considered how such loss of blood was simply inconsonant with and disproportionate to the stamina and energy with which P. Pio with ever greater activity and zeal conducted his life in all matters relating to the service of God.

Such are the bald facts of P. Pio's stigmata. From his correspondence it is clear that very early in his priestly life there were, at least, indications of what eventually came to pass. Writing to P. Benedetto as early as 1911, only a year after ordination, P. Pio described a phenomenon which he had been experiencing for almost a year: "Then last night something happened which I can neither explain nor understand. In the middle of the palms of my hands a red mark appeared, about the size of a penny, accompanied by acute pain in the middle of the red marks. The pain was more pronounced in the middle of the left hand, so much so that I can still feet it. Also under my feet I can feel some pain" (Ep., V. 1, p. 234).

This is his first mention of the phenomenon to his spiritual father because, as he says, he was overwhelmed with shame. He simply did not want to talk about it, hoping no doubt that it was a passing thing which would soon clear up and then be forgotten.

Four years later, in 1915, his beloved P. Agostino demands certain information in the name of Jesus: When did Jesus first favour him with celestial visions ? Has Jesus made him a gift of his stigmata even though invisible? How often does he feel the crown of thorns and the scourging? P. Agostino asks these questions not out of curiosity but for the glory of God and the salvation of souls (Ep., V. 1, p. 659).

In his reply to this letter P. Pio recognizes the express will of God and willingly answers all three questions. To the first he replies that Jesus began to favour "his poor creature" not very long after his novitiate (Jan. 1903 to Jan. 1904); to the second, whether Jesus made him a gift of the stigmata, the reply is affirmative and we learn that from the start the wounds were visible, especially in one hand, but that P. Pio was so terrified in the face of this phenomenon that he begged the Lord to withdraw them.

From then on they did not appear again until September 1918 although their pain remained and were felt more acutely under certain circumstances and on determined days. The final question he also answers affirmatively. He experiences the pain of the crown of thorns and the scourging. How often he cannot say except that at the time of writing he has been suffering from them almost once a week for some years (cf. Ep., V. 1, p. 669).

The rest is history. News of the event spread like wildfire and by the following year there began that afflux of pilgrims to the tiny friary which has not ceased since. At first in a tiny stream they came, later in the tens of thousands, flocking to glimpse this priest with the wounds of Christ, to assist at his Mass, to kiss those mittened hands and for those who could speak Italian the privilege of confessing to him.

In all this, of course, there were dangers. The danger of a "personality cult"; of the possibility of self-induced wounds produced by a morbid, impressionable, temperament; the danger of fraud and deception, deliberate or otherwise, with the intent of leading a credulous faithful astray; that the stigmata was nothing more than an effect of natural causes rather than a supernatural gift; and finally, there was the dangerous possibility of preternatural and diabolic activity.

In the light of this, and in retrospect, it is understandable why the Church authorities took a course of action that at the time seemed harsh and cruel but which today can be seen, at least in part, as the anvil on which P. Pio's sanctity was hammered out, put to the test and purified to become the luminous and diaphanous veil through which men glimpsed God.

[wazafam]

Why is May The 4th the official Star Wars Day? While the pun is certainly a good one (May the force be with you, May the fourth be with you), how did it become so globally recognized with organized events, sales on new Star Wars products, and new content being released for the galaxy far, far away? In recent years, May the 4th has made the transition from being a day for fan appreciation and has evolved more into a legit holiday. Here's how May The 4th began, as well as how it became such a large day of celebration for the pop culture phenomenon.

Funny enough, the first recorded official use of the "May the Fourth" pun was on May 4th 1979, the day Margaret Thatcher became the United Kingdom's Prime Minister. A congratulatory statement was placed in the London Evening News which read, "May the fourth be with you, Maggie. Congratulations." However, one can imagine that clever Star Wars fans with penchants for puns would have been saying the phrase in the two years prior since the original Star Wars movie hit cinemas in 1977. It should also be noted that Lucasfilm had nothing to do with the initial events/parties that were first held. In 2011, one of the first large organized events was held at the Toronto Underground Cinema in Canada, featuring film screenings, costume contests, and more. At its core, the origins of May the 4th lie with fan appreciation for the franchise.

Related: The Bad Batch Shows Why Rogue One & Mandalorian Are Disney's Biggest Successes

However, Disney's purchase of Lucasfilm in 2012 shifted the day into more of a legitimate holiday ever since 2013. Disney began hosting parties and events at their theme parks, and other companies started following suit, offering special discounts and sales on Star Wars products to the point where fans now eagerly await the day when new products are given special May 4th release dates in order to capitalize on the hype and excitement. Furthermore, Disney has lately used the holiday as a release date for new content, such as 2020's seventh season of Clone Wars on Disney Plus, as well as the upcoming Star Wars: The Bad Batch series coming this year's May the 4th.

Additionally, some might not know that there's actually another official Star Wars day every year on May 25th. In 2007, the city of Los Angeles declared May 25 as an official Star Wars Day in honor of the 30th anniversary of the first film's release on May 25, 1977 – though it seems pretty clear that fans (and companies) are more drawn to the day with the epic pun. It's sort of hard not to, but the 25th does provide another great excuse to watch any Star Wars movies missed on the 4th. Also, for those wanting to celebrate the dark side there's always Revenge of the 5th the next day (like Revenge of the Sith...get it?)

At this point, there's multiple ways for Star Wars fans to celebrate the holiday in some way, shape or form, even if it's just sitting on the couch and marathoning favorite films and/or series from the massive galaxy far, far away. Furthermore, there's just something cool about there being an entire day dedicated to such a large pillar of global pop culture...it's also really fun to tell people, "May the Fourth be with you."

More: Do You Need To Watch Clone Wars Before Bad Batch?

Why Is May The 4th The Official Star Wars Day? | Screen Rant from https://ift.tt/3ubARoZ

[dalshabetglobal]

160208 Dalshabet Interview for Newsen (English)

[Newsen, Reporter Yoo HyoJung / Photographer Jung YooJin] Dalshabet (Serri, Ayoung, Woohee, Subin), who made their debut with 'Supa Dupa Diva' in 2011 is well known by the public for their two-side charms image, being lovely and sexy. Even though they are sexy and have a strong image, they always show how lovely they are. They say their real charm is 'mildang' (pushing and pulling*).

Dalshabet, who had an interview with Newsen for the New Year's Day, is in their 5th anniversary since debut. They have talked about wanting the "first place" as their 5 year wish and said what changed over the years.

Q. What are your plans for the new year? Subin: I'm going to eat delicious food with my family. I want to go visit them. I'm in Seoul and my family is in Gwangju. I can't go to Gwangju very often because I'm always busy in Seoul but I hope to spend time with them this time. Serri: I just want to see my parents. When I was young, I thought at this age I would be giving my parents a lot of money. I thought I would already have to take care of them. Ayoung: I don't think I will be able to travel to see my parents, so I'm going to send a message to them. My dad was already planning "What should we do in the snow?". (Laughs) Woohee: My mom asked me "Will you come to see the snow with me?". She said that if I go, she will do something delicious for me. This time, I plan to learn cooking something different with my mom. All: Learn how to cook? Do you plan on getting married? (Laughs) Woohee: It's because I do not cook very well so I plan on training and getting better. I'm very interested on cooking so I want to try it out.

Q. This time, the members are not living in a dormitory anymore and everyone seems independent. Ayoung: Since december we don't live together anymore. But we are neighbors. It's fun to live with the members in the dormitory but it is also really fun to have your own space to live. Serri: While living alone, I have to do a lot of laundry. I try to organize myself alone but it's not easy. You have to be very independent since the beggining. Now that the members are not living together anymore, I will be more responsible and get ready quickly because sometimes I get late for activities. I feel like I'm late because I don't have the members to talk all the time. Ayoung: I want a black curtain. I hate the sun rising in the morning because sunlight get in my room. I wake up and ignore the sun, I only leave my bed when the alarm rings. Serri: I'm completely different. I like to see the sun shining when I open my eyes. I feel like I'm in New York. (Laughs) Subin: (Living alone) it's like a hobby. I have a different lifestyle. I really liked to eat in the dormitory but now that I'm alone, I hate to eat because I feel too lonely. I turn on the music as soon as I enter in the house. The best thing of that is when I'm in the shower. I'm also enjoying a lot of reading, paiting and dedicating myself to my hobbies. Woohee: Sometimes she leaves the lights on in the night because she's afraid of ghots. I'm serious. (Laughs) Subin: No! That's a lie.

Q. Who was the most worried about living alone? Ayoung: Woohee. She didn't want that to happen, I don't think she likes to be alone. (Laughs)

Q. Have you been to each other's house? All: We always go to each other's place but we are starting to feel like there's no place like our own house. After the comeback activities we are planning to have a small party at home.

Q. Promoting 'Someone Like U' with four members. Subin: I plan on promoting for 8 weeks? 10 weeks? I want to promote that song for a long time. So I think we're still in the beggining of promotions. With four members, I don't think our schedule has been reduced as I thought it would. We are having more and more promotiong and I'm very happy to be busy. Serri: Frankly, before the start of these activities I was very worried about changing to only four members. But we are getting a lot of cheering so I'm enjoying that a lot. The image we have now changed a lot as well. We have got bad reactions before and there were twists and turns. We have had a hard time before but this time  seems like everyone is enjoying so I'm also enjoying. I want to show our good atmosphere as a four member group, also want to show a more colorful image of us. Woohee: I was worried about promoting with four members but we do look good and everyone are praising us. I am glad that we are getting active and working a lot, and I am planning to work for a very long time.

Q. For how long will Dalshabet exist? Serri & Subin: Until we die. (Laughs) Subin: We are serious. Now we're getting a lot of wedding invitations and when we think about getting married, we think of ourselves still as Dalshabet members. When we get married, we will perform our song in the celebration. (Laughs) We joke about that a lot. Serri: Wether or not the girlgroup will exist, we are sure we will still be together as friends and we will surely release an album together. We want to be a long lasting group that will always be in contact with fans.

Q. To be a rising star, what do you need to do? Ayoung: Get first place on a music show, of course. I really want it. In the past, I didn't think much about getting first place. I was really happy when other singers got first place as if we were the ones who had promoted the winning song. However, maybe it was starting with the 'Joker' promotions? I did feel like my pride was getting hurt. This wasn't because other singers were doing well, but rather because of my feelings toward our Dal Shabet. In whatever interview we had, they would ask about our promise for first place, first place, and at some moments, there seemed to be no meaning behind the promise. Woohee: I had thought that our being active for a long time was a success. That is seriously a success. However, there's the feeling right now that we need to get number one no matter what, right? Honestly, we want to promote for a long, long time, and because we hear a lot of talk about 'first place,' we feel anxious for no reason? It feels like first place has become the indicator of success. Ayoung: Of course there exists a first place for sports and education, too.  Everybody wants to become number one.  There are people who think we have no ambition when we say that our goal is to promote for a long time.  However, I don't think getting first place is always the best ultimate goal to wish for.  We want first place and we're working towards it, but above that, we want to promote for a long, long time.  I believe that Dal Shabet has a brand value.  In order to make that value shine even more, I want to get first place.  Also, I want to get first place for our parents, our fans, and for Jiyul and Kaeun. Ayoung: We were embarrassed, too, to make a promise for first place sometimes. However, I do think we need to also become more shameless. Serri: Huh. I agree with you.

Q. What is the color of Dalshabet? Subin: Our color is different for each viewer? We have used a lot of different composers on stage, so we have a lot a colors. Dalshabet is a "sweet sherbet", so we are sweet but we also have a cold charm. Even if we are cute and fresh, we have a cool charisma. I don't think we have only one color. I think that's what we are.

Q. What is your biggest wish this year? Subin: I think that I will faint if we ever get a '1st place' win. We need to prepare an ambulance. Ayoung: I want to be a group that will be on top someday. Even though I'm happy for them, I'm envious for other groups so I always work hard to do my best. I want to feel how's to be in the first place.

Q. Dalshabet had to read malicious comments on Show Champion. Ayoung: The members were shocked with that situation. Because, even though we are a group promoting for a long time, when we read bad comments we get really hurt. I'm not interested in reading bad comments at all, I avoid them the most that I can. I know that's just life, but it's very hard for that. The way the members handled the bad comments was really cool. I was so shocked by the comments that I couldn't pretend, I couldn't laugh or smile while reading the malicious comments. People serious think that hating on someone is a nice thing. All that I know is that reading the comments hurt my heart. Serri: When we first debuted, I said something that people misunderstand, so a lot of rumors came out. At that time, I was hurt and cried a lot. I couldn't speak to my parents or members, all I did was crying, but now I'm stronger and more confident. I've grown a lot. (Laughs) Reading bad comments now makes me laugh. If I can avoid the comments, it's okay, but I  can also have fun reading them. Ayoung: I'm really thankful that there are a lot of people who support me, like unnie always tell me. When I get good praises, it really touches my heart and I'm very grateful. There was a time when we got a lot more hate. Now when we are on rehearsal for music broadcasts, a lot of people are waiting to see us in the outside. I always thank them. When I see someone that hates me in the future, I hope to be able to ignore them. I want to be that strong. Serri: In this promoting we are much happier. We're thankful for all the support and love we are getting.

Q. "There are times when I get hurt, but the power that makes me want to be in Dalshabet forever is..."? Subin: I really thank God. I'm thankful for everything. I think that a thankful heart is a driving force. Serri: The passion and satisfaction is what makes me want to keep doing that. And because of my groupmates. I'm glad to have them because we always take care and pay attention to each other. But the biggest reason is because of fans that love us so much. Ayoung: Pride. Pride to be a Dalshabet member. I want to always be good enough to Dalshabet. We are all very affectionate to the team so I think it's natural to take care of each other and that feeling will survive to the end. (Laughs) Woohee: I think the fans that support and loves us are the driving force to this kind of work. That's all. They say good works, send love letters and are always cheering for us whenever we go.

Q. How it would be if they really got first place? Subin: Even if another group gets called for first instead of us, I think I would faint. I need to prepare an ambulance beforehand. Ayoung: I got choked up when Girl's Day got first place in the past. I know they went through a hard time, so I was happy like it was personal for me and I was also envious. I want us to have that moment, too.

*Mildang = 밀당 = "pushing and pulling", "give what the other wants but then play hard to get".

Interview by Newsen ( 1 2 3 ) Translated by Dalshabet Global Please, take out with full credits!

[ireviewuread]

Althea Korea Shopping Spree | Althea Turns 5

Althea Korea Hauls | Althea Turns 5

If you’ve been around for awhile, you’ll realize I love Althea Korea. I get Korean beauty products from them all the time. However, the past year I seemed to have not mention anything about them. There’s a simple explanation to that but that involve a short backstory. Last year, I did 2 Althea hauls. I took the photos and uploaded them into my computer. Some time during that timeline, I switched computer and I never get to upload these photos. In fact, I’ll be posting a lot of these older posts in the near future for I’ve recently retrieved all these photos. 

Back to the haul. I’ll be posting 2 hauls in this post. The first one is the New Year’s haul featuring the Hanbok as their limited edition box design. The second haul is a normal haul with the signature Althea box design. 

Additionally, I would like to introduce to you Althea’s 5th anniversary event. As per their annually celebration, Althea will be having their exclusive deals and freebies all month long. This year, their theme is rainbow. With exclusive DIY Rainbow card kit and a limited edition rainbow box, this theme is created to help cheer everyone up during these hard times. There’s also a shopping spree contest for you to join. You can check out more about Althea Turns 5 here.

Althea Korea 2019 Lunar New Year Box | Hanbok Beauty Box 

This 2019 Lunar New Year limited edition box comes with a Hanbok designed box, 4 Hanbok envelopes and a cute hanbok air freshener. I love the air freshener. It is so well designed and serves as a beautiful decoration even after the scent is gone. You can even replenish or change the scent if you have your own essential oils. Just drip it in on the scent blocks under the dress and it’s as good as new.

Purito Centella Green Level Buffet Serum 

This serum contains 49% Centella extract that promotes collagen synthesis and activates cell tissues to calm trouble scars. It helps the skin with whitening and wrinkle improvement. I like how they even used recycled packaging for the serum.

Calmia Perfect Outdoor Sun Block

This is the second time I’m purchasing this sunblock. It have an SPF50+ and it is skin coloured. You can use this on your face for light coverage but I use it for my body instead. What more can I say it is cheap and it does it job so I repurchased it.

Etude House Sunprise Natural Corrector

This is another sunblock that I purchased. The Etude House Sunprise Natural Corrector have a SPF50+ and I intend to use it for my face. I still have yet to try it. 

Mise en Scene Perfect Serum

This is a hair oil. It smells wonderful, like a mixture of flowers and sweets. I like how my hair does not feel greasy after usage plus my hair smells wonderful. However, my hair does not feel healthier after usage.

CP-1 Premium Hair Treatment 

This is an item that is in my Xmas Wish list. I was attracted to this product because of its syringe packaging. This product works wonder. It made my hair feel soft and smooth after usage. I am just unsure how I can reuse the syringe. 

CP-1 Premium Silk Ampoule

The Silk Ampoule is a great after care product. It made my hair feels healthier once again. It’s such a shame it comes in such a small package. On the other hand, this characteristics could be seen as ‘portable’.

ARITAUM Real Ampoule Color Corrector

Have you heard of this saying where you can use a red lipstick to cover your dark eye circles? I’ve hear this saying floating for years now and I never intend to try it until colour correctors became a thing in the Kbeauty world. The science behind this phenomenon is red neutralises the blue-green hues under most eyes. It’s more suited for lighter colour skin and you have to find the perfect shade of orange-red for your skin tone. 

After years of constant probe by the media, I finally give in and get myself an orange-red colour corrector. I was initially skeptical of this product for it have the ‘clicker-pen’ design that I don’t particularly like for my makeup always gets stuck in these pens. There’s no way to open the pen to salvage the remaining product so you eventually you’re the owner of a useless and expensive piece of brush.

However, I decided to give this a go because curiosity got the best of me. I was in awe. I never expected my dark eye circles to vanish so quickly. Normally I would have to apply a few layers of thick concealer to conceal them but with this color corrector as my base, all that was required was a thin layer of my usual concealer and I’m good to go. This have got to be the best makeup that I’ve purchased for a long time.

Althea Shopping Spree 2019

We’re moving on to the next Althea Korea haul from 2019. Do note that my Sumikko Gurashi penguin is not included in the haul. In this haul, I got an insanely great deal where I got a eye shadow pallet as a freebie.

SIXTEEN Brickit Shadow Hit10 “Choco”

Althea Korea is known for its generous sales and freebies during a special occasion. In this occasion, I scored myself a free SIXTEEN Brickit Shadow Hit10 “Choco”. A full 16 colour eye shadow palette for free, plus it comes with a makeup brush.

It’s My Brush

I’m not particular about brands when it comes to products. As long as they work, I’m up for them. This is an angled brush for eye liners. For awhile, I see these “It’s my...” beauty accessories popping up everywhere so I decided to give them a try. I like it for the brush is soft and smooth. It’s also quite thin. It did not shed hair after washing it multiple times nor the handle shed its paint. I am still using this brush till date so I’m very content with it.

Elizavecca Hydro-gel Bouncy Eye Patch

I’ve used Elizavecca’s masks for years. The brand made an impression on me for one of their first mask I’ve used is the Milky Piggy Carbonated Clay Mask. It was such a fun mask to use. Thus, when Elizavecca Hydro-gel Bouncy Eye Patch come up with and eye mask, I did not hesitate to try. I was expecting slimy cold jelly-like masks but this mask only had gel on one side. It was not cool but it sticks onto the face without dropping. I’m not sure if it did anything to my under eyes for I only used them twice before abandoning it. I may use them again and give a thorough review but chances are not high.

Get it Beauty ceLABrity V Fit Mask

I touched about this Korean TV show and brand, Get it Beauty, multiple times on Ireviewuread and they came out witha V fit mask. This mask is supposed to help you pull your double chin upwards and make it less visible. It is also supposed to help making your chin a V shaped. I have yet to try it.

Nella Honey 1 Snail Multi Toning Essence 

This is a lazy person dream. It  works as a toner, lotion and essence. A 3-in-1, suitable for reducing your skincare steps. It contains honey extract. I gave this to my mother so that she can reduce the number of steps in her skincare routine.

Tea Toc Water Aloe Vera Soothing Gel

This Aloe Vera Gel contains 96% fresh Aloe Vera Extract and 99.9% real gold components for the skin’s elasticity. It is suitable for both skin and body. I have yet to try this.

Elizavecca Milky Piggy Sea Salt Cream

This is another Elizavecca’s product. It is made of clean Korean salt, pig shell collagen and it have whitening crease functionality. It have witch hazel extract and allantoin as well. This is a moisturiser and I have yet to try it.

Get It Beauty ceLABrity Velvet Cream 

This is another one of Get It Beauty products. It is a moisturiser and it is non-sticky. It is made of ceramide and shea butter. It felt like a mix between a balm and a cream and it indeed is non-sticky. It is suitable as a day moisturiser.

SKIN1004 Centellascar Ointment Quasi-Drug

This ointment is suitable helps heal scars and skin ulcer. It is made of the tittrated extract of Centella Asiatica, fresh from Madagascar. I have yet to try it.

BOOM DE AH DAH Rose Body Lotion

This is a body lotion that helps moisturize the skin. It is rose scented and light. I am currently using this body lotion. It have a velvety finish and helps moisturize the skin adequately. It is lightweighted and easy to spread. It is suitable for all skin types.

That’s the end of this double Althea haul. Hope you all like this slightly dated haul!. Check out my other Althea Hauls here:

Althea 1st Birthday Box haul

Althea 2015 Xmas Box haul

Althea 2016 Xmas Box Haul + Althea Haul

Althea 2nd Birthday Box haul

DIY Beauty Box Drawer Featuring Althea Boxes

and more Althea content here

[riiroo]

What To Teach Your Kids This August 2019

Hey!

Summer is now in full swing and what a summer it has been so far. 

With all of the very many sporting events like Wimbledon, the Cricket World Cup, and Silverstone we’ve started off with a jam-packed number things to keep us occupied.

Now, even though there is a lot going on, on the box, it’s now time to get you and your family out and about and enjoying the gorgeous weather we’ve been having (apart from those rainy days that is).

Each month at RiiRoo we focus on different interesting topics to teach your kids in addition to what they would normally learn at school.

If you missed last month’s July article - What To Teach Your Kids This July 2019 then you can read it here.

Last month (July) we looked at International Joke Day, Independence Day, Battle of the Boyne, First Boeing 707, Apollo 11, Disneyland Opening, Amelia Earhart Day and National Cheesecake Day. 

This Month

This month we’re going look at, Neil Armstrong’s birthday (the first man to walk on the moon), Play In The Sand Day (yes, this is a day), IBM PC announcement, Annie Oakley (sharpshooter) birthday, International Left Hander’s Day and National Aviation’s day.

5th August - Neil Armstrong’s Birthday

The 5th of August was a very special day. This was the day that Neil Armstrong (the first man to step foot and walk on the moon in 1969) was born.

Born in Wapakoneta, Ohio, on August 5, 1930, Neil served in the Korean war and then graduated college. Soon after he joined the NASA space program enrolling in the Astronaut program.

His fascination with flight developed quite young. In fact, he received his pilot's license when he was just 16 years old.

The “walking on the moon” event was not just iconic for a generation in 1969. It still is iconic to all children born since. Giving them the belief that they can do anything and if the dream BIG enough, they too can achieve their life’s goal.

Resources:

One Giant Leap For Mankind

Moonwalker

Relive the Apollo 11 Moon Landing Mission in Real-Time

11th August - Play In The Sand Day

Can you believe that this is actually a day? How cool is that?

Who doesn’t want to play around in the sand (no matter what age you are)? 

This day was originally about building sandcastles and soft sculptures. However, it morphed into everything to do with sand. 

Beaches all around the world now celebrate this day by holding contests and display artistic works from those famous and also the non-famous. 

Depending on which beach you go to on this day, you will have access to a whole variety of different food and drink as well as local attractions to keep you amused.

This day really is a great excuse to go the beach together as a family and have a ton of fun (providing you have the weather that is).

At first, this day sounds like a joke, but when you sit and down and think about it. It really is a wonderful idea and a good excuse to have a family day out by the sea.

Resources:

Play In The Sand Day

Celebrate Play in the Sand Day

12th August - IBM PC Announcement

The vast majority of us have got some form of PC (personal computer) at home in some shape or form. The only thing is, we just take it for granted as a piece of tech that everyone has now. However, this wasn’t always the case.

PC’s only started to become popular and mainstream in the early ’80s and one of the reasons for this was IBM which is short for International Business Machines. 

This gargantuan of a company was number one for things consumer and commercial computer-related and on 12th August 1981 the IBM PC was announced to the general public.

When the PC was announced, I don’t think anyone could ever dream just how much an effect this would have on all of our lives and shape millions of generations for years.

Resources:

The birth of the IBM PC

IBM Personal Computer - Wikipedia

The IBM Personal Computer's 25th Anniversary

13th August - Annie Oakley (sharpshooter) Birthday

Born Phoebe Ann Moses (or Mosey) on August 13, 1860, Annie Oakley is famously known for being the best female teenage sharpshooter or marksman in the world.

While her sisters were sleeping, Annie used to tag along with her father on hunting trips. 

She used her skill and talent as one of the top performers traveling in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. 

She was so famous and successful that she was able to earn enough to pay off the mortgage for her mother's home, which was unheard of at the time.

It wasn’t just the accuracy in her shooting, it was also the many shooting tricks she 

Resources:

10 Things You May Not Know About Annie Oakley

15 Facts About Annie Oakley That Prove She Could Outshoot Any Man

‘Little Sure Shot’, Annie Oakley

13th August - International Left Hander’s Day

This may surprise you, but only 10% of the world population is left-handed. They are clearly the odd-ones out and the vast majority of them are proud of it.

Since they make up such a small percentage of our society most people forget they exist at all. Consider the number of gadgets and tools that we produce. 

The vast majority of them have been designed with right-handers in mind and have completely forgotten left-handers. Granted, many left-handers have learned to adapt and become proficient with their right hands. However, with that said, it must be quite annoying for them on so many levels.

On August 13th a club was launched to celebrate all of the left-handers in the world. 

This is now an official event for left-handers to celebrate whilst at the same time increasing public awareness of both the advantages and disadvantages of being left-handed.

The event started in the UK but quickly spread around the world. There are more than 20 regional events to mark this day such as sports matches, tea parties, pubs and bars using left-handed corkscrews and even so-called “lefty zones” where you can see left-handed creativity.

Resources:

Left-Handers Day

International Lefthanders Day - Wikipedia

International Left-Handers Day - 12 facts you didn't know about lefties

19th August - National Aviation’s Day

National Aviation Day is a day that celebrates everything Aviation. Celebrated on 19th August, it is was officially established back in 1939 by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who issued a presidential proclamation which designated the anniversary of Orville Wright's birthday to be National Aviation Day.

If you would like to celebrate this day, there are plenty of air museums dotted around the country.

Here are a few in the UK:

Royal Air Force Museum London

Imperial War Museum Duxford

Bournemouth Aviation Museum

Royal Air Force Museum Cosford

Tangmere Military Aviation Museum

Resources:

National Aviation Day - Wikipedia

6 Ways to Celebrate National Aviation Day

National Today

So that’s it for another month. If you would like more interesting information like this, please sign up for the RiiRoo newsletter.

See you next month.

[nadineinjapan]

The Sendai Tanabata Festival

In the 4 years I’ve lived in Japan, the Sendai Tanabata Festival has been my favourite festival by far. 

QUICK SUMMARY Area: Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Northern Japan | Good For: Sightseeing, Photography, Japanese Culture | Tourist Trap Rating: 1/10

Held from August 6-8th every year in Sendai, Japan, (with the opening celebrations held on the evening of August 5th) this is a Summer Event not to be missed! (complete details available at the end of this post).

MY TIPS:

Fireworks Display: The Fireworks Display is held on the night before Tanabata (August 5th), with the best spot to view the fireworks being at Nishi Park (Nishi Koen - 西公園)  Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/2pQ18xogDcT2 Reserved & ticketed areas can be purchased, however I would recommend the free seating areas available throughout the area! Get there early & walk around to find the best spot for you. We chose a free place in the park close to Omachi Nishi Koen Station & were able to get these neat shots! 

Must-Do’s During the Festival:

1. Write Your Own Tanabata Prayer / Wish Each year throughout the festival in Clis Road, there are places where you can write your own prayer or wish on a tanabata paper & hang it up during the festival. Last year (2018) we found one near the Gap store close to Aobadori Ichibancho Station, and one half way up the arcade near the Softbank Store.

2. Try the Festival Foods I recommend “Choco Bannana” (チョコバナナ) (Banana on a stick covered in chocolate), “Hurricane Potato” (A fried potato swirl on a stick) or some of the special summer release cold stone ice creams (If you’re lucky enough to find them!) 

3. Try your hand at a “Lucky Prize”  Some stores will have a lucky prize draw during the festival. At these stores, you pay a nominal amount (usually a few hundred yen) and then you can draw a number out of a lucky box corresponding to a prize! Most people win a small prize, but if you’re lucky, you might win something really cool! 

4. Make a Japanese Origami Crane at the Sendai Peace Tanabata Area The Sendai Tanabata Festival closely coincides with the anniversary of the atomic bombing on Japan during World War II. So, at the festival each year there is a beautiful display of paper cranes for peace at the Sendai Peace Tanabata Area. Volunteers man the stall throughout the entire festival, and you are able to join their desk & create your own paper crane to be contributed to the decorations. 

Sendai Peace Tanabata

My mother & aunt being taught how to make their own crane during the Tanabata Festival in 2016. 

Check out these things and more in my video about the Tanabata Festival: 

EVENT DETAILS: 

WHERE: Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.

DATE:  August 6-8 each year. (Fireworks on the 5th)

HOW TO GET THERE:

The festival begins from Sendai Station https://goo.gl/maps/4HK8Gy12w972 and extends down the Clis Road Arcade https://goo.gl/maps/R8CnJRoNxam, but as the station is also filled with beautiful decorations, I suggest you start there! 

Sendai Station is available on the Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station. The journey takes about 1.5 hours, and costs around US $100 one way. (This train is covered for free under the Japan Rail Pass, and the JR East Rail Pass) 

Guides will be in force around Sendai Station and the arcade to ensure your safe journey. 

BONUS TIP:  As Tanabata is a Summer Festival in Japan, it is common for people to dress up in beautiful Summer Kimono’s called Yukata.  Why not try your hand at dressing up in one of these for the perfect Summer photos! (I bought mine in the Aeon Mall in Clis Road for around $40-50, but proper ones can be very expensive!) You’re also able to hire one for the day just to take photos! 

Official Website: https://www.sendaitanabata.com/en

[javajunkiedaily]

I can't believe you guys forgot to post their 6th month celebration as a married couple!

We are not the only ones, who forgot about that anniversary though.

Luke certainly doesn’t pay attention to things like that. He has a business to run, flip burgers, fry fries, make coffee, and keep up with whatever craziness Kirk came up to harass him with. To top it all off, he gets up at five, so whenever he gets home at night he is just happy to be there and not think of anything else. To him, it doesn’t matter how long he has been married to Lorelai. As long as Lorelai is his wife and won’t leave him again he is happy. After all, Lorelai is all Luke will ever need.

Lorelai, however, pays attention to these kinds of things. She drives Luke crazy in the beginning of their marriage, saying things like “We’ve been married for 24 hours” or “It’s been a whole week since you became my husband” or “Can you believe it’s already two months since our big day?” Luke makes fun of her acting like a teenager, who would celebrate their get-together-date monthly. They have been together for a decade, living together in the same house for years and they have been acting like a married couple for an eternity. Even before they have been together, they acted like husband and wife, so what was the point in celebrating it now?

Over time, because life gets busy again and the lovey-dovey phase of their marriage fades away, Lorelai comments die down a little. It slips her mind that they have been married for 100 days or 20 weeks. The annex of the inn and the planning and organizing for that takes up quite a lot of her time and in spring more guests find their way to Stars Hollow for all the Spring Festivals Stars Hollow hosts. 

On Friday, May 5th, Lorelai is at the inn all day, welcoming new guests. Even though she mentions to the guests the date several times she doesn’t notice what significance it has to herself. The first time she writes it down, she smiles though. 05/05 looks funny after all. Lorelai likes it when the day and the month match up because, in Lorelai’s world, these days are what she calls a lucky day. However, she doesn’t realize how lucky this day really is.

When she comes home that day, Luke has already started cooking dinner. They talk about their respective days. Both of them are happy to finally sit in front of the TV with their dinner with Paul-Anka at their feet, enjoying his steak, which either Luke or Lorelai probably blows on for it to cool down. They are both worn out by today’s work and watch whatever movie Lorelai picks out.

After finishing their dinner, they get more comfortable on the couch. Lorelai folds her legs under herself, while Luke leans back and rests his hand on her knee, drawing circles with his thumb against it. As the circles get tinier and tinier and eventually stop, Lorelai notices Luke has fallen asleep again. It’s no surprise, Luke usually falls asleep. That was part of their routine. However, today Lorelai doesn’t feel like watching the movie to the end. She’s tired too, so she clears off the dirty dishes, turns off the TV, and wakes Luke, softly whispering, “Let’s go to bed, hon.”

Lorelai takes Luke’s hand and leads him up to their bedroom. They get ready for bed quickly, change in their pyjamas. Luke is the first to crawl under the sheets. As soon as he hits the mattress, he’s halfway to dreamland. Lorelai joins him, dressed in her pyjama with puppies on it, a few minutes later. She smiles to herself how easily Luke drifts off to sleep. She, too, settles into bed, reaching for her phone to check her calendar, making sure no important meeting slips her mind. That’s when she sees today’s reminder. It’s nothing but a groom and bride-emoji. That’s enough to make her eyes grow big, the realization washing over her. “6 months,” she says softly.

Lorelai didn’t expect Luke to answer her. It’s nothing more than some mumbling, hardly understandable. “What about six months?”

Another smile creeps up on her lips. Luke in a slumber is her favorite kind of Luke. She likes how the strong man she has been able to call her husband for half a year now can behave like a little, helpless kid. There are not many occasions, in which she is able to care for him and it’s not the other way around. She likes him in slumber mode just as much as the smile he reserves for her when he looks at her with adoration. The smile, which reaches his eyes and makes them twinkle. The smile, she would get if she told him about their wedding anniversary.

However, Lorelai decides against telling him. She will not explain the six months to him just now. Instead, she will give him drift off peacefully to sleep. He has earned it. That is her anniversary gift for him. She is sure he would appreciate it.

Then, Lorelai puts her phone aside, turns off the lights and settles against his side. She tugs at his left arm, so she can rest her head on his shoulder. However, before she lays her head down, she reaches up to press a kiss against the corner of his mouth. Being in his arms, inhaling the scent she has grown to love over the last decade, is the best way she can imagine to celebrate their anniversary. She hooks a leg over his and rests her hand on his chest. Under her touch, she feels his heart beat. It’s the heart she knows is totally devoted to her and holds all the love for her without him telling her so every day.

What counts in the end about an anniversary are not the gifts or special treatments. As long as they are happily together, Lorelai is okay that it has slipped both of their minds. However, for their one-year-anniversary in six months, she will plan something special. Extraordinary presents and a short trip somewhere not too far should be saved for the real anniversaries as Luke likes to put it. And for that, Lorelai will make sure even Luke will remember it. 

[michaelfallcon]

The Sprudge Coffee Guide To Phoenix

Phoenix—the fifth most populous city in the United States—has worked hard to forge a balance between urbanism and rurality. It is a metropolis, but one whose main attraction may be the great outdoors nearby. As the city continues to grow, Phoenix has seen generations of people committed to staying here joined by a new influx of young people with a mind to quality food and drink. These newcomers tend to see the city as ripe for innovation, and in synthesis with the city’s appreciation for nature, have shaped a movement known as New Arizonan. Over the last few years, this emerging ethos has churned out its fair share of renowned brewers, chefs, and mixologists. In the midst of aggressively growing food and craft beer scenes, Phoenix coffee, too, has quietly begun to come into its own—feeling now more than ever like it’s on the verge of a boom. Below are a few cafes that have been at the forefront of the culture and which should be watched for new developments.

Photo courtesy of Peixoto.

Peixoto Coffee Roasters

Having just celebrated its fourth anniversary, Peixoto has grown from a small-scale family operation into a clear leader in the Phoenix coffee scene. The shop is located a bit far from downtown Phoenix, but any understanding of the coffee community here would be lacking without visiting one of its few standout roasters.

The cafe is named after the owners’ family, which owns Fazenda Sao José da Boa Vista, the Brazilian farm that the cafe sources the majority of its coffee from. Other origins are highlighted on AeroPress, Saint Anthony C70, and Chemex on a pour-over bar, but the batch-brew and espresso offerings are almost always sourced from the family farm.

Peixoto serves the most eclectic menu on this list, featuring classic espresso drinks of all sizes, gelato options like the nitro float, rotating flavored tonics, seasonal concoctions, and Spirit Teas. They also offer pastries from different local bakers depending on the day, including local (and vegan) favorite, Sugarloaf Lane.

Everything from the design of the cafe to barista-customer interactions resonates with the company’s mission to go beyond Fair Trade. This mission is furthered by a commitment to sharing the values of their business with customers and creating a community that appreciates the Peixoto product as much as the family itself.

Peixoto Coffee Roasters is located at 11 W Boston St Suit #6, Chandler. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

  Photo by Kevin Fitzsimmons.

Futuro

Located at the epicenter of Phoenix’s arts community, Futuro is a beautiful cafe in Roosevelt Row. Whereas some cafes focus on decoration as a way to express their concept, Futuro’s intensely minimalist aesthetic provides a canvas for the real slant of the shop: owner Jorge Ignacio Cortez’s passions. As such, the cafe has gone through several focused iterations. Previously serving 49th Parallel, then La Cabra Coffee Roasters, and now Heart Coffee Roasters, these coffees have each seen a different phase of Futuro’s life. A few years ago, Futuro tended to be seen as the shop that was too cool for you. Now it has settled into a more balanced approach.

What once was all-white-everything now sees baristas in black, deep green house plants, the occasional clothing brand pop-up, and a colorful food program headed by Cortez’s aunt, Isabel Cristina Cervantes Gutiérrez. The kitchen team—Gutiérrez, Cortez, and Lydon LaJoie—achieve a natural marriage between the food and coffee, connecting the two through care and awareness of tradition. On my last visit, there were two washed offerings from Heart: a Guatemala Rosma and a Colombia El Salado, served alongside house-made conchas. The unlikely patchwork and sheer quality of product make Futuro a destination in the Phoenix coffee scene.

Futuro is located at 909 N 1st St, Phoenix. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

  Kream

Kream, not unlike Futuro, is a design lover’s dream. It is an unassuming kiosk set inside For the People, which sells modern furniture, home goods, and more. However, featuring roasters such as Camber Coffee, Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters, George Howell Coffee, and most recently Sey Coffee, this stand offers something completely out of the ordinary for the Phoenix scene.

For the People is set up as a menagerie of luxury. As a result, even when there are more than a few people in the building they are usually all dispersed amongst the spacious store’s various departments, browsing everything from fine art to jewelry to bicycles. There is no sense of the speed of life outside. This means that Kream’s baristas are able to offer a superb customer experience at any given time at a relaxed pace.

Serving a no-frills menu of black or white espresso, drip coffee, and cold brew, the stand has a clear focus on simple greatness. Their drip rotates frequently (sometimes at a barista’s discretion) with the espresso changing every few weeks. On my last visit I had a washed Ethiopia Reko from Kuma Coffee that was served in a beautiful Eunbi Cho mug. The shop does not offer pour-overs, so you can’t visit in search of a particular coffee, but you are sure to get something delicious.

Kream is located at 5102 N Central Ave, Phoenix. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

  Berdena’s

Nestled in the historic and touristy neighborhood of Old Town Scottsdale, Berdena’s fits right in with its boutique neighbors. The cafe is modern and sleek, yet welcoming and filled with natural light. Floor-to-ceiling windows surround a sun-soaked white interior, the shop’s iconic blue three-group Synesso Hydra standing out as a stylish centerpiece.

Another standout multi-roaster cafe, Berdena’s serves a variety of domestic and international coffees, like Morgon Coffee Roasters from Gothenburg, Sweden and local nano-roastery (and one of our secret gems) Obsidian Coffee.

Like most cafes in the area, Berdena’s boasts a sophisticated food program. The menu includes the Phoenix New Times’ “best avocado toast,” a daily quiche, and their newest, Berdena’s breakfast sandwich. This is all in addition to fresh pastries and artisan chocolates from Pump Street, Mayana, and others.

Berdena’s is located at 7051 E 5th Ave Suite I, Scottsdale. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

  Also worth checking out:

Cartel Coffee Lab, Pair Cupworks, Infusion Coffee & Tea Crafters, Obsidian, Mythical Coffee

Any comprehensive Phoenix list would be incomplete without a mention of Cartel Coffee Lab. Often credited with igniting Phoenix’s specialty scene, these coffee giants have done an exceptional job at scaling their company values: highlighting the narratives behind their single-origin coffees. (I recommend getting a rotating tap cold brew or any of their pour-over options.) Also due a fair shake is Infusion Coffee and Tea Crafters, the cafe arm of Patrick O’Malley’s International Barista Coffee Academy—a cafe with a staggering amount of offerings, from 15 single-origin coffees to bourbon-barrel-aged coffees to more than 47 varieties of tea. On the newer vanguard is Pair Cupworks, the small-time team effort of roaster Kimhak Em and ceramist/tea expert Eugenia Tai. Their coffee is served at occasional pop-up events and is available online. Their current lineup consists of single origins with names like “Fearlessly Balanced” and “Caramel Bomb”—among other playfully labeled coffees. Pair Cupworks and roasters like Obsidian and Mythical Coffee are all part of a new and exciting force in the Phoenix area, representing the next wave of our growing coffee culture.

Thomas Buchanan is a freelance journalist based in Phoenix. This is Thomas Buchanan’s first feature for Sprudge.

Photos by Kevin Fitzsimmons and Eric Hervey.

Top image via Adobe Stock/Dreamframer

The Sprudge Coffee Guide To Phoenix published first on https://medium.com/@LinLinCoffee

[shebreathesslowly]

The Sprudge Coffee Guide To Phoenix

Phoenix—the fifth most populous city in the United States—has worked hard to forge a balance between urbanism and rurality. It is a metropolis, but one whose main attraction may be the great outdoors nearby. As the city continues to grow, Phoenix has seen generations of people committed to staying here joined by a new influx of young people with a mind to quality food and drink. These newcomers tend to see the city as ripe for innovation, and in synthesis with the city’s appreciation for nature, have shaped a movement known as New Arizonan. Over the last few years, this emerging ethos has churned out its fair share of renowned brewers, chefs, and mixologists. In the midst of aggressively growing food and craft beer scenes, Phoenix coffee, too, has quietly begun to come into its own—feeling now more than ever like it’s on the verge of a boom. Below are a few cafes that have been at the forefront of the culture and which should be watched for new developments.

Photo courtesy of Peixoto.

Peixoto Coffee Roasters

Having just celebrated its fourth anniversary, Peixoto has grown from a small-scale family operation into a clear leader in the Phoenix coffee scene. The shop is located a bit far from downtown Phoenix, but any understanding of the coffee community here would be lacking without visiting one of its few standout roasters.

The cafe is named after the owners’ family, which owns Fazenda Sao José da Boa Vista, the Brazilian farm that the cafe sources the majority of its coffee from. Other origins are highlighted on AeroPress, Saint Anthony C70, and Chemex on a pour-over bar, but the batch-brew and espresso offerings are almost always sourced from the family farm.

Peixoto serves the most eclectic menu on this list, featuring classic espresso drinks of all sizes, gelato options like the nitro float, rotating flavored tonics, seasonal concoctions, and Spirit Teas. They also offer pastries from different local bakers depending on the day, including local (and vegan) favorite, Sugarloaf Lane.

Everything from the design of the cafe to barista-customer interactions resonates with the company’s mission to go beyond Fair Trade. This mission is furthered by a commitment to sharing the values of their business with customers and creating a community that appreciates the Peixoto product as much as the family itself.

Peixoto Coffee Roasters is located at 11 W Boston St Suit #6, Chandler. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

  Photo by Kevin Fitzsimmons.

Futuro

Located at the epicenter of Phoenix’s arts community, Futuro is a beautiful cafe in Roosevelt Row. Whereas some cafes focus on decoration as a way to express their concept, Futuro’s intensely minimalist aesthetic provides a canvas for the real slant of the shop: owner Jorge Ignacio Cortez’s passions. As such, the cafe has gone through several focused iterations. Previously serving 49th Parallel, then La Cabra Coffee Roasters, and now Heart Coffee Roasters, these coffees have each seen a different phase of Futuro’s life. A few years ago, Futuro tended to be seen as the shop that was too cool for you. Now it has settled into a more balanced approach.

What once was all-white-everything now sees baristas in black, deep green house plants, the occasional clothing brand pop-up, and a colorful food program headed by Cortez’s aunt, Isabel Cristina Cervantes Gutiérrez. The kitchen team—Gutiérrez, Cortez, and Lydon LaJoie—achieve a natural marriage between the food and coffee, connecting the two through care and awareness of tradition. On my last visit, there were two washed offerings from Heart: a Guatemala Rosma and a Colombia El Salado, served alongside house-made conchas. The unlikely patchwork and sheer quality of product make Futuro a destination in the Phoenix coffee scene.

Futuro is located at 909 N 1st St, Phoenix. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

  Kream

Kream, not unlike Futuro, is a design lover’s dream. It is an unassuming kiosk set inside For the People, which sells modern furniture, home goods, and more. However, featuring roasters such as Camber Coffee, Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters, George Howell Coffee, and most recently Sey Coffee, this stand offers something completely out of the ordinary for the Phoenix scene.

For the People is set up as a menagerie of luxury. As a result, even when there are more than a few people in the building they are usually all dispersed amongst the spacious store’s various departments, browsing everything from fine art to jewelry to bicycles. There is no sense of the speed of life outside. This means that Kream’s baristas are able to offer a superb customer experience at any given time at a relaxed pace.

Serving a no-frills menu of black or white espresso, drip coffee, and cold brew, the stand has a clear focus on simple greatness. Their drip rotates frequently (sometimes at a barista’s discretion) with the espresso changing every few weeks. On my last visit I had a washed Ethiopia Reko from Kuma Coffee that was served in a beautiful Eunbi Cho mug. The shop does not offer pour-overs, so you can’t visit in search of a particular coffee, but you are sure to get something delicious.

Kream is located at 5102 N Central Ave, Phoenix. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

  Berdena’s

Nestled in the historic and touristy neighborhood of Old Town Scottsdale, Berdena’s fits right in with its boutique neighbors. The cafe is modern and sleek, yet welcoming and filled with natural light. Floor-to-ceiling windows surround a sun-soaked white interior, the shop’s iconic blue three-group Synesso Hydra standing out as a stylish centerpiece.

Another standout multi-roaster cafe, Berdena’s serves a variety of domestic and international coffees, like Morgon Coffee Roasters from Gothenburg, Sweden and local nano-roastery (and one of our secret gems) Obsidian Coffee.

Like most cafes in the area, Berdena’s boasts a sophisticated food program. The menu includes the Phoenix New Times’ “best avocado toast,” a daily quiche, and their newest, Berdena’s breakfast sandwich. This is all in addition to fresh pastries and artisan chocolates from Pump Street, Mayana, and others.

Berdena’s is located at 7051 E 5th Ave Suite I, Scottsdale. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

  Also worth checking out:

Cartel Coffee Lab, Pair Cupworks, Infusion Coffee & Tea Crafters, Obsidian, Mythical Coffee

Any comprehensive Phoenix list would be incomplete without a mention of Cartel Coffee Lab. Often credited with igniting Phoenix’s specialty scene, these coffee giants have done an exceptional job at scaling their company values: highlighting the narratives behind their single-origin coffees. (I recommend getting a rotating tap cold brew or any of their pour-over options.) Also due a fair shake is Infusion Coffee and Tea Crafters, the cafe arm of Patrick O’Malley’s International Barista Coffee Academy—a cafe with a staggering amount of offerings, from 15 single-origin coffees to bourbon-barrel-aged coffees to more than 47 varieties of tea. On the newer vanguard is Pair Cupworks, the small-time team effort of roaster Kimhak Em and ceramist/tea expert Eugenia Tai. Their coffee is served at occasional pop-up events and is available online. Their current lineup consists of single origins with names like “Fearlessly Balanced” and “Caramel Bomb”—among other playfully labeled coffees. Pair Cupworks and roasters like Obsidian and Mythical Coffee are all part of a new and exciting force in the Phoenix area, representing the next wave of our growing coffee culture.

Thomas Buchanan is a freelance journalist based in Phoenix. This is Thomas Buchanan’s first feature for Sprudge.

Photos by Kevin Fitzsimmons and Eric Hervey.

Top image via Adobe Stock/Dreamframer

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