#japan festival canada

[artschoolglasses]

I usually avoid crowds, what with the whole not wanting to catch covid while also dealing with chronic pain. However, when is the next time I'm going to get to see 69th Yokozuna and GOAT of sumo, Hakuho?

[kuramirocket]

Festival de Comunidades Extranjeras (Festival of Foreign Communities)

The Festival of Foreign Communities is a space for the artistic, cultural, ethnic and social expression of migrants from various countries of the world, who reside in Querétaro City and its surrounding areas. It allows the harmonious coexistence between foreigners residing in Querétaro and Mexican citizens, in a family and educational environment, through the following activities:

- Artistic shows

- Exhibition of country stands

- Gastronomic samples

- Artisanry exhibitions

Source

[jontheblogcentric]

VIFF 2024 Shorts Segment Review: Forum 3

Once again, I achieved a VIFF goal when I attended Short Forum 3. This forum of eight shorts is more international and has a wide variety of styles and subject matter. –Jane’s In The Freezer (USA – dir: Caleb Joye): It’s a quiet day at the pier at the lake in Detroit. A woman who’s just gazing tried to develop conversation. Her name is Jane. The conversation doesn’t last long. She goes to the…

[ritahayworrth]

there's currently a free japanese indie film festival being held online! all the films have subtitles in english, spanish (latin america), thai, indonesian, simplified chinese, and traditional chinese and the films are available to watch worldwide (except japan and some others depending on the movie):

bachiranun (2021)

tenzo (2019), not available in france, belgium, switzerland, korea

an artisan's legacy, tsunekazu-nishioka (2012)

lonely glory (2022)

hanagatami (2017), not available in china, us, canada, uk, and ireland

bon-uta, a song from home (2019)

and your bird can sing (2018), not available in korea, china, taiwan, us, and canada

hey! our dear don-chan (2022)

techno brothers (2023)

a muse never drowns (2022), not available in the netherlands, and canada

a girl in my room (2022), not available in korea, china, and taiwan

follow the light (2021)

the festival will be held until october 31, 2023 :))

[arkibero]

Cinemaddict: Dec 2022 Film Log

Cinemaddict: Dec 2022 Film Log

1. Everything Everywhere All At Once – ★★★★½2022 🇺🇸✍️ Dan Kwan × Daniel Scheinert Biswal na kaangkupan sa gitna ng kalabisan at kaguluhan. Patong-patong na ang labada. Paikot-ikot lang ang problema. Hindi tayo makatakas sa nagsasanga-sangang mga daan. Krisis sa eksistensya. Kailangang makahinga kahit walang pahinga.

[earlycuntsets]

mcr shows on youtube pt. 2 (2005 - 2007)

-> pt. 1 (2002 - 2005)

-> pt. 3 (2007 - 2011)

-> pt. 4 (2011 - 2023)

10/16/2005 connecticut expo center hartford ct - pablohoney27

10/19/2005 carpa neumatica del hipodromo de las americas mexico city mexico - emopinktears

10/21/2005 umbc fieldhouse catonsville md - XxXHollowChildXxX

11/04/2005 carlington academy brixton london england - jason is lost in japan

11/07/2005 carlington academy newcastle upon tyne england - tilly b

11/10/2005 ambassador theater dublin ireland - the academy is my beautiful romance

11/19/2005 razzmatazz 2 barcelona spain - xversa

11/29/2005 stade unprix montreal ontario canada - Smashingchemicals

11/30/2005 john labatt centre london on canada - prunejjuicebob

12/02/2005 muchmusic studio toronto ca - ATØMIC JĒY

12/04/2005 97x next big thing coachman park clearwater fl - obsessionbrazil

03/17/2006 emos annex austin tx - mason randall

04/29/2006 give it a name festival - earls court london england - angelsandairwaveshva

04/30/2006 give it name festival manchester evening news arena manchester england - huesoflife & xEyelashWishes

05/12/2006 sun god festival ucsd rimac field la jolla ca - hisuikirei

08/22/2006 hammersmith palais london england - the academy is my beautiful romance & GMarks1984 & batwife & juliehf

08/24/2006 meadowbank stadium edinburgh scotland - monroeville84 & emu1515 & darthjeebus666 & ZiCoChAiN

08/27/2006 reading and leeds festival little johns farm reading england - joe brady & gdmec182

08/31/2006 mtv vmas radio city music hall nyc ny -- jusyanotherkilljoy

09/06/2006 mtv2s $2 bill philadelphia pa - koi no yokan

10/05/2006 avalon los angeles - the academy is my beautiful romance

10/09/2006 the album chart show london england - xthankyou4thevenomx

10/11/2006 roundhouse london england - ATØMIC JĒY

10/12/2006 virgin megastore london england - the academy is my beautiful romance

10/13/2006 paradiso grote zaal amsterdam netherlands - skittyblackfire

10/14/2006 e-werk berlin germany - redoftherose

10/23/2006 vintage vinyl fords nj - vintage vinyl records

10/25/2006 axis boston ma - juliehf

10/28/2006 city park new orleans la - ohbabylevenin

11/09/2006 e-werk cologne germany - darthvaderlives

11/13/2006 university of liverpool liverpool england - xEyelashWishesx

11/21/2006 alcatraz milan italy - mychemicalitalia & gainlover

12/01/2006 96x electric christmas the norva norfolk va - the academy is my beautiful romance

12/03/2006 97x ford amphitheater tampa fl - sillybears

12/07/2006 key arena seattle wa - anja

12/08/2006 twisted christmas arco arena san francisco - christine kay

12/14/2006 cobb arena detriot mi - fobgirl08

12/31/2006 the pontiac garage nyc ny - the academy is my beautiful romance

01/19/2007 mount smart stadium auckland new zealand - the academy is my beautiful romance

01/29/2007 festival hall melbourne australia - the academy is my beautiful romance

02/07/2007 big day out adelaide showgrounds adelaide australia - the adademy is my beautiful romance

02/26/2007 wolstein center cleveland ohio - rival heart & awesomelexa & katie & sohos & sensesfail814

03/13/2007 ipayone center san diego ca - slownotstupid & shortygothops & sara513

03/14/2007 selland arena fresno ca - miserylovedme123 & m sims

03/16/2007 lawlor events center reno nv - hellasexyrocker12

03/27/2007 scottish exhibition and conference center glasgow scotland - 슬롯 아우디

04/02/2007 koko london england - ATØMIC JĒY (2) & dametokillfor

04/04/2007 elysee montmartre paris france - redoftherose

04/10/2007 kb hallen copenhagen denmark - 666noft (DANZIG COVER) - C4R17O

04/21/2007 universal orlando grand bash '07 universal studios orlando fl - aneiger & selbstmordflucht

04/25/2007 - nashville municipal auditorium nashville tn - thelaurelbush &

05/09/2007 centre bell montreal qc canada - the academy is my beautiful romance

05/20/2007 virgin festival thunderbird stadium vancouver bc canada - ATØMIC JĒY & the academy is my beautiful romance

06/01/2007 nürburgring, nürburg, germany - mcr shows

06/08/2007 download festival donington castle donington uk - the academy is my beautiful romance

06/17/2007 wembley stadium london england - the academy is my beautiful romance

06/26/2007 razzmatazz barcelona spain - the academy is my beautiful romance

07/01/2007 pier pressure frihamnspiren gothenburg sweden - the academy is my beautiful romance

07/04/2007 volksfestgelände pieschener allee dresden germany - cassnjason

07/25/2007 projekt revolution white river amphitheatre auburn wa - the academy is my beautiful romance

07/27/2007 sleep train amphitheatre wheatland ca - christine kay

07/29/2007 shoreline amphitheatre mountain view ca - the academy is my beautiful romance

07/30/2007 kevin and beans breakfast capitol records studios la ca - the academy is my beautiful romance

-> pt. 1 (2002 - 2005)

-> pt. 3 (2007 - 2011)

-> pt. 4 (2011 - 2023)

[frukmerunning]

if the hetalia characters had a hanukkah party

Austria - he’s hosting so naturally he’s made Germany prepare everything for him. From polishing the menorah to frying latkes, he’s watched Germany do it all. He has, however, prepared some beautiful arrangements of hanukkah tunes to play everyone after they light the candles.

Germany - He’s done all the work so after the candles are lit he’s going to indulge in a lot of (kosher) wine and get belligerently drunk on a Thursday night.

France - he brought the wine of course! Austria will tell him that wine isn’t a part of hanukkah festivities but he also gets drunk anyway. France also gets into a tussle with England and they knock the menorah over and almost set Austria’s house on fire (this happens every year)

Italy - he pushes people out of the way so he can be the one to light the candles but Austria never lets him. He also brings enough hamantaschen to feed an army and arrives just before sundown. He hates sufganiyot and makes it everyone’s problem, and he also cries when he loses the dreidel game.

Japan - He’s so scarily good at the dreidel game and it pisses everyone off. Overall Japan doesn’t really know what’s going on and he’s just happy that he was invited. He ends up giving all of his gelt to Italy at the end of the night.

America - He definitely brings something that isn’t kosher (on purpose or accidentally) but he also brought gifts for everyone! And he has the ugliest hanukkah sweater known to man. America also really leans into the whole ‘cooking with oil’ thing and also brings a deep fried turkey, it’s actually really good and everyone has a good time.

Russia - gets way more into dreidel than you’d expect, he and Japan are going to start WW3 over chocolate gelt. He was the one who told America to bring something that isn’t kosher. He himself brings a nice vodka infused potato kugel.

Romano - He makes everyone get into a heated debate on what the best pairing is for latkes (sour cream, obviously). He cries when America eats his with ketchup.

Prussia - He spends the entire night telling Austria how much better Christmas is but in reality he has planned 8 nights of very sweet gifts to give to his favorite aristocrat :) He was also the reason France and England got in a fight.

Canada - he brought weed brownies but spends the entire night stressing over whether weed is kosher.

China - China keeps trying to get everyone to bet real money in the dreidel game, unsuccessfully. He also has no real clue what’s going on and spends the entire night eating on the couch while he heckles the dreidel players.

England - He supplied the gelt because no one would trust him with anyone else. He swears that France cheated in their last game but in reality Prussia swiped some of his gelt while no one was looking. The menorah fire ruins his hand-made hanukkah sweater but France buys him a new one the next day and everyone is happy.

[csuitebitches]

Skiing - a beginner’s guide

I first went skiing in Switzerland with my friends nearly 10 years ago and I loved it. The feeling of the wind on my face, the speed, the adrenaline- it was exhilarating.

I’ve compiled a basic list of ski events, a semi-scandalous article and some of the best destinations in the world as well as some budget friendly ones.

Socialite ski events:

Snowboxx:

Since it launched in 2013, winter festival Snowboxx has been growing in popularity - and it involves flying out to the Alps for a week-long ski party.  It takes place in Avoriaz ski resort, Morzine, France each March, and this year saw a superstar lineup of artists performing in the mountains, including ex-Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac, Becky Hill, Jax Jones, Sonny Fodera and Andy C. 

The combination of partying to some of the world's best DJs, with the unusual day-activites of skiing and snowboarding, are making many turn away from the summer festival circuit in favour of the winter one. 

Hahnenkamm, Kitzbühel , Austria:

The Hahenekamm ski race weekend in Kitzbühel is arguably the biggest alpine ski event in the world. The world’s best take on the iconic Streif downhill track, which is historically the toughest ski race track on the World Cup circuit. A lot of the speed skiers consider winning races here as a bigger honour than the Olympics. As a spectator, the atmosphere is electric with fans around the world admiring some breathtaking ski racing.

X Games, Aspen, USA:

The world’s best freestyle skiers and snowboarders compete annually in Aspen. The event is a prestigious honour to win amongst action sports athletes and has propelled careers. Spectating the event is excellent because you can see most of the action from the viewing areas. The halfpipe events in particular are excellent to watch for this reason.

European Snow Pride, Tignes, France:

Tignes is home to Europe’s biggest gay ski week, with the European Snow Pride. Each day has a theme with nights of brit-pop to superhero days. Many international DJs are invited to play each evening party in the resort’s local clubs and bars.

Slightly scandalous tales: Things I Never Knew About Skiing Until I Was a Private Instructor in Aspen

Really interesting read. I was thoroughly entertained.

Popular ski destinations:

1. Whistler Blackcomb, Canada

Whistler makes it onto pretty much every ‘World Top 10’ list when it comes to ski resorts

2. Niseko, Japan

Located on the northern island of Hokkaido, this Japanese skiing destination is a snow-covered paradise. With a huge 15 metres of average snowfall, it’s no wonder that Niseko is the country’s premier ski resort.

3. Zermatt, Switzerland

As the highest resort in the Alps, it’s got the views. The incredible peak of the Matterhorn can be seen from just about anywhere on the slopes! It also boasts the greatest vertical drop in Switzerland, and there’s all year round skiing at the Matterhorn Glacier.

4. Courchevel, France

The resort is a part of the world’s largest alpine ski area, offering more than 600 kilometres of terrain and interconnected ski runs across 10 summits. The snow here is well-groomed, and there’s a legendary black run that’s considered to be one of the trickiest in the world.

5. Cortina D’Ampezzo, Italy

Known only to the most dedicated, well-travelled skiers prior to the 1956 Winter Olympics, Cortina is a hidden gem in Italy’s Dolomite Mountains.

6. Baqueira-Beret, Spain

It may be a surprising destination for skiing, but Baqueira-Beret in Spain is one of the best places in Europe where you’ll find value for money for a ski holiday. You’ll be able to find affordable accommodation as well as some of the finest tapas restaurants in the country.

7. Ylläs, Finland

The arctic landscapes of Lapland are perfect for skiing. If you dream of snow-dusted trees, the magic of the Northern Lights, or the glow of the midnight sun, Ylläs is a unique winter resort that you won’t want to miss. As Finland’s largest ski resort, it’s got everything you need.

Budget friendly destinations

1. Vogel, Slovenia

An ideal spot for couples or families, this Slovenian spot is a truly beautiful and peaceful ski area. Overlooking Lake Bohinj, Vogel is part of the Triglav national park.

2. Livigno, Italy

Duty-free zone Livigno offers excellent slopes for intermediate skiers. But advanced skiers and snowboarders will be kept busy too – especially if they’re keen to explore off piste.

3. Poiana-Brasov, Romania

Poiana Brasov is Romania’s biggest mountain resort and certainly one of the nicest. The fairytale slopes, flanked by pine trees, are the perfect place to take your skis. With more than 24km of ski runs, there’s plenty to explore.

4. South Korea -Muju Deogyusan Resort

Muju Deogyusan Resort in Jeolla province is only 3 hours away from Seoul. So, if you want to spend your holiday skiing and still enjoy the city of Seoul, this is the place to go.

5. Niseko Ski Resort

Located in Hokkaido, Japan, Niseko Ski Resort boasts a total of four different resorts but with linked ski area. A single pass would give you access to all four resorts. One of the resorts, Mt. Resort Grand Hirafu has been officially named as Japan’s number one snow resort due to the wide array of activities offered.

6. India - Gulmarg

Gulmarg is a rare gem in the Himalayans that will undoubtedly take your breath away with its picturesque beauty. However, skiing in Gulmarg, Kashmir is not for the weak-hearted as the terrains are not suitable for beginners - to add to that, the ski lifts carry you to the highest point in the Himalaya at 13, 780 feet!

7. China - Nanshan Ski Resort

80km away from Beijing, Nanshan Ski Resort is perfect for skiing and snowboarding as the snow are neither too hard nor too soft.

[astoundingbeyondbelief]

Kaiju Week in Review (January 21-27, 2024)

Godzilla Minus One made awards show history in both Japan and the U.S. this week. Its Oscar nomination for best Visual Effects is the first of the series (Godzilla [1998], Godzilla [2014] and Godzilla vs. Kong were previously shortlisted) and the first for any Japanese film. Small wonder Takashi Yamazaki, Kiyoko Shibuya, and their team went berserk when the nomination was announced. The other nominees are The Creator, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Napoleon, and Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One. According to IndieWire, The Creator has the edge, but Minus One could very well win. And while it naturally made less headlines in the Anglosphere, Minus One also picked up a whopping 12 Japan Academy Film Prize nominations, exceeding Shin Godzilla's 10.

Godzilla Minus One/Minus Color is now in North American theaters. I was intrigued enough to make it my fourth theatrical viewing of this movie, but in the end it did basically strike me as a gimmick. Godzilla Minus One was shot digitally with sets designed for color, so making it actually look like a film from the 40s was always going to be an uphill battle. Even with the regrade, there wasn’t a ton of contrast in most shots, and some of the scenes taking place at night were quite hard to see. Still, apart from the Odo Island massacre, I found the Godzilla scenes as gripping as ever.

Thanks to Minus Color, Minus One made $2.6 million this weekend, crawling back into the box office top 10. Its total in the U.S. and Canada now stands at $55 million, third among all foreign-language films released in the U.S.

Brush of the God, Keizo Murase's directorial debut after a lifetime in movies, is finally complete. It'll play at the Osaka Asian Film Festival in March (link contains more images), and hopefully travel overseas very soon. Murase will also receive an Association Special Award at the Japan Academy Film Prize.

Clover Press shipped out copies of Godzilla & Kong: The Cinematic Storyboard Art of Richard Bennett to Kickstarter backers, myself included. It's an excellent art book, and there are plenty of deleted and altered scenes mixed in with more familiar sequences. Believe it or not, Bennett drew the panel above for Kong: Skull Island—they considered having James Conrad (Tom Hiddleston) flash back to an encounter with King Ghidorah in Vietnam. Not sure how that would've worked, as Ghidorah is generally not one to lie low for a few decades, but it's the first I've ever heard of it being considered. I'm hoping to post some more scans soon. Here's the order link.

Minecraft social media accounts teased a crossover with the Monsterverse, in what's likely to be the most high-profile of the Godzilla x Kong video game collaborations. The Mobzilla mod was created over 10 years ago, so this is long overdue.

The big toy news this week was Titanic Creations revealing the digital sculpt for its Yongary figure. This guy's had even less figures than Gorgo - I can only think of one, and very few of them were made - so expect massive demand. New Godzilla toys were also on display at London Toy Fair, both at the Playmates booth and among the plushies made by an unknown company.

[edensflorist]

The Delicate Beauty and Symbolism of Cherry Blossoms

Cherry blossoms, with their fleeting bloom and breathtaking beauty, are a powerful symbol in many cultures. These delicate flowers, known as Sakura in Japan, have captivated hearts worldwide and carry profound meanings that resonate deeply across generations.

Historical Significance

Cherry blossoms have been celebrated for centuries, particularly in Japan, where they hold a special place in cultural and spiritual life. The annual blooming of Sakura is marked by the tradition of Hanami, or flower viewing, where people gather under the blossoming trees to appreciate their beauty. This practice dates back to the Heian period (794 - 1185) and remains a beloved custom in Japan today.

Symbolism

Impermanence and Renewal: Chery blossoms are a symbol of the fleeting nature of life, reminding us of the beauty and brevity of existence. Their short bloom period emphasizes the idea of mono no aware, a Japanese concept that reflects the awareness of the impermanence of all things.

Hope and New Beginnings: Blooming in early spring, cherry blossoms also symbolize renewal and new beginnings, coinciding with the start of the Japanese school and fiscal year.

Peace and Beauty: In many cultures, cherry blossoms are seen as symbols of peace, tranquility, and the simple beauty of nature.

Modern Interpretations

Today, cherry blossoms are celebrated worldwide, from Washington D.C.'s annual Cherry Blossom Festival to events in countries like South Korea, China, and Canada. They are featured in art, fashion, and design, symbolizing beauty, grace, and the ephemeral nature of life.

[aph-canada-headcanons]

Headcanon: Every year FACE fam and Japan go to see the cherry blossom festival in Washington, DC. It’s a time honored tradition to have a picnic under the trees.

Headcanon: Every year Canada makes mochi with Japan for the picnic, while America watches after “ruining” the mochi the first time.

Headcanon: Canada loves to drink Englands special floral tea blend at the picnic. Something about that pickled cherry blossom, honey, hibiscus, and rosey blend hits the spot.

Headcanon: France always makes some new pastry to have for dessert. You’d think he’d run out but Canada counts a new one each year. This year was cherry tarts.

Headcanon: If it’s windy enough America and Canada have a kite flying competition to see who can keep theirs up the longest. Canada’s record is 4 hours.

[dreamyeuphoricll]

One piece characters Nationalities

Brazil🇧🇷: known for its iconic Carnival Festival and the statue of Christ the redeemer 🎺 🎊🪇🥁🪘

Sweden🇸🇪: known as the Pop music Capital of the world 🎵🎤🎙️🎛️🎧🎚️

Japan 🇯🇵: One of the most developed countries,that produce Manga and Anime 🍜🎎👘⛩️🏯㊗️

France 🇫🇷: has the iconic Eiffel Tower,and luxurious fashion brands 🗼👗🍬📸🎨

Canada🇨🇦: famous for its maple syrup, Niagara falls, northern lights and more attractions 🍁🥌 🥞🍯

India🇮🇳: has an iconic building,the Taj mahal,and also the birthplace of Yoga 🧘🏾🥻🕌

United States 🇺🇲: One of the dream place. With famous stars,movies,artists,cities,brands and attractions 🗽🌃🎥🦅🍔🎢🏈

Russia🇷🇺: famous for many things but mostly the beautiful iconic landmarks known as The Moscow Kremlins ☃️🥟💈🌨️🎪

Austria🇦🇹: mostly famous for its castles,palaces and buildings 🏰🧭

China🇨🇳: has beautiful culture and most famous for its food, martial arts,and the iconic Great Wall of China ⛩️🐅🐼🍜🏯🥋

South Africa🇿🇦: famous for its history,natural attractions,food and wildlife 🦁🦓🐗🐃🐘🦏🦒🐦🦃🦚🦈🐬🐳🍊🍌🥘

Germany🇩🇪: renowned for multitude of things but mostly the Oktoberfest 🪽🪽🍄

Italy 🇮🇹: famous for having one of the best foods in the world. 🍝🍕🍤🦞

UK 🇬🇧: famous for many things but mostly the royal history and culture,even for many sports. Not to forget tea and fish and chips🍟☕🚌🎡🏰🤴👸

Spain 🇪🇸: known as one of the top wine-producing countries in the world🍸🍷🍾🥂

Australia 🇦🇺: known as one of the most popular tourist destinations with many unique animals and attractions. Like the iconic Great barrier reef ⛰️🐺🦘🐨🕷️

Comment down below if u got more things to add about ur country

[scotianostra]

Happy Birthday Brian Alexander (B.A) Robertson born 12th September, 1956, in Glasgow.

On a day that so far looks quiet on the anniversary front I am thankful I have a post I myself can really appreciate, mainly due to the musical content.

Educated at the former Allan Glen's School in the city, B.A had a number of hit singles in the late 70's/80's beforehand though he wrote a few songs for others, the most notable being two Cliff Richard songs, Carrie and Wired for Sound. I wonder how many remember the BBC Scotland show Maggie? Well Robertson wrote the theme to that as well as the theme to Multi-Coloured Swap Shop and "their" hit song as Brown Sauce the 20 hit, I Wanna Be a Winner.

B.A's first big hit single was "Bang Bang, it reached number 2 in 1979, he also had a big hit with Maggie Bell, of a cover version of Hold Me and dueted with Frida Lyngstad, of Abba, on the song Time.

As I said earlier he is better known in the business for writing songs for others, he went back to this when his own hits dried up, I am sure many of you will know Mike + The Mechanics, well Robertson penned their lyrics for hits Silent Running and The Living Years The latter was written after Robertson's father died twelve weeks before the birth of his own son, many people mistakenly believe Paul Carrack wrote the song, which topped the US Billboard charts as well as hitting the top in Canada, Australia and Japan. Mike Rutherford helped with the arrangement and music.

The Living Years won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically & Lyrically in 1989,and was nominated for four Grammy awards in 1990, including Record and Song of the Year, as well as Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and Best Video.

In 1996, famed composer Burt Bacharach opined that the song was one of the finest lyrics of the last ten years, fine praise indeed.

I hope you listen to this and see B A Robertson as something other than just a novelty act, which his main hits certainly were.

I can't leave a post about B.A Robertson without mentioning, arguably the best song by A Scottish World Cup Squad, "We Have a Dream" that got to number 5 in the charts!

Robertson also had a go at presenting, and looking back on him now it is pretty painful, including a spat with Annabella Lwin of Bow Wow Wow, others he "interviewed" were Billy Mackenzie with the Associates, and Alex Harvey.

In July 2022 B A released an accoustic version of Silent Running in aid of charity, it resonates for the people of Ukraine, it really speaks of the chaos for Ukrainian victims of war. It reached number 10 on the itunes singer/songwriter charts and was the eighth biggest gainer in sales on Amazon Music within hours.

Its release came about thanks to the involvement of Robertson’s friend Steve Cullen, whose partner Lorri Hales convinced him to use it to help the people of Ukraine. Penned in 1985, this version of Silent Running was recorded at the Gilded Balloon in Edinburgh during the 2004 festival at one of BA’s rare live gigs.

Take the children and yourself

And hide out in the cellar

By now the fighting will be close at hand

Don't believe the church and state

And everything they tell you

Believe in me, I'm with the high command

Can you hear me, can you hear me running?

Can you hear me running, can you hear me calling you?

Can you hear me, can you hear me running?

Can you hear me running, can you hear me calling you?

There's a gun and ammunition Just inside the doorway

Use it only in emergency

Better you should pray to God The Father and the Spirit

Will guide you and protect from up here

Can you hear me, can you hear me running?

Can you hear me running, can you hear me calling you?

Can you hear me, can you hear me running?

Can you hear me running, can you hear me calling you?

Swear allegiance to the flag

Whatever flag they offer

Never hint at what you really feel

Teach the children quietly

For some day sons and daughters

Will rise up and fight while we stood still

Can you hear me, can you hear me running?

Can you hear me running, can you hear me calling you?

Can you hear me, can you hear me running?

Can you hear me running, can you hear me calling you?

[toxinellebug]

It’s The Supreme’s World: We just live in it…

Some world building and character info for the Re-Verse and how it affects Marinette, Adrien, and Gabriel before we get into the next Kamikotized hero.

Peace was never an option… It was an ultimatum.

While World Peace Day is celebrated everywhere, truly, only Capital Cities are able to host the full splendor of such a magnificent event.

        Paris is famous for never being outdone when it comes to this extravagant and cherished celebration:

Throughout the day, on every corner of the city, you could find a rare sight you would not see any other day of the year- flower carts.

     Usually, flowers were too expensive for just anyone to purchase, so florists only sold the finest, most delicate and exotic flowers to appeal to the high class.

           But on World Peace Day, cheap, less popular flowers were made available so even those of low income could enjoy the rare luxury of owning a real flower;

      Perhaps it is a frivolous purchase, but even the most stingy of penny-pinchers could not resist the urge to loosen their purse strings when offered a single pink carnation for the ridiculously low price of only €20!

Flowers weren’t the only thing worth buying-

     There were street vendors with international fare offering a variety of delights one would expect from a carnival or festival. Each seems so exotic when they come from a culture different than your own; takoyaki from Japan, bratwurst from Germany, frappe from Italy, Cotton Candy from the United States of America.

(Yup, spun sugar is originally a traditional american food invented in 1897 by American citizens William Morrison, and John C. Wharton, and it remained a unique American speciality until it was introduced at the 1904 World Fair. The irony? One of those dudes was a dentist.)

It is a culinary trip around the world without the cost of voyage.

Unless you were a vendor, of course.

While plenty were local, many more would venture from their homes to capital cities for World Peace Day, knowing they could make a larger profit than if they were to sell their goods at smaller towns. 

     Some even traveled from out of country, it was a huge investment for a single day, but one that would immensely pay off if they could convince customers that their goods were more authentic.

There was also a lavish parade with floats decorated in peace lilies, white poppies, hyacinth, cosmos, pincushion flowers, red peonies, and lavender, all carrying red banners with the symbol of The Supreme.

      Marching bands play folk music, and talented performers in costumes from all over the world perform traditional dances.

          It is a feast for the eyes seeing all the different cultures that were united for the sake of Peace.

Of course, the most beautiful sight (that you have to pay an admission fee for) is in the Jardin des Tuileries where all the metal sculptures and plastic foliage are removed to make room for impressive, imported floral displays;

Tudor roses from Britain, Quatre–temps from Canada, Dahlias from Mexico, Cattleya orchids from Brazil, Meihua from China, and naturally French Iris at the center… All countries in the world are represented by a display of their national flower, to symbolize how all nations came together under the guidance of The Supreme. 

—

Roland Dupain loves World Peace Day more than Christmas!

Poverty had become common place after the Great war- the whole world seemed dull and grey. But the people endured to rebuild what had been lost. Roland Dupain’s grandfather had perished in the war, and his grandmother had to raise 2 sons on her own, one of which would marry Roland’s mother. 

Then, WW2 began. 

     Both his father and his uncle went off to fight, following in their father’s footsteps.

       5 months passed before Mrs. Dupain received word that Roland’s uncle had been killed in action.

A miserable year passed and the world descended into Hell-

     Nazi’s invaded France and took control of Paris.

         Parisians lived in fear and battled with hunger every day. A pregnant Mrs. Dupain cried herself to sleep, having lost all hope of ever seeing her husband alive again, resigning herself to her fate of having to bring a child into the world that would never know their father…

Then, the unthinkable happened;

         The Axis Powers abruptly and unanimously surrendered!

Not to the Allies Forces…. No, something far greater and more powerful.

There was dancing in the streets! Peace at long last! 

     Tanks and weapons were disassembled, materials and rations that had been collected for the war efforts were donated back to the people, armies were permanently disbanded, and Roland’s father came home.

Oh, that euphoric feeling of relief and utter joy when Mrs. Roland leapt into her husband’s arms, weeping tears of joy.

      No more war, no more bloodshed, no more hiding in fear, no more starving!

From now on, theirs was a world of everlasting peace!

ALL HAIL THE SUPREME!

2 months later, Roland Dupain was born, and every year until his father’s died from Tuberculosis, Roland was regaled with stories of the suffering caused during the War, and how The Supreme was their savior.

Ever since, Roland Dupain has celebrated Peace Day with fond memories and a sense of pride…

Which is why his greatest shame is his wife, Gina.

The same woman who hard the nerve to lecture him about about family values when he was ready to disown his son for marrying an outrageous woman who wouldn’t even take her husband’s last name and who had nonsense ideas about experimenting with time-trusted recipes, (flour from rice?? Peuh! That’s not how it’s done!).

     Gina, with her big speech about how nothing was more important than family…

     She brought disgrace to their family when she was arrested 2 years ago for civil disobedience and public disturbance!

Well, there was no way he was going to allow his granddaughter to go down a criminal path!

The world was tough but fair; so long as you work hard and follow all the rules, no questions, you won’t have any problems.

So simple!

Marinette needed to learn to how lucky she was to live in a world under The Supreme’s protection. 

What better way to do that then helping her grandfather sell traditional Pain de campagne to tourists on World Peace Day?

It was a tradition started by his father, that he had carried on and tried to continue with his own son (until that wife of his put crazy ideas in his head like how pain au chocolat would be more popular.) but now, he would continue this tradition with Marinette- she would become part of a proud history, develop a sense of service, and most importantly, stay on the straight and narrow!

Children need discipline, after all! 

She would thank him, one day.

-Marinette strongly disagrees.

Up until she was 11 years old, for Marinette Dupain-Cheng, World Peace Day was all about yummy treats, exciting parades, and pretty flowers.

    While her parents sold pastries, her Nonna would take her strolling around the city to enjoy the excitement!

Then, just a few months before she turned 12, Nonna was sentenced to 8 years in a penitentiary labor camp.

Now, World Peace Day was about carrying baskets of rye sourdough bread, lectures on how things were and were not done, and the same old stories Grandpa Roland had already told her hundreds of times before, all while watching everyone get to have fun.

      It was like having detention outside of school! 

The worst part was the elderly tourists who would gush over her and pinch her cheeks for ‘being such a good girl who helps out her grandfather!’

Apparently being a “good girl” didn’t entitle her to personal space.

    Seriously, why did people feel entitled to put their hands on her just because she was a kid?

Mom and Dad were no help; her Mom believed this was important quality time with her grandfather that she’ll appreciate someday when she’s older.

     Dad’s opinion was, as always, that her mother was right.

You know what’d she’d really appreciate?

      Getting to celebrate World Peace day instead of lugging around crusty bread made from overly fermented yeast!  It was like her grandfather had an allergy to delicious food and having fun!

      Grandpa Roland claimed World Peace Day was his favorite holiday, yet he spent the whole day either selling bread or complaining about how other people were selling bread wrong, how people dressed was wrong, or how people looked at their phones while walking around was wrong!

      No one seemed to know how anything was “done,” save for him, and honestly? Marinette was 100% done with all of it.

—

For Adrien, World Peace Day is now the one time the city doesn’t stink in the literal sense.

The amount of actual flowers should help offset the stench of chemical fumes.

But he didn’t use to think that way…

World Peace Day used to make him happy, because it made his mother happy.

When he was little, his mother would giggle at the spectacle of Adrien-tallest in the world, as he sat atop his father’s shoulders for the best view of the parade in all of Paris.

Her smile was even sweeter than the sticky residue she tried in vain to wipe from his cheeks because Père didn’t hesitate to buy him every sugary treat that caught his eye.

Her voice was like a song as she pointed out and named each and every flower in Jardin des Tuileries to him, and as much as he wanted to pay attention, it was a hypnotic lullaby paired with a sugar crash that left him in a sleepy daze in his father’s warm embrace as he was carried home, his last conscious thoughts his mother’s kiss upon his forehead as his blanket was tucked tight around him.

As he got big enough to walk without being carried, he toured the celebrations with his parents each holding his hands in theirs.

     Father still had his sweet tooth, despite mère playfully scolding him, reminding him of the lecture Adrien would get from the dentiste.

He was old enough to listen to her name all the flowers now, but too excited about the exotic music and the foreign dancers to really pay attention to what she said.

Though he did hear, and make a face, at his father’s mushy declaration that mère was the most beautiful rose in the world.

He never really noticed that mother’s grip on his hand was starting to weaken.

Years passed and he was too busy checking that the path ahead was clear of bumps and dips to notice any candy vendors or dances. His father was also more focused on pushing mother’s wheelchair than enjoying the parade.

Mother’s tone was still cheerful as she admired the flowers, but Adrien was too worried about whether the outdoor air was making her cough worse, her words went in one ear and out the other.

Last year she had been too weak to get out of bed. She had been too exhausted to watch the entirety of the parade on TV- visiting Jardin des Tuileries was out of the question.

     Adrien would have given ANYTHING to listen to her list off the different flowers, he swore he would commit each one to memory.

Now….

Was there really any point?

He’d seen all the dances dozens of times, the music was also pretty boring.

There was nothing special about the food vendors, and too much sugar was terrible for your skin anyway.

He honestly didn’t care about flowers.

World Peace Day was just another over-rated holiday that people obsessed over to temporarily forget the mediocrity of their dreary lives.

What a joke.

—

For a young Gabi Grassette, son of a pommes frites vendor, World peace day meant sweets; Barbe à papa, English toffees, Mexican chocolates, and Polkagris!

Their family didn’t have a lot, but on this most special of days, his Papa would allow him some spending money to enjoy what the world had to offer~

At 8 years old, he was practically grown up, and able to walk up and down the street by himself.

It was the first World Peace Day he had a clear memory of, it was also the first time he saw a real flower up close.

Back then, he hadn’t really understood what his parents meant; things were either “real” or “imaginary”, weren’t they? 

        He was able to touch the plastic flowers his mother decorated their kitchen window with, and last week in L'Ecole Primaire his teacher taught him how to fold fleurs de papier.  Those were plenty real enough!

      Why would adults waste euros on something silly like flowers when they could buy candy instead?

           Gabi couldn’t believe he was already so much smarter than everybody else! That was probably why he was allowed to enjoy the celebration by himself unlike other children who still needed adults to watch them.

  That was until he stumbled across “it”.

A single blossom that had fallen off a parade float, carried off by a gentle breeze, only to land delicately at his feet.

It was so much more fragile than he’d imagined;

    The petals were just as thin as paper, yet surprisingly soft to the touch.

        Its center was fuzzy? A scent not unlike the perfume he was used to, but not the same either- it was both more airy yet more bold, but like a passing whisper- there was no strange undertone to remind him of cleaning sprays.

    The stem was flexible, to a point. It was smooth with a certain give. If he pressed a fingernail to it, it tore a little, but instead of revealing wire inside, it was just more green- a sticky green.

     The leaves had… creases? The lines weren’t painted on, they were embedded in the leaf itself almost like…. like… veins.

        Veins, as if it were….

                 Alive.

This tiny thing in his hands wasn’t made in a classroom or a factory… it was ALIVE.

He had been told that flowers and other plants were things that grew from the ground, but he had never fully understood what that truly meant until now.

    Flowers, REAL flowers, were delicate, fragrant, colorful, and ALIVE and it was the most amazing thing Gabi had ever seen!!!

But, why was something so precious only celebrated one day of the year?

   Why were there so few?

         Why didn’t the adults grow them everywhere?  Why did they have to settle for paper or plastic ones when real ones were so much better?

It wasn’t the first time he, or any child for that matter, had questioned why the world was the way that it was, but for Gabi, it was the first time he had questioned why no one was trying to make the world better.

While his childhood had given him the blissful ignorance of believing that a certain holiday was all about delicious treats and beautiful flowers, with adulthood came the wisdom of understanding that World Peace Day was supposed to symbolize the end of the violent history of the world that would never again be repeated.

But only the enlightened were able to realize what World Peace Day was really about;

      Worshipping The Supreme.

Some speculated that The Supreme was a small group of the world’s greatest minds.

Others suggested The Supreme was a single individual, appointed by the Divine Almighty to lead the world to salvation.

A remaining few even dared to imagine The Supreme as God himself; righting the wrongs of humanity and guiding them to the perfect world they could have been before the Tower of Babel. 

Perhaps that last one wasn’t too far fetched-

After all, the way all the World Leaders agreed to surrender their power after WW2 without hesitation was almost as if they were compelled by some supernatural force…

In order to ensure everlasting peace for generations to come,The Supreme reshaped the nations of the world;

    Monarchies were archaic- being able to trace your incestuous genealogy back to the dark ages didn’t qualify you to have any sort of authority.

     Elections were flawed and allowed money, baseless propaganda, and empty promises, to fool voters and keep the greedy and corrupt in power.

   That’s why wars over natural resources, religious superiority, or ethnic cleansing used to be commonplace throughout history- the wrong people were put in charge of governing the masses.

         Only exceptional individuals who will uphold the ideals of a utopian society should be given that kind of power.

              Mayors, Governors, Senators, and Prime Ministers/Presidents were replaced with High Officials, Grand Officials,  Executive Officials, and Executive Administrators… 

      All of which were selected by The Supreme, and who answered only to The Supreme.

Only The Supreme could decide what those “utopian ideals” were, and no one else had any say.

 Once, Gabi had been foolish enough to believe that was what was best.

After reinventing himself, from his name to the people he associated with, becoming a member of high society allowed to walk amongst the rich, the powerful, and the celebrity elite, Gabriel Agreste was finally able to see past all the bureaucratic smoke and mirrors.

No one truly had the best interests for the whole of humanity at heart. 

Those with authority obeyed The Supreme out of fear and a lust for power.

      Connections with the rich and influential were shallow at best; today you were friends and colleagues, but tomorrow they may very well stab you in the back to turn a profit.

In the end, the power to decide what was justifiably right or criminally wrong belonged to The Supreme, and their word was absolute.

If there was anything to take away from that, it was that absolute power corrupts absolutely.

[mjohnso]

The Work of Auditions

S.E.S Bada’s recruitment story is the stuff of SM legend. Personally scouted in 1996 by Lee Soo-man after he saw her perform at her school’s annual festival, she did not then dream of debuting as a pop singer, let alone being in a girl group. By most accounts, she wanted to be a musical theater actor. But she agreed to Lee’s offer because it literally paid the bills. In exchange for joining the company, Lee paid her full university tuition and expenses, where she studied theater.

I begin with Bada’s origin story, not only because it is unique among SM audition stories but because of what it says about SM. Specifically, it demonstrates the company’s recognition early on that acquiring the best performers, regardless of cost, was integral to their survival and success. They would need talent to grow their stable of new acts and replace any new acts that disbanded. Furthermore, maintaining a pool of potential replacement talent was an insurance policy. Their mere existence would apply downward pressure on their already debuted idols, discouraging them from agitating for more (or any) money or better contract terms or material conditions lest they be replaced.

But first, SM had to find trainees, which they did so using a multi-pronged strategy. Street-casting, like the kind that found Bada, was part of their approach, as was their affiliation with the for-profit training academy Starlight Academy beginning in 2003. There was also their more formalized Audition process, which they started advertising on their official website in 2000. In the early aughts, versions of this Audition section of their website listed three language options (“Korean” “English” and “Chinese”), with different options for each. In particular, the Korean version listed six options:

Mail: An applicant could send via snail mail a letter or postcard listing their name, school grade, and contact information, along with two photos, to the attention of the Entertainment Audition Manager at a Gangnam PO Box.

Email: An applicant could send an email to the casting director with all the information they would include in a letter to the casting director if they were mailing their application and two scanned photos.

Franchise Store: Instead of mailing or emailing their information and photos, an applicant could drop off a letter with their information and two photos at one of the various music or record stores around Korea that SM listed on their site. If an applicant who utilized this method was selected for an in-person audition but lived outside of Seoul, SM would pay 100% of their transportation costs.

Recommend a friend: A person could send all of the same information of a friend or family member they believe is talented in a letter or email. If that friend or family member signed a contract with SM, the person who referred them would receive a scholarship of 1 million won.

Live Auditions: Every Saturday at 3pm, SM Entertainment held in-person auditions at their headquarters.

Live Auditions: Applicants could apply for an audition via directions obtained by calling a phone number. If an applicant passed the first round of screening, they would be invited to attend the in-person auditions held on Sunday at 3pm.

Today, SM has not radically changed these options other than revamping them to reflect technological changes and expanding their in-person auditions. They eliminated the snail mail and franchise store options in favor of digital options, including applying via the SM website or direct message. In-person auditions are still held weekly at the SM Entertainment building but are supplemented by audition tours. Earlier this year, they announced their 2024 Global Audition, which consists of stops in Daegu, Busan, Daejeon, Wonju, Gwangju, and Jeju, as well as Thailand, Japan, the United States, and Canada.

Much as their audition methods have not drastically changed, only expanded, the same could be said for the motivation behind their auditions. The need for new trainees, especially as the industry has become increasingly competitive, and the necessity of maintaining that power dynamic that I discussed above all still applies, but I would also add a third reason. That is much as trainees function as a way to apply pressure to acts on an agency’s roster, so does the audition, with all its spectacle, do for trainees. Between the multiple dates and increasing amount of locations, often announced with much fanfare, there is a dual impression. The auditions are extremely competitive, with participants going up against not only those at that audition but also highly desirable and affirming, as evidenced by the turnout.

Yet even though a trainee may have made it through the gauntlet of auditions and been selected as a member of an elite club, they cannot rest. On the contrary, as a trainee, they will have to work harder than other trainees whom they are competing with to maintain their spot and for one of the scant opportunities to debut. Moreover, they cannot complain about their training or the conditions of it or even negotiate for better contract terms, lest they get replaced by any one of those other people auditioning and vying for their spot.

It is no wonder SM Entertainment has not developed a more efficient way to audition potential new trainees. The current system is the perfect tool, conveniently downplaying their role outside the selection process. If a group of trainees encourages existing acts to stay silent even in the face of poor working conditions, that is not because SM has explicitly pushed them to but as a consequence of the system. Similarly, if trainees who acutely feel the precariousness of their situation overwork themselves, that is their decision. No matter that these are the results of a system created by SM's choices, and thus are not immutable. As far as the industry cares it works, so why would they fix it?