#just to get my friend to listen to NSP ... but here we are a few months in

[green-eyes-and-orange-ties]

[little-miss-ghostess]

My reviews/rankings of all of Ninja Sex Party's albums after I binged their discography in January

I've been a fan of NSP since 2017, but between 2020 and 2021 I had kinda fallen off of keeping up with them. Back at the start of this year I decided to fix that, and within the span of a few days I listened to all of their albums from NSFW through to The Very, Very, Very, Very Classy Acoustic Album. And during this journey I'd give a review of each album to my Discord friend server as I went.

It was honestly really fun doing this! I like binging things so just sitting down for like an hour or so listening to an album from start to finish was great -- and I know that sounds like the most zoomer-ass thing imaginable, saying "YOOOOO LISTENING TO AN ALBUM IN ONE GO ROCKS!" but I hadn't done that much myself for most of my life honestly!

So now that I'm using Tumblr again I wanna post my reviews from that binge here, partially cause I think it's fun and partially cause I had originally started dumping these Discord ramblings to a site called Listnd but that place seems to have straight up died 🙃

NSFW (2011) — reviewed on 1/3/22

They actually started off decently well. Obviously the tracks here are not as funny or well produced as later ones would be, but there's little about it I don't at least enjoy.

There aren't many tracks here I'd revisit regularly honestly, but even some of the weaker tracks like Manticore and You Can Do Us! sound good and are pretty catchy. I also keep thinking that No Reason Boner isn't that great but every time I revisit it I realize it's actually good.

Favorite Song: Objects of Desire Least Favorite Song: Accept My Shaft Favorite Skit: Introduction

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Strawberries and Cream (2013) — reviewed on 1/4/22

When I woke up, my brain was ping-ponging between BNA and NSP so here we are.

It's a major step up from NSFW. The sound is better, the lyrics are better, and overall the tracks are much more enjoyable. I can't think of a song on here that I flat out don't like unlike the first album.

Some of these songs like Unicorn Wizard and FYI I Wanna F Your A are some of my favorites from NSP as a whole, even if they aren't as super well-produced or full as later albums would be. I could comfortably listen to most of these songs more regularly.

Although it does lose points from me due to the fact that the album only has the first part of Sacred Chalice, which was a 4 part song (part 1 literally ends with "part 2 coming soon"). It's not even one of my favorite songs from the album but only having the first part on there is a buzzkill, especially since there's no full official release of the other 3 parts outside of the music videos which have noticeably lower quality audio. We're going on 9 years since S&C's release so I don't think we're ever gonna get those other 3 released officially, so fan-made compilations will have to suffice.

Favorite Song: Unicorn Wizard Least Favorite Song: Next To You (not a bad song, but I would only listen to it every once in a while), The Sacred Chalice, Pt. 1 (due to the fact that it's only one part of the full song) Favorite Skit: Shredded Metal

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Attitude City (2015) — reviewed on 1/5/22

I didn't intend on this being a daily thing, but as it turns out this was a great goal to set while getting back into Terraria.

Anyway, this is the final album in what I consider "Classic NSP." Back when they didn't have a backing band, their music videos used deliberate stylistic suck to amplify the comedy, and it's the album that I think truly put them on the map for a lot of people.

So... is it weird to say that I found it a bit underwhelming?

None of it is bad, and I'd say that the best songs (Peppermint Creams, Dragon Slayer, and of course 6969) are higher highs than a lot of the best parts of NSFW and Strawberries and Cream, but honestly the majority of the tracks were just alright.

I guess what I'm saying is I could revisit this album occasionally and enjoy it, but I'd probably just stick to the 3 songs I like the most and ignore the rest.

Favorite Song: 6969 Least Favorite Song: Cookies! (it's still funny, though) Favorite Skit: Buttsex Goldilocks

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Under the Covers (2016) — reviewed on 1/5/22

Firstly, brilliant name.

Secondly, while few doubted that Danny and Brian were talented, I think this was the album that made a lot of people (myself included) go "Oh wait they're not just funny sex band, they're fully rounded musicians." Yeah they didn't write any of the songs here, but the musical performances and especially Danny's vocal performance just rock.

There isn't a track here that isn't at the very least pretty good, helped in large part due to them now having Tupperware Remix Party as a backing band so now things feel really full.

My only issue with it isn't even really with the quality of anything, it's just that a lot of these songs don't fully appeal to my personal tastes. Maybe it's cause I'm not nostalgic for them, but again that's not a major issue, it just bumps it down a few points for me personally.

Basically it's tied with Strawberries and Cream for me which is hard to really show on a tierlist.

Favorite Song: The Last Unicorn Least Favorite Song: Subdivisions Favorite Skit: N/A

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Under the Covers Volume II (2017) — reviewed on 1/6/22

Going with two cover albums in a row was an interesting decision that I'm not sure I fully agree with, but hey it's a great album so who cares?

This one is a big improvement from Volume I for me personally cause there's a lot more music here I actively vibe with. The only track here I honestly don't care for is I Wish, but I could easily and happily listen to any of the other tracks leisurely.

Yeah that's pretty much all I gotta say on the quality, it's a great album and I am listening to Your Wildest Dreams as I type this. Only other comment I got is that it's fuckin' surreal that this album is coming on 5 years old cause I explicitly remember watching the music video to Pour Some Sugar On Me when it released during school, specifically during a computer lab trip where I had to hide the screen.

It feels kind of weird giving this the highest ranking so far since it's music they didn't write, but oh well.

Favorite Song: Your Wildest Dreams Least Favorite Song: I Wish Favorite Skit: N/A

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Cool Patrol (2018) — reviewed on 1/6/22

This is one of two NSP albums I own physically, and it's the signed version as well!

Which is sweet cause this is definitely the pinnacle of their discography so far. Literally nothing about this album is underwhelming, letalone bad.

The skits are fun, and EVERY song is a jam. Even GFY which is way more of a skit than a song you're meant to listen to a lot slaps pretty hard. My only real gripes* (*read: nitpicks) are I don't know why the last line of Heart Boner is "Screw you for judging me", and I think the "Madre los mios!" at the end of Eating Food in the Shower is a little out of place (but hey the rest of the song being significantly better mixed than the music video version makes up for that).

Plus, it has arguably the best song NSP has written, Danny Don't You Know, and that gives it a lot of points.

Favorite Song: Three-way tie between Orgy For One, First Date, and Danny Don't You Know Least Favorite Song: GFY (only cause it's more of a skit song than the rest of the album, it's still pretty good) Favorite Skit: Romance Novel

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Under the Covers Volume III (2019) — reviewed on 1/7/22

This is the second and latest NSP album I own physically, also signed.

And it's pretty solid, though I don't think it's as good as Volume II. Again, I'm just not big on some of the song choices. Nothing here is outright bad at all, but some of these tracks don't appeal to my personal tastes. Not much more I can say here that I didn't say for the past two volumes

Favorite Song: Safety Dance Least Favorite Song: Photograph Favorite Skit: N/A

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The Prophecy (2020) — reviewed on 1/7/22

This was my first time listening all the way through this album, as around this time was when I had kinda fallen off the NSP wagon.

And that's a shame cause it is a very strong album.

I don't think it quite reaches the same bar as Cool Patrol as a whole package, but it definitely has some jams here that are on-par. Welcome to My Parents' House and I Don't Know What We're Talking About are still great, The Mystic Crystal is a great musical epic/comedy that may not be as easily re-listenable as 6969 but is still equally awesome, and The Decision Part 2 is a sequel I never knew I needed and it slaps hard.

Even Thunder & Lightning, while still not one of my favorites by any means, is a lot better than I remember it being when it first dropped.

The album is brought down slightly for me by the mixing in a few tracks (notably The Decision Part 2 and Do Math with U) being not the greatest as the vocals can be drowned out by the instrumentals, and Wondering Tonight's mere existence. It's not terrible, it's just....completely disposable. It feels like a throwaway track created to fill out the album a little. It got a couple chuckles out of me, but overall it did nothing for me.

So yeah I can't say it's S tier because Cool Patrol hit homeruns throughout the whole album, whereas this one had a few more issues pop up for me and had one straight up miss, but even so it's still a damn good album.

Favorite Song: Welcome to My Parents' House Least Favorite Song: Wondering Tonight Favorite Skit: The Wishing Bear

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Level Up (2021) — reviewed on 1/8/22

Well well well, if it isn't the Star Wars Special Editions of music.

The idea for this album is great: The first three NSP albums didn't have TWRP as a backing back, so they take a handful of songs from them and re-record them to be more up to their modern standards of quality.

Should've been a slam dunk.

Instead it was a complete miss followed by a faceplant into the court flooring.

I will say this immediately: Just speaking purely off production, this is not a bad album. The songs do sound fuller in a lot of ways. But in terms of quality, especially comparing it to their previous works, this ain't it chief,

The problem is they changed so much for seemingly no reason, and I'm not asking for the songs to be the exact same but with TWRP in the back, but these changes are so asinine and completely remove a lot of the fun from the tracks.

For one, Danny's inflection on a lot of the lines are just so much more lifeless and dull. For example...

"6969" - Attitude City (2015) -- Timestamp 5:52

"6969" -- Level Up (2021) -- Timestamp 5:57

The scene is supposed to be high-energy and intense because NSP is running away from an army trying to kill them, but in the Level Up version Danny just sounds mildly annoyed.

And this permeates throughout pretty much the entire album, especially cause they cut out a lot of the skit dialogue in the songs so Unicorn Wizard just sounds so much more hollow despite having more to it. But they don't cut out all of them??? Unicorn Wizard, Attitude City, and NSP Theme Song have their skits cut, but Party of Three and 6969 don't. I guess cause they're more built into the foundation of the songs, but I guarantee you you could cut out a lot of the 6969 dialogue and have it be on the same level as Unicorn Wizard, which is to say it'd technically work but it would sound way more hollow, so it's weird where they drew the lines.

The worst example though I have to say comes from Road Trip. At the end, Danny dies mid-lyric because he exits his spaceship without a spacesuit:

"Road Trip" - Attitude City (2015) -- Timestamp 2:58

But, in Level Up, they just cut that out entirely so Danny just finishes the song normally:

"Road Trip" - Level Up (2021) -- Timestamp 2:51

Why? That completely kills the joke.

Even the introduction doesn't escape this, cause every original NSP album opens with a comedy piece where Danny introduces you to the album. Here? It's literally just a minute of music with no dialogue, and it's not even that interesting of music.

On top of that Danny's voice drips with autotune a lot in these tracks which really kills a lot of the enjoyment. Unicorn Wizard here genuinely just sucks, straight up. No skits, duller delivery, too much autotune, the instrumentals are mixed to be louder than Danny's voice so mixed with the autotune it just makes it a headache, ugh.

(NOTE: Upon reflection in the months since, I'm not entirely sure that "dripping with autotone" was the best way of describing it. There was something to Danny's vocals that sounded more artificially tweaked than any other album so that felt like the best description to me at the time, but now I'm not so sure cause I don't actually know if autotune was used.)

Dinosaur Laser Fight sounds pretty, but I don't like the ballad direction they took for it cause it's a completely different style than the original and I don't think they lean into it hard enough for it to be a funny juxtaposition. On top of that, it's the ONLY song on the album that is completely different from it's original version, which would be fine if the whole thing was a reimagining of their songs (and if you want to use the term VERY broadly, it is). But it isn't. It's only songs from the pre-TWRP era and every song that isn't Dinosaur Laser Fight tries to stick fairly close to the originals (which just makes the changes more glaring), plus with the name "Level Up" it implies they're the original songs but better.

But they're not.

Oh yeah also they actually added a skit to I Just Want To (Dance)????? Despite cutting out a bunch of others????????????

There's only 1 song here that is genuinely better (or at least on par with the original), and that's NSP Theme Song. Yeah, it does cut out the skit at the end and Danny's comedic interjections, but it actually does sound good, doesn't have worse delivery, isn't drowning in autotune, and the skit at the end was always one of NSP's weaker ones anyway so it's not as missed (though it does make the song end a little more awkwardly).

I have no idea if this was a rush job to put out an album in 2021, but it certainly feels like it. Like, they wanted a different album out last year but it wasn't gonna happen, so they just took this idea and threw it together. It's not lazy, it has effort put into it, but man it clearly did not have enough time put into it to make it great. I appreciate this album and TVVVVCAA for getting me back into NSP but man this was just a dud otherwise.

Favorite Song: NSP Theme Song (only song here I'd actually revisit) Least Favorite Song: I Just Want To (Dance) (weak song not made any better), Unicorn Wizard (for butchering one of my favorites) Favorite Skit: N/A

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The Very, Very, Very, Very Classy Acoustic Album (2021) — reviewed on 1/8/22

The last stop on my NSP journey until their next album inevitably drops, and it's quite a turnaround from Level Up.

I've grown a love for acoustic albums. Partially because my dad has played acoustic guitar for all my life so it's a very comforting sound, but also because just hearing basically the bare elements of songs that were meant to be high energy is just really awesome. So, this was a treat.

Danny's voice shines here stronger than anywhere before, as there's no mixing to try and drown out his voice, no autotune, barely any harmonizing, it's just him and he has a really good singing voice.

This does lose a few points for me cause it's definitely still pretty scripted (the point of acoustic albums is meant to be pretty raw), which isn't terrible but I would've liked it to be a lot more off the cuff and for Brian to actually talk a bit since he still goes silent in this album. At the very least, the framing device of it being a tour no one showed up to is funny.

(NOTE: I later found out that this actually was a live show that they did that they released as an EP, which better explains the scripted nature. I still personally would've preferred a more genuine, off-the-cuff approach, but I recognize that they were putting on a skit for a stage production.)

Dinosaur Laser Fight is better here than Level Up although I'm still not big on it, but somehow I actually liked Wondering Tonight here. Something about it being lofi really helps it out.

My only other comment is that they have a couple songs from Under the Covers here (Everybody Wants To Rule The World and Rocketman) and they have this kinda odd joke where Danny says David Bowie wrote them. It comes out of nowhere and has no real pay-off, and since those are the only cover songs it can be jarring to stumble into.

Beyond that, great album. I don't think I'd revisit it a ton, but even so it's really good, has a very nice sound, and is overall just cool to hear NSP like this.

Oh yeah and Unicorn Wizard here is good that’s a big plus.

(And some skits are still omitted but it’s a lot more reasonable since even with its scripted nature it’s still predominantly done in one take)

Favorite Song: Danny Don't You Know Least Favorite Song: Dinosaur Laser Fight Favorite Skit: Introduction

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And throughout this journey I had kept track of the albums on a tierlist because I enjoy tierlists, although after my NSP binge I switched from an S/A/B/C/D/F ranking system to Amazing!!/Pretty good!/Solid/Average/Below Average/Ugh... because they better reflected my thoughts:

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WOWIE WOW WOW THIS IS A LONGER POST THAN I EXPECTED. If you made it all the way through my fucking college thesis of a post you win a cookie 🍪

I had other album reviews I did in this style over the course of the year that I want to post here, but now I'm not so sure about that since this ended up being so long 😅 But also it's my blog so I can do what I want right? Whatever, time will tell. I'm probably gonna look into a site called Musicboard for this kinda stuff since it looks like exactly the same site Listnd was but with actually care put into upkeep.

Anyway, moral of the story is that NSP is pretty cool. Thank you and goodnight.

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #283

“if teardrops could be bottled, there’d be swimming pools filled by models”

How much would you tip a waiter or waitress for good service? I honestly don’t even know the proper etiquette of tipping because I almost never ever have been in a sit-down restaurant where I’ve paid because of the whole “I don’t have an income” thing. If for whatever reason I did, I would have asked the person with me how. I do (maybe…) believe however that there should be a baseline for how much you tip, even if your experience is somewhat unpleasant. You don’t know what that person is going through that day. If it’s just pure awful, then I might not tip at all, but I think I’d honestly feel way too guilty. Who is your favorite character from the television sitcom Friends? I don’t watch it. Whose name might you have tattooed on your body? None. Well, I guess if I had hypothetical kids, I might, especially as a tribute if they died. What is something that you always need to leave plugged in? I always at least have my laptop charger plugged into the wall, but not always into my computer as to not totally kill the battery. I just need it a lot because I’m only always on it. Who might you send a selfie to? I don’t send them to anyone, really, save for specific occasions. I just take selfies once in a blue moon to change my Facebook picture, honestly. I feel weird just sending people pictures of me because I feel like I’m screaming, “HEY LOOK AND COMPLIMENT ME!!!!!!!!!”, so it makes me uncomfortable. I only did semi-recently because my friend did my makeup for a Halloween shoot and for once in my goddamn life I felt really pretty so sent it to Sara. Name an item in or on your bed every night. My phone is on the right upper corner of my bed so I can check it when I wake up; I always wake up throughout the night and wanna know what time it is. Out of your work shift, how much time do you spend doing “actual work”? Well one, define “actual work,” but odds are almost zero because I don’t have shit to do. How long do your New Years resolutions typically last? I don’t make ‘em. Who would you call first after getting engaged to tell them the news? Most likely Mom. What’s the song that reminds you of the person you like?Okay so deadass I listened to NSP’s “Wish You Were Here” cover recently and kinda cried lol. Are you good at holding back your tears? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Have you ever sacrificed something important to you for someone you love? My goddamn sanity. How many jobs do you have? None. Do you have any memories you want to erase? There’s one occasion with Jason I wish I could forget so, so badly. Do you believe in the phrase “If it’s meant to be, it will be”? No. I don’t believe in pre-determined destinies and such, and thus I don’t see anything as “meant” and “not meant” to be. Do you believe in destiny? Wow, good timing lmao. Do you believe that things will get better? I like to think so. Have you ever drunk dialed someone? No. Have you ever worn a tiara? Haha, I think on my 18th birthday maybe, my friend Summer came with us to dinner and brought me a birthday tiara. If someone offered to take you out for your birthday, where would you decide to go? I almost always go to Olive Garden for dinner. But, after trying the Cheesecake Factory for the first time… *eyes emoji* If you plan to have kids, what will you tell them about Santa Clause? I’m not having kids, but hypothetically, I’d let them believe it. It’s so magical as a kid and brings so much excitement. I’d tell them the truth when it feels appropriate, and if I know they’re not the type to go telling other kids for no reason “HEY MY MOM SAID SANTA’S NOT REAL SO UR DUMB.” I’d be damned if they ruined it for other children. If you have ever been employed, have you ever been attracted to your boss? What about a co-worker? Not that I remember. Do [would] you avoid kissing your [possibly hypothetical] significant other when you or they are ill? Look man I made out with my ex while he was recovering from bronchitis before we knew it wasn’t contagious so OOPS yeah because I am 110% the “if you’re sick, I’m sick” dumbass all the while going FULL Mom Mode taking care of the person. What was the last thing you bought, other than food? With my own money, that is a daaaamn good question. I only really use it/am given it for food. Have you ever had a crush on a teacher? No. Who was the last person you Facebook messaged? Do you know what that person is doing at this moment? My mom. She’s in the living room watching TV, probably. Think back to the last time you cried, or felt like crying. Who or what helped you to feel better? My mom. Do you own any accessories with your name or initial on them? No, they don’t appeal to me. Is there someone of the opposite sex that knows everything, or almost everything, about you? I would say Jason, but we haven’t seen or spoken to each other for almost four years, and I’m a much different person by now, and I’m sure he is, too. Do you remember the last time you cried because you missed someone? A few weeks back I had a breakdown over Jason again. My PTSD was and still is being pretty rough lately. Are your eyes the same color as your sibling(s)? Just my brother. Anything in your room that you’re hiding from your parents, or someone else? No. What’s your most noticeable flaw? Thinking about it, probably my extreme aversion to conflict. I will BOLT from confrontation. And what’s your best feature? I’m extremely empathetic. Have you ever hallucinated? Yeah; I would see shadows move when I was coming off a certain med. Do you have fangirl-ish tendencies? ………………. Have you ever replied “OK” when someone confessed they liked you? Wow, no. Either admit reciprocated feelings or gently turn them down. The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, or The Beatles? OHHHHHHHH BUDDY. Led Zeppelin, I think… but maybe the Stones. Idk. What would you do for immortality and infinite youth? Nothing. Would you rather have a pool or a hot tub? A pool. Is your handwriting legible? Yes. Well, some people find it slightly difficult because it’s kinda fancy. Have you ever held a baby chick? Yes! Do you think ‘everything bagels’ are disgusting? I’m not a fan. Do you live with anyone that you try to avoid at all costs? No. What did you last get upset about? How incredibly fuckin weak my body is. When is the last time you personally made someone else cry? I don’t know. How many more people do you think you’ll kiss before you die? Hopefully only one. I do NOT want to deal with anymore heartbreak, nor do I want to waste anymore time with someone I’m not going to spend the rest of my life with. Are you more spiritual or religious? Spiritual. Ever been to a rave? Nooooo, most definitely not my scene. Are you afraid to name the person you talk the most shit about? No. Song playing right now? I’m listening to “PRESIDENT X” by 3TEETH rn. Have you ever laughed at someone because they had a funny name? No, that’s incredibly rude. Speaking of names, why do celebrities always call their kids stupid ones? They’re not all “stupid”…? There are some beautiful names I’ve heard. It’s none of my business why others’ children are named what they are. Do you get car sick easily? I don’t. Do you think you’re a good conversationalist? Why is that? NO. I’m just awkward and don’t know what to talk about or what to say back to people a lot. Awhile back though my friend Ian told me I was actually a really nice one and it meant a LOT to me. Hearing someone say that reassured me a little bit. Have you ever been on a float in a parade? What were you doing on it? No. Have you ever been in a helicopter? No. Have you ever had chicken pox? No. Who is your favorite animated character? Oh boy that’s hard man, idk. Maybe Ninetales, at least aesthetically. Idk about as characters themselves. Is it easy to make you gag? Yeah. Who’s your favorite Disney character? Probably Scar. Would you rather have a pet crocodile or a pet octopus? I deadass kinda want a caiman lol. It’s something I doubt I’ll actually do, though. Do you like Ritz crackers? Yeah. Do you have any designer clothing? If so what brand? No. Were you afraid of the dark when you were little? Not very, no. What are your opinions on war in general? It’s fucking awful and could be avoided if people weren’t so goddamn hasty, selfish, and uncompromising, among many other adjectives. Do you like pretzels? Yessss, especially soft ones. Have you ever wanted to be a writer? Yeah, tons of times in my life on-and-off. Did you even vote? This is the very first year I actually did. I felt really bad for not acting, only complaining about my government, and “silence speaks” was heavy on my head. Did some research to educate myself, and I felt amazing afterwards. What is your favorite flavor of gum? Usually watermelon. Are you wearing any bandaids? If so, where and why? No. Do you currently have any bruises on you? No. Do you/did you like or dislike school? I always hated it. Are you currently wearing any lotion? No. Do you ever make recipes found online? What was the last one? I don’t cook, so… but there sure are some that look good. If you smoke weed, what do you usually do after you get high? If you don’t, what would you do if everyone around you were smoking? I never have, so I wouldn’t know. Haha, for the second half, sit there awkwardly… been there once. What’s the last thing you ordered online? The next Wings of Fire book. Starting Sunny’s story now. Tell me about your favorite dress. I had this spring dress in high school that was white with purple skulls on it in a floral design… It was really cute and just has a special memory tied to it. Have you ever slept in a waterbed? If so, what was it like? Yeah, that used to be considered “fun” as a kid. They’re not awful, but not that comfortable either, and if I remember well, it’s easy to get sweaty because of the material. How many floors does your house have? Just one. Have you ever had anything removed from your body? Yes. Do you enjoy sappy love songs? Hell yeah I do. Do you ever buy the same shirt in different colors? Simple tank tops, yeah. Ever made out on a rooftop? Damn dude no I’d be paranoid of falling off lmao. One place you will never eat at? Arby’s. If someone went through your pictures, would they find a "bad" one? Nope.

[hoodwinkedtoohoodvsevil]

sappy "i've loved my spesh for a year now" post

[[MORE]]

one year ago today, i got into twrp.

that's not to say i wasnt familiar with them before june 3rd, 2019. my big love was nsp, so i very much knew and appreciated them! i remember when nsp played on conan i was so happy for all of them and hoped twrp was getting just as much credit as nsp because they totally deserve it! i remember listening to guardians of the zone a couple years back in david's car and latching onto rock n roll best friends (my first favorite twrp song and still one of my faves!) and listening to that a lot. i remember the third starbomb album coming out last april and thinking, wow, this is definitely their best album musically because of twrp's instrumentation! and of course, like everyone else, i was obsessed with starlight brigade when the video came out, and recognized it was twrp's song featuring dan, not just a dan project. but i didn't have their names memorized, and for whatever reason, i thought they were all silent performers? like, i thought none of them talked and sung only talked/performed with talkbox. (i mean, i was like 60% right? at least at the time.)

on this day last year, i was showing my best friend arin and suzy's (gg) hot pepper gaming videos and then i noticed twrp's in the related videos. i was like oh my gosh! i didn't know twrp did one of these! and you can imagine my surprise when sung and meouch started talking fhfhdjdlfj i was literally like WAIT THEY TALK??? I REALLY THOUGHT NONE OF THEM TALKED. it's always really funny to look back on. and even though they spent most of that video suffering i thought they were so funny and likeable that i was like. maybe i should finally actually get into twrp.

and holy shit.

there's so much to twrp that i know i didn't do it all in a day. it's hard for me to get used to a band by listening to all their music once, so i took it album by album. i started with guardians of the zone, because i was already very familiar with it. listened to that on loop for a while, then moved onto together through time since it was their most recent album at the time. then, i went backwards from there.

i searched for all the lore i could. i read wiki pages, spent literal hours reading reddit AMAs, watched every video on their youtube channel and the hour long compilation of their instagram videos. this all took place over the span of like? a few days? a week? it's hard to say really. i fell so fast.

from that point on, i have so many stories, we would be here all day. i remember listening to believe in your dreams on repeat the day i became a d*sney trainer, and the literal day after that, they released hidden potential. then of course, the release of return to wherever, which i listened to nonstop for ages. the album is my jam because i love albums with a cohesive theme and songs that blend into each other. it's hard to beat together through time, but rtw comes really close.

i saw them for the first time live on july 30th, 2019. unfortunately, something happened that night that changed my life for the worse. but that wasn't twrp's fault at all. the show itself was incredible. i'd never been to a general admission concert of one of my faves, it was absolutely surreal that they were all right in front of me. and of course, they put on a hell of a show. they always do. god, i love them.

on august 9th 2019, i went to my first sung stream. it was a party stream and i'm on the east coast, so i stayed up until 3 AM to hear sung give me my first talkbox shoutout. i recorded it and still have the video. it made me smile in the early part of a very dark time in my life.

i made a lot of friends in that stream, we all shared twitters and i'm still friends/mutuals with all of them! and i've only made more friends since, especially at nsp10. nsp10 was incredible for many reasons, but a big one was that the three hours my fiancé and i were waiting outside the venue to be let in, we were just walking around saying hi to my twrp friends, meeting a bunch of them for the first time. and i made new friends! i remember standing in a group, shivering in my heart boner cosplay, and one of the guys saying "you're artie, right? i follow you on twitter, i love your cosplay!" he seemed like he was really gathering the courage to say it to me, he had no idea how happy it would make me! (shoutout to logan! you're awesome!)

really, if any of my twrp friends are reading this, i love you to pieces. meeting you has definitely been a high point of the last 365 days.

again, i have so many stories. but since this is already so long i'm just gonna cut to march 5th, 2020. that was the night i met them. now, i'm not a shy person at all, and over the past few years i haven't really been very socially anxious. i'm able to carry myself in conversation, even with strangers. but i've never met a fave before. let alone four faves at once. so, naturally, everything i had planned on saying completely left my brain. but they're literally the best, so it was still an absolute dream. the first thing sung said when he saw me was "hey you look great!" (my outfit was clearly inspired by his own, fancy orange hat and all, so he probs wanted to Respect The Drip but he was right regardless and also HOLY SHIT) and i had my baby porg gary with me (the sunshine of my life) and they all interacted with him and it was super wholesome.

they played two nights in orlando, and i went to both shows because of course i did. first night was great, second night was even better even though that was my GA show. they played life party on night 2, which might as well be my favorite song of all time. it has carried me through every bad moment since i first heard it. big and small. i have a lyric from it tattoo'd on my arm as a constant reminder that i'm alive, and that is something to be ecstatic about. i also had more room to dance and move around on night 2, and dance and move around i did. then, when the show was over and scatman played, i got out everything else i had. august-november 2019 was actual hell for me, and i was still dealing with the aftermath of it all. but that concert high made me realize, holy shit! all of it is over! it doesn't matter anymore! twrp carried me through one of the roughest periods of my life, and met me at the finish line with a fucking gold medal. i fucking did it. now i have none of the bad, and all of the good. it was one of the best feelings i've ever had, and one of the happiest nights of my life.

since then, twrp continues to keep me going. of course the world has been a total shitshow, but everyone's streams (especially the twrp show) have been the highlight of my week every week.

i've always considered myself a very positive person, but last year was a very bad year for my depression, as well as traumatic at times. and i've always had problems feeling understood. i still do. but twrp said hey! literally nobody understands us. not even ourselves! but that's okay! we want you to be happy and feel loved and supported no matter what. and i really can't thank them enough for it.

this part is mostly for another longer post, but i wanted to mention it since it's also really important. i fully came to terms with being a mlm last year after years of compulsory heterosexuality, and twrp played a big part in me exploring and accepting that about myself. and i was already very secure in my gender identity when i found them, but hearing "this song goes out to all the ladies, fellas, and everyone in between" shook me to my very core. i've never loved a band that literally said "shoutout to trans/nb people" at every concert. god. i love them so fucking much.

so this was even longer than i expected (and i expected it to be long bc yknow. spesh.) but i just have so much love and gratitude for this band. every day of my life i'm so thankful that doctor sung, commander meouch, lord phobos, and havve hogan exist and are spreading all this love and positivity to their fans every day. i've never loved a band like this, and i probably never will. they are truly special.

and it's only been a year!!!!

[classic-rock-roller]

1. You’re on tour with your band and while you’re on the bus, Sean comes out of the back holding books entitled ‘Dragon Quest: Echoes of an Elusive Age’, ‘Sentinels of the Starry Skies’, and ‘The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors.’ He asks you, “Whose are these? You don’t like fantasy, Erik only reads in German, and Linus doesn’t read.” “Well, then logically that would mean that they’re Bonham’s.” He looks at you with a strange expression on his face and asks, “Wait, is Bonham, like, a nerd or something?” Before you can answer, she comes in and is laughing uncontrollably at what she heard him say. How do you respond and what do they say?

Me: We’re both nerds. I love Star Wars and Harry Potter. Just cause I don’t flaunt it doesn’t mean I’m not a nerd. 

Sean: Really?

Linus: There’s nothing wrong with being a nerd, Jesus. 

Erik *eyeing Bons*: Your laughter is really creeping me out. 

2. You’re at Bonham’s house one day with Sean and Kevin, and you and Kevin are eating in the kitchen. Suddenly Sean comes running in and says, “You guys gotta see this!” “What’s up?” Kevin asks. “Bonham’s in the living room playing this game, Guitar Hero, and you gotta see it! She’s really good!” You both knew this already. “Yeah, we knew that. Nobody plays with her cause she always beats us.” How do you and Sean respond?

Me: Exactly she taught me but I never play against her. 

Sean: Well, I’ll play against her. (He promptly loses) 

3. One day, you’re rummaging through the fridge after Bonham went to the store, and you spy a bucket of cookie dough. “Why did you buy a five-pound bucket of cookie dough?” you ask. “Reasons,” Bonham replies. How do you and Kevin respond?

Me: Just don’t eat it all at once or make cookies. 

Kevin: Eww...you eat raw cookie dough?

4. You and your band are on the set of the NSP collab video and you suddenly see Bonham streak by wearing Danny’s cape. “Bitch get back here!” Danny yells, chasing her. You hear her shout from a distance, “You’ll never take me alive, Sexbang!” How do you and your band respond, and does Danny ever catch her? What happens if he does?

Erik and Sean laugh and Linus rolls his eyes while saying “...idiots.” I run up to Danny and jump on his back before screaming, “Ride like the Wind, Sexbang!” He stops and goes, “What the fuck are you doing?” “I’m helping you get Bons! Now, Hi-ho Sexbang! Away!” We end up catching her a bit later and he grabs his cape back from her before looking at the both of us and going, “The two of you are insane.” 

5. You come into the studio one day to see Sean trying to spin in a circle just by kicking out his leg (video demonstration available on request). Bonham and the boys are cheering him on. “What are you doing?” you ask. “I’m the most important man alive!” Sean says, before tipping over. “Fuck!” How do you and the rest of the band respond?

Me: What the fuck is going on? 

Erik and Linus are laughing their asses off and Bons goes “You are not the most important man alive.” 

6. You and Kevin and Sean are sitting with Bonham and talking one day while she’s playing a video game. Sean is telling a story and watching her play, and at one point he trails off as Bonham’s character is killed by the boss for the fifth time. She is visibly frustrated and mashing buttons angrily, but she looks to Sean and says in a strained voice, “Everything’s fine you can continue with your story.” How do you, Kevin, and Sean react?

Me: I..uh...just remembered I have to go change my wash. 

Kevin *jumps up*: I’ll go with you. 

Sean: Really mature of leaving me here along guys! 

7. Your band is hanging out one day on the bus on the way to the next venue when the subject of Bonham’s solo cover album comes up. You ask Sean, “Have you listened to it?” He says, “No, I don’t like art music.” Before anyone can respond, Bonham shouts, “Bitch all music is art music. It’s a form of art.” How does he respond and how do you and the rest of the band react?

Me: She has a point, Sean. 

Sean: Ok, it’s just not my music. 

Erik: I like it very much and all of my family liked it too. 

Linus: I listened to it while I made my instrumental album or at least the parts you sent me to look at. 

8. You walk in on Kevin and Bonham having an argument one day. You hear him say, “I don’t understand you! When fucking Danny makes covers you say that they’re better than the originals and he’s some musical genius, but when we did it after Randy died you told me, ‘no Kevin, you have to get famous on your own merit!’ Explain!” “You’re not listening, it’s not the same. They got famous on their own merit first, and then they did covers, and at their fans’ request, no less. I’m not saying you shouldn’t have done it, I was saying that you shouldn’t have done it right out of the gate!” How do they react when you walk in and what do you tell them?

They both look at me and scream, “Thell her/him that he’s/she’s wrong!” 

I rub my temples and go, “I can’t deal with this right now. I’m exhausted. You’re both right, ok?”

___________________

1) Your singer is driving you, Rudy, Carlos, and Kevin around her hometown. As she gets on the highway and is trying to merge, a semi won’t let her over. She mumbles under her breath, “Fuck it.” Before she floors it onto the highway. Kevin grabs the ‘oh shit’ bar and screams, “Slow the fuck down, Jesus.” While Carlos in the back screams your and Rudy’s ears, “We’re gonna die!” Your singer rolls her eyes before saying, “Shut up. You're not gonna die. Would you rather us get rear-ended by the semi behind us? This is just how you drive in Pa. Move or be moved.” How do you, Kevin, Carlos, and Rudy respond?

2) You, your singer, Rudy, Carlos, Frankie, and Kevin are playing a game where you have to give up a secret. At one point, your singer goes, “Well...I...uh...used to dance.” Carlos asks, “Dance how?” “You know...dance.” Frankie goes, “Oh...OH” “I used to do it to put food on the table for Bons and I when we had a rough patch a few years ago.” She has never told you this. How do you, Kevin, and Rudy respond?

3) While playing the game, Carlos is still hung up on the fact that your singer used to be a dancer and asks, “What did you dance to?” “A lot...mostly this song Lovin’ You’s a Dirty Job and Cherry Pie.” Frankie asks, “Well...can you show us?” “No, I am not about to show you. I had to hold in my disgust every time I did it.” How do you, Rudy, Kevin, Carlos, and Frankie respond?

4) Your singer’s antics onstage are somewhat reserved. She moves around the stage, but she doesn’t do anything crazy. You’re the only one who's seen her act truly insane when she completely lets the music overtake her. While on the set for the NSP music video, your singer has slipped away. She comes back a bit later with bloodied and red fists. When Sean asks her what happened, she goes, “Oh that? Nothing really, just listening to music.” How do you, Sean, and Danny respond?

5) Sean has been trying to see where your singer disappears to and finally he runs to you and Danny and says, “You have to come see this!” He shows the two of you where your singer is and how crazy she’s acting, moving around all over the place to music. Danny says, “Hey, you really get into the music!” The next thing you know...Bam! Your singer bangs into the wall, “Oh fuck! God dammit! This happens every goddamn time!” How do you, Sean, and Danny respond?

6) While on the NSP film set, your singer keeps slipping away. One time, you find her in the bathroom puking into the toilet. You know he normally never pukes and after she’s done and she sees you she goes, “Fuck, I think I need to take a test. I’ve been puking all the time the last three days.” You’re about to go get a test when Dan comes up to you and your singer and goes, “Hey, where are you guys going? We were just about to start filming again.” How do you and your singer respond to Dan?

7) Your singer and Kevin are meeting you and Rudy for a double date. When Kevin walks up you say something to him and he goes, “What?! Sorry I can’t hear anything after being blasted with loud music for fifteen minutes.” Your singer responds, “If the music is too loud, then you’re too old.” How do you, Kevin, and Rudy respond?

8) You and your singer are sitting in a tiny bar that Quiet Riot is performing in and waiting for the boys to finish. During Carlos’ solo in Metal Health, the guy next to you goes, “No, sir. You can’t just sneak in there and then sneak back out. It’s messed up, but I appreciate it.” How do you and your singer respond?

9) You join Dan and Arin on another Power Hour and they have a thing set up. It’s a board with pictures of your friends (Tommy, Nikki, Vince, Kevin, Rudy, and Carlos) and they go, “So the viewers really liked that thing where you stabbed the table. Do you think you could throw the knife into the board?” Your singer shrugs and goes, “...sure.” She pulls it out, switches it and throws it. It hits dead center on Vince’s forehead. Your singer says, “Yes! 20 points!” Before she goes and grabs it and gives it to Dan. “You wanna try?” Do Dan and Arin try and how does it go? How does the game of knife throwing go?

10) While playing the secrets game, Carlos akes your singer give up who she slept with before she started dating Kevin. “Well...I slept with Bons old roommate, Stephen, when we first started our band.” How do you, Rudy, Kevin, and Carlos respond?

11) You and Rudy are sharing a hotel room with Kevin and your singer while at the beach. One night, you bring back a very drunk Rudy to the hotel room to find your singer and Kevin getting busy. You try to sneak out but Rudy is really, really loud and they hear you guys. How do they respond and what do you and a drunk Rudy say?  

12) You and your singer go out to a party without Kevin and Rudy (although Kevin asked you to watch her) and your singer gets super drunk. At one point, you find her chatting up Dizzy Davidson. “Like, you’re in a band...that’s so cool.” He leans closer to her and goes, “Yeah, you wanna go back to my place and listen to some of my music.” Your singer normally doesn’t do this but she’s super drunk. You go over to her and go, “Come on. We’ve gotta get back to Kevin.” Your singer’s face lights up and she goes, “Kevie!! Do we get to see Kevin!” How do you and Dizzy respond?

13) You come back from the party and support your drunk singer into her and Kevin’s apartment. Kevin comes to the door and she screams, “Kevie!” Before falling into him and passionately kissing him. Kevin looks to you then and goes, “I thought I told you to watch her!” Your singer is babbling saying, “I met this really cool guy named Dizzy Davidson. He’s in a band called Britny Fox. Isn’t that cool?” How do you and Kevin respond?

14) You and your singer are on the Power Hour with Arin and Dan when Arin slaps a beer in front of your singer, “Chug this.” She shrugs and goes, “Ok.” Before stabbing the switchblade into the table and chugging the beer. Dan goes, “Ladies and Gentlemen, one of the most badass women I know. Who is downing a beer and surprisingly not choking.” Your singer finishes it and says, “Spitters are quitters.”  How do you and Arin respond to Dan’s comment and how do the three of you respond to your singer? 

@osbournebemydaddy your turn Bons :)

[rubberbangin]

2017 sure was a year full of ups and downs but if it ain’t something special that we all made it through with a few minor bruises but bigger hearts

Here’s some awesome highlights from my year

January: I turned 18 !! A legal adult who could finally do things she’s been doing for a while but I did start getting taken a little more seriously

February: fucking I saw gg live and was easily one of the best nights of my life !! Was full of such wholesome energy and laughs I’ll never forget it !

March: don’t remember much from March but hey I was still trucking on so That’s a positive !!

April: went out with my camera and shot so many local shows it was so much fun !! Also got into my first serious romantic relationship here sadly it ended but I did gain a beautiful friend out of it

May: I met nate @grumpyhanson for the first time ever irl this month !! Such a beautiful soul whos friendship ill forever cherish ! I also graduated high school !! I took four horrible, frustrating years looked in its face and told it how much stronger I was

June: I was just floating here freshly graduated high school just out here exploring my options

July: I went to the city and saw Hamilton with one of my very good friends !! Just as amazing and powerful as just listening to the soundtrack

August: got my first job at a local photo company who goes to elementary schools to take their photos ! It was such a great experience and met some really amazing people there

September: ummmm,, fucking nsp live my dude !!???!! With my boy nate that itself will also go down as one of the most amazing nights of young Hannah’s life

October: I was straight chillin this month but spooky style

November: got my second job it totally kicked the ever loving life outta my ass but damn if it wasn’t fun and a great experience

December: survived my first experience in retail hell and started talking to a beautiful amazing dude

Also big shout out to some of the beautiful amazing people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and talking to this year I love you all loads: @grumpyhanson @smudgebucket @sweetiefiend @devilgate-drive @avidxmn @musicalravencreates @writergrump @theseusinthemaze @poppedparaz @j-lyn @luminaryshark @grumpletgirl @umbronydraws @skyhillian @novaspeaks @grumpsquad @dontcareajot

(Also shout to any arin positive blogs we keeping that shit up in 2018 )

Here’s to a beautiful and wholesome 2018 !!!!!

[lonegh0st]

Top 10 Current Songs:

So, while I wasn’t tagged by anyone to do this I saw @killushawn post and thought “Fuck it, why not?”. So here are the songs that have been on repeat for a while now. These are in no particular order.

RULES: If you can, list the top ten songs you have been listening to lately, and tag ten mutuals to do the same! (Don’t have 10 mutuals but I might tag a few people.)

1. Big Sean - Voices in my head/Stick to the plan I’ve been using this song as a sort of mantra for the past few weeks. It just keeps me in the mind set that I’m working towards a goal and don’t need to get distracted before I reach it. (This link will open in Spotify since the song isn’t on YouTube for whatever reason. The other links will lead to YouTube.)

2. Trivium - Other Worlds Lyrically this is kinda a heart breaking song -at least to me it is- it feels like a song that you would scream to a SO after everything’s fallen apart. You’ve drifted apart and now you’re “breathing in other worlds” to use a lyric from the song. (Also its just a good headbanging song.)

3. Off With Their Heads - Clear The Air I relate to this song on a deep level. Its about someone (the lead singer in this case) trying to explain his anxiety. I never thought I’d be able to relate to a song as much as I have with this one. It felt like someone had finally taken how I had been feeling and put into the words that I couldn’t. 

4. Rocket man - Ninja Sex Party (Original by Elton John) Look I love the original and when I saw this on the song list that NSP put out I was a little worried. While I know that Danny has a great voice its just hard to beat Elton. But it fucking works. I love this cover and I love this band. (Also Danny and Brian are 2 beautiful motherfuckers.)

5. Teenage Wrist - Stoned, Alone Another one of those kinda depressing songs (Kinda a theme here) Lyrically its about someone looking for love. But in my head it doesn’t even have to be romantic love it could familial or the love of a good friend. I don’t know, just how I interpret the song.

6. PUP - Pine Point So funnily enough I don’t really find a deeper meaning in this song. But, what I get instead is a story. I can see a story in my head about a little town in the middle of nowhere that everyone has just left. 

7. Avriel & The Sequoias - Quarter Past Four I originally know Avi from the A Capella group Pentatonix as their bass. While I love every member of that group Avi was my favorite, so when it was announced the had decided to step back from the group I was extremely glad that I got to see a show while he was still around. This is a song off his first solo album and I absolutely love it. Its a reminder that while I might not be able to sleep from worrying about my future the only thing I can do is work hard and hope for the best. 

8. Nothing But Thieves - Ban All The Music This is just a fun song, from a fun band that put out some great shit that sounds a lot like Muse. I put this on when I just want to jam. 

9. Pink Floyd - Welcome To The Machine  Anyone who knows me well will tell you that I have an immense love for classic rock. And, an extremely immense love for this band in particular. Back in 2013-2014 I had a close family member in the hospital for damn near a year and it seemed when I was hitting my limit for stress a Pink Floyd song would come on and it would just help. ever since I’ll put on of their songs on to help out. 

10.  Elley Duhé - Fly Another song that’s this kinda uplifting thing that basically says we just wanna get away from the bullshit. I mean that is pretty much a simplification of the song lyrics but I love it all the same. 

Right I think I’ve rambled on enough. While I don’t know if anyone will read this or check out the songs or what have you, I really enjoyed this and had a lot of fun with it. as far as tagging people I thought I might tag @annundriel @heyfightme. If either of you would like to do this (Bee I’m sure you get tagged in this kind of shit all the time) I think it would be really dope. If you’ve made it this far send me some song suggestions that I might enjoy I’m always down for new stuff to listen too. I’m also open to most music genera’s. 

[bonjourxrenae]

Tag Game!

I was tagged by @still-intrepid (!!!!)

Rules: Answer 30 questions and tag 20 people you’d like to know better.

1. Nicknames: A lot of my friends call me Ray, or some variant of my name 2. Gender: Female 3. Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius 4. Height: 5′2″ 5. Current Time: 2:05pm, EST 6. Birthday: November 24th 7. Favourite Bands: They change a lot??? But notably Queen, AC/DC, The Fratellis, Foo Fighters, Incubus, Fall Out Boy, Blue October, Muse, Red Hot Chili Peppers, DNCE, and Sugarplum Fairy 8. Favourite Solo Artists: REGINA SPEKTOR!!, Sarah Slean, Vienna Teng (which I blame Madcap for), Jimmy Buffett (which is my dad’s doing), Dan Mills... since I met Josh Groban in person he’s pretty cool too!! And I also grew up listening to a lot of Lilith Fair artists (think Fiona Apple, Dido, Tori Amos...) 9. Song Stuck in My Head: “Pour Some Sugar On Me” - Def Leppard, but I almost always end up singing the NSP cover b/c their new cover album is currently in my car’s CD player... 10. Last Movie I Watched: I don’t watch a lot of movies unless someone sits down and watches them with me, tbh... but the last thing I watched was John Mulaney’s New In Town comedy special on Netflix... does that count...? 11. Last Show I Watched: Stranger Things 2 12. When Did I Create My Blog? HMMMM, so I’ve had this blog for... *checks* oh jeez, since 2011... wowwww.... my tumblr is 7 years old......... 13. What Do I Post On My Blog? Well right now I am on a Hetalia/Lietpol RAMPAGE, but I post a lot of stuff I like; sometimes I post about music, literature, poetry, D&D, my favorite anime/tv series, cosplay-related things (including me in cosplay), I have a few selfies floating around, sometimes LGBTQ+ related things... sometimes memes... I dunno, this blog is kind of a mess.... but I have a tags page in case you’re looking for something specific! 14. Last Thing I Googled: “Tired blonde man” (looking for face-catch references for an OC) 15. Other Blogs? I promise I’ll update it very, very soon.... but I do have a music blog @renae-sings; right now it’s full of my grad school audition recordings and a few videos of me performing with my college a capella group. I’m thinking of making a separate blog for the band I’m starting with my friends (as soon as we decide on a band name). I also have an old RP blog for my steampunk/gaslamp fantasy oc @misshaddie, but I haven’t updated it in a while......... it’s mostly a witchy aesthetic/herbalist/apothecary/victorian medicine reference blog now. 16. Do You Get Asks? Almost never, but that’s okay! I overshare enough...... 17. Why Did You Choose Your Url? In my senior year of HS we put on a production of Beauty and the Beast and I was the first ‘Bonjour!’ in the chorus... also my name is there, I’m pretty boring 18. Last Thing I Ate? Spinach and Feta Quiche! 19. How Many Pillows? Two under my head, one tucked into the curve of my back, one between my knees... my mattress is awful... 20. Favourite Colors: Greens, reds, blues, and a lot of neutral tones... and the occasional pastels and metallics (especially gold)... 21. Favourite Tag To Use? I don’t think I have a favorite but I do a lot of keyboard smashing tags and they’re always fun to type!! 22. Lucky Number: 9 - and any multiple of 9. Kinda stems from the life number theory, idk. 23. Instruments? Primarily voice!!! But I own two violas, a keyboard, an electric organ, a penny whistle, a quarter guitar, a regular guitar, a recorder, and a kazoo (just in case.......) 24. What Am I Wearing? Socks, skinny jeans, AC/DC shirt, red checkered boyfriend fit flannel, comfy tan sweater, constellation necklace, amber ring 25. Last Thing I Wrote? I finished another chapter in Your Horizon today at the cafe... even if it’s kind of shoehorned in, I guess that’s what editing is for... 26. Dream Job: Would LOVE to work with music!!! and rehabilitating singers who have had voice surgery!!! I would love to go back to school for voice pedagogy someday so that I can feel more qualified..... and maybe I can also just sing opera for the rest of my life too!!!! 27. Dream Trip: I want to go back to Canada and trace my family lineage... I’d also like to travel outside North America someday, not sure whereabouts though, but I just wanna see the world, y’know? 28. Favourite Food: I like soups!! And sweets!! And the occasional fruits!! 29. Nationality: US, born and raised! 30. Favourite Song Right Now: “Here With Me” - Dido ... because reasons... but even more recently, I cried listening to “The Hymn of Acxiom” - Vienna Teng.

I tag…. @angelkier, @atmosphericperspective, @carsonmouse, @earlgreyafternoon, @inkravensketchbook, @kibsen, @lithuanias, @ondonasand, @rednecknature, @thestormscrolls, @themadcaptain, @thegothdetectiv, @zerosystemquatre - and I guess if anyone else wants an excuse to fill this out, feel free to say I tagged you! (I always like reading these!)

[shrekspearfishing]

NSP:115 Philip Van Zijl - Godfather of the "Spearfishing Mafia"!

Interview with Philip Van Zijl - Godfather of The "Spearfishing Mafia"!

This episode covers Philip’s spearfishing journey from the jump to competition diving starting in Cape Town, South Africa to New Zealand and plenty of places in between. He’s a champion of the sport, an absolute legend. He’s a major contributor to the spearfishing community, and a big proponent of paying it forward. Something he’s coined “The Spearfishing Mafia”. Our community, sport, and the hobby are niche. It’s even more niche than SCUBA diving. Take advantage of it, and build your network. 

Big thanks to Philip for taking the time to “pay it forward” on the Noob Spearo Podcast! This episode is provided to you through the support of Patron listeners! Thanks legends:)

Time Stamps! 

10:00 Introduction

Philip Van Zijl began diving in Cape Town in 1968 at the young age of 16, without wetsuits and just basic gear taking the train to get to where he needed to be. Yellow tail, crayfish, and other good species were some of his earliest accomplishments, always a good feed! A master of limiting out on crayfish during his years in school. He even paid for a year of his time at university from the fruits of his diving! A strong proponent of speargun awareness, make sure you listen to find out why… 

Philip personally procured one of his 120cm spearguns from the legendary Rob Allen, what a story! Think you’re bad about keeping old gear? Philip still has his first catch bag he bought in the 60’s. 

26:00 Early struggles spearfishing

Personally, rigging your own speargun was a bit more difficult without YouTube…

“If you give out kindness, it comes back to you.” – Pay it forward!

Learning new spots, on your own – pays dividends later on!

Sharing your expertise, and knowledge, doesn’t necessarily mean sharing your spots

Proper weighting, weight secure locations (Harness vs. Belt) 

31:35 Most memorable catch

His last dive in Tauranga, NZ with a mate who brought him to a secret honey hole. 15-20 meters visibility, perfect conditions. Kingfish, historically uncommon for the area but are making a comeback. He was diving with some friends, stomach started to sour, and then returned to the boat. After viewing a bait ball of Kahawai, he grabbed his gear and jumped back into the water. Viewing a school of Kingfish, he pulled the trigger and bagged a PB weighing in at approximately 27 kilos! To hear his second most memorable catch on a “popgun”, tune in to 35:43! 

38:50 Favorite species to hunt

Snapper, hands down. A challenging quarry, requiring a combination of burly and stealth. 3-4k tops, but no monsters like on the GBR. Slow movements, be calm, don’t look directly *at* them, and let them get within target range. Maintain gun awareness so that when the shot presents itself, it can easily be taken. Learned from losing a 6k Trevally years ago. Learn about the duality of the gun safety discussion here!

 42:50 Scariest moments in the ocean

While shooting a Blue Moki, the bugger got off the spear and high-tailed it into a crevice. Meanwhile, a surge came and pushed Philip into a crevice in which he was stuck. Every spearo’s nightmare. Trying to remain calm, he considered that a surge which can push you in, can also pull you out. Going for broke, he expelled the air in his lungs to reduce his physical profile and was able to get pulled out on the next surge out to sea. Probably the scariest moment of his life. Lesson learned – be very careful when working a crevice while fishing for crays or otherwise.

 48:00 Veterans Vault: The “Spearfishing Mafia”

Giving back to the spearfishing community is as important as the sport itself. Hospitality within the spearfishing community is unique to the sport – PAY IT FORWARD!

Bring your gear as often as possible when traveling so you never miss an opportunity!

Reaching out on social media prior to travel and networking can be an incredible asset

When traveling with spearfishing equipment, keep “gun” out of your vocabulary. Just refer to it as fishing equipment. It can save you valuable time

Cooler bags can be worth their weight in gold when traveling

Sharing spearfishing equipment when mates are traveling can not just save on cost but strengthen relationships

Be a good host – it comes back around; when you aren’t, well then it won’t will it?

How to avoid losing a knife - use some paracord or dyneema, tie it off to a pencil or other instrument, then tie that to the end of the knife. This way, when you drop the knife (not if, but when) it will stay secured

 75:00 Equipment Bag

Catch-bags are a must, saves you from going back to your plat “float boat”. Avoid harassment from sea lions, seals, or the tax man by simply using a catch-bag. Actually, saved a fishing competition by using one as the sea lions were going from float to float getting chubby on the hard work of humans. Carry two knives – one on thigh and one on arm. To avoid losing knives, use some paracord or dyneema, tie it off to a pencil or other instrument, then tie that to the end of the knife. This way, when you drop the knife (not if, but when) it will stay secured. 

1:06 Spearo Q&A

Describe what the spearfishing experience means to you?

“My Happy Place, oh and the food.”

Single best piece of advice ever given for spearfishing?

“Dive to your capabilities, don’t overdo it. Have fun, enjoy it, recharge yourself.”

Most influential person in spearfishing to you?

Jacques Cousteau, major influence.

Spearfishing/Freediving library?

99 Tips to get Better at Spearfishing!

Had to start all over, what would you do differently?

Get a decent wetsuit, a lot earlier. It makes such a difference. A decent speargun too. OMER fins, good foot pockets. Being comfortable when diving is more important than you think! Carbon fins have made a huge difference, but hey back in the 60’s we didn’t have a choice. Don’t look at the brand, look at the fit, and you’ll appreciate it later. You don’t need to spend a fortune to have an effective dive kit.

Who is the best person to go spearfishing with now?

I’ve got a Band of Brothers here now. I tell my wife it’s my Portuguese adopted son. There’s a few spearos around here and we all go spearfishing together.  

Where can people connect with you?

Philip Van Zijl Sr. on Facebook, message me and let’s connect for a chat or a dive!

Any parting guidance or wisdom for the community?

Set the example. A lot of people have different perspectives of spearos, 90% of us are ethical and moral hunters. Don’t publish death piles. It just gives ammo to the greenies. Pay attention to the size of the fish. If there’s a doubt, don’t shoot. If it’s marginal, don’t shoot. If it’s huge, then its legal.

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Check out this episode!

[classic-rock-roller]

1. You and Axl have made peace with each other since he showed you kindness after your accident. One day, you hang up the phone from a call with him as Bonham gets home. She asks who it is, and when you tell her she says, “Ah, Axl. How is he, that bitch?” How do you respond?

He’s doing good. At least better than before. He’s on meds now so he’s no longer a psycho bitch. 

2. You get to your band’s hotel room one day to hear uncontrollable laughter coming from Sean and Linus. You get there and hear Bonham say into a phone in a very bad and exaggerated Eastern European accent, “Hello! You have reached Svertik, the famous cheese maker. What can I do for you this evening?” You ask what’s going on, and Erik says, “They bought a burner phone and posted the number online with the title, “War Angel hotline” and now she’s answering it and doing this crap.” How do you respond, and what does everyone say once the ‘hotline calls’ end?

“Seriously? You could at least answer burning questions.”

They don’t stop they keep coming at all hours of the night. One day I’ve had enough of hearing it ring so I take it, lower the window in the bus, and chuck it out the window while screaming, “By War Angel Hotline. Don’t fucking come back!” 

Linus: You realize we can get another one right?

Sean: Jesus! Psycho much 

Bons: Jesus Christ! You could have at least answered it 

Erik: That was unnecessary. 

They buy another one at the next stop and it starts over again but now we place a do not disturb function on it between the times we sleep.  

3. Bonham has been quiet lately, and one day she comes to you and the rest of the band and says, “I want to expand my artistic horizons, I want to cover that album So There by Ben Folds. Before you say anything, I know it’s nothing like our direction. I know that, and that’s why I want to do it by myself. This is going to be a 100% solo effort, and all I ask for is your blessing.” She wants to do something entirely on her own, which will translate into her taking at least a 2-year hiatus from the band. What do you all say and what is the final decision?

We agree because we have been touring non-stop and it will give us plenty of time to relax and come up with new material. Erik goes back to Germany to spend time with his family, Linus ends up using those two years to release a solo instrumental guitar project, Sean comes and lives with me and Kevin since his parents kicked him out after he joined our band, and this gives me and Kevin enough time to spend with Mal (and ends up with Eddie coming along right before we get back together) and then after the two years are up we get back together and bang out a kicking new album. 

4. Your band and NSP are collaborating on an album, and you need one more song. You’re struggling to include everyone until Bonham one day suggests that you get together with QR as well and do a big group cover of Rick Wakeman’s Buried Alive (available on request). How does everyone react to the suggestion and what do you all do?

We all think its a great idea. The only problem is Kevin and Danny keep fighting and singing over each other for the lead vocals part until I tell the two of them to stop acting like children. 

5. You’re at work one day when you get a call from Danny and Arin. “Yeah, we got a call from YouTube the other day. That Q&A we did with your band got taken down because of Bonham’s little mini-rant on that Waco incident from the 90s, and she was just arrested for conspiring against the government and disturbing the peace. She used a phone call to call Dan cause she said that you didn’t answer your phone and neither did Kevin, so we’re telling you.” How do you respond and what do you do?

“Ah fuck. I’m in work a the moment. Is Dan still on with her?” 

I hear Dan scream yes through the phone. 

“Tell her school’ll be finished in an hour and then I’ll drive down to pick her up after I drop Mal and Eddie off at a sitter’s.” 

“I mean we could watch them for you.”

Arin and Dan end up watching Mal and Eddie (and making a power hour out of it) while I go to bail Bons and get this whole mess settled. After some legal disputes (that bring us publicity) she is given a slap on the wrist and told not to do it again. 

6. Bonham went with Chuck to a party for one of their dad’s friends one evening, and when they get back you hear them arguing. “I don’t care what he was doing, you shouldn’t have hit him!” she says. You ask what happened, and Chuck says, “They had a male stripper there, and fucking Anita paid him to grind on me. I told him to quit and he didn’t so I punched him. And then they all got mad at me. I didn’t do anything wrong.” What does Bonham say and how do you respond?

Bons: You did do something wrong. He was paid to do that. You don’t just fucking punch him! 

Me: Yeah, not cool dude. You should be lucky if he doesn’t press charges. 

7. Your band is all making guest appearances in an NSP video, and as a result, you’re all wearing spandex pants. At one point, Sean says to Bonham, “Hey, uh, I just wanted to say that, uh, you guys (meaning you and her) look nice in your costumes.” You can see he’s a bit flustered but before you can say anything, Bonham says, “Thanks, these pants really do have a nice ASS-thetic.” How does Sean react, what do you say, and how do Erik, Linus, and Danny respond?

He blushes and runs out of the room while wrapping his cape around him. 

Erik: Do you have to go take care of something buddy! 

Linus: Yeah, just don’t be too long. 

Danny: I didn’t know those pants would have THAT effect on him. 

Me: I could see these pants having that effect on Kevin, not Sean. Linus could you go check on him, please. 

Bons *gag*: I really don’t need to think about Kevin being turned on by you in a spandex outfit. Do you seriously think us in spandex pants did that to him? 

8. Your band is filming a video one day, and at lunch, Sean is munching on an uncrustable. Bonham, who likes giving him shit, asks him, “How does it feel to be a grown ass man eating an uncrustable?” He looks at her and says, “Well right now it doesn’t feel so good.” He takes a bite, and says, “But now…” and smiles with a full mouth. How do you, Bonham, Erik, and Linus respond?

Me: I hate Uncrustables and PB & J sandwiches. 

Erik: How?! It's heaven in a sandwich!

Linus: I wouln't go that far. 

Sean *Though his full mouth*: I would 

Bons: Ok, I get the point. Don’t talk with your mouth full of food. We can’t understand you. 

9. Bonham is being overly critical in the studio one day, and at one point Sean has had enough. “I’m gonna need some ketchup for all those HARSH-browns you’re serving up.” How does she react and how do you and the boys respond?

Bons: ...That one was actually pretty good. 

Me: Bons, I think you have a run for your money in the pun department. 

Erik: Hah! Harsh-browns! Hah!

Linus: You all are idiots. 

10. You get a call one day saying that there’s a new fantasy game in development and they want you, Bonham, your band, Kevin, and a few others to do the voice acting. They want you to be the princess, Sean to be a child, Erik to be a traveling merchant, Linus to be the bard, Bonham to be a siren, and Kevin to be a priest. Soon, you learn that Arin and Dan are there too. They voice a wizard and the game’s deity, respectively. How do you all react to your assigned roles, and how does recording go?

I think its cool and we all have a good time. With a few hiccups here and there (Kevin and Danny seem to butt heads a lot) 

11. You, Kevin, and Bonham are at an award show when Kevin sees Blackie Lawless, someone who he’s a fan of. You all go up to meet him and Kevin says how much he appreciates his work. Blackie is beyond wasted, and he says to Kevin, “I’m gonna kick you in the nuts.” Before any of you can process what he said, he cocks back and punched Kevin in the dick, really hard. He groans and falls to his knees. How do you all respond?

Me: What the fuck?!

Bons: Why did you do that dude?!

Kevin is writhing in pain on the floor and just groaning in agony. 

____________________

1) You and your singer are making Christmas cookies in your kitchen when she turns to you and goes, “Hey, Bons.” You turn and ask her, “What?” She takes her flour-covered hand and smears it down your nose and arm before running away. What do you do?

2) You, Rudy, and your singer are carving pumpkins. Rudy puts his hand in his pumpkin and goes, “Ewww, it’s so gross.” Your singer rolls her eyes at him and goes, “Oh stop being a big baby.” Before she puts both her hands in the pumpkin and pulls out a bunch of seeds and slaps them on the newspaper covering the table. How do you and Rudy respond?

3) You take Mal, Will, Eddie, Jeremy, and Roxanne to the mall to visit Santa. While in line, you see Santa get up from his chair after listening to a little girl’s wish and he goes over to an older man with four elves. The next thing you know, he’s whamming on him and screaming, “Ho! Ho! Ho! Motherfucker!” Someone whispers in line that the guy he’s beating on is a child molester. How do you and your singer respond and how do you explain this to your kids who are between the ages of eight and two years old?

4) Your band is working on a new album and you and the boys go off to get lunch while your singer stays behind. When you get back, you find she has earbuds in and her head is cocked oddly to the side. Her finger is flicking oddly almost as if she’s following an invisible line. Sean leans over to you and goes, “What the fuck is she doing? Has she gone insane?” Your singer answers, “No, I’m trying to pick out the individual instruments from this song. Now shush.” How do you, Erik, Linus, and Sean respond?

5) You and your singer are at her work’s Christmas party with Kevin and Randy. She’s talking to a guy and she goes, “Ugh, I hate this music.” He looks at her and goes, “How can you hate it?” “I like metal.” “Oh, you’re one of THOSE girls.” You whip around at this point and go, “What is that supposed to mean?” “You know...you’d rather bang your head than be banged.” Your singer pulls Kevin over and kisses him deeply before pointing at the guy and saying, “Kevin, would you like to explain in painstaking detail our sex life?” How do you, Kevin, and the guy respond?

6) You and your singer are celebrating Christmas in your apartment but your old roommate, Stephen, has come over to spend the holidays and brought along a drunk Robbin. They’ve been at your apartment a bit when your singer goes to Stephen, “Can I refill your eggnog? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere, leave you for dead?” How do you, Stephen, and Robbin respond?

7) Your singer goes with you when you’re supposed to be the guest on The Ten Minute Power Hour with Dan and Arin. She refuses to go on the show though o she sits on the side. About halfway through the show, Dan gets up and starts to pull her into the shot, “Come on, people need to see you.” “No.” “Millions of people stare at you every day. How is this different?” He loses his grip on her and goes flying back through the shot. Your singer gasps and goes, “Oh my god are you ok?!” Before going to help him with the cut on his head. All he says is, “Hah! I got you in the shot!” She rolls her eyes before going, “I’m leaving after this. And you better cut this out.” How do you and Arin respond to this?

8) Your singer is still with you while you’re doing the show. Arin asks her something and she says, “Do you want to see something cool?” Dan shrugs a sure and your singer pulls out a switchblade. Both Dan and Arin jump back once she tosses it and it embeds itself in their table. Dan all but screams, “What the fuck?!” Your singer shrugs and goes, “I get bored. Also, Tommy taught me that so you can thank him.” How do you, Dan, and Arin respond?

9) While you are on the show, Dan and Arin ask you to tell some crazy stories of the bands you’ve hung out with. Your singer pipes up from the side, “Oh, I could tell you stories. There was that one time Tommy and I got super drunk and I kissed some random chick in the middle of the bar. Or the time I got in an all-out brawl with Nikki over the last bottle of Guinness. Or the time Kevin, Bons, and I had to disguise ourselves to get out of a crazy hoard of fans. Or...” How do you, Arin, and Dan respond?

10) When you’re wrapping up the show to leave, Dan and Arin say goodbye to you and Dan goes, “I’m a little afraid of your singer. Is she always like that?” Your singer pipes up next to him, “I hear everything you know.” How do you respond to Dan ‘s question and how does he react to your singer?

11) You are working on your album with Crüe and Nikki had brought a pack of Guinness with him. Your singer and Nikki have been drinking them throughout the day and there’s only one left. They both look at it and then dive for it. After a bit of tussling, your singer grabs the bottle and goes, “What have I told you, Niks? I always come out on top.” Before she pops the cap and chugs the beer while sitting on him. How do you, Tommy, Nikki, Vince, and Mick react to this?

12) You are over at your singer and Kevin’s when you hear your singer yell, “You are not taking a fucking knife in the shower. Lay the fuck down.” And the next thing you hear is Kevin screaming. You run to their room to find your singer straddling a shirtless Kevin and ripping these heart monitor pads off his chest. “Stop pushing them in. It’ll make it worse. This is what you get for doing too much cocaine.” What do you say and how so the two of them respond?

13) You know that your singer is dating Rudy’s brother, Robert, (after Kevin broke up with her so that he could get himself clean) but Rudy doesn’t know. You invite the two of them out to dinner on a double date with you and Rudy. How does Rudy respond to your singer dating Robert and what do you, your singer, and Robert say?

14) You and Randy are helping your singer set up for her and Kevin’s wedding. She places a sign by the bar that says, “Our wedding will have an open bar. It will also be heavily photographed.  So any drunken shenanigans will be well documented and thoroughly mocked for years to come. Proceed with Caution.” You say, “Did you add this because of Nikki and Tommy and the other heavy drinkers being here?” “Yup.” Randy goes, “You know this won’t stop Kevin right?” Your singer says, “Oh yes it will. Because he also has the threat of no sex for three weeks.” Kevin walks in right as she says this. How do you, Randy, and Kevin respond?

@osbournebemydaddy   your turn Bons :)     

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #121

“it’s the rich man’s war, but it’s the poor that fight.”

Does your refrigerator have an ice maker or do you use ice cube trays?  Trays. Have you ever been searched by the cops?  No. Do you draw your name in the sand at the beach? I never have just because... why? Are any of your great-grandparents still alive? No. Would you rather sleep with someone else, or alone?  I'd rather sleep with Sara any night. Did your parents try to push you into a certain degree or career path?  No.  I was blessed with parents who seriously did encourage me to do what I wanted. What’s your favorite film genre? Horror. Would you ever dye your hair silver? It's on my to-do list. What color is your refrigerator?  Black. What was the last thing you sent in the mail?  My closure letter to Jason. What cuisine is your favorite restaurant?  Italian. Have you ever visited hot springs?  No, but I'd love to. Who was the last person/thing to lick you?  My dog. If you had the chance to live anywhere in Europe, where would it be?  Germany. Do you have a favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle?  No, I never watched it. Do you like candy canes?  Yeah. Do you prefer pads, tampons or something else? Tampons.  Pads feel like bloody diapers. Have you ever visited someone in prison? No. Is there anything you absolutely refuse to eat? Sashimi. Are you the type of person to take naps, even if you’ve slept plenty? If I'm sad, stressed, or unbelievably bored, I sometimes will. Have you ever had casual sex? No, never would. Do you think it’s attractive for a man to wear eyeliner? I'm a sucker for that shit. Are you the kind of person who does not like talking about their past?  Nah, I'm open about the dark parts now. Have you ever taken a ride in a convertible?  Yeah, my brother had one. What size bed do you sleep on?  Queen. What sort of music did you listen to when you were in high school?  The same I do now, though I went through a more screamo phase. When was the last time you made out with somebody?  Years ago. What month of the year was your mother born?  August. Would you rather travel to Japan or Scotland?  SCOTLAND. Does your house have a porch/balcony?  We have a small front porch and a really big back one. Do you share a middle name with any of your siblings?  Nicole that I know of, idk about Katie. Have there ever been any bushfires/wildfires in your area?  No, but we've been a few hours away from some that were so large the smoke traveled here. Do you think age matters in friendship? Nope.  One of my closest friends is in his early 30s. Do you enjoy clubs? If so, which club do you enjoy going to the most? I've never been to one and I'm really not interested in going.  I can just imagine it being too loud and crowded. Do you take good care of your skin? Apparently not considering it's dry as fuck. Do you play any PC games? What is your favorite?  Not currently.  I loved WoW, but I'm not paying for the subscription when I could spend money on better things. What have you done to your room to make it cozy? Fill it with personal things. What is your favorite seasonal candy? (only available at certain times):  Hm... candy canes. Are there any television shows you own in entirety on DVD or VHS?  "Meerkat Manor." How far away from your house is the nearest gas station? Like two minutes. Have you ever been to SeaWo​rld?​​  As a kid, yes.  I never would as an adult because I don't support it.  You can't keep whales in a damn pool. How long did your last relationship last?  If you're talking about the last one that ended, like four months. Last person you watched a movie with?  Sara. Have you ever touched a cow?  Maybe? Do you call the ice cream topping “jimmies” or “sprinkles”?  Sprinkles. Do you like the idea of promise rings in relationships?  No real opinion.  If you're not ready for engagement but know you will be one day, sure, give one if you mean it. Do you plan on dressing up for Halloween this year?  Hopefully. Have you ever been on a subway?  No. What do you usually buy for snacks when you go to the cinema? Popcorn and a soda. Look to your left and name five things you can see. Water bottle, medicine basket, Illidan poster, crashed ship lamp, and my Silent Hill 3 poster. Do you like having your lip softly bitten when you’re kissing? Yes. Have you ever been on a boat?  Yep. Do you have or want any piercings? I have five, but I want my right nostril and collarbones pierced, plus loads more in my ears. Have you ever set foot in a tanning bed?  Nope, never will.  Skin cancer doesn't sound fun, nor does having to keep exposing myself to one to maintain a tan. Do you trust a lot of people? No. Do you have both a loud side and a quiet side? Yes. If you had to save one thing from your burning house, what would it be? Assuming Mom and Nicole are already out, my dog. What would you want your last words to be if you could choose them?  I don't know, haven't thought of it.  Guessing my family's there, in that case I'd want them to be "I love you so much." Can you sleep with the light on?  Only if I'm seriously tired. Would you ever have a bird as a pet?  Realistically, nah.  I wouldn't be able to handle to likely noise. Do you know someone who’s been cremated? Not to my knowledge. Do you like canopy beds? YESSSSS. What is your favorite animated movie? Probably "The Lion King." Have you ever been 'violated'?  I felt violated when Girt tried to make out with me when I in no way wanted it.  He for a second tried following me as I pulled away, and that's when I really felt violated. Have you ever put gum on the bottom of your desk/chair?  No, disgusting.  There's trashcans for a reason. Would you rather open a used clothing store or an antique store?  An antique store would be cool. Magenta, aqua, or coral?  Coral. Would you rather be a wedding photographer or a nature photographer?  Honestly, nature, but for income's sake, I'm aiming to be a wedding photographer.  I'd love both, though. Have you ever had an ulcer?  No. Have you ever felt like you were going to throw up while you were at school?  In kindergarten, I was running for the trashcan and threw up on the floor.  Whoops. What is your favorite type of donut? Cake and glazed. Have you ever walked through a labyrinth? No. Do you like avocado?  EW. What is your favorite kind of bear?  Pandas. If you have any piercings or tattoos, do you remember the name of the person who did them?  June Bugg did one of my tattoos.  I don't remember the others. Do you do that typical girl thing out in public where you have to have someone come into the bathroom with you? No, I'll go alone. What does your dad look like?  Super tan, black hair that's mostly gray by now, connected beard and mustache, brown eyes, tall. Do you like chicken soup? Not really. Do you like deviled eggs? NO EW. Do you keep your fingers on the home keys when you type?  Yes. What would you name your future son?  Probably Severin. When was the last time you used a regular telephone?  Been yeeeaaars.Do you like the moon or sun more?  The moon. Do you think dimples are ugly? Personally think they're real cute. Has your boyfriend/girlfriend ever stayed up with you all night? Not my current girlfriend, but an ex. Are you a paranoid person? Yup. Have you ever been in an inflatable bouncy house?  Yeah. Have you ever seen a nun in public?  No. Who was the last person to kiss you on the cheek?  Sara. Have you ever played in a waterfall?  No. What job would you NEVER take, even as a last resort?  Prostitution, for one. Who was the last person you sat beside at a restaurant?  Sara. Have you used Limewire before? Ha ha yeah. Is the taste of alcohol appealing to you?  Noooo.  If I ever drink, it has to be fruity and cover the taste well. What’d you last look up on YouTube?  A KittyKatGaming video because I knew Mark was in it lmao. Would you ever get a tattoo sleeve?  FUCK YES I WOULD.  I'm already planning on dedicating my entire right arm to things that relate to my recovery, so I could kinda design it into a sleeve. Do you have appreciation for graffiti?  It can be gorgeous and super creative.  Personally don't mind graffiti if it's not vandalizing a public-public place and isn't offensive. If you could learn a superpower in exchange for your memory would you do it? Definitely not. Do you know any TV shows’ theme songs by heart? Which ones? "That '70s Show" and "Supernatural." Have you ever gotten stitches? Twice. What’s your favorite music video at the moment?  "Cool Patrol" by NSP will always be the answer to this. Your take on one-night stands? Are they okay?  It's a no from me. Have you ever had sex outside? No. Have you ever needed to call the police? No. How do you feel about kettle cooked chips?  Ew. What strange food combinations do you thoroughly enjoy? My dad loves waffles with peanut butter and syrup, so I tried it when I was young.  It's AMAZING. Would you considered yourself to be well-exposed to life or sheltered?  Too exposed. If you’re in a relationship, how long have you been dating?  Six months. Have you ever played the game Halo?  No. Have you ever had to learn lines for a play/skit/movie?  Not that I remember. Can any of your friends sing very well?  Sara has a gorgeous voice. Have you ever been attacked by an animal?  No. Who did you dance with last?  Colleen. Can you speak in different accents?  British. Has anyone ever aimed a gun at you?  No. Have you ever been through a natural disaster?  Hurricanes. Have you ever been in a parade?  No. Have you ever had a dream where you could understand a foreign language?  No. Have you ever owned a beanbag chair?  Maybe? Are you a fan of retro things?  YES. Have you ever used pastels? Yes. Who was the last person you flipped off? Probably Colleen or Chelsea playfully. Would you consider yourself to be loyal? Very. Who was the last person you shared a bed with? Sara. Do you know anyone who has been abused?  Yes. What is your brother’s name?  Robert/Bobby. Did you ever go to daycare as a kid?  VERY briefly.  One of the adults hit me simply for going into the wrong room. Have you ever experienced a medical emergency?  Yes, when I passed out and got a concussion plus a deep wound in my chin.  And when I overdosed. Do you know anyone who has been to prison?  I don't think so. Do you have one of those removable hand-held shower heads?  Yes. How many burners does your stove have?  Four. When you go to a restaurant, do you prefer to sit at a booth or a table?  Booth. What’s something you think everyone should do/experience at least once in their life?  A different country.  Working towards that. What is the last compliment you received?  That my singing was pretty. /v\ Do you shower facing the water or away from it?  Away. Do you wash your body or hair first?  Hair. Do you put your name on your food coverings?  No. What is the most daring thing you’ve ever done?  Fly alone. Have you ever given to any charities?  Yes. What have you created that you are most proud of?  Some, imo, interesting OCs that I love like chilren. Who was your favorite Disney princess as a child?  Ariel. When did you do your first illegal activity?  When I was in middle school, downloading music. When did you lose your virginity?  I don't remember the age because at the time I didn't consider my virginity lost.  I'd guess 17-18. Do you like your boyfriend/girlfriend’s parents?  I LOVE THEM. Are you taller than your mom?  She's less than an inch taller than me. Where did you get your last bruise/cut from?  Bruise from working out on the floor, cut, idk. Is anyone over-protective over you?  Not really.  Mom's pretty protective, but not overly, I'd say. Have you ever had to call the cops on someone? No. Are your parents divorced?  Yes. Who do you think is the most attractive actor?  Johnny Depp. Are you good at wrapping presents?  NOOOOOO. Who were the last two boys to text you?  Dad and Girt. Are there certain things that can’t be joked about with you?  Yep. Have you ever read the Hunger Games series?  I read the first book. Are your lips soft?  Everyone who's kissed me has told me so, yet I think they're dry as fuck?? Your thoughts of long distance relationship?  Being in one, they're definitely hard, but SO damn worth it for when you actually see the person.  I think it's true that distance makes the heart grow fonder. Do you drink regular or diet sodas?  Regular, diet gives me a headache.

[shrekspearfishing]

NSP:115 Philip Van Zijl - Godfather of the "Spearfishing Mafia"!

Interview with Philip Van Zijl - Godfather of The "Spearfishing Mafia"!

This episode covers Philip’s spearfishing journey from the jump to competition diving starting in Cape Town, South Africa to New Zealand and plenty of places in between. He’s a champion of the sport, an absolute legend. He’s a major contributor to the spearfishing community, and a big proponent of paying it forward. Something he’s coined “The Spearfishing Mafia”. Our community, sport, and the hobby are niche. It’s even more niche than SCUBA diving. Take advantage of it, and build your network. 

Big thanks to Philip for taking the time to “pay it forward” on the Noob Spearo Podcast! This episode is provided to you through the support of Patron listeners! Thanks legends:)

Time Stamps! 

10:00 Introduction

Philip Van Zijl began diving in Cape Town in 1968 at the young age of 16, without wetsuits and just basic gear taking the train to get to where he needed to be. Yellow tail, crayfish, and other good species were some of his earliest accomplishments, always a good feed! A master of limiting out on crayfish during his years in school. He even paid for a year of his time at university from the fruits of his diving! A strong proponent of speargun awareness, make sure you listen to find out why… 

Philip personally procured one of his 120cm spearguns from the legendary Rob Allen, what a story! Think you’re bad about keeping old gear? Philip still has his first catch bag he bought in the 60’s. 

26:00 Early struggles spearfishing

Personally, rigging your own speargun was a bit more difficult without YouTube…

“If you give out kindness, it comes back to you.” – Pay it forward!

Learning new spots, on your own – pays dividends later on!

Sharing your expertise, and knowledge, doesn’t necessarily mean sharing your spots

Proper weighting, weight secure locations (Harness vs. Belt) 

31:35 Most memorable catch

His last dive in Tauranga, NZ with a mate who brought him to a secret honey hole. 15-20 meters visibility, perfect conditions. Kingfish, historically uncommon for the area but are making a comeback. He was diving with some friends, stomach started to sour, and then returned to the boat. After viewing a bait ball of Kahawai, he grabbed his gear and jumped back into the water. Viewing a school of Kingfish, he pulled the trigger and bagged a PB weighing in at approximately 27 kilos! To hear his second most memorable catch on a “popgun”, tune in to 35:43! 

38:50 Favorite species to hunt

Snapper, hands down. A challenging quarry, requiring a combination of burly and stealth. 3-4k tops, but no monsters like on the GBR. Slow movements, be calm, don’t look directly *at* them, and let them get within target range. Maintain gun awareness so that when the shot presents itself, it can easily be taken. Learned from losing a 6k Trevally years ago. Learn about the duality of the gun safety discussion here!

 42:50 Scariest moments in the ocean

While shooting a Blue Moki, the bugger got off the spear and high-tailed it into a crevice. Meanwhile, a surge came and pushed Philip into a crevice in which he was stuck. Every spearo’s nightmare. Trying to remain calm, he considered that a surge which can push you in, can also pull you out. Going for broke, he expelled the air in his lungs to reduce his physical profile and was able to get pulled out on the next surge out to sea. Probably the scariest moment of his life. Lesson learned – be very careful when working a crevice while fishing for crays or otherwise.

 48:00 Veterans Vault: The “Spearfishing Mafia”

Giving back to the spearfishing community is as important as the sport itself. Hospitality within the spearfishing community is unique to the sport – PAY IT FORWARD!

Bring your gear as often as possible when traveling so you never miss an opportunity!

Reaching out on social media prior to travel and networking can be an incredible asset

When traveling with spearfishing equipment, keep “gun” out of your vocabulary. Just refer to it as fishing equipment. It can save you valuable time

Cooler bags can be worth their weight in gold when traveling

Sharing spearfishing equipment when mates are traveling can not just save on cost but strengthen relationships

Be a good host – it comes back around; when you aren’t, well then it won’t will it?

How to avoid losing a knife - use some paracord or dyneema, tie it off to a pencil or other instrument, then tie that to the end of the knife. This way, when you drop the knife (not if, but when) it will stay secured

 75:00 Equipment Bag

Catch-bags are a must, saves you from going back to your plat “float boat”. Avoid harassment from sea lions, seals, or the tax man by simply using a catch-bag. Actually, saved a fishing competition by using one as the sea lions were going from float to float getting chubby on the hard work of humans. Carry two knives – one on thigh and one on arm. To avoid losing knives, use some paracord or dyneema, tie it off to a pencil or other instrument, then tie that to the end of the knife. This way, when you drop the knife (not if, but when) it will stay secured. 

1:06 Spearo Q&A

Describe what the spearfishing experience means to you?

“My Happy Place, oh and the food.”

Single best piece of advice ever given for spearfishing?

“Dive to your capabilities, don’t overdo it. Have fun, enjoy it, recharge yourself.”

Most influential person in spearfishing to you?

Jacques Cousteau, major influence.

Spearfishing/Freediving library?

99 Tips to get Better at Spearfishing!

Had to start all over, what would you do differently?

Get a decent wetsuit, a lot earlier. It makes such a difference. A decent speargun too. OMER fins, good foot pockets. Being comfortable when diving is more important than you think! Carbon fins have made a huge difference, but hey back in the 60’s we didn’t have a choice. Don’t look at the brand, look at the fit, and you’ll appreciate it later. You don’t need to spend a fortune to have an effective dive kit.

Who is the best person to go spearfishing with now?

I’ve got a Band of Brothers here now. I tell my wife it’s my Portuguese adopted son. There’s a few spearos around here and we all go spearfishing together.  

Where can people connect with you?

Philip Van Zijl Sr. on Facebook, message me and let’s connect for a chat or a dive!

Any parting guidance or wisdom for the community?

Set the example. A lot of people have different perspectives of spearos, 90% of us are ethical and moral hunters. Don’t publish death piles. It just gives ammo to the greenies. Pay attention to the size of the fish. If there’s a doubt, don’t shoot. If it’s marginal, don’t shoot. If it’s huge, then its legal.

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Check out this spearfishing episode!