#les touchables

[luckywildgirl]

Les Touchables

[cali]

Okay here's my loose thoughts about why I think I like the bunny knight so much, in no particular order. First of all I think that at first glance, it is just a very pretty picture with nice composition. It has nice bright lush summertime colors, a really charismatic foreground character, and the archway framing it grounds the piece well. I love the reflective armor, which is both technically impressive to me and reminds me of Le Chevalier aux fleurs, another painting I really love (and which I assume was an intentional allusion?) Then there's the sun and the like, radiating flows which remind me of warm sunbeams and a pleasant breeze on a summer day, and of Deleuzian lines of flight and the oneness of things. I think the illustration as a whole exemplifies something you do really well, which is that your compositions look great from a distance, but then are full of intricate detail that IMO rewards close examination and gives the whole piece a depth and richness. (Not to pile on to that other anon but I think they've misidentified a real strength of yours as a weakness because I think your art is really compelling at both levels!)

Also: bunny!

thank u i think its a much more Earth pic. instead of trying to maximize infinite coolness its um a little more going in classical prettyness nature directions which i havent been doing lately.

the sun light was the most fun part of it i tried to give it the structure of draping flowing veils but the contrast is so low it ended up being hard to see V V V

and yes the flower armor was a homage to flower knight painting 😇😛 and i was thinking of these two when i was doing the sun rays. not as directly as the flower knight but i think they do the concept of turning sunrays into an almost touchable substance so well

thanks dear

[sandraclapham]

40 years ago and less than 40 days ago. 

First photo on the chair of shame where I finally succumbed to my TV mistress, Diane. I simply had to taste what my trembling fingers had unwrapped from its silky nylon encasement. Up until then, such a shameful unmanly act had only been a fantasy, albeit of increasing intensity. I think I might have been wearing Aristoc Harmony stockings or maybe Le Bourget ‘Plaisir des Yeux’

Second photo at Boys Will Be Girls in December 2022 - wearing my new kitten heels, personalised Touchable RHT stockings and a vintage silk dress that I got from Traid (for half price).

[elektramouthed]

The ghost of Hamlet’s father is a suitably stately progenitor of Darvell, Ruthven, Alan Raby, and Varney, all of whom by implication disown the touchable Geraldine. Even when Le Fanu succumbed to Christabel by recasting it in prose, he evaded Geraldine’s bosom. Initially, that bosom is the site not of the vampire’s power, but of the victim’s wound: Laura’s childhood dream of Carmilla concludes with “a sensation as if two needles ran into my breast very deep at the same moment” (p. 74), and as an adult she describes “a stinging pain as if two large needles darted, an inch or two apart, deep into my breast” (p. 102). Carmilla remembers her own transformation similarly: “‘I was all but assassinated in my bed, wounded here,’ she touched her breast, ‘and never was the same since’” (p. 101). But under the eyes of her father and a male doctor, Laura’s wound creeps chastely upward until it rests on the neutral neck to which Stoker would confine vampires.

Nina Auerbach, from Our Vampires, Ourselves

[misssophieoftheupstairsaviary]

Sous Un Ciel Haut

Où se termine-t-elle,

la liberté

de respirer sans restriction ?

Il faut se transformer en arbre ou en hélicoptère

ici, parmi les tours de verre gris où

toute évolution que l’on me permet

est celle en vertical.

Si je lève mes bras

et mes yeux avec eux,

le toit est – avec un peu d’effort (ou de chance ?) – touchable

mais jamais le ciel.

Je tourne sur moi-même pour trouver

des compagnons de voyage

mais personne ne relève la tête

et l’espoir d’un fois juste embrasser

l’étoile

ne reste que le mien.

[moveoverbeaches]

Photography

Elements of Design

Line

Definition: The path of a moving point is a mark made by a tool or instrument as it is drawn across a surface.

Types: Vertical, Horizontal, Curved, ZigZag, Diagonal

Notable Example: "The Eiffel Tower" by Henri Cartier-Bresson - showcasing elegant vertical lines.

Shape

Definition: The area stands out from the shape next to or around it because of a defined boundary or because of value, color, or texture.

Notable Example: "Migrant Mother" by Dorothea Lange - illustrating the emotional impact of the human shape within its surroundings.

Color

Definition: A visual sensation caused by light.

Notable Example: "Afghan Girl" by Steve McCurry - using vibrant color to convey the subject's striking gaze.

Components: Hue, Value, Intensity

Hue refers to the pure, basic colors of the color wheel. It is what distinguishes one color from another, such as red, blue, or yellow.

Example: In a rainbow, each band of color represents a different hue.

Value represents the lightness or darkness of a color. It is determined by the amount of light reflected by a color. A range of values creates contrast and depth in an image.

Example: In a grayscale image, the variations from black to white represent different values of gray.

Intensity, also known as saturation, refers to the purity or vividness of a color. A highly saturated color is pure and vibrant, while a desaturated color is more muted or grayish.

Example: A highly saturated red will be bright and vibrant, while a desaturated red will appear more subdued.

Space

Definition: The area occupied by form. The main area is positive, everything else is negative.

Notable Example: "Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico" by Ansel Adams - masterfully using negative space to emphasize the moonrise.

Value

Definition: How light or dark a given color or hue can be.

Notable Example: "The Old Guitarist" by Pablo Picasso (photographed by André Villers) - utilizing value to evoke emotion in a monochromatic context.

Form

Definition: Where light and shape collide to create images with depth and a sense of touchability.

Notable Example: "Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2" by Marcel Duchamp (photographed by Man Ray) - playing with form and movement in a surreal way.

Texture

Definition: The visual depiction of variations in the color, shape, and depth of an object's surface.

Notable Example: "Migrant Mother" by Dorothea Lange - highlighting the weathered texture of the subject's face and hands.

Practice:

Take 5 photos demonstrating lines or explore more variations.

Principles

Balance

Definition: Feeling of equality in weight.

Types: Symmetrical, Asymmetrical, Radial

Notable Example: "The Birth of Venus" by Sandro Botticelli - showcasing symmetrical balance in a classic painting.

Proportion

Definition: Deals with the ratio of one part to another. Ratio implies comparison and is expressed in size, number, position, and space.

Notable Example: "Vitruvian Man" by Leonardo da Vinci - exploring the proportions of the human body in a meticulous drawing.

Harmony

Definition: Creates unity by stressing the similarities of separate but related parts.

Notable Example: "Starry Night" by Vincent van Gogh - achieving harmony through the use of color and swirling patterns.

Variety

Definition: A change or contrast within one or more elements to add interest and to avoid monotony.

Notable Example: "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" by Pablo Picasso - introducing variety through diverse and unconventional forms.

Movement

Definition: Where your eyes look in a picture.

Notable Example: "Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette" by Pierre-Auguste Renoir - capturing the lively movement of dancers in a joyful scene.

Unity

Definition: The whole or total effect of a work of art that results from the combination of all its components.

Notable Example: "Guernica" by Pablo Picasso - achieving unity in a powerful anti-war painting.

Rhythm

Definition: A continuance, a flow, or a feeling of movement achieved by the repetition of related visual units; the use of measured accents.

Notable Example: "The Dance" by Henri Matisse - creating a sense of rhythm through repeated, flowing shapes.

Emphasis

Definition: The stressing of an element to make it more interesting or important through one position, color, object, or texture.

Notable Example: "Girl with a Pearl Earring" by Johannes Vermeer - emphasizing the subject's enigmatic gaze and the play of light on the pearl.

Composition

The way the principles of art are used to organize the elements of art. It determines the movement or direction it takes your eyes around the picture. There are many types of compositions; some of them resemble an S, O, U, T, L, S, and more. Understanding composition enhances the overall impact and storytelling in your photographs.

Composition in photography refers to the arrangement and organization of visual elements within a frame to create a compelling and harmonious image. It involves making deliberate choices about how to position and combine various elements like lines, shapes, colors, and textures. A well-composed photograph not only captures the subject but also guides the viewer's eyes in a way that enhances the overall impact and storytelling of the image.

Key Aspects of Composition:

Framing:

Choosing what to include within the frame and what to leave out is crucial. The frame acts as a boundary, focusing attention on the subject.

Rule of Thirds:

Dividing the frame into a 3x3 grid and placing key elements along these lines or at their intersections can create a visually pleasing balance.

Leading Lines:

Lines within an image (like a road, river, or architectural elements) can guide the viewer's eyes toward a focal point or create a sense of movement.

Symmetry and Asymmetry:

Symmetry can create a sense of balance, while asymmetry adds visual interest. Both can be used to guide the viewer's focus.

Contrast:

Contrast in color, tone, or texture helps certain elements stand out, drawing the viewer's eyes to specific areas of the photograph.

Depth and Perspective:

Creating a sense of depth enhances the three-dimensional feel of a photograph. This can be achieved through techniques like using leading lines, overlapping elements, or varying focus.

Balance:

Achieving balance ensures that no single element dominates the composition. Balance can be symmetrical, asymmetrical, or radial, depending on the desired effect.

Guiding the Viewer's Eyes:

Visual Hierarchy:

Establish a hierarchy of importance within the image. This can be achieved through the use of size, color, or contrast to make certain elements more prominent.

Focal Point:

Clearly define a focal point to which the viewer's eyes are naturally drawn. This can be the main subject or a strategically placed element within the composition.

Leading Lines:

Utilize leading lines to guide the viewer's eyes toward the main subject or a specific area of interest within the frame.

Contrast and Color:

Use contrast and color to create emphasis. A pop of color or a high-contrast element can immediately attract attention.

Positioning and Flow:

Consider how the viewer's eyes will move across the image. Arrange elements to create a natural flow that leads the eyes from one point of interest to another.

In summary, composition is about purposefully arranging elements within the frame to create a visually pleasing and impactful image. By understanding the principles of composition, photographers can effectively guide the viewer's eyes, control the narrative, and evoke specific emotions or reactions.

Practice:

Here are three famous photographs where you can circle or draw an arrow to the focal point:

"Migrant Mother" by Dorothea Lange:

Assignment: Circle to highlight the focal point. Consider how the photographer uses the expressions and gaze to create a compelling focal point.

"Afghan Girl" by Steve McCurry:

Assignment: Circle or draw an arrow pointing to the focal point. Notice how the intense gaze creates a powerful focal point and draws the viewer into the subject's emotions.

"The Falling Soldier" by Robert Capa:

Assignment: Draw an arrow pointing to the focal point. Reflect on how this focal point captures a decisive moment in the chaos of war, conveying both action and vulnerability.

For each photograph, consider the composition techniques that contribute to the effectiveness of the focal point. Pay attention to factors like framing, contrast, and the placement of elements within the frame. This exercise can help enhance your understanding of how photographers use focal points to guide and engage the viewer.

[estefanyailen]

Lost my discretion, no es a lo que estoy acostumbrada. Sólo quiero probarte. I'm curious for you. Caught my attention, besé a una chica y me gustó... espero que a mi novio no le importe.

Nosotras, las chicas, somos tan mágicas, piel suave, labios rojos, tan besables. Hard to resist, so touchable, demasiado bueno para negarlo, no es gran cosa, es inocente. I kissed a girl and I liked it.

[dreadfutures]

Portrait of Suzanne Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau ( 1804  )|  Jacques-Louis David

A lot of the paintings in this style have this high-gloss, almost crystalline sharpness to them when viewed in person. It almost looks like they’ve gone through a sharpening filter. Silks have shine, velvet is ultra textured, metal filigree catches the light harshly. But I was struck by the way David rendered his blacks in a very matte way -- a very unique texture. More than the stiff silks and satins of contemporary portraits, this sitter’s outfits feel very touchable. I can perfectly imagine how they’d feel.

[omg-im-such-a-masochist]

BIRTHDAY SURPRISE

@ziasaph

Prompt: When Roman finds an note with an address from Y/N he will find himself with a “new woman” for his birthday night

Word count: Long-ish

Pairing: Roman Reigns x Reader

Warnings: +18, smut(implied),roleplay,sexual fantasy.

Notes: So this is my first POV fanfic(please let me know if I did a good job?) I was listening to one of my favorite big band bands (Devil Doll) and got inspired for this story. Y’all know the drill loves,sorry for misspellings,english isn’t my first language (bla bla bla),check out my other stories if you’d like to(it would make your girl here very happy 😊) and if you’re comfortable with it,please let me know what you think? Some feedback is always welcomed and appreciated ❤️You can check out my other stories typing ‘masochist writes’ on the search bar on my page and my newest story as a fixed post.Okay,now let’s get to the fun part,shall we? Hope you’ll enjoy 😉

Y/N’s POV

“What if he doesn’t like it?”

“Y/N,for the 6th time.... RELAX woman! You look like a bombshell, like a living breathing wet dream. I bet with you, he’s gonna get so turned on that he’s not going to even be able to wait ‘til you two get home!”

I couldn’t help but laugh at Cecile’s comment while she helped me finish my hair.

“I just hope you’re right Cece...the last thing that I want is to make a total fool out of myself...”

“And that will NOT happen Y/N.. I mean look at you! You’re every men’s wet dirty dream brought to life!Even I’m getting a boner, and I don’t even have a dick!”

We both laughed “Seriously,you look amazing,he’s not gonna be able to believe that this” She points at my figure up and down “Is all his” She winked at me through the mirror.

“Thank you for helping me with all this Cece”

“You’re welcome love!You know I’ll do anything for you...Now you just wait here, I’m gonna get your shoes really quick.”

Once I was left alone inside the little vintage dress room I admired my figure on the big mirror. My hair was perfectly done in beautiful vintage hairstyle,with soft brushed curls,that made my hair look shorter than it was,leaving my neck and collarbone at exposure. My makeup consisted in soft foxy eyes and a deep red lip. My lingerie was hand picked to flatter not only the complexion of my skin but also my body curves. The nude silk stockings gave to my legs a beautiful sheer glow,the midnight blue set (panties,bra and garter belt) were beautifully detailed with black lace.The bra size complemented my breasts perfectly,neither adding or retrieving volume but highlighting they’re natural size and shape.The panties molded my hips and ass fitting every curve like a glove.The garter belt was marking my waist at a very feminine sensual way,everything was paired up with a thin black silk cover-up and a black tule Louboutin scarpin.

I was beginning to feel confident,until Cecile entered the dressing room and said

“Y/N, he’s here!” With an excited smile on her face.

“Oh my God...Cece, I don’t wanna do this anymore.”

“Oh shut up!Here put your shoes and your cover-up on” I reluctantly did

“Now the last and most important detail” She said “Perfume!” And sprayed on the very expensive luxurious scent all over my body.

“I’m so proud of my creation!” She sighed and I laughed as she looked me up and down. “Now you go out there and get him tigress” She devilishly smiles

Roman’s POV

I arrived at the address Y/N left on her note with a curious look on my face. The place was elegant and looked like something retrieved from a 40’s Parisian movie. ‘Le Noir’ was written with classy black cursive letters that were placed upon a blood red background.

*Why would she bring me here?* was the only thing roaming my mind. I approached the door,that was soon opened by a short blond girl with a very thick French accent.

“Bonsoir,Mr.Reigns. Please come in.”

The place was lit only in dim lights,but I could tell that everything here was not only extremely elegant but also decorated to give an erotic forbidden feel to it.Like you know you’re not supposed to be there.

“Je m’appelle Cecile” She offered me a hand shake.

“I’m Roman”

“Oh, I’m aware of who you are Monsieur Reigns...”

“And what do you mean by that?” I asked with a curious voice

“Excusez-moi. I’ll be right back. Please make yourself comfortable”

She vanished through the red curtains before I could ask anything else.

There was only one chair in front of the stage,so I placed myself on it. As the minutes passed by I started to grow more and more nervous so I took my phone out of my jeans back pocket so I could text Y/N when suddenly everything went dark.

*What the fuck? Oh great! The power had t-* my thoughts were cut off by a low sensual big band tune and the sound of heels approaching the stage.

Y/N’s POV

The music started and that was my lead, I slowly made my way towards the stage,and the lights were slowly turning up. *Oh God, I really hope I don’t fuck this up!* I thought as I were slowly beginning to see that beautiful face of his.

Roman’s POV

The heels stopped and the lights were slowly turning up. I saw a woman at the center stage and I could smell her perfume from were I was sitted, it was a very sensual, erotic scent that I could tell was very expensive. Nothing sweet innocent smelling..but sexy,flirtatious and dangerous. As my eyes were getting used to the new lighting, I could see her features slowly revealing itself to me.

High heels,silk nude stockings that made her legs look pleasantly touchable,midnight blue panties that hugged her hips in a very malicious way, the garter belt accentuated her waist making a sinful contrast with her round delicious hips, her bra seemed to be designed to make a man go insane...perfect fit,nothing was adding nor taking volume or shape,but it was flattering her natural features in such a dreamy perfection.

I love Y/N, she’s the best thing that ever happened to me! But a man has eyes you know?! So I’m not gonna lie that,that vision gave me a semi-hard bulge. *Maybe I could ask that girl Cecile where they bought these things so I can buy one to Y/N..* I was lost in thoughts when my gaze stopped at her face,my jaw dropped and I swear to you, I could’ve died just then. I’ve never had in my life, such a rock hard fast boner as the one I was having right now.

“Fuck me!” I whispered

Y/N POV

*Oh fuck I knew it! I knew this was a bad idea! I’m gonna kill Cecile!* Was the only thing I could think of as he was seated there speechless just staring at my face. But since I was already there I figured I should just continue with this stupid roleplay.

I made my way down the stage and approached his chair. I stopped in front of him and said

“Good evening Mr. Reigns. Miss Cecile asked me to be your companion for the night. My name is Sapphire.” And I extended my hand to give him a light hand shake..but what I didn’t expect was for him to pull me towards his lap, so I could sit right on his rock hard bulge.

Roman’s POV

Y/N was a gorgeous breath taking woman, she always was. But the way she was dressed right now and the way she was “Sapphire” for tonight...she has officially ruined me for any other women! She looked like a fucking walking sin,one I was happy to commit! Everything about her made me crazy with primal need,her scent,her hairstyle perfectly leaving her neck at exposure, her makeup, those deep red lips that I couldn’t wait to see around my cock, her lingerie set, her stockings, the devilish high heels. Everything was planned to make me painfully hard(and it did). That’s why when I saw the look of doubt on her face due to my lack of words (How can you blame me? All of the blood of my body went straight to my cock once I saw her!) The only thing I could do was pull her to my lap, so she could FEEL what she had done to me,and the surprised look she gave me was suddenly replaced with relief and need.

“And what am I aloud to do with you as my companion?” My voice was as raspy as it could ever be

“Anything you want Sir...as long as you pay.” She spoke with a low sexy voice

“What if I want to fuck the life out of you,all night long?” I asked as I roamed my hand through one of her thighs and fuck the stockings felt better than I have thought.

“As long as you pay, I’m yours to do whatever you want Sir” She whispered in my ear “Happy birthday Mr.Reigns”

“Oh baby girl,happy indeed..” I replied as I picked her up in my arms and rushed to the car.

Fuck that woman is the best birthday present I’ll ever have!

[fierce-little-miana]

On the point of dialogues needing to have a certain historical flavor (because I do agree with everything that was says above that dialogues in books must have a certain flavor that is coherent with the story, the style and the characters) I wanted to share this extract from Françoise Chandernagor’s notes in Les enfants d’Alexandrie about recreating Antiquity with words:

“As Paul Veyne unfortunately noted in his Comment on écrit l’histoire (TN: How we write history), “the best researched historical novel screams fake the second the characters open their mouth”. Dialogues are the corner stone, and often the deadly corner stone, of novels taking place in the past.

In French, as long as we do not go farther than the 17th century, it is possible to respect the language of the time in the dialogues between characters. [...] However as soon as we go to more distant eras, the original language is lost to the reader. In addition, the gap between the language used in dialogues and the more contemporary language of the narration would be so huge that it would be properly ridiculous. The conclusion is easy, all stories taking place in a past more distant than the time of Renaissance mandate one of two things:

-  we stick to indirect speech (which is only justified for novels pretending to be memoir);

- or we adapt the language by fiddling with it.

The second is a challenge more artistic than historical. Writing (in the contemporary world) dialogues (of characters from antiquity) has the same issues as translating. [...]

Passing a story, such is the task of the translator. It is also the task of historians and authors inspired by history. Making “the snow from days gone by” and the people watching it fall visible and touchable: here is the challenge. Marc Bloch has already bluntly condemned the “the drudges of erudition” incapable of writing living breathing human being. “The good historian is similar to an ogre,” he wrote “where he smells human flesh, he knows he has found his prey.” The novelist is this ogre hungry for human flesh more than any other.

This is why in this book, Antony, Cleopatra, Augustus or Tiberius, since they can’t speak to each other in latin nor greek, do not speak to each other in “flattened Corneille” (TN: famous French playwright from the 17th century who wrote many plays inspired by antiquity) nor in “basic Racine” (TN: Ibid). They speak in “human flesh”, impure, ever-moving, foul-smelling but forever young. Without surrendering to current idiomatic fashions, I wished that children speak as children do (or at least as we think children do), politicians as politicians, and soldiers as soldiers.”

(translations and highlights mine).

[sandraclapham]

First photo taken by Lucy at the Philbeach Hotel about 35 years ago. Probably wearing Le Bourget ‘Plaisir des Yeux’ stockings.

Second photo taken by Cindy at Boys Will Be Girls in December (2022) - wearing my vintage, silk dress that I got half price in the sale at Traid and my personalised Touchable stockings (over Gio naturals).

[english-history-trip]

My dash has provided some visual art history commentary.

Why have people become worse at realistic portraiture? Do we just not teach it anymore? Look at that top portrait. That’s the best they could get with their undoubtedly multimillion dollar budget. It’s fine. It looks like the person. But it doesn’t look like the rich, polished portraiture of the period. NOTHING does. You would never see something that flat and plain in an 18th century salon. And it’s not like Peter Lely was in the highest echelons of elite artistry. He was for hire; if there had been movies at the time, he would have been the one painting for them. 

And in b4 you say Lely was 17th century. Fine, here’s one from a prominent female artist of the period, Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun:

Look how smoothly blended the skin tones are, how touchably light the fabric, the way the curls seem to spring from the canvas. It makes the movie art look like paint-by-numbers.

It extends all the way up. This hangs in HOLYROODHOUSE: 

It seems to me like portraitists have forgotten how to make shadows, how to round out edges, how to be vibrant without being garish. The greatest portraits show an enhanced version of reality in a way that a photograph cannot.

I think no one today can paint like Sargent, Van Dyck, Winterhalter, or even Lely. And I just don’t know why.

[hotnadiacolumbia]

Super smooth dark tan #pantyhose, nice and shiny on my gorgeous legs 🌷So touchable! #pantyhosefeetfetish #sheerpantyhose #pantyhoselover #pantyhoselegs #hotnadia #hottie (at Paris les Champ Élysées) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9js4Whn4VU/?igshid=1fcrw1dfzgwuv

[designvision-journal]

Le Petit Soldat Brand Identity Design by Anagrama.

-

Y.J.Y Opinion Reviews:

With the brand name of the three letters"L P S" as a pure font logo, but the shape is simple and dynamic, irregular slightly misplaced geometry to bring a collage, tape effect. Through the flexible use to break the basic geometric elements of the dull feeling. Logo composition is also very suitable for the creation of other brand materials applications and extensions, such as the brand pattern part and so on.

The design of the brand recognition section is the biggest highlight. In particular, the design of business cards and envelopes, break the old 2D planar space restrictions and traditional graphic design performance, combinate with the behavior of the art effect and cross-media material together, in the plane space to create a three-dimensional time of the four-way effect. The "Five senses" are fully invoked to design. The visual effect of the charred hole seems to smell its taste in an instant.  The way of expression is bold and novel, unforgettable.

The deconstruction of logo graphics, so that the brand impression of the perfect engraving into the various parts of the material. Only simple logo geometry elements, perturbations processing techniques, combined with simple brand color (black, natural color, white, etc.), but also highlight the strengthening of the graphics itself. And the choice of brand color has added a wider range of application and affinity.

The whole creation of a concept of experimental atmosphere, giving audience a space of infinite reverie, seems to tell the audience its brand can bring "everything is possible", is the creator of "Magical Magic ", is advocating the leading "rebels ".

Throughout the brand design, chic, unique, bold, exquisite, full of infinite possibilities and unlimited creativity of the sense of space, but at the same time is still a corporate brand of corporate sense, high-quality professionalism and reliability. A good balance between those.  Yeah  "Just Right".

A strong brand personality allows the viewer to feel its constant breakthrough in breaking the rules of constraint values, a strong sense of ideology and opinion so that the audience feels persuasive and also evoke a strong curiosity. Achieve a touchable "five-sense" balance between seriousness and rebellion.

[skeppsbrott]

Cronus.mp3

27 + 26 tracks straight from Cronus Ampora’s media player. 93 + 87 minutes. One part straight pop, one part mostly more credible music.

[Side A] [Side B]

Oooh boy, I’ve been putting publishing this off for so long because it’s just never perfect, but truth is it never will be so I might as well publish it. The idea was to make a playlist of music that Cronus would listen to and/or identify with, eventually this split into two playlists, somewhat arbitrarily divided between pop and rock. Below are links to the songs, but I don’t think that any one lyric will be representative of the song and why I view it as a Cronus song, neccessarily.

The one band I include twice is Le Kid, mostly to juxtapose their excellent cover of Mr. Brightside with the original. Unfortunately, the version on YouTube isn’t as good as the studio version, which also seems to be floating around on tumblr for anyone interested.

Side A - Pop

Justin Bieber -  Sorry - You gotta go and get angry at all of my honesty

Le Kid -  Mercy Mercy - You should be saying you will treat me, treat me right

Erasure -  Love To Hate You - Sending shivers up and down my spine

Semisonic - Get A Grip - Well don’t be blue ‘cause there’s no one to play with you

Jason Derulo - Trumpets - Is it weird that I hear angels every time that you moan?

Katy Perry - I Kissed A Girl - Hard to resist, so touchable

ABBA  - Gimmie! Gimmie! Gimmie! (A Man After Midnight) - How I hate to spend the evening on my own

The Drifters - There Goes My Baby - I broke her heart, and made her cry

George Michael - Faith - Well I need someone to hold me but I’ll wait for somethin’ more

Madonna - Like A Virgin - You made me feel I’ve nothing to hide

Anton - Begging - I’m on my knees and ready for your answer

Phil Collins - You Can’t Hurry Love - How long must I wait? How much more can I take? Before loneliness will cause my heart to break

The Limousines - Internet Killed The Video Star [Tommie Sunshine remix] - I’m a shitty romancer, baby; I ain’t gonna lie, but I’ll be damned if that means that I ain’t gonna try

Mike Posner -  I Took a pill in ibiza (Seeb remix) - I get along with old-timers, ‘cause my name’s a reminder of a pop song people forgot

Movits! -  Sammy Davis Jr. - They say I sound old-school, baby, like Frank, and Sammy Davis

The Temptations - Ain’t Too Proud To Beg -  Please don’t leave me, girl, don’t you go

The Weeknd - I Feel It Coming - So baby, I can make it right, you just got to let me try

Kanye West - Heartless - I did some things, but that’s the old me

The Chainsmokers - Closer - Tell your friends it was nice to meet them, but I hope I never see them again

Carly Rae Jepsen - Your Type - I’m not going to pretend that I’m the type of girl you call more than a friend

Taylor Swift - Style - You’ve got that James Dean daydream look in your eye

Urban Cone - Old School - Keep saying chivalry has faded, girl I can’t wait to prove you wrong

Robin Thicke - Blurred Lines - I hate these blurred lines

Prince - Kiss - I want to be your fantasy, maybe you could be mine?

Robyn - Call Your Girlfriend - Don’t you even try and explain how it’s so different when we kiss

Lady Gaga - The Edge Of Glory - I got a reason that you should take me home tonight

Le Kid - Mr. Brightside - Now she’s letting me go

Side B - Rock

The Killers - Mr. Brightside - And I just can’t look, it’s killing me

Franz Ferdinand - Do You Want To - I’m gonna make somebody love me

Blink-182 - Built This Pool - I wanna see some naked duuuuuudes!

Jefferson Airplane - Somebody To Love - Wouldn’t you love somebody to love?

Top Cats - Basket Case - She says it’s lack of sex that’s bringing me down

The Vapors - Turning Japanese - I want to kiss you when there’s no one else around

Neon Trees - Everybody Talks - Hey sugar, show me all your love, all you’re giving me is friction

Mando Diao - Dance With Somebody - I’m falling in love with your favourite song, I’m gonna sing it all night long

Jack White - Love Interruption - I want love to grab my fingers gently, slam them in a doorway, put my face into the ground

Arctic Monkeys - R U Mine? - Are you mine tomorrow? Or just mine tonight?

The Smiths - There is a Light That Never Goes Out - And in the darkened underpass, I thought, oh God, my chance has come at last

The Kinks - You Really Got Me - Don’t ever set me free, I always wanna be by your side

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Tell Me Baby - Tell me lover, are you lonely?

Chuck Berry - Roll Over Beethoven - Long as she got a dime, the music won’t ever stop

Meat Loaf feat. Cher - Dead Ringer for Love - A man he doesn’t live by rock ‘n’ roll and brew alone!

Elvis Presley - Don’t Be Cruel - Please, let’s forget the past, the future looks bright ahead

Maroon 5 - This Love - I won’t say good bye anymore

The Rolling Stones - (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction - Baby, better come back, maybe next week? ‘Cause you see, I’m on a losing streak

Billy Idol - Dancing With Myself - Well, there’s nothing to lose and there’s nothing to prove, when I’m dancing with myself

Bruce Springsteen - Pink Cadillac - Honey we can park it out back, and have a party in your pink Cadillac

Fall Out Boy - Sugar, We’re Going Down - I’m watching you two from the closet, wishing to be the friction in your jeans

Pulp��- Common People - When you lay in bed at night, watching roaches climb the wall, if you called your dad he could stop it all

Foster The People - Don’t Stop (Color On The Walls) - Don’t stop talkin’ to me, don’t stop giving me things

Queen - Somebody To Love -  One day I’m gonna be free, Lord! Find me somebody to love

The 1975 - The Sound - And you say I’m such a cliche

Frank Zappa - Bobby Brown Goes Down - I am the American dream, I do not think I’m too extreme - and I’m a handsome sunnovabitch, I’m gonna get a good job an’ be real rich!

[nayanasri]

In the pantheon of watches there are a few that stand out. Looking for your first automatic watch? Pick up a Seiko Orange Monster. Looking for a piece with a little history? The Omega Speedmaster is your man. Looking for an entry-level Swiss diver that won’t break the bank? Tissot’s Seastar has always had you covered.

The latest version of the Seastar is an interesting catch. A few years ago – circa 2010 – the pieces were all black with bold hands and a more staid case style. Now Tissot, a Swatch Group brand, has turned the Seastar into a chunkier diver with massive bar hands and case that looks like a steel sandwich.

The $ 695 Seastar 1000 contains a Powermatic 80/ETA C07.111 movement with an eighty hour power reserve which means the watch contains a massive mainspring that keeps things going for most of three days without winding. The Seastar is also water resistant to 1000 feet thanks to a huge screw down crown and thick casing. The new model has an exhibition back where you can see the rotor spinning over and balance wheel. The watch also has a ceramic bezel, a fairly top-of-the-line feature in an entry level watch.

Tissot has a long and interesting history. Best known for their high-tech T-Touch watches which had touchable crystals, allowing you to activate a compass, barometer, or altimeter with a single tap, the mechanical pieces have always seemed like an afterthought. The company also produces the classic Tissot Le Locle as well as a chronograph that I absolutely loved, the T-Navigator, but that has been discontinued. The Seastar, then, is one of the few mechanical pieces they sell and at sub-$ 1,000 prices you’re basically getting a Swiss watch with solid power reserve and great looks.

Watch folks I’ve talked to over the past few months see a distinct upturn in the Swiss watch market. Their belief that the Apple Watch is driving sales of mechanical watches seems to be coming true, even if it means cheaper fashion watches are being decimated. Tissot sits in that sweet spot between luxury and fashion, a spot that also contains Tag Heuer and Longines. Ultimately this is an entry level watch for the beginning collector but it’s a beautiful and beefy piece and worth a look.

Gadgets – TechCrunch

The Tissot Seastar 1000 is a low-cost and high-quality Swiss diver In the pantheon of watches there are a few that stand out. Looking for your first automatic watch?