#lomas negativity

[rebeccathenaturalist]

So this is a really creative solution to a pernicious ecological problem! The short version is that arid ecosystems like deserts are quite fragile. For example, many have soil that is covered in a thin biocrust that can be damaged just by walking or driving on it. And because life needs water to grow and recover, these super-dry ecosystems may not be able to repair a footprint or tire track for over a century.

However, arid ecosystems are often some of the least understood because they can be difficult to access. And they suffer from P.R. issues because deserts are often seen as "bad" ecosystems full of death and nothingness, and because we do legitimately want to avoid the desertification of other native habitats.

In order to raise awareness and appreciation of these landscapes, biological surveys that tally the living beings found there help show how biodiverse they can be. And when we know more about how abundant or scarce a given species there is, it gives us more impetus to protect them, especially those that are at risk of extinction.

These paramotorists were able to fly across Peru's lomas (coastal fog deserts), which primarily receive scant amounts of moisture from mist. They collected plant samples to take back to scientists, carefully recording where they were found. And because they were able to fly long distances, they could minimize the amount of time their feet were on the ground and therefore minimize their impact on the local ecology.

At a time where it seems every interaction between motorized technology and nature is a negative one, this is a pleasant departure. yes, of course we wish we weren't in a place where we have to be worried about increasing extinction and other ecological woes. But let's take the wins where we can; the morale boost is crucial to being able to keep looking toward a better future.

[ghelullu]

I don’t disagree with your point but I also think it’s perfectly reasonable for people to criticize the whole streaming situation. It’s definitely not Tobias’ fault personally but I haven’t seen anyone attacking him, just people expressing their frustration which is perfectly understandable. I think the whole “don’t complain about anything ever or else you’re ungrateful” thing is kind of ridiculous. People are allowed to vent their frustrations and criticize the marketing side of the band, it doesn’t make them “too negative” or less of a fan.

I totally understand it. I, too, think it's too expensive. I'm a minimum wage worker, I perfectly understand being frustrated over this.

I'm talking about how people are CONSTANTLY complaining about literally everything. Just a short list of recent things that my terrible memory can remember:

bitching about the non-release of the screening dates DAYS before the announcement of the streaming dates was scheduled

complaints that the movie wasn't screening in every single theatre in every single city in the world despite that clearly being not within their powers

complaints that vinyls are released in many different variations

Tobias' beard being "ugly"

movie ticket prices

complaining that the movie screenings happen on days/times that aren't good and it didn't run longer

panic over the movie not releasing on DVD/Bluray (which has been basically confirmed already and it's Tobias and Loma...)

all the Drama about the musicians (some justified, some just ridiculous) and how that's for some reason also Tobias' fault in some people's eyes; won't even get into this because unholy moly

the favourite Papa isn't on enough merch

former Papas not being featured in the movie and "misleading" marketing (aka...Secondo being in merchandise but not the film...)

accusations of him being "tasteless" for using the Napalm girl and other cruel real life footage of terrible things for the Film before it even was released, only based on the rating office's warning/rating list

I won't list any more, but you get what I'm aiming for: There is just so. much. negativity. all the time. People don't stop finding reasons to be so negative about everything that's happening. If they had put this thing on Netflix then people would've whined "why not Prime/Hulu/whatever????".

It's not just about being upset over the high prices of this streaming thing, but the greater picture, too. It's about the general tendency to panic and be super negative way too much.

And I'd like to point out that I at no point said it's making someone "less of a fan" or something, that's ridiculous.

[acreativeco]

Who doesn't love tide pools... Better yet who doesn't love San Diego tide pools during the big big King Tides. During King Tide the tide is usually a negative tide and that means the water is low low. The best time for treasure hunting.

We love visiting the central California coast, we have a few secret spots we have found the best tide pools. We haven't really found anything as exciting in the so cal area, so this was a chance to see if so cal could measure up. And it definitely did not disappoint!

So many treasure's we haven't see before. Beginning with the brittle sea star, or brittle star fish. We saw 3 total with the one pictured above as the biggest one. A true delight was the rainbow star, that little booger was hiding in the grass but you can see the little speckled colors through the grass. Super fun!

Bat stars and abalone shells are always super fun. The pink furry looking thing is a nudibranch (type of sea slug) and that black blob with a shell stuck to is a keyhole limpet.

These tide pools are part of Cabrillo National Monument near Point Loma in San Diego.

This is a find, learn, and leave area as is all state and national parks. 

[prolife-home-care]

The Blue Zones Diet

What Is the Blue Zones Diet? Exploring the Secrets of the World's Longest-Living People

Introduction: Did you know that people in some parts of the world live up to 10 years longer than the average person? Could their diet be the secret? These regions, known as the "Blue Zones," include Okinawa (Japan), Sardinia (Italy), Nicoya (Costa Rica), Ikaria (Greece), and Loma Linda (California). One key factor behind their exceptional longevity is their dietary habits. But what exactly is the Blue Zones diet, and how can it benefit you? Let’s dive in.

What Is the Blue Zones Diet?

The Blue Zones diet is more than just a set of meal plans; it’s a lifestyle. The diet emphasizes plant-based foods and whole ingredients over processed options. Despite cultural differences, the people in these regions share dietary practices that support health and longevity.

Key Components of the Blue Zones Diet:

Here’s a breakdown of the essential components of the Blue Zones diet:

1. Eat Mostly Plants

In the Blue Zones, around 95% of the diet comes from plants. This includes an abundance of fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes. Leafy greens like spinach, kale, and collards are especially valued for their vitamins and antioxidants. When fresh produce isn't available, people in these regions use pickled or dried versions to retain nutritional benefits.

2. Beans and Legumes Every Day

Beans and legumes are the cornerstone of the Blue Zones diet. Black beans, garbanzo beans, lentils, and other varieties are rich in plant-based protein, fiber, and essential nutrients. Consuming at least half a cup of beans daily offers a wealth of health benefits, including supporting heart health.

3. Include Nuts in Your Daily Routine

Nuts are packed with protein, fiber, and healthy unsaturated fats. In the Blue Zones, it's common to consume two handfuls of nuts daily. Almonds, walnuts, and Brazil nuts are popular choices. Including a variety of nuts provides diverse nutrients and antioxidants that support overall health.

Bread and grains in the Blue Zones are typically whole grains. Unlike refined white bread, whole grain options retain their natural fiber and nutrients, including iron, magnesium, and phosphorus. Sourdough bread is also favored for its fermentation process, which supports gut health. Other whole grains include brown rice, quinoa, and whole-wheat products like tortillas and pasta.

5. Olive Oil: The Healthy Fat

Olive oil is a key feature of the Blue Zones diet, used for cooking and as a salad dressing. Rich in unsaturated fats and antioxidants, extra-virgin olive oil is the preferred choice for its heart-health benefits and anti-inflammatory properties.

6. Choose Whole Foods in Their Natural State  

A significant aspect of the Blue Zones diet is eating whole foods in their natural form. This means choosing fresh fruits over fruit juice, opting for full-fat yogurt, and eating whole eggs. Whole foods are nutrient-dense, providing essential vitamins and minerals without the drawbacks of processed foods.

Water is the primary beverage, supplemented by coffee, tea (especially green tea), and moderate amounts of red wine. To maximize health benefits, these drinks are consumed without added sugars. While red wine is occasionally enjoyed, it is always in moderation to avoid health risks.

Foods to Limit on the Blue Zones Diet:

The Blue Zones diet naturally avoids certain foods that may negatively impact health:

Added Sugars: Minimized intake of sugary drinks, desserts, and processed snacks.

Meat: Consumed sparingly, often reserved for special occasions.

Highly Processed Foods: Fast foods and snacks are not part of this diet.

Refined Carbohydrates: White rice, white bread, and sugary cereals are avoided in favor of whole grains.

Butter: Saturated fats like butter are kept to a minimum.

Potential Health Benefits of the Blue Zones Diet:

Research indicates that the Blue Zones diet offers several health benefits:

Lower Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: The fiber-rich foods in this diet help regulate blood sugar levels.

Reduced Risk of Heart Disease: Emphasis on healthy fats from olive oil and nuts helps lower cholesterol levels.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects: Many foods in the diet have anti-inflammatory properties that may reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

Weight Management: High-fiber foods keep you full, aiding in weight control.

Lower Risk of Metabolic Syndrome: Plant-based diets have been linked to a 50% reduction in the risk of metabolic syndrome.

For more information on how diet affects chronic health conditions "What Is Type 2 Diabetes? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention"

Incorporating the Blue Zones Diet Into Your Life

Anyone can benefit from adopting the Blue Zones diet, regardless of age. Here are practical steps to get started:

Start Small: Begin by adding more plant-based foods to your meals.

Cook at Home: Preparing your meals allows you to control ingredients and minimize processed foods.

Practice Moderation: The Blue Zones diet isn’t about strict restrictions but mindful eating.

Stay Hydrated: Drink water as your primary beverage, and limit sugary drinks.

Meal prepping ideas that fit into the Blue Zones lifestyle "18 Effective Tips to Lose Belly Fat"

The Bottom Line: Is the Blue Zones Diet Right for You?

The Blue Zones diet is not a rigid plan but a holistic approach to food and lifestyle. It emphasizes plant-based, whole foods and balanced living, promoting health and longevity. While it’s not the only factor contributing to the long lifespans seen in Blue Zones, adopting its principles can help you improve your well-being. When combined with regular physical activity, stress reduction, and strong social connections, the benefits of the Blue Zones diet can be substantial.

Benefits of holistic health practices: "Mindfulness and Mental Health Practices"

Creating healthy eating habits: "Understanding Weight Loss: Factors, Myths, and Strategies"

FAQs:

Q: What are the Blue Zones? A: Blue Zones are regions known for their high concentration of centenarians, including Okinawa, Sardinia, Nicoya, Ikaria, and Loma Linda.

Q: Is the Blue Zones diet the same as the Mediterranean diet? A: While similar, the Blue Zones diet focuses more strictly on plant-based foods and limits animal products more than the Mediterranean diet.

Q: Can the Blue Zones diet help with weight loss? A: Yes, due to its emphasis on high-fiber, nutrient-dense foods that promote satiety, the Blue Zones diet can support weight management.

Q: Who can benefit from the Blue Zones diet? A: Anyone seeking a healthier, more balanced lifestyle can benefit from adopting the principles of the Blue Zones diet.

Q: Are there any drawbacks to the Blue Zones diet? A: It may require more home cooking and can be costlier due to its focus on fresh, whole foods.

[biblicalrunner]

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

Daily walking is one of the most effective ways to stay fit and active

Regular exercise, including activities as simple as walking, can rejuvenate your mitochondria and reduce the risk of chronic age-related diseases like heart disease, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes and cancer

Walking outdoors, particularly in a forest, may offer even more significant psychological benefits, including a reduction in negative moods and feelings of depression, tension, anxiety, anger, fatigue and confusion, and an increase in positive mood and vigor

Moderate exercise, which includes walking, improves all-cause survival better than vigorous exercise

The largest health gains from walking occur when going from being sedentary up to 7,000 or 8,000 steps a day, continuing to about 12,000 daily steps

Daily walking is one of the most effective ways to stay fit and active, yet many overlook it in favor of flashier forms of exercise. Embracing walking can improve both your physical and mental health, however, and is a free, accessible activity that you can do virtually anywhere.

Since walking is a low-impact and moderate-intensity exercise, it’s one that people of all ages and fitness levels can do. It doesn't require special skills, equipment or a gym membership and can be integrated into most people’s routines easily.

Ideally you would walk around solar noon, which is from 12:30 to 1:30 PM for those on Daylight Savings Time because of the perversion of the time system. Timing your walk during this time allows you to get additional benefits of UVB and near IR solar radiation.

For the last ten years or so it has been my pattern to walk around 45 minutes to one and a half hours around this time on the beach barefoot. I probably am able to do this over 95% of days. While this clearly is not possible for many, I have seen a number of people move so they can engage in this healthy practice. Nevertheless, most all the benefit is obtained by walking at solar noon. Barefoot on the beach is merely the icing on the cake.

What Can You Gain From a Daily Walk?

Blue Zones are areas in the world where people tend to be unusually long-lived, with high concentrations of centenarians. It’s revealing that in these regions, which include Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, California, residents often engage in physical activity, including regular walking.1

"Regular physical activity, including walking, is a fundamental aspect of a healthy lifestyle and is associated with numerous health benefits, particularly in the context of healthy aging and longevity in the Blue Zones," researchers wrote in GeroScience.2

Their review found that walking is a powerful antiaging intervention that can reduce the risk of chronic age-related diseases like heart disease, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes and cancer, while relieving pain and improving function in musculoskeletal disorders.

Other walking benefits include improved sleep and increased resilience, but what was perhaps most astounding was their finding that simple walking may help reverse the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of aging.3

Regular exercise, including activities as simple as walking, can rejuvenate your mitochondria. Exercise encourages the creation of new mitochondria and helps the existing ones work better, producing more energy more efficiently. If you don’t take steps to protect your mitochondrial health, your mitochondria can become damaged with age and produce less energy.4

This can contribute to muscle weakness, heart issues and less efficient blood flow in the brain, while damaged mitochondria can create harmful byproducts, making these problems worse. "While in-depth studies investigating the effects of walking on mitochondrial function are limited, initial studies have shown promising effects of walking interventions on mitochondrial function," the scientists explained.5

One study found, for instance, that regular low-intensity walking can significantly improve the health of mitochondria in people with impaired glucose tolerance.6 After the participants engaged in a four-month walking program, researchers observed an increase in the expression of genes related to mitochondria in their skeletal muscle.

These genes are involved in creating new mitochondria and boosting their function. Essentially, walking encouraged the body to produce more and better-performing mitochondria in the muscles.7

Walking for Mind and Body

Like many forms of exercise, walking offers profound mind-body benefits. In their initiative to promote walking, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states, "A single bout of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity can improve sleep, memory, and the ability to think and learn. It also reduces anxiety symptoms."8

There is, in fact, something therapeutic about a walk that speaks to us on a primal level. Writing in The New Yorker, author Ferris Jabr noted:9,10

"What is it about walking, in particular, that makes it so amenable to thinking and writing? The answer begins with changes to our chemistry. When we go for a walk, the heart pumps faster, circulating more blood and oxygen not just to the muscles but to all the organs — including the brain. Many experiments have shown that after or during exercise, even very mild exertion, people perform better on tests of memory and attention.

Walking on a regular basis also promotes new connections between brain cells, staves off the usual withering of brain tissue that comes with age, increases the volume of the hippocampus (a brain region crucial for memory), and elevates levels of molecules that both stimulate the growth of new neurons and transmit messages between them."

Walking outdoors, particularly in a forest, may offer even more significant psychological benefits, including a reduction in negative moods and feelings of depression, tension, anxiety, anger, fatigue and confusion, and an increase in positive mood and vigor.11

Meanwhile, Deborah Grayson Riegel, who teaches leadership communication at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, wrote in Harvard Business Review, "Charles Darwin, Friedrich Nietzsche, William Wordsworth, and Aristotle were all obsessive walkers, using the rhythm of walking to help them generate ideas. And while any form of exercise has been shown to activate the brain, walking is a proven creativity booster as well."12

She notes that she likes to walk with purpose, sometimes using walks for learning and productivity, including conducting walking coaching calls or listening to a podcast, and other times using walks to form connections with others and find gratitude and perspective:13

"On days when I need some perspective, I’ll stroll while looking at the sun, the trees, or the water. Those views remind me to reflect on the expanse of the universe, to appreciate the beauty of nature, and prompt me to consider how much world there still is for me to explore (when it’s safe to do so).

… As someone who has experienced both chronic and acute back pain, I often walk with a focus on how lucky I feel to be able to walk — and the relief of being pain-free. I will focus on the gift of feeling safe (most of the time) as a woman walking alone. Or that I have a clean, hot shower waiting for me at the end of my walk. Or I might even focus on the gift of being alive right now, when so many have died."

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Walking May Be a Sweet Spot for Exercise

While most Americans don’t get enough exercise, it’s also possible to overdo it. In fact, too much vigorous exercise backfires and can actually harm your health instead of help it. A landmark study that radically changed my views on exercise was published by Dr. James O'Keefe, a cardiologist with the Mid-America Heart Institute at St. Louis Hospital in Kansas City, and three coauthors.14

If you’re sedentary and begin to exercise, you get a dose-dependent decrease in mortality, diabetes, depression, high blood pressure, coronary disease, osteoporosis, sarcopenia, falls and more. But people who are doing the highest volume of vigorous exercise start losing longevity benefits. If you’re doing full-distance triathlons when you're in your 40s and 50s, your risk of atrial fibrillation increases by 500% to 800%.

However, an important point is that in the case of moderate exercise — loosely defined as exercising to the point where you're slightly winded but can still carry on a conversation — there’s clear evidence that more IS better and cannot be overdone. Perhaps even more surprising, moderate exercise, which includes walking, also improves all-cause survival better than vigorous exercise — about two times better, according to O’Keefe.

Other research has shown that even a modest amount of walking offers significant longevity benefits. In a study of 3,101 adults, those who took 8,000 steps or more just one or two days a week had significantly lower all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk.

"The study’s findings suggest that for adults who face difficulties in exercising regularly, achieving the recommended daily steps only a couple days a week may have meaningful health benefits," researchers wrote in JAMA Network Open.15

How Many Steps a Day Should You Aim For?

The average American walks about 3,800 steps a day, which is just short of 2 miles. It’s about 2,000 steps per mile, and every 1,000 steps you get on average per day reduces your mortality by 10% to 15%, O’Keefe notes. In our interview, he explained:

"There's been more and more studies on this all the time, using activity trackers. We’re getting big data, like the UK biobank, which is a half a million people, and there's a sizable subgroup of them who have been wearing activity trackers and been followed for 10 years now.

Clearly, more is better. You get the big gains going from sedentary lifestyles — 2,000 to 3,000 steps a day — up to 7,000 or 8,000. [Here] you have this very steep reduction in mortality, improvement in survival. It continues to about 12,000 steps a day. Most of the studies show that it plateaus at 12,000."

I do recommend tracking your steps using a fitness tracker like the Oura ring. Most cellphones also have free activity trackers, so in a pinch you could carry your phone with you. It’s not ideal due to the electromagnetic fields (EMFs) emitted, but you could put it in airplane mode or, better yet, in a Faraday bag.

Ideas to Change Up Your Walking Routine

If you’re a seasoned walker and want to add some variety to your walking routine, Nordic walking, sometimes referred to as Nordic pole walking, is one way to do so. It involves walking with fixed-length ski poles using a movement similar to cross country skiing but without the snow.

Nordic walking originated in Finland, where it’s commonly used by cross country skiers for training during the off-season.16 While typical walking or running activates about 40% of your muscles, Nordic walking uses 90% of your muscles, providing a lower and upper body workout in one. It also requires about 18% to 25% more oxygen consumption compared to walking without poles at the same speed.17

Nordic walking may be an ideal form of exercise for people with coronary heart disease, as it leads to greater increases in functional capacity — or the ability to carry out activities related to daily living — compared to other forms of exercise, including high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-to-vigorous intensity continuous training (MICT).18

Like regular walking, Nordic walking is low impact, making it suitable for people of all fitness levels. For instance, in a systematic review, Nordic walking programs were found to be an effective modality for weight loss in overweight and obese patients, with additional benefits to risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.19 The use of poles also makes Nordic walking appealing for those with mobility impairments, including Parkinson’s disease.

Walking backward is another challenge you can try, in a safe, obstacle-free setting, of course. In a study published in the journal Cognition, researchers from the University of Roehampton (UR) in London found walking backward can even boost your memory.20

Plus, it puts less strain on and requires less range of motion from your knee joints, making it ideal for those with knee problems or injuries. Also, because backward walking eliminates the typical heel-strike to the ground, it can lead to changes in pelvis alignment that may potentially alleviate pressure associated with low back pain.21

The bottom line is, make a point to schedule time for a regular walk into your routine. It’s a simple, accessible way to significantly improve your overall health and well-being.

[canvasclothing]

Artificial inteligences

Artificial intelligence (AI) has recently shown qualified performance and versatile applicability in many domains. Emerging AI systems operate in the context of existing societal, cultural, and institutional practices. They are certainly shaping our own necessity and urgency to design with intelligence. However, we like to see intelligence in a broad sense, as more than ‘AI’ and in relation with multiple forms of intelligence, whether called artificial, machine, human, or biological.

When exploring literature and a selection of design cases, we identified qualities that make ‘designing with intelligence’ different from designing other products or services. These typical qualities of intelligence are uncertainty, instability, agency, intentionality, and emergence. We formulate designerly strategies for each quality to trigger the imagination and competence of designers and provide additional foci for design aesthetics. The five strategic qualities align with contemporary design discourses that relate to or go beyond the technologies of AI and machine learning.

1. Aesthetics of Uncertainty: The real world comprises a lot of uncertainty. Every day, we make tons of decisions by considering multiple factors or situations which are difficult to be understood by machines. Data and model uncertainty are also inherent in machine learning. Benjamin et al. (2021) aim to understand ML uncertainty as “a design material” in their post- phenomenological inquiry. We want to take the notion of uncertainty beyond a design material and instead focus on the ‘aesthetics of uncertainty.’ Uncertainty is often seen as something negative. However, uncertainty can also lead to sensual experiences of surprise and curiosity. Uncertainty also motivates exploration or deeper reflections on the reasons behind the uncertainty.

2. Caring for Instability: The concept of ‘instability’ is an attribute of dynamical models and systems that change with parameters and events. "Instability is the keyword of the future. Stable systems, both social and natural, are running at their end. This calls for a new approach in which we make the aesthetics of instability our own by seeing, feeling and scoring

it. In this way we can design new material and intangible structures that capture and incorporate instability" (Hybrid Space Lab, n.d ., https://hybridspacelab.net/project/aesthetics-of-instability/ ). We want to align ‘instability’ with the contemporary post-human concept of ‘caring’ (DeFalco, 2020), especially as both natural and social systems are no longer stable and deserve caring for their instability.

3. Harmonising Agencies: The concept of agency, i.e., the ability to take action, whether by human or non-human entities, is perhaps one of the better-known qualities of intelligent systems. In the current design discourse, ‘agency’ is still being discussed and explored (Newman et al., 2019). The more complex systems contain a multiplicity and diversity of agents. Human agency feeds the sensual experience of being in control, feeling competent, powerful and autonomous. The human perception of another agency can trigger a diversity of positive, i.e., feeling related or supported by another, or negative sensations, i.e., feeling out of control, a creepy suspicion.

‘Harmony’ is an intuitive concept within aesthetics that helps designers to make sense of and create order within complex systems (Lomas & Xue, 2022). Harmony is the principle to create union in cooperating elements, harmony requires differences and a dynamic equilibrium. The combination of concepts, i.e., ‘harmonising agencies’ acknowledges the diversity of people and other agents that need to collaborate to maintain a dynamic equilibrium in complex intelligent socio-technical systems.

4. Expressing Intentionalities: “Intentionality is a central concept in the philosophy of mind”, it is the “representational character of mind or consciousness - its being ‘of’ or ‘about’ something” (McIntyre & Smith, 1989). In an everyday understanding, the notion is also about doing something with intention, aiming towards a certain state of affairs. In human-AI collaboration, the misunderstanding of the intentions of the other is often a reason for problems (Yang & Newman, 2013).

Expression is the action of ‘making known one’s thoughts or feelings’. Expressing intentionalities is then the act of making one’s intentions known to others. In human-AI collaboration this goes both ways, humans express their intentions to the system, and the other way around. This lens is related to research areas such as Explainable AI and Transparency of AI.However, our take is more on extendingthe work by Bruns et al. (2022) on ‘expressivity in interaction.’

5. Anticipating Emergence: Emergence is a notion in many disciplines. Emergence occurs when an entity is observed to have properties its parts do not have on their own, properties or behaviors which emerge only when the parts interact in a wider whole (Seevinck, 2017). Anticipation (of the future in each aspect or phase of the process) is a condition of aesthetic form, according to Dewey (2005). The other conditions being: continuity, cumulation, conservation, and tension.

[fearsmagazine]

PUNCH - Review

DISTRIBUTOR: Trinity Creative Partnership & Miracle Media

SYNOPSIS: Frankie is celebrating one final night out in her coastal hometown with friends before heading back to university. However, a sinister local legend Mr. Punch is on the prowl, and chaos ensues as Frankie and her friends fight for survival against this mysterious slasher.

REVIEW: Filmmaker Andy Edwards takes the classic Punch & Judy shows and turns it on its head as a slasher film with a Scooby-Do feel to it. It has a feel like “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey,” but has a better plot and a darker feel. American audiences might recognize Edwards’ work from the 2016 horror comedy “Zombie Spring Breakers.”

Edwards’ screenplay is a strong character driven tale. Frankie is trying to escape her small seaside town and her negative home life. Edwards introduces this dark tale of Punch, which seems like a vigilante presiding over the town with this “Purge” like impunity. I mention a Scooby-Do feel because you have these “kids” that are trying to unravel this mystery but with deadlier consequences. I enjoyed the characters and the dialogue, but could have used a bit more of the history and evolution behind Punch in this community. I did enjoy the Freddy Kruger-esque one liners Punch delivers, but thought there could have been fewer and let the character’s silence be more menacing. Somewhere in the third act we are presented with this darker cloud hanging over this seaside town with Punch being the manifestation of that dread. I would have welcomed a bit more background on that and feel it would have provided a compelling conspiracy to the tale.

I liked the performances. They’re as solid as anything in the last few “Scream” movies. This is Alina Allison, who plays Frankie, first feature film. She gives a solid performance and nicely carries the film. I enjoyed the rest of the cast, who give seamless performances and weave the viewer into the drama and terror.

PUNCH has strong production values. I like the editing, cinematography, and framing. They have excellent locations and loved the amusement pier. Will Gold provides a wonderful score that adds atmosphere and enhances the tension and drama. I thought the Punch mask was simple and effective. The costume could have used something to add a bit of satire or terror to make it more memorable. The sound design of Punch’s voice is a bit troublesome as, taking into consideration the British accent, it makes it a bit difficult to understand what he is saying at times.

If you’re a slasher movie fan, Andy Edwards’s PUNCH is sure to satisfy. Solid cast, excellent production values and an ending that creates a potential for a sequel. I can imagine the title, “Punch 2: Judy’s Revenge” or “Punch 2: The Bat is Family.” I’m just saying. Also, Edwards’ next film, which I’ll be on the lookout for, sounds like a hoot, “Cinderella's Revenge.”

CAST: Alina Allison, Kierston Wareing, May Kelly, Dani Thompson, Jamie Lomas, and Mark Sears. CREW: Director/Screenplay/Producer/Editor - Andy Edwards; Producer - Rebecca Matthews; Cinematographer - Max Williams; Score - Will Gold; Production Designer - Jenny Duyen Ky Cao ; Costume Designer - Andrew Majtenyi; Hair, Make-up & Special Effects Artists - Addy Frame & Aybuke Kavas; Punch Mask - Rubber Johnnies; Visual Effects - Paul Ralph. OFFICIAL: N.A. FACEBOOK: N.A. TWITTER: N.A. TRAILER: https://youtu.be/pgLTQKnnLW4?si=JVew8GFCIAKWShHw RELEASE DATE: Digital and VOD January 16th, 2024

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay), or 👎 (Dislike)

Reviewed by Joseph B Mauceri

[angeliqueshelleyartist]

Semiotics

SOURCES AND SIGNIFICANCE BLOG POST #5

Semiotics, meaning the study of signs, shares coterminous boundaries with structuralism through its interests and core philosophies (Hawkes, 2003), as its aim is also to understand the cultural influences and perceptions that create conceptual structures (Fiske, 1990). 

There are many semiotic theorists who have contributed to the analytical frameworks for decoding signs. Theorist Charles Sanders Peirce (1839-1914) valued semiotic realism; that is a more constructive nature of analysis which aimed to uncover objective truths rather than the arbitrary (Hoopes, 1991). His original framework, which consisted of three elements: a sign, an object, and an interpretant (Pierce, 1998; Lomas, 2019), acted as an initial framework for other theorists such as De Saussure (1916), Barthes (1982) and Daniel Chandler (2022). 

Bathe’s (1982) expansion is particularly useful in understanding not only the meaning of symbols in a purely linguistic sense, but also the reality of signs and their uses. He expanded  De Saussure’s (1916) core analytical tool for signs: “Signifier” and “Signified”, into a deeper analytical method he called “Myth” which analyses the surface-level meaning of signs (“Denotation”) by using a signified sign as a secondary signifier to explore the deeper, implied signified (“Connotation”). This expansion is absolutely necessary in a media-rich world where “Myth”, or even connotation, creates knock-on effects of positive or negative representation whether it’s through one's own creation of art or media consumption. As “Myth” has a tendency to make intentions appear “natural” and the plausible seem certain (Barthes, 2009), creators need a certain level of awareness to avoid inadvertently creating something harmful. 

Daniel Chandler’s (2021; 2022), toolkit helps breakdown the many sensitivities required to analyse a media artifact successfully such as the significance, modality, paradigms, syntagmatic structure, rhetorical tropes, intertextuality, semiotic codes and social factors, which in-turn is necessary in deconstructing “myths” and discerning intent. Using Barthe’s ���Myth” framework and Chandler’s toolkit, I wanted to decode a character concept artwork by John Patrick Gañas titled Hwael, The Sea King (fig. 1).  I chose this piece as it’s relevant to my practice as a concept artist. Being a feminist, this particular artwork stood out to me for seeming to have a patriarchal myth.

Fig. 1 Hwael, The Sea King by John Patrick Gañas

The concept is a digital painting depicting a mythical and kingly whale-humanoid creature with masculine features. Old harpoons are embedded into his back and shoulders. A crown made of barnacles has grown on his head and glowing battle scars adorn his body. He is being attended to by feminine humanoid-remora. The name of the piece “Hwael” is an Old English word meaning “whale” (WordSense, 2023). 

The technical side of the art is very beautiful and visually striking but on a symbolic side, it has a strong patriarchal narrative. While there are ancient mythologies that have masculine gods governing the ocean, such as Poseidon, the choice of a whale-type character to personify an ocean king is odd as most whales are thought to be more matriarchal in their social structures (Royal Society, 2019).

The decision to have a whale as a kingly species makes sense in the context of size and power, but it ignores reality, thereby making it a choice that seems to rob the nurturing and powerful matriarchs in nature. There are other elements that enrich the patriarchal theme, such as the feminine remora, or sucker fish, described by the artist as “kissing the glow” (Ganas, 2023) from his beacon-like scars. The human elements add intelligence and identifiable strength. The musculature, the scarring, the powerful and condescending pose and the low camera-angle all highlight his imposing figure and are  nods to governance through might. The barnacle crown seems to hint at his natural selection; all nature acknowledges and worships him, the glowing eyes and scars further deify him. Another key element of the concept art is the forest of harpoons, which seem to say that though he is wounded and challenged, he is unkillable. The culmination of all these connotations created the “Myth” in my mind that powerful patriarchy enriched by claims of divinity or the natural order, though challenged, never really dies.

Despite my critical tone, I really like this piece because it not only creates discourse, but is also strikingly beautiful and satisfying in technical execution. But perhaps therein lies the danger of a myth becoming “natural” (Barthes, 2009) through its appeal. I wonder if the artist meant to intentionally create a myth, or whether it is a product of the convergence of sub-conscious media influences; artistic intertextuality reaching into his design choices. Perhaps his pursuit was purely aesthetic and his theme primarily basic, but which evolved into something with deeper connotations. Either way, it is impossible to know for sure.

In summary semiotic analysis is a series of theoretical frameworks which have been developed and added to by notable theorists such as Peirce (1839-1914), De Saussure (1916), Barthes (1982) and Chandler (2021). Semiotic analysis is useful for understanding the reality of media as well as their deeper meanings and connotations (myth). The framework helps bring more awareness to consumers and creators of media of the intention of myth. From a creator's point of view, deconstructing myths can help me break the cycle of “natural myth” (Barthes, 2009) that I may be subconsciously creating by replicating the myths fed to me in the hive of intertextuality that is media.

References:

BARTHES, R. (1982). Empire of signs (Howard R., Trans.). New York, NY: Hill & Wang.

BARTHES, R. (2009) Mythologies. London: Vintage.

CHANDLER, D. (2021). Semiotics for Beginners, D.I.Y. Semiotic Analysis: Advice to My Own Students. [Online]. Visual Memory. Available at: http://www.visual-memory.co.uk/daniel/Documents/S4B/sem12.html [Accessed: 4 December 2023].

CHANDLER, D. (2022). Semiotics: The Basics. 4th ed. New York: Routledge.

DE SAUSSURE, F. (1916). Course in general linguistics. New York, NY: Philosophical Library.

FISKE, J. (1990). Introduction to Communication Studies, London: Routledge.

GANAS, J. P. (2023). Hwael, The Sea King. [Online]. . Available at: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/9Egavo [Accessed: 5 December 2023].

HAWKES, T. (2003). Structuralism and Semiotics, Routledge. 

HOOPES, J. (ed.). (1991). Peirce on Signs: Writings on Semiotic by Charles Sanders Peirce. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press.

LOMAS, T. (2019). Positive Semiotics. Review of General Psychology. 23(3), pp.359 - 370. [Online]. Available at: https://doi-org.ezproxy.herts.ac.uk/10.1177/1089268019832 [Accessed: 4 December 2023].

PEIRCE, C. S. (1998). The Essential Peirce (Vol. 2). Bloomington: Indiana University Press.

ROYAL SOCIETY. (2019). Causes and consequences of female centrality in cetacean societies. [Online]. Royal Society Publishing. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2018.0066 [Accessed: 5 December 2023].

WORDSENSE. (2023). Hwæl. [Online]. WordSense Dictionary. Available at: https://www.wordsense.eu/hw%C3%A6l/#Old_English [Accessed: 5 December 2023].

[epacer]

Education

Chronic Absenteeism in California Schools Reaches ‘Pivotal Moment’

As a new school year gets underway in California, districts are desperately trying to lure thousands of missing, tardy and truant students back to the classroom in what many view as a pivotal moment for education in California.

In 2021-22, 30% of students in California’s public schools were chronically absent, an all-time high and more than three times the pre-pandemic rate. Advocates fear that unless schools can reverse the trend, so many students will fall behind that they may never catch up.

“This is a crisis, and it’s not going to change until we do everything we can to get kids back in school 100%,” said Heather Hough, director of Policy Analysis for California Education. “What we all fear is that this will become the new normal.… It is hard to overstate the importance of this issue, and it is absolutely a pivotal moment.”

Before the pandemic, about 10% of students in California’s public schools missed at least 10% (or 18 days) in a school year, which the state defines as chronically absent. But COVID-related school closures, remote learning and quarantines have created a new habit for millions of families: optional, not mandatory, daily school attendance.

Even though California law requires all children ages 6 through 18 to attend school every day, nearly 2 million students were chronically absent in 2021-22, the most recent year data is available. Nearly every group of students had high rates of absenteeism, but the highest rates were among kindergartners. Kindergartners who are Black, Pacific Islander or have disabilities all had rates of 50% or higher.

Students’ specific reasons for missing school are varied. Lack of transportation is among the most common reasons, but sometimes students have to look after younger siblings or go to work. In some cases, students stay home because they’re being bullied or don’t like their teachers. After COVID, some parents have become overly cautious about sending their children to school with minor ailments.

Personal connections have made all the difference at an elementary school in Salinas — thanks in part to a school secretary the students call “Miss Cathy.”

As students and their parents file into Loma Vista Elementary every morning, Catalina Cisneros greets them by name, gives them hugs and catches up in Spanish, the predominant language in that part of the city. Cisneros, a Salinas native, said she understands the struggles that families face as they raise their children while working long hours, sometimes starting their days at 4 a.m. in the nearby lettuce fields.

“I treat the parents how I’d like to be treated, with empathy and compassion,” said Cisneros, who started working at Loma Vista Elementary three years ago. “We have to, because we want the kids in school. The parents want their kids in school, too. They’re doing the best they can, and sometimes it’s hard. I get that.”

Absenteeism has myriad negative impacts. For students, they’re more likely to fall behind academically, drop out and not graduate. For schools, lower attendance means less revenue from the state, which bases its funding on how many students show up every day. For teachers, poor attendance means half–empty classrooms, with some students who are weeks or months behind their peers.

There are legal implications, as well. In extreme cases, local district attorneys can get involved, citing and fining parents or students who persistently flout the mandatory attendance law.

Alarmed at the extent of the crisis, the Legislature is intervening. The Assembly recently asked Hough’s organization, Policy Analysis for California Education, to study the issue and come up with recommendations.

The findings could lead to legislation that would address the issue directly. A few possibilities include increased accountability at the local level, such as offering districts more incentives to get students back in class; better data collection; and broader efforts to make school a more attractive place for students to be.

In response to the pandemic, the state has already invested billions in initiatives aimed at boosting student engagement, including:

•    After-school and summer programs.

•    Improved school meals.

•    Community schools, which offer social services to students, their families and others in    the neighborhood.

•    Mental health counselors, on-campus wellness centers and staff training on social-emotional learning.

•    Expanded school bus services.

It’s unclear how much impact these programs have had so far, or if they’ll survive once COVID relief funding expires or the state budget tightens. But in any case, the state needs to do more, said Assembly Budget Chair Phil Ting, a Democrat representing San Francisco.

“It’s worrisome that kids are still staying home from school in record numbers,” Ting said. “Our investments in universal school meals, after-school programs and home-to-school transportation have not been enough to bring students back.”

Ting said he’s hopeful that studying the issue will lead to solutions.

“When children don’t regularly attend class, they fall behind on their lessons, and they are more likely to drop out — some as early as kindergarten. The implications of a less-educated generation are great,” he said. “We need to understand why attendance is below pre-COVID levels, so that we can better direct state resources and education leaders where they’ll be most effective in re-engaging students.”

Absenteeism has been so high in the Salinas City Elementary District — approaching 40% last year — that the district convened a group of teachers, administrators, counselors and others to brainstorm how to get students back in the classroom. Among the steps is encouraging office staff to be friendly, welcoming and non-judgmental, even when students are late or absent for long periods. Another step is talking to the families and students who have struggled the most with attendance, and addressing the specific reasons they can’t get to school.

In some cases, families said the bus pickup time was too early. So the district purchased a fleet of vans that could do shorter bus routes, allowing for later pickup times. Other families said their children didn’t want to go to school because they felt anxious or bullied, so the district connected students with counselors, tried to end the bullying and worked to improve the overall campus climate. Some students said they simply hate school, so the district arranged for them to transfer to a school that might be a better fit.

The efforts appear to be working. In 2021-22, the district’s chronic absenteeism rate was 38%, almost triple the pre-pandemic rate and well above the state average. By January, it had fallen to 29%, and last week it had fallen to 21%. Loma Vista, which had one of the district’s highest absenteeism rates — 46% in 2021-22 — saw its rate drop to just over 24% so far this school year.

The numbers are important, said Superintendent Rebeca Andrade, but students’ success is more important. The pandemic was particularly hard on the community, and families in the low-income agricultural region have struggled to rebound.

“To see so many kids missing school — it wasn’t just frustrating. It was heartbreaking,” Andrade said. “School is supposed to be a safe place, and too many students were missing that. We knew we had to do something.”

Stemming absenteeism ultimately may be up to individual schools and staff, said Hedy Chang, executive director of the advocacy group Attendance Works.

For starters, health standards need to change, she said. Schools should promote better preventative care for students, but also convince parents that COVID is no longer a public health emergency and children should not miss school “for every sniffle or tummy ache.”

But more importantly, school staff must work directly with families to address the specific reasons for absenteeism, taking into account language and cultural barriers, and build strong personal relationships with parents and students, she said.

“We need to create those deep connections, so every child knows that there’s an adult waiting with open arms to welcome them to school,” Chang said. “That needs to be the new normal.”

Maria Perez, a parent at Loma Vista, said she wakes up at 5:30 a.m. to get her fourth grade daughter to school in time to be at her job at a Castroville fruit distribution center by 8 a.m. It doesn’t help, she said, when her daughter oversleeps or doesn’t feel well.

“Sometimes it’s a challenge. I tell her, it’s going to be a good day, it’s alright, don’t worry,” Perez said. “It’s important she goes to school because I want her to meet people, to make friends, to learn, to be someone in life.”

Parent Leslie Naranjo, who dropped four of her six kids off at Loma Vista on a recent morning, said getting out the door every day can be a Herculean task. She hasn’t always been as punctual as she’d like to be, but she’s trying: She now puts out her kids’ clothes the night before, bought a shoe rack so they’re not constantly searching for lost shoes, and has them shower before bed instead of in the morning.

It’s all helped, she said, but it’s Miss Cathy’s smiles that have made the difference.

“When we come in, she always says, ‘Hi!’ She’s always so happy to see us,” Naranjo said. “The kids see she’s excited to be here, so they get excited. It works.”  *Reposted article from CalMatters by Carolyn Jones on September 10, 2023

[nikitalovesmelissa]

Nostalgic Fanboys rant

this is my first rant, and yes, i will be making a rants on Tumblr because i cant get to uploaded on YouTube because of sanctions we have in Russia, well, i gotta say that we Russians are living in hard times because of war we having for a year now, since Putin invaded Ukraine in March 2022. but beside that topic. Today Topic is gonna on Those idiotic nostalgic fanboys that are so immature and bashful about modern times and just need to grow up

These Nostalgic fanboys are driving me nuts sometimes, because they praise every media in the past, and bash the new ones just, because its modern. Like seriously, is that going to help, well im going to discuss the one point here, to reaching these moronic people out there,

No Decade is perfect, lets say about the 1980s, i mean i guess this decade has good cartoons, but in that decade we have to deal with A.I.D.S epidemic, and the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake. or 1990s there's a lot of good media that are great and nostalgic, but we also had the Los Angeles riots and Midwestern U.S Heatwave that happen in Chicago in 2995 and 700 people died in Chicago during Heatwave, the death of Doctor Suess, and the Columbine high School massacre, or the 2000s and of cousrse, there a lot of stuff thats actually best like Best Cartoons, Video Games, and Movies too, but yet, there's 9/11 that happen on September 11 in 2001, The War in Iraq, and other stuff happening in that decade, the point im trying to make is that our childhood wasnt as great as we thought it was, its because we were kids back then, if you say you born in the 90s or 2000s or present to be teenagers or adults, they are going to say the same thing, so our Childhood is not just Rainbows and sunshine, they act like everything was perfect likes they had no flaws and bash everything that is modern for no reason, and it ticks me off, i mean really, i going to say again, No decade is perfect, they have a pros and cons, its never predictable in any way, i was a the late 2000s to the Early 2010s theres still things i love from those decades, and no, im not going to praise these decades like it was they were the best, also there are many Star Wars nostalgic fanboys who whine and flame on the New Star Wars Movies or Tv Shows just, because it ruined Star Wars for them. I mean, What the heck, just because its new that doesn't mean that you have to absolute bash it and also they seem bash and hate over The Last Jedi or The Rise of Skywalker, are you really that dumb, you basically are just bashing on the movies that are okay or mediocre at best but you idiotic nostalgic fanboys are going to bash and talk every negative idiotic nitpick and is that gonna help with your lives, huh, No, oh gosh they just thick me of sometimes and they also hate on 2020s because of celebrity deaths, i mean what else is new People are dropping like flies in every year, and seriously is that going to help, i mean like Gosh, they are going to post on internet and talk about it online, i mean 2023 is a okay year so far for me. but you want to know know why this decade sucks its because all of these idootic moronic butthurt nostalgic fanboys who whine about todays entertainment, Cyberwolf and SonicShadow98 are right. they are idiotic nostalgiatards that they should grow up and stop being stuck in the past.

[rarepair-purgatory]

I find it impossible to ship just one of the sides with C!Thomas because then Thomas is playing favorites when ALL of the sides are important and worthy of love! Which is why I ship all of them at once.

Yes I completely agree, Thomas just has a harem

[defjux]

100 of my favorite rock, punk, and metal adjacent (-core) releases since 2010, limited to two per artist. i feel like the top of this list is pretty typical, but there was a point around the middle of last decade where i stopped paying as much attention to newer bands popping up since i just wasn't finding a ton of stuff that grabbed me. despite me going back later on and listening to a lot of the stuff i missed i don't have as strong of a connection to some of it as i do bands i've been listening to 15+ years. there's actually been a handful of artists putting out music in the last few years though that have helped reignite that spark and helped push me to seek out anything i might have overlooked - shout out to brutus, the armed, greyhaven, soul glo, state faults, shin guard, blood command, blind girls, callous daoboys, dreamwell, frontierer, crowning, frail hands, nuvolascura, portrayal of guilt, senza, and vein.fm to name a few. as always, if anyone reading this has any recommendations feel free to send them my way. it's always appreciated. Spotify Playlist with one song from each of these albums Chart w/ album titles Top 100 Modern Metal Releases i'll do another one of these for death, black, sludge, prog, death, post, drone, stoner, doom, etc metal in the future, it just seemed like it'd be easier to narrow down if i split it up this way and might make it seem a little less all over the place but i'm not so sure i succeeded at that, ha. hopefully there's something on here for everyone though. peace to you and yours, i hope everyone's doing well. 1. The Dillinger Escape Plan - One of Us Is the Killer 2. Every Time I Die - Ex Lives 3. Converge - All We Love We Leave Behind 4. The Chariot - Long Live 5. Gospel - The Loser 6. Kvelertak - Kvelertak 7. Nails - Unsilent Death 8. Loma Prieta - I.V. 9. letlive - Fake History 10. Rolo Tomassi - Time Will Die And Love Will Bury It 11. Glassjaw - coloring book 12. KEN mode - Entrench 13. State Faults - Resonate/Desperate 14. Brutus - Nest 15. United Nations - The Next Four Years 16. Idles - Joy as an Act of Resistance. 17. Shin Guard - 2020 18. Frontierer - Orange Mathematics 19. Exotic Animal Petting Zoo - Tree of Tongues 20. Wormrot - Voices 21. The Armed - Only Love 22. Think Again - NEVER 23. Vein - Errorzone 24. White Lung - Deep Fantasy 25. Protest the Hero - Volition 26. Blood Command - Cult Drugs 27. Beastmilk - Climax 28. Melt-Banana - Fetch 29. Every Time I Die - Low Teens 30. Protomartyr - Relatives In Descent 31. Soul Glo - Diaspora Problems 32. Gridlink - Longhena 33. tricot - A N D 34. Cloud Nothings - Attack on Memory 35. The Dillinger Escape Plan - Dissociation 36. Greyhaven - Empty Black 37. Turnstile - Glow On 38. The Callous Daoboys - Die On Mars 39. Cloud Rat - Pollinator 40. Converge - The Dusk in Us 41. Parquet Courts - Wide Awake! 42. Dreamwell - Modern Grotesque 43. Circle Takes the Square - Decompositions, Vol. 1 44. Gaza - No Absolutes in Human Suffering 45. Respire - Black Line 46. Lightning Bolt - Sonic Citadel 47. Senza - Even a Worm Will Turn 48. KEN mode - Loved 49. Brutus - Burst 50. Crowning - Survival / Sickness 51. Blind Girls - Residue 52. Car Bomb - Meta 53. Frail Hands - Frail Hands 54. Glassjaw - Material Control 55. Portrayal Of Guilt - We Are Always Alone 56. Envy - The Fallen Crimson 57. All Pigs Must Die - Hostage Animal 58. Birds in Row - We Already Lost The World 59. Sectioned - Annihilated 60. For Your Health / Shin Guard - Death Of Spring 61. mewithoutYou - [Untitled] 62. Cleric - Retrocausal 63. IDYLLS - Prayer For Terrene 64. Nails - Abandon All Life 65. Rinoa - An Age Among Them 66. Knocked Loose - A Tear in The Fabric of Life 67. The Chariot - One Wing 68. Beau Navire - Lumens 69. Loathe - I Let It In And It Took Everything 70. Squid - Bright Green Field 71. Black Breath - Sentenced to Life 72. Oathbreaker - Eros|Anteros 73. State Faults - Clairvoyant 74. Lord Snow - Solitude 75. Single Mothers - Negative Qualities 76. øjne - Prima Che Tutto Bruci 77. Full of Hell & Merzbow - Full of Hell & Merzbow 78. Touché Amoré - Stage Four 79. Iceage - Beyondless 80. Marmozets - The Weird and Wonderful Marmozets 81. snag. - Death Doula 82. Incendiary - Thousand Mile Stare 83. Defeater - Letters Home 84. Shizune - CHEAT DEATH, LIVE DEAD! 85. La Dispute - Wildlife 86. Nuvolascura - As We Suffer From Memory & Imagination 87. Comadre - Comadre 88. Ampere - Like Shadows 89. Dead In The Dirt - The Blind Hole 90. Cult Leader - Lightless Walk 91. Svalbard - When I Die, Will I Get Better? 92. Pupil Slicer - Mirrors 93. Norma Jean - Meridional 94. Hopesfall - Arbiter 95. Chalk Hands - Don't Think About Death 96. Ion Dissonance - Cursed 97. Gouge Away - Burnt Sugar 98. Ostraca - Last 99. Punch - They Don't Have To Believe 100. Bagdadski Vor - Колхида

[adorethedistance]

It’s the 21st Century - Jamie Drysdale x Reader

Hockey Masterlist

Warnings: intimacy? very mild

Words: 1908

Summary: You and Jamie both are antsy about sharing your first kiss together, but the moment is swiftly ruined by those pesky American boys.

A/n: Hi I have so much shit I need to do and I have done absolutely none of it so help me. AKA I’m stressed at my own ability to procrastinate so y’all get a fic out of me bc that’s how it usually goes.

California’s infamous hot summer days and chilled nights might be a negative for some people, but truthfully, I couldn’t want anything else. Well, that is, until I met Jamie. Now, I’d leave the California sun and follow him anywhere if it meant we could be together. Not that Jamie would ever let me follow him anywhere. He knows I have big dreams, and ‘just as much of a right’ to pursue them as he does with his. 

That’s why California has been so good for us: San Diego or Anaheim, Jamie was never out of reach from my little home in Point Loma. I was sad to move my senior year of high school, but one fateful evening when I was grabbing dinner at the Sports Arena In-N-Out, I met Jamie and the rest was history. After graduation, I committed to UC Irvine and Jamie’s now closer than ever. And that’s how I ended up here sitting on the front porch of an unfamiliar Orange County residence with Jamie to my left.

The cold of the night bites at our faces, but we don’t care. We’re huddled close to keep each other warm, my cheek pressed to his shoulder as we wade through a comfortable silence. Butterflies were always such a strange concept to me as a kid, but now I get it. Things with Jamie are just easy, but that doesn't mean he doesn’t make me nervous still.

We’ve been talking for about two weeks, and he’s only just asked me to be his girlfriend a week ago. With the majority of our interactions happening over text or FaceTime, we still haven’t kissed and full disclosure I’m getting a bit antsy about it. Why hasn’t he kissed me yet? What is he waiting for? I don’t have to wait for him to initiate… do I? I mean, it’s the twenty-first century.

“What are you thinking about?” Jamie’s soft voice pulls me from my thoughts. I then give him a mischievous look,

“Your mom.” My boyfriend rolls his eyes and shoves my shoulder, panicking when I fall over because I decided not to hold myself up. After assessing that there was no real damage done, Jamie relaxes and returns his gaze to the dusk skyline and twinkling lights of the I-15. When I speak, Jamie leans down and to the right to hear me better, keeping his eyes trained on the interstate in the distance,

“If we’re sitting outside because you don’t want your roommate’s friends to bother us, I promise you there’s nothing they can do that would drive me away.” Jamie laughs breathily.

“I tried to get Z to relocate his reunion thing with his Team USA friends, but they refused to leave because they wanted to meet you.”

“Aww, they wanna meet me?”

“Yeah. We can go inside in a minute, I’m just nervous because they’re kind of crazy.” I lean into him to rest my head against his bicep, giggling delightedly at the embarrassed grin that paints his kind features. When I sit back up, Jamie moves closer to me to rest his right arm across my shoulders and I instinctively hug around his waist; he presses a kiss to the top of my head. The two of us sit like this for a minute, blissfully taking in one another’s scent.

Jamie’s left hand rests in his lap but all I want at this moment is to hold it in mine. My heart is pounding as I wordlessly trace my hand down his left forearm, and he consequently shifts to look down at me. I keep my eyes on my movements as I interlace our fingers to give his hand a reassuring squeeze, and my grip is gone just as quickly as it came. Tracing over the veins and tendons of his arm, pretending it’s innocent and absentminded but knowing it’s not. Jamie allows me to map out every curve, every peak and valley of his form.

In an instant, I lose myself in the complexity of him. In a moment, we both lose ourselves in the sensation of the other.

“Hey,” he whispers softly so as to not destroy the delicate atmosphere we’ve created that’s accompanied by brief chatter and then an eruption of shouting from inside the house. Jamie seems so lost in me that he doesn’t even notice the commotion. My fingertips still on his warm skin as I look up to see Jamie looking down at me. He looks nervous. Nervous, but super content, as I’m sure I do too.

Leaning down anxiously, he keeps his eyes trained on my softly parted lips. Jamie rests his forehead on mine and his nose lightly brushes mine; the cold air around us seemingly vanishes as I feel his warm breath on my mouth. When his eyes finally meet mine, a tiny smile graces my lips, and I allow my eyes to flutter closed when I see him begin to tilt his head. Finally.

“Hey, we’re gonna order pizza, do you guys want some?” Jamie and I jump apart, startled by the bang of the front door flinging open and Trevor’s loud voice. Jamie retreats from how close we had been sitting and I can’t help the disappointment that overcomes me at that moment.

“Sure,” he says dismissively, refusing to meet both my and Trevor’s eyes. Trevor looks at me with an expression I’m not sure if I can decipher before he withdraws back into the residence. The guys inside are quiet. Too quiet in comparison to the noise that had consistently interjected mine and Jamie’s silence. I decide I’m not curious enough to investigate further at the current time and return my attention to my dork of a boyfriend. He keeps fidgeting as if he’s short circuiting almost; I can’t stop myself from rolling my eyes before grabbing his attention.

“Jamie.” He looks up like a deer caught in the headlights. “Are you going to kiss me or not?” My bold question causes him to blush and look away for a moment before smiling sheepishly to himself. He takes a moment to visibly collect himself and I do everything I can to stifle the laugh that threatens to escape me.

Jamie turns his body towards mine and reaches up to hold the side of my face in his left hand. He leans in and swiftly envelops me in a sweet kiss, a sharp contrast to the slow-moving pace we had established earlier. The contact lingers but Jamie soon breaks away to preserve the chasteness of the kiss, letting our first kiss be what it is rather than getting swept up in the heightened emotions of the moment. He rests his forehead against mine once more and I can tell he’s holding himself back. I take a moment to admire his features and the captivating beauty that lives in his eyes with just a single look. He grins modestly in classic Jamie Drysdale fashion and I can practically feel myself falling faster for him. Placing both hands on either side of his face, I bring him back down for a second kiss, which is shorter lived than the first as neither of us can keep from smiling. We stay like that for a moment, drinking each other in until I break the silence.

“Should we go inside now?” I ask Jamie before he nods swiftly and rises to his feet, offering both of his hands to help me stand up.

“Yeah, so they don’t get suspicious.”

“Suspicious of what?”

“I don’t know! Anything! Just- are you prepared to meet the guys?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

Jamie then opens the door and melodramatically gestures for me to step inside first. I laugh at the exaggeration but grant his request nonetheless.

“I was thinking maybe we could-” Jamie’s voice dies as the two of us look up to simultaneously find a large clump of Team USA boys huddled by the front window that has a direct view of the porch. All of them are frozen out of T-rex logic, and with the way they’re all piled together means they undoubtedly witnessed our first kiss.

“Whatcha guys doin’?” I ask brazenly. None of them are bold enough to speak and as I meet each one’s gaze, they turn away out of discomfort. When I finally get to Trevor, he’s not even looking at me but rather behind me with an expression that I can’t decipher. Following his sightline over my left shoulder leads me to catch the tail end of a phrase Jamie was silently mouthing, and under the weight of my stare, he gives me an unconvincing smile.

“Y/n!” Trevor shouts obnoxiously as a very obvious cover up to get my attention away from Jamie. “This is Team USA.”

“Yeah, I got that much.”

“That’s Alex, Cole, Patrick, and Jack,” Jamie introduces more cordially. Each boy gives some sort of acknowledgment as he says their names, and the introductions are cut short when Jamie exclaims, “Oh, I still have your scrunchie from the other day, let me go get it.”

I nod and watch Jamie disappear into the dark hallway before returning my attention to Team USA. They all look as if the room just got colder under my intense stare.

“So, which one of you was the mastermind behind ruining our moment?” They all share a look before Trevor so boldly speaks for the group again.

“What are you talking about?”

“Your little ‘entrance’ was too conveniently timed to have been an accident. You might have Jamie fooled but I can see right through you. So, who was it?” Another silence follows my question before one of the taller ones cracks.

“It was Cole’s idea!” Turning my attention to the accused, he grins at me sheepishly and begins to try and smooth talk his way out of it.

“Actually, it was Turcs! I was the one who suggested we played odds but he’s the one who said ‘what are the odds we interrupt their kiss?’ so, it’s his fault.”

“Okay, yes, I came up with the dare, but Jack is the one who made Z do a 1 of 2 odds.”

“So, it was a collective group effort to sabotage our first kiss? Got it.” Before any of the guys can protest my conclusion, Jamie is back with my pastel blue satin scrunchie I put in his hair the other day.

When he reaches me, the boys watch in silence as he takes my hand in his and slides the elastic over his own wrist and onto mine. He could’ve simply handed it to me, but that’s Jamie: giving affection in the strangest of ways. I look up at him with a gentle smile before he beckons me back to his room.

I allow him to lead me there, noticing and ignoring the suggestive looks and low wolf whistles from the rowdy boys on the couch. The eye roll I was unable to suppress escapes me, and though I’m only playfully annoyed, Jamie is flustered beyond belief. His face is tinged pink in the dull lighting of the living space, and he’s got his signature ‘kinda-but-not-really-a-smile’ smile going on. Gently closing the door behind us, Jamie pulls me into the room to have his back facing the entryway.

“I know I’m being a bad host because they’ve been wanting to meet you, but… can we just do that kiss thing again?”

***

A/n: you know I had to get up in here with that Jamie content right quick. I love him so much it hurts.

[robthegoodfellow]

So a part of me is kinda conflicted about having decided to include the HIV/AIDS crisis so heavily in this fic. Anyone willing to be a sounding board would be verryyyy much appreciated.

At first, it seemed obvious to reference, since I headcanon Billy as being from San Diego (Point Loma Heights, if you wanna get real specific), where the gay community was already seeing alarming numbers by the very early 80s, so it felt weird to have a character grappling with his sexuality and not also have him grappling with this mysterious terrifying illness so publicly billed as “gay cancer.” But now...

...but now I’m arriving at this point where on the one hand, he has to confront that there’s this very real threat to his health, his life, and it’s poorly understood, and there’s no way to know for sure whether you even have it until it’s already killing you (the first test was approved in March of ‘85, and it was primarily used to check the blood supply, apparently... it seems more widespread testing wasn’t even available until ‘87. which is just... horrifying)--and on the other hand, there’s this, like, sci-fi eldritch monster that’s also already invisibly preying on him... this thing that’s poorly understood, with no easy way to tell whether it has you until it’s too late, no known cure... And both just lie in wait and slowly weaken your defenses, infecting others all the while, until you die.

And so I’m just wondering--is this in poor taste, to draw out the metaphor? To be clear, the Billy in my fic is negative, but he doesn’t know that, and the not knowing is haunting him quite a bit.

Has the parallel between HIV/AIDS and the depiction of the mind-flayer/Vecna ever been discussed before? Because it seems like a pretty devastating parallel. And I genuinely did not notice it until I was elbows deep in this fic.

...Urgh, and then there’s also the fact that Vecna couches his targeting of victims as punishment, as something they deserve for supposed moral wrong-doing, which is... also how the epidemic was presented for so long...

This is hurting my head and my heart.

[romanticsloths]

Play Me A Song (Slappy x Reader)

// Middle school me would be fucking quaking right now

You really didn’t have too much going for you before Slappy. The place you called home was a friend’s shed, you dropped out of college, and you couldn’t find a job for your own sake. 

One day your friend knocked on the door of the shed. You rushed to the door, loving the company you had when you got it, which wasn’t very often. 

You couldn’t hide the amount of confusion you felt when you saw him standing there, beaming at you, a dapper ventriloquist dummy in his arms.

“May I just ask,” you started. “What the fuck, Andy?”

“Well,” Andy chuckled sheepishly. “I feel really bad for never being able to be around for you, so I thought the least I could do was offer you company from someone else.”

It was a ridiculous proposition, but you weren’t going to reject the dummy, so you took him. Once Andy left, you ended up throwing the dummy on to a bean bag in the corner of the shed.

Weeks passed before your eyes landed on the dummy once again. You felt a shiver run through your spine as you made eye contact with said dummy. Shaking it off, you walked over to him and lifted him up to get a good look at him.

He had a few chips in his face, but other than that he was in great condition. The thought of selling him crossed your mind but you knew you would feel guilty if you did. 

You sat where the dummy once did and placed him on your lap. “Alrighty, good sir! Lets see how bad I am at this.”

Almost an hour of you trying to figure out how to talk while not moving your mouth, you decided to put the dummy back on the sack of beads. 

As you sat up, the dummy was tilted just enough for a slip of paper to fall out of his pocket. Eyes widening in curiosity, you placed the dummy on the bean bag and knelt down to grab the peace of paper. 

You smiled after you read the small intro on the card. You glanced up at the dummy. “Nice to meet you, Slappy.”

After looking back at the card, you noticed the shadow of more words on the back. You flipped it over and squinted your eyes at the strange words. “Karru Marri Odonna Loma Molonu Karrano?” you said slowly.

You looked back at Slappy in confusion. Your breath caught in your throat as stared at the dummy. You could have sworn you just watched him blink, but that couldn’t be.

You sighed deeply and shook your head. “Great, now I’m going crazy.” You placed the card on a shelf and turned off the lamp, going to bed.

For the next few days, you noticed things would be missing or moved around. You just assumed you had moved them and forgotten about it. You weren’t one to try to spook yourself.

Then finally it all went too far. A envelope full of money that you had been saving for years went missing. Panic set in almost immediately.

You ran around the shed, looking in your desk, under anything you could turn over. Tears built up in your eyes as the fear began to drown you.

“Oh, (Y/N)! I didn’t think you would so worked up over a wad of cash.”

You froze at the sound of the raspy voice. You never noticed anyone else enter the shed. 

You turned to the sound of the voice but all your eyes landed on was the dummy, with a leg crossed over the other and a mischievous smirk planted on his face.

You were paralyzed, part of you wanted to run away as fast as possible, the other wanted your money back.

Slappy’s smirk seemed to widen as he jumped down from the bean bag. “You want it back, don’t you?”

All you could do was nod your head. 

Slappy giggled a highly annoying laugh. “Good! But if you want it back, I’m gonna need your help.”

You needed that money, so you agreed.

As bad as it might sound, having to work for a wooden puppet, it wasn’t all too bad, though you weren’t too on track with the whole taking over the world thing, but who were you to judge.. He actually helped you get back on track.

Slappy helped you get a job, made you save more money than you ever had. He then made you go to college again. You were surprised by the amount of patience he had to put his plans into action, but after learning more about who he was, you guess he had all the time in the world.

You knew Slappy was having you do all these things so you would be more purposeful to him in the future, but it was nice that someone was actually pushing you to be better. When everything started going downhill, no one told you to keep trying, but Slappy has been making sure you stay on top of everything.

After graduating, Slappy made you get a new job, one that paid better. He made you buy a house. After a few more years, you were finally where he wanted you to be. 

You came home from work, it was late at night. It was a rough day. You clenched your fists, trying to make all the negative emotions go away. Slappy didn’t like when you cried, found it annoying. 

You walked into your room and immediately changed into some comfy clothes. Falling on to your bed, you let out a long, deep sigh. You felt like crying, but you really didn’t feel like getting lectured by Slappy.

The tears built up as a lump formed in your throat. Just as a sob was about to escape your lips, your door flew open. 

“(Y/N)!”

You choked the sob, trying to hide it. Slappy didn’t seem to notice.

“I think it’s about time we get into the real swing of things.”

You sighed. “Slappy-”

“As you know,” Slappy said cutting you off. “I need your help in achieving my dreams.”

“Slappy-”

“And I have so many plans!”

“Slappy!” Tears freely glided down your cheeks. 

Slappy’s wide grin fell. “What?”

“Can we please talk about this tomorrow.”

Slappy’s eyes narrowed. You watched as he studied your mixed expressions before finally closing his eyes and sighing. 

“(Y/N)?” he said quietly, as if not to scare you off.

You inhaled deeply. “Yes?”

“Play me a song.”

You shook your head. “Slappy I-”

“Play me a song, (Y/N).”

You watched his eyes follow a falling tear. Slowly, you stood up and walked out of your room. You heard Slappy’s footsteps behind you. 

You walked to the living room where a piano sat against the wall. You pulled the bench out and slowly sat yourself down. 

You had learned some piano as a child, but Slappy wanted you to keep practicing. He enjoyed himself some calming music on the piano.

“Hey,” Slappy snapped, slapping at your back. 

You couldn't help but smile, it always cracked you up when he needed help getting to something. You picked him up and sat him next to you.

“Any requests?” you asked.

“Surprise me.”

You thought for a moment, before remembering a song your mother used to play. You searched through your folder of music, hoping you had it. You smiled once you pulled out the sheet music. 

You placed the music where you wanted it and began to play. You lightly pressed the keys as the soothing melody resonated from the instrument. You had always loved the tune as a child, and that didn’t change now.

As you played the last chord you released the breath you didn’t realize you were holding.

“Very nice,” Slappy complimented. “I haven’t heard you play that one before.”

“I don’t think I ever planned on playing,” you whispered. “Honestly forgot I had gotten it...” Slappy slid off the bench and looked up at you with a smile. “Oh you didn’t get it, I got it for you.”

You turned to him with wide eyes. “Wait what? How did you-”

“I just know.” Slappy started to walk away but was jerked back when you grabbed his hand. He turned to look at you, slightly annoyed.

You smiled at him. You didn’t know when it started, but it felt like he became more like family every day. “Thank you.”

Slappy stared at you for a second before pulling away from you. “Of course.”

[batwomanandmotherpanic]

Young Animal Mixtape poster by Tamra Bonvillain