#mandatory shill

[tricitymonsters]

It’s time for another mandatory shill! TCM is getting close to 50 reviews on steam (its like a magic number in their algorithm that opens the game up to be shown to more of their userbase). I know MANY of you have left very kind and thoughtful reviews but if you haven yet and want to help give the game a great marketing boost, this is an easy way to do so! Leaving an honest review in just a sentence or two is totally fine, though I also invite longer comments if you have more thoughts to share! As always, you can see TCM’s other reviews and fan interactions on the game’s store page.

[inkyknight]

Me: To avoid the combat becoming stale, the next Zelda game should focus more on combat, with multiple skills that you unlock through exploration instead of giving it in the beginning and enemies with good ai that are able to deflect and dodge basic attack to force a strategic approach using said skills-

Also me: OH! you mean

Twilight Princess??

[clonerightsagenda]

The meeting went really well! It was so wild to hear someone say the title of my book in real life. The project lead is very excited about the possibilities for interesting interior layout design, which is fun because I got creative in a few places with font, color, and footnotes, and I was worried they'd have issues with it. They're also changing their distribution strategy so they don't go through Amazon, and we shared a brief moment of anti-Amazon haterism.

Haven't gotten the contract yet but they're doing a stipend rather than royalties (they're a nonprofit; it's probably easier for multiple reasons) so if I shill my book I am not even making (more) money off of it. I am fine with this because it is not going to become a bestseller anyway.

That being said they're putting more effort in than I had expected given their size! They're planning print and ebook and even applying for a grant for an audio version. They offered to pay me extra to read it myself but I do not have the voice or training for that, but now I shall daydream of which podcast VAs I would cast.

Finally I have a lot of free rein for designing the content/structure of the mandatory author events, so we'll see if I can sell 50% weird shit I found in the archives, 50% terrible space facts.

[corviiids]

this is my mandatory ask the death note fan if they’ve seen the 2015 tv drama ask. i love the tv drama. have you seen it. it’s good. near is nonbinary in it (the subtitles do misgender them though)

I HAVE. I LOVE THE DRAMA. ILL SHILL FOR IT FOREVER. what a batshit and refreshing take on the series i will eternally defend it from the haters i fucking love the drama

[manifesteddreams]

I had meant to post these during Holiday Matsuri but I'll be honest, I just forgot haha. Several of the commissions I unfortunately can't share on here, but here are some of the others! Almost all of them had OCs which is always fun for Aaron. I especially loved the first one, a polyamorous trio of storm chasers. So cute! The second one is Shoji from My Hero Academia and a beautiful OC that has a root controlling quirk. Third is wip Jasper from Steven Universe. Final one is a wip of Shigaraki and an OC with a ghostly quirk. The prompt was that she was dying his hair back to the natural black for him, and in the AU his life has a much happier path, which we absolutely adored. It's always great to hear the stories people create, either as a fandom au or original concept. Know if you ever approach us with these kinds of prompts, not only do we want to hear your headcanons, but we'll be discussing them long after the con. There were a few take homes, so look forward to those. We hope everyone has been having a wonderful holiday season! ( Mandatory shill: If you're interested in getting your own commission (physical, digital, furry badges, etc) you can check out our pricing at our Commission Inquiry Form. )

[interlockingpatches]

I know a lot of people are intimidated by the prospect of working with thread, but IMO that's where interlocking crochet really shines, and it's not as hard as one might imagine—everyone has limits, but if (relatively) simple embroidery like cross-stitch is or would be achievable and fun for you, so would thread crochet. For reference, that image shows a 1.30mm hook and #10 (beige) and #20 (green) crochet thread. The patch is about 4in/10cm wide, and that represents, I don't know, 4, 5 hours of work? [Pattern here. End mandatory shill.]

In any case there are 2 things sighted people can buy relatively cheaply that will make any kind of detailed handiwork much easier: (tl;dr it's reading glasses and a lamp)

Drug-store/dollar-store reading glasses (or clip-ons like these if you already wear glasses, or whatever form of magnification works best for you), and the cheapest positionable LED ring light you can find. The reflection in my glasses is a powerful steel thing with a clamp mount and built-in magnification, but we have a few $15 plastic, rechargeable jobs from Online with big clips for bases that are if anything more versatile.

Anyway. It doesn't matter how old you are or how good you think your eyesight is, magnification and more light will make things vastly easier for you, and if you elect not to use them I will assume you are being lazy, vain, silly, or some combination of those things.

See, I too was once young and beautiful just like you(sarcastic). Now put on some damn glasses before you go cross-eyed, and while you're at it, a sweater. You'll catch your death and the whole neighbourhood can see your business. Have you eaten today? You know, it would be nice to see some grandchildren before I die

[bigshunt]

Anyone who has ever been unfortunate enough to experience the vibe of a mandatory corporate event with depressingly cringe and mid* live "entertainment" where you can't fucking leave because its company mandated "fun".

This is like that but on steroids.

I actually almost feel bad for the poor widdle millionaires having to sit through this.

I hope they gave out earbuds bc if it was me I'd be in sensory overload already.

But as a fan this is funny as fuck. Peak content, camp, give me more. Do it every year.

We need to put these men in more situations.

(*Because the only artists who accept those gigs are either soulless shills or absolutely desperate)

[foxholemonster]

FUCK covid. Fuck everyone who broke quarantine. Fuck the CDC for shilling for the shareholders fuck every job pushing for employees to return in-person as soon as possible. Fuck the removal of the 7-day mandatory leave if you have a positive diagnosis.

Fuck the removal of the mask mandate.

Fuck every single person who made this a prolonged enough issue that we got several new strains and now we just have to live with it. And so many friends are even without quarantine missing key moments of their lives because they either can't risk it or they've fucking caught a strain of the virus yet again. Others are still fucking dying.

This is fucking bullshit. It's shameful. Not enough people in power care to have an effect and the rest of us are getting left in the trenches having to accept that this is the new normal. This isn't fucking normal, it's awful! Fuck! We all still have to worry about a plague that should've ended years ago! Involving a disease that's caused mass increased disability and lasting health concerns FOREVER.

Fuck every single person who pushed back against masks and quarantine. Fuck the cdc. You should be ashamed.

[heavensbeehall]

"The Hunger Games", Chapter 27

Buy the book here.

Part 3: The Victor

Chapter 27. Caesar Flickerman hosts a program where they rewatch the Games. President Snow doesn't like Katniss. Katniss realizes she's being watched. Another interview. Haymitch is relieved. Then they leave. ... and Peeta finds out the truth as they return to District 12.

End of book one!

Thoughts:

-- Katniss thinks, "I hear Caesar Flickerman greeting the audience. Does he know how crucial it is to get every word right from now on? He must. He will want to help us." Do we think Caesar Flickerman wants to help them or is he a Capitol shill? The movies definitely make him out to be on Snow's side but Katniss usually has good instincts about people she likes (she is overly suspicious actually so it's odd she isn't of him).

-- Ugh three hours of mandatory viewing one night and then another interview the next. And I thought reality shows in our world dragged things out. If you have ever watched Squid Game: the Challenge and you shouldn't because it's one step closer to the Hunger Games in real life, they put in so much dramatic music and long pauses just to roll dice or something.

Quotes:

Haymitch’s appearance brings a round of stomping that goes on at least five minutes. Well, he’s accomplished a first. Keeping not only one but two tributes alive.

Haymitch has to be on the greatest mentors right? I'm sure the Capitol bookies have stats and stuff like we do for sports, and on paper he probably looks bad because he lost so many before. But getting two out?

Now I see what the audience saw, how he misled the Careers about me, stayed awake the entire night under the tracker jacker tree, fought Cato to let me escape and even while he lay in that mud bank, whispered my name in his sleep.

I just wish we got to see some of this in the movie because it does cut from outside Katniss' point of view at times (mostly for Seneca Crance and Snow). Maybe I am just being overly sensitive to people who are down on Peeta's abilities. He fought Cato and lived though! That's not nothing even they were high on TJ venom.

I don't love the phrase "tracker jacker" as much as I love "nightlock." It sounds kind of juvenile to me. [Here you should yell at me that they are kids' books.]

That’s when I know that even though both of us would have eaten the berries, I am to blame for having the idea. I’m the instigator. I’m the one to be punished.

Snow hates Katniss but seems to like Peeta. ... Or tolerate Peeta. I don't know if he likes anyone. Do we think he sees himself in Peeta? A sweet blonde boy being manipulated by this treacherous girl?

Peeta's actions don't remind me of Snow though. He reminds me of Jessup, protecting his fellow tribute, getting sick because of it, needing her in his agony. Except Jessup dies and Katniss finds a way to save Peeta. (Do I ship Lucy Gray and Jessup? Damnit, self.)

[tricitymonsters]

Now on STEAM!

Listen to them in Steam's audio player or slap those MP3/FLAC files on any Audio Interface or Device you prefer! No DRMs and free updates as more tracks get added to the game! Check out the OST here and the Supplemental here!

[msclaritea]

"They are saying the quiet bit out loud now…

Tony Blair calls for mandatory digital IDs in the UK - this time, to “get tough on populism” 🥴

This whole interview reads like an insane, anti-human sales pitch from a washed up warlord-turned-AI salesman who randomly generates buzzwords to shill for whichever monster pays him the most on the day (oh, hang on…)

If you can bother/bear to read it." Silkie Carlo, Twitter

[wahbegan]

Watching a mandatory corporate shill presentation for my job's health insurance options and y'know what I get where that Italian fella was coming from

[allthemusic]

Week ending: 15 January 1953

A bit more competition, this week. Three songs worth of competition, in fact, all from new names. Exciting stuff!

Outside of Heaven - Eddie Fisher (peaked at No. 1)

This one was a big enough hit that it did get to Number 1, and it does, to be fair, have a bit more substance to it than last week's Cowpuncher's Cantata.

It's also by none other than Eddie Fisher, father of the late great Carrie Fisher, by way of Debbie Reynolds. Quite the star-studded family. I know he was known as a bit of a ladykiller, so I expected some roguishness here, but no. This is straight up soft and romantic.

It has the same big string start that is apparently mandatory at this point in history, and it stays orchestral and sweeping throughout, barring one very exciting moment that I will get to in a bit - promise!

Before that, though, Eddie starts to sing. He's got exactly the voice I am beginning to expect, when we get a big string intro: trained, slightly operatic, pausing carefully where it will be most dramatic. And, of course, quite smooth - he's distraught, but you can't really hear it in his delivery, except in the impassioned loudness of some key lines.

The story, once it gets going, is melodramatic as heck. Eddie's love is apparently not giving him the time of day any more, and so he walks along past her house "with misty eyes", comparing it to "the gate to paradise", missing her. She doesn't miss him, since she has a new man, and Eddie is terribly stoic and brave about it all: "Good luck to him, good luck to you."

But then he's at her wedding, and "could hardly keep from crying out loud", thinking about how he used to have her as his own, and things get very angsty and overblown as he wonders, "Why was I meant to walk alone / Outside of heaven?" Which, again, very melodramatic. Very soap opera.

And then, a beautiful, unlikely thing: our first electric guitar! Or at least something that sounds electric guitar-adjacent. This feels like it should be a big deal, but also it is very much an electric guitar solo à la 1952, which means it's pretty gentle, and has a string accompaniment. Eh. You win some, you lose some.

And then the wedding section repeats, and we are on the home stretch, just in time for a classic Slow Down Into Big Note Ending. It fakes you out by getting quiet just before. But it's 1952, and so we have to go big before we go home - and Eddie and his chorus certainly deliver here!

The whole song weirdly makes me think of "Bella Notte" from Lady and the Tramp. The tune feels similar. Huh.

Britannia Rag - Winifred Atwell (5)

Winifred Atwell is an interesting individual. She was a boogie-woogie piano player from Trinidad, and as such, the first black woman to top the UK charts. She originally trained as a pharmacist, but also played the piano at an air force base, which is where she picked up her boogie-woogie style. She come to the UK to train at the Royal Academy of Music while also playing various London clubs to support herself, and basically became a household name playing this beat-up sounding pub piano that cost her husband 50 shillings.

This wasn't her first big UK hit, but it was the first to reach the Top 10, and it's an odd one. It's a rag, played deliberately a bit out of tune and jangly, bringing together various patriotic tunes, as you would expect from a song called Britannia Rag.

You could probably make some kind of post-colonial point about Winifred Atwell representing a particular 1950s vision of Britannia, and who got to belong. West Indians, apparently - if they made nice and smiled and played jolly tunes at Royal Variety performances. Certainly, there's nothing obviously West Indian about this. Instead, there's a heft dose of American jazz and ragtime, forced through a British pub/music hall filter.

That said, that's a lot of interpretation for what is essentially a piece of lightweight fluff that shows off some admittedly very impressive piano playing. Winifred Atwell sounds like she's having fun, and perhaps that is all there is to this.

A few listenings in, this rag is getting very grating. I would not care to own or re-play this. Apparently the record-buying public had no such compunctions.

The Glow-Worm - The Mills Brothers (10)

And so we wrap up with a jazzy, silly song by our first group to chart - if you don't count Johnnie Ray's backing band, which I don't.

The Mills Brothers, it turns out, were this African-American group of singers who were, it seems, actual brothers. Their harmonies are impeccable, and this tune rattles along nicely enough.

The lyrics are both quite specific and quite meaningless, as the singers implores a glow worm to shine down and lead the way to his love, before comparing the glow worm to various torches and electric lamps.

Most confusingly, it namechecks a "cute vest pocket Mazda", which apparently has nothing to do with Mazda, the Japanese car company. No, apparently a Mazda was a General Electric brand of lightbulb. Who knew?

It makes for some cute imagery, but also weirdly wordy and poetic at points, almost hymn-like in its diction: "Lead us lest too far we wander / Love's sweet voice is calling yonder". Or even worse: "Thou aeronautical boll weevil / Illuminate yon woods primeval".

It doesn't surprise me, given this, that this was taken from a 1902 German operetta, Lysistrata, by Paul Lincke, and translated for use in a 1907 Broadway musical. Which all possibly explains why it feels a bit mangled.

Like the last song, it quickly has begun to annoy me. Something about the fast pace and weird lyrics. I did enjoy the Mills Brothers' voices and style, though, so I do hope we hear more from them. Perhaps a more serious song?

It's the last of three quite different songs, and while I didn't love any of them, one of them at least did not annoy me, despite all its melodrama. So, for today, Eddie Fisher's electric guitar and epic, self-pitying sob story takes it, leaving Winifred Atwell's out of tune piano and the Mills Brothers' outdated electrical metaphors in the dust.

Favourite song of the bunch: Outside of Heaven

[sethshead]

Shandas far di goyim! There is nothing glorious or courageous about Hamas’s “resistance”, seeing as it is inherently bent on targeting civilians. This week’s operation is exactly what its charters and leaders have promised since the 1980s. You cannot praise them without praising their butchery of Jews, the hatred ensconced in their founding documents, the genocide promised. Hamas has never accepted peace or coexistence; its stated goals are the conquest of all the former Mandatory Palestine and the murder or expulsion of nearly all Jews therein.

This was no secret, yet INN, JVP, Not In Our Name, Judaism On Our Own Terms, and the Norman Finkelsteins of the world still sympathized with them and their “resistance”, a resistance first and formost to peace. These Jews knew what barbarism was on the other side of the border fence yet they shilled for it. They cannot claim to object to or feel conflicted about the bodies left behind by Hamas’s death squads. These Jews will sell the blood of their brothers cheaply, won’t they?

They represent an insignificant fraction of Jews, yet tokenize themselves into every conversation. It is time to let those who platform them know just what the mainstream consensus thinks about these traitors and media whores. They should lose all their coverage and be remembered only for their ignominy.

[thesleepycat]

OMG OK MY TIME HAS COME. HERE ARE MY RECS (in no particular order) (apologies for typos or mistakes, im on my phone):

1. First and foremost, any Hermitcraft fan who absolutely loves Hurt/Comfort should read mayflowers07's 'i can be the one you call'. In fact, it should be mandatory, that's how good it is. It's a series of fics that focuses on EACH HERMIT each fic!!!! So you get to read a fic that focuses on ALL your favs!!

2. Hey I heard you liked Team ZIT, so here is some rapid fire of my fav team zit fics:

Team ZIT ft. cute void creetur

Werewolf!Zed one-shot

Team ZIT vs. Team TIZ (Helsmits)

TEAM ZIT IN SPAAAAACEEEE (my current fav WIP)

3. Are you a fan of Eldritch beings? Non-human Hermits? Keralis being Keralis? (And also TFC. and XB. And Xisuma. And Zed. Honestly, all the fringe hermits are stars in this series) Here is my fav fav series from MawoftheMagnetar 'Eldritch Horror Keralis'

4. Speaking of Eldritch Horror Keralis. Are you a fan of plane crashes? I swear there's a correlation. MawoftheMagnetar returns with another banger of a fic. I have read this multiple times. The Pilot AU you never knew you needed. Highly recommended. 'The Sky Weighs Heavy Tonight'

5. Psychological horror and identity crisis featuring the one and only Iskall, 85th of his name? Another fic by MawoftheMagnetar? More likely than you think... genuinely, just go read all of their fics, they're all bangers. 'Åttiofem'

6.I come back to this fic when I'm feeling down about myself and touch-starved. A bit of body image tw but it's so comfy. Jevin-centric. Windyhaven's 'squishy or not, we all still love you'

7. Do you like to cry? Do you like Ethubs? Do you enjoy reading about your fav blorbo almost dying but not actually? Here's an Etho-centric fic just for you! mgrnn's 'Anything To Hear You (Say It One More Time)'

8. Similar situation but make it Bdubs instead? Here ya go: 'The World Is Coming Down' by amooniesong

9. Xisuma collecting Hermits but they're all children (non-human). One of my fav hermit ensemble fics!!! 'The Hermit's Refuge' by CrouchingTiger28

10. I AM NOT ABOVE SHILLING MY OWN FICS!!!! HI :) I don't write a lot but when I do they're mostly WIPS :) please give them a read :) thank TheSleepyCat I currently have an ongoing series of fics taking place in the Detroit Become Human world (androids and shit). And also a one-shot featuring Team ZIT!

Ok, I think that's all I have for now. If I had the time and mental capacity, I would make individual posts about each fic and how wonderful, but take these for now!!!!

Something I noticed recently is some hermits have a SEVERE lack of fics centered around them, like I get that people either don’t watch someone or just genuinely don’t know how to write them but I’d love to see more of the underrated hermits get the spotlight in the fics! So here’s my list of “hermits that need more fic centric things!”

Mainly because most fics I see are usually mumbo, Grian, and scar centric

All of these are my opinion and if you want to add something yourself feel free

Zed

Wels (mainly without hels because many people just use him for the sake of hels :/ )

Hypno

Xb

Keralis

Joe

Jevin

Tango

impulse (I AM BIASED GIVE ME THE MAIN CHARACTER PLOT ARMOR MAN HIS FICS)

Skizz

Joel

Xisuma

Pm all the hermit gals

Iskall

Bdubs

Etho

Doc

Ren

TFC (I understand tho if you don’t have the mental strength or just can’t write tfc I get it)

But in all seriousness I’d LOVE more fics of these guys and gals (especially ZITS)

[tricitymonsters]

Hello my loves if you haven't yet, please consider leaving an honest review for TCM on steam! Positive reviews carry a lot of weight in the steam community AND it helps the game get recommended to more players.