#online photo printing reviews

[thragedys]

Midnight Visitor

Sol x Reader

Synopsis: Thanks to the takeout you ate last night, the effects of food poisoning from poor catering have finally kicked in, hitting you when you least expected it. To ensure you’re properly cared for, Sol takes the duty of watching over you.

Word count: 1.8k

Includes: Gender neutral reader, sick reader, Sol being soft, affection, trespassing, jealous Sol (+ more!)

After undergoing a series of nausea and intense dizziness, Sol insisted on walking you home despite being out in the city with him and Hyugo. It was as though all life was drained from your face, the only support you had while walking was Sol’s arms holding you upright. 

Food poisoning… Should’ve never eaten from that takeout place with less than three stars in their reviews.

Grabbing the key from your bag, he unlocks the door and escorts you inside, directing you to your bedroom while you whine and hold your face in your hands. Even the slightest tilt of your head would send you spiralling sideways, a recipe for disaster as your stomach decides to conjure its own storm.

Inside the kitchen, Sol spots a paper bag. The logo of the company which made you unwell is there, presented in a large font. Retrieving his phone, he snaps a picture of the logo, alongside the contact details printed on the back. He’ll deal with that later. Currently, he has more important things to tend to. You.

Rummaging through your cupboards, he successfully finds some medication that will ease the aches in your stomach. As for your dizzy head, the best thing he can do for you is close your curtains and encourage you to get rest. Fluid intake is also vital, it’ll aid dehydration. Returning to your side with a glass of water and some pills, Sol places them on your bedside table and sits on the edge of your bed.

“Are you okay? Let me feel your head.” Sol sighs, placing his palm flat on your forehead.

“Sol…” You whine, one hand remaining on your stomach and the other clutching his free hand.

“You’re not that hot, yet. Leave your window open—”

“No! No, I can’t! You’ve seen the news…”

“You will be fine, I promise. Fresh air will make you feel a lot better.” 

“I’m sorry for burdening you with this…”

“Don’t be. I’d rather it be me taking care of you than anyone else.”

“I’ll buy you a—”

“No. Sit down.”

“Ugh, Sol—”

“Rest.”

“I’ll buy you a thank-you gift when I’m better…” You mumble, pouting at him as he leans against the doorframe.

“Send me a text or call me if you need me. Doesn’t matter what time it is.”

“Text… Call… Yeah.” You repeat, rubbing your eyes while burying your head into the pillow.

“Don’t forget, take your medicine.”

“I’m gonna take it… Now.” You reach over and drop the pills into your mouth, then take a small sip of the drink to wash them down.

“Goodnight. I hope you feel better soon.”

Before leaving, he waited until he heard your breathing pattern change, signifying that you were asleep. Alongside the medication, he slipped in a sleeping pill, its dosage strong enough to keep you out for the correct amount of time. 

As if he would leave you alone so easily while you’re sick.

Right now, however, his main concern is dealing with the business that made his soulmate ill, after all, what good is a company in operation if its only achievement is casting a vast majority of its customers extremely unwell upon eating their cheaply sourced food?

Upon arriving back at his apartment, he stripped from his usual attire and threw on a set of his darkest clothes, a matching surgical mask to cover what remained exposed on his face. A complaint wouldn’t be enough, they clearly racked up enough of them online but did not change a singular thing about their selfish ways.

It was just after midnight when the streets were soundless and the civilians were tucked away inside of the safety of their homes. Strolling down the deserted sidewalk, Sol stops outside of a building, comparing the logo to the one saved in his photo album. A perfect match. 

Subtly, Sol explored the perimeter, tracing the outline of the building before returning to the front. It’s no wonder why all of their customers become unwell, the amount of trash that remains behind the building is piled up, much taller than him. 

There is no point in teaching those who do not wish to learn. An ignorant mind reflects an ignorant heart. Only the careless would profit from neglect like this.

Flicking his lighter on, he tosses it to the ground before walking away, the flicker of flames igniting in the distance as he glances back. It won’t be long before a passerby calls the fire department, but that’s no concern to him. When the authorities see the state the building was in previously, they could rule it out as the impact of an unkempt business.

His feet led him back to your apartment, the open window a much easier entrance for him as he climbed up. After all those locks you’ve bought in the past, he’s surprised you never gave up your safety protocols. Securing his footing, he creeps back into your bedroom, kneeling beside you as you rest peacefully in your slumber.

You are so beautiful. Every feature of your face was crafted with tender hands. He traces over your lips with his index finger, slowly drawing his hand back.

“Hi, Pumpkin.” He whispers, leaning in to press his lips against your cheek. “I’m going to check your temperature again.”

This time, Sol uses the back of his hand. Thankfully, he would say you are around average, partially a slight bit higher than usual.

“Good… You’re going to be okay. You might be sick tomorrow but I’ll come over to make sure you aren’t alone.”

“You like having me here, don’t you? You feel so safe, so loved.” He strokes your hair similar to how you would pet a fragile animal. As his hand ventures under the blanket, he comes in contact with something.

“You still sleep with the plushie I bought for you? You…” Sol’s smile expands, his cheeks lighting a subtle shade of pink. “You must love it. Or me. I hope it’s me.”

In your sleep, you moan, your body beginning to shift. He strokes the side of your arm, calming you down as you endure whatever dream is unfolding. After a while, your body stops with its relentless motions and goes still again.

“This is our special time together. It’s my favourite part of the day.” Sol’s lips curve up, his eyes filled with adoration as he clutches your plushie close to his chest. “I’ll make it smell like me again, don’t worry.”

“Mph…” Your lips moved, but he couldn’t decipher the sound that left them.

“Hm?” Sol pinches your cheek, a procedure to test if you’re awake or not. 

You must be mumbling to yourself since you didn’t respond to his touch.

“I’m guessing you missed smelling me then. That’s cute.” When he finished rubbing the plushie against his flesh and clothing, he tucked it under your chin. “You’re cute.”

“He doesn’t deserve you, you know?” Sol mumbles, sinking onto the bed beside you, fingers toying with your hair.

“He would never do the things I have done for you.”

“I know you prefer me. It’s okay if you don’t want to admit it right now. I can wait.” He rolls onto his side, your face now in view. 

“You make it hard for me to leave every single time…” His pitch was low, an almost pouty tone as he nuzzled his head against your chest. Lifting your limbs, he wraps them around himself, drawing the blanket over both of your bodies this time.

“I’ll just stay like this for a few more minutes… Then I have to go.” Sol closes his eyes, the therapeutic beats of your heart are a soothing melody to his ears.

…

Sunlight filters in through the curtains, a bitter breeze hitting your clammy skin. Compared to yesterday, you’re feeling a lot better, the only thing remaining is the dull ache in your stomach. Rubbing your eyes, you squeeze your plushie, only to hear a strange noise. 

Last time you checked, this plushie shouldn’t be able to communicate. Shooting your eyes open, you find a mess of green hair sprawled out on top of you. 

“Sol?” You rub your eyes again, unsure if what is in front of you is reality or a fever dream.

“Yeah…?” Sol mumbles in response, his body shifting. Then he goes still, springing up from his previous position. Shit.

“I thought you left last night.” 

“After you took your medicine, you asked me to stay. You went out like a light but I made sure that you were okay.”

“Did you have this on yesterday?” You tug at his hoodie. “I’ve never seen you wear clothes like this before.”

“These are my comfy clothes, that’s why. I keep the hoodie in my backpack.”

“Oh…” That food poisoning must have hit you hard to leave you so delirious. “Thank you for staying with me.”

“…?” Sol flutters his eyelashes while your hands cup his cheeks, drawing him near. Your lips plant a peck on his forehead, a suiting reward since he went out of his way for you.

“Ah… You shouldn’t have to thank me… It’s what anyone would do.” Sol rubs the back of his neck, a flush spreading over his face.

“I feel sick. Like I’m going to throw up.”

“I’m not surprised. Let’s get you to the bathroom. Get all of that food out of your system for good.” Sol stands first, offering his hand to assist you to your feet.

“I don’t like vomiting.” You mope, refusing to move despite your stomach cramping further.

“But it has to come out. You’ll be okay, I’m right here.” He grabs your hand, squeezing it gently.

The only option is to get up if you don’t want to clean your bedsheets. Swiftly shuffling between rooms, you kneel before the toilet and allow your body to regulate itself, removing the foreign pathogens that invaded your meal. Sol rubbed your back, making the process easier. There wasn’t a lot of retching, but you still felt that familiar burn in your throat when you were finished.

“Any more?” Sol pats your upper back and you shake your head.

“I’ll cook for you this time. No more buying from trashy food places.”

“But they’re cheap…” You puff air into your cheeks, taking your toothbrush which he handed you to remove the bitter taste from your mouth.

“My meals are free. Don’t be ashamed to ask.” Sol takes a final glance at you before heading back to your kitchen, scouring the cupboards in search of something to work with.

For you, he would do anything. Make anything. Even if it’s from scratch. No matter the simplicity or complication of a request you have, he will ensure that you get what you ask for. You don’t deserve anything less. If only you were aware of the lengths he has gone and is still willing to go for you.

[creations-by-chaosfay]

Have you heard of the term "patterns mills"? These are shopfronts that quickly produce a pattern without any sort of testing or vetting, and then put it on the market with an AI-generated or stolen image for a very tempting price. Patterns produced this way are rampant in the cross-stitching world. However, I've recently noticed an uptick in these types of storefronts in the quilting and foundation paper piecing world. Since I'm well versed in FPP patterns, I would like to describe what an AI-generated quilt pattern looks like as well as provide other suspicious giveaways. AI will only get better, so while these mistakes are dead giveaways now, they might be fixed in the future. FPP patterns seem to be easier to replicate in AI than traditionally pieced patterns, which is why I will focus on FPP in this blogpost. However, you can apply the same clues to any sort of craft pattern (or really anything) you can buy online. Important: AI-generated images are not prohibited on Etsy. However, within their policies they state that you must disclose if you used AI within your listing, and these shops do not have that disclosure.

Below is a listing for a wolf face FPP pattern. When you first look at it, does anything seem suspicious?

First, I would like to draw your attention to the scissors in the bottom left of the photo. These scissors are physically impossible to use and are literally melting into the yellow cutting mat. The lines of this cutting mat are unresolved, as are the lines on the green cutting mat in the bottom right corner. These are your first giveaways. However, not all images have background sewing items that look a little funny. Let's take a look at the actual "completed quilt."

The first thing I notice is that the only background seam line (from this apparently foundation paper pieced quilt) is the one in the top left corner. The seam is merely hinted at and does not go all the way to the edge. Additionally, I notice that the eye is too round. One could argue that the cover photo is merely an enhanced version of the completed quilt, but there are no completed quilt photos in the listing. Another clue for identifying AI generated quilt images is that there are a ton of colors/prints used. The prints in this image seem nebulous and the prints around the eye whiskers (?) lose a lot of fidelity. The individual fabrics themselves do not have consistency.

In the image above, the things I notice are that there are curved seams within the gray and white colors. A typical FPP pattern would not have curved piecing interspersed between regular straight seam piecing. Also, piecing lines that are useless, especially visible in the bluish-gray piece on the left. The amount of piecing within that patch does not make sense. Below you will see another listing from a different Etsy seller.

From afar, it looks really good. Plus, the seller has great reviews! And it's a Bestseller! But let us take a closer look…

The first thing that sticks out to me is how the whiskers of the lion are resolved. You can see where they fade into the muzzle of the lion without a realistic piecing line. Some of the patches are straight up "smeary" and wrinkly, a telltale sign of AI. The program does not know how to accurately render the design so it creates an approximation. These are things that are hard to see unless you zoom in. Below is a listing for a legitimate lion FPP pattern from designer Pride and Joy Quilting so you can see the difference. It is clear that the first image is an actual completed quilt top.

Beyond the AI-generated cover quilts, I'd also like to cover other signs of a pattern generated from a pattern mill.

For the lion pattern, the cost is only $8.63. This is very cheap for what is supposed to be a full sized quilt pattern with a multitude of templates.

Both of these sellers have very generic names. While not an immediate cause for concern, I recommend being skeptical.

There are no actual completed quilt images within the listing.

Both of them are considered "Bestsellers" on Etsy, but the shop with the wolf pattern only has 10 reviews. It makes me wonder about the disparity between "buyers" and reviewers.

The 5 star reviews for the lion pattern are extremely generic and talk only about "how much their friend Lisa will enjoy the pattern" or "how easy it was to download." These are not helpful for understanding the quality of the actual product. The 1 star reviews are way more descriptive about the issues the pattern has. This makes me wonder about fake reviews.

Both of these patterns include a full layout of the FPP diagram within the listing. I personally would never do this and I don't know many designers who would.

The lion pattern says this within its description: "Before making a purchase, we'd like to inform you about some important aspects. The product stands out for its template, design, and print quality, serving as a valuable tool for sewing projects. The instructions include two techniques: direct fabric marking (with visible stitches) and invisible stitches. Both are general guidelines and not step-by-step instructions. You can choose these techniques or any other that you consider suitable based on your experience and preference. There are no refunds for the digital file. We appreciate your understanding and are available for any questions." This demonstrates to me that the pictures are not accurate because they are clearly attempting to depict FPP and are hoping that you won't read the description until it is too late.

Why is every lowercase i in the wolf pattern missing its dot? Like, why? I find that strange and off putting.

So, how do you avoid accidentally purchasing a pattern like this?

The first step is gaining experience in recognizing listings that seem a bit fishy. Use the bullet points listed above to see what kind of feeling you get when looking over a listing. I also recommend finding out more about the designer from their website or from their social media. Not all legitimate designers have these necessarily, but it's a great place to start. Try messaging the shop owner on Etsy. Does it sound like they know what they are even talking about? You'll then build a good list of designers and shops you trust. A big and worrisome thing to remember is that AI will only get better and produce better looking images. This will make it harder to identify pattern mills by the image alone. However, the clues that I've listed will help if you put them all together and come to a conclusion. I suggest using them for all your online shopping. I hope this helps!

[earlycuntsets]

"your star

MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE

The Black Parade is Dead!

At this point, MCR needs no introduction. The band led by Gerard Way is an icon of current punk-rock and every day thousands of fans around the world join their "carnival". The good news is that the quintet will release The Black Parade is Dead! this month and we will invite you to its launch!

BY: XABIERA SAN MIGUEL B.

When My Chemical Romance visited South America with their world tour last February and we learned that Chile and Argentina were included in the tour, we perfectly understood that thousands of fans would fulfill their dream of seeing their favorite band live, however, not all of them could attend the event, and for that reason, when we found out that the CD+DVD The Black Parade is Dead! would be arriving in record stores on July 5th, we got our act together and got ex-clusive tickets for the launch. Yes, just as you read it, we will invite you to the premiere of My Chemical's new material…, but first things first, you should first know what all the musical fuss is about.

Why not miss The Black Parade is Dead!

To begin with, this is the second live DVD in the career of the quintet from New Jersey, which began its history in the winter of 2001. The first was Life on the Murder Scene and was released in 2006.

The dual-format material includes completely live images and sounds, and compiles two concerts from The Black Parade World Tour, but they are two completely different concerts from each other.

MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE

DEAD

The tour, which began in February 2007 and ended on May 9 at New York's Madison Square Garden, included 138 dates of electrifying concerts, in which Gerard Way, Ray Toro, Bob Bryar, Frank Lero and Mikey Way

they gave their best.

On the one hand there is the CD with the complete recording of the show that the band offered last October 7 at the Palacio de

www.theblackparadeisdead.com"

[next page]

The boys performed on October 24, 2007 at Maxwell's Club in Hoboken, New Jersey, in front of about 200 people.

The DVD was directed by Adam Rothlein, an expert in the field, who had already worked on DVDs for Green Day, System of a Down, All-American Rejects and Disturbed.

As this is a limited and collectible edition, edited especially for fans, the material comes in a digipack (cardboard box with two compartments, one for each disc) and includes a booklet.

20 pages with exclusive photos from both concerts.

The second envelope of the packaging includes a sheet printed on both sides, with thanks from the group and photos of the merchandising available online.

Mexico City Sports. On this occasion, MCR reviewed its entire album The Black Parade.

The album will be available at the Record Fair the first week of July and its reference price is $15,000. Both materials will not be sold separately.

On the other hand, there is the DVD that rescues the very intimate concert that

If you were one of those who attended the show that MCR offered in Santiago de Chile, you probably remember that on that occasion, unfortunately Frank Iero, the band's guitarist, could not be present. Well, this is your chance to see it in all its dimensions.

We invite you to the launch of The Black Parade is Dead!

For the only time in history, Warner Music has organised a DVD Avant Premiere as a DVD release, so you can watch the concert on the big screen! So pay attention and come get your tickets. Tú Magazine and Warner Music invite you to the DVD Avant Premiere

The Black Parade is Dead!

To attend the Avant Première, redeem

Free! This coupon for an invitation

for two people in our office,

Located at: Rosario Norte 555, 18th Floor.

Neruda Building. Las Condes, Santiago.

The function will take place on Tuesday

July 8, 2008, 7:00 p.m.

at Cinemark Alto Las Condes (Kennedy Avenue 9001, Las Condes. Santiago, Chile).

Don't be left out: We have 40

double invitations.

We will be open between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Promotion valid until Friday, July 7, 2008, or while supplies last

invitations.

On the day of the event, The Black Parade is Dead! will be sold prior to the performance."

tu mexico 06/2008

link to the black parade is dead full show with the mentioned maxwells hoboken nj 10/28/2007 show

[initial-dream]

Kodansha USA (2024) Omnibus Release Volume 02

Has it really been three months already?

The second volume of Kodansha USA's Omnibus release of Initial D just released (June 25th 2024, though it was also released digitally three weeks earlier on June 4th) and I have just gotten my hands on a copy.

Pretty much every compliment I paid to the translation last time is true. As with before, the many oddities and changes present in the Tokyopop and earlier 2019 Kodansha USA release are gone.

I feel its pertinent for me to offer a minor addendum to my review of the first volume, specifically in regard to print quality. Many people have noted that the paper that the first volume is printed on appears incredibly grainy. While it isn't something I paid much mind to, it does appear to be grainier than your average, which is somewhat embarrassing for a "premium" release that costs twice the amount of a normal manga volume. Many people have also complained that their volumes have pages where the ink is visibly lighter than it should be. This doesn't effect every reader, but it is unfortunate that some people are having a worse experience than I am with this release.

The paper grain of this volume does seem better to my eyes, though it may be about the same (I would like to provide a photo of this but my phone's camera doesn't really show the grain very well.

Unfortunately, once again, there is a minor blight on this great release in the form of a translation error. When Shingo is first introduced in chapter 29, he, for whatever reason, calls himself "Shingo Atsushi", instead of Shingo Shoji.

This error does confuse me slightly, as a quick cursory search online would show that this is incorrect. It's possible that the translator misread 庄司 (Shoji) as 厚司 (Atsushi), as they do have a character in common, but I cannot say for sure. I believe this is the only location in this volume where Shingo is referred to using his surname, so we may have to wait for the next release to see if this gets corrected. This does remind me of a similar mistranslation in the Tokyopop release with Toru Suetsugu's name, which I may cover at some point.

I dont mean for any of this to come off as a condemnation of this release; this is still the best version of Initial D that we have ever received, it's just unfortunate to see the translation be tripped up by minor things such as this. I do still recommend picking this up if you are interested in reading the manga (and I think you should be, its the best version of the story.)

[erieautumnskies]

(This will be constantly updated!)

About Me:

My name is Claire but you can call me Eri or Echo! I go by they/them pronouns (also found in my bio). I'm an 20 year old based in the United States.

Since I was young, art and writing have played a major role in my life. Hense, it has been a passion of mine that I'm endlessly turning back to. I'm currently studying creative writing, book publishing, and graphic design online; later hoping to study art history and print production. If I could, I'd indulge in every form of art that there is. I deeply enjoy helping other indie writers and creatives alike out in their journey, from ARC reading to showcasing their small business'!

To date, my poetry has been published in 100+ magazines and lit journals across the globe, in 14+ countries overall. I plan on releasing 4+ poetry/prose chapbooks, so keep an eye out for any updates regarding them! Moreover, I'm in the process of writing a few novels in an array of genres, sneak peaks of the stories may be shone!

You can find out more about me on my Website as well as on Instagram, Pinterest, and Spotify.

Languages I know: English (native), Vietnamese, Thai, Norwegian, Irish, Japanese, Hebrew, Czech, Indonesian, Hungarian, Hindi, Finnish, Ukrainian, Italian, Icelandic, Arabic, French, Malayalam, Swahili, and Swedish.

Languages learning: ASL, Korean, Mandarin, Urdu and Spanish.

Some of my favorite things: Rainy days, any kind of tea, flowers, exploring, the night sky, sunsets/sunrises, bookstores, cozy coffeeshops, nature walks, old books, sweaters, making art, creating playlists, volunteering, and learning about other cultures!

Fun Facts: I have undiagnosed ADHD, dyslexia, am queer identifying, gender non-conforming, and practice Shintō.

Blog:

Erie Autumn Skies will center around creativity and where I find inspiration. Expect postcard-poems, letters of prose, possible short stories, translated works of original poems, artwork, and so forth! I may post book reviews and travel photos now and then, too! This will be a writeblr blog and a personal blog! I am open to tag games, asks, etc. as long as they are writing related.

I'm open to DMs and collaborations if you ever want to chat or write together! Everything is okay to reblog. However, no resharing my work outside of Tumblr without my permission. Additionally, I'm open to requests for short poems as long as the prefered theme is included in your request and credit is given wherever the poem is shared.

WIPs:

Poetry Chapbooks

Fiction Novels

Colorblock Interlude

Book Recs:

Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw

The Littlest Tea Shop in Lower by J. Lofton

The Mirror Visitor Quartet by Christelle Dablos

Secrets & Stars by Alix Klingenberg

Sakura Park by Bailey Rae

And numerous others!

Pov My Pinterest Feed:

All original posts will be tagged under erieautumn! Tag games will be tagged under erieautumn tags. Asks are under erieautumn asks.

It was nice to meet you! Happy to have you along on my creative journey and hang around for as long as you'd like! 🌸

[chuckimation]

Kastral the Windcrested, Glarb-Calmity's Augur, and GenCon 2023 (pt 1)

It's been quite some time since I've posted, but I'm back with a process post!

I received an email last spring asking if I might be interested in painting art for an upcoming Magic the Gathering card set. Sounded like fun, so I of course said yes! And it was very fun!

Kastral the Windcrested, and Glarb, Calmity's Augur were both revealed during the online Bloomburrow event, July 9.

Creating these cards proved a balancing act. I was painting cards while at the same time going for GenCon!

I submitted the following thumbnails of Kastral and Glarb to the Art Director, Aliana Rood, for consideration just before flying from LA to Indianapolis for the convention. I received approval to pursue thumb #1 for Kastral.

And #3 was selected for Glarb.

I was now at GenCon, working my table during the day while refining the drawings in the evenings.

First up, I drew Kastral.

I completed the drawing working in Procreate on my iPad.

Painting would be difficult in the hotel room, so I dove into the drawing of Glarb.

Before we had left LA, I took some reference photos, selecting this one to use for Glarb's pose.

The drawing of Glarb consumed the rest of my evenings in the hotel, I finished it up sitting in the hotel lobby while waiting to go to the airport to fly home.

The schedule was tight, but I was feeling pretty good about what I'd accomplished during the course of the convention. Having finished the painting before heading to the airport meant I could relax a little on the flight home. But storms had popped up all across the eastern seaboard (our connection was in Atlanta) and our flight was canceled!

My wife and I had to find a hotel room for the night and rebook our flights for the following evening.

I hated to lose the time. Hoping to get as much done while away from home as I could, I'd anticipated the possibility that I might paint the color studies while in Indianapolis and had brought gouache and watercolor paints with me (I prefer to use traditional media when exploring color). I'd also printed the thumbnails onto hot press watercolor paper, which I'd taped to a masonite panel.

I spent the extra day we were stranded In Indianapolis painting color studies in the hotel room.

I completed the color studies and we were able to catch a flight home the next day.

As soon as we arrived home, I scanned the color studies, comped in the finished drawings and sent them off to Aliana at Wizards for her review and approval.

To be continued...

[n7punk]

She-ra (2018) Con-Exclusive Merch & Giveaways

I'm assembling a master post of all officially-produced merch for the SPOP reboot, but it's focused on information. I have a separate post focused on promotion-exclusive items, and this post is dedicated to detailed information for the ambiguous middle ground: con exclusives. Some of these were given away and some were for sale.

If I get additional information on any of these specific items, I'll edit the post to add it, but if I find anything new then it'll go in a reblog addition as I've hit the image limit on this post.

Sometimes you have to click photos to see full images, as many are cut off due to varying dimensions. Any [x]s will lead to the source of the images, usually secondhand listings that will eventually become defunct. I use the best photos I can find.

Pins/Buttons:

The buttons (first two images) were at NYCC in 2018. [1st] [2nd].

Han Cholo sells a lot of pins on their website, but the four on the right were exclusive at SDCC one year (concept photo in the final reblog here, this post chain in general has a ton of photos of She-ra merch from a mix of sources). [3rd]

Misc:

A foam tiara (2 photos) and a (seemingly foam and plastic) flat sword were at NYCC 2018 & 2019 and SDCC 2019. [2nd], [3rd]

There aren't any good photos and I'm at the image limit anyway, but there are pictures in the final reblog here of knee-high socks that were given out at promo events (possibly cons) and in reviewer/influencer promo packages. They're patterned after She-ra's uniform and have a cape on the back. Any details on this would be appreciated if you know them.

Temporary tattoos (far left) and stickers (middle left) were at NYCC 2019 and maybe also Power-Con. Coloring sheets and hair ties were at either NYCC or Power-Con. The coloring sheet is watercolor with paint squares provided at the top of the sheet. I believe the hair ties came in three colors (purple, pink, and blue) and the long post* has good photos of the pink one. If you want to look at approximately ten pixels, this listing has all three colors. [1st] [2nd] [3rd]

Bookmarks were available at SDCC one year and likely any other locations that had the books (Power-Con, etc). [x]

Collector card sets featuring 16 of the characters were given out at cons, possibly SDCC 2018. First image is the front of the packaging, second is one of the cards, and the third is the back of the package. [1st] [2nd] [3rd]

Posters:

Buckle up, this is the final, longest part. Posters were at many conventions and some designs may have been available at multiple cons. I mostly want to catalogue the designs here and will list a con just when I know it. Most listings online are of fan reprints unless otherwise specified.

The first four (left to right) were available at SDCC 2019. The 4th & 5th are the front and back of the same poster, which was probably also distributed at places like Power-Con or wherever they sold the books (since it's a Scholastic poster). [4th] [5th]

Here are clean social media uploads of the 2nd and 3rd image. The 2nd was also the cover image for season 3 and the front of the DVD for seasons 1-3.

The character mini prints in the bottom right [6th] seem to have been given out at multiple cons. They were probably at SDCC (year unknown) and/or Power-Con (year unknown). The collector card designs roughly followed their design pattern.

All three of these were at SDCC WonderCon. The first was 2019 and the second was probably 2018. The 3rd was supposedly at 2023 but was (probably) 2018 unless they still just had a bunch of extras laying around. WonderCon also had a variant of the 4th poster from the SDCC section above, but I can't find good photos of it and there's going to be a third variant of it further down too, so at this point I think you get it.

The first design is the cover image for season 2.

The first was probably at NYCC 2018. The right two were given out at a NYCC 2019 panel, as well as sent out with an exclusive statuette to family bloggers to promote season 4.

The first design is the cover art for season one. Its design was also used for a shopping bag at Anime Expo 2019 (photo in the final reblog here). The second one is the cover image for season 4.

Distribution currently unknown (if there ever was one). The second image is the cover for season 5. I'll edit on the distributions if I happen to find them, but I'm fine with what I've got here. I could have missed one or two posters, but since their distributions mostly amounted to handing out flyers, they're hard to find.

[skullsfigurepage]

Trafalgar Law - Banpresto Maximatic Figure

Note: I won this figure in a claw machine and it fueled my ego so much before I kept losing at every other claw machine I played. Stay humble.

Review and more photos under the cut :-p

If you follow my main account (@skullc0r3) you might know that Law is one of my favorite one piece characters so walking into an arcade and seeing Several boxes of this figure stacked in a claw machine felt like crazy luck even before I won. I'm so used to all the merchandise for things I'm into being rare or super expensive (persona 5 scalpers I hate you more than I can say) so getting into OP has been interesting because of the sheer volume of merchandise for it that's below $50.

Onto the figure!

For starters this is the first time I have ever seen a figure with such an obvious front and back to the sculpture. In this case it's because the back has significantly less painted details. In the last photo above you can see on his leg closest to the camera the back of his pants and the front have different shadow qualities. This isn't because my lamp was strong enough to cast such harsh shadows, its because the front of his pants (and the front of the rest of the figure) has painted on shading while the back does not. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, most people wouldn't notice or care since they were only ever going to display it from the front, but the box did hype up all the detailed painting that would be on the figure. In their defense though, I understand why this would be necessary from a production standpoint. My biggest gripe with this (still fairly small) is that on his back hand, Law doesn't have his signature (stupid) knuckle tattoos.

Here's his forward hand. The tattoos are all printed on and thank god for that because I can't imagine how miserable it would have been to force someone to hand paint them.

And then here's his back hand. I wonder if the issue was a matter of the tattoos being harder to place in this position, or at least to do it efficiently enough that it would be worth it. Again, not something that impacts the actual quality of the figure but I find it a fascinating insight into the production.

That being said the paint job on the front is super neat, it really does add so much depth to the figure (especially on the yellow and blue parts of the figure; it makes it look less like cheap plastic, lol) and I really enjoy it.

Next, the scale of this figure. I didn't realize when I won it, but this thing is huge. I can hold him like a small carp (and I have). He's huge. I'm guessing here, because I don't feel like finding a ruler right now but I'd say he's probably 10" tall? including the stand, which makes him one of the biggest figures I own. It also means the scale of the sword is perfect for just kind of, pointing at tiny stuff with. Which I have done. I have fun.

I think the figure's pose is super fun. It's dynamic and getting photos of him with a wide-lens is really fun. The actual sculpting details on the clothes and arms in particular are so fascinating to me, they're incredibly well done in my opinion. The composition is good too, the lines create a few triangles which really helps balance the figure.

(had to fudge it a bit here to show the triangle with his hands and head since one hand is hidden in this shot, oops)

The only issue I've had with the figure is it's kind of wobbly. I've fixed this by either putting his lower foot against a "wall" or putting something under it. It's not really a big deal if you don't disturb the figure too much.

From looking around online this figure is around 30$ including shipping (and that is a higher estimate), so as far as figures go this is pretty affordable and imo it's worth it (so long as you have enough display space).

Final Thoughts: I love this freak figure. It's fun, its got great details, it fueled my ego for a week, it has a pole going up the ass of the figure, what's not to love.

Thanks for reading!

[mofffun]

G-ROSSO Super Sentai stage show guide (7/2023)

Theatre G-Rosso is located within the theme park Tokyo Dome City. The theme park had a long history of Hero Shows running back to the 70s. The theatre was established in 2009 as a permanent indoor stage. There are 4 seasons each year with showings on weekends and holidays. Suidobashi station is a little closer than Korakuen/Kasuga subway. I visited it for the first time in July 2023.

Ticketing

Seats

Post-show activities

Merch

Review

TICKETING

G-rosso ticketing depends on which seasons really. Tickets should be plentiful for the first two seasons, especially S2/August when they show every day. S3 and S4 with the face actors might be harder but the show runs for 3 months too so it should be possible.

ticket types + availibility / show schedule

There are three classes of G-rosso tickets (single adult admission) :

Premium (¥2500): first 3 rows + special gift

General (¥1900): rest of the theatre

Free Seating (¥1500): same-day showings for the last 5 rows at the end of the theatre. cash only, vending machine at the door.

You can of course book online through a proxy (bypassing japanse phone verification) but I think you can save that fee especially if you're staying for more than a week in Japan. For S2, I was able to buy the last Premium ticket for the next day (Saturday), and there were enough general seats available. Can't say for sure the same applies to S3/4 with face actors. As a foreigner, the most convenient way is to buy a ticket is from the convenience store Family Mart. Find any store with the photocopier-looking machine and follow the instructions to choose the show times and pricing, pay with cash at the counter and the staff will print you a paper ticket. same go for photo ops and handshake.

(Free Seating vending machine, photo ops ticket)

CHOOSING A SEAT

The theatre is two stories high and you can see the seating plan here. I was in the third row mid-right. What surprised me was how close to the stage the first rows are, barely an arm's distance. At one point Kuwagata Ohger leaned on the railing of the first row. The actors would also walk up to interact with the audience.

I think if you want to enjoy the whole stage and not aiming at the special gift, you can skip the Premium ticket and get a few rows further back. Another recommended seat is Row L just between the two blocks. That's where Spider Kumonos descends UPSIDE DOWN from the sky right in front of your eyes.

If for some reason you g-rosso on a whim / sneaked it into the schedule, the free entry ticket is available only at the vending machine on-site with cash. It's designated to the last rows but staff aren't strict on you moving if the theatre is not crowded.

(view from middle block)

PHOTO OPS & HANDSHAKE

as you'd've seen in commercials, you can pay extra to take a photo (with red only!) (¥1100) and shake hands (with all six) of the heroes (¥600) after the show. The tickets for those are available prior online and in convenience stores too, but if you ask the staff, they'll let you buy one with cash on an old-fashioned vending machine. Since it's my first time attending G-rosso, I did the whole package with birthday perks (no id checked).

A new backstage tour is available since August. Lottery ticketing required.

(merch haul)

MERCH

The most iconic G-rosso exclusive merch is probably the hero hand light. I didn't really see a lot of kids holding it so I kinda forgot about it in the rush. the other true exclusive is a wooden plaque gashapon machine (¥300). There were booths for name badges for kids and you can get a bromide for ¥440. There was a cart selling DX toys and plushies. The special stuff is some toei online store acrylic stands, the muffler towel, cup and plate. Outside you'd find the food stall with collab items like popcorns and drinks with an original coaster.

(Collab menu with coasters, Exclusive wood plaque)

(kids play area, past hero show posters)

REVIEW

As a kid's show the japanese won't be too difficult but I was so captivated by the action I wasn't really listening to the words. The plot is easy enough to follow though, and the website says an English pamphlet is available for borrowing (but I forgot to ask). It feels so professional compared to park stage shows but so tangible compared to tv. They make good use of the space with an under-stage pit/trampoline and the high ceiling with platforms and wires. my eyes were busy darting when the action was in one corner and then next. childhood wonder!!

leaving the theatre is a row of gashapon machines and a kids' play area with all the DX toys (:( no adults) and when you go up the escalator, on the side of the theatre entrance is a wall of pass hero show posters!

(i barely have any coherent notes about this) the plot is there's a cicada MOTW and he is brainwashed to make the earth's temperature rise and make evil clones of the team. Rita, raised in the land of snow, is bad at heat and went to sit in a corner and covered their head with the mantle. When facing their/Gira's evil clone, they said 'i'll just cut down both of them'. My notes said 'someday Rita is even gonna plead innocence for the bugs'. six of them roll call together with jeramie!! i was watching papillon-sama's fight style the whole time. and there were trampolines and flips and cartwheels and white spider man falling from the sky while the digital background zooms in and out and legit tears when we started cheering for the heroes. it's an experience okay.

(outside the theatre)

[navy-heart]

Im seriously thinking about giving the private lessons. Like I'm actually trying to figure out how to go about it. Like where i could advertise myself, what times I could do it and what would the price be and all,,, it's a bit stressful but I rly want to try. Taking the steps towards it while i feel brave 😭😭

Ok so look,

Step 1: research!

You need to go through

1) websites specifically focused on private lessons. Here we have a couple of those that work as a kind of middle man between student/teacher, and you'd normally be able to find at least some of those by searching something like "[subject] tutor [area]";

2) websites that offer various services such as the Fiverr copycats, and look up teachers/private lessons on there until you find the wording that works for what you're looking for.

(these are both country specific so I'm afraid I'm not really able to offer much advice where to look for them!)

Then you'll be looking at:

a) the prices teachers in your area usually offer;

b) their age and years of experience;

c) if they offer online or in-person lessons;

d) what times they offer classes at (also good to see what times the school classes end generally and add an hour or two for commute);

e) ages they're willing to work with;

f) how they market themselves,

And how all of these correspond with each other. Studying these will give you a rough idea of where your own prices should land corresponding to what you are able to offer, and knack some of that off a little because you're new.

Step 2: get yourself out there!

You can either pick option one or two for where you want to put your own offer or both, but be prepared to manage your own schedule a lot. Pick a nice photo, put all your achievements in the sphere you want to teach, including exam results, put "experience" there, including helping friends with homework or whatever, anything. Namedrop fancy techniques if your know any. Put your phone number and contact information and the price range you think is appropriate (if in-person, account from commute - for them if it's at your place and you if it's at theirs).

If you want to, you may also print the ads and put them on notice boards in appropriate places (school bus stops is a huge one here), but I don't know how well those work!

(Pro-tip: working with teens aged 13 to 16 is usually easier. They've got the adult sense of humor at this point and are fun to communicate with but also know why they're going to get lessons and have their own goals, mostly. Kids younger than that can be fun but it's a little exhausting to corral them to work and you might need a set of specific skills you do not have yet.)

Step 3: research again!

While or even before you get any response, research into the official school/uni programs on the level you plan to teach. You should generally have an idea of where the student should be before they tell you anything about themselves just based on age, if you're offering tutoring with a school subject.

This seems like a lot and kind of is a lot, but if you can take on even just one-two students at a time and work with them well, you'll probably get a nice review or a reference or two and a lot of experience. It seems generally scarier than it really is, you just need to start.

Also hit me up if you mean to teach English specifically because I have more specific advice for that too 👀

[fabricpitara11]

The Best Places to Buy Fabric Online: Spotlight on The Fabric Pitara

Online fabric shopping is increasing in popularity because of its affordability, availability, and simple use. The Fabric Pitara stands out among the various online fabric retailers with its unique offerings and customer-focused attitude. Fabric Pitara is one of the top online fabric retailers.

Why Buy Fabric Online?

Let's look at some specific retailers before delving into the benefits of purchasing cloth online:

Wide Variety: Online retailers usually provide a far greater selection of textiles than i- person businesses, ranging from polyester and linen to cotton and silk.

Convenience: One big benefit is being able to shop from home without having to deal with the stress of travel or discover store hours.

Competitive Pricing: It's easy to get great deals because a lot of online retailers provide regular discounts and affordable rates.

Customer Reviews: You may review  the textiles and the store's trust by reading feedback left by previous customers.

Top Online Fabric Stores

The following are a few of the best online fabric retailers, noted for their excellence, selection, and support:

1. The Fabric Pitara

Overview: For those who feel strongly about fabric, the Fabric Pitara is a great option. It provides a wide range of premium fabrics fit for a variety of tasks, including fashion design.

Why Choose The Fabric Pitara:

Unique Fabrics: Interesting and difficult-to-find fabrics  are selected with care by The Fabric Pitara to make your projects stand out.

Quality Assurance: Their focus is on quality, making sure that each piece of cloth satisfies high standards.

User-Friendly Website: You may easily locate what you're looking for on our site due to its clear categories and thorough explanations.

Customer Support: Customer service is excellent, and questions and issues are promptly resolved.

Frequent Discounts: It's simpler to get high-quality textiles without going over budget when there are regular sales and discounts.

Notable Fabrics:

Designer Fabrics: Perfect for high-end fashion projects.

Ethnic Prints:Creating works that stand out requires using prints that are unique and reflect cultural past.

Shopping Experience: From searching to checkout, The Fabric Pitara offers a flawless purchasing experience. For your convenience, they provide thorough fabric details, high-quality photos, and user reviews. They ensure every transaction has a customer-friendly return policy.

2. Mood Fabrics

Overview: Famous for being seen on "Project Runway," Mood Fabrics provides an extensive range of high-end textiles. For fashion designers and sewing lovers looking for high-end, stylish materials for their projects, Mood Fabrics is a great alternative because of its thousands of selections, which include premium silks and cotton designs.

Why Choose Mood Fabrics:

Extensive Selection: Having thousands of fabric options, including silks, cotton patterns, and designer materials Mood Fabrics ensures that you'll discover the ideal fabric for every project.

Designer fabrics: Top designers prefer the stylish, high-quality materials that Mood Fabrics offers. These fabrics add a polished touch to your sewing projects and are ideal for crafting elegant, professional items.

Swatch Service: They may get fabric swatches from Mood Fabrics to make sure you can touch and feel the material before investing and to ensure you get exactly what you need for your project.

Notable Fabrics:

Silk and satin are ideal for luxurious, elegant garments.

Cotton prints are versatile and perfect for everyday wear.

Shopping Experience: Mood Fabrics provides a detailed description of fabrics, along with the option to order swatches. This ensures that you can feel and see the fabric before making a bulk purchase.

3. Fabric.com

Overview:Fabric.com, provides a large selection of fabrics at affordable costs.

Why Choose Fabric.com:

Wide Range: Extensive selection from quilting cottons to high-end silks.

Competitive Pricing: Frequent sales and discounts.

Convenient Shopping: Easy integration with Amazon’s shopping experience.

Notable Fabrics:

Quilting cotton: Cotton is a popular and flexible cloth for making quilts, and it is available in an in depth style of shades and designs. It's perfect for crafts, garments, and quilting. Quilting cotton is a flexible cloth that is best for both newbies and expert designers because of its ease of running, electricity, and access.

Fleece and Flannel: They are ideal for making blankets, pajamas, and winter apparel. Both fabrics are tender, insulating, and cushty, supplying first rate warmth and luxury all through the less warm months. Their versatility makes them superb selections for numerous stitching initiatives.

Shopping Experience: Fabric.com’s integration with Amazon makes the shopping process convenient and reliable. Customer reviews and ratings provide insights into the quality and suitability of fabrics.

Conclusion

Online fabric purchases provide access to a wider selection of fabrics than most local retailers, opening up a world of choices. Whether you're a personal enthusiast or a professional designer, these online retailers provide premium materials to meet your requirements. The Fabric Pitara is a great place to shop for fabrics because of its distinctive products and customer-focused attitude.

[smallerplaces]

Unboxing the World's Smallest Malibu Barbie Dreamhouse

The little girls are excited about decorating the World's Smallest Malibu Barbie Dreamhouse, based on the 1979 A-Frame Dreamhouse. Malibu Christie is taking a nap in the empty main room.

This morning we stopped at the local Ace Hardware, and I wandered off to the frivolous section while Dad was on one of those quests for the one exact size of a very specific piece of gear. Some canny merchandiser had decorated a fake Xmas tree with packages of World's Smallest products. I probably would have fallen for the World's Smallest Etch-A-Sketch if my gaze had not fallen on the World's Smallest Malibu House.

The Malibu Dreamhouse is architecturally my favorite Barbie Dreamhouse, so resistance was futile. The package was marked $7.99, which seems reasonable (it turns out to be the standard price online); and given this year's Barbie Boom, it's unlikely to see significant late-season discounting. So home it came.

The back printing was enough to sell me on the house!

While photographing the back, my phone triggered the QR code up at top left, which leads to the manufacturer's web site, a.k.a. the rabbitiest rabbit hole of dollhouse and fashion doll miniatures ever to rabbit. My wallet is making little whimpering noises at my even looking at it, but I've only bought the one, and it's rare we go to Ace more than twice a month.

Prying the clamshell apart didn't lead to loss of fingers or spilling of blood, so we'll call that a win.

The house is incredibly cute in person, though its railings fall off if you look at them sideways. They snap right back on, though. Malibu Christie is mounted in her own little plastic cocoon.

The house is about 4.5 inches long, 3.5 inches high, and 1.5 inches deep. The stickers seem a little large for the rooms.

Yeah, that furniture's a little tall! I don't intend to use the stickers anyway -- there has to be some sort of dollhouse or model train furniture that will fit this house.

My phone camera said LOL NOPE to getting a clear photo of the micro doll. Toy Box Philosopher did a review of some of the other World's Smallest Barbie products and has clear pics.

I love this house! The blue sky in the windows is printed.

The skylights are open holes.

The screening on the back is pretty epic. I expected that this would just be paper, but it's more solid and either a plastic or something laminated.

While picking it up to double-check this, I managed to pop off a balcony rail again (easily fixed) and lose Micro Malibu Christie (not easily fixed, and really annoying, as I keep my floor bare so a yellow swimsuit should show up!).

The little girls (and boy) are delighted with the dollhouse, and Teen Skipper is happy to have a break from reading stories!

[fanemag]

FANE MASTER POST

[Status December 1st 2023. Issue 1 now available in digital and print-on-demand formats! www.FANEmag.com | Currently accepting submissions of all kinds for Issue 2.]

{Contributors/contributions per category for next issue: Art (0), Photography (0), Interviews (0), Music Reviews (0), Print (0), Articles (0), Random (0), Letters (0)}

FANE is a digital & print zine with the intent to lift up artists of all kinds and expose them to new audiences. In every issue I hope to feature Musicians, Photographers, Illustrators, Poets, Painters, etc., along with life testimonials from marginalized peoples (are you a gender non conforming POC in the Crust Punk scene? I wanna know what that’s like. Are you transitioning in a rural area and want to share your experience? I want to help you do that. Do you love transgressive writing and like picking it apart? I wanna read those book reviews.). I am actively seeking out creatives in the LGBTQIA+ community who make the kinds of works that don’t get the attention or respect of mainstream queer culture. That said, FANE is all encompassing and we welcome submissions from peoples of all different walks of life (from CisHet to TransQueer, and everything before, in between, and after).

FANE is 100% volunteer. Everyone involved is donating their time and content. The digital version of the zine is available completely free. The print version will full color A4 Print-on-Demand by Lulu.com Any kind of profits made or donations received will go towards building an online presence, securing future hosting/domain related fees, etc.

Examples of what we’re looking for:

Music Reviews, Live Show Reports, Photography, Painting, interviews (both interviewers and those willing to be interviewed), indie film makers, queer activists/artists, anything that defies convention, short stories, poetry, anyone willing to share honestly their struggles with mental health or other health issues, anyone into body modification, anyone with an unconventional body structure comfortable showing their body and discussing it, anyone willing to share terrifying personal experiences they’ve overcome, comedic works as prose or illustration, sex workers willing to share what their lives are like. Anything & anyone who deserves their “15 minutes” currently denied by surface culture. Contributions don’t have to be small, and you don’t have to do any page layout/framing (we can set up the pages from your content/files). ‪Aesthetic: glitchy, dark, dusty, ash, noise, industrial, goth, experimental electronics, metal, punk, esoterica…‬

Examples of what we’re NOT looking for:

Pornography, edgelord shit for the sake of edgelord shit, right wing/conservative bullshit, Racists, animal cruelty, white nationalist propaganda, Nazi sympathizers, homophobes, transphobes, sexists, and other generally shitty human garbage. This doesn’t mean journalistic articles about such things can’t find inclusion, just that I don’t want to print the actual things themselves. ‪For legal reasons, we’re also not accepting fandom art, fan fiction, etc. We respect those of you who create such things, it’s just they’re not a good fit for us.‬

All submissions to FANE must be your original work or works you have the legal right to use. When submitting, you give FANE the right to reproduce your material in perpetuity within the context of magazine print runs, website/blog postings, publishing collected editions of the zine, etc. (we’re not going to sell your works as prints or shirts or mugs or any kind of similar shenanigans). You are NOT giving us exclusive rights to anything, and your works will always be yours to do with as you wish outside of the zine.

No matter what you’re submitting, we ask everyone for a photo of themselves in the portrait orientation. If you are uncomfortable sharing a photo of yourself, we can go with an artistic interpretation or simply a “No Photo Available” generic pic. There’s also a short questionnaire. Any question you don’t want to answer, you can put “No Comment” or something sassy, etc. The Bio bit should only be about a paragraph (2-5 sentences).

Name:

Age:

Pronouns:

Gender:

Location:

Primary Medium:

Other Mediums:

Bio:

Links:

For each visual artist that has contributed so far, I’ve created a Bio page for the issue. I don’t know how that will translate to written works (would make sense for poetry submissions, or long journalistic works, but probably not for short reviews, know what I mean?), but better to have the info/pic and not need it than the other way around.

Please make sure to include a direct link, or links, to your work. You can also send files via email, but keep in mind we’re not touching anything that looks shady (Archives, Executables, etc). Also be sure to tell us what it is we should be looking at, and what your contribution idea is (Example: Photographer who provides links to their photos and states they want to share new works for the zine.)

Questions? Suggestions? Contributions? You can contact me here on tumblr or use FANEmag at gmail. I’m working on other communication methods as well, but I’m an Elder Millennial so please be patient with me :)

Feel free to reblog/spread far & wide.

Here are some visuals from Issue 1 to give you an idea of what the overall “vibe” of the zine is. The full issue can be downloaded for free from FANEmag.com

Asked & Answered:

* Hey! What does the name FANE mean/stand for?

It’s a noun. It means a church or temple. I’m not a religious person, but the most spiritual I feel is when I’m submersed in the arts, hence the name choice. Major world religions aren’t exactly friendly to the LGBTQIA+ community, so the zine, in my head at least, is an alternate experience where people can find community, inspiration, and acceptance.

I’m a self deprecating sarcastic asshat too, so the fact it rhymes with “feign” as in “to feign interest in this boring zine” is absolutely intentional. As is the fact that it’s a four letter “F” word :)

* Who are you?

Hi, my name’s Rob, and I’m an alcoholic (recovering). I’m a married cisgendered gay white male who uses he/him pronouns living on the East Coast USA. I’m medicated for anxiety and depression, and I believe I may have undiagnosed ADHD and/or ASD. I’m an amateur creative that’s been doing the best I can for the last 30 or so years with zero professional training. I’ve put out a good chunk of experimental music, some of which is still available online (“Vermilion Sky” is my best if you go looking). I’ve also collaborated with other musicians, labels, etc. I’m currently working on histological and minimal photography, as well as graphic design and illustration (digital).

[chibiseakraken]

In August, after hearing there were many book references in Good Omens, I looked up the phrase "No Nightingales". I've seen theories on why this was said by Crowley. But, I found the reference to the book interesting. And this review I found as well. "There are no nightingales in Berekely Square but there are two ghosts." I wasn't sure if anyone else had talked about this, book or movie...

I saw there was an old book from 1945 by Brahms & Simon named "No Nightingales" and a subsequent movie, though the movie is called "The Ghosts Of Berkeley Square." They both have similar plots, but seem to differ at some point.

The book is basically about two ghosts who haunt a house and interfere in human lives and try to find a Duke so the might move on. (See the review in the photo for more)

In the movie there is a crazy plot (it's on wikipedia) to capture a Duke to stop a war. I wonder how, exactly, the book and the movie differ.

I wanted to find the book, but it is very much out of print. There is a copy that one can borrow from the internet archive, but I have not done this yet.

Has anyone looked into this being related to GO or speculation to S3? Are there more references to the book (or even the movie)?

I did find this old review, which has vague similarities... But a lot of media can fit like that.

Two "ghosts" trapped on earth/london & interfering with humans

Beginning of French revolution reference

Meet up "notabilities of every generation"

Refers to A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square

Here is a 1945 review of the book, because there isn't a good synopsis of it anywhere online that I can find.

[besttravel0900]

Your Gateway to Turkey: Visa Procedures for Dubai Nationals

Introduction:

Dubai, a city of endless opportunities and cultural diversity, serves as a vibrant hub for residents from around the world. Among the many destinations waiting to be explored, Turkey stands out as a captivating blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. For Dubai nationals eager to experience the wonders of Turkey, securing a visa is the first step towards embarking on this unforgettable journey. In this guide, we'll delve into the visa procedures for Dubai nationals, providing valuable insights and tips to ensure a smooth and hassle-free experience.

Understanding the Importance of Turkey Visas for Dubai Nationals:

Before diving into the visa procedures, it's essential to understand the significance of Turkey visas for Dubai nationals. A Turkey visa grants Dubai nationals entry into the country for various purposes, including tourism, business, education, and more. Whether you're planning a leisurely vacation in Istanbul, a business trip to Ankara, or a cultural exploration of Cappadocia, a Turkey visa is your key to unlocking the treasures of this enchanting destination.

Types of Turkey Visas Available for Dubai Nationals:

Dubai nationals have access to several types of Turkey visas, each tailored to specific purposes and durations of stay. The most common visa types include:

Tourist Visa: Ideal for Dubai nationals planning a short-term visit to Turkey for leisure and sightseeing purposes.

Business Visa: Designed for Dubai nationals traveling to Turkey for business meetings, conferences, or other professional activities.

Student Visa: Required for Dubai nationals enrolled in educational programs or courses at Turkish institutions.

Transit Visa: Necessary for Dubai nationals transiting through Turkey en route to their final destination.

It's essential to determine the most suitable visa type based on your purpose of visit and intended duration of stay in Turkey.

Step-by-Step Guide to Obtaining a Turkey Visa for Dubai Nationals:

Now, let's explore the step-by-step visa procedures for Dubai nationals:

Determine Your Visa Type: Start by identifying the type of visa that best suits your needs and purpose of visit to Turkey. Review the requirements and eligibility criteria for each visa type to ensure compliance.

Gather Required Documents: Once you've determined the visa type, gather all the necessary documents for your application. Common documents include a valid passport, passport-sized photos, proof of accommodation, travel itinerary, and financial statements.

Complete the Visa Application Form: Fill out the visa application form accurately and completely, providing all required information as per the instructions provided. Double-check the form to ensure there are no errors or omissions.

Submit Your Application: Dubai nationals have the option to apply for a Turkey visa online through the official e-Visa portal or in-person at the nearest Turkish consulate or embassy. Choose the method that is most convenient for you and submit your application along with the required documents.

Pay the Application Fee: Pay the applicable visa application fee using a valid payment method accepted by the Turkish authorities. The fee may vary depending on the visa type and processing method.

Await Processing: Once you've submitted your visa application, await processing. In most cases, e-Visas are processed quickly, while traditional visa applications may take longer. Monitor your application status through the online portal or contact the consulate for updates if needed.

Receive Your Visa: Upon approval, your Turkey visa will be electronically linked to your passport. Print a copy of your e-Visa or visa approval letter to present to immigration authorities upon arrival in Turkey.

Conclusion:

Securing a Turkey visa from Dubai is the gateway to an unforgettable adventure for Dubai nationals eager to explore the wonders of this mesmerizing destination. By following these visa procedures and guidelines, Dubai nationals can navigate the application process with confidence and ease, ensuring a smooth and seamless experience from start to finish. So, pack your bags, prepare for an adventure, and let Turkey be your gateway to a world of discovery and enchantment.

[carbsvixen]

Something to chew on:

With my most recent return to thrifting I would like to bring warning to the people who buy clothing online, receive the product and then decide it's not something they want so they donate it.

Number one: most of the clothing you have that does not have a brand name on it or a something that indicates it comes from a storefront will be in the Goodwill Bins. Yes, SOME smaller Goodwills do not care and will sell it with other items. However most of the Temu tier print shops and mass produced clothing brands with Asian sizing will be tossed to the bins. This also goes for tags cut out of clothing.

Number two: Do your own research. Look at reviews with actual photos. Relay and compare that information with products you've actually used before. While it does draw a hee hee ha ha reaction to buy and react to cheap looking garments it does not help the environment. Granted, if it works for you and you want to refashion it then that's excellent! However a majority of influencers and people who sell shop do not care how wasteful they are being by doing Temu, AliExpress, Amazon, etc. hauls.