#or maybe my emotions as of late have been pretty topsy turvy...

[koifsssh]

*slowly slides a fruity crab to you* :3

i honestly did feel my heartstrings pull a little, it was a very nice surprise! admittedly i've been having a rather rough week so far, so this honestly cheered me up...

im not sure what else to say other than thank you, i truly do not deserve such a nice crab....

[vitaminseetarot]

PAC: Random Messages You May Need 🌈🎆⛅

Sup, y'all. I'm finally back for another pick a card reading. I really apologize if folks have not heard from me over the past month, I meant to get this reading (among other things) out a while ago. I have not been able to touch tarot for the past few weeks. Life has been… topsy turvy, to say the least. Heh heh. [sweating profusely]

I meant to have another game out and to have paid readings available by now--that is still part of the plan. What was meant for June will be in July. So this blog might go from 0 to 100 mph real soon, to move along with plans as intended!

I was loosely inspired by the Baker pride flag from 1978 for this group selection. These piles are pretty nondescript: each one contains a random message that may resonate with you. Pick based on whichever color of the Prism Oracle speaks to you most, and feel free to choose more than one. Take only what resonates.

Pile 1 - Strength (Red) Pile 2 - Happiness (Orange) Pile 3 - Illumination (Yellow) Pile 4 - Movement (Green) Pile 5 - Flow (Turquoise) Pile 6 - Trust (Blue) Pile 7 - Intuition (Violet) Pile 8 - Love (Pink)

Pile 1 - Strength (Red)

10 of Swords, Insight

You've been asked by the universe to put up with a lot, especially recently. You're reaching a finish line of a very long and brutal marathon. There have been too many times where you questioned whether or not to throw in the towel. If you have, you may also have questioned whether or not it was the correct choice. Sometimes, things don't work out, and it's better to move on. It can be difficult to hold everything up when one thing after another seems to fall apart at the seams, but either way you're being reminded of the light at the end of this long and turbulent tunnel.

Collect yourself, pick up what pieces you can. Time has shifted everything, but the essentials still stand. Gather the wisdom you have learned from this ordeal. There is still beauty to be found in the decay, glittering gems in the rough.

Maybe you don't want to get stronger. Healing may feel like a better option than grinding for difficult experience points. Give yourself the rest and repair you need. Let go of only that which is keeping you from starting again, but you don't need to throw the baby out with the bathwater. You've gained so much wisdom and strength, this trial wasn't without gain. Treasure it and begin anew.

Pile 2 - Happiness (Orange)

2 of Swords, Clarity

Whatever answers you seek are coming to you. Or perhaps they've already arrived; open your eyes and see for yourself. You may be wondering which path will satisfy you more. The process of reconciling this could take forever unless you lean on your gut here. This can't be decided based on intellect alone, for you could get stuck mulling it over for days. Imagining all the different possible outcomes could be taxing for your brain, so narrow it down. Eliminate the weakest links and home in on what excites you. It should feel like an "aha, yes!"

If you cannot see the answer right away, go within to the realm of imagination. Feel your way through. Visualize not just with sight but with yearning. Does the light of the sun make you feel hopeful? Does the cool rain make you feel relaxed? Would an art class expand your capacity to imagine many things, or would taking a science class?

The X mark in 2 of Swords is like a railroad crossing sign. Redirect that train of thought into brighter and more positive avenues of expression. Say "what if" as if you can't wait for something to happen. "What if I saw a shooting star tonight? What if my cute neighbor asked me out?" Let the future shine its beacon for you. It will all make sense in due time.

Pile 3 - Illumination (Yellow)

Ace of Cups, Reconciliation

Have you been staying up way too late trying to figure everything out? Please give yourself a brain curfew: no problem solving or saving the day after 10 pm! I'm getting that you may tend to ruminate on the same strong emotions. For some I'm getting that there is a crush here. There's inconsistent text messaging. I know it's easy to get too nervous about their reply, but try to wait until at least the next day to hear back. They may need time to formulate their words right. They may not even see your message straight away. Take it all in stride and sleep on it; if they want to reach out to you, then they eventually will.

For others in this pile, you may be going through a rough patch with another person right now and could be wondering how things will pan out. Give them time to respond, they could still be processing it. Stay on the more positive end of things with the idea that things will work themselves out. I feel like if you can manage this in a relaxed and non hurried way, the knot will untangle easily. The coffee in the Ace of Cups is very hot, so give it a chance to cool.

There is opportunity in your near future to make up for something that went awry due to a miscommunication error. You may get a chance to make up for a test, appointment, or an interview. You will receive grace for any mishaps. Remember that tomorrow won't necessarily be the same as today, so cherish both the good you have now along with the good that soon awaits you.

Pile 4 - Movement (Green)

IX Hermit, Devotion

Looks like things are progressing faster than you even thought they would. You may be blinking your eyes in partial disbelief: could this ball really be rolling? Indeed, thanks to your efforts, goals are being met and results are more evident by the day. You eschewed a lot of distractions to make this work, so give yourself a pat on the back for the level of commitment you put into it. Some of you in this pile may have just graduated, if so then congratulations! But try not to get too comfortable with your laurels, for you have a long road ahead of you in whatever you do next. This one completion is the start of many.

Does that thrill you? If so, wonderful! On the other hand, some of you may be feeling uncertain about continuing. You may be reviewing your options to see if this really is worth pursuing. Something that requires a lot of dedication and focus on it to the exclusion of all else… yeah, I can see how that can get tiring after a long time. There are folks who can get their Master's right after their Bachelor's, or have another child right after the first, but people can also happily move on to what feels more right for them instead.

It's okay to stop and assess your tracks if necessary. Taking time off is not the same as quitting. It's not losing motivation, it's recovering it. This is your passion and your discipline, not anyone else's. If you need to give other parts of your life more room to breathe, then do so with the confidence that your great work will wait for you.

Pile 5 - Flow (Turquoise)

4 of Wands, Hospitality

Have you been stuck with something for a while? There's a strong sense of a blockage that is being eroded away over time. This process can be sped up by allowing the ice to thaw a little more. "Break the ice." You may be wanting to open up and spend more quality time with other people but don't know how. Or you could be faced with meeting new people and being nervous about interacting with them. Even more so if they're roommates. A few people in this pile could be moving or have just moved. This is a chance to ease up and get to know new people.

This blockage could be a result of the past and of anxiety. The sound of a turning doorknob just jumpscared me as I typed the last sentence. You may benefit from learning about social anxiety and how to manage it. It's not an overnight job for you to fix this, though, but to just be aware of it and not allow it to get in the way of positive change in your life.

If you're struggling to figure out how to deal with meeting new people, I would suggest looking up videos or how-tos on social interaction, especially if a certain etiquette is required for an event. Learn about conversation starters and fun things you could do together like hosting a game night. Practice makes perfect, and over time the blockage will melt into the stream.

Pile 6 - Trust (Blue)

3 of Swords, Conversion

You have a very soft and tender outlook on life, which makes it all the more painful when reality doesn't conform to such a compassionate vision. It doesn't always try to respond to vulnerability in appropriate ways. Much of the time, this isn't from natural events as much as it stems from the ways in which people can treat one another cruelly. You've had some toxic people in your life who have put you through the wringer and attempted to squeeze every ounce of kindness they could from you. Making light of this pain to them only resulted in further deflection and antagonism on their part. The only outcome was to salvage whatever you could and pray for the best.

It is not your job to change their closed minded perspectives. They're on their own, here. Do not concern yourself with their messy inner world and lose any more of your energy. Also, do not attempt to regain what energy has been lost through bargaining either, as much as it hurts to press onward without looking back. You will recover, but you have to move on first and prioritize what you deeply care about most (you included).

There will come a time when your heart will be healed so you can see the brighter side of human connection again. All the beauty that your gentle soul is seeking is still there, shrouded by layers of protective petals that will one day bloom again and your life will truly flourish. For now, this is a time to give yourself all the comfort you can.

Pile 7 - Intuition (Violet)

XII Hanged Man, Spring

I get the feeling that you've been waiting quite a while for some good results to come in. This could either be from something that you started back in the spring, or are waiting to see results which may come around springtime. It is a season of flowers, so you may be waiting for this thing to blossom--that is, to be fully presentable to the public in some way. To have something to show for the time you put in. Like "hey, this is what I've been working on, this came from the seeds I planted." It could be growing in a direction unlike what you're used to, leaving you wondering how it could succeed in such unusual and burdensome conditions.

Lean on your inner guidance when it comes to the right timing. I don't believe that you're currently in a space where you need to push so hard for the best results. You can let things move at their own pace. Over tending to anything can end up in just as much trouble as neglect. There's only so much you can do before you have to let the flower do the growing and blooming for itself.

It's not always easy to sit in the place of uncertainty with the idea that doing more will provide more. But sometimes less is more. What you're creating is coming to fruition and may even turn out better than you expected. Trust in both the knowledge you've earned over time from learning lessons, as well as your natural intuition, to help you decide when it's time to take action.

Pile 8 - Love (Pink)

7 of Swords, Gossip

Let your heart lead the way here, not your worries over what others will think. Sure, you may end up with some people talking about you, but opportunities will keep passing by if you wait for everyone else to catch up to you. Leaning too much on everyone else's perspectives will only distort the vision you have for your own life journey. We all have unique journeys to go on, but unconditional kindness remains at the center of the Love card, the one thing that brings us together. Following life from a heart centered place may result in having others glance over and whisper, but that shouldn't distract you.

There is a rather delicate message here about dealing with friendships, colleagues, or possibly even family. You may have a tricky situation between several other people right now who have beef not with you but with each other. They may be coming to you to air their grievances and ask for advice.

If you care about both of these people, then it's best to approach this issue as diplomatically and impartially as possible and avoid feeding into the conflict. What would an enlightened mindset do in this situation? How would you want the other person to behave if they were in your shoes? Come from a place of pure compassion. They may choose to make amends or not, it's up to them. If their butting heads is bringing you down, it's always okay to step back and take a break. You are not responsible for what's going on in their heart, only your own, so protect yours well.

This reading has not been evaluated by the FDA to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease or infection. Please ask your physician before going online.

2024, @VitaminseeTarot ™

[wheremytwinwatches]

[Where My Twin Watches]: PMMM Rebellion - Part 8

Last time on Rebellion: YES

The truth came to light, each of the Magical Girls got their moments to shine, Madoka once again found the Third Way (Let Homura kill herself to set them free/Kill Homura to free the others/Screw that, shoot out the ceiling and hug it out with the bae), and the Incubators got fucked up. Hot damn but that was satisfying.

We pick up after Madoka’s Arrow Rain, the surrounding area utterly devastated with not a single Bunny-Cat to be seen. Homura’s still out cold, lying on some sort of slab while holding her bow (I think? I know her post-Madokami weapon is a bow, but might be a staff of some sort). A Soul Gem enters? Mami places it on Homura’s sleeping form, it looks rather beat up from the Incubator’s experiment. Also, blue? I thought Homura’s color was purple.

Flutes pick up as more Redeemed Familiars gently set down the Muggles who were trapped in the Labyrinth (hey, I recognize these ones, they were in the Suicide Cult Labyrinth and appeared to tear apart Madoka. Brrr.). Some students, the Teacher, and Madoka’s family! Hey guys!

Meanwhile, Kyoko’s Batgirling on some rubble, looking out over the desert. Yeah, she did just get to hold hands with Sayaka (*squeeee!*), but now the Paladin’s job is over, isn’t it? Back to Magical Girl heaven. Same with Bebe/Nagisa/whatever her name is.

[Mami]: “No. They’re finally taking her away with them.”

What. What. Is you serious? Yes yes yes yes YES!

Loophole abuse! -Madokami leaves Magical Girls on Earth to fight Wraiths, takes away those who are about to become Witches -Homura Witchified inside her Soul Gem, remained an almost-Witch in the real world -Requirement for Magical Girl Heaven met!

[Madokami]: “Now I remember. I came here for Homura.”

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSS! We’ve got some Last Battle of Narnia feels going on here! Further up and further in…

Nagisa and Sayaka are here too, driving one of Walpurgisnacht’s carts. Nothing but the finest chauffeur services for Homura.

Homura wakes up to see the Welcome Wagon, her friends standing by, and then Madokami in all her glory.

[Madokami]: “I’m sorry for making you wait so long. You’ve worked so hard all this time.”

[Homura]: “Madoka…”

Finally. Finally. The feels, you guys. The feels!

[Madokami]: “Now, let’s go. We’ll always be together from now on.”

Wait. What’s with the head turn. Why shadows

[Homura]: “Yes. We will.”

Homura what

[Homura]: “I’ve waited so long for this moment.”

Whats with the closeups why the deep tone and shadows why smirk what

HOMURA WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT WHY ARE YOU GRABBING MADOKAMI’S WRISTS

[Madokami]: “H-Homura.”

RED ALERT RED ALERT MADOKAMI IS SHOCKED MADOKAMI IS ALARMED

[Homura]: “I’ve finally…”

Homura’s Soul Gem just turned pitch black what no why despair now what

[Homura]: “caught you.”

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!

Yeah, I’m with you girls, what’s going on? Technicolor lights are spilling from the Soul Gem, music is picking up. Crap crap crap.

Her Soul Gem has changed color? “Worse than a curse?” So this technicolor stuff is worse than Black Despair? What is it then? Desire? Obsession?

Oh hell.

[Homura]: “It’s only natural that you don’t understand. Yes… no one in the world could possibly understand. This emotion is mine alone.”

Oh my Madokami, would you stop being emo for five seconds.

[Homura]: “It is for Madoka alone.”

Um, Homura’s Soul Gem is beginning to crack. And so is the surrounding area?

Hell, are they still in the Labyrinth?

Madokami is pleading with Homura (freaking pleading, what is this), saying that she’ll be ripped apart-

Ripped apart. Oh no. I see it now.

Ranubis said:[Madoka]: “You know how wimpy I am. And because I could never bear to do something that would make someone as strong as you cry like this.” Homura is saying that she understands, that she made a stupid mistake? [Homura]: “I shouldn’t have allowed that to happen. That no matter what I would’ve had to do, I should have stopped you back then.”

This was planned. This is Homura’s savior complex. She devoted herself to saving Madoka. In the end, Madoka saved her. But she intends to “save” Madoka. From herself.

Madokami DAMN it Homura!

The cracks have now struck Madokami, splitting into images of her human and Ascended forms.

[Homura]: “I told you, Madoka. I’ll never let you go again.”

Homura clutches Madoka as her Soul Gem shatters, this weird blotchy technicolor spreading out to cover all the Magical Girls. Then the Cracks and Colors continue to spread, covering the desert. Then the planet. Then onwards and outwards through space, covering the galaxy (that’s not the Milky Way? Or just a bad angle?). Finishing as a circle, a sigil of some sort.

A spool of pink thread falls.

Homura stands against a red-and-yellow background, Mysterious Transfer Student-ing it up. Then she… spits out her Soul Gem? I thought it nope guess it breaks here as she bites down on it. The pink thread reforms as some mix of a black chess piece and a purple crystal ball. Homura grabs it-

Ah. Incubator. Kinda telling that things have gotten so fucked up that that’s all the reaction I can muster for Bunny-Cat.

[Incubator]: “The world is being rewritten. Does this mean a new principle has been born into this universe?”

Now Homura’s got the “Voice from Everywhere” thing going on. She’s telling the Incubator(s) floating around that this is the second time she’s been here.

[Incubator]: “I don’t believe this. Your curse-blackened Soul Gem should have vanished along with your soul. So why…?” [Homura]: “Because I finally remembered. All the times I repeated history, got hurt and suffered over and over, all of that was proof of my feelings for Madoka. So now, even pain is dear to me. It’s no longer curses that soil my Soul Gem.” [Incubator]: “Then what does?” [Homura]: “Something that you have no chance of understanding, Incubator. It is the pinnacle of all human emotion. More passionate than hope, far deeper than despair.”

Homura what are you doing with the Chess-Orb? Eating it. Apparently.

Ah. It seems that Homura has pulled a Madoka, found a Third Way. -Hope, for Magical Girls. -Despair, for Witches. -”Love”, for whatever she is now.

Now Homura’s dressing up oh ok wow that is a thing.

[Demon!Homura]: “Indeed… As I am now, I’m not even a witch anymore. She was as sacred as a god, and I pulled her from heaven and undermined her. A being that could perform such feats could only be called a demon, I suppose?"

Seeing how Homura’s acting, the Incubator swears off human emotion. Bit late for that, dude. Demon!Homura grabs it, tells it that they’re sticking around to handle all the curses of the world now.

We get flashes of galaxies as I struggle to comprehend everything that’s happened. Then, back to earth.

Homura (in a much more sensible outfit) is sitting at a table. Ignored by the passing students? Mami’s walking by, there’s a brief shot of a Familiar moving behind a falling rose petal. Mami raises a hand, then Homura knocks a cup to the ground. Mami turns at the sound, but there’s no-one there. She looks into her hand, and sees a black feather. Does she remember- GAH GOTH KIDS JUST CROSSED SCREEN

Now some of Homura’s bird Familiars, they’re eating at an apple held by- wait, Kyoko? Food girl is willingly feeding wild animals. What is wrong with this topsy-turvy world Homura’s made?! Then she apparently sees more of the Goth Kids, throws an apple but Homura shakes her head and it falls into the stream instead. Kyoko looks startled by this.

Now it’s Sayaka’s turn. But she sees Homura?

[Sayaka]: “Do you realize what you’ve done?” [Homura]: *Turns, earring glints* “I see. Looks like you understand what’s happened, Sayaka Miki.” [Sayaka]: “You’ve broken off a part of the Law of the Cycle! The power of salvation that was the hope of all the magical girls!” [Homura]: “All I took was a tiny piece of it. Just the records of the person that Madoka was before she ceased to exist. Somehow, all of you wound up being pulled in as well, and it seems you can’t return to wherever you were before.”

Uh, yeah? Because I’m pretty sure you overwrote the last galaxy.

Sayaka’s pissed, asking what right Homura had to do all this. Homura… straight up says her alignment is now Evil, that’s she’s the Antagonist of the world.

Uh, scene of a bunch of Goth kids surrounded by shoes, jumping off… yeah, I know enough about Japanese culture to know what that is.

Homura’s all “only natural I upset the laws set down by a god.” Madoka- or now Devilura damn it, this really was Homura rebelling against Madoka, wasn’t it.

Sayaka asks if Homura intends to destroy the universe, not even moving as she summons Octavia behind her. Alright, still got your powers I see. Not sure how effective they’ll be against this new Homura, but…

Homura does a hair-flip, says that maybe she will once all the Wraiths have been destroyed. Uh, what?

[Homura]: “When that time comes, I suppose I can be your enemy. But do you think you’ll be able to stand against me, Sayaka Miki?”

All these shots of Homura have been of half-closed eyes, and looking at her now I can only describe her as tired. Still, far from weak. She claps her hands, and Octavia instantly disappears as Sayaka slumps.

[Homura]: “Even now, your memories are gradually changing, are they not?”

Shot of Nagisa running through falling black feathers, laughing. Sayaka grits her teeth, says that she “thinks” she was part of a larger being before.

[Homura]: “Why don’t you simply enjoy the happiness from getting another chance to live a human life?”

So wait, in your new world they aren’t Magical Girls then? What, you’re just setting the Incubators on the Wraiths?

Even as Homura calmly tells her that all this will seem natural someday, Sayaka insists that she will always remember that Homura is a demon. Homura just smiles, and says that they should pretend to be friends in daily life. After all, don’t want to upset Madoka, do they?

Goth Kids are running around, throwing tomatoes at Homura. Yes good there’s a part of you that knows this is wrong, listen to it!

And with that we’re back to Sayaka in the “real world”, watching students and Nagisa go by. A “good morning” from Hitomi and Kyosuke. And she cries? But not from sadness, but from happiness that she can see them again.

Wait, flash of her Magical Girl ring? So she still has her powers?

In class, Teacher is ranting about boyfriends fussing over breakfast as Homura looks out the window. But Teach says there’s a new Transfer Student? But Homura’s already here-

[Teacher]: “Come on in, Miss Kaname!”

Ah. That got Homura’s attention. Madoka enters, says that Mother got assigned overseas so the family’s been living in America for three years.

Later, the girls in class are asking Madoka about her American life. Madoka’s a bit sheepish but not as shy as I expecte-

[Homura]: “Everyone, you’ll tire Miss Kaname out, bombarding her with questions like that.”

The girls scatter, and Homura “introduces” herself to Madoka. And “offers” to show her around the school. Ah, reversal of the Hallway Scene then. Obviously Madoka’s a little confused at why this strange girl is pushing for first names already and leading her around.

[Madoka]: “No, it actually seems like absolutely nothing has changed. In fact, if I had to pick the one thing that had changed, I’d say it was me.”

Homura comes to a stop in the Hallway. And seems very upset at Madoka’s comment.

Madoka goes on, saying she should have a different form, a different role. Sudden swirls of light around Madoka, is she fighting it off?! Come on, you can do it!

But no. Homura grabs her.

[Homura]: “It’s all right. You are exactly what you truly are.”

We’re back in the Hallway.

[Homura]: “Madoka Kaname. Do you treasure this world? Do you consider stability and order more important than desire?” [Madoka]: “Well, I…Um...I-I do treasure it. I guess I do think it’s kind of bad to break rules because you feel like it.” [Homura]: “I see. Then I suppose someday, you will become my enemy as well.”

Homura removes her ribbon- ah. That’s the ribbon that Madoka gave her before. Now she’s giving it back.

[Homura]: “But I don’t care. Because even then, I will continue to wish for a world in which you will be happy.”

Yeah, absent of context I’m sure that Madoka is utterly confused and kinda concerned right now.

The sun sets of Mitakihara City. Sayaka steals pocky from Kyoko in the courtyard. Mami races forward to save Nagisa from falling boxes of cheese. In House Kaname, Madoka moves boxes with her family. And in the sky overhead, a stone turns.

Credits.

Post-credits. Night, the hill where I originally thought Homura was being brainwashed by Madoka (HAH). Homura sits on a chair, on half of a hill. Same with the moon, perfect semi-circle. Grass rustles, Homura turns to see the silhouette of the Incubator. Homura summons her Chess-Orb, and then dances to the music past WHAT that’s the beat-up form of the Incubator. Then she falls off the hill. Closeup of the Incubator, with matted fur andshaking eyes.

“The End.” … … … FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

[missroserose]

Meme city, vol. 2:  music share!

@blahblahblaharringrove tagged me to share ten songs I’ve been listening too lately!  Thanks, love. <3

1.)  Neon Moon, by Cigarettes After Sex.  CAS is always heavily featured in my rotation—it’s my go-to for those evenings when it’s been a busy day and my brain is still going 100 mph so I need to take some time to unwind, possibly with some chemical assistance...which is to say, most evenings, haha.  I’m not sure there’s much that differentiates it musically from the rest of CAS’s work; if you dig the quiet whisper-core style you’ll like this.  But I do rather especially like the bit from the chorus:  “Watch your broken dreams/Dance in and out of the beams/Of a neon moon...”

2.)  Run Boy Run, by Woodkid.  I first encountered this when I bingewatched The Umbrella Academy while I had the flu, and I loved it—the driving beat, the chord progression that feels strangely elevated despite being in a minor key, the evocative-but-opaque lyrics.  It’s 100% on my playlist for When the Waters Start to Cross, even if I haven’t figured out exactly where it fits yet.

3.)  Let it Carry You (Dino Soccio Remix), by José Gonzalez.  This is on my current Sculpt playlist, and works well for the purpose, but I’ve been listening to it in other contexts too—true to the title, the airy synths and kinetic pulse of it carry me along when I have a whole list of stuff that has to get done.

4.)  Total Eclipse of the Heart (Original Energise Mix), by Nicki French.  This is definitely going on a future Sculpt playlist, probably late in the set—great backing beat, and everyone knows the lyrics so it’ll help keep us going when we’re tired and flagging.  I wonder if I could do an entire Lonely Hearts Sculpt playlist...that’d actually be kinda fun to advertise.  “Going through a breakup?  Still mad over a breakup that happened years ago?  Come Sculpt it out!”

5.)  bad guy, by Billie Ellish.  Along with the rest of the world, I’ve been digging Ellish’s new album, and I love the rapid-fire rhymes and confrontational posture of this one...needless to say, it’s also in my Waters playlist, likely coming up soon.

6.)  Don’t Let It Bring You Down, by Annie Lennox.  This cover has been a favorite of mine for years—I first heard it in American Beauty and ever since then I’ve associated it with profound vulnerability.  The simple-but-haunting chords and imagery (”it’s only castles burning”) paint such vivid emotional pictures.

7.)  Come Along, by Cosmo Sheldrake.  After some discussion with @skybound2, we’ve decided this is a depiction of a circus-themed Fae realm as related by Dr. Seuss—the loopy wordplay and crazed rhythms and strange intervals all give it an amazingly surrealist vibe.  I actually have a whole music-theory explanation for why its chorus is so effective at creating that sense of a mad dash through a topsy-turvy world, but I’d need a piano in front of me to explain it.  Maybe I’ll do a video at some point.

8.)  Nick & Norah’s Theme, by Mark Mothersbaugh.  Another longtime favorite, this one from the early days of the resurgence in chiptunes—I think this was the first time I’d heard a love theme done entirely in synthesizer.  Mothersbaugh (who’s had, and continues to have, a deservedly long post-Devo career in movie scoring) manages to use the Nintendo-sounding synthesizer to evoke the innocence and joy of young love in a way I would not have credited artificial tones capable of producing; he reinforces the theme by sticking to a simple chord structure and tune, but there’s enough complexity and length there to keep it from feeling sappy, as well as to hint at the greater depths to come.

9.)  Mine, by Matt Nathanson.  Probably my biggest regret about getting the flu recently was missing Matt’s latest concert in Chicago—Brian and I had tickets but neither of us were in any shape to go.  (Luckily a friend of ours bought them and had a great time, so they didn’t go to waste.)  His new album is probably my favorite of his since Modern Love, and the opening track is pretty indicative of its themes—you’ve got the bouncing rhythm and riding-into-the-distance-with-middle-fingers-raised lyrics undercut with the sadness and vulnerability inherent in all breakups, even ones you’re mostly over.

And I have to make dinner, so my list is just going to be nine. :)   Tagging @skybound2, @letshargroovetonight, @suitofarmour, @marsza, @sociophonetic, @trashcangimmick, @twobrokenwyngs and anyone else who wants to play!

[thelifetimechannel]

John and Jane ponder the dark side in this week’s bonus content.

JOHN: happy birthday! JANE: Oh! Why thank you! JANE: I guess it's yours too, isn't it? JOHN: that's right! JOHN: today is the day i get to catch up with everyone else, who think they're so much older. JOHN: the worst was being twelve when they were all thirteen, they thought they were so superior. JANE: Don't I know it. JANE: Do you know what Roxy would tell me back then when I got snarky with her? "Shut up, you're twelve." Drove me up the wall. JANE: I'd probably have been envious of them getting to get their drivers' licenses first, too. But alas, the best laid plans. JOHN: yeah, no one got to enjoy the rewards of getting older very much. JOHN: do you think there's a minimum age for creating a universe? JANE: If there is, this game is very irresponsible about it. JANE: Who in their right mind would let a bunch of teenagers run a universe? JOHN: oh, we made it this far. JOHN: it doesn't have cancer or anything this time!. JANE: How many times has the Frog had cancer...? JOHN: that was a problem last time. JOHN: the trolls rushed things along a little fast, i guess? jade explained it to me, but i wasn't clear on all the details. JOHN: but since dave helped make our frog we had all the time we needed to do things right. JANE: Are you positive? JANE: If things are going to go topsy-turvy again I'd like an advance warning. JOHN: apparently it was obvious for them as soon as they made it, so i'd say we are in the clear. JOHN: i am not a frog making expert, but none of the people who are seem worried. JANE: Good. I don't know if my Lifey thing extends to frogs or cancer, so I'm glad they won't be necessary. JOHN: we have lots of ways to solve problems now, if we have to JOHN: heh, i hope people don't start taking me for granted. JOHN: i've carried so many people to their quest crypts lately, i should start a taxi service. JOHN: or become like, the god of taking people to their death naps. JOHN: is that a thing? JANE: John, no more death. At least not today. JANE: As the birthday girl, I forbid it. JANE: But I will say that if you're good at something, you should indeed not do it for free. JANE: Speaking of which. JANE: Maybe you could be a delivery boy for my latest venture. How do you feel about blood? JOHN: um, JOHN: where are you getting it? JOHN: i know my nanna said she had some secret business ventures, but she never described anything like that. JANE: Nothing like that! I bought the blood from a wholesaler! JANE: And I, uh, never asked where he got it from. JANE: But it might've had something to do with a fridge full of corpses. JOHN: er JANE: ...I'm kidding. JANE: It was something I was joking about with Rose. JANE: I'd only have one customer anyway, and apparently she's better off without the stuff. JOHN: oh haha, rose is such a jokester. JOHN: she doesn't act like it, but she is. JANE: She has quite the wit. I hope I can keep up. JOHN: she has probably been getting complacent without us to keep her on her toes. JOHN: sure, she talks fast to try to confuse you, but she can be defeated. JOHN: one time i beat her at online scrabble, she has never lived it down. JANE: I'm sure I can come up with something to impress her. JOHN: that's the spirit! JOHN: it'll be so fun, seeing everyone interact with our teen grand parents. JOHN: i know jade was looking forward to meeting her grandpa, and of course i'd already sort of met you. JOHN: although you are different from your old lady form. JANE: Yeah, that's... weird. JANE: Not bad weird! But strange nonetheless. JANE: I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to think about what you'll look like old until you're at least thirty. JANE: But hey, now I know for sure. JANE: There's that mystery solved! JOHN: i don't know if she aged gracefully or not, since she lived under the thumb of alien queen. JOHN: she is still full of zest and vigor, even though she was briefly ashes over my fireplace. JANE: Becoming a sprite sure does give you a new outlook on life. JANE: Well, unless you're Erisol. Or mine. JOHN: heh, sometimes. JOHN: maybe once you've already lived one life time, anything else is a bonus. JOHN: she sure has been getting her mileage making baked goods. JANE: Must've wanted to catch up after spending so long on her "secret business dealings". JOHN: apparently she was plotting against betty crocker! JOHN: but those plans never came to fruition. JOHN: i guess she got to defeat her in the end through you. JOHN: i'm sure she would be proud. JANE: Well, you could ask. JANE: It must be ingrained. I've... always loved the company, but the woman at the top? JANE: She needed to go. JOHN: like i said, i always suspected, even before she announced to the world her true nefarious nature. JOHN: there was something about that marketing campaign that was just sinister. JANE: Yes, you completely called it. JOHN: you will have to usher in a new era of responsible corporations, assuming they actually exist. JOHN: maybe the true responsible corporation is a non existent one? JANE: Whatever I do with the company assets, I'll do my best to be responsible. JOHN: that is one more wrong we can right. JOHN: along with frog cancer, and making sure no one can make fun of us for being the youngest any more. JANE: Not until next year. JOHN: this time we can form a united front and get prank filled vengeance on them if they try. JOHN: join the dark side jane, we will be unstoppable. JANE: Uh. JANE: How about the mildly gray, mischievous but ultimately harmless side? JOHN: sounds good to me! JANE: Besides, I should be the one telling you to join the dark side with me. JANE: Obi-Wan never told you what happened to your Nanna, John. JOHN: :o! JOHN: this calls for a lengthy and dramatic exclamation before i plummet to my death. JOHN: except i feel like i've done enough variations of that today. JANE: Doesn't it get old after the first time? JOHN: in my experience basically all over dramatic emotional displays do. JANE: You know now that I think about it, yes. Yes, they do. JANE: I think I’d be happy embargoing any major expressions of emotion until further notice. JANE: Instead, we’ll have smaller emotions that happen more frequently and less obtrusively. Maybe five, sometimes as many as seven. JOHN: that sounds reasonable. JOHN: major break downs are just exhausting and make everyone upset. JOHN: i remember when i got so mad i passed out on my drive way, which was not productive for anyone. JANE: You made yourself so mad you passed out? JOHN: no, I didn’t make myself mad. JOHN: dave sprite was being a jerk, and there were some other circumstances. JOHN: it was complicated, we were all stressed out. JOHN: long road trips with your internet friends are not always as fun in practice as they are in theory. JANE: Been there, done that, am currently wearing the t-shirt. JOHN: i guess that is some sort of “valuable life lesson” to learn or what ever. JANE: Oh no, not another one. Haven’t we had enough for one day? JANE: Speaking of that though... JANE: Are you... going to be alright? JANE: With my dad around, I mean. JANE: From his perspective, you're his departed father! JANE: He might like to reconnect, based on that. JANE: But I know that might be difficult for you. JOHN: ... JOHN: yeah. JOHN: maybe some time, but probably not right away. JOHN: i think i'll have to get used to it. JANE: If you ever want to talk about it... JANE: I'm here, you know. Not that I can relate as much as some of the others can, since they've all lost people. JANE: But I thought I'd offer, as family, and since we just talked about those rascally emotions. JOHN: thanks. i'll remember it.

[tendegreesbelow-blog]

Weekly update: Week of March the 20th

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZwQeZh6rP0Back to school!

It is fascinating how it takes only one week to completely disorientate me from my regular school habits. Waking up late, not doing homework, and not having to leave the house are things that really go topsy-turvy when you have to suddenly go back to school. 

It is kind of funny as well because this feeling of maladjustment fed into my classes as well. Particularly my Economics class which takes place at 08:00 in the morning. In essence the encounter went something like this:

The teacher was giving his lecture and everyone in our class was unusually drowsy. He started to ask questions and nobody wanted to reply. After seeing that, he asked the class: “Why aren’t any of you guys asking questions? Was the break that long?” To which I replied: “We still haven’t adapted back to the normal school routine.” He laughed a bit and hoped that this would not continue on to the next class (it did not). 

My other classes went smoothly. Although in return for giving us no work for the break, my Research Methods teacher told us that we are going to crunch the rest of the work in the next few months which is bad because all the teachers use April, the last full month before the end of the semester to pack in as much work and exams as possible. So I look forward to the oncoming dread of cramming and last-minute assignments (much like this journal entry...). 

My Political Science and Sociology courses also presented highly-interesting assignments to me as it allowed me to raise an important issues here in Canada. The issue of the Indigenous Peoples of Canada. I will not go too in depth about the issue, however; I will present a few bullet points outlining some of the problems First Nations people face in Canada.

Terrible living conditions especially on reserves 

Discrimination brought on by police officers 

Generational issues brought on by the creation of Residential Schools (the last one closed in 1996)

Sort of an abandonment in favour of the Syrian refugees (not to say that they are not in need either just that we have had the issue of destitute poverty among Native Americans for a while now and their issues are being pushed aside)

Over-representation in the Canadian Justice System

And those are only a fraction of the issues. 

Apart from all that school has been pretty tame. A few stressful moments here and there but I started getting some grades back and the results have been good so far so I am content in that matter. 

On a personal level, I met somebody but quickly broke it off. While the person herself is not important, I think it is funny to see my reaction to relationships. On one hand, I want one but on the other, I do not want commitment. Maybe it could because I am very picky on who I choose but regardless it is sad to see that when I have the opportunity to go into these things, I quickly exit because I feel like I am not ready. I guess it could be due to my age. I feel older yet I am not old enough; a strange paradox in a way.

Lastly, I have listened to two highly-acclaimed albums and boy was I not let down.

The first was Deafheaven’s “Sunbather”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfbLWHT7vUU

This album was really good! I am not really a fan of “screamo” music but this album was strangely soothing. The comments give it a bad rap because die-hard black metal fans hate this type of album but as a person who tries to listen to all genres of music, this album was a nice surprise. 

9/10

The second album was  Godspeed You! Black Emperor’s “ Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven” 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZwQeZh6rP0

This album is an experience. You cannot listen to separate songs from this album, you have to listen to the whole things. It is a conceptual album but it really pushes the limits on music that evokes an experience. I have never listened to something with this much emotion despite not having any lyrics. It is purely amazing. 

11/10

That was it for that week. A few nice things here and there. 

Song of the week: Kero Kero Bonito’s “Graduation”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iV-5CpJsmU

Honestly not my favourite genre or style of music but I saw a reviewer (theneedledrop) give the album this song came off of an 8/10 so I checked it out. Definitely catchy but not really my cup of tea. 

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