#payday playlist project

[littleladymab]

FebruarOC - Penelope

Penelope "Nelo" Straylight is a character I created back when some friends invited me to a short-lived idea of doing a campaign of Scum & Villainy. We barely got of the ground with character plotting before it fell through, so I just had a hot muscle woman kicking around in my head with nothing to do. Her class was literally "the muscle", which for anyone who knows anything about S&V the system or just Forged games in general meant that she could have the ability that made her count as a small gang. So like, ma'am 😳

Around that time, I had also brought Kerri into the FTL space games (I originally created her for a game of Follow that was about superheroes, actually, but now she sort of lives in the sci-fi space despite also using her for City of Gulls) and I went "hehe what if I just put them together in a story". 

So, you know, I did? (Kerri still kicks around with the gorls from FTL, who are Sol, Merril, and Max, but it's easier for me to use her in my own projects because it's quite literally at my own pace and I don't have to bother anyone because I'm real bad at collaborations)

The long and short of it was a vaguely political space-opera, or as I liked to call it, "space lesbians". Unlike in the FTL space games, I brought back Kerri's ability to do magic mostly because of Penelope's backstory! 

For Nelo, her in-game vice was gambling. She's from a planet that is recovering from a war, and has a big para-military presence on it still, so the only interesting thing for her really is gambling. To the point where she goes massively in debt and gambles away the last thing she has on a losing hand: her own identity.

So she steals a new one: Penelope Straylight, a hunter for what the game called "mystics" but we can call Jedi. They were Jedi. And she thinks "well, it's fine, all the mystics are gone and this one was dying in a ditch on a back-water planet so no one is going to come looking for me trying to demand my participation or w/e". 

Her old name had been Enise, but as these bounty-hunters stole it, it sure isn't her name anymore! 

Eventually she uses what little money the identity "Penelope Straylight" had on hand to get passage off her home planet, and from there just hops around stations and planets doing odd-jobs (and gambling) until she picks up a request from Kerrigan Kestrel to be a bodyguard. Kerrigan is extremely cagey about the details, and is way too pretty to be from this ass-end of space, but she pays well enough for a cushy job of riding on a luxury cruise liner that it doesn't really mean anything at first. 

Until she realizes that Kerrigan is the daughter of the leader of the big political faction. 

Until she realizes that Kerrigan herself is a mystic (I call them "whisperers" in this setting). 

So she's caught up in Kerri's political struggle to wrest control away from her father and stop a civil war and also the bounty hunters who have her old identity now demanding that she turn over Kerri and they can all get a big payday. 

Somewhat recently I decided to combine the space lesbians with my project HOWL, because I loved the cast of HOWL but they had no plot, and I loved the space lesbians but it felt like such a huge galaxy with only the two of them. I'm still working out what this means, especially since I'm making Jack a whisperer and so I have to figure out what that means with regards to Kerri and Nelo's role in all of that. 

She also has a prosthetic leg (knee down) and arm (mid-bicep down); she lost them in an accident when she was 12 (land mine), and only just recently was able to afford nicer cybernetic prosthetics -- tho they're still on the low-end of tech available.  Kerri finds out when Nelo somehow manages to hurt herself while playing soccer with a bunch of kids. 

You can see her pinboard here, and her playlist over here!

Today's Drabble I am cheating and using one of the OC Kiss Week drabbles, so that's a separate post. 

[shrutim12]

Navigating The Digital Moolah For Musicians

In today's digital symphony, musicians are not just crafting beats; they're mastering the art of making money. Let's groove through the ways musicians are cashing in, sans the financial jargon. Get ready to tap into the rhythm of financial success!

1. Streaming Services

In the era of instant gratification, streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music have become the heartbeat of music consumption. Musicians earn revenue through the number of streams, turning melodies into moolah. The more plays, the merrier the payday.

Also Read: Must-Listen Songs to Boost Your Mood

2. Virtual Concerts

With physical concerts taking a backseat, virtual gigs have stolen the spotlight. Musicians now connect with fans worldwide through platforms like YouTube, Twitch, and Instagram Live. It's not just about applause; it's about the digital ticket sales and virtual tip jars that fill their coffers.

3. Merchandising Magic

Merchandising isn't just reserved for rock bands with die-hard fans. In the digital age, musicians leverage their brand by selling merchandise online. From funky t-shirts to custom accessories, it's not just a fashion statement but a revenue stream that hits the right note.

4. Crowdfunding Crescendo

Enter the world of crowdfunding, where fans transform into patrons. Platforms like Patreon and Kickstarter empower musicians to fund their projects directly through fan contributions. It's a musical symbiosis, where fans support their favorite artists, and artists deliver exclusive content in return.

Also Read: Craft Your Ultimate Playlist With These Apps

5. Syncing Success

Ever find yourself humming a tune from a movie or a commercial? That's the magic of sync licensing. Musicians license their tracks for use in films, TV shows, and advertisements, turning their compositions into auditory branding. It's not just about making music; it's about making it memorable.

6. Digital Royalties

Welcome to the realm of royalties, where musicians earn a share every time their music is used or played. Whether it's on radio, in a cafe, or as a ringtone, these digital royalties ensure a steady flow of income, making musicians feel the financial vibes of their creations long after the recording session.

Also Read: 6 Must-Have Music Apps for Every Music Lover

Conclusion

In the digital dance of notes and numbers, musicians are orchestrating their financial destiny. From streaming royalties to virtual stages, they've found harmony in the digital realm. So, whether you're a music enthusiast or a budding artist, get ready to groove your way to financial success!

[echxly]

ngl @artcupcakes the playlist is awesome enjoy this meme i made in like 2 seconds to celebrate its existence

(link to their post, which includes explanations for each song included and a link to the playlist itself)

[artcupcakes]

“Be the change you want to see”

Here’s the playlist as can be found on Spotify and an explanation for song the choices under the cut ^u^

<iframe src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/2TbNlVJN7d9doE7K1KnBkm" width="100%" height="380" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture"></iframe>

I am praying to god this copied code works to embed the playlist. Let me know if it doesn’t work.

ALT LINK BECUASE I SUCK AT EMBEDNING APRRENTLY https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2TbNlVJN7d9doE7K1KnBkm?si=f54fdeda914c4ca0

I’ll make a more reblog friendly version of this eventually lol.

The reasoning behind each song:

1. Little Boy - Barns Courtney.

So this is one of song is here to represent Dallas and Houston’s early life and that aspect.

I imagine growing up with a young Houston put a bit of expectations on Dallas to be a good older brother. However still Dallas is very young and most reasons for criminal behavior are environmental. So while not the best role model, he still does try.

Young Dallas is pulling in a lot money and goods from that job he doesn't talk about(The mob) while Houston, still young, seems to not be heading in that direction. 

This possible pressure to be as good would cause a lot of frustration that leads to hire more quite but seething attuite later in life. His brother is both the worst and the best brother in Houston’s life at this point.

Later on in life Dallas will fondly remember these times as good and simple...

Houston not so much.

Little boy inside my chest Beat my heart just like a drum Tell him I'll never forget How it was when we were young.

 2. Freaks - Surf Curse

Another aspect of their younger self's relationship in my opinion would be being outcastes.

After all as kids and teenagers can be cruel and are quick to hop against anything that’s different. Houston’s lack of social skills or maybe even an unwillingness to socialize, preferring to be alone would differently cause this.

Heck even Dallas’s association with the mob could also cause issue.

Don’t go near the Steele kid, if you upset him the consequences could be very bad. He is after all with the mob.

Feelings of isolation, weather or not he chose such a thing would cause some issues. Making him more Neurotic and maybe even a little self-sabatoshing. But even still he craves affection he will not getting. Making him apathic towards other’s pain later in life.

Don't kill me just help me run away From everyone I need a place to stay Where I can cover up my face Don't cry, I am just a freak

Meanwhile Dallas is dealing with his own problems. You see he was ordered to assasinate someone by the Chicago mob, a young female informant. This would fester and grow into his betrayal of the mob.

My head is filled with parasites Black holes cover up my eyes I dream of you almost every night Hopefully I won't wake up this time

But it’s likely neither of them talk about it. Just their feelings of negativity with no apparent reason why being thrown at each other. And yet that earlier fondness was still there. 

Even as this gap between them grows and transforms the relationship...

3. Locked In A Cage -  Brick + Mortar

Let’s face it, both brothers don’t have the best control of their anger.

It might not be obvious at first though. Rather than festering through physical actions, it’s through speech or even lack of speech. Cutting words and harsh shouting. If you are already stressed chances are you’re not going to entertain someone else anger.

A build of a complicated feelings turn to a boil. Both in the past and in the present of the Payday timeline.

A wishing to return to something peaceful. But an unwillingness to let go of anger. They were right and the other brother was wrong clearly. Maybe even a resident of what the other represents. Inferiority and Superiority.

A unwillingness to compromise despite their deeper wishes to repair the old.

All coming to a head with a punch. Physical violence is not recommended to fix most situations, but here it strangely worked. Years of walking around an issues finally being worked out of their system.

An understanding of each other.

They might not like it, but they at least now they understand each other.

You know I got the anger of a burning sun, Say hold up just a minute, don't burn me now, If you burn me down you'll never find your way, If you burn me down, it's true, a little drop of dreams,

4. Two Birds -  Regina Spektor

You know I had to do it.

The two brothers who where at first close but then slowly grew a part?

One looking for freedom, the other saying the same but actually looking for comfort. A tale of the pursuit of freedom vs the pursuit of safety.

As one brother leaves south the other is left alone. All alone. The one thing he was told wasn’t going to happen. Or maybe he just thought that and wasn’t told at all? The truth is unknown.

An older brother see’s his younger half say one thing before doing the other. A liar looking to save face. More concerned with image. He sees his younger brother vain. It’s time for action. And a man offers him that. An offer for a Payday. When he offers the same to his younger brother two years later, there’s hesitancy.

A mournful anger filled with disappointment.

Two birds of a feather Say that they're always gonna stay together But one's never going to let go of that wire He says that he will But he's just a liar

5. Stressed Out -  Twenty One Pilots

Mutual nostalgia comes in many forms though. And it can be bonding. It can reframe older memories. A drink shared between two coworkers. Two brothers. A quiet conversation full of things understanding.

Words made to mask sincerity become more truthful. A sliver of vulnerability as they understand each other.

Used to play pretend Give each other different names We would build a rocket ship and then we'd fly it far away Used to dream of outer space But now they're laughing at our face singing "Wake up, you need to make money", yeah

6. Have a Seat Misery - Shayfer James

How do you think Dallas asked his brother to join the Payday gang?

Did he grip Hoxton’s mask as he asked for a small favor? Did he hunt his brother down? Or did his brother contact him at a good time? Perhaps Bain set it up instead. After all despite having many crimes under his belt, the young Steele is a ghost.

Either way inviting someone under the pretense of identity identity is not a good idea. Ongoing identity theft may lead to him actually losing touch with his own identity, however fragile that image has been built up in his thirty years on this planet.

Have a seat misery, Lord how I’ve missed you, Don’t go crying to me, That I kept you away for too long,

7. Miracle Mile - The Unseen Guest

Well first impressions are never that good. Even if the younger brother already knew Chains from before, he was a lot different now. Or at least he thinks so.

Experience leads to confidence. 

It can be mistaken as arrogance.

On both sides.

But even still the deals been sweeten and the newer Hoxton is on the team now. And the Payday Gang is more than ready to get some revenge and make some money.

Even if it kills them.

On that miracle mile Where I got my start Is it a crime To take it to heart Cause the sun never shines On that great parade That leads down the line That ends at your gate

8. Seashore - The Regrettes

Maybe nicknames can be seen as condescending or a way to undercut authority.

And maybe the brothers did use it like that some times. But other times where truthful. Were meant to be sentimental.

Eye rolls and arguments that never happen due to this.

However if they're one person they don’t want patronizing them, it’s their enemies. They’ll burn those idiots together.

Teach em a lesson.

You're talkin' to me like a bitch Do you ever hear the way that you speak? Don't have to be so mean just 'cause you're weak I'm like nobody else, so you can just go fuck yourself I do a lot of stupid stuff but don't act like you're so tough

9. Steal from the Rich, Give to Myself -  Simon Viklund

"They're going to do everything they can to take you down!"

As the two worked together more in fights they understood each outside of fights even more. A recognition of body language and speech patterns. Relearning something they thought they knew about the other.

Cutting words turned into friendlier banter.

Mutual laughter over their enemies. Lack of restraint as they gain power, this could lead to some messy fights. But they stopped sticking. Just a few punches thrown and then an hour to cool off before going back to friendly terms.

Some say it was a shame that it came at a cost of their own morality. But hey that’s what they have Bain for. He’s not going anywhere.

And all the while I got this faint suspicion That I have fallen from grace I make believe that I'm dining with kings I'm justifying reprehensible things The wind is rising underneath my feathers The sun is hot on my wings You can't control me I can't even control myself

10. Paper Planes - M.I.A

Their is nothing like the rush of a heisting spree with people your close with. A high unmatched with others. Getting away with a grand sin. All while in good company. And now they where about to break out Dallas’s old friend. 

And his excitement and determination was infectious.

Nothing can go wrong. This will be the best day of the Steele brothers lives.

Sometimes I think sitting on trains Every stop I get to I'm clocking that game Everyone's a winner, we're making our fame Bona fide hustler making my name

11. Icarus -  Bastille

How do you deal with guilt? What happens when your purpose fulfilled? You have no reason to be here anymore, why not raise your wings. 

And all your brother can do is scream in agony as his young brother runs through bullet storms barely dodging. But your purpose is done so their is no need to be careful.

Why not fly through the sun?

Because others care about him. Your younger brother, the one you heal, you fight, you love, has lost the plot. Afraid of fading he’s doing something more stupid. You can’t be everywhere at once and yet he blames you for that. But don’t you deserve it... You do have a habit of leaving others behind. No matter how much it hurt

You put up your defences when you leave You leave because you're certain Of who you want to be

12. Godspeed -  Shayfer James

The tension has is seconds from snapping.

And yet there’s care. Tremulously frustrating yet caring.

The expectation that the other was reliable has been broken. Yet they still do relay on each other. An expectation of disappointment. Yet anger when it does happen. Yet pleased joy when it does not.

A back in forth, tug and pull of emotions.

You’ve got some nerve to be coming around with that smile on your face and your feet on the ground I used to be someone that you could believe but it’s been a while, been a while

13. Ms. Led - Jack Stauber

Apologies aren't common between them. When they do happen it’s quiet and tender. A giving up of pride. Vulnerability they didn’t have the luxury of showing before. 

They learned to be gentle with each other. To not break the other. Pain dose not always make you stronger. Sometimes it’s just that; Pain.

Something they had to teach both themselves and each other.

Alone and dull You needed therapy I gave you all You wanted more from me

14. Scared of the Dark -  Lil Wayne, Ty Dolla Sign

Pain is not a good foundation. Comfort how ever can be.

Great for building something new. A new identity. To be better than those past mistakes. To move on from it all. With the knowledge and support of the other brother. 

Two stars with in the same galaxy. They depend on the same gravity and energy. And a new understanding of that. 

Even if they die right here on the White House.

They are brothers. They are Dallas and Houston. They’re in this together

I'm not scared of the dark I'm not running, running, running No, I'm not afraid of the fall I'm not scared, not at all Why would a star, a star ever be afraid of the dark?

15. Fire & Flame

Maybe they weren’t groom for sacrifice.

Maybe their brothership was based upon unstable tumultuous circumstance.

But one can not deny that they’re world will change forever.

An explosion, colossal, when the munitions blew Devastation and debris for miles fired through The Mont-Blanc was gone, and the town with it, too And the waters raged up in return

16. Still Alive (J.C Mix) - Aperture Science Psychoacoustice Laboratories

Living through some shit and making it to the beach side is something. All hell and understanding is left in awe.

Maybe there’s something to prophecies

Go ahead and leave me I think I'd prefer to stay inside Maybe you'll find someone else To help you?

17. One Day - Lovejoy

Many can look into the past to see what the future holds in store...

One day, I know that you will be there One day, I'll focus on the future, maybe One day, oh baby, isn't life so Fucking inconsistent?

18. Privately Own Spiral Galaxy - Crywank

When two are together this ability can increase. But it can also lead to more negative thinking. But there’s something to be said in that style of thought. So a balance is needed. 

Two brothers working together.

As it always been. Even when it wasn’t. Even when they where apart

Thought cycle gusty a mind filled with hot air Must I care for nothing more than myself? Do I dare admit the fraught thoughts cavorting, resorting in inner-directed mourning, for the part of me that was selfless but left without a warning Well that’s what I said, but maybe it’s the fact that I detest, this obsession with myself that leaves a mess inside my head Oh shit, I’m doing it again, repelling any potential friend, revealing my innate ability to never fully comprehend, anything bigger than myself, but in the end I still pretend

19. I Hear a Symphony - Cody Fry

Reflection is bittersweet like most of life. Every person you love leave you but you have their memories with you always. The feels and stories that can be passed on. Let their memory live.

But what about criminals who secrets are safer to be such?

Do the brothers story just die like that? Casted aside and forgotten?

With simple songs, I wanted more Perfection is so quick to bore You are my beautiful, by far Our flaws are who we really are

I used to hear a simple song That was until you came along You took my broken melody And now, I hear a symphony

20. Hidden in the Sand - Tally Hall

A moment of calm as two brothers just be. An enjoyable moment free from everything else.

Did they got what they deserved? It doesn't matter. Maybe later it will. But not now.

Now it’s just two brothers.

Silence has never been more comforting and soft.

We were playing in the sand And you found a little band You told me you fell in love with it Hadn't gone as I planned

[cellobuster]

Out now on the Tidal Wave Games podcast: it's the grand finale of the SEE YOU, SPACE COWBOY... actual play, and the Dosage Tango crew are prepping for one last job. But will they pull it off, or is there a weak link in their plan?

Next week: the EPILOGUE.

The spiel:

SEE YOU, SPACE COWBOY… (abbreviated CUSC) is a tabletop roleplaying game for 3-6 players set in outer space where the players create characters called Outlaws: bounty hunters who fly across the galaxy in search of their next payday. You create situations where they land in hot water, manipulate people, and start gunfights, all while dealing with their debt and trauma.

The actual play podcast follows the adventures of four such Outlaws — Sammy Sinclair, the self-styled Scat King of Ganymede; Emmy Acero, broke college student and part-time stunt double; Dr. Pete Moss, disgraced and disbarred professor of botany; and Spanks Sinatra, horribly depressed drag king Sinatra impersonator — as they try to earn money and survive in the rough and tumble world of space bounty hunting aboard their starship, the Dosage Tango.

VOD: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiTkVo13dcyyOM2CDTKOfZVpg3PVCoFLU

Podcast: https://anchor.fm/tidalwavegames

Buy the game: https://tidalwavegames.com/post/672571246425276416/s-e-e-y-o-u-s-p-a-c-e-c-o-w-b-o-y

Support us on Patreon, so we can pay our artists and editors and keep making cool stuff: https://www.patreon.com/Tidalwavegames

And get notified when the Kickstarter launches for our upcoming setting zine CERES: THE PLANET THAT NEVER SLEEPS: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/seeyouspacecowboy/ceres-the-planet-that-never-sleeps

[lessonsat30]

Lesson #4 - Bring about your own revival

In the process of looking back, I've realised how many things I loved that I no longer do anymore. I don't know why I stopped most of them - I guess as I moved away from places, and grew apart from people, and the priorities in my life changed, I just let some things slide.

Don't be like me. Don't let go of the things that make you happy. And if you have, then bring them back in your life.

I miss going to gigs. They were good nights, enjoying and discovering music, letting yourself go, and being part of a community who bonded together through music. I don't know what the music scene is like in the city I live now, and I suspect it's a bit muted at the moment because of COVID. Nevertheless I've decided to make more of an effort to go to live shows where I can, even if it means going on my own. I'm even thinking of starting my daughter's musical education by taking her to a few day festivals - she's responded in surprising ways to Ville's playlist. She seems to be a big fan of the pagan/folk/viking stuff (that's my girl) as well as black metal (I don't understand this at all. My kid apparently likes spinning around in a circle to it) so I'm hoping to foster some good musical taste in her.

It's not just events I'm talking about though. It's the little things too. I've been going through old journals and messages logs while doing this project, and I've come across so many things that used to be in my life but aren't anymore. So I'm bringing them back.

I miss the coffee we used to drink in Finland - it's costing me an arm and a leg but I've finally found somewhere that sells that brand and have some on the way. Although if anyone can get me a regular hook up to Juhla Mokka I'd appreciate it! Similarly I really want to drink salmari again, and have a bottle waiting in my basket for payday. One time I brought a bottle back for my uni friends, and no-one else could stand the taste, they thought I was joking when I said I love it.

I loved my old horror films, the atmospheric silent works of Murnau, the classic Universal monsters of the 30s, the fun campness of Hammer... My husband hates anything like that, I once took him to see a showing of The Cabinet of Dr Caligari with a live orchestra and he fell asleep. I didn't want to bore him so I stopped watching them. Screw him, I'm putting on The Black Cat tonight - Lugosi and Karloff, what's not to love?

Listening to the playlist has reminded me of how much I loved rock and metal music, so I'm playing it around the house more often. Again, my husband doesn't appreciate it, he condemns all my music as "noise", and when I was trying to enamour myself to him in the early days I stopped listening to it. But now I figure if he can take over the TV watching his YouTube videos about knives and campervans, then I can take over the kitchen and enjoy my music.

I was always very interested in linguistics, but let it slide after graduating and leaving that academic environment. It's not much, but I've subscribed to a magazine to try to get back into it. For obvious reasons I was learning Finnish, but stopped after that part of my life imploded. I'm starting again from scratch. Who says you have to be visiting a country to learn their language? It's very slow progress but I'm enjoying the challenge - I reckon I might just be able to hold a whole conversation by the time I retire.

It's not just about things that I did, but includes actions of those around me that cultivated a little happiness. As a kid, we'd arrive home from school and mum would make us hot chocolate and crumpets. There's no better combination when you come in from the cold, and I've started to do the same for my kid. I hope it can create the same warm, loving memories for her as it did for me.

I think it's natural to grow out of stuff, or to downplay something you like to impress your new beau (urgh) but if they truly bring you joy then it's never too late to bring them back into your life. Have a think about what things you've let go, and start your own revival. Do the things that make you happy. You won't regret it.

It's a whole variety of things that I'm re-establishing. I won't lie, some are causing some tension in my marriage, but I'm fed up of having to pretend I don't find happiness from something just to impress my husband. If I'm not the same person he knows as "me", then that's my fault for changing who i was to impress him, but it doesn't mean I should hide what makes me happy for the rest of my life.

[yayodancing]

Best of 2021. This year is only 50 because, honestly, rap really bored me this year and not a lot grabbed me outside of it. Yes, there were absolutely highlights this year, and had I not added WLR to my lists last year, I’d consider that album good enough to justify 2021 musically by itself. Nothing topped it, or really came close to it, though. We saw Carti’s most direct student, Mario Judah, who created his own WLR before Carti dropped, basically drop off the face of the earth; except for his biggest moment to date, arguably the best song to actually drop this calendar year, his unofficial remix of “Miss The Rage”, which was somehow better than the version Carti was on. Thankfully, in his stead, we got another brilliant student of Jordan Carter in Yeat; a kid who almost single-handedly carried the rest of the year.

No, my list doesn’t include RXK Nephew, because ODB and Lil Bisms are played out in 2021. Nor does it include Piano G, because between him and Lil Tjay, I never wanted to listen to rap playlists once in 2021. I also don’t need Armand Hammer in my life; I’ll just go listen to a DJ Clue mixtape if I want to hear mediocre rappers do things over late 90s grimy instrumentals

1. Playboi Carti - Slay3r

2. Mario Judah - I Miss The Rage

3. Baby Keem - Family Ties (feat. Kendrick Lamar)

4. Yeat - Get Busy

5. Lil Nas X - Industy Baby (feat. Jack Harlow)

6. Kanye West - Off the Grid (feat. Fivio Foreign & Playboi Carti)

7. Pierre Bourne - 4U

8. Nardo Wick - Who Want Smoke (feat. Lil Durk, 21 Savage & G Herbo)

9. LPB Poody - Batman

10. Young Nudy - Scott Evil

11. SoFaygo - Knock Knock

12. Doja Cat - Kiss Me More (feat. SZA)

13. Don Tolliver - Way Bigger

14. Billie Eilish - Oxytocin

15. Young Thug - Bubbly (feat. Travis Scott & Drake)

16. 21 Lil Harold - Freak Hoe

17. Dusty Locane - Rolando (Caught In The Rain)

18. Slowthai - DEAD

19. JPEGMafia- THOT’S PRAYER!

20. Isiah Rashad - From the Garden (feat. Lil Uzi Vert)

21. Travis Scott - Mafia

22. Duke Deuce - Duke Skywalker

23. Turnstile - Alien Love Call (feat. Blood Orange)

24. Westside Gunn - Hell On Earth (feat. Benny The Butcher)

25. Yves Tumor - Crushed Velvet

26. Sahbabbi - Bread Head

27. Lancey Foux - sweet!

28. ILoveMakonnen - Whoopsy (feat. payday)

29. Soulja Boy - Rick & Morty

30. RX Papi - Terry

31. Yung Fazo - Adding (feat. SoFaygo)

32. YBN Nahmir - Opp Stoppa (feat. 21 Savage)

33. Trippie Redd - Miss The Rage (feat. Playboi Carti)

34. 454 - Kobe

35. Tyler, the Creator - Massa

36. EST Gee - 5500 Degrees (feat. Lil Baby, 42 Dugg & Kylo Rodriguez)

37. Bia - Can’t Touch This

38. Kodak Black - Z Look Jamaican

39. Cico P - Tampa

40. Drake - Fair Trade (feat. Travis Scott)

41. City Girls - Twerkulator

42. Chief Keef - Harley Quinn

43. Guapdad 4000 - How Many

44. Valee - y (feat. Z Money)

45. Rooga - GD Anthem

46. Maxo Kream - Big Persona (feat. Tyler, the Creator)

47. Wizkid - Essence (feat. TEMS)

48. 21 Savage - Knife Talk (feat. A Project Pat Sample & Drake)

49. Lil B - RIP Lil Peep Based Freestyle

50. Abra - Unlock It (feat. Playboi Carti)

[malumsmermaid]

Summer Days

Part of the 5SOS writer collab headed up by @h0tsos​ and @maluminspace​

Based on the prompt “I don’t know if you noticed, but I have no idea what I’m doing. I almost never do.”

Camp Counselors Malum

Writing Collab Masterlist

Warnings: None! All Fluff

Word Count: 1.9k

After a semester of student teaching for one of their college courses, it was time for summer, and Calum and Michael had decided to stay in town and hold down the apartment for their other two roommates who were electing to go home. Once finals had wrapped up and they said goodbye to the classes they’d been working with they began looking for jobs. They were both sitting in bed together when Michael found an available job working a summer day camp. The pair talked about it for a few minutes before applying, assuming playing games and mainly supervising kids would be easier than lesson planning and having to actually teach things. Plus they were excited by the possibility of seeing some of their kids again, so Calum pulled out his laptop and they sat side by side as they applied.

After about two weeks it was clear that this was different. For one thing, due to low staffing, the kids were all split up into three groups instead of one group per grade level. So now, even though Michael and Calum recognized some of the kids in their group, some of those kids who were bearable during the school year now had some slight sibling drama. Then there were the parents, something Michael and Calum had yet to deal with. Half of them were fine, nice people who cared about their kids and were happy to hear about their day during pick up. The other half, however, was a mix of Karens and Beckys, some of them stay at home moms who were just getting the kids out of the house so that they could go have margs with their girl friends and have a spa day to wash away the stress of the thought of them actually being parents. Some of them even had Michael wondering if he should go to the pharmacy and get a second flu shot for that year. 

However, despite some of the parents they had to deal with and the occasional drama, both sibling spats and between groups of friends, Michael and Calum were really enjoying their summer job. They kept up their school year tradition of every other payday one taking the other out for a date night, whether it was as simple as going out to dinner and a movie, or a sunset picnic, or a nice night in the bowling alley. 

It was five weeks in, and even with kids coming and going with the weeks, some just disappearing for a one week vacation, others having other camps to go to, things had steadied. It was a rainy Friday at the start of the Fourth of July weekend, so attendance was low to begin with, some kids leaving early. A few of the kids who were there were upset over swim time being cancelled on account of the thunder, but Calum had run down to the gym, claiming it for their group as a replacement for the hour of swimming. 

Calum gone to set up the games and the crafts set up on the counter to dry until parents came, Michael and the other leader started a round of Heads Up Seven Up to keep things quiet and calm until Calum said he was ready. Finally, Calum radioed down that everything was ready and Michael got all the kids lined up, hovering to the back of the line as they made their way through the rec center to the gym. Once in the gym, the kids all gathered around Calum and he smiled saying, “Ok, since it’s a small group today, we’re doing stations. We’ve got two boxes of four square, two spots for basketball games, and then some jump ropes and hula hoops. I’m gonna put on some music and whenever it stops you have to move to a new station, alright?” The kids all cheered and Calum smiled continuing, “Alright, I’m going to give you each a number and that’s going to be the station you’re starting at, ok?”

Once the kids were all split up into groups and ready to start, Calum made his way over to the radio, pulling up a Kidz Bop only playlist on his phone that was already connected to the AUX jack and hitting play. The two men hovered around each other, eyes on the playing kids. After a few songs Michael hummed, “Can’t wait to go home and make dinner with legitimately any other playlist on.”

Calum smirked, hand coyly reaching up to rub Michael’s back, “Bold of you to assume that I won’t overtake the speaker and put this right back on.”

Michael shot his boyfriend a sharp look, filled with a threat that he couldn’t voice at work. Calum just bit his lip in response, pausing the music before a fifth song could play and calling out “Time to switch!”

They made it through three station changes before one of the kids from Michael’s class earlier that year came running over, “Mr. Michael!!! Come play HORSE with us!!”

Michael gave Calum a wide eyed stare as the other kids in the group came running over, grabbing him by his hands and dragging him over to their half of the basketball court.  He ended up making the first few easy shots, but then one of the kids made a shot from beyond the foul line. Calum could read the anxiety in his boyfriend’s face when it was his turn, silently begging the younger man to change stations early to rescue him. 

Calum, however, remained strong, knowing an army of upset kids was worse than Michael missing the shot. At least, until he watched the blonde’s feet slip out from under him as he shot, toppling backwards onto the floor as the basketball fell to the ground halfway between him and the hoop. 

Calum quickly jogged over, phone left on top of the radio. He helped Michael to his feet, the pair holding on maybe a second or two longer than necessary before Calum pulled away, “Need an ice pack?” he teased lightly as Michael rubbed the back of his head.

“Nah, I think I’ll live,” the blonde returned, smiling as the kids checked on him too. “Besides, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I have no idea what I’m doing. I almost never do, but especially with sports stuff.”

The kids all giggled at Michael’s response and Calum hummed. “Fine, I guess we can swap, then. Mike, you run the music and I’ll play HORSE. We’ve got until the end of this song before they need to switch again.”

Michael gave his boyfriend a teasing salute before going over to the music, tapping the screen to see how long until the song was over. He hummed as he saw texts from their group chat with Luke and Ashton. As soon as the song was over he paused the new one and made the switch stations call. Once the kids were all moving in the same direction, Calum getting pulled into four square, Michael opened the texts, using Calum’s passcode. He skimmed the latest line from Ashton, something about one of his plants. Michael just opened Calum’s camera, pulling the phone super close to his face for a picture. 

Can’t talk, working right now. Plant update t-minus 3 hours. 

As soon as the message sent Michael put the phone back down, watching on as Calum tried to take it easy on the kids, even if none of them returned the favor.  Calum ended up trapped at four square for the rest of the time in the gym, Michael jumping when he realized it was ten minutes past when they were supposed to be having afternoon snack. Calum gathered a kid from each group to help him get everything back in the equipment room, everything going away much quicker than it had come out, and soon enough they were back in the classroom.

Two hours later and there were three kids left out of all the groups, other leaders leaving Calum and Michael to wait with the kids in the game room while they cleaned the classrooms before clocking out. Calum was sitting in one of the chairs in front of a tv, a kid next to him in another chair as they played minecraft. Michael was sitting at the table with the other two kids, signout book by his elbow as he colored with them. Soon enough the two kids with Michael were going home with their stepdad and Michael picked up the crayons and extra sheets of paper. Once they were back in the closet he picked up the binder and meandered over to the xbox station.

Calum let out an exasperated sigh as Michael leaned up against the back of his chair, knocking down a stair block again. “Julien how do you get the stairs to go upside down like that dude?”

“You jus gotta fly over and like, plop a block and then aim for the top.” Julien explained.

“Oh gosh, I keep forgetting that we can fly right now...how do I do that again?”

Michael snorted and Calum spun around, giving him his best puppy eyes as he pouted, “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I have no idea what I’m doing. I almost never do.” 

Michael chuckled softly as Calum repeated his earlier statement back to him. He shoved down the temptation to kiss the pout off of Calum’s lips, instead turning to look at Julien, “Are you enjoying explaining how to play Minecraft to Mr. Calum, Julien, or would you like some actual help with your treehouse?”

Julien’s face lit up as he looked up at Michael, “Please??”

Calum just shook his head in defeat, handing the controller over as Michael pulled up another chair, setting the binder in Calum’s lap as he leaned forward, listening as Julien explained his vision for the treehouse project.

Right as Calum was about to call the main office to let them know that there was still one kid at their site, Julien’s mom came running in. They chatted for a minute, Julien excitedly telling his mom about beating Michael at HORSE “because he fell down and Mr. Calum had to take over.”

Once Julien was sure he had all his stuff and they’d cleaned up, Michael and Calum went into the office, signing onto the tablet to log their hours for the day before making their way to the car. As they sat in their seats, Michael queuing up music for the drive home, Calum turned in his seat asking, “Does your head still hurt from knocking against the floor, Mikey?”

Michael hummed, glancing towards his boyfriend and then the ceiling as he pretended to think, “Maybe a little…”

Calum grinned, leaning over, gently pushing Michael’s head so he could smooch the back of it. “Better?” 

Michael smiled, shaking his head no and tapping his cheek next, then his nose, and then his lips, each one following a new kiss from Calum in the previously tapped place. Michael sighed when Calum broke the kiss to his lips too soon for his liking. “More kisses when we get home, I promise.” Calum teased easily, finally pulling his seatbelt over his shoulder.

“I can live with that. Want me to teach you Minecraft after dinner, or were you enjoying Julien telling you what to do?”

“Maybe if you can properly motivate me I’ll learn it.” Calum said, wiggling his dark eyebrows at Michael.

“So long as you don’t forget afterwards,” Michael said, grin spreading his cheeks as he put the car in drive and began the route home.

Writer Discord: @cashtonasfuck​ @kingcals​ @koalacal @loveroflrh​ @goth5sos​ @irwinkitten​ @5-secondsofcolor​ @5sosnsfw​ @punkrockpreferences​ @gigglyirwin​ @fallinluke​ @calumcest​ @catearscliffo​ @mermaidcashton​ @spicycal​ @sublimehood​ @shal-pal​ @queer-5sos​ @mysticalhood​ @pinkbubbles-and-bigtroubles​ @castaway-cashton​ @jae-writes-fanfiction​ @sexgodashton​ @vipclifford​ @adoringlrh​

Tag List: @calpops​ @wildflowergrae​ @empathycth​ @talkfastromance4​ @thesubtweeter​ @allier59​ @afihemmings​ @treatallwithkindness​ @theyorthemrecords​

Slash!Tag List: @tigerteeff 

[brokensoundkuci]

Playlist 4/1/19

Alright everyone, here it is! Sorry for the delay, but here is what was played on the show this past Monday night (April 1st). I want to give a big shout out to my friend Scott (host of Madhause Groove) for subbing the show and for playing such an awesome collection of music! Thank you to all of you who tuned in. I will be back next Monday night (April 8th) from 10:00pm to 12:00am. Catch you then!

Artist - Song - Album/Source:

Kiyoshi Maddox - Porky Pig Artiste Intro - Private Archive

Hollywood Fats - The Groove - Hollywood Fats And The Paladins

 Capt. Beefheart And The Magic Band - Big Eyed Beans To Venus - Clear Spot

Chip Taylor And The New Ukranians - Fuck All The Perfect People - Fuck All The Perfect People

Agent Orange - A Cry For Help In A World Gone Mad - Living In Darkness

Black Flag - TV Party - Damaged

Ramshackle Glory - We Are All Compost In Training - Die The Nightmare

Spot 1019 - This World Owes Me A Buzz - Pitch A Tent

Jello Biafra - Are You Drinking With Me Jesus? - Prairie Home Invasion

 Warren Zevon - My Shit’s Fucked Up - Life’ll Kill You

Washington Squares - You Can’t Kill Me - Washington Squares

Tom Waits - Let Me Get Up On It - Bone Machine

Malcolm McLaren - Fans - Madam Butterfly

Chip Taylor And The New Urkranians - Fuck All The Perfect People Part 2 - Fuck All The Perfect People

Janiva Magness - I Won’t Cry - Bing Lounge

 The Velvet Underground - I’m Gonna Move Right In - The Velvet Underground

Lil Ed And The Imperials - Leaving Here - Rattleshake

Fanny - Hey Bulldog - Fanny Hill

The Hillbilly Moon Explosion - Down On Your Knees - With Mosters And Gods

Abigail Washburn And The Shanghai Restoration Project - Sala - Afterquake

Justin Johnson - Crankin Up The 3-String Shovel - Justin Johnson

Dogfeet - Now I Know - Dogfeet

 Blind Boys Of Alabama / Lou Reed - Help Me Find The Proper Way - David Letterman

Exene Cervenka - Famous Barmaid - Old Wives Tales

Valerie June - Workin’ Woman Blues - Pushing Against A Stone

Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir - Nehemiah’s Misfortune - Ten Thousand

World Entertainment War - Telepathics Anonymous - Telepathics Anonymous

Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band - Poor Until Payday - Poor Until Payday

The Dead Milkman - If You Love Someone, Set Them On Fire - Metaphysical Graffiti

JB And The Pickers - Supersoul Theme - Vanishing Point Soundtrack

Big Mama Thorton - Sing Out For Jesus - Vanishing Point Soundtrack

Hollywood Fats - Half Steppin’ - Larger Than Life

  * = New Release (Within 3 Months)

+ = Request

[anomaly-valley]

What is Anomaly Valley?

In short; Anomaly Valley is a furry/post-furry horror and slice of life setting, consisting yet to be written stories of yet to be made characters brushing up against, making out with, getting mutilated by, getting away from, etc the unknown, liminal and otherworldly.

In long; Anomaly Valley is a mental playground/headworld, pick-and-choosing my favorite bits of various media and academia, chucking it into a blender until smooth. The Backrooms, Splatoon, World of Horror, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Payday 2, SCP Foundation, Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return, Mystery Flesh Pit, extinct species both recent and not, furgonomics, paleo-shorelines, urban legends, mythology, and more are all points of reference for this project.

Further links for who, what, where, when, and chapters are to come. There’s also an ever expanding playlist, which at the time of this writing (2/11/22) is at 1,025 videos!

[fakesam]

Belated Black Panther Thoughts

Everything happening regarding Black Panther right now feels like a miracle. You can only congratulate a giant, increasingly powerful conglomerate so much for realizing black money runs the same as white money, but it is still a moment to be celebrated. Seeing a movie this proudly black in the limelight, with such a large budget and plenty of promotional backing, is delightfully paradoxical given the toxic whiteness infecting the national atmosphere from the top down. This movie dropped at the right time. The biggest individual piece of promo comes courtesy of Black Panther: The Album, curated by Kendrick Lamar and the rest of the Top Dawg Entertainment braintrust. Licensed movie soundtracks have experienced something like renaissance over the last couple years, a business maneuver congealing the interests of film studios looking for anything to boost social media traffic and musicians to get some extra exposure and a decent payday. The results of these partnerships has been mixed at best, even when the Best Rapper Alive is involved. Remember when Kendrick rapped over an overly macho remix of Tame Impala’s “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards”? Most people don’t.

Even with this project, it was easy to develop some cynicism about the final results. Kendrick has become more and more intransigent about being the voice of the voiceless, but he’s hasn't been above easy mainstream pop dollars in the past. Man gave verses to Taylor Swift and Maroon 5, and performed with Imagine Dragons. “All The Stars”, the most successful single off The Album, is a pleasant enough pop-rap hit that struts perfectly over the end credits of a blockbuster, but it lacks the depth of feeling that has made Lamar the current Poet Laureate of Black America. There’s also “Pray For Me”, a Weeknd and Kendrick collab that sounds like it was salvaged off the Starboy cutting room floor. These songs are fine, but eminently forgettable. Thankfully, these tracks are clear outliers, the lone examples of mainstream genuflecting across the entire project. The uniqueness and specificity that makes Black Panther so appealing as a film is also apparent in the sprawling sonic odyssey of its soundtrack. It’s better than anyone could've hoped for.

The playlist era of album design, gives credence to the worst impulses of people just trying to get paid, narrative coherence be damned. Migos’ Culture II was ruined by an engorged tracklist that led to a runtime comparable to most of the nominees for Best Picture at the Oscars. Twenty-four songs was at least ten too many, but who needs an editor when the penalty for choosing quantity over quality is so minimal? But it’s the perfect format for a movie soundtrack.

Kendrick’s ability as a tastemaker has never really been a thing to consider until now. His albums are hermetically-sealed portraits of his psyche, exploring his personal tensions and how they’re informed by his personal history and the lineage of black strife in America. This intricate exploration of his inner self doesn’t leave much room for other voices - the featured artists welcomed into his world are brought in for a very specific purpose. Kendrick is also very selective about the songs of other artists he’s willing to jump on. Combine that with his social media reticence, and the lists of contemporaries that Kendrick listens to are tantalizingly vague. There’s an undeniable intrigue to learning who a near-consensus superstar genius deems worthy of the aux cord. Consciously leeching on to the burgeoning movements of younger rappers is a tactic that Drake has perfected over the years. The two current titans of hip-hop have been acting out a musical cold war for the last couple years, so it’s tempting in a sense to think of Black Panther: The Album as Kendrick running with Drake’s idea of a “playlist project” that he tried to make happen with the release of More Life.

But it’s much more tempting to talk about the sumptuous quality of this music on hand. The litany of artists brought together to assemble this album, a mix of established stars, burgeoning upstarts and total unknowns, bring disparate genres and musical approaches to the table, all cohesively strung together under the diasporic flag of black excellence.

It’s obvious in hindsight to see why Kendrick was so attracted to the project that he asked to oversee the entire soundtrack after watching snippets of the film during its production. The divide between T’Challa and Killmonger’s views on progress mirrors the internal strife that has Kendrick has been ruminating on his entire career. TDE took their role as gatekeepers seriously, drawing delineations between the conflicts of the movie and the endless struggle that is sadly inherent with the black experience. Black Panther could never have the intimate complexity of a solo Kendrick record, but it details the black experience with more nuance than many albums told from one perspective. The strokes are broad, but the completed painting is still worthy of admiration.

Most of TDE shows up in some form. SZA provides the hook on the aforementioned “All the Stars”, Schoolboy Q reminds us of his undeniable charisma on “X”. Ab-Soul puts together his first good verse since his 2012 album Control System on “Bloody Waters”. We even get a glimpse of the lesser seen, frivolous Kendrick on “Big Shot”, a bouncy, “New Freezer” interpolating Travis Scott collab that doubles as the latest entry in the “Dope Rap Songs built around a Flute Sample” pantheon. from rap to pop to heavily indebted house music from South Africa. But it’s the newer faces that making their formal introduction to larger audiences that makes this album genuinely exciting. SOB x RBE have received most of the acclaim for their scene-stealing performance on “Paramedic”, and that praise is warranted, but they’re not the only up and comers who killed it. Jorja Smith makes a war march sound like heaven on “I Am”, and South African artists Yugen Blakrok and Babes Wodumo make their case for international renown on “Opps” and the South African house jam “Redemption”. Kendrick is present on every song - his contributions ranging from being the best rapper alive to windy background vocalist - but he’s very much a secondary figure in the works of others.

It’s bears repeating how remarkable it is that this thing has been allowed to exist. That Future inhales a bunch of helium, interpolates Slick Rick, and asks for a blowjob with one absurdly entertaining turn of phrase. Someone at Marvel signed off on all of this. We should all be thankful for that man or woman or committee of persons. What could’ve been a simple cash grab for TDE becomes something much more stirring and exciting thanks to a commitment to take the source material seriously enough to use it as a launching point for work that is both evocative and entertaining. A perfect table setter for the main event.

As I sat in the chair of the theater waiting for the movie to start, I was slightly nervous about the quality of the movie. The hype cycle had spun into overdrive had built the movie to stratospheric heights. Black Panther stopped being a movie and became a religious communion. That’s a lot to live up to. Aside from the inescapable expectations created by fans, Marvel’s cinematic spell lost their power over me years ago, as the negative aspects of the “Movies as TV episodes” system became more glaring. Nothing of consequence ever happened and the action scenes were overwrought and anticlimactic, antiseptic, CGI-soaked action that put me to sleep. The last comic book movie I enjoyed without much reservation was the first Guardians of the Galaxy, way back in 2014, 87 years ago. Even Wonder Woman, one of the rare superhero films allowed to take some risks - as much as giving women the chance to be all-powerful warriors without the prompting of a man counts as a risk to some people - lost me during the third act when Gal Gadot fought a Bloodborne boss yelling corny “Give In To Evil and Join Me!!!!!!!” dialogue in the middle of a flaming airfield. When comic book movies go extremely comic book-y, I lose all interest. My expectations were middling despite the widespread adoration of the movie that compelled me to go see it in the first place. Not quite as cynical as I tend to be, but not wearing a T’Challa costume to the theater.

By the time the entire elite class of Wakanda was shimmying from on high while T’Challa fought for the throne of this Afro-futurist utopia (the first time this happens), I realized how wrong my assumptions were. I didn’t realize how much I needed this movie to exist. Just witnessing this much blackness - a proud, intelligent, secure version of blackness - actively enriched me while I was watching it. The power of representation isn’t lost on me, but I believed I was past the point where I would experience such gratification from a giant blockbuster. I underestimated how affirming it would be to see this much black prosperity on film. It’s amazing how impactful the casting of black actors in roles usually given to white people can be. I’m jealous of little kids who can look up to Shuri or T’Challa or Nakia and feel a little less ashamed of themselves at a young age. M’Baku’s capacity to be large and menacing and also capable of telling jokes about cannibalism is magical. I would watch all of these characters do anything for hours. Instant icons, all of them.  

Black Panther also solves the eternal villain problem that’s been flummoxing superhero films since Heath Ledger died. Killmonger is incredible. He is still a villain, since his endgame of choice is to start a literal race war, but his motivations and reasoning up to that point are totally understandable. From an outsider’s perspective, Wakanda is this hovel of selfish conservatism that does nothing to stop systemic oppression and kills anyone who whispers about their existence too loudly. Sitting pretty in their Vibranium-powered towers above the struggle. It’d be easy to resent Wakanda if you’ve never seen Shuri pranking T’Challa in her lab. The most logical emotion for him is anger. He went out like a G, too. That last line was perfect. I would have liked to see more of a conversation between Killmonger and T’Challa before he took over, but you can only hope for so much civil rights philosophizing in a blockbuster. It was enough to feel like the obligatory third act battle was had actual stakes. Black Panther finally made the Game of Thrones fandom sensible to me. Political maneuvering can be way more engaging than I realized. Blame George Lucas for that train of thought.

I find it hard to think about this movie in any critical sense because I’m so happy that it was allowed to exist in this form. After sleeping on it, I will concede that the South Korea sequence didn’t need to be that long. The “Andy Serkis is a Soundcloud rapper” goof was an airball. But anyone who would rather complain about about the scene’s usefulness as a plot device more so than celebrate the badassery of Chadwick Boseman and Danai Gurira is not to be trusted. Same goes for the fact that this movie has a sense of humor that can’t be reduced to just Tony Stark saying something snarky or tryhard quirkiness, Guardians of the Galaxy 2 style. They really let Ryan Coogler do that shit. Black Panther is the first Marvel movie that was clearly in the hands of an auteur, with a vision uncompromised by studio notes or the compulsion to tie itself to the rest of Marvel Cinematic Universe. This movie never feigns interest in the machinations of the Avengers or whatever wold-destroying portal they need to destroy, and thank god for that. The narrowness of the story lends itself to much more in-depth character development and a sense of place. It rarely feels or looks like other Marvel movies. Wakanda is too good for reality, but the open designs of the shopping areas and the impeccable fashion of the citizens tied into the history of African culture in a way that's easy to intuit. Shoutout to the Codeine Crazy-esque skyline in T’Challa’s first herb-induced vision. Shoutout to the guy with the giant disc in his mouth. Man had fits for days.

Even my mom loved it. I saw the movie with her and Danai Gurira’s performance was so good that she thought about shaving her own head in her honor. She also said she wanted braids like Angela Bassett’s character, but quickly decided against it because of the time commitment to getting such a hairstyle. But getting that level of inspiration from a Marvel movie spells out how special Black Panther is. I rarely watch movies with her anymore. Our tastes have mostly split as I’ve grown up. I haven’t seen her that giddy walking out of the theater since… ever? Her love of the movie really made it clear how special this moment is for the culture. I kinda hate that I said for the culture, but I don’t know how to end this.  Many thanks to Ryan Coogler and company for giving me that moment. Uhhhhhhhhhh bye.

[comiccrusaders]

FORCE: Ballers meets The Game Sometimes the battle off the field can be as tough as the battle on it.

Terrance Wright, the starting quarterback for the Tennessee Boxers, is at the tail end of his career. Hoping for one last big payday, he’s doing all he can to lead his team to victory at Supreme Bowl XXVII.

But events leading up to the big game could possibly alter Terrance’s future in professional football. Will dealing with shaky finances and physical health, his scheming and calculating agent, a rookie quarterback that’s on his heels, and a personal relationship with the team’s operations manager take him to his breaking point, regardless of the outcome on the gridiron?

#gallery-0-4 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-4 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-0-4 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-4 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Welcome to the world of FORCE (Football Operations Rated Championship Elite), created by Shawn Pryor, B. Alex Thompson, and Jay Reed, published by Action Lab Entertainment.

FORCE opens a new era of sports-drama series to comics, blending the hyperactive action on the field with the personal drama that takes place behind the scenes.

Creator Shawn Pryor comments, “I’m a big fan of football films such as Any Given Sunday andVarsity Blues, enjoyed sitcoms/dramas like The Game and Ballers, and I’ve been wanting to do sports comics for a very long time. FORCE is the first in a long line of creator-owned sports comic projects that B. Alex Thompson, Jay Reed, and I can’t wait to get into your hands.

Shawn goes on to say, “I also wanted to make sure that we could get this book into the hands of as many readers as possible, so the content is rated for ages 12 and up. It’s a great series for those who enjoy sports and have never read a comic book before, those who read comics and enjoy sports, or those who don’t watch live sporting events but really dig ESPN 30 for 30 documentaries.”

FORCE #1 arrives in comic book stores and digital comics outlets on November 1st, 2017. Pre-order your copy at your local comic book store with Diamond Item Code SEP171037, or online comics vendor service.

Follow FORCE at forcefootballleague.com for the latest news and updates about the series.

FORCE #1 Writer(s): Shawn Pryor, B. Alex Thompson Artist Name(s): Jay Reed Cover Artist(s): Jay Reed 32 pgs./ T / FC $3.99

About the Creators

Shawn Pryor Shawn Pryor is the creator and co-writer of the all-ages graphic novel mystery series CASH & CARRIE, writer of KENTUCKY KAIJU, and has written for Tor.com. He is one of the co-founders of Action Lab Entertainment and currently serves as their President of Creative Relations.

In his free time, he enjoys reading, cooking, listening to streaming music playlists, and talking about why Zack from the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is the greatest Black superhero of all-time. Follow him on Twitter at @shawnrpryor.

B. Alex Thompson Los Angeles born and Midwest raised, B. Alex Thompson is a comic book writer, screenwriter, letterer, and artist who has done work for Alias Enterprises, Approbation Comics, Arcana Studios, Lion Forge Comics, and Graphic Planet. Follow him on Twitter at @approbat.

Jay Reed Raised in Southern California, Jay Reed studied graphic design at Santa Ana College and launched his design business StyleUniversal in 2002. Jay is also a freelance graphic designer and published the comic book series CONTENT WITH KAOS with Hound Comics in 2013. Follow him on Twitter at @artistjayreed.

FORCE Makes Its Way To The Field This November! FORCE: Ballers meets The Game Sometimes the battle off the field can be as tough as the battle on it.

[mastcomm]

After the Oscar Glare, These Filmmakers Went Their Own Way

PARK CITY, Utah — When the writer-director Benh Zeitlin was unexpectedly thrust into the middle of the Oscar melee in 2012 with his debut feature, “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” it was a surreal, discomforting experience filled with stiff tuxedos and awkward small talk — light years away from his ragtag existence in New Orleans, where he makes lyrical, atmospheric movies with his friends.

Zeitlin was soothed somewhat by the people he met on the trail: a sit-down with Daniel Day-Lewis, a kind word from Sally Field, an interaction with Martin Scorsese, who was struggling at the time with his edit of “Wolf of Wall Street.”

“It was cool to see someone that legendary be just as stressed as me when I was cutting ‘Beasts,’” said Zeitlin, a Hollywood outsider who before his Oscar run had only visited Los Angeles once in his life.

Eight years later, this one-time Oscar wunderkind finally popped back up at this year’s Sundance Film Festival with his sophomore effort, “Wendy,” a grass-roots “Peter Pan” seen through the eyes of a liberated, adventurous Wendy Darling. Where had he been?

The pressures of the Oscar spotlight can be enormous. As nominees this year have surely discovered, becoming part of the Hollywood ecosystem comes with its own set of challenges, ones that often require you to conform to specific expectations rather than to pursue your own creative endeavors. Zeitlin and another director who went through a similar experience, Tom McCarthy of “Spotlight,” resisted that pressure — and at Sundance this month, the results of their decisions were on display.

Zeitlin’s time among the glitterati had crystallized what he wanted his future to look like, and it was nothing like theirs. As the recipient of two highly coveted nominations — best director and best adapted screenplay (his film also drew a best picture nomination) — Zeitlin had earned an invitation into the club. He could have easily parlayed his success into a hefty studio payday. Yet he chose a decidedly different route. He did hire an agent, temporarily, to fend off incoming offers, including the opportunity to work on a mega-budget “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie for Disney. “He served as my bouncer,” said Zeitlin, now 37, who instead took his newfound cachet and created his own pirate adventure.

“When it became clear that we were going to have this opportunity to make whatever we wanted, we were like, ‘O.K., we got to make the craziest one now, because who knows if they’ll ever let us back in,’” he said.

The Oscar visibility did buy him something: a bigger budget, a more ambitious palette and significant development money from his new studio partner, Fox Searchlight — the company that secured a first-look deal with the auteur when it paid $2 million for global rights to “Beasts.”

He filmed on the islands of Montserrat and Antigua, Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula and in Louisiana. Postproduction lasted close to two years. And the film was made using the same unconventional approach he employed for “Beasts”: writing and rewriting all the way through production with his sister, Eliza Zeitlin, who also served as the production designer; casting nonactors to play the roles; preferring practical magic — like using a thermite mixture to create underwater fire — to computer graphics.

Zeitlin debuted his film on Sunday to mixed reviews. The Playlist’s Greg Ellwood said “Zeitlin’s talent to soar cinematically remains intact,” while Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly wrote, “By the ninth montage of cliffs and shore and joyful screaming down a hill, it all starts to feel a little like a film-school reel.”

Zeitlin’s decision to spend so much time on his own arts-and-crafts project left many shaking their heads. They may be equally perplexed to see the writer-director Tom McCarthy, who took on the Catholic Church in the best-picture winner “Spotlight” (2015), return to Sundance with “Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made,” a kids’ movie co-starring a computer-graphic polar bear that will debut on Disney Plus next week.

“I’ve seen a lot of people win Oscars, win best pictures, do that thing, and then it’s like they’re almost trying too hard to go back to the well,” McCarthy said. “I didn’t want to do that.”

The awards race marathon — which this year concludes on Feb. 9 — is a boon for the industry: Studios spend gobs to promote their best films, and the Hollywood ecosystem froths from the trickle-down economics. Everybody from trade publications to florists to limo drivers benefits from the awards industrial complex — everyone, except maybe the talent. Yes, their star power rises in both ephemeral and concrete ways, but for those hellbent on creating their own destiny, the months away from their work can be dispiriting.

Zeitlin had been away from his New Orleans home for most of the year following the Sundance debut of “Beasts.” “I was both desperate to get home and desperate to get to work,” he said. “It was the first year I hadn’t created anything, and that was the most intense feeling.”

McCarthy too had moved his family temporarily to Los Angeles for his awards-campaign obligations. It was a “wholly uncreative” time, he said.

The 53-year old director, who began his career as a character actor, had been warned years earlier that this would happen. Back in 2004, he had a toe-dip experience with the awards race when his directorial debut, “Station Agent,” vied briefly for accolades against Peter Jackson’s final “Lord of the Rings” installment. McCarthy kept running into the New Zealander on the campaign trail, and Jackson’s frenetic pace didn’t align with the rest of the nominees’ behavior. His secret: In between all the glad-handing he would hole up at a hotel in Los Angeles writing “King Kong” with Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens.

“He said to me, ‘If you can, cling to the work,’” McCarthy recalled.

Cut to 2016, and McCarthy found his creative reprieve two weeks before the Oscars, when his New York theater friend Brian Yorkey asked him to help out on a new Netflix series “13 Reasons Why.” A surprising follow-up to “Spotlight”? Maybe. But the project was set to start shooting soon, and McCarthy could dive in, writing and directing on what would become one of the streaming giant’s most popular series.

“I really just wanted to work,” McCarthy said. “I didn’t have another movie ready, and I didn’t want to just jump into another movie.”

That same ethos has now returned McCarthy to Sundance, 17 years after the festival launched his directing career. His friends have given him grief for giving up his indie cred; one text message read, “See you’re keeping it real at Sundance with your Disney movie.” He, too, is aware of the irony. For “Station Agent,” his producers gave out beef jerky as the film’s party favor. For the “Timmy” premiere, Disney created an ice sculpture of a polar bear.

Still, McCarthy finds no shame in making a kids’ movie. To him, chronicling the adventures of a quirky, complicated kid detective was just as invigorating as depicting the Boston Globe newsroom in “Spotlight.”

“This film was still a tremendous challenge, dealing with what does it mean to make a movie for 10-year-olds, and what does it mean to have a polar bear in the movie? Whenever I’m engaged like that, I’m happy,” he said.

Zeitlin’s grand experiment of keeping Hollywood at arm’s length has also meant he could maintain his single-minded approach to making movies. It helps that he’s changed very little in his life since “Beasts.” He moved into a different rented house, though not a nicer one. He’s single. He doesn’t own a car, or even a pet.

“My biggest fear is not being able to make my art,” he said. “If people don’t like my movie or whatever, knowing that I can always go home and live, and make things that I want to make has always been really important to me. So, I’ve never taken on anything that would be a real problem if I lost it.”

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Philippines PayDay - Expectations vs Reality. True Story! | HumanMeter

Philippines PayDay - Expectations vs Reality. True Story! | HumanMeter Philippines PayDay - Expectations vs Reality. True Story! | HumanMeter Subscribe to HumanMeter channel on Youtube: https://goo.gl/JooLri Expectations vs. Reality is a new format of HumanMeter video! Here you, our dear subscriber, can find funny stories about the things that happen when our expectations face reality. The topic of this episode is a day we are waiting for the whole months. Yes, I’m talking about the PayDay in the Philippines. Have you ever promised yourself to start making savings? Spoiler: The hero of this video also does it... every month! And that's only the first situation that looks like your life. So what are you waiting for? Click “Play” to watch our hilarious expectations vs. reality video about PayDay in the Philippines. Subscribe to HumanMeter channel on Youtube: https://goo.gl/JooLri __ Public Prank Videos | HumanMeter - https://bit.ly/2wCAWJc In this playlist, we have included the funniest videos that will definitely put a smile on your face. Do you want to have a good laugh? Check out the dance prank video filmed in the Philippines Do you like comedy movies and TV shows? Watch the special public prank on singing and dancing in Public. Are you interested hearing people’s opinions on various topics? Click and view the street interview. Do you agree with their opinion? Save the playlist to have a good laugh. Filipino Humans | Human Meter - https://bit.ly/2wrYBvA Do you want to stay on top with all of the latest social problems and hear people’s life stories? If your answer is “yes”, then this playlist in exactly What you need! It is full of amazing stories of people in the Philippines that will leave you in shook. Want to find out how a lady manages to live with more than 50 cats in her home? Or, how to be a great single mom? Save this playlist by HumanMeter and get all of the answers! Tricky Questions | HumanMeter - https://bit.ly/2IbpLrX In this playlist, we have included some of the most tricky questions and interesting challenges! Do you enjoy watching street interviews and listening to different opinions? This playlist by HumanMeter contains most hilarious challenges and street interviews in the Philippines... Do you want to see a tongue twister challenge? Would you rather be poor but happy or rich but sad? Save this playlist and try to answer these tricky questions yourself. Social Experiments | HumanMeter - https://bit.ly/2IxrN9a Do you like challenging yourself? If so, this playlist by HumanMeter is worth having a look at. Are you interesting in watching social experiments and seeing how individuals react to different life situations? In this playlist, you can find a Try Not To Get Scared Challenge, Spicy Noodle Challenge, Chubby Bunny Challenge. How would you react to these challenges? Watch the exceptional Javen Tries Everything video on Philippines Street Performers. Would you be able to do the same as him? Save this playlist full of street videos and get all of the answers! __ Connect with HumanMeter Online! HumanMeter - Special social project of Kami.com.gh. Social experiments, pranks in the streets of the Philippines to test the society, to see how people behave in non-standard situations. ___ More interesting links: KAMI: https://kami.com.ph/ KAMI on Facebook: https://ift.tt/2uPMjdR KAMI on Twitter: https://twitter.com/kaminewsph Subscribe to KAMI channel : https://goo.gl/3uTGV9 #HumanMeter#

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Philippines PayDay - Expectations vs Reality. True Story! | HumanMeter

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