#real smooth kim dan :///

[coimbrabertone]

The Full Story of the Andretti Indycar Team

On September 27th, 2024, Jay Penske's sportico.com website reported that Michael Andretti was relinquishing ownership of Andretti Global and stepping back into a strategic role.

Michael Andretti, who spent over twenty years racing in Indycar in his own right and spent just as long as a team owner, was stepping away from team ownership, handing the reins to investor Dan Towriss.

Now, a lot of people have speculated as to why:

Some people say that Michael and Dan had a falling out earlier this season and Michael ultimately left.

Others say that Michael promised Dan an entry into Formula One, and now that the teams have firmly blocked that, Dan demanded some kind of return on his investment.

Others yet think that Michael stepping away is a way to smooth over the friction between Michael and the F1 team bosses, potentially giving an avenue for the Towriss-led Andretti Cadillac to make it into F1 after all.

There is also, you know, the possibility that Michael Andretti was being entirely truthful. He simply wants to step back to a more strategic role rather than dealing with team ownership.

We don't know the real answer though.

Nor is it the topic of this blog.

Instead, this blog is a retrospective on Andretti as a race team, particularly in Indycar. How they started, how the Andrettis got involved, some of the high points, and what the team means to Indycar now that, in one way or another, it won't even been the same.

The story starts in 1993, when Barry Green (a senior Australian engineer who worked with teams like Forsythe and Kraco) and Gerry Forsythe himself (who had run an Indycar team in the early and mid 80s) partnered with Player's cigarettes out of Canada to create a Formula Atlantic team, with Quebecois drivers Claude Bourbonnais and Jacques Villeneuve.

Claude finished second in the standings that year, Jacques just behind in third.

With a promising debut, the team moved up to CART in 1994, fielding Jacques Villeneuve in a Player's sponsored car. Jacques would finish second at Indy and take his debut win at Road America, to finish sixth in the standings and snatch rookie of the year.

Come 1995, the team experienced an ownership split. Barry Green kept Players and Villeneuve initially, while Gerry Forsythe started his own team with Teo Fabi - who had previously driven for Forsythe in 1983 - as the driver.

That didn't stop Team Green from continuing to be successful.

Villeneuve won the season opening Grand Prix of Miami, the Indianapolis 500, Road America yet again, and Cleveland to win the championship.

All of this was enough for Frank Williams to snatch Villeneuve out of Indycar and bring him over to Formula One.

Furthermore, Forsythe secured the Player's sponsorship for his own team for 1996, hiring Greg Moore to drive.

Meanwhile, Team Green had a pair of mediocre seasons in 1996 and 1997, with Raul Boesel and Parker Johnstone, respectively, however, by 1998, the team was ready to compete.

Barry's brother Kim joined in as co-manager of the team, KOOL cigarettes signed up as sponsor for 1997, and they switched to Honda engines that same year.

Then for 1998, they brought on Penske's Paul Tracy and Hogan's Dario Franchitti as drivers. Paul and Dario in those white, green, and gold KOOL cars would be defining drivers in those golden era of CART.

Dario struck first, winning Road America, Vancouver, and Houston in 1998, finishing third in the standings.

Come 1999, and Dario won Toronto, Detroit, and Surfers Paradise, whilst Paul Tracy won at Milwaukee and Houston. Dario finished second to Juan Pablo Montoya on countback, whilst Paul Tracy finished third.

This was Team Green's finest hour.

Paul Tracy won at Long Beach, Road America, and Vancouver in 2000 to finish fifth, but Dario struggled, and more than that, the two gained a reputation for crashing into each other. They crashed into each other at Houstin in 1998 (which Dario won), Gateway in 1999, Chicago in 2000...they were quite literally doing it once a year.

That wasn't the end of it either, since it happened again in Denver in 2002.

Anyway, also in 2001, Michael Andretti enters the story.

Now, Michael had worked with Barry Green at Kraco, but after that, Michael joined his father at Newman/Haas. From 1989 to 1992, Mario and Michael were teammates, and when Mario retired at the end of the 1994 season, it paved the way for Michael to return to Newman/Haas through the end of the 2000 season.

However, Michael wanted to race in the Indianapolis 500, and Newman/Haas was a CART diehard team. Thus, in 2001, Michael partnered with Motorola, Kevin Savoree, and Kim Green to create a satellite entry in the form of Team Motorola.

Michael won Toronto in 2001 and Long Beach in 2002 with Team Motorola, while also finishing 3rd and 7th, respectively, at Indianapolis in those years.

For 2002, Paul Tracy and Dario joined him, in 7Eleven sponsored cars - really a business-to-business (B2B) deal between KOOL and 7Eleven, effectively saying "come buy your cigarettes here!" - and Paul Tracy was pulling off a pass for the lead on Helio Castroneves as the caution came out.

Helio was deemed to have been ahead as Paul complained on the radio, saying that it was the IRL trying to cheat a CART driver out of the win, but the race finished under caution and Castroneves won his second consecutive Indy 500.

For 2003, Michael bought out Barry, with Kim Green and Kevin Savoree initially staying on as smaller partners.

Thus, Team KOOL Green became Andretti Green Racing, and they moved over to the IRL Indycar Series.

Dario Franchitti remained in the #27 car, picking up the Motorola sponsorship, while the 7Eleven sponsorship led to the other two cars becoming the #7 and the #11. The #7 would be driven by Michael Andretti through the end of the Indianapolis 500, while the #11 would be taken over by Tony Kanaan - Paul Tracy had refused to move over to the IRL, so he signed for Forsythe in CART instead.

Dan Wheldon, in a Jim Beam sponsored #26 car, would effectively replace the retiring Michael Andretti after the Indy 500.

In 2004, with the team adding on Bryan Herta in a fourth car - the XM Satellite Radio sponsored #7 - Andretti Green Racing would become the Indycar superteam. They had more cars than anybody else, their Honda engines were better than the Toyota and Chevrolet engines the competition were running, and the likes of Wheldon, Kanaan, and Franchitti would go on a tear.

Tony Kanaan would win the 2004 championship, Dan Wheldon finished second.

Dan Wheldon won the 2005 championship, Tony Kanaan finished second.

Also in 2005, the team achieved two massive milestones.

First, they swept the top four positions at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. The race in Florida was the first IRL event on a road or street circuit rather than an oval, and Andretti dominated it.

Dan Wheldon first, Tony Kanaan second, Dario Franchitti third, and Bryan Herta fourth.

Second, they won their first Indianapolis 500, capping off a career year for Dan Wheldon.

With Wheldon going to Ganassi for 2006, while Chevy and Toyota pulled out - meaning Penske and Ganassi now had those same Honda engines that Andretti was so successful with - marked a bit of a stumble for the team.

Nevertheless, with Marco Andretti replacing Wheldon in the #26, Michael returned for the Indianapolis, the father-son duo finishing second and third, narrowly losing out to Penske's Sam Hornish.

Still, Tony Kanaan won at Milwaukee and Marco won at Sonoma.

2007 marked a return to form, with Dario Franchitti winning at Indianapolis, Iowa, Richmond, and Chicagoland to take his first championship. Five wins for Tony Kanaan ensured he finished third in the standings as well.

Also, Danica Patrick took over the #7 car, putting a woman in top machinery in Indycar for the first time. She'd finish seventh that year, behind Dario and Tony, but ahead of eleventh placed Marco.

In 2008, Tony would win at Richmond to finish third in the standings again, however, the biggest story around Andretti Green Racing that year was Danica Patrick winning at Motegi. Now, a lot of people diminish this win, saying that half the Indycar world was in Long Beach for the the final Champ Car race.

However, those people don't seem to say that for all the wins that Tony, Dario, and Dan Wheldon got for that team.

Furthermore, at this point, the IRL had won the war. Scott Dixon, Helio Castroneves, all the Andretti guys...sure it wasn't a peak field, but neither was Champ Car at this point. There is a reason that the two series had no choice but to merge.

In any case, the team was on a bit of a decline as well, with the team going winless in a 2009 season where Danica beat out TK by seven points to be Andretti's top driver that season, finishing fifth.

Ryan Hunter-Reay would join the team in 2010 - now rebranded from Andretti Green Racing to Andretti Autosport - and lead them back towards the front of the field, eventually winning the championship in 2012 and the Indianapolis 500 in 2014.

Meanwhile, James Hinchcliffe won at St. Pete, Sao Paulo, and Iowa in 2013 to give the team that one-two punch again.

2015 was another struggle, only winning a single win - Detroit Race 1 with Carlos Munoz - but the team bounced back in 2016, with Alexander Rossi winning the Indianapolis 500 in the Andretti/Herta #98.

Takuma Sato in the #26 would give the team back-to-back Indianapolis 500 victories with his win in 2017, the first ever for a Japanese driver.

Then in 2018, wins at Long Beach, Mid-Ohio, and Pocono, Alexander Rossi would finish second in the championship.

Wins at Long Beach and Road America in 2019 would give Rossi another title challenge, finishing third this time.

Rossi - and Andretti proper - would go winless in 2020, but the affiliated Harding-Steinbrenner car of Colton Herta won the second race at Mid-Ohio.

On top of wins at COTA and Laguna Seca in 2019 before Harding-Steinbrenner joined up with Andretti, this marked Colton's ascendancy at the team his dad once drove for. He would finish third in the standings in 2020.

He won St. Pete, Laguna Seca, and Long Beach in 2021 but regressed to fifth, whilst Rossi, Hunter-Reay, and the returning Hinchcliffe all went winless.

A win for Herta at the first IMS Road Course race and a win for Rossi at the second marked a somewhat better 2022, but with Penske and Ganassi continuing their dominance of the series, while Arrow McLaren emerged as best of the rest, it marked a serious decline for Andretti. Especially once Rossi left Andretti to join an expanding Arrow McLaren team.

To add insult to injury, Rossi in ninth was Andretti's best car in 2022.

This got even worse in 2023, when Rossi's replacement, Kyle Kirkwood won at Long Beach and Nashville, but he was eleventh, and Colton Herta was tenth.

This was bad.

The team was making a lot of noise about trying to get into Formula One, and it even rebranded to Andretti Global as part of those efforts, but how were they going to build their own car for Formula One when they weren't even doing well in a spec series like Indycar?

More bad news for 2024 as DHL left the #28 car - most recently driven by Romain Grosjean - to sponsor Alex Palou for 2024. Andretti Global went from four car super team in 2005 to mid table in 2024 - they needed to consolidate resources if they wanted to get back to the front.

So they did.

Colton Herta in the #26 and Kyle Kirkwood in the #27 remained, but the #28 was taken over by Marcus Ericsson, while the #29 of Devlin DeFrancesco went away entirely. The four-car team was down to a comparatively sleek three, and they hoped to consolidate resources.

Well, wins at Toronto and Nashville Superspeedway ensured Colton Herta finished second in the standings, while Kyle Kirkwood was seventh, and Marcus Ericsson was fifteenth.

The team bounced back somewhat, and things looked good in the offseason.

Sure, Andretti seemed no closer to joining Formula One than they had before, but they consolidated resources to improve in Indycar, while getting ready to move into their fancy new headquarters in Fishers, Indiana.

There was some grumblings that two teams held out on signing Indycar's charter agreement all the way up until the final moment, but it wasn't exactly clear who the holdouts were.

Then Michael Andretti announced he was stepping back at Andretti Global. That...was interesting. That could mean he was the hold out, or maybe not.

It could mean that Towriss seized control of the team, or maybe not.

It could be a ploy to win over the Formula One teams, or maybe not.

It's unclear what will happen to Andretti Global going forward, but this is the story of what has happened to Andretti thus far.

[tatterdhearts]

@starsgifted​ asked : ‘ where did you go? ’ // yeon seo @ kim dan!

“i was--” he’s scrambling for an answer. his head trying to come up with some form of the TRUTH that could come out naturally. after all, he’d told her the truth when he said he couldn’t lie. she might of thought he was just being humble, but as an angel, he couldn’t do it. and as an angel, he couldn’t very well tell her he was one. upon learning that his wings came out during the rain he needed to get away, so he wouldn’t get CAUGHT. “i--i told you i was trying to find an umbrella, agassi. did i take too long?” he feigns innocence, aware he took his sweet time to come back, and with an umbrella that would serve NO PURPOSE now that the sudden rain was gone.

[lgcrp]

NOTORIETY TIERS: A GUIDE TO ACTING AND OTHER CLAIMS

hey y’all ! admin * here to give *another* guide for our newly-introduced concept: notoriety tiers ! we hope everyone’s excited for this new opportunity to further your muses’ careers, but in order to make sure this system is as smooth-sailing as possible, please read under the cut for more comprehensive instructions to claim certain activities, especially in the ACTING category.

the intent with the notoriety tiers is that members can choose what gigs/activities they want their muse to participate in outside of roleplay-sponsored events. this means that member are allowed to choose from real-life dramas, movies, radio shows, magazines, etc. for their notoriety activities. in general, you will need to specify what you are claiming. the admod team will not assign a drama, movie, radio show, music video, variety show, etc. for you.

this post will be linked to any #lgc:notorietytiers posts on @lgcmanager​​ and will be added to the GUIDE for everyone’s reference. if you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to contact the main !

ACTING

in order to decide on what dramas are eligibles for certain levels of activities, the following needs to be confirmed:

(1) if it’s a daily/weekend vs. a weekly drama. this will go hand-in-hand with the drama’s viewership ratings. if the drama aired, for example, on friday’s and saturday’s, it’d be a daily/weekend drama; you can also tell if it’s a daily/weekend drama because it’ll typically have 24+ episodes and ran for a longer amount of time. conversely, a weekly drama are your typical dramas that most people are familiar with; they usually only have 12-24 (max) episodes and run for four months at most.

(2) if it’s a a low-/mid-/high-rated drama. this is also a good indicator for if it’s a daily/weekend vs. weekly drama, because weekly dramas almost never rate higher than 20%, whereas high-rated daily/weekend dramas can have an average rate over 60%+.  the distinction between low v. mid vs. high depends on that drama’s average rating. wikipedia and dramawiki (https://wiki.d-addicts.com) do a pretty good job of providing that information on a drama’s page; for example, reply 1988 would be considered a high-rated weekly drama because it has an average rating of 12.427% and aired on saturday’s and sunday’s for 20 episodes.

in addition to the drama, you’ll need to determine which role in the drama you’d like your muse to claim. a good rule of thumb is:

main roles are the main male and female protagonists;

lead roles are the second (or third, fourth, etc.) males and female protagonists. especially in dramas with a large main ensemble, lead roles are characters who are billed as “main characters” outside of the main couple;

supporting roles are typically recurring characters in drama; and

guest roles are cameo appearances for one episode of a drama.

however, there’s some nuance to these categories; in the reply 1988 example, kim junghwan (ryu junyeol) and choi taek (park bogum) can *both* be considered as main roles since the show’s format and accompanying love triangle has the viewers guessing who the eventual husband is until the drama’s finale.

whereas, in a drama like crash landing on you, it’s pretty clear from the start that yoon seri (son yejin)/ri jeonghyuk (hyun bin) are the main couple and subsequently the main roles, while seo dan (seo jihye)/gu seungjun (kim junghyun) are the secondary couple and therefore the lead roles.

only dramas and movies from the past 3 years can be claimed for a notoriety activity.

HOSTING

same with ACTING, please be sure to specify which radio show/concert you’d like to claim your muse as a host for.

additionally, it’s generally expected that members/muses will work through the different kinds of activities so that their experience will correspond with the activity-level you qualify for. for instance, it’s ideal that a muse is a one-time co-host for a radio show then they’re a one-time host for a solo radio and then they’re a temporary co-host for a radio show.

this explains the “prior experience in hosting once” requirement (and its variation), but we understand that certain muses have already gained this type of experience—specifically in hosting their own vlive show or being an emcee at the annual family concert—so those previous gigs will also satisfy this requirement.

MODELING

same as with HOSTING: if your muse claimed a cover on a magazine for their 200+ notoriety, reward, then that satisfies the “prior experience in a cover + spread for a magazine once” requirement.

VARIETY

same as with HOSTING and MODELING: if your muse claimed an appearance on a variety show for their 200+ notoriety, reward, then that satisfies the “prior experience as guest once” requirement.

only currently airing variety shows can be claimed for a notoriety activity.

[miraculousandbts]

BTS | AMAs

P.S. The story is in y/n's perspective. Just because I wanted to.

Summary: You get your first big nomination, but you just had to stumble into a very handsome stranger.

Pairing: OT7 X Reader (Platonic)

Genre: Fluff

Word Count: 2.2k

Warning: Reader’s train of thought goes crazy every once in a while. I feel like this should be a warning.

I was hugging my manager and jumping in circles with her, as a way of expressing my happiness. Ashley was not only my manager, but also one of my closest friends, always supporting me and believing in me since the start. Both of us were ecstatic with the news, and this was our way of showing it. Aside from jumping, we both were also screaming very loudly. I had never been so thankful for having a house near the forest area without neighbours.

Oh, wait! I never introduced myself; how rude of me. (Yes, I was thinking about the Thea Stilton books...) I'm y/n, a singer and songwriter. I live in LA. Me and Ash were just watching the American Music Awards nominations, and we just couldn't control our excitement when they took my name. This was my first nomination for an award. It wouldn't be that big of a deal for an experienced artist or someone who has been in the industry for long, but I'm still a rookie, debuting only two years ago.

Me and Ashley finally calmed down when a very startled guard came in and told us that we screamed so loud that he saw bats fly away from deep inside the forest. We sheepishly apologised, and decided to go to sleep. I had been recording a song the whole day, while she had been busy with manager duties, so we both were exhausted. I had actually known her for the last four years, and she often stayed over. So often, in fact, that my guest room had become 'Ashley's Room' very quickly.

After bidding each other happy good nights, we both went to bed in our respective rooms, falling asleep speedily.

*****

Taylor was applying my makeup, while I sat in the stiff makeup chair. This had been going on for the past hour, despite me telling her that I wanted light makeup and a simple dress. Instead, she and my stylist Ben decided to go against my wishes for once. Ben had prepared an extravagant dress too fancy even for a royal ball, and I was thankful it wasn't pink or blue or yellow; I absolutely did not want to look like a princess, that just wouldn't be me. Taylor kept on applying a little too much makeup on my face for my liking. She was very talented, so at least I was sure I wouldn't look bad.

Right now, she was working on my eye makeup, expertly putting on eyeliner and...something. I'm not good with this stuff. Taylor's assistant, whose name I always forgot, was painting my nails. I looked at her working. She was a pro at this. She smoothly glided the brush over my nails, effortlessly painting them purple, and then decorating them. She used as less materials as possible, knowing I hated it when even my nails felt heavy; my face was enough.

After two more hours of torture, I was finally ready. I looked breathtaking, but if I had an option, I would still go with something lighter. After another hour of sitting in the limo, we were finally there.

I got out, and there were cameras in my face. All I saw were purple blotches, because the camera men couldn't use their brains enough to shut off the flash. Or maybe those cameras didn't have an option to shut off the flash.

Anyway, I struck a few poses, blew some kisses, and walked ahead. And then I saw Dan. He was a reporter for such gigs, and I often did short interviews with him. He wasn't like the others; he didn't ask about rumours or made new ones, he didn't ask controversial questions to increase their channel's TRP.

I gave him a grin and walked towards him.

"Hey, Dan."

"Y/n! Looking beautiful as always."

"Oh, you flatter me." I kept a hand on my chest.

"Okay, stop with the over dramatics, girlie." You grinned.

He motioned his cameraman to start recording. I tuned out the whole introduction, and focused when he asked me a question, the said question being how was I feeling about being here even though it hadn't been long since my debut. "It's all thanks to my fans. I love making music, and I believe that if you do something with true passion, you will be successful. I guess this is destiny's way of showing me that what I'm doing is right. And not gonna lie, it feels like I've been feeling like I'm on a sugar rush since the nominees were announced, because of the adrenaline."

After some more questions and smiles, I finally went in.

I was too focused on not tripping on my own feet because of the long dress, so the first thing I did after entering was bump into someone. Great! I wasn't even surprised anymore, knowing how I was. "I am so sorry!" I looked up with wide eyes, only to meet kind brown ones. It took me a second to register that he wasn't alone, six other men behind him. They seemed familiar. I could tell they were from east Asia. I glanced at all of them, and then looked at him, apologising again.

"It is okay." He had a cute accent to his English, and I internally smiled, not only because of his accent, but also because he wasn't mad. I must've smiled in relief, because he looked amused. Now that I was looking at him properly, he was handsome, with a capital H. Little round face, pretty eyes, cute boop-able nose. And then he smiled. And then I died. It was the cutest smile I had ever seen!

Thankfully, I wasn't the kind of gal who would stand there checking him out. All of this took me a second, and I excused myself after thanking him.

*****

"Oh, hey!" I heard a smooth deep voice as soon as I sat down. I looked to my side and found one of the friends of the man I had bumped into earlier. I was right, my brain didn't forget. I smiled a small smile. "Hey."

Extending my hand towards him the old fashioned way, introduced myself. "Y/n."

He shook my hand, seemingly unfazed by my apparent childish behaviour. "Kim Namjoon, more commonly known as RM."

That's when it clicked. RM. K-Pop. BTS. My eyes must've widened; I was always terrible at hiding my emotions. "Everything okay?" He brought me out of my stupor. "Uh, yeah. Just, when I stumbled into one of you guys before, you all seemed familiar, I just couldn't place your faces anywhere." I replied honestly. "Oh." He simply leaned back into his chair and nodded.

"So, in which category are you nominated?" He continued.

"Top social artist. You?"

"Same. It'll be a four year streak for us if we win again."

"Ooh, really. Well then, I hope you win."

"Don't you want to win?"

"Coming here already feels like a dream. I don't think I can handle the adrenaline if I do win."

"So basically you want us to win for completely selfish purposes, huh?"

You both laughed at that remark, and continued making small talk for a while. Then he said he had to use the washroom. I hummed in his direction, and as soon as he got up, I saw the guy I had ran into in the chair next to his.

He had noticed Namjoon getting up too, so he was looking on my direction. He grinned at me, and sat in Namjoon's chair. "Hello."

"Hey."

"I am sorry. My English is not that good. Only Namjoon speaks English." He sheepishly rubbed his neck. "Why are you apologising for that?" I was genuinely curious. It was okay to not know perfect English. Even though I was a native English speaker, I still made mistakes. Everyone did. And the said language wasn't even his first language. "At the entrance, I wanted to talk."

"Oh. Well, You should have, I don't judge because of stuff like this." He smiled at that. "I will introduce you to them." He gestured to his band mates who were very engrossed in the show. Before he could do that, I interrupted him. "Hey, sorry. I haven't been in the industry for long, and I've only ever heard your guys' name, so...I only know RM and V? Is that right? So, yeah, I don't know your name."

I cursed at myself internally. Way, to go y/n! So damn awkward. He must've sensed my hesitation, because all he did was offer me his hand. Ooh, the old fashioned way. Good to know I wasn't the only one.

"Suga."

"Y/n." I shook his hand. Namjoon came back at that moment and him and Suga said something to each other in Korean. Wait, Suga? That does not sound right. Oh, right! It must be his stage name.

And then I facepalmed. Literally. I didn't think before my hand met my forehead. I must've made a pretty loud smack, because both of them were now looking at me like I was some weirdo. I sighed and slowly hid my face in my hands. "These kind of things always happen to me..." I mumbled.

I looked up when I heard them chuckling. I pouted, but I knew they could see the relief on my face that they didn't think of me like I was demented. "Don't worry, we've been living with these guys for the past eight years, these kind of things don't faze us anymore." Namjoon gestured to the other guys, who were still oblivious to their surroundings, absorbed in the performances.

I let out a breathy chuckle at the fact that they were so openly dissing their own friends. Namjoon, by now, was seated in the chair in which Suga was previously sitting in.

"So, I refuse to believe that Suga is your real name. And I would rather be literal friends with you guys, rather than two artists who just know each other."

"Yoongi. Min Yoongi." The way he said it reminded me of how Geronimo Stilton introduced himself. 'Why my brain has to go down completely random memory lanes is beyond me...and why am I thinking about a kid's book series?'

Within the next hour, I had been introduced to the other guys, and all of us were conversing about anything and everything. Seokjin was very happy that I was loving his dad jokes, Hoseok was a little too excited about my proposal of shooting a dance cover on one of mine or their songs, Jimin, Taehyung and me got along very well, as we were all the same age, and Jungkook had offered to teach me boxing, after I expressed my wish to learn it.

All in all, I was getting along very well with them. They were fun to be with, and it was absolutely adorable how they sometimes got flustered over their mistakes while talking. After the fun night ended, I congratulated them on their win, and went home, completely exhausted.

*****

"Noona!" Jungkook was the first to notice me. With wide eyes and a happy grin, he came to hug me. I had decided to surprise the boys by coming to Korea. Right now, I was standing in their dance studio. Even after four years, we were still going strong. It felt like now I had four elder brothers, two twins, and a kid. '...that was a terrible reference...god, please tell me what is wrong with me.'

Soon, all the boys came to hug me, though I tried running away to avoid their sweaty hugs, but Jungkook held me at one place, while I tried to squirm away. I should've just waited in their dorm.

"Kookie!" All I got in reply was a mischievous giggle. He really was a baby. Later that day, a collaboration between us was confirmed, and I couldn't have been happier.

Geronimo Stilton and Thea Stilton might be kids’ books, but they’re still the best!! Change my mind, I dare you.

[tanclintang]

Drama to walk the storm with in 2020

Selain musik, 2020 saya lewati dengan banyak drama. Drama dalam berbagai arti mulai dari hidupku yang banyak dramanya dari gagal kerja dan bolak-balik Jakarta-Semarang-Pekalongan dengan segala suka dukanya, sampai drama beneran hiburan layar kaca. Kali ini saya bahas drama hiburan yang sungguhan, karena drama hidup kalau dibahas bikin pengen Panadol merah. Berikut adalah daftar beberapa drama (semua Korea) yang saya tonton dan menjadi teman saya melewati 2020 yang banyak drama. Jangan kaget karena daftarnya sangat panjang, ya. Daftar ini tidak merepresentasikan ranking apapun, dan jika actor/aktris favoritmu saya kritik di tulisan ini percayalah saya hanya mengkritik karakter fiksinya saja. Saya tetap suka mereka dan tidak bermaksud merendahkan siapapun di tulisan ini. Ohya, saya bukan orang yang pandai memberi clue tanpa menuliskan spoiler. Jadi, maaf jika kalian jadi tahu endingnya di tulisan ini. I’ll try my best to not spoil everything, but still I can’t promise you a smooth ride. If you are ready, here we go.

Crash Landing on You

CLOY ini adalah drakor pertama yang saya tonton di tahun ini, tepatnya bulan maret saat minggu pertama PSBB di Jakarta. Selesai dalam waktu kurang dari seminggu, saya yang hatinya kecewa dan malu mengurung diri di kamar saja nonton RiRi couple dan genk Korut lawak. Drama ini berpusat pada kisah dua manusia Korea beda negara, satu Korea Selatan satunya Korea Utara. Keduanya bertemu karena nasib dan kewaguan pol karena si mbak Korsel kebawa badai pas main parasut dan mendarat dia di Korut. Singkat kata cinta jatuh pada kejatuhan mbak-mbak dari pohon, mereka jadi pasangan gemas yang cintanya kuat dan selalu beruntung terlepas dari banyaknya intrik politik. Drama ini menghibur, ringan, tidak bikin sakit kepala dan sangat bisa dinikmati meski kadang banyak CGI wagu. Nonton ini lumayan bikin fokus teralih dari nangisin nasib jadi nangisin RiRi couple yang kepisah perbatasan.

Something in the Rain

Sebenernya drama ini dari segi cerita tergolong biasa. Premisnya sederhana: cinta beda usia antara seorang wanita 35 tahun yang jatuh cinta dengan adik sahabatnya yang berusia 25 tahun. Pemainnya sama dengan si Son Ye Jin mbak CLOY yang cakep banget, pemain laki-lakinya diperankan Jung Hae In yang cakep dan kalem. Meski sederhana ada magnet tersendiri yang bikin saya gak lepas dari episode 1-16: soundtracknya, dan (((intimitas))) lead dramanya. Kalau kalian gak tahan dengan kemesraan dan hal-hal manis, gak usah nonton drama ini karena dari awal sampai akhir isinya kegemasan pasangan serasa dunia milik berdua yang lain cuma dijajah dan diperbudak doang. Biarpun sangat manis tapi acting keduanya pas sekali (untuk membuat kita berdoa semoga kita segera punya pacar). Selain itu wardrobe drama ini juga ok banget, Jung Hae In tampak dewasa tanpa melepas image gemas kekanakannya; Son Ye Jin tampak sederhana dan complicated seperti wanita karir seusianya. Pas sekali ditonton jika kalian mencari drama genre fantasy saking irasionalnya kegemasan dan kemesraan mereka berdua sepanjang cerita.

Reply 1988

Bisa jadi Reply 1988 adalah drama keluarga yang paling saya suka. Bercerita tentang persahabatan 5 anak yang tinggal di satu kampung, tiap episodenya menawarkan kisah yang hangat dalam setting tahun 88 di Korea Selatan. Lokasi, wardrobe, trend yang dihighlight semua berfokus ke memori masa lalu saat Korea jadi tuan rumah Olimpiade dan ketika 5 anak ini menjadi remaja yang tumbuh dewasa. Salah satu yang dominan adalah kisah mengenai masalah keluarga dan tentu saja romansa remaja. Tapi meski ada bumbu romance di dalamnya, jujur saya lebih focus ke cerita keluarganya. Bahkan ketika jagat raya diramaikan dengan perseteruan TimJungpal VS TimTaek saya tidak begitu tersedot ke rivalitas ini. Saya hanya sebatas tertarik untuk memilih Tim Taek, tapi ‘ya sudah’ aja karena kisah keluarganya lebih dominan dan hangat. Dari episode 1 sudah nangis mbesesek sewaktu Doek Sun ulang tahun, sampai episode akhir nangis kejer waktu Bo Ra menikah. Kalau kalian belum nonton (yang most likely sudah), cobalah tengok. Saya yakin yang gak suka drakor pun bisa relate dan mungkin menyukainya karena ceritanya yang hangat dan dekat dengan realitas.

Hospital Playlist

Ini dia drakor yang tidak punya tokoh antagonis di dalamnya. Semuanya baik, pintar, mapan, dan dewasa. HP berkisah tentang 5 dokter yang bersahabat sejak kuliah. Kelimanya kini bekerja di RS yang sama sebagai dokter spesialis. Tiap episodenya kelima dokter ini menghadapi persoalan yang beragam, kebanyakan tentang pekerjaan dari operasi hingga donor organ. Tidak lupa pula masalah cinta, dari jatuh hati, perceraian, sampai LDR. Drama ini adalah salah satu drama terbaik tahun ini menurut saya. Bukan cuma alur cerita yang hangat dan indah, drama ini memotret realitas semirip mungkin dengan kenyataan yang kita saksikan di rumah sakit dan kehidupan sehari-hari. Dokter pun, yang seringkali dipotret sebagai sosok sempurna, digambarkan sebagai manusia biasa: yang kewalahan saat operasi, yang takut saat memegang pisau, yang gak tidur semaleman, makan mie instant terus biarpun selalu mengingatkan hidup sehat, merokok meski merokok membunuhmu, dan bahkan bertanya pada ibunya cara meredakan demam padahal dia dokter senior. Profesi tidak dipotret hitam dan putih, kesalahan tidak digambarkan dengan garis yang jelas, keberuntungan tidak diglorifikasi karena hidup memang begini: kita tidak tahu banyak hal, kita bisa salah, dan ketidakberuntungan ada dimana-mana. Menulis dan mengingatnya saja, saya merasa hangat dan gembira.

Prison Playbook

Kehidupan penjara tampak menyeramkan bahkan dari mendengar kata penjara saja. Namun di PP, kehidupan penjara digambarkan lucu, hangat, dan bersahaja. Drama ini digiring kisah seorang pemain Baseball nasional yang masuk penjara karena (kalau tidak salah) membunuh untuk melindungi adiknya yang akan diperkosa. Dia mendekam di penjara selama 1 tahun, di dalam ruangan bersama beberapa tahanan lain yang masuk karena berbagai kesalahan mulai dari pembunuh bayaran, korupsi, dijebak dalam kasus pembunuhan, sampai penyalahgunaan narkoba. Drama ini menceritakan konflik di dalam penjara dan intrik yang terjadi di sana mulai dari hubungan tahanan-sipir, bullying di balik jeruji, senioritas, hingga kesetiakawanan dan loyalitas. Menontonnya membuat saya mixed feeling, sebab tumbuh rasa empati dalam diri melihat mereka semua sampai saya lupa bahwa mereka bukan orang ‘baik’. Entah seberapa mirip realitas penjara dipotret, tapi yang jelas banyak pesan disampaikan melalui drama ini. Selama menonton kamu dibuat tertawa, menangis, dan merasa bersalah hanya karena mendukung orang yang ‘salah’ ataupun menyalahkan orang yang ‘benar’.

Itaewon Class

Drama ini direkomendasikan temen saya, waktu nonton episode 1 saya pause dan WA dia misuh-misuh ******* drama opo iki episode 1 aku wes nangis ra karuan ******* kowe ngerjani aku. Itaewon Class adalah cerita perjalanan Park Saeroyi (Park Seo Jun), laki-laki yang membalas dendamnya melalui bisnis f&b. Cerita berfokus ke perjalanan dia membangun bisnis dibantu 5 orang lain, yang salah satunya kemudian menjadi manager pubnya sekaligus jadi cewek yang suka dengannya. Kisahnya diikuti pula dengan kisah cinta pertama yang berjalan beriringan dengan rivalitas bisnis. Tentu ruh drama ini adalah bisnis, namun dibungkus dengan konflik keluarga. Ceritanya seru sekali dengan banyak plot twist di hamper seluruh episodenya. Entah berapa kali saya menangis dan misuh nonton drakor ini; kadang stress sendiri karena kasian banget sama Park Saeroyi yang stress. Pun sedih dan ingin hormat pada Soo Ah yang membalas budi pada alm.appanya saeroyi dengan cara yang daebak extreme ya ampun. Drama yang dipenuhi orang-orang yang bersemangat, passionate, dan bergairah.

It’s Ok to not be Ok

Satu dari dua drama yang art directionnya paling saya suka di tahun ini. Setiap nonton saya selalu merasa aaarrgghh kok kepikiran visualnya digituin?!?. Gradingnya cantik sekali, treatment visual yang gabungin antara real shot dan animasi juga menarik dan baru. Tiap pergerakan kameranya bagus, transisinya mulus dan unik, posisi kamera pun sering gak disangka-sangka. Kadang kita dibuat seperti orang mengintip, kadang seperti ikut berlari dan ketakutan. Parah. Bagus. Banget. Visualnya. Harus ditulis lebih detil dan dibreakdown satu-satu saking cakepnya. Dari cerita pun gak kalah menarik. Drama ini mengangkat isu berat dengan sangat mulus: isu mental health. Di awal saya ragu mau menonton karena ceritanya berkaitan dengan trauma, fear, mental health; saya takut triggered. Ternyata kisahnya bisa dikemas dengan cukup mulus, tidak terlalu berat untuk membahas hal yang rumit tanpa meninggalkan keseriusan topik. Banyak pula gimmick lucu yang sangat pas ditampilkan, apalagi acting seluruh pemainnya bagus. Drama yang tiap weekend ditunggu dengan degdegan dan berakhir dengan perasaan ‘penuh’ di dalam dada. Yang belum nonton, sempatkan; tapi jika kamu memang punya trauma berat dengan relasi orangtua-anak, pelan-pelan saja nontonnya. Saya yakin drama ini healing, tapi healing tidak perlu diburu-buru. Nikmati tiap episodenya, interaksi mereka menyenangkan untuk diikuti.

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo

Kalau cari drama yang ringan, manis, dan lucu, silakan segera buka Netflix dan tonton drama ini! Sesuai judulnya, drama ini bercerita tentang Kim Bok Joo (Lee Sung-Kyung), seorang atlet angkat beban yang menjalani hari-harinya di camp pelatihan. Di sana dia bertemu dengan teman masa kecilnya, Joon Hyung (Nam Joo Hyuk), yang kemudian jatuh cinta dan menjalani kehidupan remaja yang lucu dan penuh tantangan. Konflik yang disuguhkan tidak berat, namun cukup untuk menjaga kita tetap di depan layar kaca. DItambah interaksi LSK dan NJH yang manis dan srimulat, drama ini sukses bikin saya ketawa-ketawa gak jelas sendirian di kosan. Kalau lagi cari tontonan yang gak perlu mikir tapi enggak bego-bego banget nonton ini aja. Apalagi karakter NJHnya gemes banget dan lovable karena dia adalah lelaki yang penuh semangat, baik, cerdik, dan tegas gak kayak Nam Do San yang agak temapuk, seketika kamu akan langsung bilang duh aku pengen pacar kayak Joo Hyung.

Catch the Ghost

Setelah terpaut dengan Kim Seon Ho di Start-Up tahun ini, saya jadi nonton judul-judul lain yang diperankan KSH. Salah satu yang menurut saya oke adalah Catch the Ghost. Drama ini bergenre misteri-komedi-action, berkisah tentang seorang polisi subway yang Namanya Go Ji Soek (KSH) yang mendapat tugas mengungkap kasus pencurian besar di subway. Bersamaan dengan itu, kepolisian juga berusaha mengungkap kasus pembunuhan berantai di subway yang membawa nama polisi perempuan bernama Yoo Ryeong yang saudara kembarnya hilang dan diduga terkait dengan kasus pembunuhan tersebut. Cerita berpusat pada dunia misteri dua kasus ini diikuti dengan percik-percik asmara antara mas Kim Seon Ho dan mbak Moon Geung-Yong. Awalnya saya underestimate drama ini dan hanya mau focus ke visual KSH (yang ganteng banget sumpah gak bohong lebih gemes dan manis dari Han Jipyeong) dan actingnya yang (sorry guys but it’s true) bagus banget. KSH sukses jadi polisi yang galak, goblok, pinter, gemes, tapi fragile. Selain itu ternyata jalan ceritanya menarik dan penuh twist tiap episodenya. Kisah misterinya tidak aneh dan dipaksakan, realitas dan konflik dipotret dengan baik dan wajar. Salah satu konflik terbaik adalah dilemma Ji Seok, yang merupakan Adhi Makayasa Korea (lulusan terbaik genk) dan dipromosikan kerja di Mabes, tapi lebih memilih untuk bekerja di kepolisian subway. Banyak yang menyayangkan pilihannya mengingat potensi yang dimiliki. Belakangan barulah kita tahu alasan Ji Seok yang fundamental. Nontonnya saya sampai nangis karena saya tahu betapa banyak orang seperti Ji Seok di dunia ini: yang merelakan mimpi dan ambisinya karena ada hal-hal yang tidak bisa dilepaskan dan dilupakan. Ji Seok dan KSH memotret realitas dengan baik untuk menggambarkan bahwa pada satu titik kita hanya bisa bertahan hidup dan mengambil keputusan paling rasional saja. Spirit Ji Seok dikenal orang jawa sebagai kahanane ngene piye meneh.. wes, ora popo.

When Camellia Blooms

Kalau drakor biasanya didominasi oppa-oppa maskulin, tampan, menawan, gagah, cool, dan macho, drama satu ini justru memotret mas-mas polisi yang nangisan, bucin, fragile, dan submissive (compared to woman lead character). Sedangkan karakter perempuannya digambarkan sebagai sosok single parent yang kuat pendirian, berani, mandiri, dan kompleks. Drama ini bercerita tentang Dong Baek (Gong Hyo Jin), single parent pemilik bar bernama Camellia, yang tinggal di sebuah desa dan terlibat kasus pembunuhan. Salah satu hal menonjol dari drama ini adalah bagaimana gender direpresentasikan dengan menarik. Laki-laki yang berprofesi sebagai polisi digambarkan rapuh, perempuan single parent pemilik bar dipandang nakal oleh tetangga, dan bagaimana perempuan dipotret sebagai sosok yang kuat dan berani. Meski panjang sekali dibanding drama lain, tapi tidak bosan rasanya menonton Kang haneul mewek-mewek ngejar cewek.

Vagabond

Predikat drama paling dzolim jatuh kepada…Vagabond dengan cha dal gon yang beruntung terus gak mati-mati berapa puluh kali pun dia coba dibunuh. Drama action seputar konspirasi kecelakaan pesawat ini diperankan cinta pertama saya di Korea: Lee Seung Gi. Pemeran ceweknya siapa lagi kalau bukan Bae Suzy sebagai mbak intel Go Hae Ri. Chadalgon adalah seorang stunt man yang hidupnya apes, karena dia sudahlah ekonominya sedang sulit, mendadak mengurus keponakannya, lah keponakannya meninggal di kecelakaan pesawat waktu mau terbang ke Maroko. Waktu dia ke Maroko untuk sebuah ceremony (((lelayu))) dia menemukan keanehan kasus yang bikin dia terseret ke pusaran konspirasi politik elit Korea dan global. Sudah bisa ditebak betapa ruwet dan puyengnya nonton drama ini. Kasihan betul tiap episode dia didzomili doang isinya. Sampai akhir pun dia tetap didzolimi keadaan yang mawut. Drama yang menggambarkan gelapnya dunia politik: nasib rakyat selalu jadi mainan elit yang serakah dan tamak. Siap-siap the anget kalau nonton ya soalnya manteng banget di kepala.

You Drive Me Crazy

Mini drama actor kesayangan saya, Kim Seon Ho. Premisnya sangat sangat sangat sederhana: dua orang yang bersahabat jatuh cinta. Hanya saja bumbu pematik hubungannya cukup ekstrem untuk persahabatan: mereka berdua ‘tidak sengaja’ tidur bareng and have sex, dan semenjak itu hubungan keduanya tidak lagi sama. Drama ini cuma 4 episode, masing-masing berdurasi 30 menit. Singkat sekali bukan? Tapi jujur biarpun premisnya standart dan endingnya bisa ditebak tapi drama ini sangat nyaman untuk diikuti. Bukan karena saya suka KSH, tapi actingnya di sini betul-betul baik. Kamu tahu betapa kalutnya perasaan KSH Ketika harus berinteraksi dengan sahabatnya setelah kejadian malam itu, betapa dia menutupi perasaannya dengan pura-pura gak ada apa-apa. Pun betapa gemes dan lucunya dia waktu saling awkward lucu. Paling aneh, dia mampu bikin penonton cupu kayak aku nangis cuma karena melihat dia yang menangis cuma karena menatap si mbaknya hhhh bingung gak?? Sebuah drama yang ringan dan nyaman ditonton di weekend atau malam menjelang tidur. 2 jam aja kelar dan bisa langsung tidur mimpiin Kim Seon Ho dengan lesung pipinya setelah itu beb.

Start-Up

Inilah drama paling menguras emosi sepanjang 2020 versi saya. Drama on-going yang saya tonton sebagai penutup tahun, baru berakhir di awal Desember kemarin. Start-Up, seperti judulnya, bercerita tentang Seo Dal Mi (Bae Suzy) yang mengejar mimpinya menjadi CEO dengan mendirikan perusahaan rintisan (start-up). Konflik berputar pada perjalanan Dalmi selama kurang lebih 4-5 tahun mendirikan dan menjalankan perusahaan. Perjalanannya diisi dengan konflik dan interaksi dengan cinta pertamanya, Nam Do San (Nam Joo Hyuk), dan seorang senior manager perusaahan investasi yang menjadi mentornya, Han Jipyeong (Kim Seon Ho). Uniknya, kisah mereka bertiga tidak sesederhana kisah cewek yang bertemu cinta pertamanya dan bekerja dengan mentor yang kaya-ganteng-pinter-hot semata. Dalmi dan Dosan 15 tahun yang lalu saling bertukar surat, sahabat pena yang menumbuhkan cinta untuk Dalmi.

Episode 1-3 drama ini sempurna, tidak ada cela. Semuanya rapi bahkan sampai membuat saya misuh saking bagusnya dan mikir kok bisa penulisnya mikir gitu ya??? Episode selanjutnya mulai terasa plot hole dimana-mana. Untungnya drama ini dibungkus dengan sangat baik dari segi visual. Permainan warna, blocking, treatment transisi, angle camera, GRADING (bagus banget aku suka banget cakep di mata), wardrobe, semua bagus. Plot hole pun tertutup acting seluruh pemain yang patut diberi tepuk tangan meriah. Persekutuan antara Tim Dosan dan Tim Jipyeong juga jadi highlight di drama ini (dan di universe penontonnya). Saya sendiri tim Jipyeong garis keras tebal dan permanen. Walau episode 2-3 saya tim Dosan karena dia ganteng HAHAHA, tapi episode 4 sampai akhir saya bulat tekadnya pejah gesang nderek Jipyeong sang second lead. Meski Jipyeong adalah second lead, rasanya karakter Jipyeong terlalu kuat dan solid untuk sekadar menjadi samsak doang. Seluruh cerita dibingkai hubungan surat Jipyeong-Dalmi meski glorifikasi gejolak cinta remaja berlayar tanpa peta memang di atas segala rasionalitas dan ketulusan manusia genk. Startup menawarkan keresahan milenial: jatuh cinta ya jatuh cinta aja, bikin bisnis ya bikin aja.  Nanti ada slot tulisan sendiri kenapa Startup menjadi drama paling menguras emosi saya. Ohya berkat drama ini pula saya menemukan Kim Seon Ho, harta layar kaca saya yang berharga. Makanya I love StartUp, I love Seonho.

Itu tadi beberapa list drama yang berkesan di tahun ini. Sekadar catatan, drama itu banyak yang keluaran sebelum 2020, tapi baru saya tonton. Mereka semua berkesan karena membantu saya menghadapi 2020 yang ajaib. Selain drama di atas ada drama lain yang bagus juga yang saya tonton sebenarnya seperti While You’re Sleeping, Because This is My First Life, Hwayugi (Lee seunggi cakep di sini HAHAHA), Fight for My Way, Mystic Pop Up Bar, Record of Youth (Oke di awal meh di akhir), Goblin, Alive, Love Alarm, Tune In for Love, Waikiki 2 (wajib ditonton kalau kamu pengen ah jadi orang goblok ah sekali-kali nonton yang ga ngotak dan ga perlu mikir), Strongest Deliveryman, atau judul lain yang saya lupa apa. Semuanya membantu saya berbahagia di tengah kesedihan. Terima kasih industry asing….semoga industry hiburan drama dalam negeri bisa bagus juga….annyeong!

[kpopdancings]

"Penthouse'' Logan Lee had an unfamiliar expression

New Post has been published on http://www.whatsupkpop.com/penthouse-logan-lee-had-an-unfamiliar-expression/

"Penthouse'' Logan Lee had an unfamiliar expression

Will Logan Lee, who was called the’Penthouse’ sweet potato character, become a cider character?

The “Penthouse” (played by Kim Soon-ok, director Joo Dong-min), broadcast on December 8, contained a scene where Logan Lee (played by Ho-dong Gu/ Eun-suk Park) witnessed an affair with Dan-tae Ju (played by Um Ki-jun) and Seo-jin Cheon (played by Kim So-yeon). Logan Lee had an unfamiliar expression. Did sightings cause a change of heart?

Logan Lee is a person who has misunderstood Shim Su-ryun (played by Ji-ah) and harassed him. She misunderstood that Shim Su-ryun might be involved in the unknown death of her younger brother Anna Lee (Min Seol-ah / Jo Su-min). Logan Lee continued to press Shim Su-ryun, saying, “At the penthouse party, reveal the fact that you are Minseul’s mother.”

In the past, Anna Lee said to Logan Lee, “I wish my mother was unhappy like me.” Logan Lee was resentful when he saw Shim Su-ryun, his mother, who lives with a strong life. It was because Shim Su-ryun misunderstood that she abandoned her real daughter, Min Seol-ah, and is living happily.

Another object Logan Lee misunderstood was Yoon-hee Oh (played by Eugene). Logan Lee also suspected Oh Yoon-hee, who lives at Minseol-ah’s house. Logan Lee was embarrassed by the words of Yoonhee Oh, “(Minseol) was a really nice child.” “Are you seriously?” I thought about something.

Suspicions about Shim Su-ryun and Oh Yoon-hee seemed to be somewhat resolved. Logan Lee has felt a bit wrong with his thoughts, and has been very confused.

The misunderstanding has not been completely resolved. Logan Lee only knew that Shim Su-ryun’s marriage was not yet smooth. Even after hearing Oh Yoon-hee’s sincerity, she did not erase her name from the dragon boat. It seems confused whether the word’good child’ is true.

Earlier, Logan Lee (Koo Ho-dong) raised expectations as’a character who will give a cider’ as soon as he appeared. Minseol, who died unjustly, because it was her brother. Anna Lee (Min Seol-ah) and Logan Lee were not related. It was much more special to Logan Lee than this. Because Anna Lee was the benefactor who saved her life.

Logan Lee, who had been ill in the past, saved his life thanks to a bone marrow transplant performed by Anna Lee. She was framed and plagued with guilt for failing to protect her dismissed brother. I learned that my younger brother died unjustly after being bullied, and he came to Korea for revenge.

Is it because of this narrative? Viewers thought that Logan Lee would be a light for Shim Su-ryun, who has lived an unfortunate life. The two were the same target of revenge. It also raised the expectation that if you hold your hand, you will get revenge sooner.

Expectations turned into disappointments. Logan Lee was not a’one ray of light’ for Shim Su-ryun. Rather, he was a person who caused pain. Viewers were angry at the feeling of eating sweet potatoes. “Logan Lee, stop misunderstanding,” “Two of you join hands quickly” “Please let me drink some cider” “I hate Logan Lee.”

Will Logan Lee resolve all misunderstandings and give Shim Su-ryun and viewers a’cider’? I look forward to development in the future. 

[series-of-bad-ideas-deactivated]

Watching the NYC special aka 955 words I could’ve used somewhere else

I’ll be posting my thoughts as I go, they’re under the read more, so spoilers under the cut

here’s the link I’m using https://bemiraculouslb.com/en/episodesen/s3e27.html

also I’m half way done with the second part of the MHC drabble

First: flight suits, seem op.

Ooo, Flower Language

oh good Chloe’s not in this special. I mean I love fandom!Chloe but her in canon  is really annoying and I hat- Nevermind

Also Mrs.Bustier is pregnant?! The fuck. I feel like this won’t be expanded on

What the fuck Kim, You live in Akuma central watch your words

I’m now at the point where I pause every 5 seconds to scream

Oh god I forgot Lila was here

At least it seems she won’t be in NYC (4:40)

Oh and second hand embarrassment, I was wondering where you were (4:48)

Also isn’t this after miracle queen. Is there consequence, other then Mari being the guardian, like does Chloe feel bad (unlikely) are the other heroes out of commission because hawkmoth knows their identities, or is everything going to be swept under the rug

(4:51) hmmmmmmm, yes.

4:57 ohh, real smooth there Mari

5;02 oh no here’s the inspirational music

5;08 I just audible said I can’t loudly enough for my roommate to come in, realize I’m watching MLB and then leave

5;21 the inspirational music is still here, and it starting to feel like a soap opera

My father won’t let me

Then I shall talk to your father

But my father is a difficult man

I will never let a friend down

Now tell me is that a soap opera or Mlb

5;34 the scene is over why are they still talking like this

5;42 what the fuck

5;49 sure jan

6;01 oh and Alix is finally getting more lines

6;44 no shit its a miraculous

also the fucking chances that hawkmoth would be leaving Paris the same time LB and CN were is so low

I’m going to stop doing this every few seconds. I’m just going to watch this in 10 minute chunks and give my thoughts on them. Unless something big happens like character development or something

first chunk (7;00 to 17:37)

8;06 what the fuck was that, was that a kiss, what the fuck, what the fuck, what the fuck

11;46 what the fuck, is that another kiss, oh god, what the fuck also called it the flight suits are op, flying from the US to France like its nothing

15;54 FUCK YES JULEROSE

but rose, I don't think that’s safe. Anyways Fuck Yes, GAy relationship. Thldis is the best confirmation we might get, and I am Living for it.

Alright this chunk is mostly just the plane. We got a couple nice adrinette moments. We also got JULEROSE moment, and Alya and Nino complain about their 2 dense idiots of friends.

Chunk 2 (17:37-27:07)

20;33, Female superheroes, and mother daughter relationship yes please

21;50, Americans have a superhero for everything troupe is a troupe I didn't know I needed

22;19, S U B T L E, but that’s still not enough to combat the dense

22;31 how did no one comment on a superhero just on the roof of the bus, or is just America and no one questions it? (I feel like I should point out I’m American)

23;32 can no one hear them? they’re talking at a normal volume.

24;00 Alya Cesaire, queen of the subtle. Also :SabrinaBlush: :SabrinaBlush: :SabrinaBlush:

26;23 :SabrinaBlush: :SabrinaBlush: :SabrinaBlush:

SO, in this chunk, we finally get to America. and in America there is apparently a hero for everything (mother fucking Hot Dog Dan)

Chunk 3 (27;07-37;26)

28;36 Moonlight dance

29;06 are superhero alter egos just common knowledge in America?

29;07 I guess they are

30;08 I have done this exact thing to get people to confess

34;30, Sparrow is a girl, you know what Valid

Ok more girl superheroes, I love it. The action has kicked in

Chunk 4 (37;26-46;26)

40;07 WHAT THE FUCK, and do I smell lasting consequences?

43;00 HOLY SHIT lasting consequences? oh my god

43;44 lasting consequences, LASTING consequences, LASTING CONSEQUENCES. HOLY FUCK CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, maybe

I put character development up there as a joke, but holy fuck

45;05 oh dark owl’s a women, I didn’t expect this, and lesbian(?) relationship, I think

oh my god, there’s actually an opportunity for character development, and lasting consequences. But let’s see how long it lasts

Chunk 5 (46;26 - 1;02;57)

47;09 holy shit, holy shit, Adrinette

47;50 holy fuck, holy fuck Adrinette

49;00 this is actually a really terrifying power for a super villain

53;58 Sparrow is fucking dope

54;36 holy fuck, ladynoir

57;54 Yes, miraculous user Jess, also new miraculous hero

1;00;19, genderfluid hero? genderfluid hero. and healthy lesbian relationship? man this is great

1;02;24 OH MY, more miraculouses

Final thoughts: I went in with low expectations, but by golly this blew them out of the water. First, lasting consequences. Mari might be getting more confidence, Adrien might be coming out of his shell. Paris has to rebuild, and CN & LB might have a stronger relationship. Two, more heroes/miraculous. This is just exciting. Three, lgbtqa+ representation. We had a Julerose moment and two female superheroes in a relationship, one of which used both female and male pronouns. This was worth it

[navyblushrose]

#Opinion : Find Me in Your Memory / Memoir of The Man (2020)

Setelah sekian lama nggak nonton melodrama, akhirnya pilihanku jatuh kepada : Find Me in Your Memory!

Drama yang termasuk baru, tayang di MBC mulai Maret sampai awal Mei kemarin. Banyak yang review kalo cerita dan lead couplenya bagus. Selain itu aku penasaran sama akting lead malenya, aka Kim Dong Wook hehe. Udah tertarik sama penampilannya sejak liat di Along With The Gods.

—————

Drama ini mengangkat topik hyperthymesia yang diidap seorang pewarta atau news anchor. 

People with so-called “hyperthymesia” have highly superior autobiographical memories.

Orang dengan gangguan neuropsikologis ini mampu mengingat segala hal yang terjadi dalam hidupnya dengan jelas, dengan kata lain dia tidak bisa lupa. Tokoh utama cerita ini (Lee Jeong Hoon) diperankan oleh Kim Dong Wook. Banyak adegan yang mengambil latar di studio berita tv yang jarang ditampilkan, ala-ala The East yang dulu tayang di NET itu. Memang sih Korea Selatan nggak ada habis-habisnya punya ide dengan berbagai topik dan profesi👍

Here i will share my opinion about it. 

Which i really love the casts, the emotions, the dialogue, the soundtracks, and the cinematography— it's beautifully made.

This may contain spoiler.

Sebagai orang yang punya kemampuan super dalam mengingat, mungkin kita akan merasa beruntung karena jarang sekali melupakan hal-hal penting di keseharian. Kemampuan itu juga sangat bermanfaat bagi Lee Jeong Hoon sebagai seorang news anchor dan reporter. Tapi, gimana dengan ingatan buruk yang sangat ingin kita lupakan? Tentu saja memori buruk seperti itu juga diingat dengan jelas oleh Lee Jeong Hoon, seakan-akan baru terjadi kemarin.

Bayangan kematian mantan kekasihnya yang jatuh dari atap gedung di malam yang bersalju, disaksikan kedua matanya sendiri. Kejadian itu membuat ia trauma setiap salju turun. 8 years has passed, yet he still remember how Jung Seo Yeon died, vividly.

Sampai suatu hari, wawancaranya dengan seorang aktris yang sedang naik daun, Yeo Ha Jin (Moon Ga Young), tidak berjalan seperti wawancara biasanya. Jeong Hoon sosok yang tegas dan terkenal sadis dalam membantai narasumbernya. Tapi satu per satu hal dalam diri Ha Jin justru mengingatkannya pada Seo Yeon, bahkan sempat membuatnya beku di tengah siaran langsung di tv. Sesuatu dari masa lalu mereka ternyata memiliki benang merah yang tersambung.

I can’t even imagine how she must be feeling, living a life without precious memories. Which one of us more pitiful? Me who can’t forget my memories for the rest of my life? or she who had to forget her memories to live?  - Lee Jeong Hoon

Haduhh pokoknya harus tonton sendiri! Salah satu melodrama terbaik yang kutonton sejauh ini :')

Sebenarnya dari keseluruhan plot, aku merasa tidak jauh dari karakter melodrama pada umumnya. Dimana ada keterkaitan erat dari masa lalu antar tokoh, ada konflik-konflik yang menyangkut kriminalitas seperti kemunculan stalker, lead male yang menyelamatkan lead female, dan saat dimana keadaan memaksa keduanya untuk berpisah. Walaupun aku sudah familiar dengan alur seperti itu, setiap cerita punya penyelesaian dan detail yang berbeda. Ada kocaknya. Ada bumbu misteri juga, kejar-mengejar stalker. Tipe yang alurnya tidak rumit, tapi tidak membosankan. Bisa membuatku bertahan sampai akhir. Light and healing.

Alasan yang membuatku betah nonton drama satu ini adalah chemistry dari first leadnya! Memory couple! Bukan cuma aku, it is approved by sooo many people. Perbedaan usia 13 tahun sama sekali tidak tampak. They're simply a great combination.

Jeong Hoon yang berkarisma dan kalem. Ha Jin yang ceria, polos, dan sangat jujur— iya, loveable. He's really charismatic and she is so bright. Aku juga suka karena walaupun genrenya melodrama, romance, but it's not cheesy. It's a healthy relationship where they always talk every problem out. One by one. Konflik di cerita ini sebenarnya banyak berasal dari orang lain, bukan dari mereka sendiri.

The chemistry is undeniable that they made it look real. Salah satu adegan paling nampol adalah saat mereka bertemu lagi setelah sekian lama. Seolah-olah mereka benar-benar lama berpisah dan menunggu satu sama lain, lalu betapa leganya saat dipertemukan dalam perasaan yang masih sama. 

Kim Dong Wook’s acting, smile, and the way he stares disini berhasil membuatku ngefans dan penasaran dengan penampilannya yang lain :’) Percaya lah aku gapernah ngefans sama aktor segininya haha

And the second lead, you can't resist their cuteness! Ngakak kalo inget gimana lucunya reporter Jo dan garangnya Ha Kyung yang ala anak SMA:(

Aku juga suka bagaimana Ha Jin dan Ha Kyung tampil sebagai saudara yang saling peduli, jujur, dan bikin ngakak. Adiknya jago judo, lebih galak dari kakaknya, tapi sangat melindungi kakaknya saat dia jadi manajer Ha Jin. They're just like real sisters!

You'll smile over simple acts the characters did. They're too good to be just a fictional characters :(

Alasan lain aku suka drama ini adalah pengambilan gambarnya yang apik. Banyak adegan dengan latar belakang yang bagus banget! Jadi pengen ke tempatnya langsung.

Ada lagi yang spesial dari drama ini. Dari awal teaser drama keluar hingga credits episode terakhir, mereka menyelipkan hint warna biru untuk Jeonghoon dan kuning untuk Hajin pada beberapa scene. Sampai setelah dramanya tamat pun warna biru dan kuning ini jadi semacam warna official mereka yang dipakai di sosial media. Keren sih!

Last but not least, i really love their main soundtrack : 

Listen to : Here We Are - Jooyoung

Mulai dari alunan gitarnya di awal, suara penyanyinya yang smooth, sampai puncaknya di chorus. Liriknya menceritakan seseorang yang terjebak dalam suara-suara dan adegan di masa lalunya, sampai pada akhirnya dia bertemu seseorang yang berhasil membawanya kembali ke masa ini. The words are beautiful, especially when it reach the bridge. Sedih :(

Dari cerita ini, aku mendapatkan bayangan tentang kehidupan seorang public figure. Penuh dengan rumor dan prasangka netijen. Kehidupan pribadi tidak ada privasinya lagi, banyak yang perlu dikorbankan, mentalnya harus kuat. Menurutku kita tidak berhak untuk menuntut mereka ini itu dan selalu jadi apa yang kita harapkan sebelum kita tahu kisah di balik itu. 

Dan tentang masa lalu, kita tidak harus melupakannya. Kita mengingat untuk tidak mengulang kesalahan yang sama, dan menerimanya agar bisa hidup pada hari ini dan esok lagi. Kesempatan saat ini mungkin tidak datang dua kali, jadi jangan lewatkan dan terjebak pada masa lalu.

Now i know how to etch those memories in my heart, and move forward. I know how those memories can become good memories, not wounds. I just need to live this moment beautifully.

- Lee Jeong Hoon

Akhir kata, aku sangat rekomendasikan drama ini untuk kalian karena 9.5/10 adalah rating yang aku berikan. Kurang 0.5 karena alur tipikal melodrama. Tapi aku jamin bakal banyak senyum sepanjang nonton dan susah move on setelah tamat hehe. Favorit!!

[annettezeller9-blog]

Leading UK Layer Expenditure Studios.

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This offers Trax an extremely Smash feeling, however provided the minimal amount of switches on the GameBoy, the cannon could just rotate right, meaning if you overshoot where you would like to target, you must completely readjust the cannon completely around a second opportunity. Brendan 'Carroll didn't only bring his family on board, but his real life friends as well. This pleasant baby dinosaur comes to life by responding to appear and approach with authentic dinosaur movements as well as noises. By listening closely, Goodlook2019.Info while following along in a manual or published account, your youngsters will swiftly learn to identify additional words as well as continuously boost their vocabulary. This's the same factor that drove millions of folks to group to Cox says he doesn't observe the distinction in between just what these females carry out as well as exactly what participates in out on social media sites each day, and with mainstream stars like Kim Kardashian proudly exposing their bodies on mainstream apps like Instagram, it's tough to suggest keeping that reasoning.Scriptures Investigators 1 Samuel by Marianne Ross is actually a fun Holy bible study that utilizes involved procedures like puzzles to keep trainees involved while they hound hints, and utilizing this saves the moment from generating a lesson program and also associated products.

[mysydneymemories-blog]

Why US-China trade talks have left toughest issues unresolved

"We are not out of the danger zone yet," said Nick Marro, a China analyst with the Economist Intelligence Unit. "There is still a high risk of a trade war, even if the timeline to getting there has been extended." Beijing refused to knuckle under to a US demand to slash the US trade gap by a specific amount: $US200 billion, a figure seen by most economists as wildly unrealistic anyway. The US ran a deficit with China in goods and services last year of $US337 billion, including a record $US376 billion in goods. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer Photo: APA vague statement the two countries released said next to nothing about the issue at the heart of the dispute between Washington and Beijing: The hardball tactics China uses to challenge US technological supremacy. Those tactics include a requirement that American companies hand over some of their technology in exchange for access to the Chinese market. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer issued a sharp statement: "Getting China to open its market to more US exports is significant, but the far more important issues revolve around forced technology transfers, cyber theft and the protection of our innovation." "The US," Lighthizer continued, "may use all of its legal tools to protect our technology through tariffs, investment restrictions and export regulations. Real structural change is necessary. " President Donald Trump is dispatching Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to try to settle on the kinds of details that were sidestepped in last week's talks with a Chinese delegation led by Vice Premier Liu He. China's Vice Premier Liu He Photo: APSome analysts say that for now, Trump might have wanted mainly to smooth over relations with China before his planned June 12 meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The US needs the help of Beijing, which wields influence in Pyongyang, to help seal North Korea's border and prevent goods from reaching Kim's regime in violation of international sanctions. The US-China trade truce drew fire from some who had applauded Trump's campaign pledge to overturn decades of US trade policy and crack down on China and other trading partners they accuse of abusive practices. "More false promises and delaying tactics," tweeted Dan DiMicco, a former steel executive who served as a trade adviser to Trump during the presidential race. "Been there for 20+ years. It needs to be different this time as promised." Still, the Trump administration trumpeted what had been achieved in two days of talks. The president tweeted: "On China, Barriers and Tariffs to come down for first time." Treasury Secretary Mnuchin predicted a big increase - 35 per cent to 45 per cent this year alone - in farm sales to China and a doubling in sales of energy products to the Chinese market. Trade analysts and China watchers were underwhelmed. "Energy exports to China are already soaring," Derek Scissors of the conservative American Enterprise Institute wrote in a blog post. Mnuchin is "promising to win something already happening... the US is folding again." Lighthizer last summer began investigating Beijing's tactics to challenge US technological dominance. These include outright cyber theft of US companies' trade secrets and China's demands that American corporations hand over technology in exchange for access to the Chinese markets. Last month, the administration proposed tariffs on $US50 billion of Chinese imports to protest the forced technology transfers. Trump later ordered Lighthizer to seek up to an additional $US100 billion in Chinese goods to tax. China responded by targeting $US50 billion in US products, including soybeans - a direct shot at Trump supporters in America's heartland. The prospect of a trade war has shaken financial markets and alarmed corporate executives. So some business groups were relieved by the cease-fire. "We're pleased that the two sides apparently made enough progress to dial back on the tariffs and other threats," says John Frisbie, president of the US-China Business Council. But Frisbie said he wanted to see further progress in addressing US businesses' complaints about how they are treated in China. In particular, the statement the two sides issued skirted over the key issue of forced technology transfers from the United States to China. "They failed to drill down on the biggest frictions facing US businesses and on those where we are most able to move the Chinese," said Mary Lovely, a Syracuse University economist who specialises in trade. She said the US was distracted by an "ill-advised focus" on the trade deficit. Lovely said the Chinese, who increasingly have their own technology to defend, might be open to strengthening intellectual-property protections and to pressuring local governments to stop demanding technology transfers. Yet Beijing may not be willing to bargain away its drive to become a technological power in such areas as robotics and artificial intelligence, embodied in its "Made in China 2025" initiative. That project calls for China to develop world-class competitors in fields from information technology to electric cars to pharmaceuticals. "The Chinese would be more than happy to give up their trade surplus," says Robert Atkinson, president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation think tank. "They care about one thing, and that's Made in China 2025." Atkinson said the Trump administration seems willing to give the Chinese a pass on their aggressive technology policies in exchange for little more than additional soybean exports: "Do we really want to live in a world where we're a third-world natural resource exporter, while the Chinese are the powerful technological machine?" AP Comments disabled Morning & Afternoon NewsletterDelivered MonFri. https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/why-us-china-trade-talks-have-left-toughest-issues-unresolved-20180522-p4zgo0.html?utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed

[bandanageorgereviews-blog]

Stormzy - Gang Sings And Prayer Album Review

Sitting in an arm chair with my slippers on and a cup of tea keeping me warm at 10pm on a Friday night, I can't help but get the feeling that grime, perhaps, wasn't meant for me. The very nature of the word grime paints a picture of what it has to offer as a genre, and as such it is confrontational, aggressive and unmistakable, which are all things I often enjoy in music. But, rather than confronting things like politics like Rage Against the Machine might do, grime artists often seem to just confront one another, people who've been ''chatting bare shit'', or even random strangers. This is where I begin to lose truck with it, because I'm simply more inclined to listen to something actually interesting than Afghan Dan's three minute romp about a man who's skull resembles confectionery. There's a whole roster of grime artists spinning their own take on the genre, from young blood like Little T and Soph Aspin who are best known for their ''sends'' to each other and other blackpool MCs, to more ''mature'' artists like Bugsy Malone or JME. But then enters Stormzy, arguably the biggest and baddest of the bunch. For those unfamiliar, Stormzy skyrocketed to success after a video of him performing a track in a park poetically named ''Shut Up'' blew up in 2015, and has since earned him (at the time of writing) 47.6 million views on YouTube alone. Figures like that don't come to many unsigned artists, let alone a man barely into his 20s. Now, in 2017, Stormzy has released his debut album, Gang Signs and Prayer through his own independent record label, #Merky Records. The title immediately grabbed me, as it seemed to somehwat deviate from the naming conventions of most grime releases. I wasn't quite sure what I was expecting, but it's reminiscent of what I imagine Kanye and Kim's on-the-table names were for their children. (Disclaimer: I love Kanye West.) The album opens with the aptly titled ''First Things First'', a rather unapologetic track where Stormzy addresses many, many, many things. Topics up for discussion range from his dedication to the music, being a bad man, what it was like before he was famous, calling people dick heads, drive by shootings, drugs, Adele, being better than other people, and a bizarre pairing of Jay Z's alias Jigga and the beginning of Puff Daddy's name, perhaps a nod to the Pokemon character Jigglypuff? Odd lyrics aside, this is a standard affair grime tune. For brief moments Stormzy gets introspective and there's a slight promise of some depth to this track, but he's very quick to return to boasting and maintaining his tough man image. So far, nothing ground breaking. Moving on to track 2, titled ''Cold''. The production on this beat is, pardon me for saying so, fucking sick as. The instrumental is varied and changes at regular intervals, serving synthesized melodies, deep bass lines that punch through the albeit repetitive drum beat, moving at a fast tempo, and keeping my head bouncing throughout. However, I find myself thinking about how fucking dope the beat is a lot more when listening to this track than actually paying any mind to what Stormzy is saying. The track is about just how ''Cold'' Stormzy really is, as he proceeds to talk about how doesn't give a fuck about anything or anyone, how he's not afraid of anyone but plenty of people are afraid of him, and how he is, Stormzy, champion of South London. If it wasn't for the instrumental on this one, it would be entirely forgettable, which is a shame, because the beat is really fucking sick. Track 3 is called ''Bad Boys'', which, is to be expected really. The track opens with a skit of sorts as a heavily aggravated gentleman addresses a group of other presumably Adidas clad gentlemen. He raises his voice, beckons for a man named Carlos, and hollers about how much of a ''bad man'' he was in jail. As much as I hate to break it to both you and Carlos, and any impressionable youths reading this, having gone to jail for unprovoked crime makes you an absolute jeb end and you should feel bad about yourself, unless that's what you mean by ''bad man'', and you're actually talking about what a deplorable individual you are. Stormzy kind of goes on to shut down this school of thought, by effectively calling this kind of person a fake, giving many examples of the behaviour a fake bad man might exhibit, such as thinking they're hard for watching Netflix original Narcos, or driving a nice car but not having the money to actually pay bills. On this track Stormzy falls into his own trap of what I call ''Shut Up'' syndrome, which appears to be a trope in grime. ''Shut Up'' Syndrome is a condition in which grime artists rhyme the same word or phrase with itself for a whole verse, or sometimes even a whole song. This time, it's the phrase ''bad boys''. Whether this is done to remind you what song you're actually listening to, or if it's just for lack of a lexicon I don't know, but I think it's shit and lazy and I hate it. Of course, Stormzy goes on to proclaim that he is the real bad boy, he calls himself a gangster, with a hard R, and talks about how he even has a knife, so it's for real. After this average first verse, we're treated to the most redeemable part of this song, a fairly catchy trap-inspired hook, which again mentions the fabled Carlos. There's then a verse delivered by some bloke named Ghetts, who does the exact same thing as Stormzy, calling everyone else a fucking bitch, and sarcastically stating he's afraid of guns, implying that he's not, which is a real big claim for someone I've never fucking heard of. All in all, a relatively weak track, but I've listened to it three times already so at least the chorus is good. Track 4 is called Blinded By Your Grace, pt. 1. This song is a beautiful sucker punch because it takes what you've heard so far and tells it to fuck off, but in a really nice way. This track is a simplistic, gorgeous gospel song on which Stormzy sings about presumably a woman in his life (or it's about God but I'm going to give Stormzy the benefit of the doubt and say that maybe it's both and he's written a song with two meanings), which is a nice change from always hearing about how many women a respective artist is shagging at any given time in a lot of rap and grime. Stormzy is accompanied by a couple of female voices and a synthesized organ in this track, but its not overdone, and that's what makes this track special as such a contrast from what's been presented this far into the album. Whilst he's no Freddie Mercury, Stormzy sounds very genuine on this track and I think the fact he's not a singer adds to that, because you get a sense of emotion and feeling from him which you might not get on something as crass as ''Cold.'' More of this please Stormzy, I'm about it. Track 5 is a big ol' blast back to the first three tracks, and it's called ''Big For Your Boots''. You've probably heard it already. If ''Cold'' and ''Bad Boys'' had a child and it wasn't disciplined properly this would be it. It is pretty much a lyrical hybridization of those two tracks, where Stormzy continues to talk about how he's better than you, how he will resort to violence should you continue to be over confident, mentions Adele for the second time and you better not dare do this that your the other, or you'll get kicked. This track uses something a lot of modern pop beats do, and that is the utilization of annoying, pitch shifted vocal samples that have been remixed so heavily they're not actually words any more, and I can't think of many conventions more fucking detestable than this. This song is, once again, standard grime. Track is 6 is called Velvet/Jenny Francis-Interlude, and I almost didn't fucking bother with it because of it's even worse pitch shifted vocal samples. Seriously, this sample is awful, it's almost unlistenable, and whoever produced it needs a fucking word with themself. However, when you're not being audibly assaulted by Alvin The Chipmunk's estranged brother, this is a pretty good song. The lyrics focus are about a woman who Stormzy is infatuated with, which is a topic Stormzy seems to shine on. The lyrics here are actually rather good, where Stormzy delves into metaphors and similes, albeit rather cliche at times but still, it's a very nice step up to go from ''I got the big sized toes on my feet'' to ''it feels just like velvet, a touch of the wind then it's gone''. Other than the god awful vocal sample on this instrumental, the beat is very smooth and easy going, something complimented by Stormzy's sung vocals and the accompanying female backing vocals. The hook on this track is melodic and contains the strongest of the lyrics to be found in this song, and I like it quite a lot. Good job Stormzy, gold star for you. Track 7, Mr. Skeng. I feel as though Stormzy actually just wrote several drafts of ''First Things First'', decided they were all alright, and put them on the album as their own tracks. This far into the record, there's been two themes for songs, why Stormzy is great and how other individuals are not, or how much he loves this girl. I like a good concept record, but when your concept can be summarized with the phrase ''I'm good, you're not'', you may need to stretch out a bit more. In this track, you can expect more of the same lyrically, except in this one Stormzy talks about God for a line or two, references two bible verses, and then in the next breath commands that he be called ''Gunshot Mike''. Alternatively, he would accept being called Mr. Skeng as well, but I'm not sure why you'd want that, because my vision of Mr. Skeng is an overweight secondary school P.E teacher who also covers Geography when there's no supply teachers available. The instrumental on this track is also forgettable, synthesized strings, generic drum beat. Not a particularly special one. Track 8 goes by Cigarettes and Cush, but I'm spelling it Cigarettes and Kush, because I'm not a fucking caveman. This song is about loving a girl, but really liking her because she's always got fags and a 20 bag on her. Stormzy sings again with a female backing vocal provided by Lily Allen on the hook, and it's fairly enjoyable. Stormzy talks about how he's perhaps made some mistakes in the relationship so far, but he vows to fix it. If I had a gram for every time I'd been told that in previous relationships and it not actually happen I'd always have kush too. The second verse in this song is performed by a lady called Kehlani, and she does a pretty stand up job, making ''passing the bong'' seem like a genuine romantic gesture. On the next Stormzy delivered verse, he talks about how he hopes God saves this girl of his, because she saved him, and its all very sweet, but it's somewhat implied that their relationship only seemed salvageable when they had some weed in, and she might not really care that much any more. I hope it works out mate. Track 9 is another interlude track and this one is called 21 Gun Salute. Another one with an organ instrumental, but this one is actually about something different. On this song Stormzy pens a tribute to his friends, or ''bredren'' as they might be called on the road. Stormzy once again addresses God, in the hopes that divine intervention may bless his friends and he, by helping his friend with a gambling addiction or letting Stormz ''bun his zoot in peace''. There's some really subtle elements to the production on this track that flesh out it's simplistic body and make it a very pretty piece of music, such as the vocal harmonies in the chorus, or gentle bass guitar licks that hang in the background of the track. One of my personal favourites of this record. Track 10 is Blinded By Your Grace, Pt. 2 and it's pulled a proper Spiderman 2 on it by being even better than the first one. This track is actually really, really good. Like, really good. Stormzy declares his love for God on this track in true gospel fashion and he does it very well, backed by a full band and gospel choir, with some excellent instrumentation accompanying what is a very heartfelt set of lyrics. This is the kind of thing I was hoping would be on a record called Gang Signs and Prayer, and Stormzy delivered, albeit 10 tracks into a 16 track album. If there's one thing that gives me hope for Stormzy's future as an artist, it's this song and to a lesser degree the others like it, because it proves that he's more than just a grime artist, but someone with a genuine sense of self, and I hope that he moves into this introspective direction further down the line. Excellent track on every front. Track 11, Return of the Rucksack. This one is grime again. A repeat of some similar lyrical themes in this one, again about being better than the rest, and calling people out. However, Stormzy does acknowledge on this track that he thinks highly of his abilities, in fact, he states that he thinks he's best, and attributes that to bias. At least there's some self awareness on this one. Stormzy's delivery and rhyme scheme on this one is a bit of an upgrade from previous tracks of the same cadence, and out of all the more deeply grime tracks on this record, this one is probably my favourite. That being said, it's nothing I've not heard before, and it's nothing I've not heard before on this album. Track 12 is called 100 Bags, and it's about Stormzy's mum. Please keep making music like this Mike mate, it's really good. Stormzy as an artist undoubtedly does his best on tracks where he's opening up and singing about things of substance. Before this song begins, there's a voice mail recording of Stormzy's mother telling him to put his faith into his Lord, and it makes you feel all good inside because it's apparent that his mother is very proud of what he's accomplished at such a young age. This track brings Stormzy into a more human light almost, and I feel reminded of the fact that he's not much older than myself, and he comes from very humble beginnings. Stormzy expresses that in this song whether he means to or not, showing his gratitude for what his mother did for him raising him as a single parent, not an easy task by any measure. He talks of how he's going to make up any mistakes he's made to her now that he's successful and can give her what she deserves. There's some lovely instrumentation on this one, with a very interesting multiple vocal layer effect in the tail end of the track. Again, it's moments on this album like this that make Stormzy great. Tell your mum you love her. Number 13 is called Don't Cry For Me. On this track Stormzy once again opens up and talks about what it's like to grow up in South London, and decries a lot of the hardships that come with it. In the first verse Stormzy tells of friends he's lost, whether that be through losing touch or people who've sadly passed away, and he talks of the pride him and his friends share together. He also addresses an issue often not touched upon, that issue being the expectation of masculinity from men of all ages. Stormzy states that he cried when his friend passed away, as if it would be unexpected for him to do so. When surrounded by the stigma that men should hold their emotions in and never express themselves through emotional formats, deep seated issues arise, and big ups to Stormz for bringing that up. In the second verse Stormzy talks about how cutthroat the way of life can be in the place he hails from, and talks about how some of his friends are serving life sentences, stating that it's a ''burn or die'' kind of atmosphere. I feel the need to highlight the fantastic work of Rosie Danvers here, who provides the orchestral strings on this track as well as others on this album. Rosie Danvers has worked with the likes of Kanye West and Jay Z in the past, and she always does a fantastic job. The instrumentation here provides a beautifully smooth R&B track, pushing Stormzy's work out into other urban genres. Track 14 isn't really a song. It's a phone conversation between Stormzy and and chap called Crazy Titch. Crazy Titch pretty much monologues throughout the call about Stormzy, and how he's going to take grime to being a ''first rate genre'', comparing him to Neo from The Matrix. He sings Stormzy's praises quite a lot really. To be completely honest, Crazy Titch is probably right. Grime is an interesting beast, it's one of those things that's been on the rise for the last couple of years in a big way, and more and more people from all over the UK are diving into it headfirst. At the end of the day I'm just a bit of an emo really so I'm hardly the authority on whether grime is good or not, but you've made it this far into this review so you must care a bit about what I have to say. Although its not something I'd regularly spin on my turntable, there's no denying that grime is the next big thing, anyone with half a foot of foresight could see that. I think it will really revolutionize rap music in the years to come, and I wouldn't be one bit surprised if Stormzy was at the forefront of that. Track 15 is Shut Up. You've heard Shut Up. I don't need to talk about it whatsoever. The final track on this album is called Lay Me Bare, and it's easily the most honest song on the record. One final message to God, Stormzy puts his blood on the page. This song reads like a man's final words, Stormzy documents his difficulties with depression and for want of a better term, lays himself bare. Stormzy thanks the people in his life who've helped him through hard times by name, and gives another very genuine performance. In the second verse of this song especially Stormzy produces a lot of emotion, and this time, genuine anger at his father who had been vacant from his life for years. Again, you get an insight into the real Stormzy on this one, perhaps more so than any other. The production on this track serves the song very well, and although it uses that vocal sampling technique I addressed earlier, I've definitely heard it put to worse effect. A very real piece of work indeed. So, that was Gang Signs and Prayer. For a debut record from such a young man, I'd say this record is a solid achievement. For me, this record is a bit hit and miss, but when it hits, it knocks it out the fucking park big time. The weaker tracks on this for me are easily the songs where Stormzy sticks to the rules of grime lyric writing, and I don't find that particularly enjoyable, especially when there's quite a few tracks like that on this record. Stormzy's strongest suit is when he opens himself up, and he really does that towards the end of this album, credit where credit is due, he comes out with some absolutely outstanding moments on this. If it wasn't obvious, I think the best track on this album is Blinded By Your Grace pt 2, by a long way. Coming away from this, I enjoyed this a lot more than I disliked it, and for that, this album gets a strong 7/10. Definitely worth a listen, but there's room to grow and I'm sure Stormzy will do just that. If you're into grime any way, this will likely be your Bible. Well done Stormzy.

[caveartfair]

From Picasso to Noguchi, 11 Artists Who Designed Spectacular Playgrounds

Playgrounds as we know them today can be traced back to the sand gardens of late 19th-century Germany, which resemble what we now know as sandboxes. But it wasn’t until the 1940s that urban planners and landscape designers across Europe broke from that restrictive holding-pen style, in favor of experimenting with what they called “adventure playgrounds.” These new models were meant to foster problem-solving and collaboration. Playgrounds, they argued, could become neighborhood hubs and contribute to the physical, emotional, and cognitive development of children. And they were right.

As new playground commissions emerged in cities around the world, artists began to set their sights on these spaces, as vehicles to inspire creativity and curiosity in children—though also as outlets for their own imaginations. From Jean Dubuffet’s whimsical garden in the Netherlands to Benjamin Dominguez’s “monster park” in Southern California, here are 11 of the most innovative and inspiring playgrounds designed by artists.

Isamu Noguchi, Piedmont Park Playscape, 1976

Piedmont Park, Atlanta

Photo by Wally Gobetz, via Flickr.

The Japanese-American sculptor and designer, known for his biomorphic sculptures made of natural materials, began planning landscapes for children as early as 1933. But it would be decades before one of Noguchi’s designs was realized in the United States. The artist encountered a series of obstacles in New York, ranging from safety concerns to the onset of World War II. During those decades Noguchi continued to hone his vision of a space that would spark creativity and adventure, encouraging children to explore the natural world rather than expressly directing an activity. “I think of playgrounds as a primer of shapes and functions; simple, mysterious, and evocative; thus educational,” he wrote in 1975. His first (and only) American playscape fills a one-acre space in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park with colorful metal and concrete structures, including climbing blocks, a low circular mound, and a stepped tower.

Egon Moller-Nielsen, Tuffsen, 1959

Humlegården, Östermalm, Stockholm

Photo by Егор Журавлёв, via Flickr.

This work by Danish sculptor Moller-Nielsen was designed for a Stockholm park as part of a pioneering initiative to improve the quality of life in the rapidly growing city. Her biomorphic structure, sporting various punctures and protrusions, was revolutionary in its time for its unique approach to art and play within public space. Moller-Nielsen’s work helped spark an exchange across Europe, the United States, and Japan about the positive effects of playgrounds on urban children and families.

Pablo Picasso, (Untitled), 1967

Richard Daley Plaza, Chicago

Photo by Dan DeLuca, via Flickr.

This 162-ton, 50-foot-tall Picasso sculpture in Downtown Chicago’s Richard Daley plaza was originally intended as a work of public art. But as kids began clambering up (and even skateboarding on) the steel ramp at its base, the work quickly transformed into a makeshift jungle gym. Now considered an icon of the city and beloved by generations of Chicagoans, Picasso’s Cubist creation was initially scorned. It marked a stark departure from the city’s earlier public sculptures of civic heroes, paving the way for a new wave of public art by the likes of Alexander Calder, Marc Chagall, and Claes Oldenburg.

Benjamin Dominguez, La Laguna Park, 1965

San Gabriel, California

Photo by Jessica Wilson, via Flickr.

This critter-filled playground in a Los Angeles suburb is one of the only remaining creations of lesser-known Mexican artist Benjamin Dominguez, who completed the project at age 70. The 14 sea creatures—including a teal-green octopus, a pink whale, and a two-headed serpent—were selected specifically for their smooth, curvilinear forms, which could easily be translated into slides and safe structures. The “monster park,” as it has come to be known, is so cherished by locals that they banded together to successfully protest its planned demolition by the city in 2006.

Niki de Saint Phalle, Golem, 1972

Rabinowitz Garden, Kiryat hayovel, Jerusalem

Photo by Brian Negin, via Flickr.

City authorities initially rejected Golem, a fantastical playground design by French Pop artist de Saint Phalle, deeming it too frightening for children. “Scary things are good because they help children conquer their fears,” countered the artist, citing the Freudian psychologist Bruno Bettelheim’s theory that fairy tales prepare children to overcome their earliest existential crises. Nicknamed “the monster” by local residents, the looming black-and-white structure features three red tongues sliding into a sand-box, as well as a cavern underneath for braver children to explore.

Jean Dubuffet, Jardin d’émail, 1974

Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo, Netherlands

Photo by aa.tee, via Flickr.

Like most of his monumental public sculptures, Dubuffet created Jardin d’émail (the “garden of enamel”) without a specific location in mind. It ended up nestled within the Netherlands’s Kröller-Müller Sculpture Garden, its stark black and white design a playful contrast to the verdant surroundings. The whimsical landscape offers an escape from reality; in the words of the French artist, “an artificial garden in a garden of real trees and real lawns.” The work is at once a sculpture, a three-dimensional painting, and an opportunity to explore the iconic artist’s work from the inside out.

Pierre Székely, La Dame du Lac, 1975

Évry, Courcouronnes, France

Photo by tongeron91, via Flickr.

“The mountain will come to you,” said Székely in 1975, in anticipation of a project he had designed for the new urban development of Évry, outside of Paris. The mayor had commissioned the Hungarian sculptor to create a climbing wall, the first of its kind in France, inspired by the famous boulders of Fontainebleau. Easily accessible from the town’s shopping center, the resulting structure—a surrealist-inspired take on sailboats gliding across the neighboring pond—was intended to bring the thrill of mountain climbing to nature-seeking urbanites.

Anthony Caro, Playful Promenade, 1996

Yorkshire Sculpture Park, West Yorkshire, England

Photo by YSPsculpture, via Flickr.

Located in West Bretton’s scenic Yorkshire Sculpture Park, this “playful promenade” by abstract sculptor Caro is the ideal site for a game of hide-and-seek. The five-part steel sculpture, painted in muted grey-green, was originally commissioned for a major exhibition of 20th-century British sculpture in Paris’s Tuileries Garden. The towering geometric structures, each a unique assemblage of semi-circles, arches, and cylindrical forms, invite passersby of all ages to venture inside and explore.

Bob Cassilly, City Museum, 1997

Washington Avenue Loft District, St. Louis

Photo by Anja Nettew, via Flickr.

Part museum, part playground, part jungle gym, part recycling project, Bob Cassilly’s City Museum defies easy categorization. Housed in the 600,000-square-foot former International Shoe Company, the space features a 10-story slide, two airplanes, and a 1940 Ferris wheel on its roof. Most of these objects and structures were reclaimed from the city of St. Louis, including salvaged construction cranes and old chimneys. Although Cassilly passed away in 2011, a group of some 20 artists nicknamed the “Cassilly Crew” have continued to tinker with the space ever since. Recent additions include an indoor treehouse and a network of underground tunnels.

Robert Morris, Bodymotionspacesthings, 1971/2009

Tate Modern, London

Photo by Ian Duffy, via Flickr.

When it debuted in 1971, Morris’s Bodymotionspacesthings marked the first time an art gallery had asked visitors to physically interact with the work on view. Some 1,500 ecstatic visitors of all ages clambered on see-saws and tiptoed across tightropes—but their fun was short-lived. The overwhelming response from the public forced the installation to close a mere four days after opening. As the Times reported, museum staff “were not able to cope with the frantic means of emotional release that the exhibition became. An orderly pandemonium was expected, but pandemonium broke out.” Over a holiday weekend in 2009, Morris’s playhouse was recreated in the Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall for another fleeting four-day period.

Carsten Höller, Decision, 2015

Hayward Gallery, London

Isomeric Slides, 2015. Carsten Höller "Carsten Höller: Decision" at Hayward Gallery at Southbank Centre, London (2015)

With two entrances leading to separate steel corridors and a series of immersive installations, Höller’s 2015 solo show at London’s Hayward Gallery was a playful reflection on the everyday task of decision-making. Visitors came face-to-face with giant rotating mushrooms that sprouted from the ceiling, then reclined on roaming robotic beds before exiting the gallery from its rooftop via a pair of outdoor spiral slides.

—Demie Kim

from Artsy News