#she was a really big legend on the platform in her lifetime and she did so much w her short life

[britneyshakespeare]

hey quick question... why am i (someone who never engages w true crime) being recommended content on youtube about christina grimmie’s murder? and also wtf? i guess 7 years is a long time for the internet but if you knew about christina grimmie before that happened, no it’s not. that news was fucking chilling and it’s never going to be normal and it feels so weird to make it like some retrospective true crime folklore. that feels really unnecessary to her legacy to just present her as a “murdered youtuber.” stop!!!!!!!

[riathenowheregirl]

Gold Dust Women: My Favorite Witchy Singers

Okay, before you burn me alive with “Where’s this certain artist?!” or “Why is this certain artist not here?!” or “Who even uses Tumblr these days?”, uhmmm me bish?? It’s my safe zone. Okay, the last question was a joke. 

Can I just say that the amazing women on this list are artists I listen to all the time. They’re my favorites, so chill (I’m open for suggestions tho). This is not Rolling Stone or Billboard magazine, it’s just ya girl’s good ol’ tumblr blog. Also, I’m not saying that all of them are literal w i t c h e s, it’s just that they portray the same aesthetic through their art and music. 

Alright, now that’s settled, let’s start.

1. STEVIE NICKS 

Do I even need to explain this? Stevie is undoubtedly the Etheral Queen of them all, the Pioneer, the O.G. Supreme whose lyrical soul and spellbinding voice echoes from the distant past to the inevitable future. Everything about her oozes with witchcraft and magic starting from her iconic top hat, to her millions of intricately made shawls, down to her platform boots. Only Stevie Nicks could pull off such Not-of-this-Era outfits and she has been doing it CONSISTENTLY. She’s in a timeline of her OWN. If you listen to her music, you would notice that every song of hers is poetry, like she’s telling a story or conjuring the unknown. She’s every witchy woman’s icon and that’s a fact.

Stevie is an untouchable yet gracious legend, we’ll always be a part of her sisterhood until the day of earth’s decay. Forever the Queen of Rock N’ Roll. 

Current Favorite Stevie Lyrics:  “ You can fly swinging from your trapeze, scaring all the people...but you'll never scare me.”  |   “Once in a million years a lady like her rises. Oh no, Rhiannon, you cry, but she's gone and your life knows no answer.”

Notice how I used the word “current”? Because it always changes depending on the state my life. Here’s a more detailed post on why I love her.   

2. KATE BUSH 

“Heathcliff, it's me, I'm Cathy, I've come home, I'm so cold! Let me in through your window!”

The eccentric beauty, Kate Bush made a genius, artistic move by writing a song about the book, Wuthering Heights, written by Emily Brontë in the 1800′s. Mind you, she was only 18 when she wrote and was the first song written by a female artist that landed on top the charts. Her voice is almost as distinctive as Stevie Nicks. While Stevie’s more nasal, commanding, wailing rock n’ roll goddess, Kate’s voice was high-pitched, alarming, ghostly, queer, and fairy-like. Everything about her is Performance Art. This is a woman who is not afraid to express herself.

For starters, you might think her music is strange and weird. Trust me, I felt the same way when I first heard her songs. But then, it began to grow on me leaving floral patterns on its path. 

Favorite Kate Bush Lyrics:  “Do you want to feel how it feels? Do you want to know that it doesn't hurt me? Do you want to hear about the deal that I'm making? You, it's you and me.”

3. FLORENCE WELCH 

This one is as obvious as Stevie Nicks. Florence Welch from the band, Florence + the Machine, is a poetess, a screaming banshee, and a full-pledged Sister of the Moon. She even started a witch coven during middle school. From her red carpet looks to her everyday outfits on Instagram, Florence vibrates powerful witch energy. Not to mention she has a song called “Which Witch” and that haunting music video for Big God with levitating women. Flo is not a woman to trifle with, I’ll tell you that. 

Photos courtesy of @lillieeiger

In all her songs, Florence will bind you with magic and it’ll leave you breathless. If Stevie’s songs are poetry, hers are spells you could sing out loud. Also, if you haven’t seen her house tour, go check it now! 

Favorite Florence Welch Lyrics: “'Cause I am done with my graceless heart so tonight I'm gonna cut it out and then restart.”  |  “And in a moment of joy and fury I threw myself in the balcony like my grandmother so many years before me.”

4. LANA DEL REY

Remember when Lana used witchcraft to hex Donald Trump? It was all over the news and Twitter went wild. She was later quoted saying, “I really do believe that words are one of the last forms of magic and I’m a bit of a mystic at heart.” Oh, and she also did a collab with Stevie. 

We. Stan. Forever.

There was even a time that I MEMORIZED the monologue in the music video for Ride. ALL OF IT, HUNNY. 

Lana’s hypnotizing vocals together with her sixties baby doll dresses and Priscilla Presley hair is enough to convince me that she’s not of this era. She has a deep understanding of the beauty of past generation and the looming sadness and nostalgia that comes with it. Whenever I listen to her music, I imagine myself as a rockstar’s muse who is involved with the mafia but then I decided to leave him while taking his gun and convertible. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Favorite Lana Del Rey Lyrics: “Well, my boyfriend's in the band. He plays guitar while I sing Lou Reed. I've got feathers in my hair, I get down to Beat poetry. And my jazz collection's rare, I can play most anything.”

5. LORDE 

David Bowie didn’t call her the “future of music” for nothing. Just two albums under her belt, Lorde already proved that she will one day become a legend herself. Her music narrates an unparalleled interpretation of the anguish and fleeting charm of our youth. She knows what we’re feeling because she’s been there herself and is on the road to healing just like us. 

I think the message she’s trying to say is that we’re constantly losing grip on our innocence, and that life is often wicked so we need to accept that, grit our teeth, get on with it, and make art. She can also see color when she hears music. 

In my opinion, Lorde is one of the greatest artists of my generation. 

Favorite Lorde Lyrics: “The truth is I am a toy that people enjoy till all of the tricks don't work anymore, and then they are bored of me.”  |   “That slow burn wait while it gets dark, bruising the sun, I feel grown up with you in your car. I know it's dumb.” 

6. FKA TWIGS

Honestly, FKA Twigs is literally art in living form, a celestial angel that nobody can easily decipher. This woman has more talent in her fingertips than I could ever have in a lifetime. She somehow reminds me of a young Kate Bush; fearless, experimental, with an intoxicating voice. She never stops reinventing herself and it’s beautiful.

In FKA Twigs’ world, there are no limits, just endless galaxies. She pours her whole being in all of her songs and it shows. She’s not for the faint of heart, let me tell you that. 

Favorite FKA Twigs Lyrics:  “And I don't want to have to share our love. I try but I get overwhelmed. All wrapped in cellophane, the feelings that we had.” 

7. SKOTT 

I say this all the time, but I cannot write without Skott’s music blasting on my earphones. She grew up in a “forest commune run by outcast folk musicians” and was not exposed to contemporary music until her teen years. You would notice it in her songs. 

It’s hard to explain why, but listen to Skott’s music when there’s thunder and rain outside, then you’ll know why this woman is witchy. I kind of want her to be more popular and known, but then again, I also want to keep her to myself. Scratch that, LISTEN TO SKOTT’S MUSIC NOW. 

Start with Glitter & Gloss. 

Favorite Skott Lyrics: “Like an empty canvas, hear me cry. Like a masterpiece, I'm in your eyes. Now your colors are in front of me, we're a picture-perfect oddity.”

8. FIRST AID KIT 

I fell in love with this sister duo when I first heard their song, Emmylou, while browsing YouTube. It’s one of those moments of instant magic. Klara and Johanna Söderberg are a coven of their own. I would describe their music as “Woodland Folk laced with runes and wild flowers”. 

Their voices compliment each other so much that it reminded me of Simon & Garfunkel (they even performed their own version of America in front of Paul Simon!!!). First Aid Kit has this Woodstock seventies vibe, and you know me, I live for that sh*t. 

Favorite First Aid Kit Lyrics: “ When I run through the deep dark forest long, after this begun, where the sun would set, the trees were dead and the rivers were none. And I hope for a trace to lead me back home from this place, but there was no sound there was only me, and my disgrace.”

9. ZOLA JESUS

Zola Jesus’ music deserves to be played with an orchestra inside an abandoned castle in Transylvania while it gently rains and you’re wearing a white nightgown as you roam its empty halls. Is that too much?

 Not at all. 

Like Skott, I listen to Zola whenever I’m having writer’s block. If I ever finish my book, I’m gonna have to thank them. 

Favorite Zola Jesus Lyrics: “I'm on my bed, my bed of stones, but in the end of the night we'll rest our bones, so don't you worry. Just rest your head cause in the end of the night we'll be together again.”

10. ZELLA DAY 

Photo Credits to Harper Smith

I LOVE ZELLA DAY’S MUSIC OH MY GOODNESS. My favorite songs of her are Sweet Ophelia, Hypnotic, Man on the Moon, and Hunnie Pie. ESPECIALLY HUNNIE PIE. I cry whenever I hear that song. It’s just so pure, calming, and beautiful. 

Her music belong in the psychedelic era. 

People labeled her as the “happier version of Lana Del Rey” but I think she’s in a league of her own. She deserves more recognition, honestly! 

Favorite Zella Day Lyrics: “The older we get there's an ocean of people in places we've chosen and you know how mama keeps saying “we've gotta stop the games we're playing””. 

Hope you guys approve of my list! I really like sharing stuff that I love! Feel free to message me for more suggestions, I’d really appreciate to know more witchy artists out there. We’re all in a huge coven of sisterhood. 

Thanks for reading!

Love, 

Ria  🌙

P.S.

Please follow my blog!!! THANK YOU  🔮

[satoshi-mochida]

Falcom president Toshihiro Kondo shared various tidbits of new information regarding the future of Falcom during a stage event at PlayStation Festa in in Seoul on March 9.

Get the roundup of quotes below.

-“In Japan, we have already decided to port Ys: Memories of Celceta to PlayStation 4. While I can’t promise anything for sure right here and now, starting with Memories of Celceta, we’re considering moving little by little to make previous titles playable on platforms like PlayStation 4. If there is a title you would like to play, I definitely want to hear your thoughts.”

-”We’re hearing from more people, even within the company, that want us to do a collaboration title. While I can’t promise anything for sure, I would like to get the opinions of the staff, as well as the fans, while discussing within the company whether we can release a title that would follow up Ys vs. Trails in the Sky.”

-“While the numbered Trails series will continue to move forward in the future, there are still parts left unfinished, such as stories we weren’t able to tell in the already-concluded Trails of Cold Steel series. I’m considering deliver things like that and story continuations in some form. Since this year is the 15th anniversary of the Trails series, I think that we will be able to share information regarding that during the 15th anniversary.”

-“Developing a game takes one year at the very least, and two to three years when it’s a long one. We have to make something that does not take any longer than that and is a showcase of our hard work. Speaking loftily, I want people to remember Falcom games as fun when they grow old. And to do that, we need to create draws that are unique to those games.

“For example, they might say that the Trails series’ draw is that we tried to create a proper story, or that Ys VIII‘s draw is that we tried to create a strong heroine, which resulted in the birth of that sort of character. I want to put forth something that when players hear the game title, they remember something that stuck with them.

“Falcom is made up of ordinary people, so we will do whatever we can. While working our very best on the minor details—like running around towns with a stopwatch to figure out how much time it takes—I want to make playing our games as pleasant as possible. We’re really valuing those two things.”

-“We’re aware of our weaknesses in the graphics department, as it’s been pointed out when we’ve participated in events in various countries. In Trails of Cold Steel III, we increased the quality of our models. And while we’re using motion capture in some areas in Ys IX, I also want to increase the quality more than before. When getting information on games, what first catches my eyes are graphics and illustrations, so I want to treat this as a future challenge.

“However, I would like to say this for the honor of Falcom’s employees. They aren’t slacking off. Trails of Cold Steel concluded with the fourth title, but they created four games over the course of five years. There is almost no other company in the Japanese games industry that can continue to release 50 to 80-hour RPGs at that pace. For example, if we made CG movies over the course of two years, we would be able to achieve higher quality. But even so, at around 20 hours, the Trails series’ event scenes are far from two hours long. The staff naturally wants to increase the quality, but considering the release period of the Trails series and trying to deliver the games as quickly as possible, we have to make a compromise somewhere along the line. If we’re working while also raising the quality, we probably wouldn’t finish in our lifetimes.

“However, I would like to have nice graphics. I myself have been told ‘the graphics are shabby’ when recommending games I like to people, which was painful to hear. Currently, we have young new talent joining Falcom, who are making all sorts of proposals with the thought of further improvements. I think that those results will gradually show face, so please look forward to that.”

-“We have already decided on the area in which the latest entry in the Trails series will be set. That selected area includes The Republic of Calvard. While some left-over areas will be depicted, it will be an area whose name has appeared between Trails in the Sky and Trails of Cold Steel. I think there will be talk about what’s going on with the east side of the continent through the Trails of Cold Steel series, so please look forward to it while playing Trails of Cold Steel IV.”

-“There is a certain character that made me want to join Falcom. And that was Gueld, the Moonlight Witch who appears in the third entry of the Legend of Heroes series. In this RPG, which depicts a journey that traces the footsteps of the Moonlight Witch, her fate remains unknown as you progress through the adventure and see the things that she did and left behind in each place. And while the hero and his party finally learn what happened to the Moonlight Witch, the episode was breathtakingly beautiful and I played it with trickling tears. It was that experience that made me want to create a story for a game. I also ran a fan site at the time, which caught the attention of Falcom, who then approached me to join the company.”

-“Right now, my favorite character is Dana from Ys VIII. Among fans,Ys I and II heroines Feena and Lilia still leave a strong impression. Dana was born from the question of, ‘How can we best surpass them?’ While they were not playable, I wondered whether them being playable and depicting their lives might change how people feel about them. However, since Ys is a game where you control Adol, I wondered whether everyone would be upset about controlling a heroine, so we came up with the idea of ‘controlling her in his dreams.’ With Dana as the heroine, the overall game system of Ys VIII was set.”

-“Something big is already underway in terms of the numbered Trails series. This one is ambitious and is going to take some time. However, since we don’t want to keep fans waiting too long, the Trails team has been divided into two teams. There are people who say things like​ ‘I want to see this sort of episode,’ ‘I would like to try this,’ or ‘I want to know more about that.’ In order to deliver on those wishes, I’ve actually been thinking whether another team could make it possible.”

[makingnewenemies]

Hi Hi Hi. Here is a little blurb I wrote off the top of my head about all my friends on this year’s Group Picture Vol. 8. I love them all. I love their songs. And I love that we still keep up this stupid tradition; and somehow the comp keeps getting better and better. Thanks everyone! Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays :) - walt

Sour Guy - All Those Plans Were Wrong

Last summer Kris Schobert (Sour Guy, Walter Etc. / Mitty core member, Ernie…) was admitted to the hospital… and then again… and then again…. I think he spent like a month total in the hospital. It was not chill. But when he got out, the whole experience gave him a bit of clarity and new perspective on his life and the decisions he has made thus far. I won’t speak any further for him, but Kris… hey, nice song! And your quality home recording production and continuation of the WMAHMO slop sound doesn’t not go unnoticed! This song made me tear up in a coffee shop the first time I heard it. 

Slaughter Beach, Dog - Big Band

Slaughter Beach, Dog are randomly GP staples by now but also one of my favorite bands and greatest friends. This song is a bit of a sound change for them, swapping mid tempo soft rock John K Sampson vibes for a theatrical late 60’s / 70’s sound that is a bit more light hearted than normal and I LOVE IT. It’s catchy, it makes me laugh, yet its so true. Glad to have these boys back this year.

Teal & Jer - Alphabet

Portland’s dreamiest duo Teal & Jer (Chain, Riled, Loose, lots of projects) bring a quirky alt edge to our otherwise bland and boring comp. Without them, we’d just be us. I personally would like to hear more Teal solo work??? Teal???

Milk Flud - Rodeo

If you don’t fuck with Milk Flud then you can get out.

Chase Hoyt - Health

Chase Hoyt (Ubu Roi, Feed, Chaz and the Minions of Chaz, The Rodeo…) is a GP fixture by now, and important asset to MNE because it’s his classic rock sensibilities that balance out the overload of folk / indie rock that we swim in. This song not only has a comically true message (health is the most important, i agree Chase) but the vibe, especially the chorus, has my head bobbing and me feeling like I’m on a grassy hillside at an outdoor concert in the 70’s, but also one glass of wine deep making homemade pizzas at an Air BNB with a girl I love, and that is a nice combo of feelings. “Let’s wrap it up / I’ve embarrassed us all enough”

Dry Goods - Learnt Nothing

You hear that flawless acoustic finger picking? That masculine story telling voice that sounds somewhere between a suburban Bob Dylan and a cowboy singing to the emptiness of the high desert? Yup, its Russell Park AKA Dry Goods and FKA Weston Bookhouse coming at us with another folk masterpiece, but this year adding in some new elements we aren’t quite used to- namely some cruisey guitar solos! Rumor has it Dry Goods is in the studio recording a new album right now and I would not be bummed out if this song were on it.

Byronius Punk - Beautiful Things

I just spent 3 weeks with Byronius Punk (Ian Farmer of Slaugher Beach, Dog / Modern Baseball) at his studio The Metal Shop in Philadelphia making a record with his beautiful mind and his new drum machine- so this song really hits home for me. I could write an essay on why this is the perfect Group Picture song- my three main points being - 1. It is a song about the act of creating. (“in everything that exists there lies a certain beauty / I want the world to know how much it all means to me”) which is exactly what Group Picture aims to celebrate. 2. It’s a song written and performed by someone who is usually more in the background of his bands (bassist / backup vox / recording engineer) but here has a platform to express his own individual style and skills, which is exactly what Group Picture wants to promote. 3. It has a Milk Flud name drop, which is a classic and classy GP / MNE move. Thank you Ian. You rule.

Dante Elephante - It Bothers Me

Dante Elephante are Santa Barbara legends and their new album “Rare Attractions” shows them evolving their sound into more loungey and ethereal territory. I am so glad they have joined GP this year, because I see singer / songwriter Ruben almost every weekend when he DJ’s at The Tavern in Ventura and I drunkenly annoy him / vaguely fan boy out on him. Dante being on Group Picture is a sign that our friendship extends beyond Saturday nights at the Tavern. Also their album vibes hard. Check out Rare Attractions on Spotify.

Peanut Butter Cups - Highest Quality

Petition for Aaron Kovacs (Peanut Butter cups, Lauren Records CEO, Winter Break and Summer Vacation drummer) to finally put out a full album? This catchy lo-fi pop rock is undeniably infectious. Fun fact: I’ve been hanging with this boy for almost 10 years and I’ve never heard him sing, but then he sends me these recordings and I’m like wtf your voice is so cool! If he makes a full album, MNE will put out the LP and still give him 100% of the digital income. That is how much I like Aaron’s style. 

Anika Pyle - Young Love

I once wrote a song with the lyric “I’ll probably see her on tour but she won’t be on Group Picture this year.” I’m so glad I was wrong. Welcome to GP Anika Pyle! Anika (Katie Ellen, Chumped) plays raw emotional pop rock songs and this gem “Young Love” is just the tip of the iceberg. When her vocals max out at the end of the tune and you get a little bit of musical goosebumps, that is the feeling you get for a full 30 minutes of watching her play live. Anika, please come in and stay for a while! 

Walter Etc. - This Would Only Happen to Me

Ok ok enough of the soft emotional bullshit. Here’s a song about someone coming to kill me! It’s 100% true. If you’re reading this, help!!!

Jake Lee - Good Run

Jake Lee (Bleeding Gums Murphy) strikes again with a lo-fi indie gem in which we hear Jake Lee reflect on his gaime from last year. Sounds like he made some interesting choices and is coming to terms with them? Or did I miss the mark, Jake? He is and always will be one of my favorite songwriters and his voice in this fuzz effect is not a bad look, I have to admit. The only way my life would be better is if Jake made a full album. Cheers homie.

Babytooth - State Quarters, OR

Technically, this is Babytooth’s official debut on Group Picture, but Portland, OR singer / songwriter Isabel Zacharias had a song on the comp last year that blew me away. It was her vocals and lyrics that hooked me then, and are still yanking me now. Now backed by a full band that gives dynamic range to her songs, it was still that first line “now you know you want a girl without a phone” that had me nodding “yup i love this”. Fingers crossed for Babytooth to become a GP staple.

Trashbike - Weasel

Trashbike is Bread (Blowout, Walter etc., Donkey Lips) and his homie Ru playing the pedals. He told me he wrote this song while stumbling home from the Bye and Bye. Bread is like a sexy emo prince, can’t you hear it? This song rules and I really hope Trashbike is more than just a one and done GP band. I would listen to a few albums of soft songs like this, wouldn’t you?

Banned From Japan - Vegan X

Welcome back to the Socal Valley punk rockers Banned From Japan! If you know that singer / songwriter Matthew Earle has been sober for a few years, this song is hilarious, simultaneously poking fun at vegan straight-edge and himself. The music rips and his vocals are catchy af. Fat Wrecks Chords come and sign Banned From Japan asap!

Walter X - Winter Shy

Ok. This is a bit meta. Walter X (Michael Mahaffie and his WMAHMO / Walter Etc. hardcore chip tune cover project) covers an old Walter GP song as his own GP song. Pretty niche MNE content! This song, in this Lifetime-esque style, his vocals so clear but so gruff, those guitar harmonies, the creative intro and chip-tuney bridge…. this literally gives me chills and is so much better than the original. I encourage anyone reading this to go check out his own original music under the name Jump Cut. It sounds just like this but with Michael’s own songs, shedding the limitations of the musical simpleton Walter songs.  Also, check out the full Walter X album on Spotify! What a talented dude…

Curling - Genkai Trip

Curling released their MNE album “Definitely Band” this year and the musical arrangements / song structures absolutely floored me. Genkai Trip is a song that got left off the album, but lives on through GP! Singer / guitarist Bernie Gelman noted “There's some pretty wacky guitar overdubs where Jojo and I each doubled some guitar parts while the other person was playing with the trem on the guitar, so you get this really weird detuning effect.” and yup that is Curling in a nutshell for you. Always excited to play around with gear and recording techniques that are way beyond my level.  I think this is an extremely underrated band and highly encourage the world to check out Definitely Band on spotify!

Ali Muhareb - DIY Hell

Ali? What the hell did you even make this song? It’s intriguing in the verses and then when the chorus busts out it sounds like if Dough Martsch were an up and coming artist in Portland in 2018. I actually had to text Ali to ask what these guitar sounds were and, if anyone is interested, he responded, “I compressed two guitars together through a virtual amp. And they’re both running through this sick pedal I got called the Data Corrupter.” For sure Ali! Thanks for a bad ass tune.

Dakota Loesch - Don’t Solve My Mysteries

I’ve been listening to a lot of Dakota’s music (solo, Animal City, Lemp Lungs) recently. I keep coming back to it, and its not a mystery. After hundreds of songs in his pocket, songs like “Don’t Solve My Mysteries” still sound musically and lyrically fresh, like Dakota has never had writer’s block in his life. When I listen to his music, I feel like it vicariously breaks down my own creative barriers. For instance when I first heard this song and he dropped the hook “just don’t solve all mysterious” I had that knee-jerk urge to ditch what I was doing and go write a poem or something. His will to create is just that contagious. Combine that with the Casio-keyboard bedroom drum machine vibe that I love so much about his songs like “The Basmati Rice” and you have a 10/10 GP banger. 

Jerbear - Nowhere Girl

Jerbear is Jeremy Murphy (Teal & Jer, Riled, so many) and he is the king of a few things: weird bad guitar tones, asymmetrical organic song structures, rad lyrics that I never understand, and a voice that is universally loved. He stole my heart with Cranberries in the Cosmos on a previous GP, but I think Nowhere Girl takes the cake. Jer- when do we get the full solo album? Please don’t fall into the category of GP lost wonders. You’re not too shabby at this music thing! 

Hemingway - Catch My Cool

Catch My Cool is a B-side from Hemingway’s You Will Never Be Happy.

I played drums in Hemingway at this time and I always vibed that Benny didn’t really like the way this song came out int he studio. I don’t get why? That vocal melody, soft sad and surfy guitar leads… it makes me wanna hold hands with a girl on Christmas Eve while walking down some bougie street looking at Christmas Lights. It sounds like a Starflyer 59 worship track and I love it for that. Benny, you made a mistake. This song should have made the album. 

Alex Maddox - The Hypocrit’s Dilemma

I’ve heard Alex play this song when we get together to jam, and he always laughs it off as a Walter Mitty rip off song. But honestly, this is what I wish WMAHMO would write about if we made a folk punk record today. If you listen to this song knowing that Alex Maddox was a guy who quit his high paying job to travel Europe in his van, surfing and skating and working on farms, the lyrics to this song are way more wanna-be Walter Mitty. The song depicts a transformation in his paradigm and is completely raw, authentic, and sincere. Alex inspires me to chase a wholesome life that is designed for and by myself, rather than the obvious and sterile template that is provided for us, and this song exemplifies that 1000%. 

Uncle Uncle - Nira (I’m Alive)

We played with Uncle Uncle last year in Santa Barbara and I honestly think we should have opened for them. They are actually a good band, both live and recorded. Stylish, friendly, and comically laid back- they might be the quintessential Santa Barbara band. A semi-new band, Uncle Uncle is gaining momentum quickly, and I won’t be surprised when the day comes that Kevin and Dom big time me on State st. Til then, I’m just glad I get to claim that they were on a Group Picture. 

Humphrey Orlando - Set U Free

Ah, Humphrey. No, Humphrey accompanied by Toast. Two legends as old as MNE itself. What is there to say? I could listen to their wandering ballads til I fall into the Big Sleep, and still the melodies linger on…

[postedbygaslight]

You’ll Be the One to Turn - Part 19: The Rebel

It’s long overdue. Our first chapter in the shoes of the rebel formerly known as FN-2187.

The man who had, in a different life, been known as designation FN-2187 walked briskly down a corridor inside the Vedic III Resistance base with a newly reassembled and optimized blaster rifle slung over his shoulder. He walked with a feeling of direction and purpose, two things he had never had in his life beforehand. The Resistance against the First Order had offered him a vehicle for purpose and a promise of direction, and, though initially slow to accept the call, Finn had thrown himself heart and soul into the cause.

But right now the conversation he’d just had with Rose weighed on his mind. She’d come into their room seeming so troubled and lost. The answer to her question hadn’t helped anything. Finn had managed to revive her mood by asking her about repairing the lightsaber. Once she got talking about that, Rose had become so excited and animated that both he and she managed to ignore, if not forget, what they’d discussed when she’d first walked in and sat of the bed.

Rose had wanted to know Kylo Ren’s real name. That was information that Finn happened to have. And the way Rose had reacted, with a mix of confusion and dawning horror, gripped him with a sunken kind of nausea as he walked toward the tarmac of the airstrip and flight deck.

Memories of Kylo Ren were not among those Finn valued highly. They haunted him most days. And he still woke sometimes thinking he was just snapping to consciousness after falling at Ren’s feet in the snow. Finn was a soldier. He’d been trained to fight. But the kind of combat he’d faced when Ren brought his lightsaber down on Finn’s borrowed blade, smashing through his defenses, stalking him like some beast defending its territory, was the stuff of nightmares and legend. The long scar Finn bore on his back, where the volatile red blade had chewed a searing line through his flesh, was a constant reminder of that nightmare, and of his failure to protect his friend.

When he thought on it, Finn had to step back and marvel at what Rey had accomplished where he’d failed. She’d been knocked unconscious when Ren flung her against a tree, but she’d been able to snap to, make her way to where Finn had fallen, retrieve the Skywalker lightsaber, and had then bested Kylo Ren in a duel. She’d even gifted him a scar of his own, an angry, snaking line from his shoulder to his right eye.

Despite that, and despite the fact that Ren was figurehead and champion of the enemy they’d all sworn to defeat, Rey never wanted to talk about him. Not about her victories over him. Not about her abduction by him. Not about the brief stint she spent as his prisoner in the hours before Admiral Holdo destroyed the Supremacy.

Telling Rose about Ren’s identity wasn’t something he felt guilty for doing. He had known he would tell her eventually. Still, hearing it couldn’t have been easy for her. Learning the truth had been disorienting enough to learn for him, standing on a viewing platform in the oscillator shaft on Starkiller Base.

He and Rey had both watched as Ren had lured his own father out onto the catwalk that spanned the shaft. They had watched Ren remove his mask to reveal the young, dark-haired man beneath. And they’d watched as the man who had once been Ben Solo ignited his lightsaber, sending a rippling beam of red plasma through his father’s chest. The way Rey had screamed— a tortured, desperate cry of grief— would stay with him forever.

Those were his thoughts as he climbed the stairs from the barracks to the airstrip, and started across the tarmac to the cluster of buildings that made up the command center. The sun was high, and the white sky and gray tarmac combined to make for a blinding glare. Finn squinted, letting his eyes adjust.

About half way across, as he weaved between the X-Wings and support craft that were scattered about, he saw a blue and white Quad Jumper, its engines still cycling down after planetfall. He could already see the hulking form of Chewbacca, hauling large black crates down the boarding ramp, and could hear BB-8’s distinctive beeping. He headed over in that direction, but when he got close, he heard something he definitely hadn’t expected.

“Well, if it isn’t the big, bad rebel himself!”

Finn scanned around, and dropped his gaze to waist height to see Maz Kanata beaming up at him.

“Maz? What’re you doing here?”

The diminutive woman, with her finely wrinkled skin and custom goggles, approached him with a sly grin.

“I told you I liked that Wookiee,” she said, winking. “I heard things didn’t go quite as planned on Cantonica.”

“Yeah, we found your codebreaker. Then we got thrown in jail. And had to make do with—“

“DJ. Yes, I know. I wish I could say I was surprised, but, really, Finn, the man named himself ‘Don’t Join.’”

“Wait,” Finn said, the realization of it dawning on him. “DJ stands for ‘Don’t Join?’”

Maz raised her eyebrows and looked up at him, tapping her cap with her finger. It was then that Finn remembered DJ’s own cap, which had been fitted with a metal plate bearing the words, “Don’t Join” in standard Aurebesh.

“I feel really stupid now.”

“Maz!”

Rey’s voice rang out from across the strip, and she jogged the short distance to where Maz stood, dropped to a knee and gave her a welcoming hug.

“Now I know what took Chewie so long,” Rey said, pulling back from the embrace.

“Child, look at you.” Maz regarded Rey with a motherly smile. “All grown up now.”

“Come on,” Rey said, smirking, “it’s only been a few months.”

“Yes, but you’ve come of age. You’re not the frightened girl I saw on Takodana. Then, when I told you to take that,” Maz nodded toward the lightsaber hanging from Rey’s belt, “you ran from it like it might bite you.”

“I wasn’t ready. You told me to feel the Light, that it would guide me. And I think it has.”

Maz took a half step closer to Rey, raising her small hand to the younger woman’s chin.

“Did you ever find him?”

“Luke? Yes—“

“Rey,” Maz said with a purposeful tone, peering at her through her goggles.

“Yes,” Rey responded after a moment. She was smiling softly, her voice hushed. “I found him.”

“Oh, child. Does she know?”

Rey nodded and said, “I told her.”

A few moments passed, and Maz cocked her head, favoring Finn with a sidelong glance.

“Well, it’s hot,” Maz announced, straightening to full height. “I’m going inside.” She cupped her hand to her mouth and shouted, much louder than it seemed should be possible for someone so small, “Chewbacca! Are you really going to make me walk all the way across this airfield?”

Chewie responded with a plaintive sound in shryiiwook, bent down, and Maz scurried up onto his shoulder.

“I feel like I just eavesdropped on something I wasn’t supposed to hear,” Finn said as Chewie and Maz disappeared into the base.

“Maz is over a thousand years old, Finn,” Rey said as she stood up and dusted off her trousers. “She probably views secrets and privacy as something quaint. Temporary.”

“Was that something secret?”

“Everyone knows about Luke. I suppose not everyone knows I went to find him, despite Poe’s best attempts.”

“I heard about your argument.”

“Finn, it’s fine.”

“Poe’s only trying to look out for everyone. You, too. He just gets a little... passionate about it.”

“I know that. I’m— I feel much better now.”

“Rose told me you guys almost blew up the Falcon a few times,” he said, nodding in the direction of the old freighter. “She was way too excited about it.”

“We didn’t almost blow up the Falcon,” Rey said, then paused, thinking. “All right. Maybe once.”

Finn looked down at the lightsaber. It hung from the clip on her belt like it was the most natural thing there was. The weld she and Rose had done was hardly noticeable, and the chromed durasteel gleamed with flashes of white as she moved.

“How’s it feel to have that back?”

“It feels great,” Rey said, glancing down. “I didn’t realize how much I’d missed it.”

Finn was thinking about having used the saber. The heft of it. The droning vibration from the center of the hilt. The way it sang and whined as it burned slashes of light through the air. It was, without a doubt, a beautiful weapon. But Finn also remembered that from the moment he’d ignited the blade, something had felt wrong, and the hum of the blade had sent subtle tremors convulsing up and down his arms. He’d switched back to a blaster the first chance he got.

“Finn,” a voice called from the entrance to the base. A crewman in a flight suit stood there, waving him down. “General Dameron wanted to see you in the command center.”

Finn acknowledged the crewman and gave Rey a parting smile.

“Duty calls. I’d better go see what that’s about.”

***

The Resistance was preferable to the First Order in almost every conceivable way, but there was one category in which Finn was constantly frustrated by the fledgling rebellion: chain of command. The First Order’s command hierarchy was rigid and absolute. Every stormtrooper and deck officer knew exactly to whom they were accountable, and that chain extended in a direct line all the way from mess cook to Supreme Leader.

Here, however, Finn rarely knew who was in charge of what, and duties were assumed, transferred, and neglected seemingly at random. That hadn’t improved with Poe taking over command decisions, as the former pilot was the kind of leader who preferred to see things done as he needed them, and couldn’t be bothered with the menial tasks that kept the lights on.

The command center was similarly disorganized. Much like the same facility on D’Qar, it was a dusty and beaten collection of old tech, customized terminals, and countless different devices that had seen one too many uses over their lifetimes. Poe kept a small office off to the side of the open design of the main center, but it was little more than a place for private conversations, because the general didn’t even have a permanent terminal installed. In fact, when Finn walked in, Poe was standing by the table, leaning over a mobile terminal.

“You wanted to see me?”

“Yeah, Finn, close the door.”

Finn pulled the door closed and came around the table. Poe was looking at a gallery of reconnaissance photos taken from one of the hyper-light speed probes the Resistance had dispatched throughout First Order controlled space.

“What’s up, Poe?”

“We got a hold of recon footage from some First Order installations on Naboo. I didn’t want anyone else to know about it until we had a chance to figure out what they were. Have you ever seen anything like this?”

Finn leaned in and looked closer. The photos showed a spherical space station in high orbit above the planet. It had odd depressions evenly spaced over its surface, and looked to be the size of a small moon. Beyond that, on the planet below, was a ring of structures that Finn couldn’t quite make out.

“Looks like the Death Star.”

“But smaller,” Poe said, rubbing his chin. “A lot smaller.”

“Do you have any higher res images of those surface structures?”

“Yeah, hold on. Here.”

“Looks like a command center for the orbital station. But, wait. Look. There.”

“What? I don’t see—“

“Move your finger. I can’t see— the one you’re pointing with.”

“What, here?”

“You’re not going to be able to see it if you— do you have a bigger picture?”

Poe moved his hands entirely out of the way and punched up some images with surface recon in higher resolution. The structures were spaced evenly in a circular ring, and they were all connected by massive cables that looked like spokes on a wheel. At the center was a tower of some kind, but it wasn’t immediately clear what its purpose could be. The other structures, however, were much more straightforward for Finn.

“Yeah. Look. Those spires. There. And there. They’re like the beam containment array from Starkiller.”

“You think they’re turning Naboo into another Starkiller Base?”

“It’d be a surefire way to make sure no one ever tries to blow it up. How many people live on Naboo? A billion? More?”

Poe’s mouth had dropped open, and his usually ruddy face was suddenly ashen.

“Even if they are,” Finn said, quickly, “and I’m not saying they are, it’ll take years to drill to the planet core. They haven’t even started. And anyway, they’re not going to drain Naboo’s sun for power. It doesn’t add up. Plus, what’s with the station in orbit? It looks like it’s geosynchronous to the tower on the surface. It’s got to be connected in some way. First Order technologists aren’t about showy artistic displays.”

“Under Snoke, maybe. With ‘Hugs’ and Ren running the show, I’m prepared for anything.” Poe sat down on the single chair in the room. “So, what, you think it might be something else? A shield generator, maybe? Like on Endor with the second Death Star?”

“Could be. But you’re right. That station looks pretty small to house the kind of reactor you’d need to produce one of those beams.”

“I don’t like it. Something seems funny about the whole thing.”

The door opened, and Connix peered around the corner.

“Gener— Poe, there’s an incoming transmission,” she paused, taking a second to glance at Finn before continuing, “from our munitions depot on Taris.”

“Patch it through,” Poe said without a beat.

The transmission came through to the mobile terminal. A Resistance officer Finn had never seen was broadcasting from a very dark room, and the holo-projection was garbled with static.

“General, a First Order Star Destroyer has— of light speed in orbit— location.”

“How the— did someone talk?”

“I don’t know. They— any moves yet, but if they do, we don’t— manpower to hold them off for long.”

“Are the compound shields active?”

“They are, General.”

“Hang tight, Captain. We’re sending a team to extract you.”

“Sir— area— difficult to navigate. Advise any landing party to— we haven’t had— old rail terminal—“

“We’re losing them! Connix, why are we losing them?”

“Jammed at the source,” Connix shouted from the other room.

“Son of a bitch!” Poe picked up the projector and chucked it against the window.

“We have a munitions depot on Taris?” Finn asked. It was the first he’d heard of such a thing.

Taris was an Outer Rim planet dominated by large cityscapes, like Coruscant. Unlike Coruscant, however, Taris’ affluent population lived in soaring high rises, above a smog line that covered most of the planet’s surface in a permanent haze. Below the smog line was a tangled sprawl of crumbling cities, starship wreckage, uncharted swampland, and junk and miscellany from all over the galaxy. If you wanted to lose something, putting it on the surface of Taris was a pretty safe bet.

“It’s— it’s a long story, Finn. We have to get those people out of there.”

“Poe, what aren’t you telling me?”

“Finn,” Poe began, putting his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “You’ll see when you get there. I— how many people will we need to counter a First Order ground assault?”

“In an urban theater?”

“It’s more like ruins, or wreckage, but there are civilians in the area.”

Finn thought a moment. The conditions could allow for a smaller force to be more effective. But, knowing the First Order, they’d land as many troops as could be spared, and have them fan out through all the structures in the region.

“A hundred. Preferably more.”

“We have fifty.”

Finn furrowed his brow. It wouldn’t work. Fifty men in that kind of place could get bogged down, easily split, boxed in by superior numbers in tight spaces. It wasn’t like they could just blast walls apart or clear rubble on a whim without—

“We have fifty,” Finn said, his face brightening. “And one Jedi with a working lightsaber.”

[bestillandremember]

March 10, 2020

    Cloudy rainy days aren’t all that common in Phoenix, Arizona. As we head into summer, I’m grateful for an unexpected day off in the middle of the week in which I can sit outside and listen to the wind. Something about it has always carried weight with me. Maybe because of the roles it plays in sayings, legends, and childhood stories like Pocahontas. Wind brings whispers of memories and thoughts we don’t always want to listen to. Ever since I was a kid and used to lay in bed with my mom on stormy days and watch it toss some of our tallest pines, I’ve loved wind and hone in on it every chance I get. I think it’s one of the ways I feel like I can tune into what the Lord is telling me.

    Today, among the din of traffic and the chirping of birds, I smelled orange blossoms and grass in the air. I listened harder, wondering what words I could make out beyond the melding of nature and the bustle of the city. I saw a palm tree, moving with it and heard God say to me, “See, even the trees sway in the wind. But if you focus on what keeps you rooted, you’ll always stay grounded.” Hearing something like that normally would have brought some heavy emotions to the surface, but this time I felt peace. I was able to smile, and start reflecting on those things that kept me on stable ground. Some of those were more obvious things like family, friends, my job, my God, and my dog. But even little things like the wind, flowers, a gut level laugh, the times when your bed feels like a cloud just after waking up, and a good tv show…the list goes on.

    The last month has allowed me to reflect on what uproots me. What causes such discord that I can’t focus on those things that I sink and my roots shrivel up, my stability with it. I’ve been able to identify one major culprit: fear. The fear of missing out, fear of rejection, fear of being misunderstood, fear of failure, fear of the unknown, fear of making mistakes, fear of ending up alone. Ever since England, I’ve been trying to right my path and do my best to pursue God’s plans for my life. Since I’ve been home though, I’ve developed this debilitating fear of all my efforts being fruitless. That no matter what I do, or how hard I try to do what's right for me, my heart, my life, and the people in it- that it’s not going to be enough.

    This week I was reminded of what fear is. It’s not just an emotion, it’s a spirit. As someone who struggles with the ups and downs of anxiety and depression, a spirit of fear is often what drives my heart and my head. I’ve even gotten to the point in my life that I’ve become afraid of my own emotions. As a result, I have struggled to make sense of and communicate them at times (especially in the heat of any moment). After a string of unhealthy relationships, in which my feelings were completely ignored and devalued, I also became afraid of voicing them. Instead, focusing on the opinions, expectations, and feelings of others. Even if they were lies, I took them to heart, fearing I couldn’t trust myself to discern truth from the mire around me.

    So for years, I have been at the mercy of my feelings and those that I let speak into my life- whether they deserved that platform or not. Again, I was reminded that if I constantly follow my feelings, that I will always be manipulated by my moods. Today, I was brought back to the wind. The invisible force that shakes branches, bends street lights, and twists tornados of debris in the streets. It would be senseless to ignore it, even to fight it at times. The wind sways the tallest and sturdiest of trees. It’s not the swaying that’s unnatural, but cracking underneath it. It implies that the core, the trunk, is weak. Cut off from what nutrients the roots required to stay strong.

    Since making this positive change in my life, I’ve placed a pressure on myself to stay strong. No more faltering. I can’t sway in the wind like I used to. So every time I did, I lost my footing. I looked back, I doubted, I regretted. I heard this lie so clearly in my head: Nothing I do matters. Even if I try, I fall short. I will never be enough. My pastor reminded me this weekend that in these moments, that voice condemning me to that hopeless nothing is not my God. My Father does not speak to His children like that. The Devil though, the author of confusion, will gladly use my fear. But only because he is afraid that if I figure out that I can do anything through Christ who strengthens me, he will lose his grip on me.

    That Sunday, Preston called for anyone fighting a losing battle with fear in at least one area of their life to stand up while the congregations eyes were closed. While everyone was standing, he had those still sitting look at those who were struggling. Standing up in the midst of their fear. He asked them to lay hands and pray for them. Loudly, proudly, imploringly, surround their family members with encouragement. I stood, and as my church family prayed for me, I shook under the weight of how God had found another way to touch me. For the second time since that night in England, when I felt his hand on mine, I felt both His hands on me. Comforting me, encouraging me, reassuring me.

    Something I’m still discovering about myself is my love languages. My generation is buzzing with that term. With my friends, my family, and my relationships, my love language is quality time and words of affirmation. In short- good times, conversation, unforgettably simple but essential to the soul memories, and plenty of laughter. Physical touch has always been a struggle for me. I’m not overly affectionate. I’ve battled my own bubble for those people in my life who do value that affection. When it comes to my God though, I crave it. I don’t really know what that means yet. I know I value words, and there has been a whole lot the Lord has taught me through His voice. I’ve never felt what I needed to stay rooted, firmly planted in His peace, until I met Him halfway.

    It wasn’t until I started to explore His character, and get to know who my Father has been now, and across thousands of years since the beginning of time- that I truly felt Him. It’s these small, but potent moments that I hold on to now. It’s what keeps me rooted during the storms. The reminder that Jesus is in that boat, swaying with me. Present in the people, in the snapshots of happiness, even the orange blossoms in the wind carried across the earth just to reach me. Not to rock me, not to break me. But to remind me that He is there and fear itself does not make you weak, but fighting it on your own does.

    In addition to that, I got a sweet reminder from my mom after sharing all these thoughts and feelings with her after church. She listened as any mother would and said that the entire time I was talking she heard one theme: effort. She said all she could hear how hard I was trying, but then said, “You know that work is already done, right? He wants you, just as you are. Right now.” How easy is it to forget that? For anyone with regrets, big or small, it’s so incredibly easy to focus on what you need to make right after a lifetime of wrong. But Jesus paid that price long ago, all you have to do is accept it, and nothing, even fear of never measuring up, will be able to uproot you.

[verytamenow]

all of them!

1: How tall or short do you wish you were? - 5′8″ to 5′10″2: What’s your dream pet? (Real or not) - I can barely take care of myself3: Do you have a favorite clothing style? - I’ve got a thing for a good suit but I live in tees/polos and jeans4: What was your favorite video game growing up? - Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. It still is5: What three things/people do you think of most each day: At the current moment, we’re all thinking of Taylor constantly6: If you had a warning label, what would yours say? - It’d be so long, dude.7: What is your opinion on [insert person/thing here]? - Didn’t give me a topic mate8: What is your Greek personality type? [Sanguine, Phlegmatic, Choleric, or Melancholic] - Melancholic9: Are you ticklish? - Very10: Are you allergic to anything? - Nope11: What’s your sexuality? - Too gay to function12: Do you prefer tea, coffee, or cocoa? - Cocoa! Always!13: Are you a cat or dog person? - Cats14: Would you rather be a vampire, elf, or merperson? - Even not wanting to be immortal, Vampire is the best option15: Do you have a favorite Youtuber? - Miniladd16: How tall are you?- 5′5″17: If you had to change your name, what would you change it to? - Something gender neutral or something else that starts with Z18: How much do you weigh? [Only ask this if you know the user doesn’t mind!] - Too much19: Do you believe in ghosts/spirits? - Not really20: Do you like space or the ocean more? - The ocean21: Are you religious? - No22: Pet peeves? - People who don’t know they’re order in a drive thru23: Would you rather be nocturnal or diurnal [opposite of nocturnal]? - I’d be at least a little more functional if I were diurnal but I’m nocturnal so24: Favorite constellation? Orion, though I’m not into astronomy25: Favorite star? - Sirius I guess26: Do you like ball-jointed dolls? - I don’t like dools27: Any phobias or fears? - Spiders. I don’t like heights either.28: Do you think global warming is real? - Yes29: Do you believe in reincarnation? - I’m open to the concept30: Favorite movie? - This was asked below31: Do you get scared easily? - I’ve got a strong startle response that probably makes it seem worse than it is32: How many pets have you own in your lifetime? - 1 rabbit, a few fish, and two hermit crabs33: Blog rate? [You’ll rate the blog of the one who’s asking.] - You asked on anon, mate34: What is a color that calms you? - Blue35: Where would you like to travel and/or live? - I’d like to live by the water or in London but will settle for a decent house here. I’d like to travel pretty much everywhere36: Where were you born? - SoCal (which is the best Cal)37: What is your eye color? - Blue38: Introvert or extrovert? - Introvert39: Do you believe in horoscopes and zodiacs? - No but they’re interesting and entertaining concepts40: Hugs or kisses?- Hugs by default41: Who is someone you would like to see/visit right now? - Taylor so I could ask her what the fuck. Or go down to Florida and see Cole and Kristen.42: Who is someone you love deeply? - My dad and my best friend43: Any piercings you want? - None at the moment44: Do you like tattoos and piercings? - I’d hope so given the state of my left forearm45: Do you smoke or have you ever done so? - No and I have no plans to.46: Talk about your crush, if you have one! - I’m crush free47: What is a sound you really hate? - High pitched electronic sounds or anything like nails on a chalkboard48: A sound you really love? - The sound of rain49: Can you do a backflip? - No50: Can you do the splits? - No51: Favorite actor and/or actress? - Gillian Anderson52: Favorite movie? - Alien or Silence of the Lambs53: How are you feeling right now? - Tired54: What color would you like your hair to be right now? - I like the current colour but if I had to change it, maybe blue?55: When did you feel happiest? - When I’m sleeping56: Something that calms you down? - the sound of rain57: Have any mental disorders? [Only ask this if you know the user doesn’t mind!] - Depression, anxiety, autism.58: What does your URL mean? - That I couldn’t come up with anything decent or fandom related that wasn’t already taken59: What three words describe you the most? - No idea. Tired is one of them. 

“Kinky, gay, entertaining” - @knitsweatersyo

60: Do you believe in evolution? - Yes61: What makes you unfollow a blog? - Bad content or reblogging those posts where Taylor is tagged 12000 times.62: What makes you follow a blog? - Quality content and them being on my dash or someone recommending them.63: Favorite kind of person: Anyone I click with really64: Favorite animal(s): Wolves65: Name three of your favorite blogs.- @knitsweatersyo​, @georgiastars​, @Taylor (Sorry Karlie!)66: Favorite emoticon:👀67: Favorite meme:Sometimes Things That Are Expensive Are Worse68: What is your MBTI personality type? - INTP69: What is your star sign? - Gemini70: Can your dog roll over on command, if you have a dog?- I do not have a dog. (Though with the number of photos I get of Waldo....)71: What outfit out of all your clothes do you like to wear the most? - Not sure I have a favourite72: Post a selfie or two? - check the My Face tag73: Do you have platform shoes? - No74: What is one random but interesting fact about yourself? - I’m not that interesting. I live in Sin City but I don’t drink, smoke, or gamble.75: Can you do a front flip? - No76: Do you like birds? - Kind of77: Do you like to swim? - I’m not particularly good at it but I live in the desert so a pool is always a good thing78: Is swimming or ice skating more fun to you? - Swimming79: Something you wish didn’t exist: Our current political situation.80: Some thing you wish did exist: Me having the ability to function. Or a gift of $1 million.81: Piercings you have? - None82: Something you really enjoy doing: Writing.83: Favorite person to talk to: @knitsweatersyo​84: What was your first impression of Tumblr? - “I’m just going to join and casually lurk the fandom but I won’t get involved.”85: How many followers do you have? - 186786: Can you run a mile within ten minutes? - Probably not87: Do your socks always match? - Usually88: Can you touch your toes and keep your legs straight completely? - Haven’t tried in a while but it’s safe to assume no89: What are your birthstones? - Pearls and Alexandrite90: If you were an animal, which one would you be? - A wolf maybe?91: If a flower could aesthetically represent you, what kind would it be? - Not a big fan of flowers so idk. Maybe given where I live and how personable I am, some sort of cactus?92: A store you hate? - Record stores because they want to make me spend all my money93: How many cups of coffee can you drink in one day? - 094: Would you rather be able to fly or read minds? - Read minds, but I also feel like Flying is a healthier option for me95: Do you like to wear camo? - Not since I was 1296: Winter or summer? - Winter97: How long can you hold your breath for? - Not that long. 98: Least favorite person? - So many people.99: Someone you look up to: Taylor?100: A store you love? - Record stores101: Favorite type of shoes - Boots or Trainers102: Where do you live? - Middle of the fucking desert103: Are you a vegetarian or vegan? If so, why? - Nope104: What is your favorite mineral or gem? - Not really. Some of them look cool but that’s about it.105: Do you drink milk? - Yes.106: Do you like bugs? - Nope.107: Do you like spiders? - Fuck no.108: Something you get paranoid about? - I have anxiety.109: Can you draw: No110: Nosiest question you have ever been asked? - There’ve been a few but I can’t think of any111: A question you hate being asked? - “have you considered going back to college?”112: Ever been bitten by a spider? - Once I think113: Do you like the sound of waves at the beach? - Yes114: Do you prefer cloudy or sunny days? - Cloudy115: Someone you’d like to kiss or cuddle right now: - My future wife wherever the fuck she is.116: Favorite cloud type: - Cumulonimbus117: What color do you wish the sky was? - I’m pretty content with it being blue118: Do you have freckles?- a few here and there.119: Favorite thing about a person: I’m guessing personality isn’t a good answer here so I’ll go with their laugh.120: Fruits or vegetables? - Veggies!!121: Something you want to do right now: Sleep122: Is the ocean or sky prettier? - The sky usually but I MISS the ocean123: Sweet or sour foods? - Sweet124: Bright or dim lights? - Dim125: Do you believe in a certain magical creature? - Nope126: Something you hate about Tumblr: It’s toxic culture127: Something you love about Tumblr: How easy it is to keep up with your interests128: What do you think about the least? - Obviously whatever I can’t think to list.129: What would you want written on your tombstone? - I don’t want a tombstone.130: Who would you like to punch in the face right now? - So many republicans.131: What is something you love but also hate about yourself? - My ability to write132: Do you smile with your teeth showing for pictures? - No133: Computer or TV? - Computer134: Do you like roller coasters? - Some of them135: Do you get motion sickness or seasickness? - I get motion sick in the right conditions136: Are your ears lobed or attached? - Lobed137: Do you believe in karma? - Yes138: On a scale of 1-10, how attractive would you say you are? - Negative three139: What nicknames do you have/have had? - I don’t really have any?140: Did you have any pretend or imaginary friends? - I was an only child in a neighborhood without kids at that age so likely141: Have you ever seen a therapist/shrink? - Yep142: Would you say you are a good or bad influence to others? - Neutral probably but maybe a bad influence? Idk.143: Do you prefer giving or receiving gifts/help? - I suck at picking out gifts tbh144: What makes you angry - Our current political situation145: How many languages do you speak fluently? - 1, and not even coherently half the time146: Do you prefer boys, girls, and/or non-binaries? - Girls147: Are you androgynous? - Not quite but it might be close148: Favorite physical thing about yourself: My eyes149: Favorite thing about your personality: I’m not as annoying as I could be?150: Name three people you would like to talk to right now in person. - Taylor so, again, I can ask her what the fuck. Ed Sheeran because he seems to suck at keeping secrets. Whoever the fuck has the lotto numbers.151: If you could go back into time and live in one era, which would you choose? - I’d much rather go forward.152: Do you like BuzzFeed? - It’s a good way to kill time.153: How did you meet your spouse/girlfriend/boyfriend/partner? [If you have one.] - I’m single154: Do you like to kiss others’ foreheads or hands for platonic reasons? - No. I’m not very touchy feely.155: Do you like to play with others’ hair? - I don’t invade personal space like that (and yet i love to have mine played with)156: What embarrasses you? - My dad telling childhood stories of me157: Something that makes you nervous/anxious: Again, I have anxiety.158: Biggest lie you have ever told: I’m straight.159: How many people are you following? - 679160: How many posts do you have on your blog(s)? - 74628161: How many drafts do you have on your blog(s)? - 0162: How many likes do you have on your blog(s)? - 142,878163: Last time you cried and why: - I cried from laughter the other night if that counts over a broom conversation. Other than that it was probably because my muse was being angsty.164: Do you have long or short hair? - Short165: Longest your hair has ever been: It used to be well past my shoulders166: Why do you like, dislike, or have neutral feelings about religon? - I dislike organized religion but respect spirituality.167: Do you really care how the universe and world was created? - Not in particular. It’s interesting to speculate about but there’s other shit I’d prefer science focus on.168: Do you like to wear makeup? - I don’t OWN makeup.169: Can you stand on your hands or head for more than thirty seconds? - Probably not170: Did you answer the questions you were asked truthfully? - Yep

[placetobenation]

Well with all this death around us let’s talk about the one thing we all know and love, television. The Daytime Emmy nominations came out while I was away and here’s what we got. 

EMMY NODS

CBS leads all noms with a whopping 57 nods, Amazon following closely behind with 55, Apple TV scored 17, as they should because they are a computer company. Let me just clear something up – Amazon started as a digital library where you could read books. Does anyone remember that? You had to buy the kindle, which screen was black and white, and download books to read on a train or beach or park or whatever. Remember the big knock on the was the glare the screen had? It had too much glare so they made the little 5×7 kindle screen without glare and more like a real book? Now look at what it has become! A mall, a tv studio, a library, a streaming service, a supermarket – I mean Amazon has become everything! Ridiculous. Anyway. 

The View topped the talk shows with 8 nods, then Kelly Clarkson with 7, then Talk and finally Ellen with 5 who honestly I thought died a year ago. 

Interesting fact, CBS wants to air the awards show virtually, whatever that means, June 26. So that’s another interesting car wreck we get to watch in this God forsaken year.

JON STEWART

Big news – Jon Stewart is finally doing something with his life. Jon, whom I love and hate for leaving us right when Trump appeared in our lives, is directing a movie called Irresistible. Starring guess who – Steve Carell. Since his contract says he must be in every Hollywood film ever made, this makes sense. The movie was scheduled for theatrical release but powers at be want it released sooner, to make more money. So the film will be available May 29 for $20 on all platforms, then is planned to be released into theaters on June 26.  Hey why not. Stewart never did things the easy way.

LORI LOUGHLIN

Here’s some good news about the law – there isn’t any. Lori Loughlin after years of saying she was innocent and did nothing wrong, now says she is guilty and did something wrong. Hmmm. Fooled us? I guess so. Ha ha, funny Lori – we thought you were serious when you argued with everyone and said you were innocent for a year. Boy you really got us. Anyway, The felony charge carries a 20 year jail sentence, but miraculously Lori is getting just 2 months in jail!! Wow! Which is funnier? You decide. 

TOM BRADY

With the enormous success of Michael Jordan’s doc, The Last Dance, cuz Jordan is literally the best who ever played the game, ESPN has set a new doc for a new legend. Tom “Pretty Boy” Brady will be getting his own spotlight on ESPN, with a 9 part doc, not a 10, like Jordan, so already MJ has him beat. Quick tip for ESPN – NOBODY reveres Brady like we revered Jordan. So, expect a flop. Thanks.

MICHAEL BAY

Michael Bay, the world’s most hated yet most successful director has chosen a premiere project for his brand new contract with Sony. “Armored” which is a novel by Mark Greaney, will be Mr. Bay’s newest massacre. About an old, aged out, security contractor who runs convoys of UN delegates through cocaine country. Nice. What can be redundant about that? Thanks Michael for being more shallow than my bath water. Can’t wait to see this debacle with a million explosions and zero dialogue.

PETER DINKLAGE

Here comes the best news I have heard all year. Peter Dinklage and Jason Momoa are teaming up for a movie called “Good Bad and Undead”. Love both these guys, and even better, they are staying in the fantasy realm! Peter will play a Van Helsing, the last in a long line of vampire killers, and Momoa will play a vampire that helps him. Just the plot of this makes me smile and my skin crawl. If I could only survive long along in 2020 to see it!! 

ZACK SNYDER

Well after years of girl talk, it is official. Zack Snyder, the director shamed into retirement from the DC world, is releasing his official director’s cut of Justice League. Why? I have absolutely no idea. This film is not beloved, so I imagine the studio is releasing it so say, “yea you think this was bad – you wanna see something worse?” I mean, I cringe to have to watch this a second time, but to see what Zack did or how they handcuffed him, if they did at all, might be worth a fast forward through. In no way do I wish to hear the dialogue again. But for Gal’s legs, I could look at them again. Will I think it’ll be a revelation and everyone will stand on their couches cheering for the almighty Zack? Hardly. Pretty sure it will suck just the same, only in a different way. 

BATWOMAN

Here’s a new one – Ruby Rose quits Batwoman. First of all, I never even heard of there being a Batwoman, I always thought it was Batgirl. Regardless, Ruby Rose was a hit portraying the lead character, and once the show was picked up for another season, Ruby quits. Why? Naturally no one knows for sure – rumor is, it was too hard. Too hard. I don’t want quality work, with good pay, if I have to stay up past 10. I don’t know what else Ruby has going on in her life, but I know if you want a job, you have to work for it. If you want fame and fortune it doesn’t come during banking hours. This saddens me about the next generation. They get a chance of a lifetime and quit. 

TOM HANKS

Now let’s talk about a real star. Tom Hanks, our dearly beloved, is getting screwed over by this COVID-19 crap. His baby project, which he has wrote and directed “Greyhound” is being thrown to a streaming service. I think we all love Tom’s other movie that he wrote/directed, “That Thing You Do”, that was pure genius, and I’d love to get to see this one in a theater as well. “Greyhound” is a WWII naval drama starring Hanks as George Krause, a career officer finally given command of a Navy destroyer called Greyhound. It takes place during the Battle of the Atlantic as Krause fights his self-doubts and personal demons to prove he belongs. This film was set for a June19 release date, but instead it was shopped around to streaming devices and was finally bought by Apple TV for $70 million. A sad state of affairs for such a fine and proven talent like Hanks, who truly has earned his day in the sun with a global theatrical release. Let’s hope some day it makes it there.

Thanks for reading – as usual – follow me or ask me questions any time, all the time @pauliek2003

[angrycollectordaze-me-blog]

Essay代写：Elaine page

下面为大家整理一篇优秀的essay代写范文- Elaine page，供大家参考学习，这篇论文讨论了伊莲·佩姬。伊莲·佩姬是世界音乐剧舞台无可争议的女王，几乎我们所有耳熟能详的音乐剧经典，女主角都非她莫属，并因此成为了英国乃至全球的音乐剧第一夫人。伊莲·佩姬的一生充满了传奇色彩，而当她以64岁高龄，仍能站在异国他乡的舞台上举办一场属于她自己的演唱会，这无疑又是她的音乐人生中书写的另一个传奇。

​On November 2, in order to "cat", "ivy tower sunset boulevard and other world famous classical musical works as well as the" Memory "" don't cry for me Argentina" "I know he is so" "as if we never say goodbye" and so on fashionable whole world classic song familiar musical works queen Elaine, Peggy, will visit China again, Olympic sports center gymnasium in Beijing for a Chinese audience with a world-class music feast. As one of the most important and iconic figures in the world of music, Elaine page's Beijing concert will undoubtedly become one of the most anticipated cultural events in the Beijing performance market in 2012.

The queen, who has dominated the stage for 40 years and is the undisputed queen of the world's musical stage, is the heroine of almost all the musical classics we are familiar with, and thus has become the first lady of musical theater in Britain and even around the world. Her life is full of legendary color, and when she is 64 years old, she can still stand on the stage of a foreign country to hold a concert of her own, which is undoubtedly another legend in her music life.

If it weren't for the words of the high school principal, the name of the first lady of the British musical would have had nothing to do with Elaine page. When Elaine was young, her first real dream was to be a tennis player. As she was finishing high school, the principal asked her about her plans after graduation. Elaine said she wanted to go to tennis school and become a tennis player. Only then did Elaine realize that at five and a half meters tall, she couldn't be a tennis player.

The principal's words shattered Elaine's tennis dreams, but they were a boon for the music industry and for Peggy herself. "I had to rethink my future, which made me more focused on my second passion, music." At the end of the term, miss music was given a Mozart musical tour in which Elaine played a part. Because of her commitment, her father who came to see the show asked her if she wanted to study acting after graduation. Elaine agreed immediately.

Elaine page became obsessed with musicals at the age of 14 when she saw a film adaptation of the musical miss Saigon, but because of her height, she was limited to children's or other minor roles for the first 16 years of her musical career until 1978.

In 1977, Elaine's life was at a low point. She was fired by her agent, abandoned by her boyfriend, and her car, which she had been using for years, suddenly broke down. After a difficult year, luck beckoned to her. In 1978, when Elaine was just about to give up the musical career, but to catch up with the musical "ivy tower" recruiting the heroine, musical actress of the world are fighting for the role, including big star Barbara streisand, recruited from among 500 applicants out to only three people, after many interviews, director prince Hal very reluctantly give up at that time has been very popular on Broadway star BaoNi, selected the petite but temperament unique Elaine, Peggy.

This character completely changed Elaine's fate. On the opening day, Elaine wasn't nervous because she felt like she had been preparing for the role for 16 years. She was ready. At the end of the show, she, who knew she was not a famous actress, left the stage together with other actors after the curtain call, but was called back to the stage. When she was still on the platform, she heard the audience stomping and clapping for her, Shouting her name and refusing to leave. When she came on the stage, the audience stood up for her. It was a long time before she accepted the fact that she had become famous.

It was Hal prince, the famous musical director who made Elaine page famous overnight. Ivetta won her a number of west end musical awards. And about Elaine's musical life, prince Hal made a famous prophecy, the ivy tower, after he told Elaine: "if you can get such a good character, you are lucky, if your career can get 3 times such a role, you are really very, very lucky." And these three times lucky, in the later life of Elaine, one by one and come.

The second came in 1981. One night on her way home Elaine heard a tune called "Memory" in her taxi and was so taken in by the melody that it was interrupted by the midnight news. "I was coming back from a party and I was walking up to my front door and I saw a black cat coming towards me and I took him in." Elaine said. There was a saying that if you see a black cat coming towards you, it means luck is coming towards you. The next morning, she was about to call Andrew Lloyd webber, the composer of the hit musical, when he called to ask if she would like to play grizbera in his musical cats. The role of cats in the history of musical theater is well known, and the immortal song has been deeply imprinted by Elaine page ever since. Although numerous stars have sung this song since, she is still recognized as the best performer of this song.

In 1993, Elaine was rehearsing her new play "piaf" when she got a call from weber asking if she could sing his new play "just one look" for her third wedding. After the wedding, she went back to rehearse "piaf" and forgot the new song. It was only when she heard it in the theatre that she realized it was a song weber had written for his new play "sunset boulevard". Subsequently, originally thought and "sunset boulevard" no chance of Elaine and weber received a rescue call, it turned out that the female lead suddenly appendicitis, weber asked Elaine would like to try to play Norma, so Elaine Norma, musical history of another classic role.

Weber is the schubert of today's musical world, in his decades of creative career, two of the most important collaborators, one is his wife Sarah brightman, and weber known as the most understand his music, but not Sarah brightman, but with him for 30 years Elaine page. She has performed many of weber's classic works, played by her role are lifelike, each can be called the model of art, created a box office myth, weber works become a magic weapon for success. And weber is not the only one who loves Elaine. From "ivetta" to "piaf", from "cat" to "sunset boulevard", she played the leading actress in many famous musicals, and her achievements have never been surpassed, so she was honored as the first lady of musicals in Britain and even the world, and praised by many music fans and fans of musicals.

In addition to the musical, Elaine page has recorded more than 20 solo albums, eight gold albums and four platinum albums. Her achievements are also amazing, which can be regarded as the model of successful music music and pop music. In 1998, Elaine was awarded the OBM knighthood by the British royal family for her outstanding contribution to the spread of British culture around the world in terms of musical performances and singing. In 1999, the British theatre society presented her with a lifetime achievement award, making her an unlikely role model in the history of musicals. In the UK, her music status is even comparable to that of the beatles. There are many big stars who are loyal fans of Elaine, eager to become a singer like her or even sing for her.

想要了解更多英国留学资讯或者需要英国代写，请关注51Due英国论文代写平台，51Due是一家专业的论文代写机构，专业辅导海外留学生的英文论文写作，主要业务有essay代写、paper代写、assignment代写。在这里，51Due致力于为留学生朋友提供高效优质的留学教育辅导服务，为广大留学生提升写作水平，帮助他们达成学业目标。如果您有essay代写需求，可以咨询我们的客服QQ：800020041。

51Due网站原创范文除特殊说明外一切图文著作权归51Due所有；未经51Due官方授权谢绝任何用途转载或刊发于媒体。如发生侵犯著作权现象，51Due保留一切法律追诉权。

[celtfather]

Celtic Halloween #381

Happy Halloween with ghoulish Celtic music from The Here & Now, Diamh, Merry Wives of Windsor, Flowers of Edinburgh, Gone Molly, Melanie Gruben, Madman's Window, Wolf & Clover, 3 Pints Gone, Cara Dillon, Janette Geri, Stout Pounders, Finnegan's Hell, Heavy Blarney, Anne Roos. http://celticmusicpodcast.com/

I hope you enjoyed this week's show. If you did, please share the show with ONE friend.

The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast is dedicated to growing our community and helping the incredible artists who so generously share their music. If you find music you love, buy their albums, shirts, and songbooks, follow them on Spotify, see their shows, and drop them an email to let them know you heard them on the Irish and Celtic Music Podcast.

Remember also to Subscribe to the Celtic Music Magazine. Every week, I'll send you 5 or 6 cool bits of Celtic music news. It's a quick and easy way to plug yourself into more great Celtic culture. Plus, you'll get 34 Celtic MP3s for Free, just for signing up today. Thank you again for being a Celt of Kindness.

VOTE IN THE CELTIC TOP 20

It's easier than ever to do. Just list the show number, and the name of one or two bands. That's it. You can vote once for each episode help me create next year's Best Celtic music of 2018 episode. http://bestcelticmusic.net/vote/

THIS WEEK IN CELTIC MUSIC

0:04 "Winding Rambling Pumpkin" by The Here & Now from The Winding Stair

6:19 "Bog An Lochan" by Diamh from The Hebridean Sessions

11:23 "Three Ravens/Twa Corbies" by Merry Wives of Windsor from Bottoms Up

15:05 "Attack of the Moon Tigers" by Flowers of Edinburgh from Attack of the Moon Tigers

17:51 "I Am Stretched on Your Grave" by Gone Molly from Gone Molly

21:01 CELTIC FEEDBACK

24:11 "A Faery Song" by Melanie Gruben from A Faery Song

26:12 "Sam Hall" by Madman's Window from Avast

31:36 "Si Bheag Si Mhor" by Wolf & Clover from Wolf & Clover

34:37 "The Ballad of Roddy McCorley" by 3 Pints Gone from Live at the Shamrock Club

37:47 "October Winds" by Cara Dillon from After the Morning

42:07 CELTIC PODCAST NEWS

44:57 "Barbra Allen" by Janette Geri from Among the Flowers

49:43 "Pumpkin's Fancy" by Stout Pounders from Pour Decisions

52:03 "Dance Upon You Grave" by Finnegan's Hell from Life and Death

54:35 "Drowsy Tam Lin" by Heavy Blarney from From Bog to Swamp

59:01 "A Bruxa [The Witch]" by Anne Roos from A Light in the Forest

The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast was produced by Marc Gunn, The Celtfather. To subscribe, go to Apple Podcasts or to our website where you can become a Patron of the Podcast for as little as $1 per episode. Promote Celtic culture through music at http://celticmusicpodcast.com/.

CELTIC PODCAST NEWS

* Helping you celebrate Celtic culture through music. My name is Marc Gunn. I am a Celtic musician and podcaster. This show is dedicated to the indie Celtic musicians. I want to ask you to support these artists. Share the show with your friends. And find more episodes at celticmusicpodcast.com. You can also support this podcast on Patreon.

Thursday, October 25 at 8:30 PM is my 5th annual Celtic Halloween Concert on YouTube. Every year, I share ghoulishly fun Celtic songs with a fun Halloween twist. It's like costuming in song. You can watch the show live or watch the replay on YouTube if you miss the concert.

My Top Irish & Celtic Music Playlist is newly updated on Spotify.

For the past couple months, I've accidentally published episodes with explicit language. As soon as I recognized my error, I fixed the files on our host server. Unfortunately, many platforms host files on their own servers instead of Libsyn's. This inspired a change in how I release shows.

In the future, Apple Podcasts will be the only clean podcast. Explicit language may show up on Spotify or Stitcher or other podcatchers that don't pull the file directly from Libsyn each time. But if you listen on Apple Pocasts or even our free app, they will be clean if I catch it soon enough.

Second, some folks have asked why many older shows don't appear in the app. Apple Podcasts only allows the most-recent 300 episodes to appear. So again, if you want better access to all of the shows, go get our free app on iTunes or Amazon.

Finally, I've been advertising on Facebook for a few years now to promote the podcast and attract new folks. I would love your help in doing more. I recently asked The Selkie Girls to record one for the Women of Irish & Celtic Music. It was a huge success. I'd love to get some testimonials from you that can be turned into 30 second ads. Are you interested? Email me celticpodcast@gmail.com

TRAVEL WITH CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS

Every year, I take a small group of Celtic music fans on the relaxing adventure of a lifetime. We don't see everything. Instead, we stay in one area. We get to know the region through it's culture, history, and legends. You can join us with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts and videos.

2019 is the Celtic Invasion of Star Wars. 2020 is the Origins of Celtic Invasions. You can find out more about these two exciting trips. Join the invasion at http://celticinvasion.com/

THANK YOU PATRONS OF THE PODCAST!

I don’t know about you. But I am not a fan of corporate influence. Certainly not in politics, but also not in the music I create and share. That’s one of the reasons that the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast supports independent Celtic musicians. I want to help the artists who don’t have a record label or a giant production company behind them. They are doing everything themselves. Just like we are. Your support of this podcast helps with that mission.

This show is listener supported. Instead of trying to find advertisers, I've decided to let your generosity fund the creation, production, and promotion of the show. You'll get episodes before regular listeners, discounts on merch, and when we hit a milestone, you get extra special episodes, including a bonus episode of the Celtic Christmas Podcast that will come out next month.

I want to thank our newest patrons of the podcast: Howard M., Bob H., Martin K., Glenn N., Jay M., Robert L., Maggie H., Mike C., John D., Stefan J., Kylie D.. Thanks also to Mary M. who raised her pledge.

And finally, I want to give a huge thanks to Marianne Ludwig. She is one of the all new Celtic Legends.

This tier is newly updated. Celtic Legends pledge a minimum of $25 per month. You see, when you pledge on Patreon, you can pledge per episode, but you can also set a maximum amount you're willing to donate to the podcast per month. If you're a Song Henger, you can pledge $5 per episode and limit it to four episodes (5 is the rare maximum I ever release in a month). But you can also limit it to one or two episodes and pay just $5 or $10 per month.

As a Celtic Legend, you can pledge $25 per episode and then limit your maximum amount per month to $25. At the beginning of every month, I will read your name and all of our Celtic Legends to the community in thanks.

You can become a generous Patron of the Podcast at http://patreon.com/celticpodcast

I WANT YOUR FEEDBACK

What are you doing today while listening to the podcast? You can send a written comment along with a picture of what you're doing while listening. Email a voicemail message to celticpodcast@gmail.com

Donald Willms emailed: Hi Mark, I found myself laying under the prairie stars with your voice and tunes tickling my ears.  My sister and I pulled into the Indian Head Campground after dark while driving through Saskatchewan.  I was about to pull out my tent but couldn’t bring myself to put a nylon veil between my eyelids and the endless heavens.  If only the wee eye in my phone could capture the enormous beauty before me as the crescent moon rises and comet dust blazes fiery streaks above. Cheers!  These words may have to suffice…"

Charles Morley in Alabama replied to the Celtic Music Magazine email: "Really appreciate your site and messages, Marc. You do a great service to the ITM community. Don't have much of a chance to listen regularly but you present the best of a wide-ranging genre of music that would otherwise be impossible to track down and experience. News of new music (CDs etc.) is priceless, especially for the American audience. Keep up the good work!"

Mike O'Byrne emailed: "Hi Marc, I thought about the podcast this Saturday as I was making a static line parachute jump with the Phantom Airborne Brigade, a group of former and current military parachutists who get together every month at Zephyrhills, Florida. Nothing like having some good music as you float down under that big round chute. I’m still replaying your Memorial Day Special, one of your best IMHO. If you know of any other Celtic music-loving former military airborne folks, send them our way. Age is no limitation. I am 74."

Ross McMath emailed: "Hello, I listen to the podcast every day at work. In moments when a great reel or tune is being played it provides my whole being with joy. I copy all my favourite songs to be added to a few playlists I have going on Spotify (Celtic and Soft Celtic) - there are over 160 songs on the playlist already with more in line to be added. Thank you so much for all your efforts in finding and producing all this amazing music for an under-listened to but fantastic genre. Kind regards, Ross"

Check out this episode!