#shout out to the people who voted ''no''; i appreciate the honesty
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thelooniemoonie · 11 months ago
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Thank you to everyone who voted! There's still a few hours left in the poll but I think it's safe to call it from here.
I'm genuinely surprised how many people voted, much less people who voted "yes", so the verdict is I will start getting into adopts!
If you wanna hear me ramble how I'm gonna plan it + pricing I'll put it under the cut:
So obviously a lot of people voted "unsure" which is totally understandable, as it's pretty much subjective to each design and what each person likes so there's no pressure there. The goal again is that I'll likely have these in my Ko-Fi shop and figure out how to set it up, so if people change their minds it will remain as a shop item until purchased.
The goal is I'll make some "starter/appetizer" adoptable sets of about 4-5 adoptables all centering around a basic theme, and see where it goes from there. I've already started sketching the first set, and I don't know how many sets I'll make as it will depend on feedback, but that's the general idea. I think each one will simply have the adoptable itself (fully colored) and maybe a flat color and/or the color palette of each character. Pretty basic stuff.
Edit: as for character DESIGNS themselves as similar to the example art above, most of these will be "humanoid" adoptables. I wanna do some variation between humans/humanoid monsters and throw in some furries in there. That's always been kinda my niche of designing characters, but I figured it would be better to describe what for people to expect.
I've thought about it a bit and decided I'll make each adoptable $15 USD. Yeah I know artists shouldn't be undercharging themselves for their work, but again I'm in the unique position where I already have a job and I can afford bringing the price down, plus factors like I'm not necessarily an artist that gets many commissions. Plus let's be real-in this economy? Many of us can barely afford a luxury commission these days so I figured it would be more fair for the wider audience.
(If this was a few years ago where I didn't have a job mayhaps I would bring the price up, or if this project gets successful maybe I can bump up the price later on or have additional bonus content for each adoptable. But again that's something to work out later.)
Ko-Fi does thankfully fix the pricing conundrum though. From what I'm aware of each adoptable will be a "purchasable item" in a Ko-Fi shop, and will mostly be placed on a "minimum price basis". So as such each adoptable will be priced for a minimum of $15 but there will be an option to tip at the buyer's discretion. I think it's also on a first come-first serve basis so there's no bidding, simply whoever buys it first.
Future feedback: again where this project goes from here kinda depends on how it's received, I think Ko-Fi let's you make comments to the buyer whenever you send money/buy stuff? Or even comments on the body of this post also work but I don't really know much else. I guess in the future if there's certain themes you want me to draw or feedback in general that's open, but I kinda have to figure out the system.
Uhh I think that covers most of my thoughts. Just planning and how I'm gonna approach it since I've never done adoptables before. I'm sure I'll update in the coming days but that's the general idea for now. Again feel free to add on your thoughts to this post if you wanna share, and thank you to everyone who voted!
Future plans for art?
So I've been thinking where I should go from here lately, given I'm technically an "artist" on here. Since I'm no longer posting on Instagram/Redbubble and mostly on Tumblr, and will be doing a Masters degree this coming January, I wonder if I should be taking a new approach?
Aside from branching out to newer sites, I was thinking maybe I can do adoptable designs? Given I extremely rarely get commissions and will likely be busy, Ko-Fi seems pretty good with posting adoptables/designs/posters as they can simply remain on there until whoever buys it (as opposed to rushing through a commission order). It would probably be a good replacement for Redbubble as I was never quite good at "merch designing" and just stick with art.
Although I would have to ask if people would be interested in this. So, if y'all know me for my art:
Some example character designs I've done just for reference:
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thesedangeroustemptations · 3 years ago
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Baki Boy’s and a fearless/overly-outspoken s/o
Hi y’all! This is my very first headcanon and it’s something that just came to mind while insomnia decided sleep wasn’t allowed. Some are going to have a S/O who speaks out and acts the way they do due to past feelings of restriction and inability to do so, and some are just personality traits in general so a small TW is in order I suppose. I hope you all like it! 
Baki: 
At first, he had no idea how to deal with that. He was used to Kozue who would only ever speak on her feelings when pressed for them, so when he saw his S/O immediately snap back at Yujiro for his comments and general way of being unprompted, he felt a bit of fear for their safety but also a swelling of pride began to grow in his chest. 
He knew they were free spirited and spoke their mind from the beginning, what was apart of what drew Baki to them in the first place, but in the face of The Ogre? 
He was shocked to say the least and every alarm in his head was going off to get them out of there before they ended up dead, but Yujiro simply laughed, smirked at his son and gave him a dark warning.
“Don’t let them bark harder than you can bite, that might just be what puts them down.”
The longer that they spent together, the more accustomed to their general ease with saying whatever floated through their head at the time, and lack of care for the outcome of what was said/done. 
This has lead to more than a few occasions where Baki has had to pick them up and sprint away from the situation to keep from having to beat someone’s face into an unrecognizable pulp the second an advance was made in the direction of his S/O.
He comes to appreciate their honesty and finds it easier to be around them compared to other people due to the low probability of them hiding anything from him, and it being far easier for him to tell when something is wrong.
Will ask their opinions when making big decisions because he knows they have no fear going forward in life and will tell him their exact thought process regardless of whether it fits with what he’s wanting. To them, it’s what’s best not what is wanted if you’re asking their opinion.
Would support them saying whatever is on their mind/heart, but worries for their safety when he isn’t around to watch out for them.
Loves them for them regardless of if they lack the ability to keep their feelings to themselves while Baki himself is rather reserved.
Jack:
To say he was surprised to have this tiny (anything is compared to him-) individual he hadn’t seen before snap at him for hogging the bench press during his routine workout at his favored gym would be an understatement. 
The man was an absolute giant who towered over even the tallest of men and could easily break most in half, yet here this tiny firecracker was getting angry at him. An interesting development indeed.
From then on, he set out to make it his mission to get to know this unique person. For someone to get his eye off of getting stronger and defeating his father is an award all it’s own, but for him to actively chase them was an entirely different thing. 
Does eventually win them over through a mixture of gentlemanly behavior and healthy sarcasm, while proving he’s a trustworthy person to hold their heart and guard it.
Jack found himself growing protective over them when he witnessed them exchanging heated words followed by blows over a dispute in a bar he miraculously found himself at the same time as them.
He decided that moment he was going to make them his, and he was going to keep them safe forever, especially from Yujiro. 
Hundred percent would do his best to keep them separate, but Yujiro, being Yujiro, would find a way to make his son’s life harder and intervene, belittling him in some way around his S/O and that would be the end of it. 
Jack thought he had seen them go off before? Oh, no, no. Not when it came to someone they care about deeply. They started spewing every insult they could think of at the red-headed Hanma giant, feeling not an ounce of fear in their body- that’s because all of it entered Jack’s the moment they opened their mouth.
Used every bit of endurance he built up to grab them and run as far as he could in as quick a pace as possible to get them to safety. 
Knows there’s no way he can change them, and that he wouldn’t want to. Their outspokenness was what made him fall for them after all. 
Katsumi:
This man has a thing for outspoken S/O who takes charge, he may seem like an alpha male but he would instantly fold the moment his beloved gives him the look. Is not to afraid to admit this and chalks it up to his love and respect for their opinions. 
Instantly fell for them the moment they entered Shin Shin Kai in a full-blown fit, eyes raging, nostrils slightly flaring and sights set on a member of his class. Obviously they did something wrong, but when he approached to find out exactly what was going on as any teacher would, he was instantly shut down. 
“I’m not here for you, so if you don’t want your head bit off, I’d stay the fuck out of my way”
Needless to say, he was intrigued at this type of response from someone so much smaller than him, in his own father’s dojo, and after a few more prodding questions and standing in the way of what they wanted, he got the answers he was wanting as to what was going on. 
Being the relatively peaceful guy he was, Katsumi managed to calm down the situation while somehow getting a date out of the whole scenario.
 Everyone thought he was crazy for wanting to go out with someone as outspoken and rude like that, but he saw beyond that. He could see there was someone fearless and thoughtful under there, and he wanted to see what else was buried beneath the surface. 
Man, was it worth it. They didn’t fear anything it seemed, always willing to try new activities with Katsumi and his friends, be it new roller-coaster to cliff-jumping on their days off at the ocean, it didn’t matter. They were always up for it, the acts seemingly bringing them closer each time. 
He grew to love and respect them greatly, reminding them daily how much he admires their ability to speak their mind without fear and has no issue setting anyone straight regardless of who it is.
Would never admit it to their face or out loud but he really worries about them when he’s gone, knowing that not everyone can see the kind person they are inside and could easily take their words or actions the wrong way.
One of the few who actually trains his S/O in martial arts, even just the basics, to keep themselves safe when he isn’t around. 
Doyle: 
Oh boy. 
This idiot would be voted most likely to attempt to kill his S/O for opening their mouth about how he doesn’t seem as tough as everyone is making him out to be. 
Has the hardest time out of all of the men to adapt to having a S/O who speaks whatever comes in their mind and letting him know exactly what they think of his actions, good or bad. This is not something he is used to and not being able to just leave or kill the person saying it was something that was completely new to him. 
Would be the definition of opposites attract. Doyle is known for being more reserved, keeps things to himself and generally reminds others of a cat with his observant and quiet behavior. In comes his lover who is open about her thoughts and feelings regardless of who asks, will shout and loudly express themselves when upset or frustrated, and is basically a dog personified. 
Doyle catches himself watching their surroundings more cautiously when they go out due to not knowing exactly what is going to slip out of his lovers mouth, and being fully prepared to cut the tongue out of anyone who dared breath in their direction wrong.
Eventually he learns what will set off his S/O quicker and what is the best ways to calm them down when they are feeling like they need to be heard about a certain scenario. 
He’s a very observant man, and when spending nearly everyday with a person he cares for, he will swiftly find ways to make things easier for them without their noticing. He can’t have them thinking he cares too much. 
Around the other inmates or Yujiro Hanma is the only time Doyle feels any inclination of fear, prompting a fight, flight, or freeze response to which he typically chooses the middle option with his S/O in toe. 
He would rather be viewed as a coward for fleeing with what is his than lose it because they don’t have the ability to keep their damn mouth shut for someone looking at either of them wrong. 
Would enjoy having a S/O who expresses what they’re feeling, but would hope for one who had some sentiment of common sense so he didn’t have to constantly worry. 
Retsu: 
Probably handles them the best out of all of the boys to be honest. 
Is used to hotheaded and outspoken people himself already (*cough* Katsumi *cough*), while also having been one in his past, Retsu is the most suited to dealing with their outbursts and reckless actions due to a lack of fear. 
Likely met his S/O while in Japan for the Maximum Tournament and overheard them going off in the distance about something that was a passion of theirs that they felt had been disrespected. 
Retsu could relate given his overprotective nature in regards to his Chinese Kenpo, so when he saw them chest to chest, red-faced and still going at it while showing no signs of backing down, he knew he had to step in and defuse the situation before their beautiful/handsome face was ruined over an argument.
Has no problem with letting them rant and rave about things their passionate about or that bothered them throughout the day/week that they managed to hold in for Retsu’s sake.
Expresses his feeling the easiest out of the men except for possibly a tie with Baki, so makes it known that he worries for their safety and wants them to try their best to keep it together while they’re apart, being rewarded with whatever treat they would like followed by cuddles and a venting session. 
Comes up with different means for them to let out their frustrations with the world without having to blow up on everyone/everything that upsets them; i.e. gives them swearing coloring books to create art out of every swear word/insult they could think of.
Doesn’t want his S/O to keep things inside or to change, he just simply wants them to learn there is a time and a place for going off about things you’re passionate about, but when faced with the strongest being in the world? That is not the time, and even someone like Retsu, who believed that nothing could beat Chinese Kenpo, could recognize that.  
If things ever got heated out in public and his S/O began to argue with another person, don’t think for a second that Retsu wouldn’t break a man’s jaw for talking to his love with any kind of bass in their voice.
Loves and accepts his S/O for who they are, but is likely to help try and gently mother hen them into channeling that into a healthier outcome. 
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blu-joons · 3 years ago
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“I Hate Mint Choco!” ~ Kim Namjoon
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“Can you believe this, after all this time, Y/N actually likes mint choco!” Namjoon yelled.
After the commotion, the other six boys had heard from the other room, they were expecting you to return, vowing never to speak to each other again. But as Namjoon informed them what the noise had all been about, none of them could quite believe what came out of his mouth.
Jin was the first to scoff, slamming his hand down against the table. “Are you really telling me that we’ve just had to listen to the two of you shouting for twenty minutes over mint choco? We thought something serious had happened,” he added, shaking his head in disbelief at your both.
Namjoon’s expression quickly matched the disbelief that was on Jin’s face, “are you kidding me This is something serious, do you know how long we’ve known each other, and all this time she’s been hiding this huge secret. Mint choco is the food of the devil Y/N.”
“What’s wrong with mint choco?” Jungkook chimed in, staring across at his leader, “I’m with Y/N on this one, you’re completely overreacting, there’s plenty of weird things about you too.”
Namjoon’s head shook, sitting down on the end of the sofa, keeping a distance between you both. “All this time I trusted you, when we went out for ice cream the other day and you chose just choco, did you secretly want mint choco?”
As your head nodded, Namjoon fell back on the sofa, flailing his limbs around in the air. You couldn’t help but laugh at how dramatic he was, anyone would have thought he’d just been told the most horrific news. To him, it was just as bad though, the one thing he hated more than anything else in the world, and you loved it.
“I might even have to ask you to leave the dorm, this is the ultimate betrayal,” Namjoon informed him as Jimin pushed him back up to sit up properly. “How am I ever supposed to trust in you again when you like mint choco?”
“Do you have any idea how stupid you sound right now over mint choco?”
Taehyung reached across and pushed Namjoon’s arm before he even had a chance to answer your question, “I think you’ll find there are six other people in this dorm, and we all unanimously vote for Y/N to stay, so don’t even think about throwing her out of this building.”
You smiled appreciatively across to Taehyung, poking your tongue at Namjoon too as your eyes scanned the room to see all the other boys nodding in agreement. His eyes rolled, letting go of another gasp at the betrayal of his fellow members too.
Yoongi shuffled further along his sofa, making room for you, ensuring that Namjoon knew you were sticking around. Although you knew several of the other members disliked mint choco too, none of them reacted as crazily as Namjoon had done.
A sigh came from him across the room, pressing his fingers against the bridge of his nose to try and calm himself down. “I always promised myself I would never know someone that would pick mint choco at the ice cream parlour, and here we are.”
“There are plenty of other flavours that I’d pick from too. Think about me, I had to deprive myself of mint choco the other day just to make sure that you were happy,” you challenged.
“Don’t make me feel bad about this, you’re the one who lied.”
Your eyes rolled as he cried out, “I hardly lied, I just decided to keep my ice cream preferences a bit more of a secret from you, that’s all.”
As Namjoon listened to you speak, he could remember the debates and how passionately he defended himself against the mint choco lovers. He never quite imagined though that he’d end up having to have the debate with you too.
“Shall I get you some mint choco toothpaste to celebrate your honesty?”
The whole room scoffed at Namjoon’s remark, unable to hold back their laughter, struggling to believe just how dramatic he was about the situation. Even though they knew Namjoon would never actually fall out with you over mint choco, they could tell he genuinely was slightly disappointed.
“If you gave me time, I reckon I could convince you that mint choco isn’t such a bad idea,” you suggested, instantly regretting it when you saw the anger that washed over Namjoon’s face.
Each of the boys sunk down in their seats, knowing you’d hit the nail on the head with that remark. Namjoon’s head shook, shuddering just at the thought of having to be anywhere close to anything that even so much as resembled mint choco.
You quickly took back your offer, muttering an apology across to him before he ended up exploding. The rest of the boys quickly forced you into backing down too, knowing that you were only going to make matters worse for yourself.
“You know, we can’t even mention the words mint choco around here,” Hobi informed you, “you’re asking for trouble if you ever bring it into the dorm.”
“Don’t worry, I think I’ve learnt my lesson.”
“So, we’re not going to throw Y/N out, are we?” Jimin called across to Namjoon, raising his eyebrows as he waited for a response. “I’m sure there’s plenty of things that Y/N dislikes that you like, but she doesn’t get mad about it.”
“But this is mint choco!” Namjoon protested, throwing his arms into the air, “I can’t even articulate just how disgusting mint choco is, who would like it?”
Instantly, Jungkook raised his hand in the air, feeling the stare of his leader turn to face him. He simply shrugged back at Namjoon, making sure that you didn’t feel his wrath alone, no matter how much trouble he’d possibly find himself in.
“You’re not really going to treat Y/N any differently because she likes mint choco?” Jin asked him.
Namjoon sighed, flickering his eyes back across to you. “I might have overreacted just a little bit, but I still can’t believe I spent all this time with you, unknowing of the fact that you were secretly a mint choco lover.”
“Anyone would think I’ve just told you that I don’t like your music or something,” you joked, “I can’t believe you caused such an argument.”
Slowly, Namjoon’s expression began to soften as he allowed himself to relax a little more. “If you think I got angry finding out you dislike mint choco, you’d hate to see me if I ever find out you secretly hate my music too.”
Your eyes rolled, reassuring him quickly that you were a big fan of his music, and the boys too. Just as it seemed the argument had finally passed, Yoongi’s voice called out from beside you, staring directly across at Namjoon.
“Give Y/N a hug and let her know all is forgiven,” he suggested.
“H-hug a mint choco lover?”
As you stood to your feet, Taehyung pushed against Namjoon’s lower back until he rose to his feet, nudging him in your direction. “You’ve never had a problem hugging Y/N before, and you hug Kookie and Hobi all the time.”
Another sigh came from Namjoon as he extended his arms out for you to walk into, hugging you gently, with little strength compared to how he usually held onto you. “Are you really never going to forgive me for this?”
“I need time,” he chuckled, returning back to his dramatics, “you’ll never understand how I feel about mint choco, especially when you love it so much.”
“Is it really that bad for you Joon.”
“Y/N…I hate mint choco!”
---
Masterlist
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omfgtrump · 4 years ago
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“What a long, Strange Trip It’s Been”
The Don’s banishment to Mar-a-Lago and on Twitter has created a welcomed silence. Yes, he is going to do everything he can to stay relevant and make as much noise as possible. His battle with Mitch McConnell for the soul of the Republican Party will ramp up. Let me stop there. How can two people without souls fight over the soul of anything?
What I am trying to say here, is that this is the time for me to hit the exit ramp. This will the last piece of OMFG.
Is that a wince I hear? A collective sigh? A Thank God, as finally, the guy has found a way to separate from demon Don?
To my readers, I implore you: Please don’t do anything drastic, as I don’t want to have to carry another burden.
For many, The Don’s loss of the election and banishment has been sort of an exorcism. (if you at some point you spewed green bile, don’t worry, as it was a natural biological process that helped cleanse you of all the poison you absorbed).
As you can tell from my writings, I have had my own obsession with The Don. During these past 4 years, he has inhabited my daily life like an aching tooth. I watched way too much news. I raved and ranted. I used the phrases “Is this outrageous, or what?” and “Can you believe this shit” as often as “Hey, how are you?”.
My co-workers saw me coming and walked the other way. My wife told me if I didn’t shut up about The Don she would leave me. (Well, that’s not exactly true, but I’m sure it crossed her mind!)
Thank God for this blog. I don’t know how I would have survived without it.
As the Grateful Dead sing in ‘Truckin’: What a long, strange trip it’s been.
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Two impeachments, a Russia investigation, an insurrection-yes, an insurrection cause by the “Big Lie” that the election was stolen and that Joe Biden was not a legitimate president, “shit hole” countries, “good people on both sides,” separation of children from their families, a Muslim ban, attacks on the LGBT community, violations of the Emoluments Clause, endless lies, levels of corruption unseen in the history of the presidency, embracing of White Supremacists, deregulating of environmental policy, fake news, the press as the enemy, the promulgation of conspiracy theories- the emergence of QAnon, dismantling of government agencies, using the Department of Justice for his own means, a level of sociopathy and malignant narcissism never seen in the White House and a wannabe demagogue who did everything he could to dismantle our democracy. Did I leave anything out?
His handling and politicizing of the pandemic, which has caused an unfathomable 500,000 deaths to date, was the result of a genocide of neglect that has caused inconceivable suffering. In a fair and just world, he should be prosecuted for his heinous inaction and promotion of false narratives and complicity in the unnecessary death of tens of thousands.  
Witnessing the competence and transparency of the Biden administration has created hope in me. A world in which the pandemic is under control, the economy rebounds, issues of social justice are faced head on and policy that reflects the need to genuinely address inequality and institutional racism seems possible. A humane plan and path to citizenship for Dreamers and other immigrants seems more reachable.
Climate change, the defining and existential issue of our time and the world’s future, is finally front and center.
How we confront the increasing polarization and rise of domestic terrorism is a daunting challenge. How we ensure voting rights are protected in the face of egregious attempts to thwart them is a battle over whether we remain a country that is represented “by the people and for the people.”
So much work needs to be done. We can not rest. We must resist the temptation toward complacency. We need truth, honesty and kindness to be our guiding forces.
It feels so strange to be writing these last words. During the 4 years of this blog, I wrote 244 pieces and people from over 100 countries visited it. (Even from Russia and China!) I so much appreciate the time you spent reading. I hope I was able to make you laugh (or cry) about the absurdities of what we all endured and lived through. I hope my perspective created new insights and ways of thinking about The Don and his psychology.
Some may be wondering what I look like so I will pull up the curtain and reveal myself.
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Others may be wondering what new project awaits me. Frankly, who the hell knows, but writers must write, so I’ll wait for it to reveal itself.
I want to give a special shout out to the unsung superstar of the blog, Jinnifer Douglass, who was responsible for the design and creating all the amazing photos. She is a wizard. There was nothing I asked her to concoct that she could not create. When I would receive her email stating “All set,” I would click on the site and break out into a smile or outright laughter, marveling at the photos. And for those of you who skipped the writing and just reveled in the photos I forgive you. As they say, sometimes a picture is worth a 1,000 words.
Also, thanks for your comments and acknowledgements along the way. Anyone out there that wants to write me a goodbye note (a love letter?) I welcome it. Be well and fight the power.
Thanks for joining me on this crazy journey as “What a strange trip it’s been.”
And one more thing: The Supreme Court voted 9-0 to allow his taxes to be released. So Don, maybe they’ll take some of the tax money you owe to build a wall on the golf course and turn it into a prison!
And now for one of my favorite photos:
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Note from Jinnifer: It has been an insane past 4 years. Working on this project with Jerry was equal parts horrifying and hilarious; every week it was something new (and then some). Putting together these pieces of Photoshop satire brought me an absurd kind of joy. I am sad that this blog has come to its end, but I am glad that the mechanism which portended it was our very own democratic process at work. Jerry usually wrote roughly about 1 article a week, and each article had around 4 custom pieces in it- meaning I have created over 800 works of factual farce in our time working together. Some days it feels like we just started this blog yesterday, and other times it feels like 20 years ago. Truly a bittersweet undertaking, but one I am proud to have been able to contribute to. I know Jerry’s next creative venture, whatever it may be, will be pointed and, no doubt, funny to boot. Here are some of my favorite photos, 1 for each year of his, well, whatever you want to call it!
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2017
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2018
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2019
2020
At the time we started this project, web developing was my main profession, but in the years that have since passed I have decided to focus more on my (decidedly more serious, haha) photography work. If you’re interested in checking it out, I’d be grateful if you’d stop by http://www.jinyc-photo.com
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whalien-imagines · 6 years ago
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Screen Protector
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SeokminxModelFemale!Reader (Mentionings of other groups) 
Part 1
Fluff (crackish as well)
Summary: Video games bring people together. Who ever tells you they don’t, clearly hasn’t played a good game.
Word Count: +3.1K
Warnings: Cursing
A/N: I’m sorry i don’t know much about LOL besides of what my ex has taught me. Also, when the chat is italicized, they’re on a call. When it’s bold, it’s texting! (It only is meant for the group chat, but not for other characters)
Video games are a way to destress, have a fun time, and a way to make new friends. They bring out different thing about a person. How competitive they get, or how quickly they willing to break any alliance they have when it come to the final round. No bitterness there, none at all. 
It seemed to be the only way you could escape your busy life. After all those moments in front of the camera and the adoring fans, you always seemed to coming running home to your computer. No matter what time it was, you had to play, even if it was almost the crack of dawn. 
It first started off as curiosity. You saw some of your friends where going to gaming cafes or playing it when you hung out. It was frustrating because you had no experience with these types of things. Your fingers would always cramp up from the way you were holding them and your reflexes seemed to be lacking compared to others. 
That’s when you became determined to kick everyone’s ass.  
You could remember the days before you were scouted. It was the best time because all you did was get better. First it was RPG games, then it was FPS games, and then you finally got hooked on League of Legends.  
In that moment, the world finally realized they fucked up. 
You began to play the game consistently, farming up points and skills, allowing you to climb up the leaderboard. Soon you figure out that there was a pre-season to the game, so you prepared yourself for it. The season started and you were on a roll at this point. 
Your social group has realized the terrible fate that held you hostage. 
They tried getting you to stop playing and tried get you outside. However, you put up a good fight, before they completely kidnapped you in your sleep and forced you outside. 
If it weren’t for them, you would have never been scouted by the company that now manages your career as a model. 
It leaves you to where you are now, in a tiny but beautiful apartment in the heart of the city. Some would think that you have it because you have the money for it, but in all honesty, you’re just worried about being kidnapped if you had a normal apartment. It nearly happened one too many times. 
Your feet were aching from the heels you wore and the make-up on your face was starting to feel a little too heavy for you. No matter how much you tried to get used to the model life, it was quite difficult. You felt that sometimes it was hard to be yourself with a job like this. 
All everyone was doing was covering you, the pile of mess, with a blanket and expensive stuff. 
Your phone rang, and you saw that your group was online and waiting for you. 
DK97: Hurry up!!! We’re waiting for you!!!
You smiled as you threw on whatever comfortable clothes you could find, grabbed the make-up wipes, and sat down in front of your little corner dedicated to your hobby. You quickly signed in and found that everyone had been waiting for you on the group call. 
BHHM8: Where have you been?! You said 8pm the latest!!!
KSJ030: At least she made it on time for the game!! 
DK97:Hush!!!! I’m preparing myself mentally for this! 
You chuckled a bit, soon grabbing your headset and finally joined in the chat.
1Reder:Oh hush up all of you. You guys are just glad that the strongest player is here. 
BHHM8:So close on kicking you out. 
1Reder:bET
KSJ030:Both of you, SHUT UP! WE’RE STARTING!!!!!
All of you began to scream in sync as the round started. Yes, you were those people that made sure to be as extra as possible. It’s how you bonded. You began to shout on where to attack and what should be the next move. The other members began to follow and let out battle cries that only the Gods could understand. 
It wasn’t until about an hour later that the match ended. After a good fight, you found your team gaining another victory. It was something everyone needed tonight. You glanced over to you clock and found it sat 11:30 pm. You frowned, glancing back to your screen. 
1Reder: Hey, I might have to leave early this time.
A paused entered the chat, it felt heavy. 
BHHM8: We had a feeling... but luckily you’re not the only one this time. 
You smiled a bit, glad that the one teammate you butted heads with was being sort of nice. These were the only few people that you felt comfortable with. They knew when you had tough and good days. They cheered you on in your victories and sort of became family. 
It bothered you that you couldn’t tell them about what you do for a living. 
You made a name for yourself, being a very popular model in the city. It felt like everyone wanted a piece of you, but how were you going to say no when they gave you the money to live in such an expensive world? It scared you to think that they were going to be the same, even after everything. 
KSJ030: Glad I’m not the only one. I got shit to do tomorrow.
1Reder: I feel like you’re just trying to feel as important, be honest. You’re gonna play a different gAME WITHOUT US AGAIN!
KSJ030: THaT WAs oNE TimE!!
DK97:The wound is still so fresh... The betrayal is real. 
BBHM8: Vote to kick his ass out?
1Reder: I 
DK97: I
KSJ030: WHAT?! You guys can suck my big toe.
1Reder: Jinnie, you know were only joking!!! You complete us! 
KSJ030: I’ve be criticized for who i am, a human being that enjoys playing video games. NOW I’LL be the first to HANG UP THIS DAMN CALL!!!
His number quickly dropped and everyone bursted out in laughter from the dramatic man’s behavior. Most people would think that he was furious, but all of you knew that he was only playing and that he was really leaving to sleep. It was already late, and he said his roommates gets annoyed because he stays up so often. 
You glanced over to the clock and sighed in defeat. There wasn’t a way to live out your fantasy of playing LoL all day and keep this career of yours. Reality simply wasn��t allowing you. You gathered yourself quickly. 
1Reder: I’m gonna join Jinnie on this one. I have to go too now. I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow.
With that a wave of goodbyes followed and you logged off from virtual life. For some reason, it felt sad to say bye to everyone.
Your history with your close friends was interesting. The first time you had encountered their clan, there was a bit of a misunderstanding about something. You had gotten mad with them. It took awhile for you to realized that it was wrong people. 
After long apologies, you joined their clan. 
Within the first day, everyone had agreed to keep themselves anonymous and to just be good internet friends. Sure, it was great and all but there times where you wanted to know them in person. 
It was all because everyone wanted to be your friend in real life. Fame brings all the wrong people. There are the ones that want to take pieces of you everytime they’re around you and others that just want you for the name. It made you kind of scared about everyone, because sometimes people were good at hiding their true intentions. However, the clan knew the real you. They knew how crazy you were under the well decorated mask. Sure, you expected nerds behind the screen but sometimes you felt like they were like you. Famous people who wanted nothing more than true friendship. 
Maybe you were over thinking all of this, you thought. You quickly prepared yourself for bed and passed out before you could think any further. 
The morning quickly came around and you prepared yourself for the driver coming around. There wasn’t a need to put on makeup or anything, so instead you wore causal type clothing. You said your good mornings to the driver and hid yourself in the back of the car. The drive felt long but once you arrived, the set was where everyone seemed to be rushing around. You took a quick glance at your phone and found that everyone in the group chat had woken up and seemed to be talking randomly. A small little smile began to itch at your lips, but you quickly suppressed it. You knew if you joined in, your true self would appear in front of everyone. So you ignored the chat and forced yourself to look unfazed.
The driver escorted you out of the back of the car. You glanced around the set, seeing cameras and lights decorate the place. It was a cute place. It seemed to ooze out the feelings of a first date. It made you little sad but you ignored it. Instead you were led to your dressing room by your manager. They explained that this was a music video was about a secret love between a model and each member. They said it was for a group called SEVENTEEN. Your person was Lee Chan or Dino. He was around your age, so they thought the “chemistry” would work better. You quietly nodded and sat at the chair where they prepared you.
You saw the sad look on your manager’s face. You knew he did this so you would make friends and be happy again, but he knew how scared you were. Of course, if he were in your shoes, he would be too. It’s scary that every time you made friends that they would use you. How does one say no when all they want is to be loved for who they are. He knew about your nerdy habits and who you really were, and he still appreciated you. 
In a way, he was one of the few close friends that you had. He managed your career but he always tried his best to keep you comfortable and happy too.
While you getting ready, someone else had walked into the room. A young boy who seemed to be one of the members of the group. He was already dressed up, and they seemed to do a beautiful job on getting him to boyfriend material. (Not like they weren’t already, but that’s your thoughts)
“Ah! You must be (Y/N)! I’m Lee Seokmin, one of the beautiful voices of SEVENTEEN.” He stated. His smile was beautiful, contagious even. God, how is he not chased around, or even taken by someone? However, his voice seemed oddly familiar but your couldn’t place your finger on it. Maybe it from a song you heard at a store probably. “Oh. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Are you excited?”
“I guess so.” You faked a smile. No matter how happy of a person he was, you still didn’t know him. It’s always the ones you least expect that hurt you the most. 
“You don’t seem like it.”
You quickly tensed up and sighed. He had caught you. 
“Uh...,” you turned around and faced him completely, “Look, I don’t wanna come off as an ass but I just don’t want to deal with celebrities that only care about themselves looking good for the camera.” You glanced over to your manager who seemed to be interested in the conversation. Why wasn’t the man helping you out of this?
You were starting to grow a bit nervous. It felt like he was looking for you, not at you. Could he see the facade that you were wearing? Maybe even see more than that?
“Maybe you should try to give us a try,” he mentioned. 
You chuckled a bit out of nervousness, “You’re cute Seokmin.” Then came out the words you never expected yourself to say, “Maybe I will, just for you.”
His face started to blush. You caught him off guard this time, and he liked it.
As soon as you were finished, Seokmin accompanied you down to the set and you seemed to talk naturally. His personality was really charming to you. You couldn’t help but have a good time with him. He was so funny and seemed so interested in a lot of the things you had to say. Some might have confused you for a couple (not that you were saying it’s a bad thing, but I digress). He stayed with you until it was his turn with his partner came, that’s when he had to leave. You found yourself taking the chance to look over to the group chat. 
DK97: So i met someone today
KSJ030: DetAiLS
DK97: I’LL TELL YOU GUYS LATER
You smiled a bit, he deserved love.
1Reder: YO CONGRATS
BBHM8: WHAT IS GOING ON?! Am I next?! LET ME FIND LOVEEE
You couldn’t help but laugh at your friend’s desperation, which caught the attention of other members. They quickly recognized you as the model that was all around the city. Your face decorated billboards with brands that you endorsed... which was a lot. They watched as you seemed to smile in content with whatever was on your phone. It wasn’t until Seokmin was done with filming that they saw how you lighted up and put away your phone. 
That’s when they realized what was going on. 
“How did you like my acting skills?” He joked. 
You laughed, “They might need some work, but you were cute enough to pass it off better than a dumbass.” That’s when you tensed up again. You slipped up, you thought. Instead of him being disgusted, he continued to joke around with you. He liked it and you. 
However, you still were so guarded. He saw how nervous you were on making some of the jokes and watching how he reacted. He knew it was gonna take time to get you out of your shell, but it was time that he was willing to put in. 
Soon you left to start your filming and Seokmin was left admiring you. He tried to look at his phone, but Hoshi and Seungkwan approached him before he could. 
“So you and (Y/N)?" Seungkwan started. 
He glanced at his two friends and smiled, "No, I'm trying to make her comfortable, you know?"
"That flirting says something else though." Hoshi winked at him. 
Instead of denying it, he just sighed. "I can't be thinking like that, you know? It's not fair to her to try this earlier. It gives her the impression that i think, 'oh my god shes this big celebrity, dating her means I grow in popularity!'"
"Well, it's good that you're going out and making her feel safe," Hoshi reassured him. "I wonder what she'll think about your gaming problem."
"SHHHH,"Seokmin quickly covered his mouth and glanced around to see if you were lurking anywhere, "We don't talk about that in front of the pretty girl," he whispered. His actions only made his friends start laughing. For the rest of the time, he and friends began to talk about other things and Seokmin waited for you to come back. 
He waited and waited, and when he saw Chan eating over by the food table, that's when he approached the younger member. He smiled and asked, “Hey Chan, do you where your partner happened to leave to after your shoot?”
He thought about it for a bit, “All she said was that she has an important meeting and then said goodbye.” 
It was true, you did have an important meeting... with LoL and your friends. Sure you felt bad that you left them all behind so quickly but you felt so drained after. You wanted to be 100% there for Seokmin if you ever saw him again. He was cute and definitely your type of guy but you didn’t want to get your hopes up for a guy like him. If you were to ever date him, you were afraid he was just that guy who was going to use you for your name. Go out on dates for the paparazzi and only texting when it’s convenient, it’s how it always is with fame. 
In this world, everyone uses each other to grow in popularity. 
You were doing you and him a favor with discontinuing whatever was going on between the both of you. It was just better to be safe than sorry, you thought. You quickly prepared yourself for a night of gaming. Anything to get these types of hopeful thoughts out of your head. You looked at the group chat and saw BH was desperate for anyone to come back to talk. 
BBHM8: Hey guys!
BBHM8: Please someone come back...
BBHM8:Anyone please..........
BBHM8: I’ll send someone pizza if I have to!
BBHM8: I need a girlfriend.
You smiled and began to type,
1Reder: About time you admitted it. Alright guys, let’s found our boy here a woman!
BBHM8: I hate you. 
1Reder: I love you too BH <3
Your phone began to vibrate and you glanced at it to find that it was your manager calling you instead of the group chat. It was odd to see him call so suddenly. He would always send you warning text before hand to let you know to pause your games but he went straight for it. 
Which slightly concerned you.
You quickly answered it. “Hello?”
“I need to know if I can share your number to your future husband.”
You furrowed your eyebrows, “Future husband? I thought we agreed I would be a lonely animal lady for life? I’ve already prepared the apartment too.” You muttered. 
You paused for a moment, who exactly was he talking about though? Seokmin maybe? He was definitely cute and seemed like he wouldn’t mind your dorky self. Maybe you were also getting your hopes to high up. No perfect man can exist. 
“Seokmin is your future husband, I thought we figured this out.” He stated. He seemed a bit distracted, almost in a rush. 
“Go ahead, but I bet you that he ain’t gonna text me.” 
He said his thank you and quickly hung up, leaving you in the dark about why he was doing this. Sometimes you wondered if your manager was using the crack that you were. You thought about asking him later. 
You felt your phone vibrate and a wave of panic hit you. 
You glanced at the name and you were found by a name that you didn’t want to see. A wave of anger it you and you ignored the wave of text that he hit you with. Every bit of hell and all the heartbreak, just so he could get his chance at fame from you. 
Who the hell gave him you new number? 
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nbbkatherine · 5 years ago
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Next!
The Neo-Futurist Theater of Chicago. A Softer World by Emily Horne and Joey Comeau; Oh Wonder by Oh Wonder; Cut. 
Sometimes serious, sometimes funny, maybe musical, often fourth-wall-breaking, occasionally interactive, generally autobiographical short plays. Many of them. Performed for you, in some order—some for the first time, some not, some for the last time ever, as part of The Infinite Wrench, a show performed by the Neo-Futurist Theater of Chicago three times a week, every week (except, I think, for a few weekends in December). Each play begins when a member of the ensemble reads out the name of the play, the stage is set, and then the play name is read again; each play ends as a member of the ensemble shouts “Next!” 
I first encountered the lovely world of neo-futurist theater through Northwestern’s neo group TBD, who drew inspiration from the original Chicago theater. Since then, I’ve gone to see the original Neo group perform at their theater, a short walk from the Argyle red line L stop (pro tip: before the show, get pho at Nha Hang, a BOYB Vietnamese place right next to the station and conveniently right next to a liquor store). While the Chicago group is the original, there are also now Neo-Futurist theaters in New York and San Francisco, which I can’t wait to go see whenever I’m next in town. 
I love this type of theater because you really never know what what you’re going to get. Will it be two minutes of heartbreaking monologue about a personal trauma? Will it be a two minutes of a song while an ensemble member raps about Al Gore? Will you be given a salted slice of tomato as a snack? Will someone get a tattoo on their ass? (These are all things that I, personally, have witnessed at neo-futurist shows.) As they themselves would say: “If you’ve seen the show once, you’ve seen the show once!”
Part of what I like about the Neo-Futurist Theater is the dedication to the form. Even as the individual plays performed each week change, the structure—the reading of the title, the shouted “Next!”—stays the same. And within those artistic constraints, so much tonal whiplash is possible. It’s something I also like about the webcomic A Softer World by Emily Horne and Joey Comeau. Most comics are just three photographic panels with text overlaid—and yet some are sarcastic, some melancholy, some dark, some funny, some just beautiful. 
Another interesting aspect to The Infinite Wrench is that none of the individual plays were specifically written to go together, but every week some number of new plays are introduced to the show and some are taken out, and that’s the show. It reminds me of the writing process for Oh Wonder, the self-titled debut album of the duo of Anthony West and Josephine Vander Gucht. Starting in September 2014, they wrote and released one single a month; after a year they added an additional two and called the fifteen songs an album. The music video for “Lose It” wins my vote for Best Music Video Ever, and the idea of it is something I think a neo-futurist would appreciate.
Neo-Futurist plays are written and performed by the ensemble, and based on their own lives, which gives the theater a lovely sense of honesty and vulnerability. Some plays are relatable, some are not, all begin and end in the span of a couple minutes. I like Cut videos for this too, especially their “Keep it 100” series, which have 100 people respond to the same prompt—like sharing their favorite lyric, or the last search on their phone, or a secret.
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Tragedy
CW: Mass shooting, language
The rain fell in a steady mist on an October Saturday. My husband and I were driving to a friend’s baby shower and listening to My Brother, My Brother, and Me, our favorite podcast. I absentmindedly checked my phone (Zak was driving) and saw what would be the first of a steady stream of posts about an anti-Semitic shooter who killed 11 people as they worshipped in The Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh.
My brain screeched, and my stomach dropped.
PITTSBURGH.
More people killed as they practiced their faith.
SQUIRREL HILL.
Another mass shooting. Another hate crime.
FUCK NO, not my city, not my friends, not the street I walked by a hundred happy times, NOT THESE PEOPLE, NOT HERE.
Part of me feels like I have no business writing anything about this. I moved away from Pittsburgh after finishing undergrad, and although my dream is to get a house in Squirrel Hill or Shadyside someday, that future is still years away. I’m also not Jewish, and I can’t know how this feels for that community right now. Writing about having Jewish friends or living in Pittsburgh feels so fucking futile. I’m adjacent, rather than directly, affected.
The flip side of that is that I have Jewish friends that I love. I have Pittsburgh, the city I still love the most. And I have a lot of thoughts crawling up the insides of my skull, so maybe writing will give them a space to exist in a healthy way.
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ANGER
THIS is why I got into a tearful shouting match with a friend of a friend the weekend that Charlottesville happened. She was defending making nice with the “Unite the Right” marchers, not alienating them, listening to their point of view. And of course, “they have the right to free speech, too.” How was it suddenly a bad thing to wholeheartedly condemn any ideology that comes at the cost of a group of people? How were my extended family defending the existence of Neo-Zazis? How was the president of the United States in 2017 claiming that there were “very fine people on both sides?” By not speaking out explicitly, you imply that these genocidal ideologies are permissible. Maybe you didn’t plant the seeds, but you have created the soil conditions for hate to grow instead of uprooting every weed.  
This is also why I get – pardon the term – so up in arms about the sale of automatic weapons too. Zak commented that it was crazy the gunman was able to shoot so many people, including four policemen, so fast. Hunting guns don’t do that. Guns created to mow down as many humans as possible do.
It seems an obvious equation to me. Hate speech + guns that shoot a lot of people quickly = deadly hate crimes. And to people who claim there’s nothing we can do, I claim bullshit. Vote for sensible gun control; firmly denounce anything that even whiffs of white supremacy; protect minority groups with your vote and voice and body; and fiercely love your neighbor – ESPECIALLY the ones who look and worship and love differently than you – as yourself. This is what we can do, especially the white Christian majority right now.
And God help me the next time I hear someone claim the Christian faith is “under attack” in this country. I have no patience for it right now.
GRIEF
There aren’t really a lot of words for this one. Just something in my soul that makes sort of a guttural scream to the heavens. I’ve taught Night by Elie Wiesel, made lessons to introduce teenagers to the Holocaust, graded papers about how dehumanizing people leads to racial violence. One of the victims was alive during World War II and just…to be reminded that hate can never really be defeated. It’s extremely discouraging.
And the grief over hate crimes and mass shooting is compounding in me. There’s a line from “The Green Fields of France,” an Irish anti-war ballad, that’s been playing in my head: “For young Willy McBride, it will happen again. And again. And Again.” Although in this situation, the victims were not of traditional war but still of needless and hateful violence, and they were parents and grandparents rather than kids, the sentiment echoes a deepening sadness and despair about the frequency of hate crimes and mass shootings in this country.
LOVE
The reason I fell in love with Pittsburgh and the people there is because of the many communities shaped the city. When I was 18, I had basically only known one type of people my whole life up to that point, and I wanted to meet as many different people as I could and learn about what mattered to them and what their life was like. My curiosity was met with kindness and honesty, in particular from Jewish friends and professors.
There were a lot of memories brought up this weekend – how comfortable I always felt with the guys from the Jewish fraternity on campus, how I’d have these long talks in the office of my favorite professor about how his cultural history informed his theatre practices, how much I enjoyed chatting about faith with both religiously practicing Jewish friends and culturally Jewish friends. I haven’t kept in good touch with a lot of the people I knew in undergrad, but I’ve been thinking about one friend who I still talk to regularly. Back in college, she didn’t seem to be an especially religious person, but she invited me to her synagogue a few times. It wasn’t the Tree of Life, but it was a 5 minute drive away from Squirrel Hill.  After the services, I remember feeling gratitude, and peace, and appreciation to be included. All of these memories seem consistent with the work Tree of Life is doing in their community that incited such hate – bringing people in, helping refugees, educating, feeding, LOVING.
And even now, that love has begotten love: Muslims have raised more than $100,000 for Tree of Life. Several headlines are making the connection to this tragedy occurring in Mr. Roger’s neighborhood, with his famous quote: “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” There are people helping, and loving, and it gives me hope for the future. I feel powerless to help the people and city I love, which is a legitimate feeling, but it’s also not true. My vote, my voice, my time, my relationships, my ears, my brain, my heart – all of these things that we all have been given are things we can use to help.
Because I’m me, and somewhere along the way Lord of the Rings kind of became my religion (that’s a joke, but also sort of truuuuuue), I’ve been thinking about the scene in Helm’s Deep at the end of The Two Towers. It’s right before Sam’s famous speech, and before Gandalf charges down to save the day. It’s actually when Theoden King is at the height of his despair. “What can men do against such reckless hate?” he demands. And Aragorn tells him: “Ride out with me.” That exchange starts some of my favorite orchestration from all the movies and builds to the epic cavalry charge down the mountain as the sun rises.
I know real life doesn’t always have satisfying conclusions like that, and there’s not really any satisfying conclusion you can make in writing when shit like this happens. The grief and anger aren’t going away, but for myself, I need something to combat the hopelessness right now. So I’m reminding myself that I can ride out every day, meet the forces of hate head-on wherever I can, and make this an hour where we draw swords together.
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topweeklyupdate · 7 years ago
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TØP Weekly Update #43: The End (For Now, My Dudes) (7/2/17)
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Nothing really ends.
This Week’s TØPics:
Schott Recap
Rock Sound 50 Interview
BLIND SPECULATION About the Next Era
And More (Tears, Mostly)
Major News and Announcements:
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Only one piece of major news this week: they’re done. After over two years, well over two hundred shows, a butt-ton of awards, and countless moments of fun and joy, Twenty One Pilots has finished the album cycle that began in April 2015 with the announcement of an album called Blurryface. Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun worked their butts off for us. We’ll get into the nitty-gritty of how the era wrapped in the recap section and look to the future in BLIND SPECULATION, but first, let’s just appreciate the fact that they did it. 
With this album and the years of work that led up to it, Tyler and Josh became some of the biggest figures in music, generated no less than three smash singles, and took off their pants on national television. Most importantly, their increased visibility has introduced their music about anxiety, depression, and emotional honesty to a lot of people, some of whom have seen their lives changed for the better by the comfort and community that music brings. They’ve changed the world, without question.
Performances, Interviews, and Other Shenanigans:
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It’s hard to believe that it’s been barely a week since the last show of the Blurryface Era. It feels like it was both years and mere hours ago. Highlights from the last show at the Schott:
Before the show even started, Mark and Brad were causing drama in the Clique. Mark created a very official-looking fake setlist that included an assortment of fan favorites melded very seamlessly into the existing line-up and slipped it into the background of several of the pair’s pre-show Snapchats. I think they both learned their lesson about the risks of waving Taxi Cab under the Clique’s nose.
Though the fake setlist didn’t make it to the stage, there were a few nifty alterations. My favorite: for the first time since Belsonic Fest way back in August 2015, the band performed “No Woman, No Cry” for the lead-in to “Ride”, this time with the assistance of MisterWives’ horn section.
Tyler’s (possibly final) WDBWOTV Speech was full of awkward pauses meant to keep the show going as long as possible and a shout out to his sister Madison, whose birthday landed on the date. Tyler called Maddie “the only woman he ever loved besides my mom and my wife... and my mother-in-law... and Josh.” Curse that boy.
Tyler’s final Trees Speech of the era was suitably great (even if it was regularly interrupted by screaming from the crowd, which you can forgive, I’d be hyped/sad as frick, too). Tyler made sure to emphasize how their story shows that people should never put a ceiling on their dreams. He also, with trademark humility, repeatedly pointed out that neither he nor Josh could have done this without each other and their fans. The part that hit me the most was when Tyler got transparent and admitted that he doesn’t really know what comes after this moment for them, and that he even thought while donning the Blurryface makeup for the last time that this might be it for the band. However, he pledged not to quit, asking only that the audience give them time to not just work on their material but to grow as people before coming back with new music.
Nothing in the whole show shook me more to the core than Tyler singing “Goodbye” in “Trees”. I’m still not over it.
Actually, this hug shook me even more.
Beyond the show, there was one more piece of content that came out this week that I feel has really been overlooked: the Rock Sound 50 interview. Tyler and Josh were voted the most influential figures in rock music by the mag’s readers, and they gave one of the most honest and in-depth interviews on that topic that I’ve seen from them in quite some time (largely because they haven’t really given a ton of interviews lately). Highlights from that interview:
When asked about what they think of being influential, Josh gives the most unexpected answer possible, but one that is also quintessentially Josh: he talks about watching Dean Martin Westerns with his dad. If you think that’s random, Josh’s explanation makes a ton of sense. He states that he felt like he got to know Dean Martin through how he portrayed himself across all the various films he was involved in over the years, and that he now understands how people can look at how he presents himself on stage and other media over time and connect with the person who has crafted all of those performances.
Tyler’s answer to the question of influence is also expectedly on point: “I don’t look at celebrities or people of a certain status and aspire to be them... I’m influenced by my family, by individuals who have endured struggle and who have bettered themselves or overcome tremendous odds.”
The interviewer states that the connection between the fans and the band is genuinely unbelievable. Tyler says that he thinks his music really resonates with people because it talked honestly about what he was thinking. There’s one point that I wish I could pick his brain about. Tyler says that he’s not fulfilled by writing about personal scenes, words, and things that don’t make sense to anybody else, and that he wants to make art and live outwardly in order to connect with people. This is confusing: after all, so much of his discography is cryptic, and he famously wrote a song about his personal “Kitchen Sink”. That said, the core feelings of those songs are pretty evident and obviously connect with tons of people. I dunno. Again, would like to see if that populism is something that Tyler wants to incorporate more into his music and has been thinking about as his art has evolved.
The band talks about the responsibility of being influencers, specifically pointing to the lessons they’ve learned by being older siblings. Josh talks about the accountability that comes with being expected to be a role model. Tyler conversely says that he “feels like knowing when to step back is part of being responsible.” Tyler goes further and points out that they really have a much lower public profile than many in their occupation and level of fame, and that that’s very much an intentional choice to not go on every TV show or take every photo. It’s important for him to have time to just stay huddled in a room and not risk giving a potentially bad example on his bad days. Furthermore, he says, “I don’t crave any more attention than I have already.
Tyler appears to get actually upset and even angry when the question of authenticity comes up, openly bashing the “mainstream, pop culture” idea that they were a constructed product or that their songs don’t come from a genuine place. Tyler is very proud that he’s able to say that he has never had someone co-write one of his songs, let alone had them made by another person. “Sometimes I want to scream that so hard. It’s like, ‘Don’t you get it? Don’t you get that this isn’t some formula? This is real, and people are drawn to it because it’s real.’”
When asked if people would be surprised that they’re influenced by fans more than the other way around, Tyler fully agrees. Josh says that fans don’t just inspire him with their creativity and talent, but also force him to be a better person even on days that he doesn’t much want to be. Tyler explains that, while he makes his songs to better and “mend” parts of himself (*sobs*), he truly feels alive when those emotions bounce back from fans who have taken them and applied them to themselves.
Tyler says that the music they’ve making now has weird, structurally unsound pauses meant specifically to encourage audience reflection and participation.
On the sole light-hearted note in the interview, Tyler jokes about how he can never find the right pants, and that “pants” would probably be in the name of his theoretical solo project (don’t even joke about that, fam).
Josh interestingly talks at length about his maturation in the last years, specifically in his newfound desire to be clear and considerate in his speech in order to make people feel love and accepted, even down to wanting to draw back from too many inside jokes with Tyler. I... don’t know how I feel about that. Is that just a social media criticism thing? Or is that genuine maturity, wanting to make yourself palatable to everyone? Or is it a fame thing? I don’t know. I’m immature as heck.
When discussing self-improvement, Josh states that, in addition to learning new sports, he is also continually interested in learning new instruments and more about composition. Tyler, on the other hand, says that he’s cautious about how to evolve. Specifically, he says that he never wants to be unhappy with where he’s currently at or to look at his past work and not be proud of it. We hope you never do either, boss.
BLIND SPECULATION OF THE WEEK:
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Now, the big question: What’s next? I’ve brought this up before in speculation segments, but recent events have caused me to alter my predictions somewhat. Last time, I said that I thought we wouldn’t get an album until next year, but that we almost definitely would get at least a promo track by December. Now I think I might have been overzealous.
It seems pretty clear that Twenty One Pilots has not been in the studio in their relative down-time over the last few months- any days that they weren’t vacationing or moving into new houses were probably spent rehearsing for festivals and TDC. That doesn’t negate the fact that Tyler and Josh have said that they’ve been already been working on new music a number of times over the last few months, but it does greatly lower the likelihood that they’re only a few months out from completing a project. Furthermore, just from reading the vibe of recent interviews and speeches, I think Tyler especially really needs to take at least a few months to himself. Tyler’s an extremely introverted and family-focused individual, and fame (not to mention the heavy workload of arena/festival touring) seems to have taken a bit of a toll. He clearly loves what he does, but he also clearly loves his wife, his friends, and his home, and he deserves a chance to reconnect with them, not just for his health and happiness (which is most important), but also to make sure that his creative voice remains grounded to reality. Plus... I mean, Tyler’s getting older, he’s barely a year out from thirty, guy’s been on the road the first two years of his marriage... that’s all I’m saying about that. Also, I’m sure Josh wants to go bowling, visit Universal a few more times, hang out with certain individuals, see the pyramids, and generally live an idle life for a bit.
Because of that, not only do I not think Tyler and Josh will have another album ready to go by the end of the year, I also think that they won’t even be in the studio by then. A six month vacation would give them both time to pursue other interests, invest in the people around them, and consider where they want to take the next project. Granted, label contracts, creative itches, and their work ethic might mean that they’ll be back well before that. And that would be great; no one would be happier than me to get music sooner rather than later. But my main priority is that Tyler and Josh are healthy and happy.
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There’s a ton of other questions about upcoming projects, which I shall attempt to answer succinctly (too late) below to the best of my ability: 
How will the concerts and setlists change when they make a bunch of new music? Most of the deep cuts from past projects will probably start to go- I doubt we’ll have room for full performances for Polarize, Message Man, WDBWOTV, Hometown, *unsteady sobbing gasp* The Run and Go, The Judge, Migraine... Beyond that, I would be thrilled if the band made use of some of their newly-acquired capital to hire a touring band. The backing tracks were a great tool for the guys when they were broke college kids, but I do think that a lot of music critics who have scorned our band have a valid point that the greatest weakness to their performances is the lack of genuine live music. I honestly don’t know if this will happen, but the Mutemath collaboration leaves me optimistic that Tyler and Josh might see the value in searching out some talented folks to flesh out their sound.
Will they release any more one-off singles for films or other media in the vein of “Heathens” between now and another album? I dunno. Hard to imagine that they haven’t been approached after the runaway success of “Heathens”, but I feel like Tyler will want to devote his time to their next major project. 
Will they get bored in their off-time and go back to making Quality Comedy Content? I mean, Vine’s dead. But I don’t see why not. Go crazy, Jishwa, skate down the pyramids with your fidget spinners. Run another election, Lord knows we need one.
How will their rise to fame be reflected in their new content? I mean, there’s really no way it won’t in some implicit way. The pressures, judgement, and surreal-ness that come with that almost definitely will be on Tyler’s mind during the writing process. Honestly, though? I hope it doesn’t. Blurryface was already an album largely about dealing with insecurities and pressures involved in making music and art and, I’ll be honest, that’s what didn’t work about that album for me. Like Tyler said in the Rock Sound 50 interview, those parts spoke more to the band’s very unique experience, and I couldn’t relate to them as strongly as the paradoxically even more personal and emotional stuff in their prior projects. That’s right: on the final week of the Blurryface Cycle, I admit that I wasn’t actually completely sold every aspect of the album. I know, I’m a fake fan. However, Blurryface was still a great project made by immensely talented people, and I am so excited to see what they take away from it in making their future art
That’s all folks. I’ll be stepping away from writing regular installments of the blog for the foreseeable future, with maybe the odd one-off here and there if we get a good morsel of news (*cough*last Sleepers video*cough*) or maybe if I just miss my dudes. Hopefully I’m still in a place when the next era begins that I’ll be able to jump right back on the horse, but we’ll see where life takes me- and all of us, really. But I’m optimistic, and I know that, whatever happens I will always- always- love this band, which has given so many people hope and comfort when they needed it most.
Power to the local dreamer.
|-/
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embhm · 8 years ago
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Chapter 186: The TUNNEL is DISCOVERED
Note: Happy Chinese New Year to everyone celebrating the holiday!!! We hope you all have a hopeful, happy, and safe new year! :) Thank you for your patience awaiting the translation and editing of these upcoming chapters, apparently they are very long and are going to get even longer... When reading please read the footnotes at the end of the chapter for clarification.            - Sae & Team
Thank you to the lovely ladies Estreline and Sae for the chapter translation! You make us all very happy you don’t even know ;) Also note that AFAIK there is no “Archive” function in the iOS app for Tumblr. So to search for individual chapters I find that going onto Sae’s profile then using the Search function (magnifying glass top right of the screen) then typing in “chapter xxx” will usually get you to that specific chapter.           - Alec
NO SPOILERS PLEASE!!!, in the comments or anywhere on this account. We have not finished reading the novel. No copy/paste and all that other shenanigans either. Votes/likes/comments are highly appreciated.
Translators: Estreline & Sae     Editors: Jowly & Alec
As always, THANK YOU for reading and enjoying the journey with our BODACIOUS boys:
GU HAI & BAI LUO YIN
《你丫上瘾了》
Chapter 186: The TUNNEL is DISCOVERED
In the blink of an eye, two weeks passed by without any incident. That is until today...
Today, a thorough inspection of every nook and cranny in the military base is being conducted. And as it progressed, not surprisingly, Gu Wei Ting and Sun Jingwei’s rooms became the main focus of the inspection. It seems that the Ministry of Supervision[1]  has stumbled upon a peculiar situation while inspecting their rooms. However, instead of recording their findings (or rather, because they couldn’t dare record what they found), the Ministry has decided to send two supervising soldiers back to the military base to discreetly make further inquiries regarding the situation.
“What?” Sun Jingwei asked with a surprised look. “There’s been a breach of security inside my room?”
The supervising soldier carefully nodded his head before cautiously speaking again. “That’s what the monitoring equipment is showing. It’s a Level 2 Danger.”
“What?! Level 2 Danger?!!” Sun Jingwei’s voice quickly rose along with his temper. “Are you saying that I’m keeping something illegal inside my room?”
“No, no, no. It’s not like that at all.” The supervising soldier hurriedly waved his hands. “There are many types of risk factors that leads to a Level 2 Danger. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re secretly stashing weapons or items that could be threatening. In some cases, when the structure of the building is altered, the equipment used to monitor these changes will also indicate a Level 2 Danger.”
“How can that be? I’ve never even so much as moved the furniture in the 45 years that I’ve lived here.”
The supervising soldier started to laugh awkwardly when he heard those words. “We understand,” he said. “Believe us, we trust in you. But this is our job. If a problem is detected, we have to try our best to eliminate it before it escalates. We hope you understand our position.”
Sun Jingwei suddenly let out a hearty laugh. “I’ve been a soldier for so many years, do you think I don’t understand your difficulties? Being overcautious is a good quality, especially when it comes to our security. It’s only natural that you have to be very careful. Even the slightest negligence could cause a large mess. The earlier you discover the problem, the earlier you can eliminate it, the better.”
As the two soldiers walked back to the center of the room, the equipment started to produce the same loud and high-pitched sound. It reverberated throughout the enclosed space.
There was no denying it. The problem had something to do with that area of the room.
The two inspecting soldiers crouched down to have a better look at the floor. It did not take long before they found a small crack on its surface. Shock spread across their faces. They glanced at each other—disbelief clearly painted on their faces.
One of the soldiers looked to the cavalry scout who was standing near the entrance of the room. Immediately, the scout walked to the side and took a thin iron bar which he passed to the inspecting officer. They used it to lightly lift the floor upward.
With very little effort, the floor opened revealing a huge gaping hole before their eyes.
“A secret path?!” Sweat rolled down the side of the cavalry soldier’s forehead when he saw the tunnel.
At the same time, an expression of disbelief painted itself on Sun Jingwei’s face. “I’ve lived here for 45 years, and I was never aware that this tunnel exists.”
The cavalry scout made a move to go down the tunnel but Sun Jingwei pulled him back. “Wait a minute. I’ll use a lighter to test it out first. This path could be a hundred years old from ancient times. There might be poisonous gas inside.”
The cavalry soldier rubbed the soil at the mouth of the tunnel. With an awkward expression, he began to speak, “There’s no need to trouble yourself, sir. I’ve touched it just now. The soil here is still new. I reckon it’s only been a few days since it was dug.”
“Ah…” Sun Jingwei was speechless. “How is that possible? I’ve been here the entire time. No one would dare come here without my permission. Besides, what use would I have in digging a tunnel?”
The cavalry scout stood up and patted Sun Jingwei’s shoulder, “First, there’s no need for you to worry. I won’t report this to the higher ups for the time being.”
How can Sun Jingwei not be anxious? His eyebrows wrinkled together into a tight knot as he incessantly pondered about the situation.  
Could it be… that someone wants to harm me?
---
On the other side of the wall, a similar situation was taking place.
A dark and gloomy aura filled the room as Gu Wei Ting’s stern expression beckoned all to not approach him.
Which immoral bastard wants to frame me and make me lose my dignity?
---
Sun Jingwei was lost at his own thoughts as he continued to stare at the tunnel. He searched for reasons behind the purpose of this opening inside his room.
“I have to go down for a look,” he finally said.
The cavalry soldier blocked him, “It’s better if I do it. My limbs are still more agile than yours. In case there’s something dangerous down there, I can escape faster.”
“There’s no need to.” Sun Jingwei waved his hand. With swift movements, he quickly went inside.
Inside Gu Wei Ting’s room, the cavalry soldier was attempting to stop the general from doing the same thing that his friend just did.
“General!” shouted the soldier. He was afraid that something bad might happen to Gu Wei Ting. “Please, let me take care of this dangerous task!!”
Without another word, Gu Wei Ting simply and quickly made his way in. Needless to say, the two miserable old men found themselves looking at each other inside the mysterious tunnel.
Gu Wei Ting emerged from the tunnel wearing a severely stern expression. He was accompanied by Sun Jingwei. The appearance of these two senior officers made the temperature inside Gu Wei Ting’s room drop several degrees. The aura he emitted forced everyone on their feet.
“General, who do you think dug this tunnel?” asked Sun Jingwei.
Gu Wei Ting merely snorted at those words, “Who do you think? Who else stayed in these rooms aside from the two of us?”
“It can’t be?” Sun Jingwei was immediately overwhelmed with shock and amazement. “How could the two of them dig out this long tunnel within such a short period of time?”
“Do you think they did it themselves? There are so many soldiers in the army. They could’ve easily found a few to help them out. With that many people, this tunnel would appear in no time.” Gu Wei Ting walked towards a table with a tea set placed on it. He took a sip from one of the cups.
As he took his tea, Gu Wei Ting’s face was riddled with confusion and annoyance. The combination of these two expressions made it impossible to tell how he truly feels.
 
“Even if others helped them, it’s still impossible to not leave a trace of this mess behind! Think about it, digging a tunnel is a rather huge project. Where did the shovels come from? Where did the extracted soil go? How was it possible that the guards on duty were all unable to notice such an activity? It’s just…...a lot of things don’t make sense!”
In all honesty, Gu Wei Ting was just as curious as Sun Jingwei as to how his son was able to accomplish this task.
“Bring the surveillance video to me.” Gu Wei Ting quickly said. His voice gave no clue regarding the current state of his mind.
In less than an hour, Sun Jingwei was back in the room. Along with him was a recording of the surveillance camera from both their rooms. The two old men moved closer to the screen as they watched the video from Gu Wei Ting’s room with full attention.
They couldn’t believe how the entire process played out. As the video progressed, so did the expressions on their faces. Both their eyes and mouths grew larger and larger with every minute spent watching the men dig through the floor of their rooms.
Gu Wei Ting thought that the whole thing was so preposterous and conniving that he couldn’t stop his hands from trembling. Years spent inside the military, yet no one has ever made him fume with such rage before.  
“Tell me, was I wrong when I told you that you’ll never meet such an unusual breed like him even in a hundred years?”
Hearing those words once again made Sun Jingwei admire Gu Hai. It was wrong, but he couldn’t stop himself from acknowledging this emotion. “From the way I see it, Xiao Hai’s courage and insight is quite marvelous. His ability to organize and bring his plan to fruition is nothing short of amazing. He definitely exceeded my expectations. There’s no doubt about it. He’ll definitely be a talented person in the future!”
“You still have the nerve to talk for him?!!” Gu Wei Ting’s violent and thunderous roar filled the room.
Sun Jingwei immediately stood up. Even after all these years, Gu Wei Ting still frightens him so much. He held his breath as he waits for the next words his friend will speak.
Gu Wei Ting paced around the room with an expression that can easily scare the life out of anyone within eyesight.
“A talented person…a talented person?!! All I see is a hoodlum! Being bold and having guts does not make him a talented person! Having the capacity to plan and organize does not make him a talented person! If this kid takes a wrong turn…even the slightest, he’ll definitely be a cancer of society! And you still want me to just let him be? If I were to leave him alone, I assure you, within seven to eight years, he will make the Gu family’s ancestors lose their dignity completely!!!”
Those harsh accusations struck a chord in Sun Jingwei’s chest, causing him to reply angrily. “Nowadays, isn’t it just a matter of taking it all in regardless of whether something is right or wrong?”
“Just look. What do you think this means?” Gu Wei Ting’s anger continues to rise. So much so that he had the urge to immediately raise his fist and beat Sun Jingwei up. “If someone takes all the right and wrong, then that’s just a trick to deceive themselves and others. But what is he? He completely lacks principle! He’s utterly despicable and shameless!”
Sun Jingwei did not utter another word. He stood still. Eyes fixed at nothing.
Still fuming, Gu Wei Ting dropped on the sofa. His gaze was consumed by hate and regret. “To think that I felt sorry for him that night. I really believed that he went inside the wardrobe to sleep by himself. After causing a commotion for half the day, it turns out he was just inside the tunnel…and he hid in the cabinet. How dare he trick me?!”
“Eh…” Sun Jingwei couldn’t stop himself from reacting to those words.
Gu Wei Ting leaned back against the sofa. He closed his eyes and used his fingers to massage the bridge of his nose. After a while, he stopped. His eyes shot open then narrowed.
“Bring me the surveillance record from your room.”
Sun Jingwei’s heart tightened. He started to speak but sounded unstable. “Perhaps they just thought it was fun to dig a tunnel. Isn’t it natural for kids today to be a bit rebellious?”
“I asked you to bring the recording!” Gu Wei Ting roared.
A sense of panic rushed into Sun Jingwei’s head. He had no choice but to oblige. He brought the laptop to Gu Wei Ting and stood to the side with frozen limbs.   
For the first few minutes, the screen showed nothing—it was almost completely dark. The only thing they could make out was two elongated shadows moving. It wasn’t clear what they were doing, though Sun Jingwei has his suspicions.
He felt uneasy. He began to silently pray for some sort of divine intervention as he hoped that the lighting in the room would remain dark as it was now until the recording ends.
Then the inevitable happened.
Like a heavy rainstorm on a beautiful spring morning, tragedy stroke. Merely seconds after Gu Wei Ting decided to fast forward the video, the figure of the two boys emerging from the bathroom naked appeared. Without switching the lights off, the two went straight to the bed and started to cling lovingly and touch each other.
Sun Jingwei walked out of the room. He did not have the heart to look at the scene unfolding before his eyes, especially with Gu Wei Ting beside him. Roughly around half an hour later, he returned to the room. The computer was already turned off and Gu Wei Ting was still sitting on the same spot on the sofa.
The only difference between when he walked out and now was that this time Gu Wei Ting’s eyes were closed. There was no distinguishable expression painted on his face. In fact, he looked really calm. Not an ounce of anger can be seen either on his face or his posture. And that was the scary thing about it.
Sun Jing Wei knew, without a doubt, that the two boys are finished.
“Last time, didn’t you say not to judge them as I’ve only seen them hugging?” Gu Wei Ting coldly said while laughing. “This time, I saw everything.”
For some unknown reason, Gu Wei Ting’s laughter really upset Sun Jingwei. So much so that his face turned colorless after hearing it.  
Gu Wei Ting was not able to sleep that night.
Early the next morning, he sent someone to bring Bai Han Qi, Jiang Yuan and Aunt Zou together for a meeting. For the first time, the four of them sat together around a table.
Aunt Zou was extremely nervous. Her palms continued to perspire heavily as she tries her best to fix her hair and straighten her clothes. Not only was it her first time being in such a luxurious place, it was also her first time meeting such an important person.
Bai Han Qi, on the other hand, seemed rather calm. This composed demeanor, however, is just a front. Inside, his mind is racing. From the moment the military car picked them up from their home, a storm has started to rage inside Bai Han Qi’s head.
What did Gu Hai’s father call the two of us here for? Gu Hai said that his father is not getting involved in this matter anymore. Is it possible that he invited us here for a drink in preparation for a wedding?
It was Jiang Yuan who broke the silence around the table. “Lao[2]Gu, what did you call the three of us here for?”
Gu Wei Ting looked at everyone with a rather solemn expression. His eyes moved around the table once. As he was about to speak, Aunt Zou’s hands started to tremble uncontrollably.
“I want to speak with you all about something.” Gu Wei Ting casted a grave glance at Bai Han Qi, who was sitting in front of him. “In nature, this is an extremely serious matter. I hope you all can prepare your hearts well.”
Bai Han Qi looked at Gu Wei Ting straight in the eye and simply nodded his head. Aunt Zou immediately nodded as well.
Jiang Yuan couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She’s used to Gu Wei Ting wearing a stern expression, but the one he’s wearing today was different. It was dark and cold; silent and powerful.
Seeing her husband like this brought on a new feeling to Jiang Yuan. Perhaps, the information that he wanted to impart on her—on them—was more than what she was ready to hear. At this time, she couldn’t help but to well up with nervousness.
“Lao Gu, what exactly happened?”
Choosing not to beat around the bush, Gu Wei Ting announced with a cold face, “Gu Hai and Bai Luo Yin have an abnormal relationship.”
“An abnormal relationship?” Jiang Yuan’s expression immediately changed. More than anything, she felt confused. “What kind of an abnormal relationship?”
Gu Wei Ting looked at everyone’s faces before he spoke again. He stressed out every word to make sure everyone understood him, “Same-sex-love.”
Jiang Yuan turned pale. She knew that her husband was not joking. Meanwhile, Bai Han Qi and Aunt Zou showed no particular reaction at all.
“How can that be?” Jiang Yuan’s once rosy lips were now white as snow. “Lao Gu, who did you hear this from?”
“I saw it with my own eyes.”
Jiang Yuan was so shocked that no other words left her mouth. She simply sat there, eyes and mouth wide open.
Actually, Gu Wei Ting did not care much for Jiang Yuan’s feelings or reactions. What he was most concerned about was Bai Han Qi’s thoughts, who—being Bai Luo Yin’s father—stood on the same ground he was standing on.
To his surprise though, Bai Han Qi only laughed awkwardly, “You asked us to come all the way here just to tell us this matter?”
Gu Wei Ting sincerely admired Bai Han Qi’s calm expression. “I want to hear your opinion.”
Bai Han Qi looked at Gu Wei Ting’s cold and harsh face before cautiously asking, “How should I address you?”
“Lao Gu is fine.”
“That won’t do.” Bai Han Qi replied rather politely, “You’re older than me, I will call you Gu Lao Ge[3].”
These words proved to Gu Wei Ting that his impression of Bai Han Qi was correct. It was clear that before him sat a genuinely honest person.
“Gu Lao Ge, thank you for your sincerity in inviting us here today. Regarding the problem concerning the two boys…how should I say it? We, husband and wife, share a unanimous opinion about it and that is to let nature take its course.”
He pauses then adds, “You can put your worries aside now. There’s no need to worry that we will make things difficult for the two of them. We are not the kind of parents that are not open-minded. Even more so, I especially like Da Hai. If he were to really enter our family in the future, we will treat him as our real son. Hahaha…...”
===============
Translator’s Note:
[1] Ministry of Supervision (MOS) *of the People’s Republic of China - responsible for the supervision of law enforcement around the country, including efforts to tackle corruption. It is also responsible for ensuring the effectiveness of the State Council and the people’s governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central people’s government.
[2] Lao - means ‘old’ and is a prefix used before the surname of a person to indicate affection or familiarity.
[3] Lao Ge - Older brother
----------------------------
Are you addicted?
The original novel is written by Chai Jidan.
We do not own any of its content, we are translators and editors.
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popmusicgeneration · 5 years ago
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Unpopular Opinion: Everyone Should Listen to Taylor Swift
by Elyse Wassem
People love to hate Taylor Swift. It’s a fact of life in today’s culture, although I think it’s entirely unfair. For years, the public has found any nit-picky reason to “cancel” Swift and put the blame on her for any drama involving her. (And there has definitely been a lot of drama.) Everyone knows of that now infamous scene at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards when Taylor was interrupted by Kanye West as she stepped on stage to accept her award for Best Female Video. Even as a bright-eyed 19-year-old just truly breaking into the mainstream music scene, she couldn’t have any successes without people trying to bring her down and minimize her talents as a singer and songwriter. 
This unfortunate trend has continued throughout Taylor Swift’s career and has been a consistent thorn in her side for over a decade. She has had to deal with countless media storms and a seemingly endless amount of drama, but has continued to write and record powerful and culturally important songs. Her perseverance in continuing to make music despite all of the hate that has been thrown her way and the excessive scrutiny from the press makes it obvious that she loves what she does and cares about making a difference through her songs. I think that most people automatically categorize Taylor Swift and her music as “basic” without ever listening closely and thinking about what she’s trying to convey in her lyrics. There are so many reasons to give Swift and her music a chance to gain your appreciation and maybe eventually even your love, including her versatility, honesty, and advocacy. 
She’s Versatile
Starting out in country music, Taylor Swift began her career as a young teenager whose songs were mostly about crushes, heartbreaks, and high school. Most people know that she continued to write breakup songs even as she made the seamless transition from the country genre into the mainstream pop scene with the release of her 2012 album Red and 2014 album 1989. Although many of her critics would like to say she only writes about bad breakups, her discography tells a different story, as it includes a variety of songs covering different emotions and topics. While her songs do include a lot of lyrics about the ending of relationships, there are also a lot about tough life-changing experiences and happy times in her life. “22” is a song that just about everyone knows, and it is upbeat and all about enjoying fun times with your friends, while “Soon You’ll Get Better” is an emotional song Taylor wrote while dealing with her mother’s cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Swift has also expanded her musical career to include songwriting for films. She wrote the heart-wrenching original song “Beautiful Ghosts” for the 2019 movie, Cats, which she also had an acting role in. Although there were a lot of negative reviews about the movie as a whole, Taylor Swift’s song was nominated for Best Original Song at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards. The 2020 nomination was her third in that category, exemplifying her ability to write a wide variety of songs. It doesn’t matter if you like peppy songs, show tunes, or songs that are good to cry to, because Taylor Swift has all of the above and everyone can find a song of hers to connect with.  
She’s Honest 
Swift’s music has changed a lot over the years and both the sound and message of her music have evolved as she has matured and had new experiences. Her musical evolution is evident of her growing into herself while constantly being scrutinized by the media and the public. Her two most recent albums are self-aware and honest in a way that most artists don’t dare to embrace. Her 2017 album reputation was a new and darker direction for Swift, as her previous albums avoided directly confronting the drama that she’s been involved in. However, in reputation, she wrote truthfully about her feelings surrounding the well-publicized feud with Kanye West. That album was a way for Taylor to set the story straight by telling her side of things and expressing how she truly felt about the feud itself and the ensuing press coverage, which was overwhelmingly critical of Swift. 
She continued her openness in her 2019 album Lover, by writing about the same aforementioned feud in the song “I Forgot That You Existed”, but now revealing how her anger about the situation has disappeared and been left in her past. While many would say that her early career was built on songs about boyfriends, Taylor delves into a new and deeper level of vulnerability about relationships in Lover. She had been notoriously private about her relationship with British actor Joe Alwyn and had almost completely avoided talking about him with the press, but she included many songs about their relationship in Lover. The songs “London Boy” and “Paper Rings” both give fans a new insight into how her and Alwyn’s relationship has progressed, from the early days before they were official to where they stand now. By being brutally honest and vulnerable in her music, Taylor allows her listeners to trust her and connect better with her songs.
She’s Not Afraid To Get Political… Anymore
Taylor Swift used to be notoriously tight-lipped about all things political. She explained the reasoning behind her being so quiet for so long and why she decided to start speaking up about her political views in her 2020 Netflix documentary Miss Americana. When she began her career in music, she started out as a country artist and revealed in Miss Americana that her “label executives and publishers would say “Don’t be like the Dixie Chicks.””, because their split-second comment against President George W. Bush and the Iraq war in 2003 led to a flurry of name-calling and boycotting by conservatives. Swift went on to explain that she felt that her career was based on her being a “nice girl” and that it was a core part of her worth as an artist. She didn’t want to ruin her good girl image or jeopardize her career by saying something that people wouldn’t agree with and ostracizing her devoted fans, because she was led to believe that “a nice girl doesn’t force their opinions on people” and “a nice girl doesn’t make people feel uncomfortable with her views.” 
However, on October 8, 2018, Taylor posted a paragraph in an Instagram caption, revealing for the first time ever that she would be voting for the Democratic candidates in the Tennessee elections for Senate and House of Representatives. She not only declared who she was going to vote for, but explained why she would not be voting for the female candidate, Marsha Blackburn, because of her voting record on issues like protecting women from domestic violence and the rights of LGBTQ+ people. Taylor also wrote “In the past I’ve been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions, but due to several events in my life over the past two years, I feel very differently about that now.” In making just that one Instagram post, she ended her long-standing political silence, and paved the way for her to make political statements with her music.
In Miss Americana, this pivotal moment of Taylor deciding to talk about politics is included in a tense scene where her father tries to talk her out of making the post. Taylor and her mother both try to get her father to understand her decision and Taylor defends her reasoning by saying that “this is something that I know is right, and… I need to be on the right side of history.” When Swift released her documentary, she also released a new song titled “Only The Young”, which is outspokenly political and condemns the government for not doing enough to help stop gun violence. This song is a call to action trying to encourage young people to vote and make a difference in the world. While there are certainly people who might not agree with her views, I applaud her decision to stand up for what she believes in and her effort to bring awareness to issues she believes are important to fight for or against in today’s society. 
She’s An Advocate
In her latest album, Lover, Taylor Swift not only strayed from her edgy reputation-era sound and relatively aggressive lyrics into a happier and more peaceful album, but she also penned several songs addressing real problems that are prevalent in society. In her second promotional single from Lover, “You Need To Calm Down”, Swift tries to bring awareness to issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community, including online hate, homophobia, and aggressive protests. In the prideful and empowering lyrics, Swift even includes a shout-out to LGBTQ+ advocacy media organization GLAAD, giving many fans another reason to call her an ally.
Another issue that Swift feels passionate about is feminism and equal rights for women. She uses her music as a way to call out and stand up against the double standards that women face in both music and the media today. “The Man”, from her album Lover, is a catchy song with a powerful message about how women have to work a lot harder than men do in order to be recognized for their achievements. Swift sings about how she’s been perceived to be a person who doesn’t the success that she’s gotten, but how men who do the same things she’s done not only get credit for what they’ve done, but they also get praised for it. She also references the Me Too Movement and her own experience with being a victim of sexual assault by including the lyrics “When everyone believes ya/ What’s that like?”, pointing out the fact that a lot of women aren’t believed when they come forward to report harassment or assault. This song is a very direct way of calling out the media, the music industry, and society as a whole by emphasizing the struggles that authoritative and influential women face purely based on the fact that they’re female. Taylor’s advocacy not only lets fans feel like they’re cared about and understood, but the awareness she raises can lead to real changes.
Just Listen
I know that not everybody likes every genre of music, but I think that a lot of people discount pop music and the hardworking and talented artists, like Taylor Swift, who make pop music, for no actual reason at all. While not all pop music appeals to all people, it is called “popular” music for a reason, and if a large portion of the public likes it, there’s a good chance that anybody who starts listening with open ears and an open mind can find something to enjoy about it. I think Taylor Swift is a great artist to listen to, with a wide variety of sounds and songs for every emotion and occasion to get you started in your journey to loving pop music. 
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calturnerreviews · 5 years ago
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Happy New Year! I hope you all had a fantastic holiday season and a brilliant start to 2020! I’m going to start the new year off with a look back at the old one – and what a year it was! I was lucky enough to take part in many blog tours and to be given the opportunity to read some amazing and memorable books.
Thank you to everyone who was such a huge part of my bookish life last year! From the brilliant blog tour hosts and publishers to the wonderful and talented authors who kept me entertained (and sane!) all year. Thank you to all those who have taken the time to read and share my blog posts throughout 2019, I really do appreciate it.
I’m grateful to every single one of you and I hope that 2020 will be filled to the brim with even more books and friendship, blog tours and reading. But first, here are my top 10 reads of 2019 (in no particular order). It was difficult to narrow it down to just ten, but in the end I went for those books that I felt had the most emotional impact on me as a reader. I hope you enjoy! 😊📚
Top 10 Reads of 2019:
1. The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
The Ten Thousand Doors of January is a book that deserves to be savoured and experienced. It is a mesmerising and unforgettable book that transported me back to my childhood where my love of reading began. It sucked me into its pages and the real world melted away, just as it had when I was a child and first realised that words had the power to carry me away on a tsunami of magic and adventure, through never ending doors of wonder and delight. Pure perfection.
2. Needlemouse by Jane O’Connor
Oh, what a wonderful and heartwarming debut novel this is! It’s a truly delightful book that left me with a huge smile on my face as I turned the final page, making me feel as though I could go out and tackle anything life decided to throw my way that day! A moving and brilliantly written book that brought a tear to my eye on more than one occasion, Needlemouse is a quirky, fun and moving read that’s full of warmth and heart. A gorgeous and uplifting novel that I would highly recommend.
3. Never Be Broken (DI Marnie Rome 6) by Sarah Hilary
Never Be Broken is the latest instalment in Sarah Hilary’s DI Marnie Rome series, this time tackling the up to date and relevant knife crime epidemic in modern day London. The author isn’t scared to tackle this issue head on in a gripping novel that paints a very real and brutally honest picture of life in Britain today, especially the racism and bigotry that has become even more prevalent since the Brexit vote of 2016.
This book broke me with its unflinching honesty – but somehow managed to put me back together again, leaving me with a feeling of hope rather than despair as I turned the final page. A stunning and thought provoking read that I would highly recommend.
4. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
Wow, what can I say? The Silent Patient completely blew me away! It’s an astounding psychological thriller that’s full of surprises, with an intricate plot that twists and turns, leading to a denouement that will take your breath away. I can’t say too much as I don’t want to spoil anything, but this is a book that deserves to be shouted about from the rooftops. But it’s also a book best read cold, without knowing too much about it. It is, without a doubt, one of the best debut thrillers I’ve read in a long time. Highly recommended.
5. The Girl at the Window by Rowan Coleman
  As with all of Rowan Coleman’s books, The Girl at the Window is a book to be savoured. It’s a hauntingly beautiful, spine tingling and atmospheric read that is so deliciously creepy it sends shivers down your spine. Her words weave their magic, sending swirling tendrils of emotion to wrap around your heart, gently squeezing until you feel it’s about to stop. The author’s love of Ponden Hall and Emily Bronte shine through with every page, bringing them both vividly to life as Trudy slowly begins to uncover more of their secrets as the book progresses.
The Girl at the Window is beautiful ghost story that’s filled to the brim with grief, loss, love and hope. There are some genuinely chilling moments to make you shiver as the echoes of the past collide with present day Ponden Hall and the people who live within its walls. It’s a hauntingly beautiful, deliciously creepy and emotionally satisfying story that I can’t recommend highly enough.
6. Expectation by Anna Hope
What happened to the women we were supposed to become? Isn’t that a question most of us have asked ourselves from time to time? I know I have. I often think about all the hopes and dreams I had all those years ago, most of which did not come to fruition. Expectation is a beautifully written and emotional novel that explores just that and is a book that will stay with me. I felt bereft as I turned the final page, not wanting to say goodbye to these characters I had grown to love.
Flawed as they are, Hannah, Cate and Lissa shine a spotlight on the reality and disappointment of life through the years… and I loved them for it. Their actions are not always kind or the right thing to do, but they feel so real, their pain feels so real, and they mirror the imperfections that are in us all. A stunning and thought provoking book that I simply adored.
7. Violet by SJI Holliday
A superb psychological thriller that captures your imagination from the very first page, Violet is the story of two young women who meet by chance and decide to go travelling together. You’re not sure who to trust from the very beginning, with the tension increasing with every page, never quite knowing what to expect next. Are they able to trust each other? Or is one – or both – of these women harbouring secrets they’re desperate to keep hidden?
A cautionary tale of being careful of who you trust when travelling alone, it chillingly shines a spotlight on all the reasons why joining forces with a random stranger and putting your life into their hands is really not such a good idea! Outstanding.
8. A Modern Family by Helga Flatland
Oh wow, what a special and beautifully written book this is! A Modern Family is the new novel by acclaimed Norwegian author Helga Flatland, and has been stunningly translated by the talented Rosie Hedger. It tells the bittersweet story of one family’s struggle to cope with their parents decision to divorce after more than 40 years of marriage.
This is a book that got right under my skin, making me think of my own family  and how something totally shocking and unexpected can happen that changes everything in the blink of an eye. I can’t even put into words how much I loved this book. A beautiful and moving read that was an easy choice to include in my top ten.
9. Five Steps to Happy by Ella Dove
Oh my goodness, what a beautiful, moving and inspiring debut novel this is! It’s so nice to have a positive story that shows what living with a disability can be like, instead of the doom and gloom we usually see. It’s made all the more poignant as it is based on the real life events that happened to author Ella Dove,so you know it comes from a place of true authenticity and understanding. Five Steps to Happy is a beautifully written book that I fell in love with from the outset. The author’s real life experience of the difficulties people with disabilities face on a day to day basis shines through with every word. The larger than life characters Heidi meets in this book are a true delight and felt very real to me.
As the parent and carer of a young adult with a lifelong disability, I couldn’t help but feel a personal connection to this beautiful book. Even though my daughter’s circumstances are very different to Heidi’s, it was inspiring to finally read a story where having a disability didn’t have to mean the end of the world, but could very well be the start of a new one that is filled with endless possibilities. A stunning, beautiful and moving read that will stay with me.
10. Call Me Star Girl by Louise Beech
Call Me Star Girl is a powerful and moving psychological thriller that lures you in from the very first page. Stella McKeever is about to host her final radio show and wants it to be all about secrets. If you tell her yours, she’ll share some of hers. But no one could possibly expect the devastatingly dark turn things are about to take, with the creepiness and isolation of being alone at the radio station ratcheting up the tension to almost breaking point. I had no idea how heartbreakingly twisted the story was about to become, but Louise Beech is an extraordinary storyteller and her exquisite writing held me in thrall right up until the final page had been turned.
An atmospheric and haunting psychological thriller that is as moving as it is suspenseful, Call Me Star Girl is a dark, twisted and stunning read that is easily one of my top reads of 2019.
11. The Photographer of the Lost by Caroline Scott
Yes, I am aware that there were only supposed to be ten books on this list, but there was no way I could post a ‘Best Books of the Year’ list without including this exceptional debut novel by Caroline Scott. It isn’t very often that a debut novel comes along that is so hauntingly beautiful you find it difficult to put your emotions down into words. But The Photographer of the Lost is one such book. I was mesmerised from the opening paragraph right through to the incredibly moving and unforgettable conclusion.
It is a vividly portrayed snapshot into the lives of the men who were lost amongst the devastating chaos and ruins of World War One. But it’s also the story of those who were left behind, those men and women who were desperate to find their loved ones again. Caroline Scott has written a book so haunting I know it will stay with me for a long time to come. A beautifully written and brutally honest account of a time in history that should never be forgotten, I loved every word of this story that’s full of so many poignant and moving moments that will stay with me forever. A special book that I simply had to include in my top reads of the year.
Some of the books I’m looking forward to reading in 2020:
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Here’s to another fabulous year of books!
Look out for my first book review of 2020 soon.
  My Top 10 Reads of 2019 #Top10Books2019 @AlixEHarrow @JaneOConnor100 @sarah_hilary @AlexMichaelides @rowancoleman @Anna_Hope @SJIHolliday @HelgaFlatland @EllaRoseDove @LouiseWriter @CScottBooks @annecater @Tr4cyF3nt0n #bookblogger Happy New Year! I hope you all had a fantastic holiday season and a brilliant start to 2020!
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a-wandering-fool · 6 years ago
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From the article:
=====================
Tolerance is not a moral precept
Tolerance is not a moral absolute; it is a peace treaty. Tolerance is a social norm because it allows different people to live side-by-side without being at each other’s throats. It means that we accept that people may be different from us, in their customs, in their behavior, in their dress, in their sex lives, and that if this doesn’t directly affect our lives, it is none of our business. But the model of a peace treaty differs from the model of a moral precept in one simple way: the protection of a peace treaty only extends to those willing to abide by its terms. It is an agreement to live in peace, not an agreement to be peaceful no matter the conduct of others. A peace treaty is not a suicide pact.
That this even needs to be written strikes me as a little surprising.
Of course there are two dangers with this essay, for those who don’t read it carefully.
One can be seen clearly with this rather deplorable XKCD cartoon:
Tumblr media
Don’t see the problem here?
Well, try this: NFL owners approve new national anthem policy with hope of ending protests.
What, you think it is illegal that an employer controls what an employee says or does at work, or attempts to censor messages projected to the public? (Um, isn’t this an argument against Infowars being banned by Facebook?)
Or is this a matter of those NFL players facing the consequences of actions the rest of us think is bullshit and don’t want to listen to? To put it in Randall Munroe’s words:
If [the players taking the knee] are yelled at, boycotted, have [their] show cancelled, or get banned… [their] free speech rights aren’t being violated. It’s just that the people listening think [they’re] an asshole. And they’re showing [them] the door.
See, the problem here is that a peace treaty only holds when people implement the terms of that peace treaty do so with honesty and with clear hearts.
When it comes to speech, a culture of free speech (rather than the simple legalistic limits of the First Amendment) would require us to give the benefit of the doubt to those engaged in speech. That means being tolerate of viewpoints that are not ours, and even viewpoints we may think is “hateful”–since “hate” is often in the eye of the beholder.
And it means that, in our culture in America–the terms of our “peace treaty” essentially require that, rather than shouting others we dislike down and showing them the door (as Randall Munroe explicitly endorses in his comic), we counter speech with more speech: we explain why Randall Munroe’s attitude shown in this cartoon would lead us to a more cruel and meaner world.
Because if one side fails to abide by our peace treaty by shouting down and boycotting those they disagree with–then neither side is bound by the peace treaty.
And that means open season yelling at and boycotting left-wing speakers.
Of course conservatives have always delayed before embracing the tactics of the Left: how long did it take for us to go from the Left-wing protesters marching on Washington D.C. in the early 1970’s to the Tea Party protesters marching on Washington D.C. in the early 2000’s? They’re waiting to see if the peace treaty violations on the Left is an aberration by a few or a refusal to acknowledge the terms by the majority.
And with the election of President Obama–it looked to conservatives to be a rejection of the peace treaty in-toto. In many ways, attitudes by the Left expressed by folks like Randall Munroe–which represent a rejection of the peace treaty of free speech–led to the right’s seeking out a Donald Trump to be President.
Which is why every time the Left gets pissed off at a President Trump tweet, Trump’s core base support increased. Because President Trump is doing precisely what his core voters elected him to do.
To the conservatives who voted for Donald Trump, war was declared a long time ago when the terms of the peace treaty was torn up–and it’s about time someone fights back.
The second problem is related to the first.
The first problem is that a peace treaty requires people to act with honesty and clear hearts.
The second is that people seem ready to abandon the terms of that peace treaty quite easily–because to the human psyche, war seems more glamorous than peace, at least until the reality of war presents itself to us.
Now this may be a very deep and primordial drive in the human psyche. After all, as observed by Mike Rowe on “Dirty Jobs”, in Episode 5 of Season 1, that demolition is a stress-relieving job. There is something gratifying and pleasing to take a sledge hammer to a wall and destroy it.
At some very basic level, we want war. War is inbuilt into each of us.
Who here hasn’t had a fantasy about hurting someone or getting revenge or hitting back when you feel wronged? Who here hasn’t imagined what they would do if they had a weapon they could take to someone who they felt wronged them?
There is a reason why war has been–up until the past few decades–the default mode for much of the world, and why it is the default mode for some of the world even today.
There is a reason why it is easy for groups such as Antifa to recruit unapologetically violent protesters to beat up people and destroy things.
There is a reason why an appeal to “peace” is an appeal to “the better angels of our nature.”
Because if “peace” was the default and “war” required extraordinary activity, there would be far less war in the world today.
We are, however, inherently tribal creatures. Tribalism is built into our brains at a very primitive level–Dunbar’s number even gives a physiological limit to the size of our tribes at around 150 people. And we have an instinct to go to war with those not of our tribe: it’s fight or flight, and you can see this instinct in every animal with a brain.
War is the default. Peace requires effort.
So we must try to uphold our peace treaties, despite our worst instincts.
When we get angry it is easy to discard the peace treaties. After all, if I’m on the losing end of a transaction, it’s not that I wasn’t good enough or level enough or did the right things–it’s because the other person is a threat to me, a threat to the tribe–and they must be destroyed.
And it is fucking hard to listen to the better angels of our nature, to understand that there is nothing to be gained by throwing away the peace treaties negotiated carefully by our culture, to seek out and destroy the other person.
Because if I do that, then they no longer have to abide by the peace treaties that define the civil behavior that underlies civilization.
And they’ve already demonstrated they have the upper hand. So do I need to go back for a double-serving of hurt?
And where does that cycle end? With school shootings? Rampage murders at work?
So on this front I will take one small issue with the article I linked with.
Certain rights (negative rights) are inherent “rights” in the sense that they require no governments to enforce them. The right to free speech, for example, requires no formal organization to provide me speech, in the same way that positive rights (such as the “right to a job”) requires the creation of a modern economic system protected by governments to define “jobs” in the first place.
But those negative rights (the right to free expression, for example) do require cooperation between individuals. They do necessitate the establishment of these cultural “peace treaties,” especially in a country as culturally diverse as the United States. They require us to cooperate, for us to be civil, and in being civil for us to create the underpinnings of civilization.
And to fully appreciate these peace treaties and the ramifications of our cultural negotiations, they require a deep and abiding respect for philosophy–for the philosophers who tried to understand the edges of moral theory, for the alternate viewpoints they offer us to help expand our thinking.
So these peace treaties must not be treated lightly.
Which means to reduce “tolerance” from a moral precept to a “peace treaty” does not reduce the moral imperative for each of us to take responsibility in keeping the peace, and in tolerating other viewpoints which we may disagree with or find hateful.
In fact, it puts more of the burden on each of us to be tolerant of our neighbors.
Because that informal peace treaty is the only thing keeping us from descending into chaos and war.
====================
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"best life insurance quotes for senior citizens
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Car Insurance Payments?
Is the car insurance still in act even if I don't pay for it on the day the payment is due, or does the insurance stop and resume until I pay for it? And, if I don't pay the car insurance on time, will they charge me until I pay them?""
What is a affordable health insurance? I need one that is cheap for 1 person. Thanks to all who answer. ?
In Columbus Ohio
How much will I get from the insurance for my totaled car?
A person hit my parked car and damaged the body, the wheel well, and the wheel is bent crooked and rubbing on the strut. My problem is the car is old and probably only worth $500. It will be really difficult to find a replacement for $500, it seems i might need to spend $1500 -$2000. Maybe this is close to the repair price, I don't know. What do you think they will offer me? What should I do?""
""Roughly, how much is the insurance on a Peugeot 106?""
Im a girl, Provisonal Lincense Holder (learner driver) 18 years old, looking for no more than a 1.5 engine. Also how much to they cost to tax. Thanks in advance for everyones help, it is much appriceated x.x.x.x.x""
What is an insurance credit score?
My husband insists since we bought a new (used) car and our son is getting his own car that we need to get insurance quotes. I think we are getting great rates now and dont think it will make much difference but he insists. Anyway the insurance agent I contacted, who I've known since 1st grade, asked for our license numbers to run our driving record (which both should be fine), claim history (we have had one property and one collision claim in the past few years) and our insurance credit score. We have had problems financially in recent years and so our credit score is really bad. We are about to file bankruptcy. I'm wondering what the insurance credit score is and will our current financial situation cause the quotes to be high. I don't even want to mess with getting quotes because I think our rates are very reasonable already but my husband insists we need to shop around. I just don't see how we can save anything when our rates are already just a couple of hundred with full coverage. And I hate the fact that you have to give so much personal information to someone who you are just asking for a quote (in my opinion an estimate) from.""
How can i get insurance?
I cant find any decent prices. The cheapest i found was 255 pounds every month for a 0.9 Litre Fiat seicento, its a horrible litlle car and it cost too much to insure anyway, and the mpg its pretty bad for 0.9L petrol, 35.8mpg Anyway where can i find a decent price for a 18yr old that lives in lonon, 0 NCB, hold a clean licence for 2months""
Lowest car insurance in india?
which company giving lowest price for car insurance?
""Car insurance rate, Toronto, 18 year old?""
How much for a MALE 18 year old, 20 year old, and 25 year old would car insurance cost if you got your License when you were 16. In Toronto.""
""No proof of insurance In NV, but I live in AZ?
OK so I got a Citation in the state of Nevada in my Fathers truck. It register under his name and everything. He never told me it didnt have insurance. So I got pulled over for no head lights. If I have No insurance what do I do? Im from Arizona will that have anything to do with it?
Home insurance for high risk person?
A few months ago my dad had a fire at his house. In the middle of restorations, his insurance company dropped him. I'm not sure why they did, but I know my dad has really bad credit and was probably not very nice to whoever was handling his claim. He said that he is trying to get insurance, but can't find any. I'm wondering if it is because he is a high risk candidate and I am wondering where he can go to get insurance. I will probably be helping him with it from here on out, so I will need to know what kinds of things to say/look for. He is a reitred teacher and doesn't have a ton of money or assets, so I want to make sure he gets good coverage that he can afford. I'm not sure if this helps, but his dad was a veteran who died in a VA hospital when my dad was young. I keep seein things about insurance for family of veterans, but I know very little about it.""
Fastest car to insure cheaply?
hi. im 18 yrs old with only 1 yr's ncb. im looking for a car which is both cheap to insure, and fairly quick. any ideas what i should get?""
Car insurance?
is it possible to have two inurance policies on one car?im wanting to get insured to drive my brothers car so do i have to be a named driver on his insurance policy or can i have my own?thanks!
How can you lower 17 years olds car insurance quotes ?
hi, im 16 and turning 17 in a few months, im looking at quotes for cars for example: cars with 1.0 to 1.2 engines an that are 10 years old or more. for example: vw polo 1.2 - 11k and paying 1500 a month. i know this cant be right can someone help please !""
best life insurance quotes for senior citizens
best life insurance quotes for senior citizens
Are States legally allowed to require car insurance?
Can the State legally mandate that citizens buy insurance from consumer agencies that have little to no regulation of price and guaranteed service? Can we consider this question with ...show more
What is the best cat insurance in the uk?
What is the best cat insurance in the UK I can get for my 12 week old kitten?
What is a good health insurance for an individual?
My dad lost his job 6 months ago, his new job doesn't have benefits. What is a good health insurance that will be cheap enough for a young college student that is affordable? (I ...show more""
How Much Will My Car Insurance Payment Increase After An Accident?
I got into my first car accident today that was my fault I am 17 years old and I have full coverage on Geico insurance I was wondering on around how much will my payment increase after the accident? There was no damage on my car but the other persons car had a large dent on the right side of his front bumper.
What insurance do you have ?
we are looking for a good family insurance that could have dental coverage and eye care coverage as well as health any suggestions ? (ps family of four)
Homeowner's and Auto Insurance?
We've been with Allstate for home and auto insurance for over 30 years, and they have recently starting screwing with us about renewing out Homeowner's insurance. We're pretty sure they are nitpicking about things because they are not writing new policies for Californians, but are keeping existing customers for now. Anyway, I went to the Auto Club this morning and got quotes from them for Home and Auto Insurance and their prices are much better than Allstate's. What I want to know is anyone's experience with AAA insurance. Are they a good company to insure with, any problems, etc? Thank you for any information you can provide.""
How does a 13 year old tell their mom they want to have a baby??? HELP PLEASE :)?
Im 13 and it may be a little weird but im ready for a baby. how do i tell my mom?
What state or states do not require car Auto insurance in order to own a car and use it ?
I would like to know what states in USA do not require car Auto insurance for the owner or user of the car he or she is driving? If there is such a state please prove me where you get the source! And How does the driver pay off all the victims billing cost after injuring this victim and victim has a bunch of bills coming in from Hospital service? If now you agree with me that all drives should be required to pay and have auto insurance, This is the same reason is why all people need to have healthcare insurance who can afford it! Not only it will keep the insurance cost lower for average person, everyone is now guaranteed to qualify without being denied due to history, disability, or medical cost person needs, but if everyone has health insurance nation wide medical expense will be less rising; like people who did not have insurance get into accident/injury Whether falling off a cliff, get hit by a car and driver drives off, or gets injured due to snake bite. NONE of them are intentional or expected but they happen and many other! If everyone is insured the insurance pays for the medical expenses whether its $500 or $500K But if not everybody has healthcare insurance average person wont be able to afford the $full medical bill will be hunted by collection agency but still not likely to pay any more then $5000 for medical expenses! There for the rest of the medical cost falls on WHOM??? THE TAX TAPYERS OR OTHER medical service Customers!!! By raising the prices of medical expenses! THAT is why Californias Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance Raised about 57% cost in 2010 or 2011!! What do you expect if Thousand or millions of Illegal most Latino immigrant get Medical service in Hospitals like even Child birth, or emergency room, but they dont have medical insurance, cant afford it, YOU SEE that raised their insurance cost BY 57%!!! DO YOU WANT THIS TO HAPPEN NATION WIDE?? IF NO If you want Medical cost to remain affordable, THEN A) Support National Healthcare that everybody should have it who can afford it B) In order to receive Fed/State TAX, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid from the Illegal Immigration should be attempted to be caught and exported to their main country, or should be attempted to be caught and if given full citizen ship to them only if these immigrants must server some number of years of Army, military, or Air force service voluntarily. OR be required to pay a minimum amount of $ that individual invested into the Social Security system, or minimum number of years legally work in U.S.A, if they want to receive the Social Security benefits if future. HOWEVER How many years serving , How much individual or couple invested minimum, and /or how many minimum number of years in order to qualify for Social Security service is up to the government to calculate and decide. THIS WAY Citizens Will all be able to fully pay their medical expenses, and The illegal immigration will not be as big of an issue!""
What is the best affordable health insurance for students out there?
I am thinking about changing my provider and was wandering if anybody has any recomendations?
I'm 17 just got my driving licence (UK) How can I get my insurance cheaper?
I'm 17 just got my driving licence (UK) How can I get my insurance cheaper?
Does she have to pay the no insurance ticket?
My daughter just completed her drivers ed class so I let her drive to school. she was stopped and ticketed for no license and no insurance my car is covered and current. Q does she have to pay the no insurance ticket
""Financed car damaged,no insurance.what to do?!?
long story short... my car cost 7000 to fix and i dont have any insurance. i want to have the finance company to get the car.what happens once they get it? will i have to pay off the loan or just pay for the damages done?
Does homeowners insurance work like my car insurance?
example: I bought my car for a grand and if I get into an accident the insurance will only cover what I paid for the car and not what I've invested into the car since I bought it... say I buy a house that's a bank foreclosure and get it for $10,000 but its worth $80,000 now if the house were to get hit by a sunami earth quake and then burn to bits would I only be re-embursed for the $10,000 like my car insurance or would I be covered for the full value due to size and destruction ect.????""
""I am trying to find dental insurance that will pay for braces, Does anyone know of an insurance that will cove""
I am trying to find dental insurance that will pay for braces, Does anyone know of any insurance companies that pay for insurance and dont have a waiting period? If theres a waiting period then how long? I have delta dental and they only cover up to 1000.00""
Why is it so difficult for me to get health insurance?!?
Im 23 yrs old in Maryland and Im trying to buy my own health insurance for the first time. I havent been to the doctor in so long so Ive been having issues lately with my seasonal allergies. During this past year I went to an ENT specialist without insurance to get medication/prescription for a sinus infection and paid cash. The ENT specialist recommend I get sinus x-rays if the medication didnt clear up the problem. I am still having issues with it so I decided to apply for insurance so I could afford further treatment. However Ive applied to 2 places, both companies called me for an interview where they asked me a bunch of questions over the phone about any treatments I received or have been recommended to have. I have been declined twice with them saying get the recommended treatment done then reapply WHY??? OMFG I dont have a serious ongoing illness why are these people giving me such a hard time???? =( What do I do?? Thanks.""
How much would my insurance be?
ive just turned 16 and im getting a 50cc moped restricted. Most people insurance is 289 for the first year and 189 for the second. but thats for a scooter.I want an Rs50 (1 of a kind) and so i am asking, will my insurance be different or the same?""
How can I lower my car insurance?
I have a 2010 Chevy cobalt LT. I pay $420 a month for insurance! I understand I'm 21, and it's a sports car. But I've been driving for 5 years, I've never got in a crash nor gotten any tickets. Why could this be? I know lots of younger people with much more expensive cars but they don't pay nearly as much.""
Is Bristol West Insurance a good company?
I am looking to change my insurance company and got a really good quote on insurance, but it's seems a bit too good. Does anyone have any information regarding this company? I found them through Farmers Insurance Group.""
What do you guys think would be cheaper in car insurance?
What would be cheaper in car insurance? Which one would last longer? 2003 nissan pathfinder- 185,000 miles 1989 corvette-107,000 miles Im 18 years old.""
Insurance or real estate test is harder?
I have my Property and Casualty License in Colorado and now I am looking into Real Estate license as well. Which test do you think is harder??
Claiming insurance for a vandalized car?
a car is 23 years old and in standard form worth about 800. due to the amount of mods done to it, it is insured for 4000. if it was to be vandalized to the point it needed a full respray at a cost of around 1500 what do u reckon the insurance company would do. pay for the respray or write the car off, and payout how much?? its not an agreed value as such, its just thats what was paid for the car so thats what they said to insure it at.""
How much would Liability cost on my car?
Im 16 and i just got my license. Me and my dad are gonna go look at a car tomorrow. its a 1999 mitsubishi eclipse GS with 130,000 miles. take in to consideration all of the basic things of a teenager nothing special just an average kid how much would liability in wisconsin cost? all my friends say they pay around 65 a month but than i went to some insurance website and it said some crazy thing like 850 a month... how much for an average 16 year old kid am i gonna pay monthly for liability?""
Arnold Clark Insurance?
Whats the minimum age to be a policy holder for arnold clark insurance? Ive been told It's either 18 or 19, Do they still base the risk like everyone else as I've also been told that it's a fixed price regardless of risk, the only rating factor is the drivers age?""
How much (on average) does it cost to get insured?
I have been doing side cleaning for some friends and family so of course I'm not insured or bonded. But I can make anywhere from $50-$80 for less then 2 hours of work. I started working PT at a cleaning company so that I could get more experience (and a little more pay) and learn a bit about the business. Of course what I'm learning is that instead of making the full $50-$80 for my services I'm making only 20% and the rest of course goes to the company! I feel I can do much better on my own and really want to work towards that so I know my best bet is to get insurance and bonding. Roughly what is the premium for it? I guess I wouldn't need to be insured for no more then $25,000 -$50,000. And are bonding and insurance liability fees seperate?? Any help would be appreciated. thanks""
Cheap motorcycle insurance company for young riders?
Anyone recommend any companies? I have blasted a fair few, including BikeDevil and Lexham (Lexham is in the lead though it does have a 600 excess). If you know any good companies of which are cheap please let me know, as being 17 makes insurance hard to find. Thanks""
best life insurance quotes for senior citizens
best life insurance quotes for senior citizens
Pregnancy insurance. I might not be eligible for medicaid.?
does anyone knows about any low cost pregnancy insurance?
Can you sue an insurance company?
I was hit over a month ago and the guy who hit me insurance company still hasn't repaired or paid me for the accident when they said they would and ive tried calling them and they won't call me and I'm not able to work since I have no car and I can't get a rental cause I'm not 25
How much is it to insure a lancer evo IX MR?
Im 18 your old young man trying to figure out how much it is for insurance generally for the car for a guy my age. Also is the fq400 an import?
Does my car have to have insurance even if its not being driven?
I bought a car that needs a little work. So its not being driven and it is sitting in my driveway while i drive my other car. Does it have to have plates and insurance on it if i am not driving it at all??
What would the price of insurance be for a 16 year old male after going through drivers ed and taking the...?
behind the wheel license test through the school? I am getting my license in a couple of days and wondering how much it would cost just in case i have to pay for it. We have a 2004 trailblazer, a 1999 grand prix, and a 2000 ford ranger. I get good grades and im not sure what else you need to know. Im in az. Im wondering because i cant put my info on the internet for a quote so i just want a ballpark monthly price.""
New Driving Licence - Insurance?
Okay Heres the plan! Im 18! Ive passed my driving test today, and looking for car insurance the cheapest way ive found is using my mothers policy with 19 years experiance with no claims ever, however shes never had her own policy.. were going to share the same car 1.6 escort 16v quite a hefty engine for my age yeah but still cheapest i can get it, is 1900 Any tips to make it cheaper, or what ever Ive tried all the top brands, equity, tesco, aa, ,quinn direct, churchill, direct line etc so far quinn is the cheapest.. but the first initial premium month is too much to pay (400) help!""
Sisters friend took car and crashed will my insurance cover?
She took the car without permission I know alot of people say that but this is really true.She crashed and didn't have a license or insurance. She was not at fault since the other person was driving with headlights off at night and no one was hur however both cars are wrecked. Will my insurance cover I only have liability.
How much home owner's insurance should I get?
How much home owner's insurance should I get?
Car accident insurance question?
Last week someone backed up into my bumper while my car was parked. They were very nice and left a note, and we were in the middle of sorting things out. I got an estimate for the damage, but we had not yet done anything with their insurance company yet. Today my boyfriend was driving my car, and he spun out and totaled the car. His insurance should be able to cover it, but how should I go about for the insurance with the first person? Do I need to tell them about the accident or is it not necessary? We haven't yet filed the insurance and so I don't know if it will be a problem. Any help is appreciated.. thanks""
How much will my auto insurance cost?
I just turned 16 a couple months ago and i already have my license, and i live in Colorado. My parents have State Farm auto insurance and they want me to pay for my own insurance when i get a car. I already know that you can get a bunch of discounts for things like getting good grades and attendence and safe driving and not driving your car to school, but anyways i was wondering how much it would cost me without any discounts? Like how much would it be every month or so? I do have a job but i dont know if i would have enough to pay for car insurance. Any help is needed! thank you!!!""
Can you license get suspended if you don't have insurance on a car that you don't drive?
I don't drive my 1999 Mitsubishi eclipse because it has some engine problems and I don't have insurance on it because there is no point of paying it. I plain on getting it ...show more
How much would insurance be for a 2006 GTO?
I am a 49 year old female with a good driving history, but i have my 17 year old son on my insurance...but he wouldnt be listed as the primary driver for this car. How much would insurance be per month/year?""
What is the best health insurance in california?
sould i go with the one that has deductible, and what it turns out that i have a cancer , m'i gonna be covered. i've been having this buzzing ear ( left) for few months and now i get dizzy when i look up and i started to feel oressure in my head and light headache. my emplyer's insurance start in 2 months and i need to be checked now, and i don't qualifie for medi cal any suggestion , advice?? thanks""
I want to start a health insurance company how would I go about doing that?
I want to provide people with an affordable insurance that will also pay fair rates to the pharmacies and hospitals. I used to work for a pharmacy and saw how if the customer got a good price on a drug then the pharmacy got screwed over and vice versa. This needs to change, please help me make that change.""
How much is car insurance for a guy who is...?
i don't want to do any quotes and stuff but i'm just wondering how much you think car insurance will be for me in 4 years. i got my license at 16. i'm 20 right now. never been in any accidents. so in 4 years i will be 25. i'm almost 21. let's say there is a 2013 dodge challenger srt8 it's about 40-45,000 still. by then i'll have my BA and be working on a masters. and let's say i have never had accidents and i had my license for 9 years. and i'm a male. i live in a safe neighborhood and will be living in an apartment. just with these general info. how much do you think insurance will cost for me? i know it's hard to predict 4 years into the future. you can just calculate someone who currently is 25 and is getting an 09 challenger if you want.""
Cheaper car for insurance?
I have a 98 eclipse spyder right now, and I'm paying about 700 every 6 months on insurance. Not only that but about 40 a week in gas and other various maintenance. I've put some custom things into it, just wondering with 115k miles on it, what would a good trade be for a reliable car with good MPG and lower insurance?""
What is a good car insurance plan for someone just out of college?
What is a good car insurance plan for someone just out of college?
""I was rear ended, question about insurance?""
I was rear ended, and since it was completely the other guys fault my insurance company (allstate) said I could just call his insurance company to file the claim, as they would be paying for everything. So I did, and they sent out the adjuster to assess the damages (basically scratches) and said they will be sending me a check based on the adjusters findings. So... what if when I go to get it fixed it costs more, or what if they find out something is bent or jacked up underneath? Can I go back and ask for more money if that happens?""
Will the insurance company cancel my car insurance after a DUI in VA?
i got a dui in VA, is offence, .08 bac, well i got convicted of yesterday. i have to do a DWI Education classes and have a restricted licence to drive to work. my insurancce is still valid for a good 6 months. do i have to inform the insurance company, will i lose my insurance, do i need a sr22 or not. please advice..""
Can I get car insurance on my dad's policy for me for only a day or two?
Okay so I live in CA, and my car is in the shop and my insurance has been stopped because my car needs a new transmission and I don't have the money to fix it yet. Anyways, what I wanted to ask was my Dad is going out of town for a few days and is leaving his car at home, I wanted to know if I could get insurance for myself on his car though his insurance company (AARP) for use of his car for only 2 days? Please get back to me, and put a source if possible, Easy 10 points.""
Car lease insurance question?
I am leasing a car from Honda and wanted to know if there is insurance you can take out to cover any damage to the car that will repair scratches and minor dents, things that I will be hit for when I return the car when the lease ends? I was wondering what that kind of insurance is? Thanks""
How much would car insurance cost for a 17 year old?
Hey I will be turning 17 in a month and I was wondering how much car insurance will cost. I Think I will be going under my parents plan. I will either be getting my dads 05 range rover or an 03 nissan 350z. I have geico and live in NY if that helps. About how much would it cost to insure each car?
Car insurance question. UK only please?
Hi. 18 months ago me and my hubby went bankrupt (long story) and we have had our new car insurance quote from the company we have been with for 12 years. It jumped from 37 to 60 and we were pretty outraged and so have been shopping around. We were told by someone we know that any new insurance companies would do a credit check and that we may be refused insurance or may get pretty high premiums. As I said, we have been with our insurance company for 12 years and have paid on time every month by direct debit for the car insurance and for the home contents and pet one too. So as your premium is affected by your credit score, does this mean we should have let our insurance company know we went bankrupt, when we did back in Nov 2010? Or does it not count as we were already with them? i don't seriously see why we should've HAD to tell them, but I am not a bit worried. I don't want to make a claim and find that they refuse it because we didn't tell them of the bankruptcy!""
Why such a difference between insurance quotes on a 2011 Challenger?
I got quotes from Geico, Nationwide, and Progressive I chose full coverage 500 dollar deductible on a 2000 Silverado 1500 4X4 3DR and a 2011 Dodge Challenger SE 2Dr Coupe This is for a 20 year old guy with clean driving record. Why are they so different? These are the prices I got Nationwide - $603 a month Progreeive - $450 a month Geico - $187 a month If Geico didn't offer it for $187 I would not be able to buy the 2011 Challenger. Does anyone know if Geico will go up to $400 or $600 a month after my first 6 month's I really need to know cause this is my last deciding factor before buying the Challenger?""
I have pre-existing conditions & I'm 61. Where to go for health insurance?
I'm having a hard time trying to find health insurance. I have pre-existing conditions (take medication for a mild heart arrhythmia & for cholesterol) plus I'm on medication for depression. And I'm 61. I've searched the web without luck - insurance agents who've called me say my condition makes me Uninsurable. Either that or I'm contacted by scam artists. Does anyone have experience with the Health Insurance Industry & have suggestions on what company to contact? Or what insurance agents are reputable? I live in California. I welcome your thoughts & suggestions. Thanks!
best life insurance quotes for senior citizens
best life insurance quotes for senior citizens
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/question-health-insurance-dental-alexander-brown/"
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taperjeansgirl-blog · 8 years ago
Text
Album Review: Get Weird - Little Mix
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I’m going to put this out there straight away: I love Little Mix. I don’t know where it came from, and I don’t know how long it’s going to last, but it’s happening and I’m embracing it. I think what I like about them – apart from the fact that they all have great voices on record and live – is that they seem reasonably normal, aren’t overly sexualised, and generally seem quite sweet. I did actually vote for them on the X Factor way back when, so maybe this is a little of my seventeen-year-old self coming through. I feel like the hype around Little Mix has been bigger than ever with this album, and not just because Perrie and ex-One Direction member Zayn broke up this year. It seems that the girls have had more fun making the album and promoting it, than their previous efforts (which, in all honesty, I’m not very familiar with) and it shows.
The band themselves seem to have carved out their place in the market as the fun ones who don’t take themselves too seriously, which is evident from the title of their latest album, Get Weird. Unlike their contemporaries, such as American X Factor equivalent Fifth Harmony, they don’t come across overly sexual in their videos, instead choosing to follow narratives that seem to take the piss out of themselves more than anything (such as Love Me Like You). This is reflected throughout the album, on tracks such as Grown, Weird People, or A.D.I.D.A.S, which are, more than anything, a bit of fun. In my opinion, their strength lies here, with these tracks standing out against the comparative flops of the slower songs, such as I Love You or Secret Love Song featuring (randomly) Jason Derulo. These fall into the trap of over-produced and pretty crap pop ballads, which I think are too bland for Little Mix’s image.  While they may not be completely irredeemable tracks, often in the heart felt songs there’s a little too much warbling and screeching to take them seriously. However, I don’t necessarily judge them for including these. If they came from a different background than X Factor, they would probably be able to put out an album full of cheerful pop bangers, but being what they are, they need to pander to their market which expects a variety of upbeat and low tempo tracks; love songs at their simplest.
That being said, more risks are taken throughout the album than I would have expected. Lightning, for example, is this dark and stormy (sorry) with a strange quasi-dubstep drop. There are rain sound effects, there are violins, there’s the deeply intelligent paradox of lightning burning “like ice”; it’s the darker, moodier side of this band which comes out once an album, such as in fan favourite from the last album, DNA. It might not achieve the level of cool that they were trying to achieve, but I appreciate them trying. With these modern tracks that are so in right now, there are also plenty of songs with a strong vintage or gospel vibe. Second single Love Me Like You, for example, puts a modern twist on a Supremes-Ronettes-style ballad, and Weird People definitely has a noticeable 80s influence. The End and I Won’t draw from gospel influences, again with a modern beat, which I think works well.
In a way, Little Mix are the perfect modern girl group. They incorporate all sorts of influences in their album, filtering them through a pop lense; they love sex and aren’t afraid to say it (A.D.I.D.A.S stands for “All day I dream about sex [with you]” and Love Me Like You was reportedly meant to be Fuck Me Like You); they also aim to represent the people who are a little different.  Actually, the whole album seems to be based around the idea that the girls represent all the misfits, as they encourage everyone to Get Weird. Honestly, I don’t think they’re as weird as they like to think they are; they’re all attractive women with nice figures, hot boyfriends and mainstream pop tunes. If Little Mix were colours, they’d be the primary ones.
Overall, I wasn’t as impressed with this album as a whole as I thought I would be, having heard the singles.  Admittedly there are great moments, and strong songs such as summer Number 1, Black Magic, or Hair (although I mainly like this for giving me the chance to shout “He was just a dick and I knew it!” at the top of my voice when the chorus hits). Mostly, the fast moving, beat driven tracks are thoroughly enjoyable if you like a good old pop tune. While the slower songs do get better after a few listens, I feel they drag the album down. There are also moments, such as in Clued Up, where the target audience seems to shift from late teens/early 20s women to young girls. More consistency in the tone of the album would have improved it. That being said, I’m still going to be embracing my fan girl status because, as they say in their last track, they’ve come so far “but it’s just the beginning”.
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