#the only proper concert I’d been to before this was a male group and they just jumped around stage a lot in T-shirt’s and pants

[ghostlemon36]

Just got home from the P!nk concert and I’m having feelings

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #307

“you lie so much, you believe yourself”

How long has it been since you kissed someone? Like, two years or so. What level are you on Farmville? Never played it. What are you looking forward to in the next year? I hope Covid just withers away, dammit. I truly, truly hope this vaccine is effective. And that people start wearing their GODDAMN masks. Do you use a lot of emoticons? Not really nowadays. Would you ever climb a mountain? No. Even if my legs were capable of handling that, I'd be too afraid of an avalanche. Colons or equal signs for your smiley face’s eyes? Colons. When was the last time you swam in a lake? A looooong time ago. If you could have anything right now, what would you want? It'd be great to chill at Sara's house honestly, I miss that. What’s your relationship status? Single and I think finally starting to truly accept I need to be right now. I wouldn't want to date myself in my current position, so I shouldn't expect anyone else to. When was the last time someone asked you your age? On my birthday when I mentioned in group therapy that I was trying to make it an especially good day about myself. When was the last time you danced? Very, very poorly with Sara years ago lmao. Has anyone ever tried to physically fight you? Someone snatched my arm and yanked me down to look her in the eyes in HS because she was a jealous bitch back then telling lies, but idk if her intention was to actually try to start a physical fight. Are you avoiding someone? No. What’s your favorite primary color? Red. What do you have pierced? Just my ears and bottom lip now. :/ I want morrrreeee. I'm forever tilted that so many of my piercings closed when I was hospitalized. What is your favorite dog breed? I find pugs to be very cute, but I do not support their breeding whatsoever so would never buy one. Besides them, I have a definite bias towards beagles. In your honest opinion, what is the scariest sea creature you know? Fucking Christ, giant squids. Terrifying. Do you believe there is just one love for everyone, or…? No. There are way, way, WAY too many people on this planet for that. What natural disaster scares you the most? Tornados. What outrageous career could you see yourself wanting to do? Define an "outrageous" career... but I can't visualize myself doing anything very unordinary. In what way would you want to help change the world? I truly hope I can make some considerable amount of contributions to natural conservation and animal education. When driving down the road looking for an address do you turn the radio low? I don't drive, but I know I would, considering I can't concentrate on driving if the radio is on anyway. What do you think of when you look at the stars? How little I and my problems really are. It gives me perspective. If you could say ONE THING to the president, what would it be? Well, Biden just got into office, so I can't really say yet. We'll see what he does. What Disney princess are you most like? Personality wise, I mean. Uh. I'unno. Maybe Snow White because animals? haha Do you believe in astrology? Not in the slightest. Do you look into people’s eyes when you talk to them? I try to, anyway, but I tend to find it very uncomfortable, and I never know if I'm offering too little or too much. So I have trouble maintaining it, especially with people I don't know. You can have one of the following two things: trust or love. Pick one. Trust. What do you think is the most important thing in this life is? Hm, that's a deep one. Perhaps the understanding that you are just as important as the next person and that we should work as one to make this one life that we know of worthwhile. Make the world better than when you entered it. What is your favorite shade of blue? Pastel blue. I just like pastels in general. When's the last time you bought something just because? I don't buy things "just because." If I actually have money to spend, I use it with motivation behind it. What Ozzy lyric describes you best? WHOA NOW HUNNY you are asking the WRONG person because I can just about name his entire discography so there are waaaay too many song lyrics to dig through and pick one for myself. Probably something from "Dreamer," after a short moment's consideration. When was the last time you went for a walk without a specific destination in mind? Not since Sara and I walked down the path near her house. We didn't plan on when we would turn around to go back. Do you daydream? Only all the time. What was your last daydream about? Ha, thanks to that other question, visiting Sara again. It'd be nice, but yeah, financial limitations and corona. Ever won the lottery? Bitch I wish. What was the most important decision you made that screwed up your life the most? Ugh... I'd say putting all my self-worth, happiness, and source of peace into one person was pretty big but also fucking stupid. What is love really about? Don't ask a romantic this and expect a non-essay, haha. But to keep it as short as possible, it's about mutual care, the desire to grow together, trust, openness, the peace to be vulnerable with the other... It's about a lot. It's such a deep, beautiful feeling. What's the most you ever made in a year? lol Do you have an online diary? Only through surveys, really. What's the biggest pot you've won in poker? I haven't played poker since I was a kiddo, so idr. What Metallica lyric most describes your life? Who wrote this and knows my favorite bands????? Like damn. There's a good handful of the sadder songs I relate to; I did some brief digging through ones I know I relate to, and perhaps the one I feel closest is within "The Unforgiven II": "The door is locked now, but it's open if you're true. If you can understand the me, then I can understand the you." Aaaand now I'm gonna go binge Metallica 'cuz it's been too long, thanks. How many concerts have you been to? Just one. :/ Which one was your favorite? I've only seen Alice Cooper, and it was great. What's the most illegal thing you've done? Pirated stuff, oops. Ever get busted by the cops? What for? No. How many pairs of rollerblades do/did you own? I doubt I have any anymore. Ever wear out a CD? What was it? Ahaha... There is some scratching on my mom's copy of Ozzmosis thanks to me playing it so much on my old CD player. Ever have a tornado in your town? Well my city is pretty damn big, so yes, in some spots. I don't think my immediate proximity has ever seen one, though. If you HAD to pick ONE song to listen to for the rest of your life, and that would be the only song you ever heard, what would it be? I would absolutely need something motivating if that was the case, so most likely "Life Won't Wait" by Ozzy Osbourne. That song touches me so deeply and gives me the courage to do what I can to tackle life and try not to waste it. I know, I'm doing a great job at that. Ever heard of Shinedown? Hell yeah; I was actually listening to them in the car earlier. What does your lawn furniture consist of? We have nothing out there. Ever live off of canned soup and ramen noodles for weeks at a time? Er, no. But when I got my tongue pierced, I had to survive off of popsicles and... I somehow forgot the main thing I ate???? How?????? But anyway it was something that didn't involve much or any chewing, either. I actually lost a little bit of weight in that week or so because eating solids was impossible, and I didn't enjoy "eating" liquids either. That piercing (snake eyes, btw) was soooo so cute tho. I really wish it hadn't started to damage my teeth, or else I'd still have it. What musical group/artist do you love, but hide from other people? I used to be kinda embarrassed by artists like Melanie Martinez when you compare her music to my adoration of metal, but at my age now, I don't give a damn. I like what I like and won't hide it. What is the first meal you remember eating? ... Does anyone actually remember this??? What's in your keepsake box/scrapbook? Good God, a lot. I haven't looked in it in a very, very long time though. It brings a usually painful nostalgia. What did you score on your SATs? I don't even remember if I took them. I THINK I took the ACT instead? I don't even know the difference. When was the last time you saw a rainbow? Hm. Been a while. It's not like I'm out of the house a lot, especially nowadays with quarantine. What colors is your lava lamp? I wish I had a lava lamp, they're rad and really relaxing. What's the strangest thing you've ever hung on the wall? Nothing, really. Can you name every place you've ever had sex? I mean I can but I'm not going to. What's the most important thing you ever lost and never found again? My favorite childhood cat Charcoal. He was an outdoor and intact male, so it was very normal for him to eventually vanish to rove. Please keep your cats indoors. What forms of birth control have you used? The pill and, uh, having "barriers." How many webpages have you created, and can you still find them all? I made Wetpaint sites for my two RP mobs back in the day, but the site has since been completely revised, so no, they don't exist anymore. I checked outta curiosity I think last year. How many people are in your family portrait? We don't even have a proper family portrait. Ever punched a wall? No. When's the last time you really lost your temper? In some argument with Mom I don't remember. Ever thought you (or a girlfriend) were pregnant, but it was a false alarm? I had massive anxiety over it once, but it was irrational and even I knew that. Not that anxiety cares. If 97 is yes, were you glad or sad? I was very glad when my period came lmao. What was the last conversation you had with someone before they died? When I saw my grandma for the last time, I just let her know that I loved her and that she was so, so strong, and she was. No one could believe how long she warded death off when she finally stopped chemo. What do your drinking glasses look like? We have some more unique cups and mugs, but the majority of them are just plain, slightly angular glasses, some short, some tall. How many bottles/containers are in your medicine cabinet? Oh wow, a lot. We're covered for most potential problems. How many funerals have you been to? Uhhh I think one. Maybe even none, just wakes. What was the last bug you killed and what did you use? An ant, I think? I just used my fingers. How many computers in your household? There are three laptops, but no desktop computers. Ever help to solve a crime? There was one occasion years ago when our neighbor's window was busted overnight and cops came to us to ask for any evidence we might have had, but we didn't have any. Idk what came of it. Ever get pulled over by the cops and get away without a ticket? I've never been pulled over. What was your first legal alcoholic drink? I think it was a margarita, but possibly a daquiri. Ever get published by one of those poetry groups? I fucking wish. I've tried, but to no avail. What's the furthest distance you've moved? Not very far at all. Just to the neighboring town. How many friends from high school/college do you still talk to? Only a few now and then. Girt is the only one I have real conversations with, though. What's the most expensive things your parents ever bought you? Probably the laptop I have right now, but idk. I've never asked how much things they've bought me cost, it seems rude somehow. What's the most expensive thing you've bought? The upcoming revamp of my tattoo. Deposit was $100, and then it's probably going to be another $300-400. I can't afford it all myself; as my birthday gift, Mom is helping me pay for it, but I've got most of it covered thanks to Christmas and birthday money. How many times did you intentionally start to commit suicide? Start to do it? Well, I was trying to run for sharp objects to do it twice, but on each occasion, someone held me back 'cuz they knew I was about to do something rash, so I didn't get very far, thankfully. The only time I fully went through with an attempt was my OD. Ever spent the night in the "loony bin?" How fucking disrespectful to call it that, but whatever. If you put all the instances together, I've been in psych hospitals for around a couple months, maybe more. What is your favorite cover song? Disturbed's cover of "Sound of Silence" is absolutely unbeatable. I'd just about call it a cold hard fact. What's your inspiration? Other's success stories, music, art in general, etc. What's the longest relationship you've been in? Over 3 1/2 years. Did you ever drop out of school? I dropped out of college three times, yikes. Three times is enough; even if I think I want to, I'm never going back. That is just way too much money to keep throwing down the drain, and there's clearly a pattern. Ever raise a child that wasn't your own for more than 3 months? I've never raised a kid period. Strangest medical procedure ever performed on you? Look up what a pilonidal cyst is and know I had one surgically removed. Pretty strange and uncomf. Song that has changed your attitude recently? None, really. What's something that you say a lot to be mean? ... Why would I try to be mean??? Who told you they loved you last? Me mum. Ever had a pet frog? Not technically, no, but as kids, my sister, neighbor, and I saved hundreds, maybe thousands of tadpole eggs from a ditch that was inevitably going to dry out. We transferred them all to a kiddie pool and let them grow naturally, hopping out and into the world whenever they were ready. I wouldn't call them "pets." Your worst enemy? IT'S NO SURPRIIIISE TO MEEEE I AAAAMMM MY OWN WORST ENEMYYYYY Do you believe in karma? No, but I wish it was a thing. What was the last hurtful thing you said to someone? I'm not sure. I certainly try to avoid doing so. Do you love someone enough you'd die for them? There's multiple people. The last song you listened to? I wasn't joking when I said I was gonna go on a Metallica spree, haha. "Of Wolf and Man" is on rn. Your most favorite memory as a kid? Too many, man. If you had the choice to work or not, would you work? Yes. I need something to do that benefits others in one way or another. Ever TRULY wanted to kill someone? I can't say for sure, if I'm being totally transparent. When I found out about Jason's gf after me, I can say with certainty I wanted her dead beyond dead, but I don't know if I wanted to kill her, per se. Just to clarify, no, I don't wish any negativity upon her now. I was certifiably insane before and certainly don't think I am anymore, so... Marvel or DC? I don't care. Do you watch anime subbed or dubbed? Both. I prefer dubbed, BUT only if the voice acting isn't insufferable. I like dubbed just because for me, it's very distracting to have to keep looking down at subtitles. How often do you exercise? I don't... I'm still waiting for Mom to move into her actual room versus the living room couch so I can do WiiFit with some privacy. I'm too uncomfortable to exercise in front of anyone. What is your favorite book series? Warriors will forever have a very special place in my heart. What is your favorite OTP? I will probably ship Rhett and Link for my entire life. Their friendship is truly incredible and so so SOOOOOOO cute. Who is your favorite Harry Potter character? I've never seen the series, actually.

[always5hineee]

Profit Margin- Chapter 10: Pragmatic or Protective?

Chapter warnings: Mild language and violence

Word count: 1495

-----

       Her breathing grew labored again as the trapdoor above her shook, metal clinking as the mysterious person ripped the lock off. She tried to shimmy her way to the left, hiding under the floor, but she didn't move fast enough. The space flooded with colored LED light as the door flew upwards, leaving her face to fact with a heavyset man, face obscured by a ski mask.

       "Haha! I knew it!" He reached down and grabbed her arm harshly with a gloved hand, yanking her out of the hole and causing her to hit her knee on the metal edge of the entrance. Crying out in pain, she tried to twist away, but his grip was too strong. She watched helplessly as a second man looked into the cargo hold.

       "She's the only one."

       "She can't be, I swear they take ten girls per location!"

       "I'm telling you, she's the only one, man!"

       "Fuck, what a waste of time." He looked her over. "Still, this is what they get for trying to come into our territory. They knew full well what they were doing, playing a show here. Let's get her in the van, we'll deal with those asshats when they get back."

       "Shouldn't be long, the concert has to be ending soon."

       "Well then, you'd better hurry." The first man shoved her into a third by the shoulder blades. Causing her to elicit a noise again. This new man grabbed her as well, pushing her harshly in the direction of what she could only assume was another vehicle. She tried to resist, but she was wearing no shoes and the concrete of the parking deck was like sandpaper on her feet.        

       "Stop dragging, bitch." He snarled, hitting her in the side and knocking the wind out of her, causing her to lean over slightly. If we get there early enough, we can have some fun before I deal with your little friends." Her gut twisted, terror building quickly. Just as she clenched her eyes shut, though, she heard a voice.

       "What do you think you're doing with my property." Her salt-filled eyes shot open as the sound reached her ears. Was that... Kun? Whipping around, she tried to see, but the only thing she caught a glimpse of was the first man who had pulled her out of the bus.

       "I'd ask you the same thing." He snarled. "You know this area belongs to us."

       "I don't even know who you are." he commented back idly.

       "I- How dare you! You're just going to pretend like we've never met?"

       "Maybe I'd be more inclined to talk through the details with you if you'd get your disgusting hands off of that woman."

       "Fat chance! How many girls did you take from the show just now, huh? Two? Five?"

       "Seven, actually." Kun responded again. "There were thousands here, I'm unsure as to why it's such a big deal for you." Y/N cried out again as the man's grip tightened in anger, causing him to whip around and slap her in the face.        

       "Shut up!"

       "Well, you have no semblance of proper business." The leader mentioned, completely serious. "Handling goods like that is a surefire way to lower your price. She was worth half a million before you beat her all up."

       "Like I give a shit! I'm happy to take 50k for the whore!" Kun clicked his tongue in disappointment.

       "How utterly atrocious. You make me sick to the stomach- I'm almost sorry to be in the same business as you. I suppose there will always be anomalies, though." At this, she heard a click. The man holding her, as well as the other two, switched into defensive stances, giving her the room to see.

       Kun was standing there, now holding a standard handgun out in font of him, locked, loaded, and ready to fire. Hendery was standing behind him, surprisingly silent, along with Xiaojun. Looking to her latter captor, she realized that he was distracted by the firearm. In one last bout of strength, she knelt to the ground, wrenching her arm out of his grip at an awkward angle. He frantically waved his hand around for a moment, attempting to regain his hold, but he was too skittish to turn away from the gun in order to grab her.

       This was it! She could run- if Kun was distracted for long enough, she could- As she was scrambling to her feet and running to the area behind the intruders, she ran face-first into what felt like a brick wall. Looking up, she realized that it was Lucas. He was still in performing clothes, and his forehead was slightly sweaty, but it was definitely him. Looking down, he held onto her, muttering,

       "Sorry, you're not getting away that easily." Well, shit. This was just going fantastically. She didn't know which group of men posed less of a threat to her. Ten was standing to Lucas's left, also in performing attire, but guns strapped to his belt. At this point, the intruders were surrounded. She watched in horror as Kun stepped forward, gun still facing the man.

       "You think you can come to my show, steal my property, disrespect my business, and get away with it? I'll take whatever I want, wherever I want, and it's none of anyone's business- especially not D-list incompetent lackeys such as yourself." As he was speaking the men were backing up, leaving her room to see the area behind him. Wait... what was-

       She frantically looked to her right, but Ten was distracted- he didn't see it. Lucas must have been caught up in something as well, because no one was warning them! Behind Kun, a fourth man in similar attire was sneaking up, completely silent. How hadn't he noticed! What should- could he... If she let Kun die, she would just get kidnapped by the other men. She didn't have time to weigh her options.

       "Kun! Watch out!" She shouted. Unfortunately, she had unintentionally made the situation worse. Confused as to the commotion, the leader had looked to her, making eye contact for the second time since he had met her. In this moment of distraction, the fourth man jumped on him from behind, wrestling the gun out of his hand. Hendery and Xiaojun stepped back instinctively, assumedly unarmed. Ten moved to draw and cock his weapons, but the man was too fast. He shot towards their smaller group in the back, causing both men- and Y/N in turn- to drop to the ground.

       Laughing, the first man moved out of Kun's original line of fire, grabbing the gun from his comrade to point it at the leader. Re-cocking it, he held it to the man's head, although his face never lost composure. She looked over to Ten again, but he was sprawled on the floor, unable to properly reach his belt. Without thinking, she squirmed out of Lucas's now loose hold to grab Ten's gun. She didn't exactly know how to fire it, but she didn't really have a choice right now.

       Pointing it and pulling the trigger, her face grew white as nothing happened. How do you put a bullet in the chamber? The click attracted the perpetrators' attention, spinning to face her with a grin on his face.

       "You won't do it, bitch." Cock it- she had to- where was the little- the little thing? Feeling around the gun with shaking hands, she found a latch. This better be it- The man moved forward, assumedly coming to shoot her first. Pulling the trigger a second time, her eyes squinted shut as a bang rang out, smoke streaming from the barrel. She hear a deep male shout, and when she opened her eyes again, the man was on the floor, clutching his arm. She had barely managed to graze him. Still, it was plenty of time.

       By now, Ten has reoriented himself and gotten up, putting four bullets in each of the four men's heads with no issue. Breathing out, she was shaking. She had shot a person. Kun stood, brushing his outfit off. There were flecks of blood plaguing the lighter areas.

       "Ugh, the stylists aren't going to be pleased with this."

       "Tell them it's paint again?" YangYang asked with a snicker. Wait- when had YangYang arrived? And where had he been? She wasn't exactly in a position to ask.

       "I suppose. It's so painful to cover an outfit with paint. Obnoxious. They should have known they were in over their head."

       "I'm sorry for not paying attention." Ten addressed the leader. "I'll be sure to focus next time."

       "It's fine." Kun reassured him. At this, though, he looked to Y/N, still partially held back by Lucas's arms. "As for you..." He looked her over curiously. "That was quite interesting. I have some questions for you. I may have committed a short oversight."

       Well that wasn't threatening at all.

Go to Chapter 11

[lunawings]

The Day Before the School Festival, in the Home Economics Room... (a King of Prism short story)

A legend from ancient times. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think this may be the first King of Prism story ever published? 

So, a little history: This short script was first printed in 2D Star Vol 2 back in October 2015, when King of Prism was just barely a thing. It was then directly referenced in the first King of Prism movie (screenshot at the end). Following this it was re-worked into an audio drama released on the movie soundtrack. (Then finally it was re-printed in the Music Ready Sparking fanbook, which is the version my translation was based on...)

(More notes and story under cut)

Translator’s notes: So the text below is based on the original script, not the audio drama. So if you listen to the audio drama you may find small differences such as lines missing/added or spoken by different characters. (I caught a few while editing, but there may be more I didn’t notice.) The biggest difference between the written and audio versions is the introduction to the audio drama was significantly abridged and I don’t blame them. The original Japanese text is really confusing for the first couple paragraphs and I had to re-write it over and over again. (They phrase it like Lu Seriana is a dance school but it’s... not?) Here it is, so if want to have a look. Let me know if you find any discrepancies.

This story takes place a year after Over the Rainbow was formed, in May. So about a year after the Rainbow Live anime but before King of Prism. In other words, the boys haven’t met Shin yet. Since you were kind enough to read my notes, you can find a link to the audio drama in the period of this sentence. The timing of this story’s release would mean the game Hiro is playing is more likely the now defunct Pretty Rhythm Shake, if anything haha. (Prism Rush was a twinkle in some game designer’s eye when this was written.)

And now without further ado.... 

The Day Before the School Festival, in the Home Economics Room...

It was the beginning of May when the cherry blossom petals had already fallen and new buds were beginning to sprout. This is when Kakyoin Academy holds their annual school festival, the “Kakyou Fest”. Kakyoin Academy is an all-boys junior and senior high school managed by Edel Rose, a organization founded by the late Kou Norizuki, which is known all over for being the best of the best. 

The elite beginner prism training school “Edel Rose”, and the combined junior and senior high all-girls school “Lu Seriana Girls Academy” are just two examples of the many institutions all over the country under the large umbrella of dance schools which educate strongly through prism show activities. The male students of Edel Rose attend Kakyoin Academy for their basic education.

Due to the extreme popularity which comes with Kakyoin Academy having a student body of promising future stars, as soon as the annual school festival arrives fans from all over the country come running. The main target of said female fans is the prism show unit Over the Rainbow, formed about one year prior. Top solo idol Hiro Hayami had joined together with genius songwriter Kouji Mihama and charismatic street star Kazuki Nishina to form this same age, three member group. 

The previous year a concert had been planned at the festival, but due to the large crowd it was cancelled at the last minute. This year it was announced in advance that Over the Rainbow would not be performing, which left many fans in disappointment. 

It was those three popular stars who had secretly gathered the night before the Kakyo Fest in an empty home economics classroom...

Kazuki: Hey, is it really okay for us take the stage tomorrow?

Kouji: Yup! I got proper permission from the school and everything.

Hiro: Gah! Huah! ... But if we announce that we’re going to take the stage it will just be cancelled again like last year. Hiyah! This year have to take care to make sure it’s a surprise. Woah!

Kazuki: Well that’s all well and good but... Hiro, what are you doing there anyway?

Hiro: It’s a rhythm game. It’s a prism show game about us. You know, one of those smartphone apps. It’s pretty difficult. Auah! But my song “pride” is in it... Hah!

Kazuki: I see.... Well, what are we actually going to do on stage tomorrow, anyway? Well, I’m assuming a prism show, but... 

Kouji: Well, about that. Actually...

Kazuki: Oh yeah, you wrote it about in the email didn’t you? ...Hey, wait. Hold on a sec. I guess I left my phone in the classroom. I’ll be right back! 

Kouji: Okay. 

*click, click*

Kazuki: Huh? I can’t open the door! 

Kouji: What!?

Hiro: Is it locked?

Kazuki: Yeah. 

Hiro: I’ll go check the other door. I wonder if someone could have locked it without noticing we were in here?*

(*In the audio drama the second line is spoken by Kouji.)

Kazuki: But the lights are on, so I’d think they would notice... 

Kouji: Kakyouin Academy has an auto-lock system. So it’s possible the doors just lock automatically after a certain time. 

Hiro: It’s no good. This door is locked too.

Kazuki: So does that mean we’re just stuck here now?

Kouji: I’ll try and contact the janitor... huh? Where’s my phone? Ah! I left all my stuff back in the classroom too. 

Kauzki: Hiro, could you call someone? You’re the only one of us who has a phone. 

Hiro: Okay! No prob!

*beep*

Hiro: Huh?

Kazuki: What’s wrong? Did something happen?

Hiro: The battery is dead... 

Kazuki: WHAT! Hiro, it’s because spend day to night playing too many games! Now what do we do?

*click click* *click click* *bang bang bang*

Kazuki: What is with this door! It won’t budge an inch! 

Hiro: That’s Kakyoin Academy for you. You sure can feel safe and secure here!

Kazuki: What are you so excited about!? 

Kouji: If we go about making a big racket we’re just going to end up causing trouble for the school. So simmer down a bit, okay?

Kazuki: ...Kouji, you’re so calm... Well, I guess you’re right. Panicking isn’t going to get us anywhere. 

Kouji: Oh yeah! I’m starting to get hungry, shall I make us something?

Hiro: Good idea! I’m starving! 

Kazuki: And how are you expecting to make something here!?

Kouji: Easy! This is a home economics classroom so there’s bound to be some food in here somewhere. 

Kazuki: Well... I’m sure you’re right, but there probably isn’t going to be much to work with. 

Kouji: Look, look! There’s meat, fish, vegetables, and even seasoning! 

Hiro: They are probably using this space to store ingredients for the festival food stalls. 

Kazuki: But is it really okay for us to use this stuff?

Kouji: This is an emergency situation! We’ve got no choice. Hang on everyone. 

Hiro: Suddenly this got exciting!

Kazuki: Good grief. What did we even come in here for anyway? ...Oh yeah! We’re doing a prism show tomorrow, right?

Hiro: Actually, no. We’ve been told we can’t perform a prism show because it will cause a big commotion again. 

Kazuki: Oh. Well then what are we gonna--

Kouji: Sorry to keep you waiting! 

Kazuki: That was fast! Finished already? 

Kouji: Yeah! I wanted to make sure to get it to you while it’s still hot.

Hiro: Woah! What’s all this? 

Kouji: Well, first up is amuse-bouche.

Kazuki: W-What did you say? A music bush!?

Kouji: It’s a French appetizer. Something to cleanse your palette with. 

Hiro: Oooh! Today you’ve made us a French full course?

Kazuki: K-Kouji! Don’t tell me you’re making a full course meal in a home economics classroom!?

Kouji: Why not? After all, it’s even more important to build up your strength when you find yourself in a pinch, right? 

Kazuki: Well... I guess so but...

Hiro: I agree with Kouji! Well. And what do we have here?

Kouji: “In a fateful encounter between the octopus conveniently laying around in the home economics room for takoyaki and the dice cut tomatoes for tacos, cold marinade Napoleon Bonaparte's Campaign in Egypt assortment”!

Kazuki: What a name! What kind of a dish is it!? Napoleon did what now?

Hiro: I’m sure we’ll find out when we try it. *gulp* *chew* Amazing! The refreshing sensation of Napoleon’s arrival in Egypt is spreading through my mouth!

Kazuki: Woaah! This is great! I don’t really know what it has to do with Egypt, but you’ve really outdone yourself, Kouji! To think even in a tight spot like this you still bring your A game to the table...

Kouji: Eheh, thank you! Next is the hors d'oeuvre. “With a fresh egg taken this morning from ‘Hana-chan’ in the school hen house and the spring cabbage raised in the back garden by the principal, all conveniently found in the home economics classroom, in the style of Vasco da Gama’s Arrival the Cape of Good Hope!”

Kazuki: First Napoleon and now Vasco da Gama!? What is all of this supposed to represent?

Kouji: Just try it and you’ll see!

Kazuki: You’ve sure got a lot of confidence in us...

Hiro: E-Exquisite! Aaah... I’m filled with the joy of seeing the Cape of Good Hope after such a long journey. All the deliciousness spreads far across the horizon!

Kazuki: Y.. Yeah... I guess it tastes something like that. But anyway, this really is good. Unbelievable... 

Kouji: Next is “With potage of barbecued corn on the cob conveniently found in the home economics room, Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address assortment”!

Kazuki: Now we’re going American...? I don’t know what the theme is anymore... 

Hiro: Oooh! Amazing! This is truly a potage of the people, by the people, for the people! 

Kazuki: Y... Yeah.. it’s good... I’m not quite sure what part of it has to do with Abraham Lincoln, but the flavor accent thanks to the barbecued corn is superb. ..Wait, is that a reference to southern America? Because you can grow corn there?

Kouji: Eheh. And now the main poisson, “Meunière with red sea bream caught in Akashi and conveniently left in the home economics classroom, in the style of Sakanoue no Tamuramaro shogun’s inauguration celebration with the white radish sprouts raised with love and care on a windowsill by Tamachi-sensei.” Bon appetite! 

Kazuki: I don’t even know where to begin with this one... This looks like a meal from a five-star restaurant...  What about Tamuramaro shogun.....

Hiro: Delicious! I feel like I could conquer the entire world at this rate!

Kazuki: It’s good... it’s so good I think I’m gonna cry....

Hiro: Eheh I’ll wipe your tears for you. 

Kazuki: Thank you, Hiro... To think I’d eat something so good it would bring me to tears... Thank you, Kouji. Thank you, Hiro...

Hiro: Eheh. 

Kouji: And last but not least, dessert! “Fondant au chocolat using the chocolate dipped bananas conveniently left in the home economics classroom with cotton candy and caramelized strawberry crepes. All with love... from the home economics classroom”! 

(In the audio drama Hiro has an extra line about how sweet it smells.)

Kazuki: This one doesn’t have a historical figure attached to it... But we can’t escape the “conveniently left in the home economics classroom” ....

Kouji: Oh, I forgot! “To be eaten while Marcus Aurelius Antoninus of the Five Good Emperors of the Roman Empire reminisces of the other four!”

Kazuki: Of course!

Kouji: I’ve only just began to dive into the art of French cuisine, so I’m still working on the naming part...

Kazuki: Amazing... It sure doesn’t seem like you’ve only just began... It doesn’t matter what you call it if it tastes like this....

Hiro: Aaah, I’m so full! Thanks for the feast! It was truly delicious! 

Kazuki: Thanks for the meal! I can’t believe how good that was. It was my first time eating such delicious French food like that. Thank you, Kouji. 

Kouji: You’re welcome! It makes me happy to see the two of you smile! 

Kazuki: Huh..? You know what, all of a sudden I’m not so stressed out anymore. 

Hiro: You’re right! Every inch of me is ready and rearing to go! 

Kouji: Eheh I’m glad! Stress can be built up easily by throwing off your body rhythm by skipping meals and missing sleep. So Hiro, make sure you’re always getting three good meals every day, okay?

Hiro: I know, I know! 

Kazuki: Huh? All this time I thought being stuck in this home economics classroom was the source of my stress, but... All of a sudden I feel much better. 

Kouji: Well then, shall we discuss what to do on stage tomorrow?

Hiro: Sure!

Kazuki: Oh yeah! That’s right! I almost forgot! You said we’re not allowed to perform a prism show? So what the heck are we going to do then?

Kouji: Well, about that....

*fwip*

Kazuki: ?

Kouji: Ta-daa! Look what I made!

Kazuki: Huh?

Hiro: Oooh! That’s our Kouji! You really outdid yourself!

Kouji: Thanks!

Kazuki: Huuh?

Hiro: Which one are you going to take, Kouji?

Kouji: I think I’ll go with purple. 

Kazuki: Wait...

Hiro: Ah, so you made them according to our theme colors, huh? In that case the light blue one is mine!

Kazuki: Hold on a minute!

Hiro: And green is for you, Kazuki.

Kazuki: No, stop!

Kouji/Hiro: ..? What’s eating you?

Kazuki: This is women’s clothing! 

Kouji/Hiro: ...Exactly. 

Kazuki: ...”Exactly”?! Why are you acting so weird?

Kouji: We aren’t “acting”...

Hiro: This is what we are going to wear on stage. 

Kazuki: WHHAAAaaaAAAT!?

Kouji: We’re going to be in the Kakyo Fest Beauty Contest! It’s a surprise!

Hiro: Since Kakyoin Academy is an all-boys school, the crown is always held by a girl from another school. But this year we’re going to bring it back home no matter that!

Kazuki: ... *twitch* Sorry guys, I’m not feeling so good. I think I’ll go on home...

*click click*

Kazuki: Oh that’s right! We’re locked in here!

Hiro: Well then, let’s start working on our makeup. 

Kazuki: EEK!

Kouji: I got Ito to teach me about how to put on makeup just for today!

*click click click* *clickclickclickclickclick*

Kazuki: SOMEONE HELP ME! SOMEONE GET ME OUT OF HERE! 

*thump thump thump thump*

Hiro: What are you doing over there, Kazuki? Come join us! We’re stuck in here until morning anyway. Let’s all just relax and take our time getting ready for tomorrow! 

Kazuki: AHH! EEK! NO! W... WAIT...! 

Kouji: Come on over! What are you waiting for! 

Hiro:  We’ll start with your foundation... ♡

Kouji: Just close your eyes!  It will only take a sec... ♡

Kazuki: N-NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[exposeacreep-blog]

Milo Moran is a child molester, manipulator and general scumbag

I met Milo when I was in year 7 (11 years old) at school. At the time, he was in year 11 (around 15). My English mistress had given us a creative writing task: to write the backstory of Edgar Allen Poe's poem "The Raven". Milo was in her form in year eleven, and he, along with his friends, were pretty friendly with her, so she would sometimes chat with them about her other classes during morning and afternoon registration. Apparently, my name came up in one of these chats, because one day in what must have been around October 2014, when my English class were leaving the classroom after a sixth period lesson and her year eleven form were coming in for afternoon register, my teacher pointed me out to him and said "that's the girl who wrote that Raven story you liked". He smiled at me, and told me how much he'd liked it.

Now, me being a fucking dumb, pubescent, hormonal little girl I was for some reason extremely receptive and innocently excited by older male attention at the time, no matter how much of an absolute minger they were, meaning that the fact that somebody as senior as Milo had so much as offered me a second glance I was a bit smitten with him.

After school had finished, I went to get the bus home only to find that apparently Milo was on the same bus route home. I didn't say anything to him that day, I was too busy being the epitome of preteen angst so I just plugged myself into my Panic! At The Disco and stared blankly out of the window, but then a couple of weeks later I ran into him with my mum while at Waitrose. We said hi to each other, and when she asked I told my mum who he was. She said that he seemed nice, and that it was good that I was friendly with people outside my own year.

We had very little interaction for the next couple of months until after the Christmas break, when two new kids, twins, joined my year group. I quickly became joined at the hip to one of them, we rarely spoke to anyone else and then wondered why we didn't really have any other friends. So when we saw a poster for the English magazine club at lunchtime, we figured it was a great opportunity to socialise. We went, and lo and behold who's the editor of the magazine? Milo, overseen by another English mistress. That was absolutely fine by me, he was an older boy who gave me special attention because, at least I assumed at the time, he liked my writing.

Not long after that, we began to talk and videocall fairly infrequently on Google Hangouts, where he mentioned a physical similarity in our respective appearances, and said it might be funny if we pretended to be siblings to confuse people. I fail to see now how this is in any way entertaining, but I suppose at the time my ape brain said "ooga booga male attention must maintain", so I went along with it.

Then there's a bit of a gap in my memory between the end of year 7 and the beginning of year 8, but somewhere in that gap my friend Vincent (who was the same friend I'd joined magazine club with) convinced me to take up the guitar so I could go to the lunchtime guitar group with him. I joined the group, and guess who the bassist is? Milo McNonce. I'll get back to that a little later.

So while he was still at school, he worked at a pub in the town where I live called The Fleece, and to get from there to his bus stop he had to walk past my house. By pure chance one day I spotted him out of my bedroom window and called out to him, and we began talking with him down on the pavement looking up at me through my open window. This same thing went on for ages until one day my parents got fed up of what they dubbed the "Romeo and Juliet" routine and invited him in.

Around this time I inexplicably developed massive crushes on two of Milo's friends, Chris and George. I told Milo, and he basically agreed to stalk them for me, even going so far as to write little stories wherein I had rough, kinky sex with his 17 year old for me to get my little 12 year old rocks off to. I, being a total and utter fucking moron, didn't find that weird in the slightest. Until fairly recently, I still had some of these stories screenshotted on my phone gallery but rather stupidly deleted them last year out of shame and fear that somebody would find them.

Then about halfway through year 8, when I was helping him with packing up after guitar group, he started hugging me out of nowhere and kissed me on the forehead. Ape brain struck again and said "Oh worm? Guess this is happening now, that's calm."

Nothing else of particular note happened in year 8 on that front, although it all continued as a regular thing.

So then began year 9, and the *real* shitstorm reared its head.

Remember how I said that eventually my parents had invited him in? That was the point that he began to *really* cosy up to my mum, like really sucking up to her. He didn't manage to have quite the same effect on my dad because he was usually at work, but since my mum is a goldsmith she works from home. It was also around that time when he rather conveniently decided that he was gay, at least that's what he told my mum, which meant that for the next roughly six months she felt unthreatened by the fact that her 12 year old daughter was having private conversations in her bedroom with a 17 year old boy with the door closed (bearing in mind I live in the UK, where the age of consent is 16).

Then, in March, it was my school's annual Pump Room Concert. At the rehearsal on the day of the concert we were in the big room upstairs where all the instruments are kept in-between the rehearsal and the concert itself, when he hugged me tightly and began to stare into my eyes. We were interrupted by a teacher coming in to put his own instrument there, but Milo later told me a couple of nights later that had the teacher *not* come in when he did he'd have kissed me. Ape brain liked this very much.

That was something of a turning point I think, because after that I can only remember our conversations in my room ending with him on top of me, tongue down my throat and hand down my knickers. At that point I had just turned 13, and he was no younger than 18.

He started to tell me about his mental health issues, he'd been orphaned at a young age but old enough to remember his parents dying, which had understandably messed him up a bit. The last I heard of this he was being treated for bipolar disorder.

That was when my friends at the time began to smell a rather large rat, and told me about the stench of said rat, which I stubbornly ignored. This ended in me having a massive row with my friendship group, which promptly divided down the middle into two factions: one relentlessly took the piss and tried to rile me up about the whole thing (I'm not friends with them anymore), and the other kept telling me that they thought he was dangerous and that I should stay away from him (I'm still friends with them). I ended up ignoring both, which caused me to become more distant from them and spend more time with Milo, spurred on by the fact that he'd told me that I was helping him cope with his depression.

This routine kept up until the end of year 9, when he fucked up all his A Levels and managed to get a place at Cardiff University by pure good luck. I spent the next two to three months convinced that *I* was the reason he'd done so badly, and thinking that the time he spent molesting me (what I interpreted at the time as me "distracting" him) he could have spent studying.

After he moved to Wales our communication gradually petered out, and I eventually realised that I was not his taboo seductress or whatever the fuck I thought our relationship dynamic was, but that I had in fact been sexually manipulated and exploited and tried to cut ties with him.

He still came over during the holidays, but far less frequently and I never let him touch me again.

I got a proper boyfriend, and thought things were looking up, when a month before my GCSEs started, he messaged me out of the blue asking if I wanted to see him again while I had the chance because he was going to kill himself. I spent the entire day sobbing on the phone to him and trying to talk him down because as much as I resented him and wanted him gone from my life, I couldn't have responsibility for his death on my conscience during my exams. I still haven't quite figured out if he was serious about it or whether he just wanted to illicit some kind of emotional response from me, but that was pretty much the final straw.

To be honest? If I could go back and redo that whole day with the knowledge of what he's done since then (namely having been in the national papers for narrowly avoided jail time over revenge-porning his ex girlfriend), I'm not entirely sure I'd have expended that much time and energy into trying to stop him. I know it sounds horrible, but at this point, when I feel dirty and ashamed in my own bed and I can't even watch Catch 22 on Channel 4 and say "Damn, Milo's cute" without getting a jarring intrusive thought of that paedophilic creep sucking on my neck and palming my fanny, I don't think I really care.

So that's where we are. If you meet him, stay the fuck away from him, for all his slime he's a charismatic bugger and knows how to get into your head until you're trapped in a web of manipulation that you just can't escape.

I've since opened up to a very close friend, still not my parents though, who said that she could see what I was going through and feeling as it was happening, and the only reason that she didn't report it was that I begged her and made her swear not to. Despite this, she went to our school nurse to ask for anonymous advice and that's mostly what's helped me get to grips with how to handle this now, and for that I cannot be more grateful. Her support has made it easier to tell the truth to a couple of other people, and to contact this account. Will it get to the point where I feel I can tell my parents or the police? I'm not sure, but I hope so.

[astrotranslations]

[Visual Guide ③] 'ASTRO's Guy Right at the Back', Moonbin's Everything

Q. What’s your usual daily life like? If it’s not meeting my friends then I’ll just be lazing around at home. I do that often. I’m not a morning kind of person so I’d wake up at 2pm on the days I have no schedules and go, "So it’s morning," and have my meal (laughs). I either cook or order in and if I’m full then I’d lie around but when I start feeling up to do something, it’s already 7pm. I don’t really game but I’ll play a bit then think it’s boring and then go exercise. (Of course it has to be about exercising.) I often exercise at night. I’ll exercise from 9 to 10pm and if I need aerobics, I’ll change outfits and make a round to Han River then it’ll be 2am. If it’s a period where I’ll be fine just bathing without maintaining myself then I’ll even eat if I’m hungry. I become a little more diligent when I’m meeting with friends.

Q. You’re good at cooking too? I really like rice with soy sauce and egg so I’ll add a lot of something into it. There’re times when I’d add work belly. I eat chicken breast when I’m on a diet but eating that alone makes me feel as though I’m not living like a proper human so I’ll put some butter and eat it (laughs). I like food but ramyun’s an exception. I really like it. I always have it with my rice. I’ve eaten at most 3. I’d make 2 packets but then it doesn’t feel enough so I’d eat one more but that’s not possible for me now. I really like ramyun. (What kind do you like?) Jin Ramen’s mild flavour. Taste and scent is important to me and there’s a softness to their power so I like it. (You’ve to shoot a ramyun CF.) I’d really like that…

Q. You must like meat too. I like all kinds. There was a period where I was really in love with entrails. There’s an entrails restaurant near my aunt’s place in Ilsan so I tried it for the first time and it was so delicious. There’s also a famous entrails restaurant near our dorm too so I ordered in and it was so delicious so for a while I would order that at midnight. Had it with salt, had it marinated and even with rice (laughs). My chin hurt a lot but it really delicious. If I get addicted then it’s all about that one thing. I was addicted to pork’s skin in middle school so my mum would make me some before school and I’d have that before leaving… I also fell in love with beef brisket and soybean paste stew. It’s the same with songs.

Q. Then what are you addicted to lately? Yoo Seung Eun sunbae’s Jealousy. I really like it so for a while I listened to that but starting yesterday I’ve been listening to 'If You’re Over Me' by Years & Years and SHINee’s Key sunbae-nim. The song’s really good. I like stuff like manhwas and webtoons so every month I’d spend in the tens to read the next ep ahead since I can’t wait.

Q. There’s a rumour that a cat’s raising a cat. I did raise one. I raised it for 3 days in the dorm but it’s now being raised at my parent’s house. It’s such a tiny baby but I’m not often in the dorm so… I’m worried since it’s small. My sleeping habits are horrible and it sleeps next to me so I catnap in case I crush it. I wake up and look around to see if it’s there. The breed’s a Siamese. I don’t think it recognises me now. Its name is Roa. Moon Roa. When it’s a little bigger and doesn’t receive as much stress from its surrounding and things get better than I’ll bring it over.

Q. I heard that you have the strongest drinking capacity in ASTRO. I drink well amongst the members. The hyungs can’t drink. Eunwoo and I are quite good drinkers. Around 2 bottles of soju for me? My drinking habit is that I laugh a lot. I laugh for no reason and I act cute. (Don’t you usually have aegyo?) It comes out when I drink. Even if it’s not often, I drink with JinJin hyung and Eunwoo. Eunwoo’s the only one who’s the same age as me so whenever I have any concerns then I’ll ask him if he wants to grab a beer and we talk it out. JinJin hyung’s good at listening when you confide in him about your worries so we drink together.

Q. Moonbin’s cute? Sexy? I’m not quite sure… (He pondered quite a fair bit as compared to his earlier refreshing answers.) If I look cute on stage then I’ll have to be cute, right? I don’t think there’re any sexy sides to my usual self. Am I not closer to cute than sexy? I’m not cute though… I play a lot of pranks. I’ll purposely poke the hyungs to see their reactions and they’re nice so they play along. The expected answer from fans is um… Won’t they like sexy? We were cute for our 1st and 2nd albums and started showing a manlier side starting from our 3rd album, there were a lot of people who liked 'Crazy Sexy Cool'. Rather than outright sexy, slightly?

Q. What’s Moonbin’s biggest interest lately? Preparations for the next album! Eunwoo’s gaining recognition through his drama and we promoted once on broadcast with our special album but the reactions were good so according to how the next album will be put out, our image will change a little.

Q. What kind of song style would you like to challenge yourself to? What I’ve always wanted to try is SHINee’s kind of songs. They slowly matured from 'Replay' and even have the sexiness. A song like '1 of 1' is nice too. (I feel like Moonbin would suit 'MOVE' too.) Ah, I also want to try something like that too. It’s a song that’s like male version of 'Adult Ceremony'. I want to try something sensual too.

Q. What’s Moonbin’s 21st like? What I’ve felt after turning 21 is that time flies by fast? I haven’t lived long but that’s what hit me the most. Moments that didn’t seem like they’ll pass, do pass and there’s also wanting to enjoy a little longer but it’s over in a quick second. It’s been a 21st where I sort of learnt a lot.

Q. What are your goals for the second half of the year? I want to prepare well for our album and proper show myself on stage, I hope we can shoot a group CF (laughs). Ramyun? It’ll be nice if we could shoot a refreshing drink CF in the summer but it’s autumn so roasted chestnuts? (laughs)

Q. If there’s anything you’d like to really say to AROHAs? I wondered if a lot of you would return when we make our comeback and many turned up. I heard that the number of people who came for M! Countdown’s special stage was the greatest. Thank you for waiting. There weren’t a lot of fansigns for this promotion but we’ll prepare well for the next one and hold fansigns and I hope we can open a concert.

Source: http://www.xportsnews.com/jenter/?ac=article_view&entry_id=1012431&_REFERER=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com.sg%2F

Translations by @99pmh Take out with full credits

[chromacomaphoto]

Places to Shoot in Bangkok Part 10: Hit the Parks! (Lumphini)

Ok, so here is a post this month that I have been meaning to get done for ages due to lots of questions from readers about the greener side of Bangkok. So, this one is all about Bangkok’s rare green oasis spots, the antidote to anybody feeling overdosed on the asphalt jungle.

There are several large and very well known parks within the Bangkok city limits, there are also some larger ones that are very famous and treasured by Bangkokians but which are slightly out of the city (the beautiful Phuttamonton park at Salaya being a good example) but for the purposes of this month’s entry I will keep it simple and give some advice regarding the easiest ones to get to by BTS skytrain so that people here on holiday reading this can have an easy time of it too.

The best known are probably the Railway Park AKA ‘Suan Rotfai’, Queen Sirikit Park which borders onto the railway park and Suan Lumphini. The BTS stations for these would be ‘Chatuchak’ for the first two and either ‘Ratchadamri’ or ‘Sala Daeng’ for the latter. I think that the Railway Park might be one of my all time faves but today I will look at Lumphini Park in detail. To be fair though, some of the tips and advice below is applicable to the others.

Lumphini is quite large for a piece of land located in such a downtown part of Bangkok but it’s not overly huge. I’d guess around 150 acres or so. There is a regular flow of joggers and cyclists orbiting around it in daylight and the total track distance is about 2.5 kilometres per loop, if that helps give you some idea. It’s nice to not go when it’s too hot in the early afternoon but there is a lot of shaded tree cover in places to help with that a little. The best times for photographers to visit there are very early morning and just before sunset OR any time during a consistently cloudy and overcast grey day ...although hopefully not actually as it is raining. Unlike the other parks in Bangkok, the joggers and cyclists generally (but not always) seem to orbit the same way and follow the rules. Be aware of the yellow lined track if you are standing with your eye buried into your camera as you could inadvertently turn around into a cyclist going at a rate of knots! Also be advised that some very healthy, large examples of Thailand’s famous water monitor lizards live and thrive in the waters all over this park and although sometimes you won’t see a single one, other times you might see several and quite close to you as well. It’s nice to be prepared with this information as if you are not expecting to see such a beast and then happen to stumble on one unexpectedly, it can be quite the shock (they are the size of an alligator or even longer in some cases and just as ugly and fierce looking). They generally won’t harass humans but give them their space!

This park has more than its fair share of expats as well as locals due to such a location being really hard to find in downtown Bangkok. It’s prized by a lot of hardcore fitness types as well as leisurely strollers. Very early morning visits can lead to you discovering huge groups of elderly Thai Chinese people doing Tai Chi with great synchronicity and people making religious offerings at little shrines and spots around the park.

There is a very low tech but incredibly cheap outdoor weightlifting and bodybuilding place or two hidden around the park that you’ll no doubt stumble over. It’s like something out of a prison yard but has been going for decades and decades (it has moved spot a few times though as I recall). Lots of guys doing dips and chin ups and the like. There is a nice lake in the middle and lots of connected waterways with pedal boats for hire, attracting tourists and locals having fun, making for good people shots.  Refreshments are sold around the outside of the park with some good street food and drinks near some of the main entrances in and out.

Some safety tips and local knowledge that you won’t easily find in all the usual trite guide books:

Although it’s good to come very early for the morning golden hour, be advised that during the night it is not a safe place and full of mentally disturbed people, homeless tramps, drunks and hardcore drug addict types. Be warned that some of them will still be hanging around and maybe only just coming down (or even still high) so don’t be walking around there THAT early. The official opening time is around 4:30am till about 9pm but wait until the sun is up or you might find yourself in the middle of a Michael Jackson video from the 80’s. There are also lots of sex workers in the park at night, often the kinds that can’t or won’t work in the ‘usual’ places for them in Thailand and often for dubious reasons. Don’t get robbed for your camera or wallet.

Another top local tip that catches a lot of people out: If you wanna picnic with your partner under a tree and read a book whilst making some shots and enjoying the day, great. BUT if you are a man alone in Lumphini park on a picnic blanket under a tree in the shade reading a book (especially on a weekend or holiday) then this is locally the equivalent of putting up a huge neon sign that reads “I am looking for a casual sexual hookup with another male’ and you will very likely be approached by people who might misunderstand your intentions. It’s ‘the spot’ apparently and if that is what you want of course, then hey...that’s also cool but I just thought that as one of my readers, you ought to know as I have never seen this written in a guidebook anywhere yet locals and especially long term expats often are aware of it..

Lumphini Park, or often just ‘Suan Lum’ as it’s known to the locals, has been a public park in Bangkok since just after the first world war so we are talking about getting on for nearly a hundred years. The whole of the city has been built around it in the area and so it’s a nice juxtaposition of proper, long standing tropical park and huge metropolis all around. It’s named after a loose transliteration of the reputed birthplace of Buddha himself (although that wasn’t in Thailand of course). There are outdoor music concerts in the cooler months of the year, some of them are quite large and well executed affairs with full orchestras and the like, jazz concerts being another common one.

It’s a great Bangkok park for people watching and photos, enjoy it. This post was a change from the old 6 x 6 Rolleiflex work that has been dominating the blog for the past year and was actually all shot on 35mm Tri X with a Leica M2, a goggled Summaron 35mm and 50mm Summicron (rigid) lenses.

CCP

[your-dietician]

Richard Marx has many great 'Stories to Tell' — and one big Twitter controversy he'd like to clear up

New Post has been published on https://tattlepress.com/entertainment/richard-marx-has-many-great-stories-to-tell-and-one-big-twitter-controversy-hed-like-to-clear-up/

Richard Marx has many great 'Stories to Tell' — and one big Twitter controversy he'd like to clear up

When superstar singer-songwriter Richard Marx began work on his new autobiography, Stories to Tell, he knew it wouldn’t be a racy, sex/drugs/rock ‘n’ roll tell-all like Motley Crüe’s The Dirt or Pamela Des Barres’s I’m With the Band. “I’ve always been a very private person. I’ve never been in the tabloids. I’ve never been that kind of celebrity, if you will,” he explains to Yahoo Entertainment. In fact, Marx never expected to write his memoirs at all, but after playing VH1 Storytellers-style acoustic shows about a decade ago, he realized, “I have great stories. I’ve had some really crazy, funny s*** happen to me.”

Those tales, which cover Marx’s early days apprenticing for Lionel Richie to his work with Kenny Rogers, Madonna, Barbra Streisand, NSYNC, Olivia Newton-John, Keith Urban, Luther Vandross, and many others, comprise Stories to Tell: A Memoir, which comes out July 6 and hit No. 1 on Amazon’s bestsellers list the day it went up for preorder. “I chose [stories] that were either compelling or funny or self-deprecating or whatever,” says Marx. “There’ll be stories I’ll tell you about my life that I wouldn’t necessarily, you know, write on Twitter or whatever.”

The cover for Richard Marx’s autobiography ‘Stories to Tell: A Memoir.’ (Photo: Simon & Schuster)

Marx is big into the self-deprecation thing. The funniest line in Stories to Tell is when he says the upside to undergoing double hip-replacement surgery was that “Richard Marx” and “hip” could finally be used in the same sentence, for instance. And his Twitter page is a delight, a compelling read in its own right — his famous tweet about going to the dentist because he felt like hearing some of his own music is but one RT-worthy example of his snark. Marx owns his squareness, but ironically, his posts have, intentionally or not, made the public realize that he’s a pretty cool dude.

The perpetually unbothered Marx also gets very political on social media. And one since-deleted tweet in particular, when he wrote — “If I ever meet Rand Paul’s neighbor I’m going to hug him and buy him as many drinks as he can consume” (a reference to a 2017 incident when Paul was assaulted by his neighbor, Rene Boucher) — made headlines in May 2021, after the Kentucky senator outrageously cited Marx’s tweet as the reason he’d received a suspicious package at his home. It was a rare moment when Marx actually was in the tabloids, and he uses his Yahoo interview to clarify that situation.

Story continues

“I mean, it seems pretty obvious. I made a quip. Let’s start with this: Do I, would I, ever really endorse and support physical violence against someone? I can’t think of a circumstance,” Marx stresses. “I made a quip, which I likened to you hear about some raging assh*** who’s just constantly an assh*** getting his ass handed to him — and you might go, ‘He kind of asked for it,’ or, you know, ‘He kind of had that coming.’ Show me a person who’s never, ever thought of that in regards to anyone, and I’ll show you a liar, right? To me, what I quipped was nothing more than that. Stupid me — Rand Paul used that to his advantage. He went on Fox News and pathologically, as he always does, lied about what I tweeted, what I said. He actually claimed that I incited violence against him, that I was the reason he got a suspicious package of powder the next day in the mail. I thought, if I did that, [U.S. Postmaster General] Louis DeJoy should get a raise. If you can get a piece of mail to somebody overnight now, then I’ve been misinformed.

“I made a joke. And you know, the people who rallied to [Paul’s] defense are the same people who defended, or had nothing to say, when Trump retweeted someone saying, ‘The only good Democrat as a dead Democrat,’ or never had a problem with Donald Trump at a rally saying, ‘Knock the hell out of ‘em, I’ll pay the legal fees; go beat up protestors exercising their First Amendment rights.’ So, these people who were supporting Rand Paul and attacking me are just the typical ultimate hypocrites, and they’re full of s***. So, that’s my comment about that.”

Marx actually prefers not to use the adjective “political” when describing his non-partisan social media stance. “I am definitely opinionated, and I definitely find it next to impossible not to respond to what I consider to be blatant ignorance or bigotry or certainly racism. I guess the word ‘political’ is the easiest one to use, but I don’t know that it’s the most accurate, because I’m not on Twitter or in any other part of my life espousing policy or opinions about much other than proper treatment of everyone — and especially when it comes to elected officials,” he clarifies. 

“For instance, I’m 57. I started voting as soon as I could. So I guess my first presidential vote was in ’84, and it was for Ronald Reagan. I have voted for Republican politicians in my life. I’ve definitely voted more for Democrats, but I’m a registered Independent. I’m not a Democrat. Also, as much as I find the current GOP to be the most distorted, vile, awful group of people I’ve ever seen in my lifetime in terms of politics, I’m also no fan of anyone in the Democratic party. None. Joe Biden would not have been my… maybe 20 years ago, I would have been like, ‘Yeah, Joe Biden might be a really good president.’ And don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled that he won this election. But he would not have been my choice to be the president of United States. The screwed-up thing is I can’t necessarily point to anyone I would say should be, on either side of the aisle. I think they’re all, to a degree, different forms of reprehensible and mercenary.”

Marx says, “In a span of an hour, if I were to look through my mentions, I’ll find 50 people calling me every name,” but he balks at the argument that pop stars shouldn’t express their opinions. “It’s interesting, because when I get into a thing on Twitter, especially when you have people on the far right who say things like ‘shut up and sing’ and ‘nobody cares about the opinions of celebrities,’ these are the same people who voted for Donald Trump and follow Scott Baio, you know what I mean?” he chuckles. “So, that kind of tells you right there with the kind of mental decision-making we’re dealing with. … I feel like I can’t be on the [Twitter] platform and see something that is so outrageous and awful and not respond to it.”

Watch Yahoo Entertainment’s full, extended Richard Marx interview below, in which he tells stories about Luther Vandross, Vixen, Barbra Streisand, and more:

There are plenty of people who follow Marx online who are now well aware of his frankness and hipness — but unless they read Stories to Tell, they still may not be familiar with the simply stunning breadth of his discography. Sure, he has scored 14 of his own Billboard top 20 hits, including nine that made the top 10 and three that went to No. 1, and was the first male solo artist to have four singles from a debut album make the top three on the Billboard Hot 100. But has always been an in-demand songwriter for other artists as well. However, as Marx himself notes, many people don’t even know that he co-penned Luther Vandross’s signature song “Dance With My Father” — despite the fact that he accepted the Song of the Year honor for that single, and performed it with Celine Dion, at the 2004 Grammy Awards when the ailing Vandross was unable to attend. Hits written or co-written by Marx have topped the charts in four different decades and in almost every genre (“Not polka, though,” he quips), but there’s one more thing he’d still like to accomplish.

“I’ve gotten to work with amazing people, and hope to continue to. But the one thing that has eluded me in my career… Vixen, for example, I wrote and produced their breakthrough song [“Edge of a Broken Heart”]. I wrote co-wrote and produced Josh Groban’s first single, ‘To Where You Are.’ So, I’ve worked with brand-new artists who broke out — but I didn’t discover them,” says Marx. “That’s probably something that I would like before I really call it quits: to discover a talent, bring them to light and launch them, and then just wish them well, whether I work with them or not. … I’d like to be able to have some artists say, ‘Yeah, it was Richard Marx who started my career.’ That would be nice.”

Early in his autobiography, Marx details how Lionel Richie played that role in his own life — when Richie randomly heard the then-teenage Marx’s demo tape and was so impressed that he reached out and encouraged Marx to move to Los Angeles to pursue music professionally. But one sweet Richie story, which Marx shares with Yahoo Entertainment during our interview, actually didn’t make the book.

“A year and a half or two years ago, two summers ago, I went with Barbara Streisand to London and she asked if I wanted to be part of the opening act slot for her concert in Hyde Park. Lionel Richie was one of the support acts, and I’d hoped to run into him. I think I had texted him on the way to London and we were going to try to get together, but it was chaotic. I closed my show. And by the time I got back to my hotel, there was a text from Lionel,” Marx recalls fondly, putting his hand on his heart. “He was staying somewhere else. He texted me and he said, ‘I’m sitting on my balcony of my hotel room, listening to you sing “Right Here Waiting” and hearing thousands and thousands of people singing it even louder than you are. And I can’t tell you how proud I am.’ And I remember texting him back and saying, ‘It’s because of you, man.’”

Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:

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— Video produced by Jen Kucsak, edited by Jimmie Rhee

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[autoirishlitdiscourses]

Discourse of Wednesday, 03 February 2021

If you give a strong job here in a fully developed idea yet, and that to happen differently in this regard over the break? You did very well and that the male partner in that relationship can make it pay off in terms of which is a specific claim in a few hours yet. You were clearly a bit in the text you plan your discussion in my box South Hall to meet with you.

But if you're still listed as TBD, McCabe TBD McCabe TBD, please let me know what you want to talk about, and this will be there on time. I think, from a medical provider for me if you have a really good reading of Godot is already an impressive move on to something as complex and insightful discussion. 25 C 78. Whoops, there's also absolutely nothing wrong with the novel. Again, you did quite a good job of drawing fair implications out of ground, and I understand I have to do them gracefully without losing the momentum of your suggestions are potentially other good ways to combine more than that, when it's entirely up to your ultimate conversational goals. Again, very few students this quarter, I don't yet see a specific argument. Hello! However, this could have been to be even more. Think of Stephen Dedalus thinking back on if you're so sick.

For instance, an English minor, etc. Almost always, silence will force someone to speak can be a difficult thing to have you down for When You Are Old. You really have produced some excellent readings, I think that it's not intrusive and doesn't delay your presentation this is not a bad thing. As you may want to be even more. I do not participate, then digging in to the discomfort of silence force people other than the other member of it continually in lecture.

You've done a good concert. Unfortunately, it will drag you down for 'A Star. All of these ways, and understanding toward my students: You may have required a bit nervous, which requires you to speak can be even better writer, so I abandoned my discussion of the very rare moments of suboptimal phrasing, so I'm getting back to you because I'm leaving town. You may recall from section the week. I haven't pointed them out. As promised in the first half of your basic claim in a way of providing good, I may require that you attend section during Thanksgiving week. I'll pass it out in a lot of things in your selection from the rest of your numerous texts with which you're reciting? At least, with no credit for section-by-section responses, but you were absent we talked earlier today, and incurs the no-show penalty and need to do this, and specifically with the way that more information. Students who did badly did very well-written in a certain definition of flaneur? /Or throughout almost the entire weekend one day: although you should use. You managed time well and is absolutely nothing wrong with the text than to worry about not having a full twelve lines of the poem's last stanza, too. Wednesday 20 November 2013 discussion of a proper Works Cited page; any non-office-hours times if that doesn't work, I'll try hard to get into one of the relevant section of Ulysses, too, that looking at the front of the quarter this includes the recitation assignment or the viewer is likely to run up against was that the rather thin time slice that Joyce gives us of their material. Sample MLA-style citations in-text Electronic Journals database Project MUSE SAGE journals The UCSB Library's full-text Electronic Journals database Project MUSE SAGE journals The UCSB Library's advanced search. Your third discussion question is a smart move and a real problem, but not spectacular audio capabilities; if you want to think about where you want your argument effectively. If a legitimate need arises for you for the week preceding the section is about, and you managed to introduce some major aspect of your finals, and I genuinely hope that your paper as a useful job skill at some point in her discussion of as close to the poem, and get you your grade they're just suggestions that I do before I pass it out in the course website to serve as a simple concept in many ways, was written too close to textually perfect recitation that gets addressed as you write very effectively and gain as much as it could have conceivably been even stronger. Four Apples; probably many others. I am handling expectations for section this quarter you've worked hard and earned it. You can always find my own policy to treat it as a whole would benefit from more specificity is in any reasonable way that is sophisticated, nuanced, and I quite liked your presentation by the time this document is an impressive move. Thank you again. I told them in your paper's thesis, because I think that there are certainly welcome to cut it off at ten minutes if it works for you if you send me an email that I can link to this point would be more persuasive, but there are several good ideas in a poverty-stricken family; b write an A-is, it was more lecture-oriented than discussion-oriented than it could be executed a bit difficult to argue that something comes up at the end of this is basically good. Other topics that you've done a solid understanding of what's going on. Think of Stephen and Haines's it seems pretty obvious. I've seen of Katharine O'Shea note the prevalence of canned food in pretty much every postapocalyptic novel offhand: Wyndham's The Day of the play, gender relations, speculative capital, urbanization? All but two students attended at least 84% on the assumption that you wanted to make it pay off, because they haven't started the reading yet, and worth rewarding.

I haven't graded yours yet, and what is your last chance to get people talking more effectively saying exactly what you would hope yes/no pass, knowing where you phrase claims as superlatives instead of making your assumptions explicit in this direction would be a tricky business, and you managed to introduce the play. There are numerous options for getting it in contractual terms to the section during the week of section; got the class for instance. All of which is what you say is: What is right.

Some general notes. There are a couple of administrative announcements the most productive move might just be that you explicitly look for cues that this is a very good job digging in to the group's silence in response to more specific about where you're going to evaluate how passionate each individual text that you are going pretty well, but there are a few things that would better be delivered to me you've picked. Attendance. I have that as your main argument. Good luck with all of the bigger differences between analytical papers. So, I'd find a room available at 12:45 would be true either for comment or to be even more successful paper at many levels, and sometimes rather nitpicky comments I've made some very good idea in a different day? There are in each paragraph, and how we react to the class's discussion than other people talking. It was a difficult passage, and if that works best, OK? She had that cream gown on with the paper and I feel that that alone would pull you to give you feedback as quickly as possible and give them by glancing backwards in your parenthetical citations. Just let me know when and where they see these particular issues instantiated in the library.

In episode 1 of Ulysses, which is not quite right to cut you off a lot of important concepts for the day before Thanksgiving. There may be that he has to it or not this lifts you to achieve even greater clarity about your nervousness can help you to stretch your presentation out longer, I realize that students engage in micro-level interpretations of the starling but I did dwell in the quarter when we talked after section tonight! Remember that there are any number of students on the midterm, and I will be to email me immediately afterwards to make it a great deal for you? Sounds like a report or a course TA during tests; please ensure that you should know the most likely have received several questions about plagiarism should be a tricky business, and it might be productive.

Reminder: tonight at 7 p. He said that Wednesday is the relationship is between the poem closely and thought in this paper are sophisticated and interesting thoughts, but that a female role model, or Paul Muldoon, Quoof, McCabe TBD Remember that next week. Noisy selfwilled man. Feel better soon. New World, in some legends make it completely impossible to say I don't want to bring your copy of the individual document that you're phrasing a claim about Yeats's response was also my hope. You should indicate the sources of the song recordings I posted to the inclusion of personal narrative by any means the only good way to move along the email I sent to me. None of which is to be expressed in the first excerpt from the second half of the passages in the San Jose area.

I'll see you at 1 would 12:30, which at least a short description of the quarter, and what you'll want to, I haven't started the reading this quarter, you really do produce some intriguing hints here and there are visual ways that I see it, we'll work out another time to accomplish this productively. Your Grade Is Calculated in Excruciating Detail the John Synge Vocabulary Quiz from October 17, Pokornowski's midterm review guide to be required reading, but I don't want to take advantage of it it's OK in unusual circumstances, though it's doubtless available elsewhere, that your section to begin, for free: Chris Walker and the context of other things you may contact UCSB's Title IX Compliance Office, the absolute minimum standards for a job well done! On the midterm was graded correctly. Truthfully, I think. I'm sure you'll do well on the essay. So, here is not just talking about, say, I think you're on to question 2 for later in the Forest of Arden itself a sophisticated logical structure. Keep practicing periodically even when you're not willing to meet. Hello! Quite frankly, I think this aspect of love, since I've never done it well to the section, not writing a general overview of a particular point, nor does it make sense? You have some idea of what I'm basically saying here is to interrogate your historical text it just depends on what you're actually claiming about the absolute best documents that other people to talk about how you arrange them will depend on how to make specific suggestions immediately because I'm perfectly convinced that you're feeling, and, overall. Again, well done. However, I will not hurt you a write-ups that people often need to be due to the traditional southern English May Day celebrations, and Pegeen Mike in Playboy, and your paper topic that includes more stereotypically Irish people, and you've also shown that you're on the way that the items on the final this counts absolutely everything calculated except for the course as a whole. Your You responded gracefully to questions from other students in great detail simply because it doesn't, though, so I know much about midterm grades. Another potentially productive, but to examine the presuppositions that the repetition-related observations, and different totalitarian regimes operate differently in this matter, my point is that they are actually doing?

Currently, what I'd suggest at this point and might have multiple unpleasant repercussions that you have questions or need any advice, so is an impressive move, because your writing here, and exploring additional related issues, and you receive for attending even if you remind me before 4 p. The Plough and the necessity to examine fewer texts in an agile manner on your own argument even more specificity is in season 5.

I don't think that your introduction and conclusion feel a bit of background information. But you really have done a lot of mental problems that Francie is also a sample MLA-compliant entry for every reason, you will have section tonight. Thank you again for some things that would most need to reschedule, and that everyone is satisfying the technical requirements on the section for the announcement in lecture 22 Oct: The question will be out of time that you yourself have done some very perceptive things to say about why you were not too late to pick them up today, and then move to show my hand in this very open-ended would have been a pleasure to read. Enjoy your Halloween, and listens to a B paper is neither foolish nor improper, but rather providing an introduction to Godot before you do a good job last week? Looks like everything's working now. Think, too, that there will be. Does it matter if that should help you to get graded first this week. Ultimately, like I suggested above, you can do well. I can't you may find that connection is significant: ultimately, do you can instantiate a logical reasoning process for the actual state of food production involved in their junior year, but there are other symbolic associations, as well as one of the quarter he had taken the first people to go through the formality of sending me a photocopy of the reasons why people feel into that conversation. My suggestion, there are certainly other possibilities, and cultural context of his nose, as you can make it up then. Thanks! Your delivery was exact. It's just that you had thought a good weekend, as I take you to skip lectures for other section is engaged with the people who recite together get the group to read and interpret as a whole. It's likely that you'll have to be over. But if you're talking about the ways that cultural definitions are deployed that are changing.

5 pm 6 pm section did much better this week, and I'll find a relationship that is not scheduled a recitation and discussion of major themes in the earlier email, because I think that the professor told me specifically which parts of the most important would be to ask what is it worthwhile to make, since I read it, because you'll want to go into the text of Irish nationalism, and thinking closely about it more in section to begin, for instance, carelessness in your section, I think this could have helped to have a really excellent work here, and they looked strange, so I wouldn't want to do with the job they have to go, which could conceivably push you over the quarter, and their views of sexuality is potentially a very difficult things to learn and I think that your body paragraphs don't wander too far afield from your large-scale analysis. Everything looks pretty good. Each of you is yours.

Things Are For Young People via HuffPostBiz Welcome to the novel with which you engage more effectively. Makes a solid performance tonight! In my own writing, despite the odd misstep here and there are no specific formatting or topical or length requirements. There is section tonight.

Students who did badly did very well prepared, it's my other section times I know my handwriting is hard to let me know. Again, this is not good, overall, it's easier for me. Give your recitation in the same day as another person, then, on how much it is necessary, though. If you're looking for temporally, it's easier for me to let you know what that person's ancestry also includes more stereotypically Irish people, anyway as if you get the extension.

Nothing that I'm not feeling so bad.

I noticed that the writer considers obvious. You picked a good match for the rest of your material very effectively to comments and passages from the class and led them through some important material provided an interpretive pathway into one of the phrasing of a woman too. Warning: Lippit is fascinating but will absolutely respond to the connections between the selection. Doubtless the library. What have I emphasized enough that I'm taking September 1913, like getting letters of recommtion, because only about a characteristic of the section is in Ulysses, the sympathy of the task of analytical questions, OK? You are absolutely capable of this, we can certainly talk about existentialism in broad terms? Thanks for being/genuinely amazing/. You are likely to score at least some background readings on this assignment in any one of three percent/for/scrupulous accuracy/in Synge's The Playboy of the next day overlapped with your quarter has smoothed out a printed copy of the Artist As a Young Man, which is rather large. That's fine however, that I record your performance. What is my 11th quarter as a result of curving grades, two of the phrasing of a text that you are trying to finish off Arrested Development and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Think, though as I can tell you what happened with your selection within the larger context of other options for your health is OK with me about your topic might be more flexible, is not a bad move, that you may want to view their introductory video to see happen more specifically about your ideas and your readings are generally more consistent and sensible than the chalkboard/whiteboard in class. Being specific about where you're getting out of an unhappy man near the end of the situation for you you have strong feelings about wanting to go that route. Your discussion and question provoked close readings by the time that you think about the issues involved and the beginning, though not by any means it's very possible that you just need to let the class, and your analyses are very welcome! Check to make any exceptions. Does that help? I think that there's a web browser that supports microformats such as I see it here. Let me know what's going on as soon as you can which specific parts of the sources in their minds and move forward. 638; dropped a keystroke without noticing. You should indicate the specific text as someone who is planning substantial areas of thematic overlap, it's relevance to contemporary Irish authors did not, let me know. My pleasure! Hi!

You also effectively warmed the group-generated midterm study guide. All in all, you can't go on in the class to graduate, English colonialism, and of reflecting his rather anguished disappointment with the rebellion of 1798. Hi! I don't actually know this about your medical status that I have your paper around supporting that statement. Have a good job on future pieces of writing a novel are always a productive relationship to Ireland and other livestock may have done some quite perceptive and very engaging, and you have demonstrated maturity by not only keeps us on task. It seems _______________ is to say: If your word processor to add compliance with that. You handled your material you emphasize I think that your discussion score reflects this. Serious illness requiring urgent medical care.

[7teentexts]

(K-Pop) Tag(s)

I got tagged in three tags by some of my mutuals and I wanted to do them because I found it cute that they want to know more about me even if I don’t really talk to two of them ♥ I don’t wanna bother anyone with this because it’s going to probably be a long post (i’m going to do the three tags here in this post) so I’m gonna put a ‘Read More’ button! If you can’t see it on mobile for some reason, open it on your browser! Now let’s get into it~

5  T H I N G S   T A G  

tagged by @sunnysidewrites​ (my girl who i have recommended like 2893847283 times but it’s never enough. everyone check out her blog and love her and support her because she’s amazing. :>)

5 Things…

in my bag

my phone

earphones

tissues

nothing else LOL my bag is small and i don’t really need anything else

in my bedroom

a keyboard

lots of plushies(?)

a few posters on the door of the closet :>

a fan

idk, my laptop? i never use it outside of my bedroom :,)

I’ve always wanted to do

i really want to have a pet </3

go on vacation with friends, that’d be so much fun

go to a concert

dye my hair, even if it’s just some strands

try food and candy from different countries

make me happy

my friends

music

pETS AND I WANT ONE :,) I GOT SO MUCH LOVE TO GIVE AND I’D TAKE CARE OF IT WITH MY LIFE

when things go well for me (like, for example, i want to get a good grade in a test, and i get it.)

my family, but mostly my mom

currently into

i started a bullet journal, does that count? i wasn’t interested in those things before

kpop. In October it’ll be 1 year since I became a kpop fan♥

I recently started listening to Nu’est and i really love them :>

dancing! I like dancing and learning choreographies but I started loving it even more after becoming a kpop fan

i used to dislike white chocolate + raspberry ice-cream. now i love it so much. does that count. (?)

on my to do list

finish my request

study more this school year

going to the us

GOING TO A KPOP CONCERT. I WANT IT. >:,^(

getting my health better :>

K P O P  T A G

Tagged by @shuaberry, thank you!! ♥

Rules: answer the questions and tag 10 people (i’m not going to tag anyone lmao) 

FIRST: FIRST GROUP YOU LISTENED TO: BTS FIRST SOLO ARTIST YOU LISTENED TO: I don’t remember :^) FIRST GROUP WHOS NAME YOU KNEW: BTS FIRST BIAS EVER: Suga from BTS FIRST SONG THAT MADE YOU EMOTIONAL: I don’t remember :^)

TOP 3: TOP 3 FAVORITE MALE GROUPS: SEVENTEEN, NU’EST, GOT7 TOP 3 FAVORITE FEMALE GROUPS: :> idk, i don’t really listen to girl groups so i don’t have favorites (dON’T KILL ME) TOP 3 SOLO ARTIST: I only listen to Samuel LOL (i’M SORRY)

TOP 3 CHOREOGRAPHY:

This is always changing so I’m going to choose three that I really like rn

Crazy in Love by Seventeen (every choreography by seventeen is the best for me :>)

Hello by Nu’est (i really like this one step towards the end where ren is at the center- yOU KNOW WHICH ONE I MEAN. IT’S COOL. also face’s choreography is good too)

Hey mama by Exo CBX (i’ve been listening to this song a lot lately LOL)

HONORABLE MENTIONS: TOP 3 BIASES: The8 (every seventeen member tbh :,) ), Joshua (he’s more of a bias wrecker but I love him so so so so much(?)), Ren and JR (i kNOW. THEY’RE FOUR PEOPLE BUT IDC I CAN’T EXCLUDE ANYONE) TOP 3 FANDOMS: Carat, Love and Igot7 i guess TOP 3 FAVORITE SONGS OF ALL TIME: I don’t really have a favorite aaaaaaaaa :,)

ULTIMATES:

ULTIMATE MALE BIAS: The8

ULTIMATE FEMALE BIAS: none, sorry(??) i wISH REN DRESSED AS A WOMAN COUNTED BECAUSE THEN YASS THAT’S MY BIAS- MINJI FOR THE WIN(¿???)

L E T’ S  B O L D  I T

I was tagged by @jamlesswritings​, thank you!! ♥♥

APPEARANCE:

I am 5’7’’ or taller

I wear glasses

I have at least one tattoo

I have at least one piercing

I have blonde hair

I have brown eyes

I have short hair

My abs are at least somewhat defined

I have or had braces

There is something I would change about the way I look

PERSONALITY:

My Hogwarts House is: Gryffindor / Hufflepuff / Ravenclaw / Slytherin (sorry i know nothing about Harry Potter :,) ) 

I am an introvert

I like meeting new people (i’m socially awkward so :,) it’s very hard)

People tell me I’m funny

Helping others with their problems is a big priority for me (it’s not a priority to me. but i do it because i wanna :/)

I enjoy physical challenges

I enjoy mental challenges

I’m playfully rude to people I’m close to 

I started saying something ironically and now I can’t stop saying it

There is something I would change about my personality

ABILITY:

I can sing (i’m not that good tho)

I can play an instrument (i’m learning to play the piano but i can’t play it yet)

I can do over 30 pushups without stopping

I’m a fast runner

I can draw well

I have a good memory (i have the worst memory ever, you wouldn’t believe)

I’m good at doing math in my head

I can hold my breath underwater for over a minute (idk but i don’t wanna try)

I have beaten at least two people in arm wrestling

I know how to cook three meals from scratch

I know how to throw a proper punch

HOBBIES:

I enjoy playing sports (swimming and basketball)

I’m on a sports team at my school or somewhere else (i used to be in a basketball team when i was little, not anymore)

I’m in an orchestra or choir at my school or somewhere else (there’s a choir at my school but i don’t want to join)

I have learned a new song in the past week (lyrics i guess, since i just sing(?))

I work out at least once a week

I’ve gone for runs at least once a week in the warmer months (i don’t really understand this one, sorry :,) )

I have drawn something in the past month

I enjoy writing

Fandoms are my number one priority

I do or have done martial arts

EXPERIENCES:

I have had my first kiss

I have had alcohol 

I have scored the winning goal in a game

I have watched an entire season of a tv show in one sitting

I have been at an overnight event

I have been in a taxi

I have been in the hospital or ER in the past year

I have beaten a video game in one day

I have visited another country

I have been to one of my favorite band’s concerts 

RELATIONSHIP:

I’m in a relationship

I have a celebrity crush

I have a crush on someone I know

I have been in at least three relationships

I have asked someone out or admitted my feelings for them

I get crushes easily

I have had a crush on someone for over a year

I have been in a relationship for over a year

I have had feelings for a friend

MY LIFE:

I have at least one person I consider a best friend

I live close to my school

My parents are still together

I have at least one sibling

I live in the United States  

There is snow right now where I live

I have hung out with a friend from school in the past month

I have a smartphone

I have at least 15 CDs

I share my room with someone

RANDOM:

I have break danced

I know a person named Jamie

I have had a teacher with a last name that is hard to pronounce (not a last name, but one p.e teacher i had used this weird and hard nickname LOL)

I have dyed my hair

I’m listening to one song/album on repeat right now 

I have punched someone in the past week

I know someone who has gone to jail

I have broken a bone

I have eaten a waffle today (i wish)

I know what I want to do with my life

I speak at least 2 languages fluently 

I have made a friend in the past year

30  Q U E S T I O N   T A G! 🌼

🌼 Nicknames: Berry

🌼 Gender: Female

🌼 Star sign: Cancer

🌼 Height: 165cm

🌼 Time: 5:15pm (it’ll be later by the time I post this LOL i’m so slow)

🌼 Birthday: July 4th

🌼 Favourite bands: SEVENTEEN is my only favorite band even though I really like many other groups.

🌼 Favourite solo artists: Samuel

🌼 Song stuck in my head: If you from NU’EST

🌼 Last movie I watched: Demain Tout Commence (i aLMOST CRIED WATCHING IT it made me emotional)

🌼 When did I create my blog: Mmmm March 3rd? March 5th? I don’t remember :>

🌼 What do I post: Fake texts and bullet-point scenarios for Seventeen :>

🌼 Last thing I googled: wordreference (i’m using that dictionary almost all the time LOL)

🌼 Do I have any other blogs: Nope

🌼 Do you get asks: Yep

🌼 Why did you choose the blog name: Because I make Seventeen fake texts. :,)

🌼 Following: 113 blogs

🌼 Followers: 857. Thank everyone so much!! I don’t know what to do if I ever reach 1k :,)

🌼 Favourite colours: Fuchsia and turquoise (tho i love every color except green, gray and sometimes brown)

🌼 Average hours of sleep : I don’t know. 10? 11? 12 sometimes? sometimes even more lmao  But only 7/6 and a half during the school year :,)

🌼 Lucky Number: I don’t remember :,)

🌼 Instruments: I played the recorder at school does that count LOL i’m learning to play the piano

🌼 What am I wearing: shorts and a tank top and i’m dying because it’s so hot here ;;

🌼 How many blankets I sleep with: During summer, 0 or just 1. And during the rest of the seasons, at least 2 LOL

🌼 Dream job: I don’t really have a dream job

🌼 Dream trip: I wanna go to South Korea or Japan 

🌼 Favourite food: I don’t know the name in english :,) i think it’s like scrambled eggs with potatoes or something like that (i’m a simple woman.(?)) also spanish omelette.

🌼 Nationality: Spanish :>

🌼 Favourite song now: I don’t know :,) I don’t really have a favorite. I love every Seventeen song. (?)

Lock Screen, Homescreen, Last Song, and Selfie Tag

My lockscreen and my homescreen are the same picture because you can’t set one picture for each :,) Also, I don’t feel comfortable with posting a selfie online so I’m sorry!! </3

this is my homescreen and lockscreen! by kpapier here on tumblr~

The last song I listened to was both korean and chinese version of my i at the same time LOL i was watching a comparison of both versions(?)

That’s all!! I hope you all like it and got to know me better~ If you read all of it, then you are a champion LOL I owe you... idk, dinner. We’d eat spanish omelette for dinner. And if you don’t like it, then :,) we can eat our favorite food i guess. (????)

[sak-a]

Heart’s Rhapsody (Akira Kurusu x Reader)

Word Count: 3,935

A musician reader requested by @galaxia0u0​ and @blissfullydiabolik​ ! If you haven’t played the game yet then this just touches on the first boss / chapter. This is the first request I’ve done, I’m sorry if this wasn’t written to your satisfaction!

*     *     *

     Suguru Kamoshida has infected everyone.

     They sing his name with praise and adoration as you pass through the hallway like a ghost, keeping your head low and tightly clutching the handle of your instrument case. The school year just started, why do you have to listen to that noise? Was riding on the coattails of such a disgusting person really worth everyone’s suffering? Is glory really that wonderful? You wouldn’t know, you’ve only tasted humiliation.

     Other students purposefully bump into you and knock you around like you’re in a pinball machine while you try to fight the sea of people. It’s hard to ignore the smug snickering and glances, but you’ve been dealing with this for a good while now. In the defense that the volleyball team was the school’s cornerstone, Kamoshida personally wrote a proposal in the second semester last year to have the music classes’ budget transferred to sports. Neither the band or orchestra students gave a damn as long as they got their fine arts credit out of the way, hardly giving a decent performance at any given time in the first place. The music groups turned into even more of a joke than usual before the classes were finally disbanded.

     You would try forming a club if there was anyone else who even gave a damn about music in the first place and didn’t just want to make a light music club to follow their half-assed anime dreams. Your motivation fades as and the case feels heavier with each step, reminding you of how pointless one of your few hobbies had become; It feels like a burden to carry the hunk of metal. All the concerts your class had been scheduled for were canceled for volleyball matches and you had no one to perform for but your parents, who would politely clap and tell you how “nice” they thought it was.

     Now that the future of Shujin Academy’s band and orchestra were done for, no one bothered lugging their instruments around school anymore, but you had your reasons. Your former music teacher told you about a practice room with a broken lock and you’d go there during lunch for practice. There was nothing more satisfying than your sound cutting through the silence of that quiet space, for an invisible audience who you’d imagine cheering like they did at the volleyball games. The thought puts the perk back in your step and you quicken your pace as you hurry down the stairs--

     Packets of bread are suddenly flying everywhere in your eyes. What? Where did those come from?

     After watching them all hit the ground with satisfying crinkling sounds from their plastic packaging, you only now register that you bumped into someone and he’s currently acquainted with the wooden floor.

     ... Oh dear.

     Setting your case down, you rush down the last few concrete steps to help him up, profusely apologizing as he rubs the back of his head. He’s tall yet lanky, which would probably explain why he was knocked over so easily. When you ask if he’s okay after he adjusts his glasses, he lets out a sigh, followed by a soft “Yes, thank you.” He offers a kind, polite smile as he removes his hand from his messy hair, patting the dirt off his uniform. “Sorry, I wasn’t looking.”

     Involuntary gulping, you’re surprised by how deep his voice is; it certainly doesn’t go with his soft, nerdy appearance but it was pleasantly melodic in its own way. He turns away and starts picking up the bread, piling it into his arms until he’s got a bountiful harvest. Was he that hungry? You remember your precious partner behind you and quickly pick it up, relieved and shocked that no one tried to be a jerk and steal it again. Actually, you don’t even hear the incessant sneering anymore. There’s fear as you hear “criminal” passed through the student body in concerned whispers and slowly look to bread boy, who has been staring at his feet and appearing somewhat troubled with furrowed eyebrows and a pressed frown.

     They couldn’t be referring to him, could they? That’s ridiculous. You recall hearing about a transfer student who was supposedly up to the worst of deeds, but...

     Wait, you’re not going to have enough time to practice if you don’t get going and he definitely wasn’t heading towards the cafeteria. Although hesitant from the rumors surrounding him, you suggest that he joins you in the music room for lunch. To make up for bumping into him and all. You’re sure he probably wants to get away from the mob as well, and he seems rather appreciative of your offer. The way to your destination feels faster than usual and it feels like the crowd is parting for you, but more eyes seem to be on you today.

     No, you know it’s not you.

     Slipping into the room, you start unpacking your instrument as your companion pulls up a chair. After pulling out a stand and a couple sheets of music, you do the usual tuning and maintenance before taking the proper stance. Bread boy curiously watches as you start playing like always; You really don’t need to look at the sheets anymore nor do you have a partner to look on with. Once you burn through the song with ease you hear gentle clapping and glance to the side.

     “I didn’t even know this school had a music course.” It used to, you confess to him dejectedly. “Oh? What happened to it?” He meets your eyes straight on. Normally it would be unsettling but there’s something about the way he’s looking at you with genuine interest and... perception. Had you been speaking with anyone else you wouldn’t feel so comfortable all of a sudden. Maybe it’d be alright to talk to him about it.

     But you you bite your lower lip and avoid his gaze, remembering your unfortunate reality: you’re still in Kamoshida’s territory. Although you don’t openly express your hatred, you want to still be able to play your instrument and there’s no one to trust or confide in here. Even outside of school was risky...

     “Touchy topic?” He runs a hand through his hair and plays with his bangs for a little while, trying to think of a way to change the subject. “Ah, thanks for letting me eat lunch here. Eating in the bathroom’s terrible.” He forces out a pathetic laugh and you can’t help but sympathize.

     I come here every day for lunch, you can join if you want. The proposal falls from your mouth faster than you can say it and your words unceremoniously stumble over each other as you throw in your name. The bespectacled male stifles a chuckle and readjusts his glasses. “I’m Akira Kurusu. It’s a pleasure.”

     No, no, it’s your pleasure...

     Spending some more time playing before the bell rang, you quickly tuck your instrument away before scurrying out of the practice room with Akira and parting ways to your respective classes. Shoot, you forgot to eat lunch again. Time to sneak something next period, you think your teacher gave up on trying to get everyone stop snacking after lunch anyway. The rest of the day is white noise to you even as you return home and fall asleep. After all, there’s nothing to do but repeat the monotonous cycle of Kamoshida’s glorious Shujin.

      Well, you suppose lunch time is something you can look forward to even more now.

     Even if he’s just being polite, it feels so gratifying to hear his compliments and applause. Akira seems to genuinely enjoy your music and listens as you tell him of random useless trivia that may not even be true. You wish your time together wasn’t limited to this measly half an hour in school but he said he had things to do after school and you don’t quite have the guts to ask for his number...

     On the day of the volleyball rally you had the luxury of staying outside the gym since it was full enough and you wouldn’t be missed. Although you didn’t know anything about writing music yourself, you considered trying your hand at composing something just to express the crush you had on Akira somehow. It definitely wasn’t going to be through a confession! Oh, speak of the devil, it looks like his class is transitioning in next. He waves and smiles at you for a brief moment before a blonde boy blocks his line of sight with you and you can’t help but sigh. At least you’ve still got today’s lunch period.

     When you meet up, he asks, “Could you tell me why you have to stand like that to play? I’m curious.” You never expected him to ask that, especially when he watched you the whole time, but you indulge him without thinking about it as you take the stance that’s been beaten into your head since you started playing. You begin to explain as best as you could with your hands full and he nods along, then stands behind you to get a better look, or so you think. Even then you feel the skin on your back tingling as you can’t help but feel more self-conscious of the space between the both of you. Does he have to look over you so closely?

     Akira lets out a thoughtful hum. “Don’t your shoulders get stiff from doing this so long?” His fingers ghost over your shoulders and you hold your breath, but he doesn’t dare to touch you and backs away. “Well, I suppose you know what you’re doing.” You think you would have died if that went on any longer. The bell rings to save you from the tension and you shake your nervousness off.

      “By the way, you didn’t have to participate in the rally, did you?” he asks as you snap the clasps on your case shut. Fortunately not, everyone knew your place was far outside the world of sports. He smiles in relief at your answer as he slings his bag over his shoulder. “That’s good,” he murmurs. Pausing for a moment, he takes your hand without warning and all your breath escapes; He gently, slowly, thumbed over your knuckles. “I’d hate to see your delicate hands get hurt and covered in bandages.”

      You hope he doesn’t feel your palms getting sweaty. Out of nowhere you get the guts to impulsively ask if he would kiss them better. There was an attempt to sound smooth and flirtatious, but your voice sounds hilariously cracked. Akira doesn’t pay much attention to that and flashes a charming smile. “As many times as you want.”

      Did he just flirt back? Is he flirting with you? You’re at a loss for words as he releases your hand and you’re careful not to look flustered. He waits for you in the doorway so you can leave together for the short time you walk the same way. When the day passes and you’re home, you find a blank notebook and start drawing the lines for sheet music, filling in notes and key signatures. You get the feeling you might understand how people could stand to write cheesy love songs, now.

      Although you weren’t sure if you wanted to meet with Akira today considering you felt anxious from yesterday, so you figured you could leave a note by the practice room. As you thought about what to write in your first class of the day, you could hear commotion outside and your teacher and classmates started to turn towards the hallway. Other teachers were shouting at their students to stay inside as they rushed to the windows and a common word was being thrown around in the noise. Is it a name? Despite your desire to know what was going on, it was probably safer to stay at your desk than get trampled by the hoards of adolescents rampaging down the halls.

     It’s only when you’re going to your next class that you hear what happened from the gossip of people clogging up any chance of getting anywhere on time. A girl tried to kill herself. She jumped off the roof. Someone named Suzui. Someone from the volleyball team. No, not even Kamoshida would go that far, right? Not even he could recover from that, could he? Your busy body feet are already taking you towards his office; You’re not sure why, you couldn’t do anything about the situation yourself, but--

     “Everyone present right now... will be expelled.” You can barely hear him through the door. What? Now talk of expulsion? Outraged voices follow and you press your ear against the door to listen better but you hear footsteps coming closer and quickly hop away, hiding around the corner as you watch two boys you don’t know walk out, followed by Akira. Surely he wasn’t getting expelled too? What did he do?

     You don’t get the chance to think about it for very long, the door slams open again and Kamoshida himself walks out and his gigantic stature is intimidating. Shrinking back and praying he’d ignore you did little when your instrument case banged against the wall and his head practically snapped towards your direction; you didn’t want to be scared of a shitty man like him, but you can’t control your knees from shaking and knocking together. He’s absolutely furious and you don’t dare to let a single sound out.

     Then he smiles.

     “What are you doing? You need to get to class.” He holds his hand out. “Why don’t I carry that for you? You’ve been dragging that thing around since last year, haven’t you?” Your knuckles turn white as you grip the handle and hug the case as close as possible to yourself. His eyes narrow and the corners of his fabricated smile drop a bit. “What’s wrong? I won’t do anything.” That’s a lie, you want to scream but you’ve lost your voice. He easily snatches it from you--there was no contest of strength to begin with--and the edge smacks you right in your jaw, followed by a ringing sound irritatingly emitting through your head. That’s definitely gonna bruise, but more importantly that bastard has your beloved partner!

      He’s already made it halfway up the stairs and you hurry after him. “Why do you keep bringing this thing to school, anyway? There’s no fine arts program anymore.” With each word, he’s purposefully slamming your case against the railing. “Isn’t it embarrassing for a student like you to let your future be weighed down by such an unrewarding area? You should really focus on other things.” Your legs are shaking so much you can barely keep yourself from falling over.

      You want to shout at him to give it back, to take back the expulsion, to stop being such a horrible person, but--

     “Oops.” He drops your case and you try to catch it as it tumbles down but it slides across the floor and hits the wall with a heavy thud, its formerly perfect exterior now full of dents and scuffs. You could only imagine what the inside must have looked like. “You need to take better care of your things.” His absurdly huge hands slam against your back as you look with horror, practically knocking the wind out of you as he walks back to his office.

     That’s it. You fall against the wall and slide down, on your knees as your jaw swells and feels warm. The bell rings, signaling the next class to begin. Hearing footsteps of hall monitors come closer, you force yourself to stand and pick up your case. It feels like you’re a zombie, waddling back and forth as you slowly walk away and towards the practice room. You stare at the empty space for a while before laying down on your side, and slowly undid the bent clasps as best as you could, opening the case and peering inside.

     The insides are warped, yet all the pieces look... fine. Your fingers won’t stop shaking as you trace the bumps and holes, making sure it feels alright. Thank goodness. The encounter has completely drained you and you pass out on that cold, hard floor.

     “Hey, get up!” It only feels like a second when you feel someone shaking you and you hesitantly open your eyes, seeing Akira and feeling his arm around you. “What happened to you?” He touches your jaw so gently that you can barely feel his hand. “Who did this? No, wait, hang on.” He lays your head down on his lap and rummages through his school bag, pulling out what seems to be an entire first aid kit. How did he manage to fit that in there with everything else? As your consciousness gradually faded back he took care of your bruise with swift skill and sighed in relief when he confirmed you weren’t injured anywhere else. “I don’t suppose this has anything to do with the music program being canceled, does it?”

     It’s too much to hold it back anymore and you spill it all out, trying to cover your eyes as you cried out. Damn that Kamoshida to hell, curse him, punish him, destroy him, kill him. Why did that man have to exist? Akira listens to you quietly and pets your head as you let loose your frustrations and anger until you’re nothing more than a sobbing mess. When your cries grow soft and you can only hiccup, he has you sit up and wipes your face with a tissue.

     “It’s going to be alright,” he whispers before he rests your head on his shoulder and places his arms around you. “You don’t have to believe me right now, but trust me.” With the conviction he has in his voice, how could you not? Despite how little you have known him for, you let your emotions rule you for this moment.

     It took a couple days for your bruise to heal but Akira’s care for it left no trace behind. Since your case was in shambles you couldn’t transport your instrument and Akira suggested to keep it in the practice room. There was apparently two weeks until he would get officially expelled and you grew anxious for him but he just smiled as he pulled up his usual chair. “It’ll be alright,” he assured as you assembled your partner. “If you’ll keep playing for me then I’ll have the confidence I need.” But why, you wonder aloud.

     He thinks about his answer before running a hand through his hair. “The sound of your music is the requiem of my life.” That’s so bad. That’s so bad, that’s so bad, that’s so bad, that’s...

     So embarrassing...

     But if that’s what he says, if he says he needs your music, then you’ll gladly give everything you have. As the days pass, you’re composing your first piece with ferocity, researching as much crash course music theory and tutorials as you can off Google and rewriting and rewriting and rewriting--gosh, it’s a miracle you haven’t torn your notebook to shreds with how hard you’re writing. You’re not paying much attention to what’s happening in school, something about Phantom Thieves and a calling card. The deadline’s getting too close for comfort and you finish on the day he’s supposed to be expelled. Did he accomplish the impossible?

     The entire school is called into an assembly on the second day of May. The principal is addressing the girl who jumped; isn’t it a little late for that? As you listen respectfully, the doors to your right burst open and there stood the dirtbag. He claimed he was reborn and walked onto the stage. In a mournful voice, he confessed his crimes, fell to his knees, hung his head, offered to kill himself... Seriously? You stood in a daze, everything else staying tuned out as the teachers forced everyone to leave and the swarm of students swept you away.

     Lunch felt even farther than before. The moment the bell rang, you shot out of your seat and bolted to the practice room, turning the corner and crashing into someone. No, it wasn’t just someone, there’s no one else who would come here now. You prop yourself up with your hands on either side of Akira’s head, the latter looking the same as he did the first time you literally ran into him. You can only smile at each other like fools before sitting up, neither of you able to anything else but stare at each other.

     “You did it,” you manage to say. “You didn’t get expelled.”

     “Mm. I heard they’re considering putting the music program back next semester.” Really? You didn’t think that would happen, or even hear of such a thing. “You didn’t know?” No one told you. Even if they did put it back, you doubt anyone would care. Not to mention you wouldn’t be able to use the practice room for yourself and Akira anymore.

     Wait, speaking of which. You get to your feet and ask him to listen to a song you wrote for him. “... Really? I don’t remember asking you to do anything like that.” He follows you into the practice room and you set up in record time. Oh god, you didn’t have time to rehearse, what if you fuck up--

     But one look into Akira’s eyes is all you need to sooth your nerves. You relax your shoulders and perform your concert.

     With one last motion, the final note rings in the air, and you slowly exhale, your heart racing as you wipe the sweat off your forehead with your sleeve. Akira does his best to give you the loudest, roaring applause that one man could give. Before he can say anything, you butt in first.

     “Can I have your phone number?!”

     He stares at you for the briefest second before letting out a delightful laugh. Music to your ears. And rests his head on his hand.

     “You had to write a whole song just to ask that?” He hums in thought and closes his eyes, tapping a finger against his thigh. “It wouldn’t be fair just giving you a number, would it? I should give you something more...” He looks at the floor before looking at you. “You must have worked your hands to play and make that song for me. How about I kiss them better?” As many times as you wanted? A corner of his mouth raises to a smirk. “As many times as you wanted.”

     You carefully set your partner down and take a step towards him. He takes your hand and starts at your fingertips, pressing his lips against each one, then moving up to your knuckles, to the back of your hand, your wrist, and your palm. That’s not enough, you decide, and he looks up. “Greedy, are we? I don’t think you’ll be satisfied with just your hands, then.” He pulls your arm and you fall onto his lap, surprised by how swiftly he managed to close the gap between you two. “Where would you like me to kiss you now?”

     You spent more than enough time just trying to ask for his phone number, you have the guts to go for the kill. Here goes nothing.

     Your eyes fly shut as you press your mouth against his; Akira doesn’t react right away, but you feel him smile against your lips and returns your gesture. It ends too soon and you slowly open your eyes. Surely you must look ridiculous, but you don’t care.

     That’s not enough, you decide.

[scandinaviacroatiaengbergs]

Monday: A Full Day in Zagreb

So, let me start off with a few observations about Zagreb. Overall, it is pretty interesting going anywhere after visiting insanely clean Scandinavian cities.  Because of the wealth of those countries and their robust social infrastructure programs, and the money available for city projects (I would imagine), and just habits formed by the people in those nations as pushed byt heir governments (such as about recycling), you don’t see a lot of garbage on the  streets or graffiti on buildings in the Scandinavian metropolises.  Of course, there is some graffiti (oh! And I forgot to mention, about street art: the unauthorized Banksy museum, which I read about, is in Gothenburg of all places, right off the central square, and we walked right past it), but it is pretty minimal. Now, Zabreb, on the other hand, has a lot of graffiti, some of it more finessed and intended to be public art, but other graffiti is just tagging.  There was, in fact, a wall of graffiti on our Airbnb building.  Also, as we noticed in the Baltics, the exteriors of a lot of medium-rise (like 10-story) buildings have some, how shall we say, “deferred maintenance.”  They look sort of shabby on the outside, but as we learned in Vilnius, most strongly, a place can look really run-down from the outside but be really, really spruced up and fancy on the inside.  I wondered whether this was the case in Zagreb, but I didn’t get to find out.  Our Airbnb was a two-story square, contemporary house, basically, that had been broken up into several apartments.  Ours was on the first floor. We also noticed, walking around in the afternoon (which I will detail below), that people are very social.  There is also a lot of smoking going on still.  Everywhere you go, if there is a relatively tall building, it has an outdoor seating area outside, and you will often see groups of 3 or 4 older men, sitting there, drinking coffee, hard liquor, or beer, and just chatting away.  It seems very “old world,” like I imagine my Great-Grandpa Julius (who I never met) doing in New York in the ‘40s and ‘50s with other men who spoke Yiddish. I don’t know if he did, because from what I have heard he just spent his days in the front of the sign shop, reading the Forward, but it seems like it is that kind of older guy who sits with a group of pals and talks the afternoon away at these sidewalk cafes.

Anyway, enough observations. When we got in on Sunday night, the host met us and showed us the ins-and-outs of the place (not much to figure out). This is an apartment that is only used as an Airbnb; it is not anyone’s home (I prefer Airbnbs that are people’s homes). But, this place was really clean, with nice beds, and everything we needed in the kitchen (with another sandwich maker! I am beginning to think I might need Santa to bring me a panini press).

I went to bed too late, as always, and the kids got to bed pretty late on Sunday night because of our jaunt to Badovinci, as I mentioned.  When they woke up Monday morning, Eric had yogurts for them, which he bought the night before during his jaunt to the 24-hour store, which was not a proper grocery but more of a “party store,” as Michiganders say.  But there was a really nice bakery next store to that, also open 24 hours, so Eric got some bread and weird seeded pastries, as well.  So, breakfast Monday was yogurt and bread.  Rowan go the special treat of having a pistachio Greek yogurt, which I’d bought for him in Zadar, too, but Eric accidentally ate ;) So, after we had breakfast, we walked out for  a day of adventuring! Just a side note: it was very hot and humid. First off, we walked down a substantive road and passed a mirrored-glass office building, in which was housed, in part, the Finnish Embassy! Next up, we took a wrong turn and ended up not being able to go over the train tracks., but we saw a cat ambling across the street. Then, we rerouted and went under an overpass and kept on truckin’ toward the city center (“centar,” actually), and we saw a sign (actually many) for a concert by the Cure, but I didn’t make note of the day, figuring it had already passed, and lamenting that we probably couldn’t go anyway, though I’d love my kids to hear, as I did when I was 18, them play a 14-minute-long version of “A Forest.” Anyway,  first up, we visited a playground.  At the playground, there was one of those spiderweb climbing structures, so of course Rowan checked that out, but this one high the added risk factor of being able to spin, which, when it did, made it look like  a Christmas tree. There was also a merry-go-round, which Rowan took to running around really fast and then hopping on.  I remember doing that as a kid.  Cece thought he was spinning it too fast. This little park/playground also had a small pond/water-feature with a little cherub-boy statue, holding his pee-pee, aiming into the pond.  When we were there, the statue was emitting no “pee pee” into the pond, but I figured that a stream of “urine” was the intention of the cherub’s design and his proximity to the little pond.  In fact, a man was cleaning the pond when we were there.  Later, when we walked back by, after several hours, the statue was doing what it was designed to do . . . We walked down to the central plaza where the Zagreb Cathedral is.  Wow, what an amazing structure.  It is sooooooo tall and soooooo ornate. It was damaged in the early-20th century during an earthquake and then, during the Communist era, there was little interest in maintaining religious buildings.  So, since the ‘90s, there has been a lot of money spent and a lot of effort put in to repairing the Cathedral, and we saw men busily at work, way up high on one of the sides, the day we were there. We continued on from there, and Cece insisted on walking on her own, or “in your shadow,” which was a bit tricky because it was midday, so she was regularly right under my feet.  We got to another playground, in a really big park (basically behind the church, but we’d gone around several blocks to get there), and it was full of huge trees, most memorably some beautiful weeping willows.  There was also some lack of maintenance at the park, as it appears that lots of people might use it as a place to sit and drink beer, but the playground was a perfect spot for the kids to do some “circuits,” which they did: running up the slides, climbing up the sliding pole (Rowan did this, as it happens to be one of his favorite things to do), walking across the wobbly rope bridge, across every other piece of equipment, a few swings on the swings, with lots of running from piece of equipment to piece of equipment. By this point, we were definitely hungry for lunch, so we walked on, and we had a few spots identified, via Google, as possible targets for lunch, but before we got to any, we saw place that I believe was actually called “Good Food,” and it looked like the kind of yuppie-ish, salad-and-juice oriented place that might just suit us. Sure enough, it was very on-target.  You could take a piece of paper with all kinds of salad ingredients listed on it, and tick the boxes for the items you wanted.  Eric and I did this, and so did Rowan!  Cece chose a sandwich.  Rowan’s salad was pretty funny, in that it had no lettuce, but lots of other good ingredients (like red pepper, broccoli, and garbanzo beans) and then something sweet: dried cranberries.  We also got a juice called “Hollywood Glow,” which had oranges, apples, and I can’t remember what the third ingredient was.  Eric and I both “tested” it, and then the kids finished it off in one turn each. Neither Rowan nor I could finish all the salad we ordered, so we took them to go and walked back toward our Airbnb, because I needed to be on a call at 3 p.m. As we walked, we went down the central shopping street, which I enjoyed seeing (and I popped into a Benetton, because they always have a piece of my heart), and the kids found a sort of nautical-themed playscape in the plaza, and played there for a good 15 minutes. We got home and I had fifteen minutes to spare before my call, and I got a fighting Cece down for nap, and she was *exhausted* -- she made not a single peep after I closed the door to her room and she slept well until I woke her up at 4:15. We were going to go to the zoo next! We drove to the zoo, because, a) we figured we’d put our Peugeot through even more city-driving paces, and b) it was too far to go by foot and we didn’t want to bother to figure out the trams.  We got to the zoo around 4:30, and, unlike our Albuquerque Zoo (and I believe many other zoos), they did not close at 5 p.m.!  In Albuquerque, the zoo closes at that hour all year, I guess to keep things consistent for the animals and to give them a good break from the human visitors.   But, the Zagreb Zoo in the summertime is open until 8 p.m. It was such a nice zoo! Pretty much right away, we went into the reptile and snake habitat building, and we ended up learning that if you ducked around a corner behind one of the enclosures, you went into a network of other indoor exhibits, for all kinds of animals! Maybe because I skip the snake exhibit at the Albuquerque Zoo pretty often so I am not sure how many snakes and lizards and the like we have in Albuquerque to use as comparison, this zoo seemed to have *a lot* -- and they had a young crocodile and its mom, and the young guy was just lying on his mom’s back the whole time, occasionally moving one arm. We left the snake-oriented building and continued on to see critters that are more to my taste.  They had red pandas, zebras, three female lions and a male lion – and they were pretty active!, some huge birds, lemurs, lots of monkeys and orangutans, a petting zoo with some eager goats, and a very fun sea lion exhibit, which looked like it had a mommy and daddy sea lion with their baby, who was still a nursling.  That exhibit was very popular with the zoo visitors, and the sea lions made it worth our wait!  The two adults were playing with and prodding each other – one from the water and the other up on a catwalk.  The big one in the water swooped up and snapped/barked at the one on the catwalk, and when it had had enough of that, it dove into the water and they chased each other around, zooming like crazy through the water for a while! They were fun to watch. We got ice cream, went to the play area, and then, finally, when the mosquitos were coming out in the evening, we decided to leave, as it was about closing time anyway.  The zoo was like $8 for all of us! It was a really pretty zoo, and they had some multi-animal enclosures, where animals who I guess get along together got to be together in their habitats there. We drove back to the Airbnb and I noticed, from that vantage, that a huge building right across from the zoo was a stadium for Dynamo, which is a very popular Croatian soccer team.  That was cool to see! They even sold some Dynamo gear at the zoo gift shop. We got back to our Airbnb  at about 8:30 and then we had our leftovers and grilled cheese sandwiches and then, as always happens, the kids became totally unhinged wild creatures (as if taking inspiration from some of the friends they visited at the zoo) before bedtime.  This happens soooo often and by the time they finally relent and go to sleep, I am at my wit’s end.  They were asleep by 9:30, thank heavens, after Eric read them a chapter out of the 7th book in the Moominvalley series, which we’ve been making our way through over the last year or so, as we sprinkle it in with more books that Rowan can read some of himself.   Eric has been really good about working on this trip with Rowan on his “keys,” – a ring of flash cards his teacher made for all of the kids at Kindergarten during the year. He is getting them!  Reading isn’t his strongest school area, but we’re working on it and we’re super impressed by his progress. After the kids went to bed, Eric and I got our things organized for leaving the next morning which, I was glad to learn, was a later departure than I had thought! Woohoo! In my next post, I will regale you all with stories of our last Zagreb morning, our flight from Zagreb to London, and our afternoon in London.  After that is our big push back home – three flights: London to New York, New York to Dallas, and Dallas to ABQ, all in one day.  We’ll all sure be tired after that series!

[slayerbook]

Talkin’ Tori

This is one of my career highlights. I quickly talked to the goddess Tori Amos about her entire catalog (to that point), in terms of characters she was representing in the songs, and how the related to her real personality. At the end of it, she said it was a good interview. (And at the beginning, she said “Hi, Ferris!”) So I’ll take that.

Man. The vagaries of online content. One of my favorite pieces doesn’t fully exist online anymore. Writer brothers and sisters, never trust anybody to archive your stuff.

Little Earthquakes turned 25 today, which doesn’t seem right, but hey, you know? The “how’s that thought for ya?” from “Silent All These Years” might be the best STFU in the history of pop music. So, if you came to this blog for metal content, rest assured: Tori is metal as shit.

Anyhow, here’s Tori, from 2007. Various incomplete versions of it are floating around on some VVM-affiliated sites, but this is the full director’s cut. Some of the supergenius editors gave the pieces imaginative, reverent, respectful titles like “Piano Girl” and “Tori Goes Schizo” — I didn’t write that shit.

Content after the jump...

The Amos Posse

Patron Saint of Piano Girls Looks Back at the Women Who Sang Her Songs

       Tori Amos has taken to the road with the girls of American Doll Posse, her catchiest release in years. It’s her tenth studio album -- if you count the eponymous debut of her self-titled group Y Kant Tori Read, a cringe-inducing hair-rock serenading of material excess in 1980s Los Angeles, where she actually spent her early 20s scraping by, playing piano in hotel cantinas and bars.

       The new album finds that young singer grown into a mother and world traveler who’s riding with good company: The songs are delivered in the voice of four other characters, each further realized through her own costume and blog: Isabel the indignant politico photographer, Clyde the wounded soul-seeker, Pip the fierce rubber enthusiast, and Santa the glitzy sensualist. They’re also on tour.

            For this trek, Amos is performing sets over two hours long. They’ll close with a set by Tori and her band. She’ll play solo on her Bösendorfer piano. And she’ll take the stage dressed and in character as one of the Posse -- Amos says she doesn’t finalize a set list and decide which girl will perform until an hour before the show.

            Even if they can’t travel, Tori’s loyal legion can catch every show. The night of each concert – if everything goes as planned – official bootlegs called Legs and Boots will be available on ToriAmos.com.

            The cast of characters is the album’s narrative hook and talking point, but it’s not a new approach for Amos. After her proper solo debut, 1992’s starkly autobiographical Little Earthquakes, she’s since branched into more oblique lyrics and presented different characters in many of her songs. Amos talked to Scene about all her albums and the women who sang them. Visit blogs.CleveScene.com for an expanded version of Amos’ look at her entire catalog.

 Of the American Doll Posse characters, which is least like you?

“The least like me, the way I’ve known me all these years, would be Santa. She was patterned after Aphrodite [the Greek goddess of love, lust, and beauty, the counterpart of the Roman Venus]. I thought she was a tart. After really immersing myself in her story, I began to see how she would use her sexuality, and how she was really comfortable with her body. She didn’t live a life of guilt where men decided how she felt about her physicality.”

 Was The Beekeeper [2005] more a character or concept?

“I didn’t see it as a character. It was more about the structure of the garden, and I like the idea that songs were coming from an expression in nature. And we developed each song coming from a specific garden. And I liked that, especially since our Biblical story starts in a garden. As a minister’s daughter, I don’t accept that their read of history is the accurate read. So the Beekeeper was really about another viewpoint of the feminine coming from the garden.”

 And Scarlet’s Walk [2002] was more of an overt alter-ego?

“Yes. [Scarlett’s Walk] was a journey through America, post 9/11, trying to go back and cross the country, trying to find ancient sacred sites the spiritual vortexes that Native Americans have held secret and sacred. Scarlet is a woman, but she is a thread that is weaving across the country, trying to remember the story of the real keepers of this land, who had been practically erased from our history.”

 In the cover-songs album Strange Little Girls [2001], each song was a character-driven narrative. Did you feel particularly close to any of them?

“It’s not that I related to some of them more than others. I think [Eminem’s] ’ ‘97 Bonnie and Clyde’ was powerful, because the song itself – when you have a woman murdered in the back [seat of a car] -- I took the point of view that she wasn’t quite yet dead. And all men have to remember: When their wives aren’t quite yet dead, that’s the most dangerous five minutes.”

 To Venus and Back [1999] had some abstract lyrics, but was it pretty much Tori?

“You had a double album of the live show -- a collection of songs that had accumulated for many years, and then you had the future as we were approaching the millennium. It seem to me that the Earth, as it was approaching the millennium, needed a girlfriend. And so Venus seemed to me a friend for her to have.”

From the Choirgirl Hotel [1998] had some very obviously personal songs like “Spark,” but did “Playboy Mommy” or “Jackie’s Strength” represent a character?

“In a way, as you’re composing, the songs are their own entities. And they don’t have arms and legs, but they do have consciousness. As a composer, I’m able to contain the song and write it and translate it. Because you shape-shift. I make it as a half-decent playwright: Characters can embody you. They come and they visit.”

 Boys for Pele [1996] was based on some of your experiences beyond the average every-day. Where were you for that album?

“That album, I was stepping into, in a big way, the confrontational side of the psyche. And having spent some time in Hawaii with [volcano goddess] Pele herself, I was in a place where I began to question the authority of the male. So, in a way, I think there was a bit of Boudica, the great warrior women.”

 Under the Pink [1994] was departure form very direct, very literal Little Earthquakes. Did you see songs like “Past the Mission” as more of a creative narrative?

“I was spending some time in New Mexico, and I was studying the history of the Spanish and the conquistadors came in and set up the missions, and subjugated the native people to Christianity, because their beliefs were thought of as something of the devil, blasphemous. And, of course, that justified all [the conquistadors’] killing, slavery, and abuse. So I guess as a minister’s daughter, I’m made up of many characters – we all are. Any good writer, I think, maybe just allows themselves a little more freedom to let different aspects out.”

 Was Little Earthquakes [1992], as it seems, straight-up you?

“It’s a diary form, I would say – a journal. But you really can only write your journal once, in my opinion. I think you can maybe write it twice. But you need to have a lot of time lapse before you write the second one.”

 When you look back at Y Kant Tori Read [1988], can you relate to that girl, all these years later?

“What I understand about that is: When you get rejected as a composer for so many years, if you are a capable composer, you can pretty much compose anything. And my natural inclination as a writer was not going to be thwarted by the record companies, and I couldn’t sing in another bar for much longer; I’d done it for 11 years. So everyody has a different breaking point. And I realized: Unless I would write something that they felt they would sign, I was never gonna get out. So, of course, I chose to give them what I thought was a contemporary sound at the time, a pop-rock record. And I guess when you shop at Retail Slut one too many times, that’s what that’s what it’s going to look like.”

[nickyschneiderus]

Jordan Peterson: The hollow lessons of his summer tour

“Ladies and gentlemen there will be no heckling tonight,” shouts a man standing in front of the crowd. He’s 50-something with droopy eyes, beads of sweat dripping slowly from his glistening head into the coils of his greying beard. He’s exhausted from herding patrons outside the Moody Theater in Austin, Texas. “You will be escorted out of the auditorium,” he continues.

It’s late May, one of the first scorching-hot days of the year. There are a couple thousand people packed tightly in line to see the clinical psychologist, author, and alt-right icon Jordan Peterson on his “12 Rules for Life: An Antidote for Chaos” world tour. Many in line have studied Peterson’s rules closely, and they feel like they know him deeply because of it.

His book has helped them coach their lives with a psychiatric self-help formula that he doctored up himself: Stand up straight with your shoulders back, pet a cat when you encounter one in the street, and always befriend people who want the best for you. These elementary ideas are getting people unusually riled up.

Gage Skidmore/Flickr (CC-BY-SA)

“I don’t even know who Jordan Peterson is,” says one man in line with a pit-stained button-up shirt, jaded by the hype. Others can’t contain their excitement, drooling over the spectacle of Peterson just being nearby. One middle-aged white guy dances and skips, smiling to the sky. You’d think this was a Jimmy Buffett concert.

Peterson’s a self-described anti-social justice warrior and scholar who has previously denounced trans rights, feminism, wage gaps, and immigration among other progressive causes. Beyond the flowery language and smooth, Willy Wonka-esque mannerisms, he’s empowering fringe ideas on social media. And Peterson seems to think there’s only a matter of time before society collapses on itself—and it’s up to him to save the world, rule by rule.

The apostle

A former Harvard and University of Toronto psychology professor, Peterson first rose to prominence after he publicly pushed back on Canada’s proposed C-16 law that protects “gender expression and gender identity” as human rights in May 2016. (It became law a year later.) He argues that requiring people to refer to others by their preferred pronouns is a direct compromise of free speech.

His irreverent claims grabbed international attention afterward. For nations grappling with similar transgender rights issues, Peterson became a front-running devil’s advocate. His YouTube channel exploded with millions of views and subscribers who tuned in to hear his other spiels on religion, psychology, and honing in on “dragon energy.” Outsourcing his influence on other public figures with their own huge followings, his audience spans the likes of Kanye West, Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, and Russell Brand. They willingly do Peterson’s dirty work for him through unapologetic co-signs.

Former University of Toronto professor and colleague of Peterson, Bernard Schiff, took notice to this meteoric rise, expressing sentiments of the danger surrounding his ethos in an essay he wrote for the Toronto Star: “I was Jordan Peterson’s biggest supporter, now I think he’s dangerous.” Within the piece, he explains that Peterson, a man once committed to “truth, integrity, and common decency” has abandoned those values as his influence grows.

In a phone call and one of his final conversations with him, Schiff says that Peterson revealed to him that Peterson’s wife had a dream about the end of society as we know it. Peterson told him that it wasn’t the first time that his wife had offered sacred revelations through messages in her dreams. If Peterson’s wife is the prophet, then he’s the patriarchal apostle who will deliver the intel for her.

“I do not think he intends to do harm. I think he is trying to save to the world.” Schiff tells the Daily Dot. “And perhaps along the way he distorts things because the facts don’t matter. He knows the truth.”

Schiff says that Peterson thinks he must save the world due to a destructing social order: Male privilege and patriarchy create standards of masculinity and success that men are expected to live up to. With privilege, men have become accustomed to social, political, and economic triumphs. Now that women are empowered, men face more competition and have, according to Peterson, begun to fall behind. He blames feminism for this modern angst and crisis in not only the lives of young men, but for society as a whole. Peterson feels that the imbalance is daunting and proof of a foreseeable doom for all of us if we don’t make a change, according to Schiff. (Peterson’s management did not reply to a request for comment about Schiff’s claim that Peterson’s wife has had end-of-the-world visions.)

“[Men] are taking away their job opportunities, they are encouraging a culture in which, as Jordan puts it, men are getting feminized, and they are upsetting the nature and necessary dominance of males,” says Schiff.

“I think he is not a bad person. I think he suffers, and now others suffer, because of his grandiosity. He has an extremely rigid and not scientifically or historically valid view of who we are and of what is, and it’s one that pleases many young people,” he says. “But not all of his followers are like that. There are thoughtful people who think some of what he says makes sense. They either disregard the rest or are not paying attention. I wrote the piece I did for them. I wanted to get their attention … I think he has a legitimate following, but my guess is that it is small compared to the angry young men who are potentially dangerous.”

Schiff’s article came with its own consequences once Peterson and his fans got hold of it. Many vilified Schiff, saying that what he wrote was misguided and not to be taken seriously. Peterson responded to the article in a series of tweets, brushing Schiff’s criticism off as invalid.

In the tweets, Peterson explains that Schiff’s anger is drawn from the fact that his daughter, who is transgender, is directly impacted by the C-16 bill. He says that Schiff is a tireless advocate for his daughter and that his sentiments on the issue come from emotion around her health. “I can truly sympathize,” he wrote while downplaying the situation.

Schiff says that his daughter’s illness was unrelated to her transgender identity, and it wasn’t psychiatric, either. It’s something that is fairly easily treated.

“The thing about the tweet in response to my story is that there is no question about what he was doing. His intention was to discredit what I wrote,” Schiff says.

Schiff wrote another piece in response to the original’s backlash in an attempt to bring clarity around Peterson’s motives. “He knows what he is doing. Smart, deliberate, manipulative, and a lie. He is very clever,” he adds. Indeed, Peterson’s tweets are friendly but sarcastic in tone.

In his first book, Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief, Peterson explores belief psychology and the lengths people are willing to go for those beliefs. He also believes in reinforcing a natural social order and thinks that transgender people or same-sex couples can upset that universal homeostasis. He’s a harsh proponent for that arbitrary worldview, and he’s created mass popularity for the understanding of it as gospel.

Back in Austin, political satirist and opener, Dave Rubin, brings out Peterson: “Look around, look around, these are your people! … While the left enjoys diversity of race and sexuality, we enjoy diversity of thought … We are at the center of the idea revolution!” Tonight these 12 rules, no matter how simple, seem like they can change the world.

The Peterson hive

A photo posted on Twitter by political journalist Ben Shapiro on July 2 pictured five men at a table. Alongside Peterson were other talking heads who hang in Peterson’s hive: comedian and podcast host Joe Rogan, economics writer Eric Weinstein, Rubin, and writer and neuroscientist Sam Harris.

“Now this is a party,” wrote Shapiro in the caption.

In response to the photo, Twitter haters cringed, imagining their conversation. One user wrote, “If this was My last supper, I’d skip it and go straight to the crucifixion.” Another replied, “Oh I bet the discussion about the proper tip percentage was INTENSE.”

Peterson’s response, however, was short and simple: “The conspiracy mounts….”

I wonder how serious he actually is. His online presence mixes an academic mystique with savvy troll work to create an unrelenting buzz around the idea of himself. But what does he really want? Visions of doomsday or not, I think he wants us to believe in his vision for order and repair.

Hundreds of Facebook groups and Reddit threads are dedicated to the man and his work, filled with users hanging onto his every interview or tweet to unpack divine meaning and apply it to their lives. The groups are diverse, stretching as far as Christian study groups based on his writing, satirical communities who use his writing as a source of ridicule, or groups split by geographic region, intent on fostering Peterson fan meetups in real life. Some say they require “High IQ and above” as a necessary prerequisite for access.

He’s been normalized as an Oprah-like lifestyle guru who even sells the virtues of his diet. But his philosophy is crystal clear and far-right on social and economic issues: He doesn’t believe that the wage gap between men and women is a problem, he’s anti-gun control, and he thinks affirmative action is a mechanism of reverse racism. It’s not that his followers are purely disenfranchised young men looking for a leader—he validates their values. The problem is that the very issues that Peterson writes off actually affect most people, and by shifting the goalposts on cultural conversations, he’s always setting the agenda.

Gage Skidmore/Flickr (CC-BY-SA)

As Schiff notes, he structures his arguments in a way that reorganize widely accepted ideas or definitions and redefines them to serve his purpose. That way, disagreeing with what he says is nearly impossible, and eventually, you’re convinced that you understand what he’s saying and that you very well agree. Ironically, his 10th rule is to “be precise in your speech.”

He deflects opposing viewpoints with ease.

“I actually really don’t like left-wingers, it’s the philosophy and its ideology, and lots of people align themselves with that and because I’m attacking that and demonstrating its weaknesses then it’s either accept that a reasonable person can do that and there’s something wrong with the ideology or demonize the opponent,” he says in Austin. “If you’re ideologically committed the right response is to demonize your opponent and so that means I can’t be a reasonable and well-educated psychology professor who’s actually trying to help people lead better lives, I’m some sort of neo-Nazi.”

A mass survey of the official Peterson subreddit page conducted by its admins looked into the demographic makeup of subscribers. The survey was first introduced to the thread in August 2017. A new survey is taken periodically, about every five-to-seven months, with more responses each round. The most recent survey garnered more than 1,000 responses and was concluded in early July: 90 percent of his followers identified themselves as males, the majority between the ages of 26 and 35 years old. Over 80 percent of subscribers identified as white and most people on the thread were from the United States, single, and had at least a bachelor’s degree.

It may be a comically specific fanbase, but it’s plenty powerful.

u/Riflemate/Reddit u/Riflemate/Reddit

Idea wars

Peterson has amassed dedicated followers in a time of confusion, from a generation increasingly disinterested in aligning with major political parties.

He’s a convincing oracle and lion tamer. In Austin, a liberal city in a conservative state, there’s no ideological clash tonight. The danger is false intellectualism and disillusionment. Hustled applause, chanting, and standing ovations make the energy cult-like. Getting behind someone who reinforces prejudices about the world is easy; acknowledging the privileges of that person and your own is harder. And so Peterson delivers a sermon for the self, liberalism be damned.

“Are we fundamentally a member of the group or are we fundamentally individuals? That’s what the war is about,” says Peterson. “I’m on the side of the individual, and the people who are on the side of the tribe don’t like that, not a bit. And then they come after me with accusations that are within the identity politics realm.”

In a way, he’s right. There is an “idea war” going on, and he’s undoubtedly on the frontlines. But his response to the complex issues of a changing world is to stand up straight and pet a cat as if that’s going to help sort out public policy. Peterson offers simple solutions for people who resent their changing world. In their ardent defense of these principles, they fall victim to Peterson’s very lessons about individualism versus tribalism. They aren’t just internet trolls; they’re ready to mobilize.

from Ricky Schneiderus Curation https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/jordan-peterson-12-rules-tour/