#there's been a lot of media this year that has reflected in...current events

[booasaur]

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters - 1x03

[thalassomania]

what is “what happens next” about if you don’t mind me asking? :)

i've been sitting on this ask for a while now because WHERE! DO I! BEGIN!!!!

ok. so. what happens next is a currently ongoing webcomic by max graves, beginning late in 2021. it is a story told in multiple chapters about multiple characters, but one could argue that its protagonist is milo holliday. milo is a trans man, pastel blogger, toy customizer... and accomplice to a murder.

one of the first panels of the comic is a screenshot of the dni page on milo's tumblr, which got me IMMEDIATELY interested in the comic because it's such a unique way of storytelling:

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and we get a lot more pages like this that are screenshots of websites, social media profiles, and the like. the comic is a mixture of in-person interactions, online communication, and occasional flashbacks, all of which are important pieces of the story.

so when they were teenagers, milo's best friend griffin petty killed two people, and milo helped mutilate one of the bodies. while griffin was sent to prison, milo spent years in a psychiatric institution that stunted his emotional growth and forever altered his view of the world. a drawing he makes while institutionalized provides a window into milo's perceptions of the event:

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the whole comic is an uncomfortably accurate reflection of mid-2010s tumblr culture, right down to the sanrio traumacore and crytyping. milo's suffering is multifaceted: in reference to the people harassing him online, he says "it doesn't feel like they hate me for what i did... it feels like they hate me for the way i am," referring to his being an autistic trans man. and given that many of his detractors seem to come from sites like kiwifarms (notorious for its transphobia and ableism), he isn't entirely wrong! but at the same time, his relentless depictions of himself as the victim erase his contributions to haylie's death and the ways he's made himself and others' problems worse.

not every part of the comic is about milo, though! i'm only scratching the surface of it here: all of those pages and links are for the first part, titled "dog names." in the second part, "someone else," we're introduced to gage ludemann, a gore blogger and true crime fan who has entered a long-distance relationship with griffin, and once again, screenshots are used to masterful effect:

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but screenshots and characters' drawings are one thing, and max's art is another. starting in the third part, "no matter what," panels are shown in full color, and his color choices are great. what i really love, though, is the amount of detail max puts into character design and facial expressions. i could show you so many different panels that i think show off max's art, but i'll try to narrow it down to one:

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soooo yeah!! i have SO MANY THOUGHTS about this webcomic and i keep trying to get close friends to read it, haha. i've read a lot of webcomics and i can say with certainty that there is NOTHING out there quite like what happens next. it's a story about true crime fanaticism, psychological trauma, social media presences, existing as a transgender person, and so much more. the comic is currently on its fifth part, "you'll all be sorry," which seems to be about the characters vikki escamilla and xandra blumberg. if you decide to check it out please feel free to tell me all about it! i'm not connected to the comic at all, but i really love it and i think everything about it is just fascinating.

and max graves, if you're somehow reading this... hiiiiii i'm a huge fan!!! love your work!!! i hope i've represented it at least somewhat accurately here!

@kukai

[thearchercore]

I’m currently going down a social media rabbit hole, trying to see the difference between both Carlos’ and Charles’ , because let’s be real, after a few posts, you could see the difference and the narratives they both are going for.

Carlos is going for the “I’m loyal to Ferrari” Narrative, with him sticking to the red and the Ferrari merch in training, in Dakkar when he was supporting his dad (who by the way, is a RED BULL Rally Driver to this day!!). He is going for Charles’ approach last year, where everything in his socials is Ferrari, is curated and is very much according to the Ferrari politics and how they post.

Then there’s Charles, who is going for the silly, relaxed and relatable approach in his socials, and as mentioned a lot by you, he’s kind of working on detaching himself from the Ferrari narrative and the whole “Charles Leclerc the Ferrari driver”.

In a way, they are each working on their agendas, Charles could be working towards that exit or towards pressuring Ferrari that “Right, I’m starting to detach myself from you, and if you don’t wake up, I’m out next year, and I have teams who would definitely take me in” and Carlos who is showing Ferrari “I’m your man, I’m loyal, I’m not complaining, I’m doing what you want, content with your sponsors? Check. Always repping Ferrari even when I’m rooting for Red Bull in Rally which you guys aren’t a part of? Check. Looking the way you want me to be in my socials, that pristine Ferrari F1 driver? Check”. As if he’s trying to convince them to give him the contract and to put their trust in him, make him their number 1.

And let’s be real, with everything going in with contracts and the politics of it, with Fred who wanted the contracts to be signed and announced BY CHRISTMAS OR THE NEW YEAR, and now we’re almost done with January, the narrative both drivers are putting out through their socials, with both of them knowing its power and how to use it properly, I would say that Ferrari is most likely in a dilemma that no team would want rn

yeah! tbh, carlos never really went the extra mile for any other side quests on social aside from racing (the netflix cup event the only recent one that comes to mind.)

the way charles and carlos approach social media is wildly different. but you're right, the way they present themselves definitely reflects the current state of their negotiations with ferrari.

carlos - presents himself only as a ferrari driver on social media. there were news that his contract negotiations faced new obstacles again this week, and his dad again complimented the upcoming audi f1 team:

| Carlos Sainz Sr. reveals he's discussed Audi's F1 entry with Sainz Jr. "I know how seriously they take every project."

at this point it's a pattern that has been repeated a few times. carlos is a very realistic option for audi (that launches in f1 in 2026) -- so his goal is to rn renew with ferrari for at least the 2025 season, and then has audi as an another option.

while carlos uses his family's prominance, charles has more personal sponsors and social engagement. he's using that to negotiate on his end a better contract for himself.

the ferrari contract is known to be quite restrictive, they have puma as their clothing brand so charles was banned to launch his own clothing brand CLACE (which he recently started wearing again). the ferrari contract in general is built around the fact that ferrari doesn't want to have a driver bigger than themselves, ferrari always comes first.

so it's interesting to see their different approach in it and i'm interested to see how the contracts negotiation turn out and when we get the announcements

[tomato-bird-art]

SF ZINEFEST 2024! Some pictures from the San Francisco Zinefest last week! I had a wonderful time, and it was SUPER busy! thanks everyone who swung by to pick up prints and zines from me, I really appreciate it. It was really heartening to see people enjoy my art and remember me from over the years—I’ve had a very busy year and not as much time to “be an artist” as I’d like, so it was very invigorating to be around other queer artists again in a dedicated and enthusiastic space. When online a lot, you tend to forget how it is to be around art in person, and this was a great reminder of it—also every year, I’m always excited to see the beautiful outfits and fashion of the attendees! Someday I’ll dress up more special, but alas it’s just work and apron for me XD

I also finally got to meet longtime mutual and incredible artist @megamoth in person, and got a copy of their Devilman zine series here I contributed to some years ago! Here’s a pic with a cool itabag as well.

This year, I debuted a few new works:

“Fujo X-Ray Visions”

is a collection of personal comics from the past year I’ve been posting here and on Patreon, mostly about trying to balance life as a cartoonist and as someone pursuing some new career experiences in the healthcare field. Like “Voids and Visions” before it, there’s a bunch of personal stuff and angsting along with regular goofiness.

It’s available now both as a physical zine, as well as a digital download!

“If All The World Were Mine!”

My collection of artwork and comics I’ve done for my medieval rpf side account, @angevinyaoiz over the past couple years. It’s a mix of some serious historical illustrations, goofy cartoons, and nsfw works. It’s probably one of the most “niche” things I’ve ever made or gotten into as of late, but I’m happy for the audience who has appreciated my work over the past several months. It’s available currently as a physical zine purchase on storenvy, and I’m planning on making an expanded digital zine version available later—fill out this form to be notified!

“Best Yaoi Movies of 20th Century Hollywood”

In this collaborative project I did with my friend @titilvating, in the style of classic cut and paste, copied zines, we offer our takes on 19 movies made before the year 2000. Many are acclaimed classics; some are underrated gems.  We made this zine to both introduce folks to the richness possibilities of classic movies; whether longtime cinephiles familiar with queer subtexts,  or young fujos looking for more material to sink their yaoifangs into.  Our sample size caters to our personal tastes rather than “good representation” and reflects a fraction what’s out there, with a focus on western US/European media, but hopefully can serve as a fun introduction and celebration. Old movies are a lotta fun, who would’ve thought?

It’s available now as a free digital download, but contact me if you’re interested in a physical edition as well!”

Other Works:

My print version of “The Sons of God” was very well received! I realized sometimes giving little titles to print pieces make for great conversation starters, and I got to chat a lot about my inspirations for the respective pieces. Grab a physical print here!

Ending Thoughts

Overall, I’m glad I got to meet lots of people this year and also pick up lots of zines! I didn’t have a chance to really browse this time around since it was so busy, but I got to trade a lot with folks and also pick up some cool zines and stickers myself.

For those who’d like to keep up with what I’m doing, follow me here, on Patreon, either as a member or free-follower, since I tend to post my sketches/WIPs there first. For me now, it’s back to the grind of school and also continuing creative projects. I have a lot of stuff I dream of doing, and it’s always a challenge to balance that with what needs to get done. If I learned anything from this event, it’s how valuable it is to connect with people in the real world art space (Something I always learn and forget like every few months.)…also, always bring water and snacks—can never be TOO prepared!

Wishing you all a good autumn,

-Allie

[dellovestorant]

If you want to read it all good luck.

For all we talk about Mercedes is doing this, Toto should stop doing this, why are they doing that or not doing that, it is all speculation at the end of the day and we really do not have a say in how they operate. A lot of people underestimate the mental strengths athletes and especially F1 drivers have these days, especially with the additional media scrutiny. George yes will have bad days and good days that's just part of being human but after everything he's gone through in terms of contract negotiations and the scare of being dropped when he was with Williams he's got the mental strength and right mentality to bounce back from a lot. Not to mention that man knows how to network. Toto might be the most outspoken person about George and his performances and whatnot due do their closeness from George's younger years and whatever but there are connections being made behind the scenes that go beyond Toto that we don't see. There are people with very sharp eyes that will pick out the 'secret' meetings here and there but at the end of the day there's even more behind that we don't know. Toto's relationship with the board just by looking at who's attending what sponsorship events is also somewhat starting to deteriote. The relationships between George/Toto, George/Leiws, Lewis/Toto and George/Toto/Lewis has definitely changed, it is blantly obvious through their actions and statements, but at the end of the day there is a line of professionalism that hasn't been crossed yet no matter how many lines their media team has already crossed. However,there has been a shift in how George reflects on a session or a race weekend from the start of this season to now. We're a quarter of the way through the season, nearly half way through the year, the way the media team and Toto treats him and his performances week in week out is becoming more and more obvious for everyone (well everyone but the demons). The obvious thing now though is to wait and see what the board of management at Mercedes Benz is going to do. You can't trust INEOS to actually do something about this as they are literally there to pay someone's salary and get their dividends. Someone on the board that's part of INEOS also looks AI generated but that's a topic for another day. The board has to do something soon to get this team on track and I don't mean just having Markus or Britta turn up inconspicuously at a race weekend to control Toto's yapping. Someone needs to stop that man from saying everything on his mind sure but overall the car is currently the most important thing. We're a quarter of the way through the season, nearly half way through the year and no one on the board is going to say anything publicly? Sure privately there definitely has to be talks going on but without public acknolwedgement you're letting TW control the narrative within F1 media. Yeah sure the european elections are from what i've heard are rightly so important but I would also say as CEO of a massive automotive company you're also not supposed to be letting someone who is technically considered your subordinate just runaway with this nonsense yapping. You can not want to interfere with immediate team dynamics sure but at the end of the day Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team could and would/is been considered a subsidary of Mercedes as long as it carries the Mercedes name. The F1 team's performance is going to bleed into the reputation of Mercedes Benz whether you like it or not. Not to the extent of affecting car sales or anything major I'm not that delusional unlike some people but something will bleed over.

As for whether George will actually leave if given the chance? At the current moment in time I doubt it. No matter how many jokes we make here and there about oh Toto stop yapping about Max and Kimi you'll loose both your star drivers, at the end of the day again the board of management has majority of the say in driver line-up. The conversation of that bloody 10-year contract is about to expire might be true but honestly with the way George's network is going I don't think a contract with Toto is the thing we should be the most worried about. If Mercedes as a company don't want you there anymore you'll know it. It'll be blantly obvious. That whole Lewis situation I am sorry to say is half a product of his own fault. Who tf asks for a raise during a worldwide pandemic where the entire automotive industry is suffering from supply and sales issues not to mention the middle of freaking legal investigations/lawsuits still ongoing left by the previous CEO. With the amount of events and pr both online and offline that George is currently doing for Mercedes (the main company not the F1 team), the board still wants him. and they're not going to let him go very easily even if that contract with Toto runs out. Take a look at CH and HM's statements back in 2020/2021 about him only being on the Mercedes market. At the current moment yeah there's all that talk about oh George's contract is up again next year and CH is taking digs at Toto about taking George but realistically think about it. CH and TW have been going at it forever and ever taking digs at each other even when one of them is fighting the goddamn midfield. Unless the board at Mercedes gets involved in this little pissing contest these two are having I wouldn't be too sure about George leaving. And whilst Oliver Mintzlaff's comments for Toto are most definitely true I would say that man also has more to worry about. It might not be car performance but for rbr atm there worry is not car performance.

At the end of the day if the board still wants him, George is staying. Lando stayed with McLaren through all the shit they've been through and Charles and Ferrari. As much as this team is currently giving everyone a headache if you truly think George is leaving this project at the end of next year just because Toto can't stop yapping you haven't been paying that much attention. Rumours are just that. Rumours.

[husina]

Track Analysis

This will be a long post and most of you will skip it, understandable ngl. However over the summer, a X post emerged claiming that N named an album after JD, and some tracks from the album were leaked. A X post shows July 22 as a starting point. There might have been discussions about this earlier, but I couldn't find any information, so I'll use July 22 as my reference. I'll only look at events up to that point. Since this is a X post, everyone should take it with a grain of salt, but the songs mentioned in it interestingly reflect the summer events, which is why I want to analyze them now. As far as I know, no one paid much attention to it at the time (at least I didn't) but it has piqued my interest now. Better late than never. Lol. I'm not a professional music critic, but I did study lyric analysis in school, though that was nearly a decade ago, so my knowledge isn't current and may not be entirely accurate. I'll always include an official analysis as well for those who are only interested in that, as they are also quite telling.

Even if N has nothing to do with the album, I enjoyed analyzing it because whoever put it together did an excellent job. Although the album is named after JD, I believe, as I went through the tracks, that they perfectly describe L and N's situation, the feelings they have for each other, and what has happened between them since the first "papgate" and before.

Why don’t I think it’s about JD? Because I’m a Lukola shipper. Period. Just kidding, it’s not just because of that, but it is significant. My loyalty belongs to them, and I analyze things related to them based on that. However, more importantly, as we have gotten to know them over the years, especially during WT, the album seems to fit them better. It aligns with the image they’ve portrayed in the SOCIAL MEDIA. Yes, I don’t know their private lives and what feelings or thoughts they have, so I wanted to highlight that.

Moreover, most of the tracks fit L and N very well. N has mentioned several times how much he likes the new Billie Eilish album, and two tracks from it are included here. One is "Birds of Feather," which he specifically talked about in a Canadian interview with Buzzfeed, saying it will be a perfect song for a Polin edit. He also shared the track "The Louvre" by Lorde in his story after Brazil, and a bunch of us believe something significant thing(s)must have happened between them, as the song also suggests. We know that Luka likes The 1975, and there’s a track from them as well. Additionally, Matt Healy, the frontman of Sunshine Baby, worked on the track, providing vocals and assisting as a producer. Based on this, the list is strongly connected to them.

Dog Eyes by Dijon 

Hands grip the back of the wide lens

You tell me to smile and I do

I'm wide-eyed when I think about you

I'm wide-eyed when I think about you

Glory, glory, well, I could cry now

So I avert my eyes and I do

And I'm red-eyed when I think about you

And I'm red-eyed when I think about you

See ya later

No way, no way, no way

See ya later

Hands on my chest when you lie down

A sea of grey and black around you

I get dog eyes when I think about you

I get dog eyes when I think about you

Save me, save me now

Your new eyes look pretty on you

Your new eyes look pretty on you

On you, babe

On you, babe

On you, babe

On you, babe

On you, babe

On you, babe

On you, babe

On you, babe

Oh, if I die today

Will it be without grace?

Will it be violent? Will it be tame?

Will I be silent? Will I be brave?

I don't wanna go

Don't wanna go

This would have been a very long introduction. For anyone who has read this far, thank you. I will analyze the tracks from an emotional perspective, focusing on how they relate to L and N rather than just analyzing the songs themselves. This means that there will be a lot of assumptions made. For those who are not interested in this, I recommend the official text-based analysis. However, songs are fundamentally emotional, as they impact us in some way when they stay in our heads or become our favorites, especially from an emotional standpoint. So, my analysis will also reflect this aspect. I just wanted to clarify this upfront.

So, the first track I chose is my personal favorite from the album. It reflects a bit on the "papgate" and the subsequent feelings that might have been expressed by Luke. Since I believe he might have contributed this piece to their little album (because he loves to suffer), I will focus on him, with N appearing through him.

I chose this song because it's one that most people have heard the least about. I didn't know it at all before the album, not even the artist. It's not going to be everyone's favorite, and I didn’t like it at first either, but on the second and then third listen, it clearly became one of my favorites. So, I recommend giving it a few more chances if you haven't heard it yet or if it didn't appeal to you initially and perhaps you can brodan your horizons.

The first line of the verse begins with "Hands grip the back of the wide lens." "Hands grip": This suggests that someone is holding onto something firmly with their hands. Just like A held L's hand, because you can see in the pictures that it was a determined step, confident and tight. There's no doubt that even their fingers were intertwined. By holding his hand, she didn’t just hold his hand; she confirmed their relationship. She made it clear that what we saw on WT was just an illusion and PR to sell their season, and we were delusional to think it was real. Luke was just an actor doing his job, and now that it's over, he's returning to reality, and that's where we belong, too. By holding L's hand, she placed a huge burden on him, which still affects him—that from this moment on, they are a couple in the public's eyes, no matter how quickly he tried to free himself from the handshake (the guy literally ran away), but in that moment, their relationship became official without a word being said. Especially since on WT a significant confirmation happened through a handshake—another twist of the knife in the fans' and (N's hearts).

"The back of the wide lens": Refers to the rear part of a camera lens, specifically a wide-angle lens, which captures a broad field of view. The lens here could refer to the paparazzi photographers' cameras that appeared out of nowhere and ruined six months and another eight months of work, as there are many people who still haven't watched the second half of the season due to the "papgate." (Personal opinion: If those pictures hadn’t come out, WT wouldn't just be in sixth place—although that's an impressive achievement in itself—but it would definitely be in the top five on the all-time list.) The cameras captured a moment that will never disappear from the internet. However, the photographers did a thorough job, not just recording the handshake but also the events before and after it. You can see A's face light up as he sees the opportunity or realizes what she needs to do. Her hand gesture looks like she's greeting them, or at least she’s happy to see them. After the handshake, you can see A laughing and L staring angrily at the camera, trying to get out of there as quickly as possible. Just as the lyrics suggest, the wide lenses captured everything.

The next line is, "You tell me to smile and I do." I think this refers to N's words, as we see in Milan how hard he tries to pull himself together, but he's likely bracing himself for backlash because you can see that he's panicking. This was his first attempt to smile, but it didn’t really come off as genuine, showing that he was unhappy with the situation he was in. However, later at the Loewe show or on Jimmy Fallon, we saw a more composed person. With Jimmy, he showed a particularly calm side (famous quote: "I can be a Ken for her"), and there’s a chance N was there with him (pap photos of N at the airport), so she could have told him personally how to smile and keep going, no matter how much he didn’t want to.

The phrase "I'm wide-eyed when I think about you" typically means that the person feels a sense of wonder, amazement, or intense focus when thinking about someone. It suggests that the person is captivated or fascinated by the thoughts of the other person, much like how someone might be wide-eyed with surprise or admiration. We saw many times during WT how much L admired N, how smitten he was with her—sometimes even forgetting about the cameras. However, the lyrics also suggest that now the person can only think about the desired person because they’re not close to each other (La pool pic, La La Land—it’s always nice to think about it lol).

The phrase "Glory, glory, well, I could cry now" suggests a strong emotional reaction. The word "glory" here can imply something awe-inspiring, magnificent, or overwhelming, while "I could cry now" indicates that L is feeling such strong emotions (perhaps joy or even sadness) that he is on the verge of tears. The combination of these expressions suggests that L is deeply moved by all the emotions he’s holding in. Based on the pictures, it’s most likely pain, anger, and sadness that make him want to cry about the situation, missing N or/and regretting that the fans were disappointed in him.

"So I avert my eyes and I do" indicates that L is intentionally looking away from something, either physically or metaphorically, and then proceeds to take some action or follow through with something they intended to do. "Averting one's eyes" typically implies avoiding something that is difficult, uncomfortable, or overwhelming to face directly. The phrase indicates a deliberate choice to avoid confrontation or direct engagement with something, followed by taking an action. It could specifically refer to him not wanting to see that A was involved in the "papgate" or that his friends, including R, were playing games behind his back. Or maybe he doesn’t want to see the consequences that the "papgate" had on his reputation and career.

The phrase "And I'm red-eyed when I think about you" typically means that the person feels deep sadness or emotional pain when thinking about someone. "Red-eyed" often refers to eyes that are irritated or swollen from crying, so the phrase suggests that thoughts of this person bring the speaker to tears or cause them to feel strong, overwhelming emotions. The lyrics specifically state that these aren’t happy tears and that the person probably lost the one they were thinking about. Emotions overwhelm him when he thinks about N. This could show how much of a social media void we experienced from N's side and how much she disappeared apart from a few Bton-related posts. But even when we saw Luke, he didn’t look like himself, increasingly giving off a soulless, stoic impression next to his alleged girlfriend.

"See ya later": A casual farewell indicating that the speaker expects to see the other person again in the future. "No way, no way, no way": This repetition emphasizes strong disbelief, rejection, or refusal. It suggests that the speaker is adamantly denying something or expressing that something is impossible or unacceptable. However, if you combine them, the phrase could be used to indicate a combination of saying goodbye and firmly rejecting or doubting something. For instance, it might be used in a context where someone is leaving and also expressing strong disagreement or disbelief about something that was said or proposed. Or that they won’t meet again. However, the "See ya later" reappears, so the bridge gives a bit of hope. Well, yeah, even if they don’t want to, they’ll have to meet again because season four filming is starting. Lol.

"Hands on my chest when you lie down": This suggests a close, intimate moment where someone’s hands are resting on the speaker’s chest while they are lying down. It conveys a sense of physical closeness. Brazil, Ireland, Italy, London, Australia—believe what you will. Lol. "A sea of grey and black around you": This imagery describes a surrounding environment dominated by shades of grey and black, which might represent a somber, melancholic, or emotionally charged atmosphere. Together, the phrase evokes a scene of intimacy and connection contrasted with a dark, possibly emotionally heavy or unsettling backdrop. It could imply that even in a close, comforting moment, there is an overwhelming or difficult environment surrounding the experience. This could hint at a secret that L is hiding or they’re both hiding, or just that their time together is running out, which the first "papgate" certainly brought about, whether planned or not. When N posted "Frames Your Face" on June 10, there’s a similar part in the lyrics: "But now your face is hiding something,/ something, it's burning/And I'm gonna wait for you." (JD and N don’t share the same song, only the artist is the same.)

The phrase "I get dog eyes when I think about you" suggests a deep emotional reaction when thinking about someone. "Dog eyes" can be interpreted as having a look of longing, vulnerability, or affection, similar to the expressive and emotional gaze often associated with dogs. Additionally, it suggests loyalty. It shows loyalty that after the first "papgate," we never saw him hold A's hand again—a famous GQ picture where he intentionally clasps his hands in front of him for everyone to see. It also shows that he still longs for N.

The phrase "Glory, glory, why do you hide now?" can be interpreted as a poignant question expressing confusion or frustration about why something or someone once admired or celebrated is now concealed or no longer visible. It also shows that N likely distanced himself from L, despite the boyfriend-coded posts, but they aren’t talking. Or it can be interpreted as having to hide their happiness from the public, depending on how one sees what might have happened between them over the summer.

"Save me, save me now." Imo, this is the strongest part of the song. It’s a simple, straightforward expression, but very powerful. It could refer to asking N to save him from the situation he’s stuck in with A, or from the backlash he received for the "papgate," just as N did (proud member of the Lukey Newts fan club since 2019 etc) Anyway, he shows that he wants to escape the situation, but he can’t do it alone. (Why not L? Seriously. Get a grip! Lol)

The phrase "Your new eyes look pretty on you.” It can be used figuratively. It could refer to a change in perspective or attitude, suggesting that this new way of seeing or understanding things suits them well. The Wimbledon event is a fitting example. If I remember correctly, this was the first time we saw N publicly since the premiere, and she looked stunning, confident, and radiant. And L admires this (as always).

The lines "Oh, if I die today, Will it be without grace?, Will it be violent? Will it be tame? Will I be silent? Will I be brave?" express a profound contemplation about the nature of one's death. Together, these lines reveal a deep anxiety or curiosity about how one’s end will unfold, pondering its nature and the emotional or spiritual state in which it will occur. He is reflecting on the finiteness of life, but this is just a melancholic moment, not a serious contemplation of death.

“I don't wanna go.” This could imply that he doesn’t want to die, but even more so that he doesn’t want to become a soulless person. Furthermore, it could mean that he doesn’t want to attend events where A is present or that he didn’t want to go to Italy and go through that gateway. There are plenty of options. (We hate some of these too.)

So, this was the analysis of the lyrics of this song. It turned out pretty long, so thanks to anyone who reads it. But I enjoyed breaking it down line by line and reflecting on it from a Lukola perspective. Obviously it is soo delulu. Probably I'm on the board to win the title for the longest unnecessary post. ✌️🤍

[chemzee]

also sorry i know you said you're currently on a morgan kick but i've been dying to know more about te and v. what's dulces sueños de las almas anhelantes? why are these kids wanted by the authorities? who is the host?

OH MY GOD DUDE WHOEVER YOU ARE THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR ASKING THIS I LOVE YOUUU 🧡🧡🧡🧡 YOU ARE THE BEST 😭😭😭

OOF I doubt I could be able to tell everything because there's SO MUCH TO TELL. But I'll try to be as brief as possible.

Dulces Sueños de las Almas Anhelantes (or Sweet Dreams of Yearning Souls) is a personal project of mine, which I had been developing and writing for almost 4 years now.

I wanna turn it into a series or comic some day (although it was at first thought of as a game but my ass has no idea how coding or game design works do yeah), high chances are, it might not happen because I'm lazy so blep. ✌

(‼️TW for some rather sensitive/uncomfortable topics‼️)

It follows the story of, primarily, 4 people, who are stuck in a weird Wonderland like place, as they go down a memory lain and recall events that led them there. Each of them has a unique narrative style which reflects the way they think/perceive the world/how they compiled their stories. These 4 people are Doc, Man in Red, V and Te (artworks of them shown in order (Doc and Man in red are old artworks and I wanna redesign them)), although V and T are THE main characters/protagonists.

Action takes place in a fictional country that is sorta like combination of Spain and England, that has suffered from an unusual sudden epidemy of unknown disease that sets everyone into panic, yet suspiciously, government does nothing. The four characters in question rebel against that, which leads to them being persecuted by the government (which is hard due to their anonymity). (NOTE THAT IT'S NOT BASED ON ANY REAL LIFE EPIDEMIC!!! It's a fictional disease that has no basis on any real diseases or real epidemics)

Te and V are couple of besties™ who are two teenagers who due to their own personal motives are taken in under the guidance of Becca (I have art of her but no reference yet) , a lady who owns an unusual private investigation centre, that uses unconventional means of solving cases. She insures that the identities of her workers and students are protected, which is why they go by codenames, in case of Te and V they are Number 4 (Quarte) and Number 5 (V) respectively.

V is a detective in training, who aspires to become a professional investigator when she becomes older. And she's a good one at that: not only is she smart but also determined, she's not gonna stop until she won't find out the truth (I like to joke that's she's a professional doxxer for a reason).

Te is also a detective of sorts, but it's not exactly what they focuse more on (and tbf they's not looking to pursue this career + V is a lot better detective). They are a medium, as they can hear the voices of the dead and they seek to help those souls fulfill their "unfinished business".

All the 4 characters stumble upon many enemies and foes, even considering each other their obstacles, but the most formidable one of them all is The Host. (Another old artwork and another character I wanna redesign)

The Host, as it seems at first, is their biggest ally: he, just like the 4 , protests against Government's passivity. Beginning as a humble news presenter, he then becomes progressively more relevant in news media, as he calls for action. He takes a particular interest in all 4 protagonists, as he thinks of them as most reliable sources for his campaign to succeed. Believing that he can get away with everything, he's determined to do anything in his power to make these 4 join his side, no matter the cost, no matter their economical situation, health issues, employment, personal life or age.

[pixelgrotto]

Adventure Paths & Strategy Guides

Those of you who keep track of this blog may have noticed that my updates have dried up since September. I have a good reason for this, because I got a new fulltime job writing for Rock Paper Shotgun. Yep, that's right - after originally starting Pixel Grotto back in 2013 because I couldn't get a job working at a video game media outlet, finally my path has come full circle. It only took a decade!

This turn of events coincides with a lot of other stuff in my life. In the past year, I've gotten married, moved from the US to the UK with my wife, and been freelancing in the tabletop RPG space all the while. In fact, my first published TTRPG work is now out in the wild in the form of Pathfinder Adventure Path #198 - With No Breath To Cry. Go grab a PDF (or physical copy) if you can, since I wrote some creepy lore about a new demon vaguely influenced by Chinese yaoguai and Japanese yokai, not to mention all sorts of Asian horror movies. I'm actually more pleased with my contributions to Pathfinder Adventure Path #199, but that doesn't come out until January. Keep your eyes peeled for it though!

Needless to say, this has probably been the most hectic and life-changing year I've gone through since 2018, when I moved from Hong Kong back to the US. And as 2023 comes to a close, I'm feeling reflective. I compare myself with others a lot, and much of my life has been spent looking at the accomplishments of people around me and feeling like I don't measure up. While I still do this to varying degrees, I suppose I can finally acknowledge that two of the goals I've always had - 1) to work in the gaming industry to some capacity, and 2) to see my writing published - have manifested in 2023. If I could venture back to 2013 when I started this blog (with a post about eating dumplings while playing Final Fantasy XII, no less) and tell my old self what he'd be up to a decade later, younger Jeremy would be chuffed.

That's another thing of note: as of this past October, Pixel Grotto turned a decade old. Technically, the site is even older than that, since prior to Pixel Grotto, I used this Tumblr for a blog dubbed Aqua Headphones that was sort of a mixture of personal ramblings combined with reblogs of whatever I found cool on the internet at the time. Since then, I've written an awful lot about video games, which led to writing about tabletop games, which led to working in both fields in a professional capacity.

It's surreal to examine my goals and observe how they unfolded in unusual ways. My original desire to work in games media came from the childhood magazines that I loved - Computer Gaming World and Electronic Gaming Monthly - and when those went the way of the dodo, I became a journalist with the sly hope that maybe one day I'd get a job working at Kotaku or something. But I finally got my gaming gig not at an American site, but a British one. And I'm writing guides, which is not something I initially envisioned myself doing. It's tricky work where we often have the chase the reins of the most popular franchises (I now know more about Modern Warfare 3 guns than I ever imagined I would), but it's also fun, since it reminds me of days spent perusing GameFAQs and leafing through physical strategy guides, several of which I still own. Versus Books' Final Fantasy VII and Ocarina of Time Perfect Guides remain on my shelf alongside Prima's Quest for Glory guides and Peter Spear's The King's Quest Companion...and while I can't do my current work in the same format of these gems (many of which were "novelizations," a style of guide writing I really miss), it does feel trippy to be following in their footsteps.

I could say the same thing about getting my words published. As a kid, I forever wanted to pen the next great fantasy novel. And while I've got more than a few discarded novel drafts sitting on my hard drive, the field of fantasy fiction isn't the one that's bearing my first printed work. Instead, it's modules and supplementary books in the fantasy tabletop gaming space - a space that has let me develop and externalize some of the plots and characters that have been gestating in my head since childhood. To a certain extent, that childhood desire to be the next great Tolkien has lessened as a result of this, and I can't say I'm displeased. I'm also happy that my first published work has been in a Pathfinder Adventure Path, because once again thinking about magazines, Adventure Paths remain one of the few remaining publications in the TTRPG space that bear some resemblance to old issues of Dragon magazine, and the nostalgia makes me happy.

I don't like to spend much time on this blog talking about myself, because there are always new ways to incite comparison to others and activate the inferiority complex in my brain. But at the end of a very long 2023 and on the tenth anniversary of the name "Pixel Grotto," I feel like it's necessary. As we move on to year eleven, I'll continue to make posts as long as my schedule permits it - after all, I can't let this blog fall to the wayside seeing as how its existence contributed a great deal to the opportunities that I now enjoy!

[f1]

F1: Daniel Ricciardo reveals money won't be a factor if he returns to the grid

'If I want to return, I'll make it happen': Daniel Ricciardo reveals money won't be a factor if he makes Formula One comeback... but it will only be on the cards if he can land a competitive drive next season Daniel Ricciardo is currently the reserve driver at Red Bull for the 2023 season But the Australian admits he could be tempted to return to the sport in the future The eight-time race winner left McLaren in 2022 after a disappointing spell By Jonathan McEvoy for MailOnline Published: 06:02 EDT, 31 March 2023 | Updated: 06:02 EDT, 31 March 2023 Daniel Ricciardo is willing to return to Formula One for next to nothing. The Aussie favourite is sitting out this season after being sacked by McLaren last term and is now reserve driver at Red Bull. The 33-year-old is being feted in Melbourne ahead of the Australian Grand Prix. However, the eight-time race winner has few options open to him for next year. He certainly can’t demand big bucks for a race seat. ‘Transparently it wouldn't be about the money,’ said Ricciardo. ‘I have had a pretty long career in F1 and when I look back, let's say I can buy the pair of jeans that I want to buy. ‘But this year I will reflect on myself and where I am at in life. The reason to get back into it would be the reason why I started racing in the first place. Australian star Daniel Ricciardo admits he hasn't ruled out a return to Formula One This year he is back at former team Red Bull as a reserve driver as he weighs up future options ‘It wasn't to be famous. It wasn't to make money but it was because I want to be the best, I want to win races and I want it more than anybody else and that is what will give me the drive to get back on the grid. ‘One thing I do know is as much as I do see myself or want to put myself racing next year, I wouldn't say that is at any cost. ‘I want to be in a competitive car and I don't want to restart my whole career from ground zero. I don't see a decade ahead of me.’ Haas team principal Guenther Steiner, who elected to sign Nico Hulkenberg after axing Mick Schumacher last season, said Ricciardo wanted 10million US dollars (£8m) to race for the American team. Speaking at an event alongside champion surfer Mick Fanning to launch Red Bull Racing's partnership with premium outdoor retailer YETI, Ricciardo added: ‘If I really want to return to the grid, I will make it happen.’ Ricciardo departed F1 at the end of the 2022 season after leaving McLaren (above) Guenther Steiner claims he tried to sign Ricciardo for Haas but couldn't agree a deal Australian compatriot and former F1 world champion Alan Jones, pictured speaking with Ricciardo in 2015, cannot see him returning to the grid But Alan Jones, the 1980 world champion, recently said he couldn’t envisage his compatriot returning to F1. Australia's last world champion, Jones also said Ricciardo spent too much time concentrating on activities outside the cockpit. Hitting back, Ricciardo said: ‘I know me better than anyone. I know my feelings, and my desires, and my drive and it is going to be up to me and how badly I want it. ‘I will show that intent with what I am doing off track, behind closed doors and when I am working with the team. A lot of people might just see what you are doing on social media, and it is often not a true representation of everything that is going on. ‘I sit here today and I have confidence I will get back on the grid if that [pointing to his heart] is truly there, and three months into this year that doesn't feel like it is lost. There have been little signs here and there that I have that desire, that hunger and that motivation.’ Share or comment on this article: F1: Daniel Ricciardo reveals money won't be a factor if he returns to the grid via Formula One | Mail Online https://www.dailymail.co.uk?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490

[nochd]

@knowerofuselessfacts I have some mistakes for you to learn from. I'm sure Neil hasn't made a mistake as big as this, but I have, and I want to tell you very earnestly: do not keep building a world without a story to put in it. Start looking for a story now.

I admire big, detailed, internally consistent worlds like Tolkien's, and I used to think that perfect consistency in worldbuilding was a prime virtue, without which you were Doing Stories Wrong. So when I set out to write, I started by building a science-fiction world which would be rigorously consistent, and scientifically at least plausible. It was to be set in the future of the real universe so it also had to have historical continuity.

I had conlangs. I had sci-fi physics. I had lore, including a mid-21st-century backstory which (on reflection) would have been better as frontstory. I had a pretty good idea of what themes I would aim for.

After nearly ten years I sat down and I tried to squeeze a story out of it. I'm a stubborn bugger and I spent nearly another ten years at it. And there wasn't one in there.

(Even if I were to turn that backstory into frontstory now, I wouldn't be able to publish it. For one thing it started with events in the 2020s that led to the collapse of the United States, and current events in some respects have overtaken what I was predicting. For another, a far better story than mine, Liu Cixin's Three Body Problem, has since reached English-speaking media via Netflix, and there are enough similarities that mine would look like a knock-off.)

It's now been nearly ten years again since I abandoned it. My dream of being a writer hasn't let me go, and in that time I've started writing a fantasy series. A lot of that has been worldbuilding and preparation, again, but this time I started out with some characters and an overarching plot and I built the world around them instead of trying to squeeze them into it. I've got about 75% of the way into the first draft of Book I.

But I've had time management and executive functioning issues which I'm still learning to overcome, and after losing nearly twenty years on a non-story I don't know now whether my writing process will win the race against my life expectancy.

What do you do (if you do get this) when you have an environment building in your head but no actual plot? Because right now I've got good ideas for the evolution of a fantasy world (literal natural science type evolution and evolution of societies) but no idea what plot to actually put in said world. Or is this one of those moments where you write down what you do have and wait for a plot to come to you?

Plots often need people, rather than just places. I'd think about them.

[connectthebuzz]

Supporting the Matthew Shepard Foundation in Times of Distress

If I were to choose a foundation that I feel innately passionate about it would be the Matthew Shepard Foundation. I feel as though this touchstone of the LGBTQIA+ community needs to be at the forefront of people’s minds now more than ever. While they are consistent and well-supported in their mission statement, there are numerous improvements that could be made to their messaging and create more consistent communication with their community.  In this blog post I will break down their different social media presences, but I want to make clear that I do not do this with any sort of malice. I instead hope to provide some constructive criticism with the goal of bettering their media outreach. 

Personally, I feel as though their dedicated website (https://www.matthewshepard.org/blog/) is a perfect amalgamation of everything they are trying to achieve. This is a perfect headstone of information, relatability, and course of action. I feel as though they could spread the thoughtfulness that they have put into their website into their social media accounts to reach a larger audience. 

 Their X engagement has been lacking as of recent years and that is a basic vanity metric as is defined in this Hootsuite article. They have posted infrequently, the most recent three dating to the years 2023, 2020, and 2018. Therefore, the platform has not taken the  opportunity to post regularly and reach out to new potential audience members. Posting additional and recent content will drive up the engagement of the followers they previously obtained, currently have, and furthermore influence new followers to expand their messaging and contributions to the organization. Their message is one that the general populace needs to hear, as it supports a marginalized societal group which benefits from both their financial contributions and positive messaging.

In a previous post by the Matthew Shepard Foundation, they featured a photo at a recent gala including widely known actor Kal Penn. In this post, the foundation did not tag him which leads to a lack of engagement which could have been achieved by attracting his own fan base. If Kal Penn were to be tagged, it is reasonable to presume that the post would have been shared more widely across a further diverse fanbase expanding their message and driving up engagement. Furthermore, this simple action would then lead to more “click-throughs” for this organization and inspire more community outreach. While their outreach on X has left a lot to be desired, the foundation has grown to significant lengths which is not reflected in their social media presence. 

The Matthew Sheapard Foundation’s posting efforts on Facebook is also an area which requires improvement. The “shareability” of their posts as of late leaves little to be desired. They have chosen to lean on dry, text filled posts that do not inspire the reader or draw in attention. The detriments to this marketing tactic have been outlined in this post from Hootsuite and identify the main issues that I take with this marketing tactic. I feel as though if they were to take a more broadly appealing method of posting, then they would have the engagement that they are wanting to achieve. By posting photos of their employees, outreach efforts in the community , and events they attend as opposed to text based posts, they have the opportunity to create more eye catching media.  This would then drive up their shares and increase visibility on their platforms. Furthermore, more visibility on social media platforms will increase the awareness they are trying to spread through their efforts. If they were to engage in more broadly appealing posts, with more uplifting messages, it would increase the “shareability” of their posts as well. With more shareability that tugs the heart strings of their audience and feeds into their messaging and mission statement, you then obviously hit the behavioral metric of more click-throughs and awareness of the cause you are using these platforms to promote. 

Overall, I love the Matthew Shepard Foundation with all of my heart. It is this reason that I am choosing to identify it as the focus of my posts. If we are silent in this day and age then there is nothing but hard times coming our way and that is something that I will not stand for. Therefore, it is my goal to help the foundation find the flaws in their current media strategy and improve their social media messaging from the state it is currently in. If done correctly it is my hope that they can increase followers, engagement, and interactions to make the next turn-out a landslide and continue to support a community that I love and support. 

[amischiefofdeets]

MORIOR

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CHARACTER SUMMARY

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Morior (or Mori) is the unwilling embodiment of death and decay, a being who is unable to die. Despite what he is and his what his abilities can do, Mori is a man looking to help others, specifically those who do not have a place to call home. He created 'The Fae Circle' - a safe place for Fae to gather - when they were being hunted and treated like animals, offering them sanctum and becoming an impromptu protector. Much of his past is filled with woe but he tries not to share that sadness with others. Keep in mind that despite the war between humans and Fae coming to an end, he is wary at letting them into his forest (this might be a good way to begin interactions though!)Note: Character ref needs to be updated to reflect alignment change

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MUSE DETAILS

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Name: Morior Nicknames: Mori Race: Unknown - Some regard him as a God of Death, others see him as the embodiment of decay or death. Born: N/A Age: N/A Height: 5'10 Gender: Male (currently) Sexuality: Pansexual Location: The Devil's Woods/The Fae Circle Occupation: Lord of the Circle Abilities: Can decay any living thing at will, including simply aging them or making them rot. Cannot die but can sustain damage/pain which will eventually heal, has been alive an eternity. While his form is solid, he can technically decay into a black 'goopy' substance that rots things around it - he exists as he percieves himself. In the past he has been a woman, looked more Human and even has taken the form of different kinds of fae. It's not a quick change but rather something that happens slowly over time. Family: Imperium - Adopted son Loup - Adopted son Elias - Adopted son Shmichael - Adopted son Shmeffry - Adopted son

Scars: Fingers on right hand are marred black, right eye is missing and the area is also marred black. Tattoos: N/A Alignment: Chaotic Good Goals: Maintain peace over his land and among his people, try to live a happy existence Hobbies: Journalling, playing various traditional instruments, collecting fae artefacts when possible Likes: Keeping various fae safe in his circle, feeling wanted/needed/acknowledged, relaxed late night parties, nature Dislikes: Humans in his forest, human media (Tv, music)/technology and human food, having to kill, discussing his history, energetic children Mental state: Has a lot of trauma, he carries countless tragic events on his shoulders that he doesn't deal with. Disabilities: PTSD Reputation: This depends entirely on who you ask. Those in the circle tend to see him as a saviour, protecting them from harm and allowing them to thrive in the forest. Others see him as a coward, knowing the stories of him wiping out those who threaten Fae they can't understand why he wouldn't simply kill all the Humans and allow Fae to live freely across the land. Those who know him very well consider him a reserved kind man, despite how social he may seem. He tries to keep everyone at an arms length while also striving to make them feel welcome. Toyhou.se: [LINK] Characterhub: [LINK]

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HISTORY

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[The history is very long so I'll add a TL;DR here just in case. If you want to read the whole thing then I love you because this boy is my fave but you don't have to.] Morior is an ancient being who believed himself to be a powerful nymph of decay for a very long time but recently found out he is actually the God of Death. Tragedy has followed him throughout the years and he carries that burden on his shoulders, even though he doesn't allow anyone to see it. He tried to stop the war between Humans and Fae that broke out but only made it worse (once by accidentally wiping out a village, the second by scaring the king enough to make him strengthen his forces). Due to this he ended up buried alive a while by the Humans, constantly suffocating. Once he escaped he tried to hide away due to the shame of failing the Fae but instead thanks to his power to kill trespassers, he has become the leader of a safehaven for Fae and various Magic sorts - even though in modern days the stories of their kind are nothing but stories. He tries to ward Humans away and has gone from war-weary, to partying fuckboy, to a tired dad. I'm happy to write any of these versions of him tbh. This man owns my whole heart tbh ngl.

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FULL HISTORY

>--------------------------------------<

Morior’s beginning is a mystery, it would seem he simply came to existence at the same moment the first living things on Earth did. This was long before even plant life existed and for a long time he was left to wander the Earth alone, watching life evolve before his very eyes from a distance. At that time he didn’t know of his power, not until organisms were big enough for him to dare reach out to them and then he learned quickly that doing so would kill them. They’d decay before his very eyes, leaving him nervous to dare reach out. With time and practice he learned to control that power, he could speed up or slow down the decay of living things at his will. Before early man evolved he spent most of his time wandering, exploring the vastness of the world, hoping to find SOMEONE so that he wasn’t alone. Early fae and man were his first taste of proper company and his powers scared them. He spent countless years wandering in search of an answer as to who or WHAT he was but he could never find an answer, nor anyone willing to stick around when they found out what he was capable of. It took some time for him to learn better, learn that it was safer to hide his true abilities, never letting anyone know what he was capable of. During these times he was fairly happy, he had those he considered friends - or even family - and he was thankful for the company but unfortunately this would not last. The world changed. Humans grew tired of feeling second-best to the magic fae creatures could naturally wield, they turned against Fae in an unforeseen show of violence. Mori watched as those he'd cared for were slaughtered before him and any notion of control was lost - he decimated everything around him. That included the Fae that had yet to be killed by the humans, his unrelenting power killing those he had sought to protect - not only the attackers. The sense of loss he felt was like nothing he'd ever experienced before. He felt like a monster. For a long time after he would simply wander, avoiding others for fear of causing them harm but with the war worsening there were less places for the Fae to hide. Forced to fight to protect others, it was during an attack that he learned he truly couldn't die. A blow from an iron weapon didn't decimate him like it did the Fae and he decided he'd use that power to intimidate the Humans. Glamouring to get into the castle to face the king, he stood before him and revealed his true form, threatening that he would not fall and that his people were to be hurt no longer. He never anticipated that enough blows would bring him down, knock him out long enough to be buried alive while the wars waged on. When he was finally free there were few left, all scattered and trying to hide. With the guilt for likely worsening the king's wrath, he once again intended to exile himself, hiding away in a deep forest that flitted with ancient spirits. Somewhere too dangerous for Humans to tread, he hoped. As he settled there, more came and despite his want to remain alone, he found himself surrounded by Fae. Settling. Healing. Eventually daring to find joy in their new home. There was no choice, from then onwards he would protect this place. Killing any Human who would dare step into their woods, defending his home. Things have changed a lot since then, their kind has fallen into legend and he need only scare Humans away from their home if they begin to encroach. He has also adopted a few children who have fallen into his lap by one way or another, giving him newfound purpose and responsibility that he struggles to keep up with.

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TAGS

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Main tag - Headcanons - Ask tag Likes - Aesthetics - Musings - Wardrobe

RELATIONSHIP TAGS

TBA

[xtruss]

First Ever Cheese Museum Opens in Paris: ‘It’s Gouda Brie a Delicious Visit’

— By Andy Corbley | Jul 17, 2024

A display case at the Museum of Cheese in Paris – credit, Musee du Fromage, released to the media.

Fromage, Formaggio, Käse, Queso: Cheese—One of the Old World’s Great Romance Stories.

In the heart of Paris, a new museum has opened dedicated to the ages-old craft of cheesemaking in France, the second most prolific producer on the continent (behind Italy).

At the newly-opened Musee du Fromage, visitors can learn about the history of cheese making, something which may have been going on for 5,000 years. They can learn about the story of various famous French cheeses, see cheese made, talk to real cheesemakers, and yes, taste them.

The mastermind behind the museum is Pierre Brisson—who remembers Sunday afternoons at the market standing on his tippy-toes to look into the display cases of the cheesemakers and marveling at the variety.

Coming to Paris 15 years ago, he saw how developed the Parisian pride and museum scene was for the showcasing of wine, but cheese, perhaps an even more iconic French symbol, was notably absent.

“People can see cheesemaking live and also talk to the cheesemaker,” Brisson told Euronews. “We are working with many traditional farmers, so we want people [to feel like they’re] kind of traveling when they taste the cheese. We are opening a little window in the heart of Paris to the rural side of France.”

The French have invented some of the world’s most beloved cheeses and just to name the headliners, there’s Camembert, Brie, Epoisses du Bourgogne, Roquefort, Ossau Irati, Comte, La Tur, and so many others that French readers are no doubt hollering to be included here.

“[The process] depends on so many things, even the humor of the animals whose milk is being used,” Agathe de Saint-Exupéry, one of the experts at the museum, tells the Guardian. “You can make the same good cheese every day, and every day it will taste different. It just cannot be done industrially.”

Cheesemaking is a good profession in France that makes a better living than other rural activities. Even so, Brisson knows firsthand it’s a productive, sometimes grueling job that is currently experiencing a labor shortage.

Like many nations, there is a continuous movement in France from the countryside to the cities, and Brisson hopes the museum will help people connect with their countryside heritage—and understand its value and what it contributes to French life even in the cities.

“Now, we are able to know, thanks to science, a lot of things about cheese. But our ancestors, they didn’t know all these details, but they still could make amazing cheese and develop very amazing skills of cheesemaking. So there is a know-how that’s developed for centuries that we kind of inherited today. We have a responsibility to keep this alive and to continue to pass to new generations the passion.”

The Concept —

In the heart of Paris, the Cheese museum offers an Educational and Interactive space for discovering France’s Cheesemaking Heritage and Regions: a first in the capital! The Musée du Fromage of Paris is an invitation to travel and meet producers, creating links and reflecting know-how.

This “living” place brings together :

A Dynamic, Modern museum to discover the world of cheeses and its territories

Dedicated rooms for courses, workshops and other events

A Dairy (daily production of cheese) to promote cheese-making know-how and encourage vocations.

A traditional Creamery and Cheese Shop

A Souvenir Store

A Cheese Museum in the Heart of the World's Tourism Capital?

— In order to Encourage Vocations with young people (and the not-so-young) in the industry's professions (breeder, dairy farmer, cheese-making technician, cheesemaker, etc.) and therefore forge partnerships with schools (there are fewer and fewer candidates for the cheesemaking schools, etc.), companies and others...

— To Promote French Cheese-making expertise

— To Enhance the Beauty and Diversity of the country's regions

— To entertain, educate and inspire!

All Along the Museum Route the Museum Aims to Promote the French Cheese 🧀 🫕 Industry. Cheese Embodies :

Refinement and Nobility: Caseology is a science in its own right, just like oenology, with its own vocabulary, codes, processes, subtleties and respectability; cheese tasting is an art.

Tradition and Know-How: The history of cheesemaking is rich in secular gestures, as technical as they are legendary, which continue to be passed down with rigor and passion, to ensure the dynamism and quality of the industry, from the local to the international level.

Richness and Diversity: France offers the world's most beautiful and extensive cheese panorama: cheese everywhere, and a taste for everyone!

Pleasant and Popular: From the table of a Michelin-starred chef to a raclette party with friends, tasting cheese in all its forms excites the taste buds and brings gourmets and gourmands together in an intrinsically convivial atmosphere.

[masteryjourney]

Journey Through Research and Development

The results of this class far exceeded any expectations that I had. Coming into this class, I thought we were just going to be doing research. I thought maybe we would research topics related to this class and respond to analytical questions.

I also thought that maybe we were going to learn how to research topics that are related to our beat to write about. We all have a beat by now but we don't necessarily know how to find information to write about that's related to our beat.

The course is research and development. I thought that maybe we were going to research specific topics using specific resources and reflect on what we found to develop our research skills.

Again, I have to say that taking this class at Full Sail University far exceeded my expectations. In fact, it was nothing like what I expected it to be, in a good way. The whole Journalism program has been satisfying so far.

I really want to say how impressed I am with the Journalism program overall. I previously took the Media Communications degree at Full Sail. I was also impressed with that program, but it was more of a starting ground. It is useful for my career, but I couldn't do much writing. However, I am and will be, applying what I learned from that degree to the writing and promotion of my writing now. I will be able to use what I learned, in social media and marketing, from my first degree, and my knowledge of research, interviewing, and writing articles, in this degree, to write and promote articles in the future.

According to the "Defining and Finding Experts" lesson, an expert is "a person who has special skill or knowledge... derived from training or experience... relating to a particular subject". Generally, they would have at least 10 years worth of experience.

This resonated with me because I knew before that there are experts in every field, but I didn't realize how crucial experts can be to journalists. It is completely understandable that experts are so valuable to journalists since they help give journalists credibility.

In journalism, my beat is educational journalism, specifically writing about the Civil War, the different battlefields, and current events happening in these cities. Learning about experts gives me the knowledge I need to find experts, such as experienced historians, to help me write credible stories in the future.

I also learned about public records. The "Finding and Using Public Records" lesson provided many sources including "Government Made Easy", "CIA World Factbook", "Census Bureau", and many more to find credible information.

The "Defining Public Records (and FOIA)" lesson defined public records as "information that has been filed or required by law to be made/kept."

First, I want to say, I didn't know that there were so many resources available that had public records. During this week of class, I was able to find so much valuable information from credible sources, and discovered a lot of information that I didn't know, and used it to write a heart-tugging story.

I am excited and eager to use these sources in the future, to find valuable and important information that I will need, to research, write, and create relevant, helpful, and educational articles/stories in the future.

In the "Infographics" lesson in week two, infographics are described as "a visual representation of data/evidence meant to help communicate information to readers quickly". I have always enjoyed creating infographics, however, I am not that good at it. Let's just say, if you need someone to proofread, edit, or write something for you, I'm your girl. If you need someone to create a visual representation of something, well... you may want to keep looking.

Anyway, back to topic... this week of class provided me with resources to analyze good and bad infographics. Now, knowing the difference, I can clearly see the difference. Having this knowledge gives me the ability to know how to create an infographic, when I try to create them, in an appealing way, to help educate readers.

In week three, we were taught how to conduct interviews. In the "Why Interview" lesson, we were taught that interviewing interviewees helps build trust with your readers and provides different perspectives about the topic.

I think this is true. You can learn first-hand experience, expert advice and opinion, and learn information that may not be readily available.

Writing the story that I wrote, I was able to interview two people with different backgrounds, learn two different, but in some ways similar, perspectives about one event, learn new things about the topic and the broader place, and dive deeper into the topic. I would not have been able to get this information if I did not conduct the interview.

This will be helpful moving forward because I now have the skills to find people to interview and to conduct interviews. I will be reaching out to historians, in particular, from different battlefields to learn more about the battles and the places.

This month has taught me so much about how to pick stories, where to find information using credible sources, how to access public records, finding who to interview and how to interview them, and creating the story.

I want to say thank you to Natly Torres Alvarado for another great class and month. I learned so much. I am excited and sad to finish up this class and move on to the next. I have to say, I am not a fan of interviewing people, but that comes with the job right, but it is exciting to hear their stories and experience and learn more about topics. I look forward to applying what I learned in projects and work moving forward.

[ailtrahq]

Software developer MicroStrategy is set to revamp its reporting of bitcoin (BTC) holdings each quarter, thanks to a recent decision by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). Greater transparency into their financial health will be possible owing to this reform, which will permit businesses like MicroStrategy to declare the fair value of their bitcoin holdings without disclosing impairment losses if the Cryptocurrency’s Price declines during the quarter. Impairment loss disclosure is a financial reporting requirement where a company must acknowledge and reveal that its Assets have significantly decreased in value, typically when their Market value falls below their recorded value. It’s important for transparency and informs stakeholders about the impact on the company’s financial situation, ensuring accurate representation of asset values. A reputable Investment bank, Berenberg, has emphasized the significance of this event, which may change how things work for businesses like bitcoin-loss/?fbclid=IwAR0DV8mwPnEIF9b6DxNRZhd3V3KhJSri7AI0iB4xj0Zx-t3u2_LFECpvYRw" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">MicroStrategy that have substantial bitcoin holdings. This change will give investors a more accurate financial picture, which is generally thought to be a good thing for the cryptocurrency market. Currently, cryptocurrencies are treated as intangible Assets, resulting in conservative accounting practices that negatively impact company earnings during crypto Price downturns. MicroStrategy Business And Operations MicroStrategy embarked on an ambitious journey of substantial bitcoin investments, earmarking a significant portion of its treasury holdings for the Cryptocurrency. While this bold step underscored their commitment to innovation, it simultaneously laid bare the company’s vulnerability to the ever-fluctuating crypto landscape. Since adopting this strategy in August 2020, MicroStrategy has reported cumulative bitcoin-impairment-losses/?fbclid=IwAR2ADmLppg7dkA7i4e3IDmGvhsVFl-uh9jP03cn8fmZKwMBDkm4PyQs-HxE" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">impairment losses totaling $2.23 billion, with the largest loss of $917.8 million recorded in the second quarter of 2022. Even if it wasn’t necessarily the case, this substantial loss attracted a lot of media attention and created the appearance that the company’s underlying value had been significantly impacted. bitcoin (BTC) is currently Trading at $25.853. Chart by TradingView.com Formal Approval And Adoption Timeline The Financial Accounting Standards Board’s new rules, voted on recently, will permit companies to use News/microstrategys-large-bitcoin-impairment-losses-093032173.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9sLmZhY2Vib29rLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAALoa31mSSGh8qYESQv4I7jg4Gma2T6-MM6h4DJReNbzwNrKQTtfm8MFLFa7yv-WgiShcuhMwq0lHDGwI40J6we4qW_AMs_Gxm59NqcVdbyzXwLNTveSkKtbWGn_NP1IMv9rzODA1Vn6b3QYBb1nTnzrIlklic9NfP4XHxITy2A03" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">fair-value accounting, allowing them to immediately reflect gains and losses on their income statements. Formal approval of the new standards is expected later this year, with companies having the option to adopt them earlier. Michael Saylor, executive chairman of MicroStrategy, welcomed this rule update, stating that it “eliminates a major impediment to corporate adoption of bitcoin as a treasury asset.” This change is significant in encouraging wider Cryptocurrency adoption within the corporate sector. While the official implementation of the new rules is slated for 2025, MicroStrategy intends to embrace them earlier, showcasing its eagerness to align with the latest accounting standards and leverage their advantages. Berenberg, on the other hand, holds a favorable view of MicroStrategy’s prospects. The bank has issued a ‘buy’ rating for MicroStrategy Shares and set a target Price of $510. According to the most recent data, as of Thursday, MicroStrategy’s Stock closed at $353.07, indicating strong investor confidence in the company’s future potential.

[ffcarlos-grad604]

The Creative

Who is doing the creative practice and underpinning research?

Any designer who produces design work or underpins research including myself, my peers, and lecturers. It’s professionals who do this for a living, those who collaborate in teams, in studios, companies or hobbyists who like to get creative for fun. It’s those behind the work out in the streets, exhibitions, and galleries as well as the ones who make stuff you don’t see and are kept hidden, scrapped, or a work in progress.

Who am I as a designer?

I have a very vague/little image of who I am as a designer. I know who I am as a person but not sure where that fits in with my work. To give myself a title, I would say I am a communication/graphic, interaction/UX/UI designer. I haven’t done substantial or a variety of work to see a style or aesthetic and figure out what I’m more drawn to.

What are the influences on me as a designer and where do they come from?

The influences on me as designer would be my background, upbringing, environment and the personal qualities, beliefs, values I have from that.

As I was born and raised in New Zealand, I’m not very connected with my culture and it doesn’t reflect in my work. I’m involved in the church so religion and my journey in faith is important to me. Music has always been a big part of my life but it has only appeared in one of my design projects so far.

I feel like other than music, there isn’t anything in particular that I have an interest in. I think I would highly benefit from watching more films, shows, videos, listening to podcasts, reading book, journaling - Basically doing activities that spark creativity, curiosity and extend my knowledge about anything because that can all be brought into my design work.

My platforms for inspiration on the internet are Behance, Pinterest and Instagram where I follow public design pages and designers. Being part of Generation Z, and having been surrounded by technology growing up, what I consume on social media and the internet impacts me.

I also look to my peers work when we share and have discussions in class. I like seeing the diversity of ideas we all have even though we were given the same assignments. I observe to the art/design on the streets, especially the posters around the city.

How can I unpack the personal design ideologies that cultural shifts, ethics and responsibility that impact my decision-making?

Ask people/the users/the consumers who will see the work and be affected by it. This can be done all throughout the work-in-progress stages and also at the end when the product is launched. Talk to anyone – family, friends, peers, lecturers, and the users/audience themselves.

How might I expand my visual vocabulary by understanding the environmental, social, cultural, political contexts of my design influences?

We live in a fast-paced changing world so be aware of the current events relating to political, social, economic, and environmental, technological, and the impact they have on society. This can be done through watching or reading the news, Googling topics were are curious about, looking into research sources like articles, journals, books – Anything to broaden our perspectives.

As for expanding visual vocabulary, I will continue to build my bank of design inspiration from various sources. Takes pictures, save images, write notes, store and organise them somewhere. I could try to look deeper behind the meaning and the process the artist/designer/team of creatives went through. Other times, it’s okay to just admire it as it is because art can be merely aesthetic too.

Where do I stand in relation to my practice and what do I value?

I discovered a passion for design when I took the subject in year 11. That’s when it became apparent that it was something I wanted to pursue a future in. This brings me to my fourth year of design practice. I can see the growth I’ve made since starting my studies at AUT but this improvement could be a lot bigger. I feel that I may be holding myself back a bit.

I find that I often have a lack of motivation and inspiration and don’t design unless I’m forced to (like doing assignments). I compare this to music where I used to have a lot of discipline to practice at least an hour every day on both instruments. I’m not sure why it’s harder with design. Other than the shortfall of creativity, it might be because I get caught up with perfectionism and the fear of going through the messy journey to get to the final outcome.

In order to overcome my fear and advance as a designer, I aim to produce a large volume of work – Keep doing more, explore, discover, be exposed to the design world. My objective isn’t to be fully satisfied with every piece I’ve do. As long as I put my best effort into each creation, and I’m slowly building up my skills and array of work, I’m making progress one step at a time.

Outside of uni, I have yet to start doing designs for clients so I look forward to seeing my work come to life for the public/community in a real-world situation.