#using my free trial for spotify well

[luvnotpercival]

FUCK YOU AND FUCK YOUR TRAIN FRIDAY

[slime-the-awesomeguy]

You came? You called. 🤍

small au idea i had for sir and william heaheheh

(v2 no hand version)

[ros3ybabeslanguages]

Language Resources 🎀

*that I currently use for studying Spanish. When I pick up studying Japanese again, I will make a list for that as well <3 I currently use a handful of resources for learning Spanish, and they've all proven very useful so far!

🩷 My Current Resources for Spanish

Busuu - hands down my favorite language learning app. So much better than Duolingo, in my opinion (especially for languages with a different alphabet/writing system). I bought the premium for a year, which will expire in Septmeber, but I'm debating renewing again because I love it so much.

LingQ - I like using this for reading in Spanish. It gives me different types of things to read about, and while I don't have premium, I do put all the words I don't know into flashcards on AnkiApp on my laptop and translate anything I don't know using SpanishDict.

SpanishDict - favorite translation/dictionary app. I know it has lessons you can use, tho I haven't tried it yet, but I really do love this app. It's super helpful when I'm making flashcards or writing random vocabulary notes.

Goodnotes - This is a general note-taking app, but I love it because it allows you to import and write on PDFs, and that's just perfect for me! I've downloaded free PDF short stories/children's stories in Spanish and made notes of words I don't know, and taken notes in the app too. Definitely my favorite notes app, ever.

Italki - I know this is a website, too, but I use the app. It lets you work with professional teachers/community tutors in your target language. You can have structured lessons or just use it for conversation practice. I did a trial lesson not too long ago and have an upcoming lesson booked out in about 5 days. You pay per lesson, so there is no subscription, and there are so many languages and teachers/tutors to choose from. I did a lot of research before choosing a teacher, and I'm very happy with my decision so far. Definitely useful if there's not native speakers near you or you're like me and not confident talking to people you know in your target language/their native language.

Quizlet/AnkiApp - I use AnkiApp more then quizlet, and the Anki I'm referring to is NOT the same way everyone else uses, but it's the flashcard app of preference at the moment. I tried the AnkiDroid app and hated it. But yeah, AnkiApp is useful for flashcards and I really like it. I have it on my Chromebook and my Ipad.

Netflix - I love watching shows in Spanish on Netflix so much. I am currently watching La Reina del Sur on it (used to watch that sporadically in the past at a friend's house) and plan on watching some other shows, including Elite.

Spotify - I enjoy listening to Spanish music and podcasts right now. The music is more of an entertaining/enjoyable fork of audio input, and the podcasts help me get a feel for speaking and pronunciation and I choose podcasts that speak on topics of interest tk help with vocabulary in those areas I'd like to be able to speak about.

Textbooks - I have 2 PDF textbooks, Gramatica de Uso del Español: A1-B2 and Gramatica de Uso del Español: B1-B2. I've heard these are great for learning Spanish (and they're both only written in Spanish, like there's no English in them) and plan on using them once I figure out how to take good and useful textbook notes! I definitely need to improve on my grammar.

Those are all my current Spanish resources! I'd definitely say my current level is like a high A1 right now, nearing A2, but I have just a little bit of work to do before I get there. These resources are definitely gonna help, tho!

[roo-bastmoon]

Things needing immediate attention in MUSE era...

We have GOT to diversify streaming platforms. Last year as a present to myself I went ahead and purchased a premium family bundle (for 6 email accounts each) for YouTube/YT Music, Pandora, and Spotify--plus a premium Apple account hooked up to Stationhead, and I currently have free trials going for Tidal, Qobuz, and Amazon. Premium streams are essential for charts.

Every day I make clicking through playlists on all these platforms as part of my routine: before breakfast, at lunch, and before bed at a minimum.

We also need to be very diligent about voting. Once I sat myself down and took the time to download the apps, set up accounts, and watch a few YouTube tutorials about how to do it, it's actually pretty easy and usually only a once or twice a day sort of thing.

Then there are the polls that have unlimited voting. That is a numbers game, a war of attrition. So while I wait for my lunch to heat up? I vote. Stuck in a waiting room for an appointment? Voting. On the phone with someone who is just gabbing away? Uh huh, mm mhm, but clickity click, I'm voting the whole time. I aim to hit that Vote button about 100 times a day. All told, takes less than 5 minutes.

Also our boy just posted on Insta after 126 days of silence. Please interact with the story and show him the love!

All in all, I think we really need to get into a routine where we fire on all cylinders. Streaming parties, funding parties, outreach & hype parties... We are hyper-focused on Spotify and YouTube videos and that stuff is absolutely important, but it leaves too many gains on the table. Let's use every tool in the box, okay?

Finally, I want to wrap up this post with gratitude:

I know I encourage you guys a lot to push yourselves and work hard, and I don't mean to come off as your taskmaster, but rather as a cheerleader.

We took a mostly Korean song with an insultingly low level of promo, plus no ads, no playlisting, no radio, only one version, with less than a full week to chart, which dropped during a major US holiday -- and it's very likely it will land on the Hot 100. That is...outstanding.

If nothing else, Jimin will see that he's loved and appreciated and we have his back. Whatever the assholes online try to say about vpn and bots and other bullshit, it was your blood, sweat, and tears that gave Jimin his well-deserved seat at an otherwise unwelcoming industry table. I'm so grateful to you and to this community for that.

We all know that Jimin is organic, authentic, and uniquely talented, and therefore isn't even in competition with anyone else. But we can still get him some good wins. What we do for him, we do out of love--not obligation or bragging rights. His music and his artistry are a source of JOY!

WE ARE OFFICIALLY IN OUR MUSE ERA!

We have two weeks to study up and get premium accounts and gather all our energy to support a whole album. How lucky we are to be so well fed and loved.

FIGHTING!

[onigiriico]

Amane audio drama (t2) - English TL

[ links: Spotify | Youtube ]

So much religion talk in this one. So much. I typed so much stuff into DeepL my JP keyboard app crashed at some point, but! it is done at last! 🎉 As always, if you've got any questions or find a mistranslated line, you can find me on Twitter or send me an ask (and in case you've got some money to spare & feel like supporting me extra, you can also find me over on Ko-fi)! But, without further ado:

⬇️ translation under the cut ⬇️

(Es enters)

E: Prisoner no.8, Amane. It’s time for your interrogation. Let’s talk for the first time in a while.

A: Warden.

E: What is it, Prisoner?

A: We've been disappointed by you.

E: Hah?

A: Even though we could sense the possibility of the new world we desire here in Milgram… and in you.

E: I don’t care how much you look down on me. I told you that won’t work.

A: Furthermore, you may say incomprehensible things, such as us “not being forgiven”...

E: Oi.

A: But we are generous. For now, let us make some time for a conversation with you. After all, our history is one that is built on dialogue.

E: Oi. Listen to what I’m saying.

A: What is it?

E: Amane. Don’t think you’ll be able to lead the conversation with that total change in attitude. Is it the result of the judgment that you’ve ended up like this?

A: “Like this”?

E: The dazed look in your eyes. The atmosphere around you. The way you speak. In comparison to the first trial, it’s like you’re a different person.

A: Hm.

E: Everyone who was unforgiven told me they heard voices judging their sins. They’re experiencing a lot of emotional stress as a result. Were your changes influenced by that as well?

A: Hah? Those stupid voices, huh? Yeah. I have heard them as well. However, such things do not pose a major problem.

E: What?

A: We have firm teachings. We have a clear and noble faith. No matter what kinds of things other people might say, these things cannot be shaken.

E: Faith… That would be referring to the religion you believe in, right?

A: Yes. It seems like the power Milgram holds is real. Did you have a look as well? At our faith.

E: Yeah. Though it was a depiction of a fairly small group of people… I’ve judged that your murder was the result of religion – of faith.

A: It wasn’t murder. It was merely a punishment in line with our doctrine.

E: So it’s not a sin, you mean?

A: Is faith a sin?

E: Faith itself is free. I’m not religious myself, but I understand that some people might be saved by it.

A: Hm. Is that so? Are the prisoners who weren’t forgiven feeling lost right now? Maybe they need our faith as well.

E: I’d rather you spare me the missionary work inside the prison.

A: Faith is free. It exists for people who are feeling lost.

E: … We’ve digressed. So – just what are you right now? You’ve been saying “we” this whole time. Does that mean you are not Amane Momose right now?

A: Right now, I am both Amane Momose and I am not. I am speaking on behalf of our faith. I am speaking as “we”, who believe that dialogue and warnings are in order since you made the misjudgment to not forgive us.

E: So you’re saying I’m talking to the very concept of your faith right now?

A: We don’t mind you thinking of it that way.

E: Huh.

A: Well then. Let us warn you once again. Warden. You judged that Milgram couldn’t forgive us, correct?

E: Yeah, that’s right.

A: As stated previously, our actions were in line with our doctrine, and thus cannot count as sins. Thus, Milgram is in the wrong.

E: You’ve killed a person.

A: In line with our doctrine.

E: You understand that you’ve broken the law, right?

A: We’ve talked about this before. There are things more important than the law. That would be our teachings.

E: I won’t acknowledge you turning such selfish rules into a standard of judgment. I won’t allow it. End of story.

A: …

E: Both religion and faith are free. However, a doctrine can’t become a universal standard of judgment.

A: You fool. Isn’t Milgram trying to enforce a new standard of judgment precisely because laws cannot guide this world onto the right path? Are you still being weighed down by the law?

E: As someone who’s just the warden, it’s not exactly my ambition to know about Milgram’s philosophy. It’s not because it’s against the law – but as Milgram, your murder can’t be forgiven. I judged it that way. That’s all.

A: …

E: Milgram… denies your doctrine.

A: If you do not adjust your way of thinking… we, too, will never be able to forgive you.

E: Heh.

A: What’s so funny?

E: What do you mean, “we”? You’re making me laugh. What you’re doing is just plain murder – no matter whether we’re talking in general or according to religion. It’s murder.

A: …!

E: Understand that. Amane Momose. It’s not “you” (plural) who killed someone – it’s you (singular). Don’t look away from your own actions by playing pretend!

A: … Ha…haha…! - You’ve insulted us… [You’ve insulted] God…!

E: So what?

A: This is unforgivable! I won’t forgive you! (screams)

(Amane tries to strike Es, but gets stopped by the barrier)

E: I’m telling you it’s impossible for prisoners to attack the warden.

A: I won’t forgive you…! I won’t forgive you!

E: Did you get those scissors from the storage room? Were you never taught that you’re not supposed to use those on people?

A: In light of our doctrine, your insult to us is more than enough to warrant a punishment! I won’t forgive you! I won’t forgive you!

(she tries and fails to attack them again)

E: Well… it’s in vain, so you might as well just listen to me like this.

A: I won’t forgive you! I won’t forgive you!

E: Prisoners can’t attack the warden. This is one of Milgram’s core rules, though a certain guy with multiple personalities slipped past it.

A: I won’t forgive you! I won’t forgive you!

E: Which means that Milgram doesn’t decide who the prisoners are based on their body, but based on their mind. If the mind is a different one, the rule doesn’t apply. It bothers me that it has a loophole, but…

A: I’ll kill you…! I’ll kill you!!

E: Thanks to this defective rule, we’ve now confirmed this: the you holding those scissors right now isn’t a god or a concept. It’s Amane Momose herself.

A: … I’ll…!

E: So, what you’re doing right now really is just a game of pretend. This is stupid.

A: …

E: This is the head-on battle with Milgram that you wanted.

A: Shut up…!

E: What’s wrong? Have you ended up wanting to be treated like a child after all?

A: Shut up!!

E: In fact, if you ask me, the fact that you are a child has a lot to do with this matter.

A: …!

E: No matter what you do, no matter how grown-up you behave – you’re a child. That’s an unchangeable truth.

A: You’re a child, too!

E: Wrong. I’m fifteen, so I’m an adult in Puerto Rico and Haiti. You’re twelve, so you’re a child no matter the country.

A: …!!

E: Hehe. You look angry.

A: I don’t.

E: You do.

A: I don’t!

E: Well, either way is fine. In the end, there’s two main reasons as to why children get reduced sentences under the law – the possibility of reformation and the influence of the environment, I believe.

A: …

E: In this case, it’s mainly the latter. I’ve said this before – during childhood, the things that the parents teach a child have a great impact on them, and the environment one grows up in has immense influence as well. A child who is born into a very religious environment will grow up believing that those are the rules of the world.

A: What are you trying to say?

E: In other words, they will turn their faith into their entire life – feeling as if their doctrine is the whole world.

A: …

E: Previously, you objected to being considered [mentally] underdeveloped based on your age. I suppose you were right about that. Your self really is fully developed. However, that self is one that was built in a particular environment, isolated from society.

A: …

E: That’s exactly why… We have also speculated whether this really was your crime, or that of your parents – of your surroundings.

A: …!

E: But as I said before, there’s different ways these components could have worked together—

A: “We”? What’s “we”? Are you not just “I”?

E: … I…?

A: Aren’t we the same? Me and Warden-san. You know, I’m aware that I’m out of the ordinary. That my environment was peculiar, and that everyone [else] is normal.

E: Amane…

A: In fact, there have been people who said that to me. I’ve been told things like, “You’re being deceived.” “You can still make it right now.” “You’re crazy.”

E: …

A: You are treating me as a child after all. Because I’m a child, you believe that I must have been brainwashed. It’s not like that. I, too— children, too, understand everything! Please don’t just decide that people must be unhappy.

E: …

A: I’m happy that I was born to my parents! It was a bit difficult, and it could feel restrictive sometimes, but I’m really happy that I could grow up on such beautiful teachings! I want to live this way!

E: Is that so…

A: You call that brainwashing, don’t you? From my perspective, you also generally oppose religion based on your personal values. Why can that be blindly trusted just because you’re more people?

E: I got what you’re trying to say.

A: It’s only natural that we, who weren’t acknowledged as a society just because we’re fewer in numbers, would view the possibility of a new world through Milgram as a dream.

E: Yeah, I’ve got it! Still, I won’t recognize your doctrine. By my standards, a doctrine that approves murder cannot be forgiven!

A: Yes. I’ve understood that.

E: Milgram is a three-trial system, though. I’ll be watching and listening to the footage from your mind for now, going into deeper depths this time… and if I feel something there, I plan on firmly accepting that.

A: Facing me head-on, is that right?

E: Yeah. That’s it.

A: If you end up deciding not to forgive me – not to forgive us –, then I will not forgive you, either.

E: Yeah.

A: Ah… no, that’s wrong. I will not forgive you (plural).

E: Wha—

(machinery whirrs, bell rings)

A: “Don’t look away from your own actions by playing pretend” – that’s my line. Warden-san, it’s not just you; it’s all of you. You all said you wouldn’t forgive us. We’re meeting each other on eye level. You all won’t be allowed to not get your hands dirty.

E: … What are you saying…?

A: What could it be? Warden-san, you were the one who said “we”, so…

E: (falls to their knees) … My head… Huh…?

A: Oh? Do you have a headache? Are you alright, Warden-san?

E: …

A: Do get back up by yourself, alright? That’s a trial given to you by God.

E: (heavy breathing)

A: Both pain and illness are trials. According to our teachings, those who run from them are the worst evil there is. That’s one of the four great principles. No matter who you are, that cannot be forgiven.

E: What are you…?

A: Oh – speaking of which, there is one among the prisoners right now. An evil existence that’s trying to steal people’s trials away from them.

E: …!

A: Shidou Kirisaki… His actions violate our rules. I have given him a warning. If he continues, I suppose it will be inevitable for me to intervene.

E: …!

A: Or… could it already be too late?

E: Shut up!! (hits her) … You’re getting ahead of yourself…!

A: Using one-sided violence… that’s unfair of you.

E: Shut your mouth…! I am the one casting the judgements here!

A: Hehehe. And how does that set you apart from us?

E: … I told you to shut up… Listen to what I’m telling you.

A: Hehe… This is nice. If the world you’re striving for is admirable in my eyes… That is to say…

E: Prisoner no.8, Amane… Sing your sins…!

[mediumcutsteak]

So I hopped into a free trial of NSO cause I wanted to check out Nintendo Music. I was already under no illusion this would be worth anyone's time as anything but an extra bonus for paying for a service you likely already pay for to play smash and splatoon, but wow this is truly pathetic. Here is the selection:

This is a PITIFUL list. TWO ZELDAS??? TWO KIRBYS???? IN A **MUSIC** APP?????? That's not getting into the other omissions, but this is a pretty glaring one. The only noteworthy thing about this selection is that I guess we officially call the first NA Fire Emblem with its subtitle now. Neat I guess. Also, these are Nintendo soundtracks, so really short musical stings (think Samus or Link getting Power up) bloat these OSTs, which for me is an L. No 3DS games at all by the way, nor any of the few remaining Wii U exclusives.

So what about its two vaunted features, easy music extension and spoilers? Easy Music Extension is mediocre. You can extend some songs to 15, 30, and 60 min. No longer or shorter. No reason not to have more options but whatever. I say some songs though cause the choices seem arbitrary. Obviously the short music stings can't be extended. I thought it was based on if the music would loop in game, but so far three of the OOT dungeons loop. They're all just stupid 40 second tracks that just.... Can't loop. Neither can Sheik's theme???

Spoiler prevention allows you to nix a whole game from rotation on any playlist. Not useful for what it sets out to do, but if you HAPPEN to want to use a premade mixed game playlist (you won't but we'll get to it) and there are games you just straight up don't like ANYTHING from, itll keep them out. I like Metroid music but I really hate the NES sound font at this point so were I to use this app indefinitely I'd certainly throw those out. Can't be used selectively though, so if you do like ONE song from a game, then you gotta keep it open to them all.

Lets talk about the playlists because these are insane. First off, no community playlists. I get that there's no way they could stop profanity if they added those, but thats a massive L already. Ok so fine, no community playlists, whats poppin in premade town. Well its got some staples: top tracks on the app, franchise wide selections (most franchises on here are 2 games tops though right now), each game has a playlist of just the songs that can be extended. Then there's the weird ones. Each game has playlists that vaguely categorizes some of the music into certain modes of play? Take Nintendogs for example

Ok. These make sense for Splatoon at least cause they separate them by in-game artists and game mode. Then there's the mood playlists, all with cringy names like Powering Up or whatever. And then there's my favorite, the character centric playlists! These are hilarious. They are just songs that are related to the characters. And the selection of characters? Well....

Yeah dude, thats sick. I def want to listen to BOO music or Wiggler music. It appears that as I was writing this they also added ones for the ScarVi professors, legendaries, and the DLC legendaries. Swell. The wiggler playlist is five songs, with six minutes total of music. Really gettin into that Wiggler mindset. Wiggler Wednesday everyone.

Its just sad. If you play games online on Switch and the music you want to listen to is on here, it isnt gonna kill you. You're already paying for it. But right now the selection is TERRIBLE, some of the tracks you would expect to be extendable aren't, and some of these loops are under a minute (every oot dungeon except forest, water, and shadow I can't stress enough). And for what? The composers aren't making money off this, they don't even get CREDITS on the songs (the spot where artist would be on Spotify is the game title). Even if they WERE, the service costs less than Spotify, so they wouldn't be making much anyway.

This is basically for no one. Real nintendo music diehards who would lap this up are missing a LOT of big names, and anyone who ISN'T probably doesn't care enough to download the app in the first place. To say nothing of people like me, who would want music from non-Nintendo games mixed in. Also its weirdly hard to find??? I tried searching Nintendo Music on the Play Store and couldn't find it, I had to access a link on Google. So there's your deep dive if you cared. What a waste of time and energy. Just put it on Spotify and Apple Music and be done.

[positivelybeastly]

Hi!! Is me, Stray! After many a trial and error, I now have an RP blog! Just letting you know I'm here and, uh, favorite music genres & favorite song headcanons for Hank?

Welcome to the roleplaying community! There's always a few ups and downs when you're first getting set up, especially if you've only ever set up the one Tumblr for personal use, but there's always room to learn, and I find that people tend to be generally pretty accommodating if you're as polite as you've been on Anon! If you have any questions about roleplay etiquette or the like, feel free to send another ask or just IM me.

As for favourite music genres and song headcanons for Hank, I generally think he's a pretty open minded fellow? There are a good few bands and types of music we know for certain that he enjoys.

Jocko Homo, by Devo.

Dead Man's Party, by Oingo Boingo.

Chopin's Nocturne.

60s rock! I can see him being a Creedence Clearwater Revival kinda guy.

Acis and Galatea!

The Rolling Stones!

Something you'll often see assumed of Hank is that just because he's a man of the arts, well read, and eloquent, is that he's some kind of music snob, that he only listens to opera, that he only enjoys classical, that he looks down on 'lesser' forms of music. And I honestly just don't believe that would be the case?

Like . . . here's the thing. Hank may talk fancy, but he is still, at best, a middle class farm boy from Illinois. If he has an accent, it's probably closest to a Chicago accent, if he hasn't trained his voice to do something entirely different - he does mention his voice has changed during his feline mutation to a baritone, so it's not out of the question. But he is not (or at least, he should not be) a hoity toity snooty asshole.

This is something even writers often get wrong about him - they assume that he's the smart character, ergo he must be the snooty, elitist character, which is something Ben Percy leans into, but it's not even just him, it's Paul Di Filippo in X-Men Unlimited vol. 2 #8, too. It becomes an asshole trait, and it's just. Not. Accurate.

Hank likes all kinds of music. In fact, I struggle to think of a kind he's outright stated he hates, though he's been around for 60 years, I'm sure someone can correct me. He's a curious fellow! He likes to explore! He'll consume any media, he quotes 1940s Superman comics, he watches Robin Hood movies with Wonder Man, why in god's name would he be a snob?

As for headcanon? I have tons! I often think, hmm, this feels like a song Hank would like, or a song that feels like a Hank song, when I listen to music, because. You know. Big blue guy's p much always on the brain.

I have a Spotify playlist that I occasionally add to, but currently on there is:

Is She Really Going Out With Him? by Joe Jackson - self deprecating, but also kind of a banger.

Carry on by fun - fun is an amazing band, and I definitely feel the lyricism and scale of their music would appeal to Hank.

Rain on Me by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande - I don't know if Hank would listen to this, but it has his vibe.

Cells by They Might Be Giants - I'm sorry, but have you fucking heard a band that more encapsulates Hank's personality?

Dr. Wanna Do by Caro Emerald - my old Abigail RP partner used to use this as her ringtone for Hank. I think Hank likes some jazz.

Cure for Me by Aurora - again, not one I think Hank would listen to, but again, it feels like Hank to me.

Very Good Advice by Robert Smith - Hank totally digs new wave and the Cure, and literary references mixed in with that vibe? Totally.

Moonshine by Caravan Palace - this song leads into Lone Digger by the same band, which I put on Dark Beast's playlist, representing the continuity between them. It has the right energy.

There Ain't Half Been Some Clever Bastards by Ian Dury and the Blockheads - songs Hank would sing in the middle of the fight if it weren't full of swearing and comics were allowed to do that.

I Want You to Want Me by Cheap Trick - he does.

On Melancholy Hill by Gorillaz - this just has exactly the right energy.

I Will Dare by The Replacements - "How smart are you? / How dumb am I? / Don't count any of my advice. / Oh, meet me any place or anywhere or anytime / Now I don't care, meet me tonight / If you will dare, I might dare."

Anti-Hero by Taylor Swift - another one that doesn't feel quite like something Hank would listen to, but I think we can all relate to this song a little bit (does that make me a basic bitch? Maybe), and some of the lyrics are so awfully Hank. "I'll stare directly at the sun but never in the mirror," like, fuck.

Turning Japanese by The Vapors - Iunno, I just think he'd like it. I often think that if I were gonna make an OG X-Factor movie, this is what would start the movie during a fight scene.

I would also like to give @brw a shoutout for their excellent Hank playlist, which introduced me to, among other things, Touch-Tone Telephone, which feels like Hank's theme song.

Oh, also, The Plastic Age by The Buggles. Hank absolutely loves prog-rock, you know he does. Oh, and showtunes! The man just will not stop singing, in the middle of fights or while being filmed for the nightly news, so he totally vibes with some Broadway. I'd also be lying if I said that Dust and Ashes doesn't feel like a New X-Men Grant Morrison Beast vibe all over. And Hank would love it! A musical based on War and Peace? Sign him the fuck up!

[girlfriendsofthegalaxy]

tuesday again 4/25/22

where the fuck were we

listening

Tongue by Rêve. i do not care for this latex aurra sing album art, but this instantly went on the "somebody come fuck this (GAY)" playlist. a fun danceable party bop about oral. other than a concerning line regarding "gamey like venison", what more can you ask for. spotify

Yeah Yeah Yeah by Blood Orchid. starts out with some very straightforward drums and then gets SLUDGY. this makes me want to sing along with the chorus with as much vocal fry as i can manage. i think the band is american, but the pronunciation of "yeah" is something i have only heard from posh brits? i think it works here. spotify

Praising You (feat. Fatboy Slim) by Rita Ora. this is somewhere between a cover and a reimagining? fun if you already know and like the original, fun if you don't. short, peppy, got me through a lot of mopping on saturday. spotify

reading

very long title by susan pinsky. checked this out mostly for any advice on moving, which was limited to two paragraphs that said "get rid of everything possible, the most efficient packing is not always the thing that will get you through a move in one piece, hire people to do everything for you if possible". this was unhelpful to me.

the author is not adhd, but is writing it out of the experience of having an adhd daughter and a ton of clients who probably had adhd. it feels like it is largely geared toward people who have a wife or child with adhd. while the version i read had been updated, it did feel very out of date at several points, especially with regards to calendaring/planning systems and (if possible) forcing everyone to call you at your home phone so you can check your wall calendar that you keep on your wall and not double book yourself. like what.

while i had independently derived some of the specific tips through great trial and error and much of the book simply did not apply to me, it did give some interesting background on why specific things (open storage, clear bins, open shelving, the concept of having one or two shelves free as a staging area in each place you have shelves) work with rather than against us.

i can see this being useful to someone who has recently been diagnosed as an adult, or is managing a family with multiple adhd/otherwise neurodivergent members, but i certainly wouldn't buy it. her big thing is Get The Fuck Rid Of Your Shit while not really providing a lot of pointers on how to go about that, so i could see how pairing this with one of marie kondo's books might be helpful? neither pinsky nor kondo really give a whole lot of advice on like "so you're an adult, here are things adults have in their house to make their lives easier" so perhaps a third unknown book might complete the perfect trilogy. idk man. im cranky her advice about moving was half a page.

Witches, Princesses, and Women at Arms, a collection of erotic lesbian fairytales edited by Sacchi Green. this was objectively fine. i skipped one completely bc it would have been a fucking hysterical short skit but did NOT translate to the page at all. as is ever the case with anthologies, some of them were decent, some of them not so much, almost none will stick in my brain even though there was some very nice butch representation. the one that does stick in my brain, Woodwitch by M. Birds about a princess trying to break a familial curse re: war, and a witch who follows the army, was memorable more for its leadup and acknowledgement of how a marching army works? like yeah! historically that is how armies move and camp and feed themselves huh, this is surprisingly well-researched for lesbian erotica!

the level of explicit erotica is...sort of on the same level as most modern f/f fic? this came out a good five years ago and people sure are having sex on the page, but there's a lot of metaphor and various other veiled imagery.

unfortunately, i want to read about women gettin absolutely nasty with it. i want to read about a pussy written with the same fervor as the average m/m cock in fanfic.

it's misogyny is what it is.

watching

rewatched For A Few Dollars More (1965, dr. Leone). in my heart he fucked that old man

You Can't Win Em All (1970, dir. Collinson) bc a very western-ish screenshot had me absolutely baffled about why a mauser was in a western. this is not a western, this is about some american mercenaries during the 1922 turkish civil war. this is not a very good movie (my main beef is that it spends twenty minutes trying to convince itself why its leads should work together, and the contrivance it lands on isn't particularly compelling or comprehendible after carting through us a whole bunch of other failed inciting incidents). this movie doesn't even manage enjoyably bad, but it sure is a spectacle of a war movie. great calvary columns riding through the prettiest goddamn landscapes you've ever seen. all forms of transportation are covered, including "armored train" and "trio of biplanes". my personal tolerance for exotic travelogue movies is fairly high, yours may not be.

if you want an actual cowboy western with different triple-crossing american mercenaries played by burt lancaster and gary cooper, Vera Cruz (1954, dir. Aldrich) is like a proto-revisionist western? quite a bit darker than i expected for 1) an american western made in 2) 1954

playing

sort of tied in with the making section-- i am deeply unhappy with how much time i am spending with fallou/t 4 bc it is not a game that makes me happy. however, the startup cost to finding a new game that makes me happy is pretty steep. so i spent some time on saturday flinging games into various folders, bc i forgot that was a thing steam lets you do now. maybe a different organizational system will fix me.

do not need to look at again: lots of demos and prologues from my old job, a couple things that aren't on steam anymore, some stuff that came in bundles that i'm not interested in, any strategy games.

done: my time with this game is at an end but i may want to return to a handy list to remind myself of what i have finished. lots of short indie experiences, wolfen/stein the new order, night in the woods, the portals, firewatch, things of this nature

old faithfuls: fnv, fo4, dishonored, sable bc i love simply zooming about.

hard bounce: this is mostly to make myself stop trying to click with hollow knight. i am never going to like fiddly platformers. and that's okay.

try again later: i'm deeply annoyed i'm not clicking with hardspace shipbreaker bc on paper it's the perfect fucking game for me. in practice even after fucking around with all the sensitivities it's still too fiddly for me. i need much, much more forgiving games with a shotgun-close-enough mentality.

making

important moving prep: cleaned out the storage unit that still had the dregs of my last move plus boxes from three grandparents and my mom. this took three full fuckin days bc it was extremely hot, i had to stop to cry a bunch, and a lot of goodwill trips.

the great thing about siblings is that if you've been caretaking a family heirloom that makes you feel weird due to your fractious relationship with the dead person in question, you can foist it off to a sibling who had a completely different less fractious relationship with the dead person in question.

once again i have failed to take a pic of the baby blanket in real daylight but we are slowly chugging along, halfway through repeat 6/10

[raspodcast]

RAS #659 - Monsters

On Ron’s Amazing Stories, we'll be delving into the fascinating world of monsters. We'll explore their history, origins, and the stories that have been told about them for centuries.

First up, we have a segment called The Other Day I Thought. Ron will share his musings on the truth about monsters.

Next, we'll be reviewing the audiobook American Monsters by Linda Godfrey. This book presents some of the strangest creatures known to reside in the United States. Godfrey has done extensive research on these creatures and has compiled a collection of stories and reports that will leave you both fascinated and horrified.

Following the book review, we'll have a short story by Gregg, who shares a work of fiction he wrote titled The Monster of Gifford National Forest. This story is a gripping tale of a creature that terrorizes his family in the Pacific Northwest.

Our featured story for this episode comes from the OTR series Dark Fantasy and is titled The Sea Phantom. This story is not what you're expecting. It's a chilling tale of a ghost that haunts the depths of the ocean.

Next up, we have Johnny Is True: Can You Tell Folklore from Fakery?. Your challenge is to decide which facts are based on real folklore and which ones are completely made up.

Finally, we'll end the show with an oddity. I asked Google's Gemini to create a monster tale based on my inputs. The results were...well, you'll just have to listen to find out.

Featured Story - The Sea Phantom

Our featured story loosely follows the theme of monsters. Dark Fantasy was a short radio series with tales of weird adventures and the supernatural. Although a short series, the stories are amazing with some being way ahead of their time. Our story today visits monsters in the form of ghosts protecting a treasure that is 100s of years old. It is titled The Sea Phantom and it first aired on January 6, 1942.

Other Stories Include - The Other Day I Thought About Monsters, Review - American Monsters, The Monster of Gifford National Forest, Johnny Is It True - Monsters, and King - A Storybook Monster

Ron’s Amazing Stories Is Sponsored by: Audible - You can get a free audiobook and a 30 day free trial at audibletrial.com/ronsamazingstories.

Your Stories: Do you have a story that you would like to share on the podcast or the blog? Head to the main website, click on Story Submission, leave your story, give it a title, and please tell me where you're from. I will read it if I can. Links are below.

Music Used In This Podcast: Most of the music you hear on Ron’s Amazing Stories has been composed by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. Other pieces are in the public domain. You can find great free music at FreePd.com which is a site owned by Kevin.

Program Info: Ron’s Amazing Stories is published each Thursday. You can download it from Apple Podcasts, stream it on Stitcher Radio or on the mobile version of Spotify. Do you prefer the radio? We are heard every Thursday at 10:00 pm and Sunday Night at 11:00 PM (EST) on AMFM247.COM. Check your local listing or find the station closest to you at this link.

Social Links: Main Podcast Site by LibSyn The Blog Site by WordPress Facebook Link Twitter Link Contact Links: Email Story Submissions Contact Ron

  Check out this episode!

[marketingprofitmedia]

MusicPal Review – Creates Spotify & Apple Music In A Few Clicks

Welcome to my MusicPal Review, I will cover its features, upgrades, price, demo, bonuses, benefits, and my own personal opinion. AI-powered app that creates Spotify and Apple Music kinds of premium platforms for lifetime without any monthly fees!

Now you won’t have to pay for expensive music streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon Music. Yes, you read that right. You can now enjoy unlimited music streaming for a lifetime without any monthly fees. How cool is that? Now you won’t have to pay hundreds of dollars for expensive music streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music! So, let me ask you Are you bored of using the same overused music tracks for your videos or projects? This AI-Based Music Streaming Platform features millions of music tracks, allowing you to play unlimited music without any restrictions. You can earn a steady income without requiring any specific skills, experience, or learning curve. Make sure you don’t miss it when you still have a chance to get it at a huge profit and discount price.

What Is MusicPal?

MusicPal is a music streaming platform aiming to provide an unlimited access to songs desired without use of restrictions like those provided by Spotify or apple music. While most streaming platforms make you sit through more skips, keep many of their best features behind paywalls, or overload your experience with advertisements, MusicPal wants to be a nicer place to listen to your music. The freemium business model is unique, where MusicPal aims at providing multiple choices for music fans including: Currently, MusicPal provides a free trial with very limited functionality, unlimited plays of any song, ad-free streaming, free downloads, as many custom playlists as desired. MusicPal is designed to provide set of features for both those who want to listen to the tracks once and a while, as well as for those who enjoys music as a hobby.

MusicPal Review: Overview

Product Creator: Venkatesh

Product Name: MusicPal

Launch Date: 2024-Sep-24

Launch Time: 11:00 EDT

Front-End Price: $17 (One-time payment)

Official Website: Click Here To Visit Official Salespage

Product Type: Tools And Software

Support: Effective Response

Discount: Get The Best Discount Right Here!

Recommended: Highly Recommended

Bonuses: YES, Huge Bonuses

Skill Level Required: All Levels

Discount Coupon: Use Code “MUSICPAL4” To Get $4 OFF!

Refund: YES, 30 Days Money-Back Guarantee

>>>CLICK HERE TO GET INSTANT ACCESS NOW<<<

MusicPal Review: About Authors

The software MusicPal was successfully made by Venkatesh and Visves. They have both been making tools for the online business for a long time. They’ve made a lot of useful goods for people and work well together. They’ve helped a lot of people make more money and deal with problems.

For example, Send Valid, TalkGPT, Infinite Hub, DEVIO, Gen AI, Infinite Webinar, Infinite Hosting, Infinite Crypto, Infinite Core, CartCash, AI CB PROFITZ, Ai Cartoonz, EVER HOSTING, Mail Mate, and many more show how much they love technology.

MusicPal Review: Key Features of MusicPal

Soundraw Ai-Based Music Platform: Create your own music platform just like Apple Music in Just 3 clicks. It comes with DFY Music playlists in it with reseller rights.

No Monthly Fee: No need to pay monthly or yearly fees as the GoogAi can be purchased once and will be yours forever.

Get instant access to the 1 Click AI MusicPal App: You can easily create music. It’s never been so easy. Watch this video to get an idea of it.

In-Built Video & Image Editor: This can be used to create, edit, and improve videos and images. Create your own music with a few clicks: You can easily create your own music.

Access exclusive content and concerts: Get access to unlimited premium and exclusive content that no one else is sharing.

Share with your circle to earn a profit: You can give affiliate offers to your audience to make huge profits.

Unlimited Downloads with No Monthly Fee: Unlimited downloads and freedom to use the software anytime and anywhere in the world.

Unlimited skips: You can get access to as many songs as you want with unlimited skips, unlike Spotify.

Social Sharing: You can share any music albums and playlist to any social media platform in 1 click. Fully Cloud Based System that helps you share it with your audience easily and quickly.

Music Mixer: You can mix any music with this awesome feature. So, you can play more than one song or mix it more than one song easily in MusicPal.

Copyright: Free access to royalty Free Music that you can use anywhere you want without any fear of copyright infringement.

Commercial License: MusicPal comes with commercial License so you can use MusicPal to sell.

MusicPal Review: How Does It Work?

Here’s How You Can Easily Set Up Your Own Music Streaming Service in 2 minutes or less

Step #1: LOGIN

Login and start your music streaming service.

Step #2: EXPERIENCE

Experience ads-free music with unlimited skips and enjoy it for the rest of your life.

Step #3: EARN

Increase your earnings and make it profitable for you by selling it to others.

>>>CLICK HERE TO GET INSTANT ACCESS NOW<<<

MusicPal Review: Benefits of MusicPal

Get instant access to the 1 Click AI MusicPal App

Create your own music with a few clicks

100% AI-Based Platform

Save Money by canceling your Spotify subscription

Share with your circle to earn profit

Access to songs of your choice with unlimited skips

Fully Cloud Based System

Download your favorite Unlimited Music/Tracks with just one tap

One Million+ Ready-to-Use Tracks

Saved Unlimited Music/Tracks

20+ Music Categories

Free access to royalty Free Music Non-Copyrighted

In-Built Video & Image Editor

High-Quality Downloads

Social Sharing Feature

Audio Mixer Included

Commercial License

Get your own Free Commercial License

24*7 Customer Support

30 Days Money back Guarantee!

And many more

Verify Users Say About MusicPal

MusicPal Review: Who Should Use It?

Affiliate Marketers

Video Marketers

Social Media Marketers

YouTube Marketers

SAAS Seller

Email Marketers

Bloggers & Vloggers

Product Coaches/ Trainers

Digital Product Seller

E-com Store Owners

Small Business Owners

Website Owners

MusicPal Review: OTO’s And Pricing

Add My Bundle Coupon Code “MUSICPAL30″ – For $30% Off Any Funnel

Front End Price: MusicPal ($17)

OTO 1: Unlimited Upgrade ($37-$67)

OTO 2: Music Pack ($37)

OTO 3: DFY Setup ($97)

OTO 4: Agency Upgrade ($37-$97)

OTO 5: Profit Niche Sites ($27)

OTO 6: Reseller License ($67-$77)

OTO 7: White Label License ($397)

>>>CLICK HERE TO GET INSTANT ACCESS NOW<<<

My Own Customized Incredible Bonus Bundle

How To Claim These Bonuses*

Step #1:

Complete your purchase of the MusicPal: My Special Unique Bonus Bundle will be visible on your access page as an Affiliate Bonus Button on WarriorPlus immediately after purchase. And before ending my honest MusicPal Review, I told you that I would give you my very own unique PFTSES formula for Free.

Step #2:

Send the proof of purchase to my e-mail “maketingprofitmedia@gmail.com” (Then I’ll manually Deliver it for you in 24 HOURS).

MusicPal Free Premium Bonuses

Bonus #1: Musical Instruments Instant Mobile Video Site

Instantly Build A Mobile-Friendly Video Site To Promote Your Business On Autopilot, Without Creating A Single Video!

Bonus #2: Guitar Music Tutorials

Twenty-one music tutorials based on playing the guitar!

Bonus #3: Royalty Free Stock Music Salespage Template

Fresh New Royalty Free Stock Music Salespage Template!

Bonus #4: How To Make It Into The Music Industry

Beginners Guide On How To Make It Into The Music Industry!

Bonus #5: Reinventing Sunrays Music Tracks

Need A Fresh New Sound For Your Background Music? Pump Up Your Videos, Presentations And Recordings With Powerful Music Tracks!

Bonus #6: Most Inspiring Music Songs Of The 21st Century

Learning About the Most Inspiring Music Songs Of The 21st Century Can Have Amazing Benefits For Your Life And Success! Music That Will Fill Your Soul!

Bonus #7: City Music WordPress Theme

City Music WordPress Theme. The HTML template is also included!

MusicPal Review: Money Back Guarantee

You are Covered with 30 Days Money back Guarantee! Totally Risk-Free!

If you are locked out of the MusicPal software and we are unable to assist you in getting back in when you reach out to us via our support desk/ticketing system, we will refund your 100% of your money if you demand a refund within thirty days of your purchase. Unfortunately, we do not operate a no questions asked policy so please do not waste your time asking for a refund unless you have a legitimate reason, and can prove that you followed everything we advised to the letter. Refunds are only permitted for technical problems which cannot be fixed by us in spite of receiving your complaint. Except for the explanation above all other products sold advertised as ‘Final’ sales. Before buying it, please, read the sales page to check out how the results do change from site to site and depends greatly on what site this software will be used on and in which niche. With us, there are no promises on ranking to top search engines. Any income results outlined here are therefore bound to vary due to certain conditions and as such cannot be the same as what you see us achieving on this page. You can take up to 10 days to get a refund, and if you file a dispute without our consent, this guarantee becomes void.

>>>CLICK HERE TO GET INSTANT ACCESS NOW<<<

MusicPal Review: Pros and Cons

Pros:

Unlimited music downloads

Personalized playlists

High-quality audio

Ad-free listening

Offline mode

Cross-platform compatibility

Social features

Cons:

You need internet for using this product.

No issues reported, it works perfectly!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Q. Will I get Support for this software?

es, our 24*7 support team is always available to solve your issues and help you get the best results from MusicPal.

Q. Are there any monthly fees?

No, currently we are offering a one-time price for this tool. So, get this best deal before reversing to a Monthly subscription.

Q. Is there any money-back guarantee?

Yes, we are offering 30 days money-back guarantee. So there is no risk when you act now. The only way you lose is by taking no action.

Q. Do you update your product and improve it?

Yes, we always maintain our product and improve with new features.

Q. How to Activate my Early Bird discount?

Click the below button to grab this at an early bird discount.

MusicPal Review: My Recommendation

MusicPal is well positioned to rival Spotify because it is a paid-only service that provides users with fully customizable playlist with no advertisements and with an offer of unlimited downloads of any track. If you care about listening music offline having high quality audio and personalized music library, then MusicPal can suit you best. But in order to go deeper it is necessary to focus one’s attention to personal needs and choose the most suitable option. Taking advantage of the three key elements: the features of MusicPal, its benefits, and the possible disadvantages you can conclude whether the service will really help to improve the experience of listening to music.

>>>CLICK HERE TO GET INSTANT ACCESS NOW<<<

Check Out My Previous Reviews: Traffit Review, PLR Cash Review, ADASuite Review, Magnus Review, Themes Ninja Review, ProfitList Review, and VidMake Review.

Thank for reading my MusicPal Review till the end. Hope it will help you to make purchase decision perfectly.

Please note: This MusicPal review is based on publicly available information and user reviews. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the platform’s claims, and individual experiences may vary. It’s important to conduct thorough research before making any purchase decisions.

Note: This is paid software, and the one-time price is $17.

[thenexusofsouls]

I write on AO3, but I have no idea what their rules are regarding that sort of thing. I have linked playlists / songs to my fics before, and that didn’t seem to be a problem? There’s always the option of posting it in parts on this site. I don’t personally do that, but my best friend does, and it’s worked out pretty well for him. Regarding the movie, just because of the sheer amount of potential triggers, I might just skim read the wiki. I’m not sure if I’d need more context than that if you decided to add the town to here, but if I did, I could probably just watch clips.

__________

{i am the caretaker of souls} The problem is that I’m old, haha, so I don’t know how to make/share playlists, embarrassingly enough. I used to use 8tracks back in the day but that’s kindof gone the way of the dinosaurs, and I tried to get into Spotify but I honestly hate it. Half the things I look up aren’t there or they have 47 versions except the one I want. So I use YouTube because it’s faster and easier, but that means a separate link for each song in a post or something. That’d be harder to link to AO3. Unless I make a post here and link to that instead? Eh, whatever, I’ll figure it out, or not, heh. The writing is the most important thing anyway.

Definitely only skin the wiki if that’s what you’re comfortable with. That was my point in warning people was to avoid anyone getting triggered. Sometimes I forget that I have a much higher tolerance for horror and a lot of other topics than most people and I don’t have hardly any triggers myself, and then I get excited about something and want to share it with people... forgetting that they really may not be okay with it. I once really badly scared one of my friends by showing them a picture of a horror character that I honestly thought was cute, and I felt absolutely horrible. After that, I try to be responsible in how I share things with others.

As far as you needing more context if I decide to add the town to this blog, nah, you won’t. I’m a very visual person, so for me, seeing the environment and the aesthetic would improve my experience, but not everyone is that way. If anything, it’s my job as the writer to evoke those images in your mind and give you the feel of the town through my writing. If I do add the town, I’ll be writing up an info post that will explain the basics of how the town functions, a little history of how it got to be the way it is, and what muns/muses can expect, so you shouldn’t need any more than that. And in that post I will try to keep it as trigger free as possible.

Right now, it’s probably not a good idea to add the town. Unless I’m going to not write other muses while I work on SH, I don’t have the extra time. If I added it, I’d want to do it well, and doing it to my standards is something I don’t have adequate free time for at the moment. Also, I may be on hiatus for a bit in July. I have the end of summer classes to deal with and then jury duty the week after. If I do get called, I could end up having to sit there 8AM-4PM Mon through Fri, or even be put on a trial. And the hours the courthouse keeps are almost the polar opposite of my schedule. I’ll have to go to bed so early each night to get up like six hours earlier than I usually do, leaving no time for writing. So starting a complex muse right before I got on hiatus potentially for a couple weeks is not ideal. But I may use those two weeks if I do go on hiatus to work on the fanfic, since things are a bit busy right now, so maybe I could set up the town during that time too and then just not post it until I get back.

We’ll see! Things are a bit up in the air until the end of July for me, so I’ll have to play it by ear. 

[g-kat423]

1-10!

1. Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts?

Definitely Dunkin, although I am very upset that they got rid of their old perks program because there’s no longer a free birthday drink! The points are so different too because you need so many just to get a small snack and almost 1000 for a drink….it used to only be a couple hundred and you’d get a free beverage. I don’t go enough to ever earn any. Rambling aside, Dunkin is more popular here, there’s one practically on every corner. The closest Starbucks is in a mall, I wouldn’t go just for a coffee and Dunkin is cheaper so. Regardless, I’m mostly having coffee at home these days unless Dunkin randomly sends me one of those “we miss you” coupons where I get a free coffee a day for a week lol.

2. What's one thing that's stereotypical about you?

I don’t really know? Maybe my attraction to older women and it absolutely being because of mommy issues.

3. Play any instruments?

Yes! Piano though I rarely play, ocarina (also haven’t played in a while) and I have a kalimba.

4. A show everyone criticizes that you like

I can’t think rn because I feel like I tend to either watch what’s popular or shows with cult followings. I guess you could say a lot of people criticize South Park and like that’s absolutely fine, I also watch South Park through a critical lens. Yes, it’s satire, but then there’s the people who take certain things at face value and then the others who think Matt and Trey can do no wrong.

5. A music artist everyone criticizes that you like

There’s no one I’m like super into. Used to be a huge Gwen Stefani/No Doubt fan, I still get nostalgic for her music and she absolutely deserves the criticism she gets.

6. Last show you watched

I have Wednesday on rn for background noise. When it initially came out, I was not doing well health wise so I feel like everything from that time was tainted because I was in such bad pain it was hard to enjoy anything so I am trying to give it another chance. I also want to stare at Gwendoline Christie.

7. Last movie you watched

17 Again but I didn’t finish it. The last full movie I watched was Bad Teacher because I was in the mood for dumb comedies last night.

8 Last song you listened to

Diet Mountain Dew demo version by Lana Del Rey.

9. Last book you read

The Walking Dead Compendium volume 1.

10. Your top five most listened to artists this month on Spotify (if you don't use Spotify just say the artists you listen to most)

Oof yeah I have not bothered with Spotify since my free trial since I use YouTube and YouTube music.

Been listing to a lot of Lana Del Rey, Collective Soul, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Live, and Lady Gaga.

Thank you!

[ear-worthy]

The Raven Podcast Investigates Ray Lewis And A Double Murder in 2000

SHADOW OF THE SUPER BOWL: “THE RAVEN” SWOOPS IN WITH NEW REVELATIONS SURROUNDING NFL HALL OF FAMER, RAY LEWIS’ 2000 DOUBLE MURDER CHARGE

 I lived in the Atlanta area when this double murder occurred. I'm not one to rush to judgment, especially when someone's reputation is on the line. I will say, however, there are a lot of unanswered questions about that night, and unsolved mysteries. 

Where is the suit Ray Lewis wore that night that is allegedly soaked in blood? Why did Lewis flip and become the State's star witness at the trial of his two companions? Why did Lewis pay the families several years later after an agreement to end a civil lawsuit was made, if Lewis was innocent? Why has Lewis made such ambiguous and baffling statements about the murder in the intervening years?

Well, a new investigative podcast may give us some answers.

On January 31, 2000, hours after Super Bowl XXXIV in Atlanta, Baltimore Ravens star linebacker Ray Lewis and a group of friends got into an altercation with a group of men outside a club. Within minutes, two men — Richard Lollar and Jacinth Baker — were dead in the street, both stabbed multiple times. 

Ray Lewis was immediately the prime suspect in the double murder. He and two of his friends – Reginald Oakley and Joseph Sweeting – were charged with murder and stood trial, but ultimately walked free. To this day, questions surround that night in Atlanta, and the murders have remained a cloud over Lewis’ otherwise remarkable career. Did one of sports’ biggest stars get away with a heinous crime, or was he falsely accused in a tragic misunderstanding? Did the NFL or law enforcement participate in a cover up? Most importantly, who was actually responsible for the murders?

Over 20 years later, sports journalist Tim Livingston, known for hosting the hit investigative podcast “Whistleblower,” provides answers to these lingering questions. Livingston has spent the past three years investigating the case and reveals his findings in “The Raven”. Uncovering the truth of what really happened that night and revealing a string of coverups, “The Raven” includes never- before-heard interviews and new evidence surrounding the case. 

“Going into the investigation, there wasn’t a ton of information out there, which is shocking when you consider it was a double homicide involving one of the world’s most prominent sports stars,” says host Tim Livingston. “My hope with the podcast is to give the Lollar and Baker families closure, and that listeners not only understand what happened that night and why, but also recognize the importance of holding individuals and organizations accountable.”

“The Raven” is hosted by podcast creator and content executive Tim Livingston and produced by Tenderfoot TV in partnership with Audacy.

Livingston’s first narrative podcast, “Whistleblower,” an eight-year investigation into the NBA betting scandal produced with Tenderfoot TV, was named one of Spotify's Top Podcasts of 2020 and won the Ambie Award for best sports podcast 2020. In 2022, Livingston was named the VP of Content at Underdog Fantasy, where he co-created Gil’s Arena with former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas, one of the biggest sports shows in the world, amassing 25 million views per month. 

I listened to the first episode and Livingston begins in Akron, Ohio, the hometown of the two murdered men that night in 2000. Livingston does not rush to judgment. In this initial episode, he begins to ask questions and search for more conclusive answers than the responses that have been given for the last two decades. In addition to helming his second podcast with Tenderfoot TV, “The Raven,” Livingston is currently producing his second documentary for Netflix’s “Untold” series. Prior to podcasting, Livingston was a writer. He started his own newsletter, The Lead, which he sold to the Chernin Group in 2018.

Check out The Raven. It isn't simply a true-crime story. It's a morality tale about the criminal justice system, celebrity, race, and a subculture of violence.

[roo-bastmoon]

A few important notes about iTunes:

Preorder physical copies everywhere by all means but hold off on iTunes digital preorders.

If you wait for release day, you can buy the Title track, THEN the album, so there’s more chances to chart.

Also, there’s an automatic download feature if you know you’ll be busy on release day… but either way, once Muse drops and you can download it, DELETE the tracks from your library.

If you don’t, Apple Music will stream from your purchases and it won’t count for charts.

By the way—speaking of charts—now is the time to start thinking about your premium streaming strategies for Apple, Spotify, YouTube, Pandora, Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer and Amazon Music. There are free trials, family bundles, and Twitter streaming groups that can provide accounts if you are in the US.

Deep breaths. We have a month to learn and plan and organize funds. Fighting.

Love, Roo

PS still buried under deadlines but will come up for air when possible. Be well, my friends!!

[onigiriico]

Shidou audio drama (t2) - English TL

[ links: Spotify / Youtube ]

Thank you Shidou for going on a deep dive into both medicine and law in one drama. I have not learned this much new vocabulary in a while lmao (Jokes aside though, I do hope that I managed to get through this without any major errors! As always, if you find any mistakes anyway or just have questions, feel free to bring them to my ask box or my Twitter ✨)

Also, there's a direct quote from the Japanese criminal law at one point in this vd - the translation of that line is based on this translation of Japanese law.

⬇️ full voice drama translation under the cut ⬇️

(door opens)

E: It’s been a while, Shidou.

S: Orbital floor fracture on the right. Traumatic retinal detachment. Bruising. Lacerations. Partial fracture of the thorax. This is Kajiyama-kun’s present condition.

E: I know that. I didn’t anticipate Kotoko’s behavior, either. For now, I’ll be taking the opportunity of this second trial to judge–

E: Fuuta’s…

S: Shiina-kun’s is even worse. Head lacerations. Bruising all over her body. Left anterior compression fracture. A sprained neck. Fractured ribs. Further fracturing to the left arm. And furthermore… this may be outside of my profession, but her mental health is deteriorating as well.

E: Mahiru…

S: Both their minds and bodies are at their limits. Let’s stop this already, Es-kun. A lot has happened while you were gone. At this rate, someone might end up dead.

S: That’s not what I mean! I think we should put an end to Milgram as a whole. Both for our sake and for yours.

E: …That’s impossible.

S: Why?

E: I can’t think of any method of stopping it… or any way to get out.

S: …!

E: Milgram won’t end just because I want it to. That’s all I know. It won’t end until your judgment is complete. That’s the core of it.

S: You’re… the same as us, aren’t you? You just got caught up in a bigger picture.

E: Don’t lump me in with you! You’re an inmate, I’m the Warden. Now that I’ve started this, I intend to see it through until the end.

S: Es-kun…

E: Anyways, your eyes sure have gained some life since we last saw each other. Back then, you always wore an expression that made it hard to tell whether you were alive or dead, but…

S: Is that so?

E: Is it because you’ve received the result of the first trial…?

S: About that… I’ve been thinking that I would like to hear your thoughts. Why did you forgive me? Even though I asked not to be forgiven.

E: Why would the Warden listen to what a prisoner tells them? I decide based on my own standards.

S: You saw my true self, didn’t you? There ought to be very few people who have killed more than I have. In comparison to me, the prisoners who weren’t forgiven have also hardly done anything wrong.

E: You’re a doctor. I’ve deduced that your murders happened in the context of medical procedures.

S: …

E: Organ transplants… in other words, the act of removing organs from braindead patients. That’s what your murder is. Am I wrong?

S: I see. So that’s what was shown in the footage?

E: Not that straight-forward, of course. But from the information given, we came to the conclusion that this is the most likely scenario.

S: Hm? ‘We’...?

E: …

S: You said ‘we’ just now...

E: …Did I… say that…?

S: Yes.

E: …Fine. Don’t worry about it. Let’s get back to the topic. The topic of what I deduced, that is.

S: It’s impressive, isn’t it… Milgram… After all this time, I won’t try to deny it being a top class prison, but it really is the real thing.

E: Is that your way of saying I was right?

S: Well… About halfway, I would say.

E: Hmph. Either way, I judged that murders as the result of medical practices could be forgiven. Without regard to what you were hoping for.

S: …

E: I intend to investigate in my own way. Whether or not it’s okay to regard braindead patients entirely as dead… it seems that this has become an increasingly controversial topic in recent years.

S: You’ve done your research.

E: I don’t care about the discussions of your world, though. I decided that you could be forgiven. That’s enough.

S: … Why is that?

E: In the first place, getting involved with organ transplants is part of your job as a doctor. I doubt it’s something that you did out of your own free will.

S: I… I took a lot of pride in my work. I considered it a good deed. I wouldn’t say I didn’t do it out of my own will.

E: Well, you did it to save people, didn’t you? In truth, there must have been a fair amount of people whom you did save with it.

S: I thought so, too. Doing it for a good cause without a single doubt.

E: In exchange for the life of a person who has no option left but to await death, you can save a person who has the chance to live on, right? In that case, you shouldn’t even have to think twice.

S: I thought so, too… arrogant as I was.

E: Is that to say that you don’t think that way anymore?

S: Yes, that’s right. You know, I… continuously tried to persuade the relatives of a braindead patient who were against organ transplants. Giving them reasons like the ones you just mentioned, Es-kun. “In order to save the life of someone you don’t know, please let me kill your family,” I told them. It doesn’t even take much thinking to realize how cruel that is, but… I didn’t realize it until the very end.

E: … Isn’t that just a placebo? I would think that family ties play no role in that context.

S: Do you still feel that way if it’s your own family?

E: …

S: Es-kun, is your family alive and well?

E: I don’t know… I don’t remember.

S: Is that so? I’m sorry about that.

E: It’s fine. It’s not like I feel any particular way about something I don’t even remember. Besides, I don’t think my judgment would change even if it involved my own family.

S: There’s no way.

E: Even if my family happened to end up imprisoned in Milgram, I would see my job through to the end.

S: Family is… special.

E: Huh?

S: Let’s digress for a moment. Have you studied criminal law?

E: Well, the most important parts at least. I’ve been learning about it since I started working as the Warden.

S: Excellent. So, for example, if someone harbors a criminal or tampers with evidence in order to protect that criminal, that is a crime in itself, right?

E: That’s articles 103 and 104.

S: You remembered well. Can you recall article 105 as well?

E: No… Are you familiar with it?

S: It’s not my area of expertise, but I remember it because it left a big impression on me. Article 105 states that, “when a crime prescribed under the preceding two Articles is committed for the benefit of the criminal or fugitive by a relative of such person, the relative may be exempted.”

E: So essentially, even if someone covered for a criminal or helped them out, they won’t be held legally responsible for it if the criminal is part of their family?

S: That’s right. For me, no matter whether it’s according to the law or in any other context, it’s only normal to help each other in a family.

E: That’s a very fascinating story. But even with all this, I still don’t get what you’re trying to say.

S: (chuckles) I wonder. Maybe I just wanted you to listen to it.

E: … As always, I can’t entirely wrap my head around you.

S: I’m talking about how, unlike you, I can no longer claim that I’m doing my work for a good cause. I’ve lost the right to.

E: And something happened that changed your mind?

S: That’s… right. Although you’ll probably be finding out about that once you watch the extracted footage.

E: Yeah. Let’s have a look.

S: Es-kun. I’ve killed a lot of people. Like I previously told you in the interrogation, I’ve killed for selfish reasons as well. So…

E: Are you about to beg me not to forgive you again? Even though I’ve already told you it’s no use?

S: That’s right. Please don’t forgive me… is what I would like to ask.

E: …

S: I… “I don’t want to be forgiven”. That feeling of mine remains the same. I need to be punished. I need to atone for my sins. I don’t think Milgram is in the right, but…! There is no better place than this to atone for my crimes. But… as long as Milgram continues like this… we won’t be able to save those who get injured if I don’t get forgiven!

E: …!

S: Even now, Shiina-kun is still in a condition where any digression could be fatal. She can’t live without my treatment. If I’m not forgiven, she will end up dying!

E: That’s… true, I suppose.

S: From now on, conflicts between the prisoners will probably become more frequent. If I’m not there… they will be in even more danger.

E: Shidou…

(machinery whirrs, bell rings)

S: I need to be punished… but I need to stay alive, or young lives will be lost. I… I don’t know what to wish for anymore. I’m starting to think… that I want to live. That I want to be forgiven. Despite being so riddled with sins…!

E: … Shidou. Do you remember what I told you?

S: …

E: Back when you were still fine with dying at any moment, I told you to desperately want to live. “Because we have an attachment to life, punishments for sins exist in the first place. Your existence in itself is a sacrilege to Milgram and myself,” I said.

S: Yes… I remember.

E: And now, finally, you’ve gotten attached to life and become a real prisoner of Milgram. That’s what I believe. You wanting to be forgiven, and your wish… those are the steps that now represent you.

S: … That won’t do… I mustn’t be forgiven. Otherwise… the countless lives I’ve taken will never be paid back. 

E: Heh. If you’re really trying to give your life as compensation for the people you’ve killed, then there’s no reason to stay alive that will hold up, anyway.

S: …

E: Don’t face them with a life that you’re easily willing to throw away.

S: Es-kun, you’re a… strict… person, aren’t you?

E: I told you before, didn’t I? Because you’re the type of person I dislike the most.

S: (chuckles) It’s a pity. Since coming to Milgram, I’m being hated by children left and right. Even though I do like them.

E: Hmph. Like I care. But… but, you know…

S: Hm?

E: Thank you for saving Fuuta and Mahiru. I’m glad you’re here in Milgram, and I mean this from the bottom of my heart.

S: Es…kun…

E: That’s all. Prisoner no.5, Shidou – sing your sins.

[musicarenagh]

Songwriting Secrets and Inspirations: Inside the Mind of Tom Minor Today I had the pleasure of interviewing Tom Minor who is a London based musician, a musician with  many talents. When we say talents I mean the talent to create elaborative tunes and lyrics that ponder important questions, Tom’s music is fascinating, he blends blues, rock , indie , and his sounds are so appealing that it can be enjoyed by people from all walks of life. The title of his latest single, “Where Do You See Yourself In Five Years?” is one that steals your attention, I mean that was what really spiked my interest, and I wasn’t disappointed, he actually nailed it on the head. Tom travels on a juke journey via blues-rock rhythms about the intricacies of growth and fear. In a recent interview with Mister Styx of Musicarenagh, we get into Tom Minor’s creative world, where he tells us how he is inspired and how his musical style evolved. Come with us as we reveal the heart of Tom’s craft, his thoughts on the music business and upcoming works including his much anticipated first album – “Eleven Easy Pieces by Anger & Disappointment.” Prepare yourself to take a deep dive into the thoughts and tunes of Tom Minor as he reveals his ideas, tales, and undying love for making music that touches people’s hearts. Listen to Where Do You See Yourself In Five Years below https://open.spotify.com/album/1Vjcf85RHzJlvyzFSUim2e Follow Tom Minor  on Facebook Spotify   What is your stage name? Tom Minor, at your service! Is there a story behind your stage name? Well, I was born Thomas Miner, and I’ve always been called Tom, so I guess that’s as far as my imagination went. Where do you find inspiration? I'd say my musical tastes are quite eclectic and I tend to follow all things indie more or less, often the quirkier the better. I also have an affinity for rootsier stuff, be it blues, country, folk, vintage soul, punk, new wave or even pure classic rock, as long as the song in question strikes a chord in me. What was the role of music in the early years of your life? I've been into music as long as I can remember really. My parents had a great record collection, and I always loved good old rock tunes as well as all the catchy pop melodies of the day they used to play when I was a kid. Are you from a musical or artistic family? Not particularly. I did inherit a great deal of love and appreciation for all art forms from my childhood family though. There was always music playing in our home. And although my parents didn't really play any instruments, they used to sing a lot together along to the radio or records, especially at weekends and house parties. Who inspired you to be a part of the music industry? It must have been the slightly older kids in the neighbourhood who seemed to have all the best records. They started learning instruments and eventually formed bands, looked cool and sounded great whenever I had the chance to see and hear them play. How did you learn to sing/write/to play? I’m pretty much self-taught. Very few actual lessons, but a lot of listening, reading, trial & error and rehearsing on my own and with others. What was the first concert that you ever went to and who did you see perform? One of the earliest that I recall was this huge free concert in Victoria Park, London, where I went with my school mates. There was this local Brit pop band, whose name I can't even remember now. I don't think they ever recorded, but they totally blew our minds, and I'm sure we wanted to follow in their footsteps right there and then. Sometime later we went to see The Libertines, Arctic Monkeys and the like many times over. How could you describe your music? What is your main inspiration? I call it classic indie rock, broadly speaking and for lack of a more precise term. Musically, I’d say any piece of music that I happen to enjoy for whatever reason can be inspirational, and I do take a lot of influence from here and there. Lyrically, I guess I’m

most often inspired by ordinary everyday things, be it human relationships or more universal issues. Describe your creative process. My songwriting process often starts with the title and some kind of basic idea for a viewpoint. Once I've come up with a promising candidate for a song title, I'll let it work in my subconscious for a while, and if it still seems valid enough after a couple of days, I start writing down ideas around it. Usually the musical embryo of the song begins to take shape at the same time, and the music and the lyrics often write each other hand in hand. When it comes to the recording part of the process, I like the song to be as finished as possible before I start fiddling with the recording gear. What musician do you admire most and why? If I could mention only one, I’d say composer Arnold Schoenberg. He pretty much single-handedly changed the course of (art) music by inventing the famous twelve-tone technique in the 1920’s. Besides him though, I'd name David Bowie. He was obviously a great inventor as well and has had a huge impact on modern music. Did your style evolve since the beginning of your career? I guess so. My earlier stuff was more straight-forward, and a certain number of nuances and layers both musically and lyrically has no doubt crept in since. Who do you see as your main competitor? I don’t really see competitors when it comes to other musicians. We’re all sowing the same field, more or less, and the more good music there is in the world, the richer the culture will get. I guess the real competitors for all musos are other activities like games and social media these days. What are your interests outside of music? If it wasn't a music career, what would you be doing? This is a tough one. Well, I’ve always been keen on reading, from poetry to prose, science and even journalism, so I guess I’d try my hand at writing something myself. What is the biggest problem you have encountered in the journey of music? Finding my own voice and style of writing was never hard for me. But it’s always a challenge for a beginning musician to get heard. I've been no exception. https://open.spotify.com/artist/32YArD0HkJCT8cEsBzMWFi?si=fMW3ey-OTr2QbcX-9d504g If you could change one thing in the music industry, what would it be? This one is easy: artists get paid way too little by digital platforms. Why did you choose this as the title of this project? Referring to my currently single “Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?”, I always found that classic job interview question fascinating in some disturbing way. So I guess it was just a matter of time before that song wrote itself. What are your plans for the coming months? We’re currently mixing my debut album Eleven Easy Pieces on Anger & Disappointment, and it’s due out sometime in April or May. Do you have any artistic collaboration plans? Hopefully more so in the future. This much I can tell you now: I’m looking to deepen our collaboration with my producer Teaboy Palmer, who’s also a respected roots artist in his own right. What message would you like to give to your fans? A humble thank you to each and everyone for following me. And: hang on, there’s loads of nice stuff in the pipeline for the next few weeks and months!