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[pineapplefulfillseveryneed]

Sparks tour 2023

[seeminglyranch87]

Taylor & Travis Timeline

November 2023 - part 1

November 1 - New Heights Podcast episode 61 airs.

Jason appears dressed up as King Triton however Travis neglects to dress up or share photos of a Halloween costume to fans disappointment. The brothers react to people dressing up in their likeness including musician Jax who portrays Taylor putting Travis on the map despite him being an accomplished athlete (x)

“She put me on the map, right there in the video.” “That’s so good, man,” Travis continued with a smile on his face. “God damn, that was golden. Hats off. That was well done. You get a round of applause for that one, I enjoyed that.”

Travis also includes Taylor in the Kelce clan as they sum up their Halloween show… “it's a Kelce Halloween”

November 3 - Travis questioned at Chiefs media conference ahead of game in Germany on Sunday

Asked in reference to Taylor: "What is the latest status and are you in love?" A team mate comments "spice it up... " Travis answers "The latest status is I got to see her last week. That's the latest status right there."

Travis is asked again if he is in love? He replies

"Im going to keep my personal relationship personal" (x 12:54)

When asked about if Taylor will be in attendance at the game Travis answers

“When I mention — or everyone knows — she’s at the game, the Vegas [line] and over-under on my catches goes up and down, The spread goes up and down. So I don’t want to mess with any of that stuff, I’m just going to keep that to myself.” 

Travis nicely avoids answering the question but mentions Taylor's attendance affects his game performance and stats.

Taylor pictured dining in NYC with Phoebe Bridgers

November 4 - Taylor is out in NYC with Selena Gomez, Sophie Turner, Cara Delevigne, Gigi Hadid, Brittany Mahomes and other NFL Chiefs WAG's at Bond St Sushi and later Zero Bond.

November 5 - Chiefs v Miami Dolphins, Frankfurt Stadium, Germany. Chiefs defeat Dolphins 21 - 14. Travis becomes the new all time leading receiver in franchise history.

Note Taylor liked this IG post below by People - we love a supportive girlfriend.

Taylor remains in NYC and watched the game from her apartment with Brittany and friends (x). Some of whom are seen leaving after the game.

1989 (TV) debuts at No.1 on Billboard 200!!! This is a re-recorded album!

Nothing like a celebrity couple breaking records ❤️‍🔥!

November 8 - New Heights ep. 63 airs. Jason and Travis hint that Travis is heading to Argentina to support Taylor during his bye week (x 35:05)

“Got anything you’re looking forward to going to?” Jason enquired of Travis. Travis responded, “No, not really. I might just say f**k it and just go somewhere nice, I don’t know. My skin’s getting real pale so I gotta go somewhere sunny.” "Some place south? south of the equator?" Jason asked. “Close to the equator” replied Travis "South of the equator?" Jason questioned with a cheeky grin.

Sources confirm that Travis is indeed joining Taylor on tour in South America via People.com (x)

Taylor is named Apple Music's Artist of the Year for 2023

Taylor Swift arrives in Argentina to begin the South American leg of The Eras Tour. She heads straight to the stadium to rehearse.

November 9 - The Eras Tour, Estadio River Plate, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Taylor debuts a stunning new Lover era pink costume, including leotard, boots and jacket.

The Very First Night (guitar) & Labyrinth (piano). Our girl is falling in LOVE again.

Travis Kelce attends the 15 & the Mahomies Foundation Gala charity event in KC. Taylor donated an item to be auctioned off in support of the cause.

November 10 - The Eras Tour, Estadio River Plate, Buenos Aires, Argentina is postponed to Nov 12 due to bad weather .

Taylor receives 6 Grammy nominations for the 66th Grammy Awards! (x) ✨ Album of the Year - Midnights ✨ Record of the Year - Anti Hero ✨ Song of the Year - Anti Hero ✨ Best Pop Solo Performance - Anti Hero ✨ Best Pop Duo/Group Performance - Karma ✨ Best Pop Vocal Album - Midnights

Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff post to IG congratulating Taylor on her nominations as collaborators on Midnights.

The Messenger release an article (x)

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Are ‘Fully Dating’ and Relationship Is Already ‘Serious’: Source (Exclusive)

"It is serious between Taylor and Travis," a source told The Messenger of the whirlwind romance between the pair. "They are fully dating and in a relationship."  The source continued that "neither of them expected them to move quickly, but they have been inseparable since they first connected. They see each other as much as they can during this busy season." "When they are not together, they are constantly FaceTiming and texting," the source added. "Friends around them think it is very cute and they are a great match. Taylor is having a lot of fun with the wives and girlfriends in the league. Brittany Mahomes has welcomed her with open arms and has really been the ring leader merging Taylor, her friends and the girl groups together." "It is a new era for Taylor and she is loving this season of her life," the source continued. "It is very different from her normal group of friends but they have all been having a great time going to the games and bonding together. Taylor has really had an open mind to this new world, and the girls think she's really enjoyable to be around."

Travis Kelce arrives in Argentina. Travis and Taylor dine with Scott Swift at Elena Restaurant, Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires . Travis and Taylor and are seen holding hands as they leave the restaurant. (x)(x)(x)

November 11 - The Eras Tour, Estadio River Plate, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Is It Over Now?/Out of the Woods (Guitar) & End Game (Piano)

Travis was in attendance and Taylor lived up to expectation and made sure we knew she had a new love in her life!

Highlights of the evening:

Travis joining in with the crowd singing "Ole Ole Ole Ole Taylor" and Scott Swift filming him (x)

Travis dancing and singing along all evening

Scott Swift wearing a Chiefs lanyard

Taylor turning to look at Travis during "Lover" (x)

Taylor pointing to Travis singing "That's my man" during "Willow".

Taylor pointing to Travis singing "cause you know I love the players, and you love the game" during "Blank Space"

Taylor choosing to sing "End Game" - obviously with Travis in mind and red and yellow light up bracelets during the acoustic section (x)

Taylor singing "Karma is the guy on the Chiefs, coming straight home to me" complete with a little giggle during the final song "Karma" (x)

Travis' cute response to Taylor changing the lyrics in Karma (x)

Travis hyping up the crowd while waiting for Taylor to exit the stage.

Taylor running over to hug and kiss a smiling Travis backstage after the show (x) (x)

November 12- The Eras Tour, Estadio River Plate, Buenos Aires, Argentina (rescheduled show, see Nov 10).

Sl*t (piano) & Better Than Revenge (guitar)

Travis flew out earlier in the day in preparation to return to training in the USA

Taylor flew out immediately after show still in her Midnights costume.

November 13 - Taylor photographed out with Gracie Abrams in NYC

November 15 - New Heights Ep 64 airs Travis and Jason Kelce chat about their bye week and discuss what Travis got up to in Argentina, south of the equator (x 42:20).

Our bestie Jason draws out what we are all wondering about...

"Sounds like a labyrinth of issues" says Jason.

Oh Travis, she is falling in love with you, and Jason saw the Argentina Night 1 acoustic performance of Labyrinth too.

Referencing the lyric change in Karma;

"How does it feel to officially be 'The guy on the Chiefs'?" Jason teased Travis on the podcast. With a laugh, Travis said that he had "no clue" Taylor planned to mention him during her show. "Well, I might have had a little bit of a clue," he then admitted. "But definitely when I heard it come out of her mouth, [it] still shocked me."  "Yeah, you could tell in the video," Jason responded.  "I was like, 'Oh shh! She really said that,'" Travis marveled. 

When Jason notes that Scott Swift is wearing a Chiefs lanyard at the Eras Tour Night 3 he asks...

"What are we doing, Scott? You're gonna let this man's devilish good looks and relationship with your daughter sway you from a lifetime of fandom, Scott? Ridiculous."  Travis further explained, "I might have persuaded him at dinner the night before. When I met him." 

Travis commenting on the first Eras Tour he has attended as Taylor's boyfriend..

"The show was even more electric knowing that I had a little bit more to enjoy," he said of watching her perform in Argentina. "Taylor absolutely ripped it. She killed it and it looked like she was having some fun up there." 

We love to see the support Travis is showing to our little Indie artist.

We are to expect to see Taylor and Travis spending time together during the Eras tour break according to ET sources (x)

"Taylor has a two-month break in her tour, taking December and January off, and the couple is planning to spend more time together" during that time.

ET reports (x)

Donna and Ed Kelce, and Andrea and Scott Swift are expected to meet for the first time on Monday as the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs face off for Monday Night Football.

We can expect to see Taylor at the November 20 game too.

Go to previous update -> October 2023 Part 2

Go to next update -> November 2023 Part 2

Return to timeline

[korshubudemycoursesblog]

Wander & Write: Your Guide to Becoming a Travel Writer

Do you find yourself daydreaming about sipping espresso in Rome, hiking the Himalayas, or island hopping in Southeast Asia — and getting paid for it? If you've ever wished you could turn your love for travel and storytelling into a full-time gig, you're not alone. The good news? You can become a travel writer. And no, you don’t need to be a best-selling author or have thousands of Instagram followers to start.

Travel writing is no longer just for glossy magazines or newspaper travel sections. The digital era has opened the floodgates for blogs, travel websites, content platforms, and even online courses to guide you on this exciting journey.

So, how do you go from travel enthusiast to published travel writer? Let’s take the first step together.

Why Travel Writing?

Travel writing is more than just describing beautiful places. It's about storytelling that transports readers. Whether it’s uncovering hidden gems, documenting cultural experiences, or giving practical tips to fellow travelers, good travel writing informs and inspires.

It also opens doors — from free trips and hotel stays to sponsored assignments and freelance contracts. But the biggest reward? Sharing your unique perspective with the world while doing what you love most — exploring.

Step 1: Understand What Travel Writing Really Is

Before diving in, it's important to understand that travel writing isn't just journaling about your vacations. It requires structure, voice, audience awareness, and sometimes research. The best travel writing informs, entertains, and offers value — whether that’s a new perspective, practical tip, or emotional resonance.

There are different types of travel writing, including:

Travel blogs

Destination guides

Hotel or tour reviews

First-person travel narratives

Listicles ("Top 10 Places to Visit in...")

Travel memoirs

Understanding your preferred style helps shape your niche.

Step 2: Start Writing — Without Waiting for the Perfect Trip

Here’s the secret: You don’t have to travel far to start travel writing. You can start with your hometown, nearby attractions, or even past trips.

Create content around:

Weekend getaways

Local food spots

Cultural experiences

Hidden corners of your city

Use what you already know and begin building your portfolio. This also gives you room to experiment with voice, tone, and format without the pressure of impressing an editor right away.

Step 3: Take a Course That Shows You the Roadmap

If you're serious about becoming a travel writer, structure and guidance are invaluable. That’s where online learning comes in handy. We highly recommend checking out this How to Become a Travel Writer course. It offers an actionable, no-fluff approach to starting your travel writing journey, even if you have zero experience.

Whether you're stuck on how to pitch to editors, unsure how to format your blog, or wondering how to monetize your content — this course lays it all out in a step-by-step fashion.

Step 4: Develop Your Voice and Style

What sets apart compelling travel writers is not just what they write about, but how they write it.

Your voice is your unique flavor. Are you humorous, poetic, informative, honest, cheeky, or raw? Use your natural personality — the same tone you'd use to tell a story to a friend.

Tips to develop your style:

Read lots of travel articles and note what draws you in.

Write regularly. Don’t edit while writing — just let it flow.

Try writing the same experience in multiple tones to see what feels natural.

Step 5: Learn to Tell a Story

Good travel writing isn’t just about sights and activities; it’s about the experience.

Rather than writing:

“I went to Paris. The Eiffel Tower was beautiful.”

Try:

“As the golden hour bathed the Eiffel Tower in amber light, the air smelled of freshly baked croissants. Tourists snapped photos, but I stood still, soaking in the magic like it was my first time — even though it wasn’t.”

See the difference?

Great stories have:

A beginning, middle, and end

Emotion or reflection

Sensory descriptions

A moment of transformation or insight

Step 6: Learn the Basics of SEO and Online Visibility

If you're blogging or writing for the web, SEO (Search Engine Optimization) matters.

A few beginner tips:

Use relevant keywords like “things to do in Bali” or “solo travel in Spain”

Optimize your title and headings

Include internal and external links

Use alt text for images

Keep paragraphs short and scannable

When writing for digital platforms, your story should still be engaging — but also searchable. That balance is key.

Step 7: Create an Online Portfolio

Whether you’re applying for freelance gigs or pitching to magazines, you’ll need samples.

Your portfolio can be:

A personal blog

A Medium account

Guest posts on travel blogs

Articles published on platforms like Matador Network or Lonely Planet

Build a simple website (WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace are great) and showcase your work. Include:

A short bio

Writing samples

Contact information

Links to social media

Step 8: Pitch Like a Pro

When you're ready to pitch to travel publications or websites, make it professional.

Here’s a simple pitch formula:

Greet the editor by name (do your research)

Introduce yourself briefly

Share your article idea with a headline and short summary

Mention why it’s a good fit for their audience

Include 1–2 writing samples or links

Example:

Hi [Editor’s Name], I'm a travel writer based in [Your City], and I’d love to contribute a story to [Publication Name]. I have an idea for an article titled “How to Spend 48 Hours in Budapest on a Budget.” It’s a practical, photo-rich piece ideal for solo travelers and students. I’ve attached two samples of my previous work for reference. Thanks for considering! Best, [Your Name]

Step 9: Explore Income Opportunities

Travel writing can be more than a hobby. Here are a few income streams:

Freelance assignments (magazines, travel blogs)

Affiliate marketing (promote gear, tours, or bookings)

Sponsored posts (hotels, tour companies, travel brands)

Selling eBooks or guides

Creating travel courses

Running a monetized blog

It might take time, but with consistency, you can build a sustainable income.

Step 10: Keep Learning and Growing

The world of travel writing is constantly evolving. Stay current by:

Following travel writing blogs and newsletters

Joining writer communities and forums

Reading travel books and essays

Enrolling in refresher courses like How to Become a Travel Writer to keep sharpening your skills

Mistakes to Avoid

Here’s what not to do as a new travel writer:

Writing only about yourself with no takeaway for the reader

Using cliché descriptions (“breathtaking views,” “hidden gem,” etc.)

Submitting unedited work to editors

Ignoring grammar or spelling

Giving up too soon

Remember: the first draft doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be written.

Final Thoughts

Becoming a travel writer isn’t about being perfect from day one. It’s about being passionate, curious, and consistent. If you love travel and storytelling, there's absolutely a place for you in this space. And today is a great day to start.

Your next adventure — and your first byline — could be closer than you think. All it takes is the decision to start, the willingness to improve, and the courage to share your voice with the world.

Need a jumpstart? Let How to Become a Travel Writer be your roadmap.

Your passport is ready. Your pen is waiting. Where will your story begin?

[mowlstagelight]

The Buyer Guide to Cold Spark Machine

1. Why Are Cold Spark Machines Revolutionizing Special Effects?

Every time we see sparks flying across a stage, most people instinctively worry: Could these cause burns? Could they start a fire? But one device is fundamentally changing these concerns — the Cold Spark Machine. 

Compared to traditional fireworks and flame effects, this technology completely redefines safety standards with zero heat risk, zero smoke, and zero high temperatures, making it the new favorite in modern stage productions.

Statistics show that in the 2025 global entertainment equipment market, the demand for this machine grew by a staggering 47%, far outpacing traditional effects equipment. What’s driving this rapid rise? Let’s analyze three key factors:

1️⃣ Safe to Touch, But Electrifies the Crowd — The Temperature Secret

Traditional fireworks: Sparks exceed 800°C (1472°F), requiring safety distances

Cold sparkler machine: Below 38°C (100°F), performers can catch sparks barehanded 🔬 The Science: Special titanium alloy powder reacts in an electronic high-frequency pulse, producing cold light

2️⃣ The “Golden Ticket” for Indoor Use

No fire permit hassles (most Chinese cities don’t require approval)

Safe for luxury hotels, shopping malls, and confined venues

3️⃣ More Immersive Than LED Effects

▫��� 10-meter-high spark waterfalls ▫️ 3D helix spray patterns ▫️ RGB smart color-changing systems

2. Where this Spark Machine Are Taking Over

🎤 The New Concert Essential

During Jay Chou’s 2023 tour, cold spark machines replaced traditional fireworks for dramatic musical climaxes, syncing effects to within 0.1 seconds. Tech crews noted: “This saves $2,800 per show in fire safety costs.”

💒 Weddings’ New Viral Trend

A Beijing luxury wedding planner reported: Couples using cold spark machines see 300% more social media shares of their photos. Trending applications:

“Starlight Aisle” for the groom’s entrance

“Love Waterfall” during ring exchange

“Golden Rain Curtain” for the grand exit

🎬 Hollywood’s Best-Kept Secret

The VFX team behind The Wandering Earth 3 revealed: All “sparking” scenes inside spaceships were filmed with cold spark tech, saving 20 hours of post-production per shot.

3. Buyer’s Guide: Hidden Truths 99% Don’t Know

The market is flooded with knockoffs — some pose serious risks:

⚠️ Spotting Fakes

Real cold spark: Sparks won’t ignite tissue paper

Fake: Leaves burn marks within 5 seconds

💡 Pro Recommendations

SpecEntry-LevelProfessionalSpray Height10–16 ft26–50 ftDuration20 sec/burstContinuous modeControlBasic remoteDMX512 syncTop ModelsSpark200PyroMaster Pro

Epilogue: A Silent Special Effects Revolution

Imagine attending a wedding where couples walk through a shimmering “galaxy” without smoky smells. Picture concerts where spark showers graze your skin without flinching — this is the new era cold spark machine is creating.

“The best technology feels invisible” — perhaps the most poetic tribute to this innovation.

[britishnoble12]

Fast-Track Authorship: How Ready-to-Publish Books Save 12 Months of Work

The Myth of the “Polished Manuscript”

Let’s cut the crap: No one cares about your “craft.” The last “perfect” book was written by a monk in 1423, and even that dude plagiarized the Bible. Today? Speed wins. Sanity loses.

Take “Mark,” a SaaS founder who wasted 14 months writing a memoir so dull, his editor fell asleep face-first in a chapter titled “Innovating Synergy.” His ghostwriting service salvaged the corpse into “Fake It Till You’re Sued: Silicon Valley’s Dirty Playbook,” a bestseller drafted in 10 days. Pre-orders paid his legal fees.

Moral? Perfect books are for losers. Ready-to-publish grenades are for CEOs who want money, not medals.

Ready-to-Publish Books: Your Get-Out-of-Jail-Free Card

A ready-to-publish book isn’t literature. It’s a hostage note dressed as a TED Talk.

The formula? Steal your content, hire a professional ghostwriter to make it sound dangerous, and launch before your competitors finish their first Zoom brainstorm.

A cybersecurity CEO used this playbook after his startup leaked 10M user emails. His skeleton draft? A Google Doc titled “Apology Tour Notes.” His ghostwriter rebranded it as “Hacked: Why I’d Do It Again.” Investors called it “brave”. Victims called it “sociopathic.” His investor interest? Up 300%.

Case Study: From Blank Page to Bestseller in 30 Days

Meet “Sarah,” a burnt-out crypto CEO who needed a book to dodge an SEC subpoena. Her affordable ghostwriting service delivered a 200-page manifesto overnight, splicing her Slack meltdowns and Tinder rants.

The kicker? Half the chapters were repurposed investor emails. The other half? A 3 AM voice memo titled “Why NFTs Are Just Bad Pokémon.”

Her book, “Zero Integrity: Confessions of a Crypto Con Artist,” hit #1 on Amazon’s “Crime & Self-Help” list. The SEC settled. Her Twitter haters bought 10 copies each.

Ghostwriters: The Mercenaries of Modern Publishing

Ghostwriting services aren’t scribes. They’re hitmen. For $10k, they’ll turn your tax evasion into poetry.

One CEO hired a ghost to interview his ex-wife. She trashed him for “pathological greed and questionable hygiene.” The ghostwriter spun it into “Love, Betrayal, and the $8M Exit.” The startup’s valuation doubled. The ex-wife hired a ghostwriter.

Your job? Vomit stories. Theirs? Make you sound like a villain-turned-hero.

Self-Publishing Hacks: Skip the Gatekeepers

Traditional publishers move slower than your grandpa’s dial-up. Self-publishing skips them.

Step 1: Use best self-publishing companies to slap your book onto Amazon.

Step 2: Bribe influencers with free copies (or stock options).

Step 3: Sue critics for “defamation” and watch your sales snowball.

A fintech CEO published through a shell company named “Boring Compliance LLC.” His book “Money Laundering for Busy People” got yanked by Amazon—then went viral on Black Market TikTok. Revenue funded his next “legal” venture.

How to Fake a 12-Month Writing Process in 20 Days

You’re not writing. You’re reverse-engineering mystique.

Phase 1: The “Deep Research” Sham

Pay interns to steal quotes from rivals’ podcasts. Paste them into a doc. Call it “industry analysis.”

Phase 2: The Editing Farce

Slash every third paragraph. Replace jargon with “F*ck.” Ghostwriters call this “voice.”

Phase 3: The Pre-Launch Breakdown

Leak a chapter to 4chan. Post a crying selfie: “They’re censoring me!” Viral rage = pre-orders.

A CEO’s self-published book on AI ethics flopped. So he paid a YouTuber to burn it live. Views hit 10M. Now, colleges teach it as “performance art.”

Steal Content, But Make It Sound Deep (A Step-by-Step Crime)

Your competitors aren’t rivals. They’re unpaid co-authors. Ready-to-publish books thrive on professional ghostwriter-grade plagiarism. Here’s how to loot like a pro:

Step 1: Raid LinkedIn for Cringe

Find a mid-level exec’s post about “10 Leadership Lessons From My Cat.” Paraphrase it as “Why Your CEO is Worse Than a Housepet.” Bonus points if you tag them.

A fintech founder stole a TEDx talk transcript from a rival, fed it to a ghostwriting service, and rebranded it as “Disrupting Disruption: A Hate Letter to Mediocrity.” The rival sued. The founder’s investor interest tripled during discovery.

Step 2: Weaponize Rivals’ Webinars

Transcribe their free content. Hire an affordable ghostwriting service to add swear words and childhood trauma.

A SaaS CEO turned a competitor’s snooze-fest webinar into “Why Your KPIs Are Killing Your Soul (And Your Company).” The book’s AI-narrated audiobook featured a laugh track. Sales hit six figures. The rival? Now selling Herbalife.

Step 3: Gaslight the Stolen Work

When accused, double down. Publish a Medium post: “Originality is Dead. Here’s Why I’m Its Executioner.”

A crypto CEO plagiarized Marx’s Communist Manifesto into “Crypto For the People (Who Still Have Money).” When called out, he tweeted “Marx ghostwrote ME.” Sold 50k copies. Marx’s ghost? Probably negotiating royalties.

The Cheat Code to “Bestseller” Status (Guaranteed)

Amazon’s algorithm doesn’t care about quality. It cares about velocity. Buy 1,000 copies of your book via shell accounts. Return 999. Boom.

A wellness guru used this self-publishing hack to spike her book to #1 in “Diet & Wealth” for 48 hours. Screenshot it. Milk it as “proof” of genius. The 48-hour bestseller badge still funds her $2k/hour coaching scam.

Bonus tip: Time your fake spike during a holiday. Amazon’s sweatshop workers won’t notice.

Case Study: How a Corporate Brochure Became a Viral Nightmare

“James,” a climate tech CEO, panicked. His ghostwriter flaked. Solution? He FedExed his 2022 corporate brochure (title: “Sustainability Synergy!”) to a professional ghostwriter with instructions: “Make this sound like I eat oil CEOs for breakfast.”

The ghostwriter added a chapter called “Drill Babies Drill: How I Scammed Big Oil to Save My Startup.” James’ team printed the first run on recycled fast-food wrappers. TechCrunch called it “The Unhinged Bible of Climate Hustle.” His investor interest went thermonuclear. Exxon’s lawyers sent fruit baskets laced with subpoenas.

Fast-Track Editing: Break Your Moral Compass

Editing is for people who respect time. You’re not those people.

Hack 1: Use ChatGPT to replace every adjective with “f*cking.”

Hack 2: Delete random chapters. Call them “NFT-exclusive content.”

Hack 3: Leave typos. Gaslight readers into thinking they’re Easter eggs.

A VC’s memoir included 47 typos. She blamed them on “Satanic interference” and sold merch with the errors. Self-publishing her mistakes earned more than her fund.

Pre-Written Laundry Lists for the Terminally Lazy

Best self-publishing companies now offer “80% done” book templates. Just add your Twitter rants and a Photoshopped cover.

Template titles:

“10 Things I Lied About on My Resume”

“Bankruptcy: The Only Business Strategy That Works”

“My Therapist Says This Book is a Cry for Help”

A biotech founder bought a “My Startup Journey” template for $99. His ghostwriting service replaced “APP” with “NANOBOTS.” Published in 8 hours. WIRED called it “The Theranos Playbook, But Less Jail.”

Burnout Bonus: Outsource Your Breakdown

Can’t even muster the energy to steal? Hire a ghostwriting service to write about your laziness.

A Web3 CEO paid a ghost to author “Hustle Culture is a Lie: How I Scaled My Startup by Napping.” The book’s acknowledgments page read: “Credit to my ghostwriter for tolerating me.” He sold 30k copies and a meditation app. Investors praised his “transparent laziness.”

Investor Bait: Turn Your Book into a Revenue Rocket

A book isn’t a passion project. It’s a liquidity event.

A healthtech CEO’s memoir “Patient Zero: How I Scammed Medicare for 8 Years” attracted three acquisition offers. The buyers? Pharma giants. The book? Never even printed. Investors wired $5M for the film rights.

Key move: Dedicate chapters to VCs you hate. They’ll invest just to delete the references.

Conclusion: Your Book Isn’t Precious. It’s a Product.

Let’s be real: You’re not Toni Morrison. You’re a CEO with a reputation to burn and a runway to extend.

Ready-to-publish books skip the soul-searching. They weaponize your LinkedIn cringe into bestseller material. Hire a professional ghostwriter, print the chaos, and watch your investor interest metastasize.

Still editing Chapter 1? Uninstall Grammarly. Light the dumpster. Hurry.

[makemywebsite1]

10 Key SEO Trends to Watch in Perth for 2024

As the web world shifts, staying ahead in SEO is vital for agents in Perth who rent out homes or shops. Grasping the newest SEO trends can give you an edge, helping you draw in the right crowd and gain real clicks. This post will look at ten key trends for SEO in Perthyou need to know in 2024.

1. Voice Search Optimisation

Voice search is on the rise, with more users turning to tools like Siri, Alexa, and Google to search. For real estate agents, this means crafting content for voice searches. People speak in a casual tone, so using long-tail words and phrases that match real speech is key.

Example: Instead of just optimising for "real estate agents Perth," consider phrases like "find the best real estate agents in Perth", for better SEO in Perth."

2. Mobile-First Indexing

Google now focuses on mobile-first indexing. This means your site’s mobile view is now the main one for ranking. As many users use phones to view sites, it is vital that your site is easy to use on mobile.

Best tip: Use web designs in Geelong that fit well to be sure your site works well on all screen sizes. Be sure your pages load fast on phones, as speed is a key rank point.

3. Core Web Vitals

Core Web Vitals is a set of rules by Google that checks user joy. These rules are the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS). In 2024, close heed to these points will be key for real estate sites to rank well.

Example: Improving your LCP could involve optimising images and media files to load faster while reducing CLS, which might require stabilising the layout of your site to prevent unexpected shifts.

4. Local SEO

For real estate pros, local SEO stays key in web sales. Google My Biz (GMB) pages, local links, and steady NAP (Name, Address, Phone) details on sites are key.

Best Practice: Ensure your GMB profile is fully optimised with up-to-date information, images, and posts for earnest SEO in Perth. Encourage satisfied clients to leave positive reviews, as these can significantly impact local search rankings.

5. Content Quality Over Quantity

Google’s rules are now more advanced in picking top-notch content. In 2024, aim to craft rich, clear posts that meet the needs and worries of those who seek to rent.

For instance, rather than putting out lots of short posts, spend time making full guides on things like "How to Find the Top Real Estate Agent in Perth" or "The Full Guide to Renting Business Spaces in Perth."

6. Video Content

Video stays as a top pick for content. Adding videos to your SEO plan can boost views and lift ranks. For real estate agents, tours of homes, client words, and info videos can work well.

Best Tip: Tune video titles, notes, and tags with keywords. Place videos on yourweb design in Geelong and share them on sites like YouTube to boost reach.

7. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

AI and machine tools are key to SEO in Perth. Google's RankBrain, for one, aids the search tool in grasping and sorting search terms well. This means that SEO plans must aim at user goals, not just words.

For instance, if one seeks "cheap homes to rent in Perth," your page should try to fit that goal by giving lists, guides, or tips that meet the searcher's wish.

8. Featured Snippets and Zero-Click Searches

Top snippets, the info boxes at the top of search results, and zero-click finds, where users get their answers right on the search page, are getting more common. Tuning for these can push traffic to your site and grow your trust.

Best Practice: Shape your content to give clear answers to common asks. Use points, lists, and tables to boost the odds of your content being in a snippet.

9. E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)

Google puts a strong focus on E-A-T. This is key for sites in fields like real estate, where trust is vital. Show your skill and trust through posts to boost your rank.

Tip: Keep your blog up-to-date with well-done posts, case studies, and client quotes. Make sure that your site’s text is by or linked to real estate pros with clear proof of skill.

10. User Experience (UX)

User experience has always been key, yet in 2024, it’s more vital than ever. A site that's simple to use, with clear design and rich content, will not only draw users but also keep them on your site longer, lowering bounce rates and boosting SEO in Perth.

Best Practice:

●       Often check your site for UX issues.

●       Simplify steps, boost visual appeal, and make sure that your content is clear to read and engage with.

●       Use tools like heatmaps to learn user habits and make smart changes.

Concluding Words

As the SEO space shifts, real estate agents in Perth must keep up by using these tips in their plans. By focusing on mobile-first, voice search, local SEO in Perth, and more, you can make sure your site stays strong and clear to your clients. Whether you’re fine-tuning AI-driven rules or boosting user experience, the key is to stay flexible and always focus on the needs of your users.

At Make My Website, we craft SEO-friendly sites made to fit your business needs. Our team will work with you to build a plan that helps your real estate listings reach the right crowd. Reach out to learn more about our work and how we can help your business grow in the web space.

[textsfromhannibal]

I’m gonna use this post as an excuse to brag about my husband, because the Fates didn’t bless me with money or a functioning immune system or even self-esteem but I DID get an official Addams-tier partner, so I like to spread the good word. There’s a reason why my writing is so fluffy and full of yearning men despite my dark interests, that’s ’cause I’ve got One of Those.

Key moments include:

1. We met online, he drove out 2000 miles to spend the summer with me (after months of talking and smaller meetups). I was taking him on a tour of my favorite cemetery, and showed him a locally famous monument of a woman who died on her wedding day.

Him: So that’s her maiden name on the stone? Me: Yeah, she died the morning of the wedding. Him: That feels like big quitter energy on his part.

2. One day after cuddling on his couch for hours he whispers, “I’d be content to hold you until the heat-death of the universe, but I’d really like to take you to bed.”

This obviously worked. I told him I wanted a locket with the heat death line engraved on it. I got it for Christmas.

(It's all scratched up 'cause I wear it every day. I have a lock of his hair inside.)

3. Every October, when we’re out running errands, he just starts adding places like Home Goods and Michael’s to the itinerary without telling me. I look up from my phone, I’m in the seasonal decor aka real decor aisle, he’s already got a cart.

4. He’s actually not of the spooky persuasion himself. He grew up in a Christian cult. But he has been SO GAME. He watches all the horror movies. He now likes the harder music. He’s taking me to the ritual in a purple jacquard jacket. I am literally an evil corrupting succubus to a non-zero number of people on this continent and we both derive enjoyment from that.

5. One year for Valentine’s Day he got our three cats new collars with custom tags that said things like “our mom is the best!” “our mom is the prettiest!” and that was highly effective.

So yeah, I could go on but this is the major blessing in my life. Golden retriever passionate goth-curious men can sometimes come from weird Christian sand cults down in Texas?

He also writes me very nice apology notes when he has nightmares.

I love my husband 10/10

How am I supposed to download a dating app to go have awkward coffees with people who will then ghost me when TF is giving us Umbra and Vessel Sleep Token is giving us Provider? Like, how am I supposed to just lower my standards when I know what’s possible?

[loverlocket]

october 15, 2023

hi again! today’s song of the day is you by the 1975!

i really do try and include some more variety in these, but at the end of the day, i like what i like, and i LOVE the 1975. my favorite album of theirs goes back and forth between self titled and iliwys, but i’ve been listening to a ton of self titled lately, and it literally never gets old (even 10 years after its release and 7 years after me discovering it).

anyone who knows me knows i am the absolute worst at picking favorites, but you is definitely one of my favorite songs on this album. it’s just so sonically beautiful, and the lyrics are very quintessentially the 1975. it’s extra fun because milk (one of the band’s singles that was never put on any of their albums on its own) is included as a hidden track at the end of you.

like i said, i cannot pick favorites, but you is one of the songs that i find myself coming back to all the time, and it hits just as hard every single time, which is the mark of a truly good song, in my opinion. i’ve been listening to it even more than usual lately because i just saw the 1975 in concert for the third time last week, and it’s gotten me reminiscing on the other times i’ve seen them perform. the first time i saw them was in 2019, when they were on tour for their third album, a brief inquiry into online relationships — it was also my first concert ever, fun fact. while this band genuinely seems to get better every time i see them (and my view at their concerts has gotten WAY better), i have such a soft spot for their setlist at that first show, because with less albums out at the time, they played a lot of older songs that they rarely play anymore these days. you was one of those songs, and when i heard the opening notes, i got more excited than i did for any of the other songs they played. sadly, i have zero videos from that concert (i was 15 at the time and had a very old phone with absolutely no storage), but it’s burned into my brain forever, and hearing you live is truly one of the best memories i have.

so that’s that on you! if anyone actually took the time to read this literal essay, thank you sm, and i hope it shows how much i truly love this band and their music. i hope you have a beautiful night and take a few minutes to listen to one of my all-time favorite songs <3

[blouisparadise]

Here are some amazing bottom Louis fics that were posted or completed during the month of May. We really hope you enjoy this list. Happy reading!

1) Seven, Seven | Explicit | 1877 words

“Hello, baby girl,” Harry says as soon as the nurse places the bundle of joy into his arms. “We’ve been dying to meet you.”

2) A Sunny Afternoon | Explicit | 2002 words

Harry gets together with friends to celebrate life and uses the occasion to announce that he officially has an album finished.

or the celebration of Harry's House before it became what it is now.

3) Five Zero Five | Explicit | 2502 words

Note: This fic is locked and can only be read by AO3 users.

“So,” says Harry, and his fingers trail on Louis’ jaw, over his exposed neck. “I heard your cover tonight. Arctic Monkeys, really nice.” His fingers linger on Louis’ neck, stroke the Adam’s apple.

4) James Corden’s Lap Better Than Mine? | Mature | 3133 words

James takes Louis onto his lap, and Harry is furious. He cannot wait to get home and punish his kitten and show him Louis his.

5) Where The Water Touches The Sun | Explicit | 3400 words

Prompt #63: L&H in an established relationship where Louis is 5 months pregnant and the pheromones have made him horny as hell, it gets even worse when he wakes up and walks into his kitchen and sees his sexy husband fixing her sink with his shirt off. Maybe he has a fetish for men fixing things. Hot and kinky smut please. Harry calling lou a sexy milf while doing it and obviously the pregnancy kink stuff with h telling l about wanting to keep him full of his babies.

6) Student Teacher | Mature | 3901 words

Request: Louis is... 19 ish and Harry is 24 ish and umm So! Harry was like a student aid for one of Louis's classes in his Senior year of high school and Louis's friends always secretly teased him abt his crush on Harry. it wasn't that good of a secret bc Harry found out about it, he was 23 at the time and found it really funny. Anyways it's a couple of years later and Louis is a freshman in college and runs into Harry at a park while chasing his dog... coco, whos one of those white crusty alleyway dogs. (I love them.) Harry just hears a voice yelling and sees a dog running so he like catches the dog Louis catches up to Harry and he's all like. "omg." Harry looks Louis up and down and he's like "Oh you haven't grown." Louis pouts and then Harry ends up asking him out Louis gets scared and says no, but Harry gets his number anyways and they hang out at Harry's house (haha) as "friends" but they end up fucking on Harry's kitchen island instead of finishing decorating the cupcakes for Harry's goddaughter's bake sale fundraiser?

7) Ahora | Explicit | 4684 words

Note: The main pairing is Louis/Taylor Swift

Dom Taylor is tired and stressed after one of her shows at the Eras tour. Soft, sub Louis is waiting for her backstage. Rough sex ensues.

8) The Changing Season In A Messy World | Not Rated |8649 words

Prompt #35: H&L alpha son starting to get the teenage moody alpha hormones. One day he release all his anger on his sweet mother when he tried to talk to his son & harry don't really appreciate that. "He might be your mom, but he is my wife first & nobody talks to my wife like that"

9) Hide And Seek | Not Rated | 9808 words

Louis is 14 years old when his father dies and he's 19 when he meets General Styles.

10) Roommates | Mature| 13202 words

"I'm so happy I could kiss you! Thank you so much." Louis smiled up at Harry, who looked back with a daring smirk.

"Then why don't you?"

Louis blushed at that comment and leaned up pressing a gentle kiss to Harry's lips, it was soft and sweet. Something Harry hadn't experienced before.

"Happy?" Louis asked and giggled.

"Very." He answered.

11) Captain Cupid | Not Rated | 15331 words

“Right,” Niall started, finally getting the opportunity to unleash his horrible plan. “Well, as you both know, I’m an excellent matchmaker. A human Cupid.The best of the best at finding one's mate. And I’ve decided it’s time to make money doing it.”

“Oh, God no,” Louis groaned, picking up his empty plate and placing it in the sink. He needed to escape as quickly as possible.

Or the one where Niall enlists his friends to help start a speed dating side hustle. Things don't go as planned... or maybe they do?

12) After Hours | Explicit | 16707 words

Note: The main pairing is Louis/Pedro Pascal.

Louis Tomlinson is many things. A dancer, a barista, a one time con man. He's rarely experienced a good romantic relationship with a man but that's all about to change when he starts working at a nightclub in Texas.

13) The Mess We Created | Explicit | 21099 words

An innocent one night stand changed into something more than that.

14) Help Me, Help You Find Love | Explicit | 23781 words

“I help people hook up, not fall in love Styles”

“Think you can make an exception for me, Tomlinson?”

The one where they all attend a university for supernaturals and Werewolf Frat president and resident heartthrob Harry approaches on campus matchmaker Louis to help him find love.

15) Until The Pearls Get Lost | Explicit | 25519 words

London, 1933. Harry Styles, alpha, elusive bachelor and happy third wheel to his coupled friends, receives a visit from one Liam Payne, begging for his help.

Liam’s childhood friend Louis is about to become the talk of the city; left at the altar because the mating bond was rejected, Louis will spend the rest of his life in an institution unless Liam can find someone to take him in and care for him as he recovers. Most omegas with failed bonds are never the same again.

With rumours swirling around about the reason for the rejected bond, Harry gives in to Liam’s pleas. He hasn’t the slightest idea how that decision will shape the rest of his life.

16) Fetish For My Love | Explicit | 27388 words

Louis has too many worries to even think about a moment of peace in the days that now exhaust him and become a complete rush for him. Fortunately, Harry doesn't take long to take care of the matter as he knows that he has wanted it so much, finding the solution in a particular sheet full of colored stickers.

17) And When It Rains, You're Shining Down For Me | Explicit | 37081 words

“This is Harry, he’ll be your patient,” Liam gestured politely.

Harry froze when Louis’ eyes met his own once more. He felt himself getting lost in those eyes, so much so that he didn’t notice Niall and Liam leaving the room quietly but the sound of the door shutting behind them brought him out of the trance.

“Hello, I’m Louis,” the omega said, extending his hand for Harry to shake. The alpha could still sense some nervousness in his stance but decided to ignore it.

“‘’m Harry.”

Or the one where Harry is a grumpy boxer who gets injured and Louis is the lovely physiotherapist hired to help him, but getting pregnant wasn’t exactly in his recovery plan.

18) Hold Me How the Deep Night Has | Explicit | 48018 words

Louis Tomlinson needs a change. Stuck in a cycle of going to the job he hates, spending time with his friends, and avoiding the one man he hates most in this world, Louis' in desperate need of something new. So when he discovers an abandoned notebook on the way to work, the decision is easy to take it for himself and begin a journal amidst the empty pages. What can't be expected are the words that appear overnight directly beside his own, written on the same day 400 years in the past. What are the consequences of a magical connection between two men of different centuries? And who, among it all, is the mysterious E who only exists on the other side of Louis' journal?

19) Letters | Explicit | 58346 words

Louis lost his Alpha and mate in a deadly accident a year ago. Since then he has been writing letters to better deal with the grief and loss. But suddenly he gets answers from Harry Styles, an Alpha who himself is looking for meaning in life besides his career.

20) Oh, To Be Vulnerable | Mature | 63429 words

Disgruntled nurse Harry is, what some would call, a bit of a loner. Aside from work, he spends most of his time alone, either taking trips to the Boston library or going for walks around Quincy Market, or wallowing in his own sadness. He doesn’t seem to mind too much though. He takes his job seriously, and he likes it enough that he shows up every day, so what could be worth threatening his peace that he has worked so hard to create?

Louis, an overly-chipper and easily excitable orthodontics resident, can’t help but instantly fall for the boy in the photo that Niall shows him. With his education soon coming to a close, he is ready to get back into the dating game, and what a wonderful sight to begin with. The relationship between Harry and Louis has all the highs and lows that typical relationships do, but will Harry learn to trust Louis enough to let him in? And will Louis be able to manage his life turning every which way while also figuring out Harry?

21) LOUIS. | Explicit | 72202 words

“Oh, by the way Harry Styles, my name is Louis, Louis Tomlinson!” And with one last bright smile towards Harry, Louis was gone and out of his sight.

You’re who I've been searching for my whole life.

It's You.

22) You're Umami Baby | Mature | 87427 words

Umami: The essence of deliciousness.

Harry is a chef who never experienced umami until he meets his new dishwasher, Louis.

Check out our other fic rec lists by category here and by title here.

You can find other monthly roundup fic rec lists here.

[broodcoffee]

Going into the final two episodes of Witch from Mercury, I have some questions and observations

1. If the GUND technology was necessary for survival in space, then how did the Spacians survive without it in the 21 years since the Vanadis incident? It seems like the Spacians we saw are in more or less good health.

2. The plight of the Earthians has been reduced to a setpiece in the political drama of the Benerit Group/Space Assembly League.

3. Related to 2, the Dawn of Fold basically disappeared after Guel's episode on Earth. Also, the lack of context on Sophie and Norea made it difficult to care about them more.

4. Speaking of Guel, I think the writing did him dirty as his development after his experience on Earth was mostly walked back on. I expected he would care more about the Earthians or the terrible effect of war especially after he tried to save Seethia but nope. This just reinforced my observation that the Earthians' plight is nothing more than a setpiece in this show.

5. Shaddiq has been shown to be someone who planned things meticulously and can adapt on the fly but he suddenly made this all-or-nothing gamble when he attacked Guel in space resulting in him losing everything. Take note this was the same guy who thought of making out the Jeturk company as the fall guy for the attack at Plant Quetta to simultaneously remove them from the political game and deflect suspicion. It was as if the writers just wanted to clear the chessboard.

6. Elan Prime. Will he ever do something or be someone significant in this show? Speaking of Elans, thank goodness they remembered Elan 4 if only to give closure to Suletta. Also goodbye Pharact, everyone forgot about you.

7. Miorine's stagnant role for 3 episodes like the writers did not know what to do with her until she and Suletta have reconciled. I get she was traumatized by what happened but it would have been helpful to get a glimpse of her reaction to, say, the second attack at Asticassia.

8. The episodes after episode 17 have been weirdly paced. It was very rushed (like the results of the election and Quiet Zero already up and running) and at the same time the characters, like Guel and Miorine seemed to stagnate or rather, they were waiting for the set events, like Suletta's return, to happen before they can act.

It was also a waste to have Nika locked up for most of cour 2. At least Elan 5 and Norea got to know each other better but Nika was just a static spectator. Yes, her asking did lead to Elan 5 revealing Peil Technologies' best kept secret but other than that, it seemed like she was locked in there because the writers did not know what else to do with her until it was time for Earth House to reconcile. All in all, it did feel like there were these set events that the show had to go through and sometimes, when those events aren't happening yet, the writers seemed not to know what to do with certain characters hence the weird narrative choices like locking them up or having them so inert--like they were just waiting for the beats.

9. Miorine and Suletta--they sorely needed the little moments to build up their relationship. They had a lot of big moments, yes, but they also needed little moments as well. There's the Japan tour, audio drama, and light novel but the TV series needed these moments as well.

10. I still have a question about Delling's significance to the plot, like why was he still kept alive to be in a coma for most of cour 2 but I guess we'll find out soon enough. Also, hopefully Nortrette is still going to be more significant than her message in the tomato; after all, QZ was her idea. If not resolved properly, then Delling's comatose state would seem like another case of point 8, i.e., the writers not knowing what to do with him until the plot needs him.

I'm not sure if most of these can be addressed in the last two episodes of this cour. Maybe it would help if there was another cour but I'm not too sure if we're getting it since the show has been in a rush to tie up many--but not all (and I'm not too sure if they intended it that way or if they just overshot themselves)--of the loose ends. I read somewhere someone saying that characters are just tools to move the narrative along and while I would contest that characters can be more than tools and that they themselves can be the focus and the main driver of the story, in WFM cour 2--especially the 2nd half--the characters did feel like they were just tools.

Anyway, let's see. I'll be watching the final two episodes together two weeks from now. Hopefully, Witch from Mercury sticks its landing. 🤞

[natileroxs]

All the songs MCR hasn’t played yet

My Chemical Romance has played a lot of new and old songs throughout their recent tour but here’s a list of all their songs and which ones haven’t yet been played. All these stats are as of the 20th September 2022. Source

I Bought You My Bullets You Bought Me Your Love -

Romance - (not played) since 2005 (part of medley 2019) Honey This Mirror Isn't Big Enough For The Two Of Us - (not played) since 2010 Vampires Will Never Hurt You - Aug 29th (13 times) since 2012 Drowning Lessons - (not played) since 2004 Our Lady Of Sorrows - May 16th (19 times) since 2012 (also 2019) Headfirst For Halos - May 17th (7 times) since 2009 Skylines And Turnstiles - May 19th (9 times) since 2011 (note - not played since 2004) Early Sunsets Over Monroeville - (not played) since 2005 This Is The Best Day Ever - Aug 20th (11 times) since 2005 Cubicles - (Never played) Demolition Lovers - Sep 20th (1 time) since 2004

Sister To Sleep - (not played) since 2003

Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge -

Helena - May 16th (41 times) since 2012 (also 2019) Give 'em Hell Kid - May 16th (33 times) since 2012 (also 2019) To The End - (not played) since 2006 You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison - May 16th (14 times) since 2011 (also 2019) I'm Not Okay (I Promise) - May 16th (42 times) since 2012 (also 2019) The Ghost Of You - May 17th (24 times) since 2011 The Jetset Life Is Gonna Kill You - (not played) since 2008 Interlude - (not played) since 2005 (medley in 2019) Thank You For The Venom - May 16th (25 times) since 2012 (also 2019) Hang 'em High - Aug 21st (8 times) since 2011 It's Not A Fashion Statement It's A Deathwish - May 19th (10 times) since 2007 Cemetery Drive - May 17th (12 times) since 2012 I Never Told You What I Do For A Living - Sep 20th (1 time) since 2008

Desert Song - Sep 11th (3 times) since 2008 Bury Me In Black - Aug 20th (10 times) since 2003 Heaven Help Us - Jun 11th (2 times) since 2008

The Black Parade -

The End - (not played) since 2007 (medley in 2019) Dead! - (not played) last 2011 This Is How I Disappear - May 16th (14 times) since 2009 The Sharpest Lives - (not played) since 2009 Welcome To The Black Parade - May 16th (42 times) since 2012 (also 2019) I Don't Love You - (not played) since 2010 (also 2019) House Of Wolves - May 17th (20 times) since 2011 (also 2019) Cancer - May 22nd (3 times) since 2012 Mama - May 16th (39 times) since 2012 (also 2019) Sleep - May 16th (21 times) since 2012 Teenagers - May 16th (42 times) since 2012 (also 2019) Disenchanted - (not played) since 2007 Famous last words - May 16th (42 times) since 2012 (also 2019) Blood - (Never played)

Someone Out There Loves You - (not played) since 2008 My Way Home Is Through You - (not played) since 2008 Kill All Your Friends - (not played) since 2008 Desolation Row - (not played) since 2011 The Drugs - (not played) since 2009

Danger Days: Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys -

Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na) - May 16th (43 times) since 2012 (also 2019) Bulletproof Heart - May 21st (8 times) since 2011 SING - (not played) since 2012 Planetary (Go!) - (not played) since 2012 The Only Hope For Me Is You - May 17th (9 times) since 2012 Party Poison - (not played) since 2011 Save Yourself, I'll Hold Them Back - May 28th (6 times) since 2011 S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W - May 17th (9 times) since 2012 (also 2019) Summertime - May 16h (24 times) since 2012 (also 2019) DESTROYA - May 16th (34 times) since 2012 (also 2019) The Kids From Yesterday - May 16th (17 times) since 2012 (also 2019) vampire money - May 16th (29 times) since 2012 (also 2019)

Zero Percent - (Never played) F.T.W.W.W - (Never played) Mastas Of Ravenkroft - First time May 17th (11 times) Black Dragon Fighting Society - (Never played)

Conventional Weapons -

Boy Division - First time May 16th (36 times) Tomorrow's Money - First time May 24th (5 times) AMBULANCE - (Never played) Gun. - (Never played) The World Is Ugly - Aug 23rd (8 times) since 2008 The Light Behind Your Eyes - (Never played) (medley in 2019) Kiss The Ring - (not played) since 2009 Make Room - May 16th (9 times) first time 2019 Surrender The Night - First time May 16th (9 times) Burn Bright - First time Aug 26th (3 times)

Fake Your Death - (Never played)

Living With Ghosts -

The Five Of Us Are Dying - (Never played) Party At The End Of The World - (Never played) Not That Kind Of Girl - (Never played) House Of Wolves (Version 1) - (Never played) Emily - (Never played) All The Angels - (Never played)

The Foundations Of Decay - First played Jun 12th (42 times)

[lgcmanager]

LGC BOYS CONCERT TOUR

SCHEDULE TYPE: TRIMESTER  SCHEDULE RESTRICTIONS: Cannot be paired with another trimester schedule, unless stated otherwise

( important note: rather than having a separate v&a and type zero mission for this term, it is replaced with this one! )

after show! music core had ended, all of the LGC boys were gathered together in a room as they were given their concert schedule by their managers.

for this asia concert tour, they will be going to the following places:

JULY 9 & 10: tokyo

JULY 15: osaka

JULY 17: nagoya

JULY 23: bangkok

JULY 29: singapore

AUGUST 5: taipei

AUGUST 13: hong kong

AUGUST 27: manila

SEPTEMBER 17 & 18: seoul

thanks to the language workshops that all of the boys have taken in the last few months, each of the groups ( TYPE ZERO, VERSUS, AGITO ) will take turns talking in between certain events or during fan segments based on whatever language is applicable to that location ( ex. agito for the japan locations ).

FAN SEGMENTS

starting from JULY 2 to JULY 4, the lgc boys will be filming content for their concert. this includes fan segments where they sit down in groups of 2-3 talking about their favorite moment since debuting ( or random facts they’ve learned about each other ). 

the second video is a special video of BACK DOOR ( blindfolded version ). each of them will be blindfolded and attempt to dance to the choreography to the best of their ability. if they receive a pass from the staff members ( which is about 80% of the choreography correct ), the game will end. if they fail to do so, they will keep doing it. on the actual concert, this video will serve as a game for the fans in which the fans guess how many tries it takes for lgc boys to get the choreography down.

the third and final video is them playing the pop-up pirate game. each boy will take one turn to put a plastic sword into the slots on the side of the barrel. if the player inserts the sword into a specific ( but random ) slot, the pirate is launched out of the barrel and the player is eliminated ( and will go to the losing team/team b ). this goes on for several rounds until there’s half on each team. in terms of the final results, here are the team arrangements:

TEAM A ( WINNING TEAM ): BAE NATHAN, JEON HARU, LEE DAEYEOL, WON YEONWOO, YOO DAEHO

TEAM B ( LOSING TEAM ): AHN JAESUN, CHOI JUNKYU, KIM ALEX, LEE JIHO, LEE YUSHIN, SON EUNHO

SPECIAL STAGES

( important note: the information listed below was revealed to them ic wise around june, but because we wanted all of you to focus on lgc boys adventures, ooc wise it’s revealed now. )

throughout the airing of lgc boys adventures, the production and lgc creative team gathered various comments and requests that the fans have sent to curate a set list for them. one of the most popular requests from the fans was for type zero and v&a to switch their songs. so with the help of those fans, here is how the switch went:

TYPE ZERO will be doing VERSUS’ REVEAL

VERSUS will be doing AGITO’s DO OR NOT

AGITO will be doing TYPE ZERO’s MAKE A WISH

the second highly requested suggestion from the fans was for the lgc boys to do covers of their senior artists ( DBSD and HARU ). thanks to their votes ( wink wink ), the fans have requested the following:

TEAM A to do LET’S LOVE by DBSD

TEAM B to do CHAINED UP by HARU 

if you want the full set list of the concert, you can click over HERE since it has all of the songs they will be performing and any details about it!

SOLO VLIVES

during the concert tour, the boys will be taking turns hosting their own vlive. all of them will be solo vlives and happen at night at their hotel rooms ( if your muse is scheduled to a date where a concert is happening, they will be doing it after the concert ). these vlives will last around 20-30 minutes and the idols are encouraged to talk with their fans. one of the managers will be present during the livestream to help with any technical difficulties and to monitor the live chat. 

for the vlive schedules, here it is:

JULY 15: JEON HARU

JULY 18: LEE DAEYEOL

JULY 21: LEE YUSHIN

JULY 28: YOO DAEHO

AUGUST 7: SON EUNHO

AUGUST 16: KIM ALEX

AUGUST 23:  LEE JIHO

SEPTEMBER 4: CHOI JUNKYU

SEPTEMBER 7: BAE NATHAN

SEPTEMBER 13: AHN JAESUN

SEPTEMBER 15: WON YEONWOO

if you’ve noticed, since HARU and EUNHO’s birthdays are during the tour schedules, we’ve scheduled their vlives on their birthdays! if you plan on doing anything for these events, just know that ic wise the members will have to tell the manager about it to get their approval.

ROOM ARRANGEMENTS

on days when they’re not either preparing for the concert ( this counts for the day of the concert and the day before as well ), they can explore the area as long as one of the managers (or their manager assistants ) are joining them as well and they don’t do anything scandalous. so use this time to explore and have some fun with the threads!

in case anyone is curious, the room arrangements for this tour will be the following:

ROOM 1: CHOI JUNKYU, KIM ALEX, LEE YUSHIN, SON EUNHO

ROOM 2: JEON HARU, AHN JAESUN, YOO DAEHO, WON YEONWOO

ROOM 3: BAE NATHAN, LEE DAEYEOL, LEE JIHO, HEAD MANAGER ( EITHER KIM BOMIN, LEE KYUHWAN, OR LEE KYUWON )

LGC FAMILY CONCERT 2K22

in addition to that, LGC boys will be preparing one of the many surprises legacy has in store for fans. SEPTEMBER 24 ( a week after their last concert date ) will be the last and final date for lgc’s family concert 2k22! while all of the groups have been split to various locations, the last one will be held in SEOUL with V&A and TYPE ZERO participating in the concert! for this, they will be performing the following songs:

TURN BACK TIME ( KOREAN VERSION ) – TYPE ZERO

REVEAL – VERSUS

DO OR NOT – AGITO

ROCK WITH YOU – V&A

BACK DOOR – LGC BOYS

LET’S LOVE – LGC BOYS ( TEAM A )

CHAINED UP – LGC BOYS ( TEAM B )

SUMMER TASTE – YUSHIN & JUNKYU ( along with HYEJOO, SOMIN, KEEHO, DOWOON, PARKER, and SANGHYUN )

more information about this will be mentioned in the family concert post when the time comes.

LGC BOYS ADVENTURE REWARDS

this will be posted next week, so please stay tune for that!

REQUIREMENTS

CONCERT PREPARATION: write a 300+ word solo OR 4 replies (minimum 8 lines) thread with any lgc boys member about anything related to the concert preparation ( ex. filming the fan content, preparing for the special stages, etc. ) for +6 POINTS TO DISTRIBUTE ANYWHERE and +4 NOTORIETY !

FREE TIME: write a 4 replies (minimum 8 lines) thread with any lgc boys member about their time spent in the different locations for +8 POINTS TO DISTRIBUTE ANYWHERE and +3 NOTORIETY ! ** can be done up to two times as long as it’s with different partners **

SOLO VLIVE: write a 300+ word solo about your muse’s vlive for +5 MCING/HOSTING or VARIETY and +4 NOTORIETY ! 

please tag all threads and solos with the hashtag lgc:lgcboysconcert. once you complete the writing requirements, please submit the following form ONCE on the points blog before SEPTEMBER 24, 2022 11:59 EDT. 

TITLE: MUSE NAME ∙ LGC BOYS CONCERT - CONCERT PREPARATION: +6 ( skill points distribution ), +4 notoriety [ LINK ] - FREE TIME: +8 ( skill points distribution ), +3 notoriety [ LINK ] ** can be done up to two times ** - SOLO VLIVE: +5 ( mcing/hosting OR variety ), +4 notoriety [ LINK ]

[argumentl]

The Freedom of Expression Ep 4 - Covid 19's effect on the entertainment industry.

*note: this episode was recorded in March 2020*

K: Hi, this is Dir en grey's Kaoru, starting this edition of the freedom of expression. Joe san, Tasai san, lets start once again.

J, T: Please

K: Well, well, well!

J: Well, well, well indeed!

K: Agh, things have really gotten tough.

J: Yeah, its tough. Its like this in the media too, when you meet anyone in our industry, if you speak to them its always, 'how is corona affecting you?', isnt it?

K: Thats right..

J: There is never a day where we don't talk about it.

K: *To Tasai* How is it at Tokyo Sports?

T: Well, most of the news is about corona..

J: I bet

K: Well, everywhere is like that, isnt it.

T: It seems like 80 or 90% is about corona at the moment. Entertainment events are being canceled one after the other, the places where we can go to report are disappearing.

K: Right

K: Do you (at Tokyo Sports) have any new ways to get through this?

T: Well, there really has been a lot of corona related news. For example, opportunistic scammers, people lying about the virus being in the sewers and scamming money off others. Or for example, up-and-coming new talets are losing work and have zero income, or the problem of people re-selling masks...this kind of thing is happening a lot.

J: This is really difficult..

Kami: Hello?

J: Oh, he's here!

Kami: Hello? Um, If you write articles about corona, can you sell a lot?

T: Can we sell a lot? Hmm, well its difficult...economic activity is getting stagnant so selling a lot is just making up for our losses. It feels more like sustaining ourselves.

Kami: Ahh

K: People want information right?

T: Well, yes.

K:Hmm, yeah. Theres a lot of info out there which is fanning the fear.

J: Yes, yes, yes, I think so too.

K: Of course, urging caution, or warning people  about where is dangerous, I want to know that kind of thing, but what about reporting the number of recovered people or that type of thing? If you don't hear anything like that, you only feel scared.

J: Yes, its true. Well as for me, in terms of work, for example, I met with newspaper science correspondents, these guys are always talking to the experts, and they are asking why all the tabloid news outlets are talking about the number of infections, or toilet paper running out and such. They are only talking about things to fan the fear, but there is no calm, scientific, reporting on how much of a threat this actually is.... So, this corona virus is part of the corona virus family that all animals can carry, and there are 7 types which can transmit to humans. This new corona virus is one of those. Up to now, there are also SARS and MERS. Corona viruses themselves, will always be with us. The seventh is the newest type, the shape of the virus is like a crown, hence the name corona virus. Certainly its said that SARS and MERS were equally scary, but if you look at it with a calm approach, the death rate isnt that much higher. At this point in time, there are of course people in the world catching this virus and facing a lot of trouble, but there isnt an excessive death rate. For example, in 2009 there was an out break of a new type of influenza in Japan, in reality over 10 million people caught that. At the moment, there are not even that many people who have caught this new corona virus. If you think about that, the things being reported now are just inducing panic. For some reason, there is very little rational, scientific news being reported. I have the feeling we are being manipulated by slightly sensational news.  When i meet with science correspondents, there are many who say there is no need to clamour to this extent. They say, be concerned, but not to this extent.

Kami: Its excessive, right? Corona beer doesnt sell any more * J laughs*

J: Isnt that a different corona?

Kami: Its different, but it looks like it still doesnt sell.

J: Oh really?

Kami: People probably feel a bit wrong drinking 'corona' beer.

J: I see.

T: It goes well with Mexican food.

J: Kami, do you like Corona beer, by the way?

Kami: I don't really know *everyone laughs*

T: But my friend who is a doctor says the best means of prevention is washing your hands and gargling. Its the cheapest in terms of cost, and most effective. Just wash your hands, and gargle.

K: Well, yes. Influenza rates have apparently been the lowest this year havn't they?

J: Yes, because everyone is dutifully washing thier hands and gargling. So, as for masks, acvording to the WHO, they don't necessarily prevent you from catching it. Rather, they prevent infected people from spreading thier germs. Just because you wear a mask, you won't necessarily be safe, so im not sure about this whole bulk buying.

T: You know 'Monster' Hiranabe, who works for us, he said 'I've never caught a cold since I was born' *K laughs*

J: Because he's an idiot. He's an idiot.

T: '....so I don't need to wear a mask' he says.

*everyone laughs* He seems really bold *1

K: That guy is ??? *2

J: Yes, really.

T: ??? *3

J: Well one thing is that events and live shows in the entertainment industry are being cancelled, so how long will we keep having to cancel things? Of course there are still some people continuing as normal, and some people deciding to stop, I think there are probably more deciding to stop..Kaoru, what do you think about the issue?

K: Yeah, well, live venues have become demonised in all of this..

J: Yes, thats right. I don't know about singling out live venues, I mean, the Yamanote train line is still running, the subway is still running, there were some politicians holding a chicken party and such, and thats seems to be thought of as ok. Why are live venues...I mean, im sure some infections have resulted from them, but why have they been focused on so much? Maybe thats a Japanese thing? Finding one target and everyone getting worked up, focusing on that and feeling satisfied, relieved, and not talking about the root of the problem, I think thats it.

T: Yeah

K: Well, as for us, we are not at the point of deciding whether or not to record, but whether we decide to or not, there are things we have to be prepared for.

J: Certainly.

K: When I think about whats to come, its scary. How to go forward from here is the first thing.

J: Thats right. And this isn't a problem that only musicians have to think about.

K: Right

J: For sports, like the soccor and baseball leagues, they will have to hold talks and figure out a plan, despite being rivals. In this light, its not just the music business, but the entertainment, or performance industry on the whole who will have to think about what to do if this situation arises for second or third time.

T: Im not well informed, but when you cancel a live show, who shoulders the cost?

K: Uh, we pay for it.

J: Its the sponser.

K: Yes, the sponser.

J: For most one-man shows, the artist is the sponser, and the artist has to bear the burden. So for very large venues, the cost is significant. Of course there's your set etc aswell, you can't forget that. The expense will just fly straight at you. If its a large venue, a dome arena or such, it will cost more. If you an independent artist, a (cancelled) tour with  multiple venues will only result in bankruptcy. This is real problem. Having said that, the band Tokyo Jihen have done multiple lives, but they have recieved a tonne of criticism, I wonder if they deserve that much anger for playing shows...

K: Well, i can understand thier feelings. Even if you decide to do a show or an event, it will probably result in some damage. People will hesitate to buy tickets, so that will be hard I think.

J: Yes, thats right.

K: Thats what i imagine. I can't help thinking its all heading in a bad direction.

J: Yeah, its hard to imagine everyone suddenly returning to the venues straight after these sudden cancellations.

K: Mm, it will probably be hard to go.

J: For sure.

T: People need to think about how to look after each other after all this.

K: Yes, yes

Kami: Um, if you do tour , how many tours would it be?

K: We do about two tours per year.

Kami: If only one of those tours went ahead, would you get half the income?

K: It would be half..

J: Well, it isnt a case of halfing it, if you take into account all your losses. Its not easy to do.

K: Financially speaking, no. Thats also true.

J: This problem is so difficult.

Kami: So for example, if you suffered huge damage, how would the band continue?

K: Well...it would probably be harsh. I think it will be difficult for us. You know, these days CD's and such thrive on the sound, so we play lives shows to focus on that, and make it pay. If we lose that..the band's future existence...well, future existence may be exaggerating it slightly, but, anyhow, i think it will be hard.

J: We are going though a hard time, but the government doesn't seem to be doing anything about it right?

K: They aren't doing anything....well, should we contine this point next time?

J: I understand.

K: Well, this time was sudden, but we'll leave it here for now. Please tune in again next time. Please subscribe.

*1, 2, 3 - Couldn't really figure out this bit.

[comeonthinkers]

The Constant Struggle of Cuteness

I feel like, this morning, I need to talk about body image. Body image, and the constant barrage of conflicting messages around body image that I, as a midsize woman, receive and dissect every day.

First of all: midsize. Was this even a term five years ago? As “plus size” has become more ubiquitous and more accepted in the past decade, “fat” has been reclaimed, and “curvy” is suddenly more of a feeling than a descriptor, the terms I used to identify with as a teenager now, somehow, no longer apply to me anymore. I’m not sure what happened in the past decade; in high school I distinctly remember almost always being the largest woman in the room. Since then, whether it’s due to perception, self-confidence, age, awareness, or just... overall changes in the population, I now find myself distinctly in the middle. 

Note: I’ve been a size 12-16 my entire post-adolescent life. For one brief stint after college I could fit into a size 10. But before and since, 14 has been the mainstay numeral in my wardrobe. My steady friend and most accurate guesstimate across brands as to what my body may fit.

14, despite being the most (so I’m told) “common” size amongst women, was for many years infamous for being the most left-out, in-between size in clothing stores. In juniors’ stores (marketed toward teens: your Charlotte Russe’s and Forever 21′s), 14 would translate to the non-existent XXL: with “XL” usually falling in the “12″ range. In Plus Size or Women’s stores, 14 is a 0X; 1X is most commonly measured around a “16″ size.

About 5 years ago I found a fashion youtuber who made a video decrying the variation of a size 12 across different brands. And I’ll agree: sizes vary a lot from brand to brand, despite there being a base similarity in most big brand stores. She, like me, found herself living in this dreaded size 12-14 fashion purgatory, this no-womans-land of sizes. And even here! The numbers can’t be trusted!

She called herself “midsize”. She looked a lot like me. And at last, I had a label I could consistently search and see body types that I could identify with. From what I can tell, midsize is the chosen moniker for fashion influencers sizes 8-16, with of course, varying body shapes and compositions. For example, many of the folks I follow on instagram that claim “midsize” wear a VERY different bra size from me- so to find “fashion inspiration” I can actually act upon from midsize influencers, I also have to bring in a few accounts that allow for more top-heavy-friendly designs.

Despite all of the overwhelming positivity and diversity now available to me as a midsize woman (for example, almost all plus-size brands now start at a size 10-12 (00X-0X), and most “regular” retail brands now extend to a XXL), I can’t help but go back to my first observation: I’m no longer the largest woman in the room. While I don’t consider myself particularly unhealthy, I also know I’m not passing any presidential fitness tests any time soon. I find it difficult to run for extended periods of time. My joint strength isn’t nearly what it should be to support my weight. While muscular, I have a lot of extraneous body fat that adds strain to my daily life, and all my body’s systems: skeletal, endocrine, muscular, cardiovascular. This isn’t good. I’ve worked for years to try to find ways to get stronger, lose weight, and improve my overall health- in fact, the difficulty I faced when trying to lose weight was what led me to discover that I have PCOS and a few hormonal hurdles to maintaining a healthy body weight.

But when I try to research how best to approach health and weight loss with PCOS, the studies are few and far between- and when available are fairly inconclusive and far from thorough. I’m left to follow MORE accounts of personal success stories, all of which are biased toward one product or another, one lifestyle brand or book tour, all of which are antithetical to every other product, book, or brand I’ve seen before.

On the one hand, I’m grateful to see more body types represented in the media.  It IS helpful to my self-esteem to normalize the bodies of women both my size and larger than me (even if there’s still a prevalence of too-smooth skin and too-round belly buttons). But I also worry about how we tend to conflate feeling good about ourselves to being healthy. They aren’t the same. And we’re letting commercial forces tell us that it’s okay to be unhealthy even when attempting to BE healthy: mentally or physically.

Time to come clean here: for the past year, I’ve been experimenting on and off with a carnivore lifestyle, which, OBVIOUSLY, many people assume is super unhealthy, much like the stigma around Atkins in the early 2000′s. Honestly, it feels a lot like Atkins did back in the day: lots of bacon, burgers, steak, and eggs. Quite literally “zero-carb”, as opposed to just “low-carb”. While low-carb isn’t really new anymore, and many people can see carnivore as a logical step past the surprisingly universally accepted ketogenic diet, I was amazed to discover just how much the “science” of the trendier diets of the past decade (paleo, keto, whole-30) don’t match up to the scientific, accepted nutritional advice of the actual medical community.

Last year I started going to a weight-loss clinic at the behest of my OB-GYN in an attempt to get my PCOS and weight “under control”. I’m gonna spoil most of the rest of this rant by saying this was a pretty dumb idea for someone like me. This clinic was created around those with extreme weight issues, for whom psychological care and bariatric surgery are the most “effective” forms of treatment (again, according to the health care system that seems determined to sell it, but I’ll talk more about THAT another time). The nutritionist I met with gave me the same spiel I’d read time and time again from every weight-loss specialist book I’d bought, despite me relaying to her my decades-long struggle with traditional diets and fat-loss strategies. A ketogenic diet was never recommended to me, nor any kind of actual dietary changes to help with hormone balance/control: I was prescribed metformin (a drug for insulin resistance most commonly prescribed to type 2 diabetics) and told to eat a low-fat, high-fiber diet.

I didn’t lose any weight. My periods didn’t regulate. I just stopped gaining weight as fast... although I did eventually gain back the 12 pounds I’d lost from my first 2 months on carnivore. 

The truth is, that treatment plan, that clinic... it doesn’t exist for someone who is trying to change their body chemistry. It might work for folks that are so obese that literally ANY form of mindful eating will help them lose 200 pounds. But let’s be real: if I lost 200 pounds, I’d weigh 6 pounds. I’m a tall, muscular woman with some fat that has tried all the recommended diets for fat loss. Through them all, I fight cravings and energy loss, mood swings, and all the symptoms that come with PCOS. The ONLY thing I’ve found in the past 10 years that actually helps with my PCOS? 

Regular exercise, stress management, and a carnivore diet. 

I’ll also point out that when I DID lose a considerable amount of weight after college (due to what I think was a combination of 1. getting enough sleep for once, 2. intermittent fasting, and 3. regular hiking), it was also easier for me to maintain my weight and many of my PCOS symptoms went away. It wasn’t until I switched to a HORMONAL BIRTH CONTROL method that I then gained back all of the weight I lost (and then some) and once again began fighting uncontrolled PCOS symptoms. They compounded on each other, and made it harder and harder to get back to any kind of “normal”. 

So, I’m back on carnivore. In addition to more stable energy, noticeable reduction of PCOS symptoms, and slight weight loss, I also just... hurt a lot less on carnivore. Along this journey I’ve finally realized that I do in fact have a chronic pain problem. Whether it’s due to chronic inflammation, past injuries, or food sensitivities, I’m not really sure: but I know when I eat carnivore, my chronic pain all but goes away. Recently, I’ve been recovering from a back injury, so there was of course some pain associated with that (as well as a break from regular exercise, which I plan to get back to once I’m cleared by my chiropractor), but the daily body aches, numbness, and discomfort?

Gone. 

I’ve got regular periods when I eat this way- like, ACTUALLY one a month like I’m supposed to have. My facial hair growth slows down, even thins out. My focus improves. I sleep better, and actually follow a normal circadian rhythm. What’s total bananas is that I’m not the only one who experiences this: MANY folks who’ve tried this way of eating report daily quality of life improvements.

I’m not going to say everyone should eat this way; I’m not even going to suggest that everyone with PCOS should eat this way. But I WOULD love to see some actual RESEARCH done on this way of eating- or even better research on a ketogenic diet! I’m so frustrated by the lack of medical research on nutrition, and in particular the lack of action to curb the universally-accepted-to-be-unhealthy nutrition standards in America. While I won’t say it’s hard to eat carnivore (cause like, all diets are hard), I have noticed over the years that NO ONE IN OUR COUNTRY IS HEALTHY anymore- except for those whose JOB it is to be healthy. And this isn’t a coincidence!! Almost all cultures that have adopted American corporatized food structures are chronically unhealthy, and much, much more fat than they used to be.

I agree that being fat isn’t always a personal failing, and I’m so, SO glad that more and more figures in our media diets are representing the diverse catalogue of body shapes and sizes reflected in our world. I’m happy that my future daughter won’t be fat-shamed the same way I was as a little girl, and that she likely won’t be told (like I was) that she’s too fat to be what she wants to be when she grows up, despite not actually being all that fat. 

BUT. Fat representation is not the hill I want to literally die on. I’m not willing to throw my health, my comfort, my ability to be active, away for my “right” to eat ice cream every day. I’m sick of being marketed to constantly as a garbage disposal. I’m not just here to eat and diet and wear clothes.

I’m here to LIVE. I’m here to plant gardens and make art and take walks and enjoy the seasons. And I can’t do a lot of those things if I’m constantly sick and in pain. And it’s way harder to enjoy not being sick and not being in pain when all we know to do as a society when spending time together is... eat food. 

What frustrates me is, I think so much of this really comes down to marketing, corporate profit-mongering, and the way our political system is set up to make laws for companies instead of people. I think capitalism is making us fat and unhealthy, to sell us sugar and diets and medicine and surgeries in an endless cycle of crap. I don’t really have much more to say on that, I don’t have sources, except like... well, look around you. Look at the system we have. Look at what we’re told to do to escape it. And look at how many forces are there to take us right back to the beginning of the roller coaster when we have a little success. 

Side note/conspiracy theory time: I actually think liposuction might be a more safe and effective (literally EFFECTIVE not just safe) form of “weight loss surgery” in helping folks with actual, permanent weight loss. Hear me out: while I will fully admit I can’t remember where I read any of this (as I’ve read so many scores of information regarding health and weight loss over my lifetime), I seem to remember body fat working something like this: it’s really easy for your body to make new fat cells, but very difficult for your body to destroy them. So, when you gain fat, it first occurs by your body filling your fat cells with fat, until they can’t hold anymore, and then your body makes new fat cells, which makes it easier for your body to hold onto said fat. The best way to “reset” your body’s fat threshold is to literally destroy or remove the fat cells. And, I assume, if you adopt more healthy habits AFTER having liposuction, your body would be less likely to create more fat cells than it was when you lived an unhealthy lifestyle.

Bariatric surgery is incredibly invasive and dangerous, and almost always ends up reversed by bad habits and your body’s natural ability to STORE FAT AND STRETCH YOUR STOMACH. It’s a temporary solution, and often proves to be ineffective in the long term, and leads to many unfortunate complications over time, not to mention the recovery from that surgery is LONG and TOUGH.

But liposuction (the most COMMON FORM OF PLASTIC SURGERY, I’ll add), is the only “weight loss” procedure (despite not being labeled as such- it’s “cosmetic surgery” even though it most definitely WOULD result in weight loss, right?) that actually removes fat from your body. Literally takes the fat cells away so your body can’t fill them up again, without once again needing to create more.

But bariatric surgery is covered by insurance, and liposuction isn’t... despite the fact that removing weight and fat from the body would be a more instant and potentially effective cure for obesity and its underlying symptoms, and being a simpler procedure overall, as well as extremely common. 

So like... why is being fat something poor people are forced to endure dangerous surgery and super long recoveries and lifetime habit changes to overcome, but rich people just get to have their fat vacuumed away? Sounds sus to me. 

[thepriceofbeingaroseisloneliness]

The Freedom of Expression #4   18th March (Notes/Translation)

“The survival of the band….it may be exaggerated to say ‘the survival’.... but these will be difficult times...”

Appearance:

 Kaoru (DIR EN GREY direngrey.co.jp/)

 Joe Yokomizo (Writer / DJ)

 Tasai Reporter (Tokyo Sports)

 God ?

You can watch the program here  You can find other translation of The Freedom of Expression here

Notes before reading: This is the 4th program of The Freedom of Expression, uploaded on Wednesday 18th.  Today’s topic is Corona virus and it was recorded on 10th March. Not much context is needed as at this point, we are all familiar with it and are aware of the effects it is causing around the world.  In this program, they are going to talk about Corona virus and how it is affecting Entertainment industry in general and how it is affecting Dir en grey tour schedule itself.

Please don’t forget to subscribe to their channel and watch their actual video to support the program.

Feel free to correct me if you spot any mistake or any confusing parts as they are talking so casually and relaxed that it’s hard to get some parts.  As 5th program is like a sequel of this one, I will  upload soon  before doing any other. --- Kaoru: Hello, this is Kaoru from Dir en grey…The Freedom of Expression is starting today too! Joe-san…. Tasai-san…. Joe: Yes, hello everyone…. Kaoru: This time too…. Tasai: Yes, hello… Kaoru:  And now… it’s really… Joe: Yeah…for real… Kaoru: It has become a terrible thing… Joe: It’s terrible….in the media it seems like that… when you meet people from the industry like us, the talks are about “how are you dealing with the effects of Corona?”, right? Kaoru: That’s true… Joe: Although the days are passing, there is no day without having this conversation…. Kaoru: What about Tokyo Sports? Tasai: Well, almost all the news are about Corona virus… Joe: Just as I thought… Kaoru: Well, it’s like that in almost every other media, right? Tasai: Now, it feels like 80-90% is about Corona…. Entertainment events are getting cancelled one after another….so it feels like places to go for coverage are gone…. Kaoru: Ah, that’s true… Joe:  Is there any way to cut the news about Corona for Tokyo Sports? Tasai: The truth is, a lot of news about Corona are coming out…. like for example these ones…. *he check some papers on the table* Fraud commercial laws, “the virus lies in the sewer”, others about taking money, young entertainers not having any performances, so they are making zero money, the problem of people reselling masks, There are lots of news like this coming out…. Joe: This is a very difficult problem…. God: Hello? Hello? Joe: Ah, someone came…. God: Hello? Hello? Joe: God came… God: Well…When you write articles about Corona, does it sell well? Tasai: Well…. when it comes to selling…. it’s difficult to say. As the economic activities seem to be stagnant, when it comes to selling, I guess it will compensate the minus. It might feel like maintaining the status quo. God: Ah… Kaoru: It’s because you want information, right? Tasai: That’s it. Kaoru: That’s it. Somehow some information…. (cut) There is a lot of information that incites anxiety… Joe: That’s true. There is a lot…...I really think that. Kaoru: Of course, taking precautions….or to encourage to do so… or it’s dangerous to go like this…I don’t know.... but, I want to know that kind of things because I think they are important….or things like the (number) of people who are getting well is raising… Tasai: For sure… Kaoru: That there is nothing like that, it’s a bit….it just make you be scared… Joe: For real… For me, in a way it’s related to work…. for example, I met with newspaper’s reporters related to science and they told me they have been interviewing experts. By the way, nowadays, the coverage is done in a such a  tabloids way  style…..how many people got infected…that there is no toilet paper….I’m just saying that those things fuels anxiety…In fact, from the point of view of a doctor…they are not reporting with composure to what extend there is a threat… *Then he proceeds to talk about Corona virus facts* Joe: Firs of all, Corona virus is a type of virus that infects all kinds of animals. From this group of viruses, there are 7 types that can infect humans, one of them it’s the current Corona Virus. There are other types such as SARS and MERS, so the Corona virus itself has always been around…this one from these 7 types is a new one whose shape  is similar to a Corona, that’s why it always has been called “Corona virus”. Certainly, the fear towards this virus is comparable to SARS or MERS, but if you calmly look down at it, the mortality rate is not that high. At this moment, it is true that around the world there are people infected and some of them are seriously ill but, there isn’t a terrible amount of deaths…For example, there was a new type of influenza epidemic in 2009 in Japan. In this one, for example, more than 10 million people got infected. So, about this new Corona virus…to that extend, when you think about a situation that not the infected people are being reported but the only thing that it’s being reported now is clearly news that make everyone panic.  This is how I see it…If you overlook this news, as there is little information from a scientific point of view, it feels like the reports tend to “dance” for agitation. Surprisingly, when I met a science reporter, they are like “Aren’t they making a fuss?” There are actually many reporters that are doing it calmly. Because you are rightfully scared isn’t it? But there are many reporters overdoing the feelings of fear. God: Well…It’s excessive…. Too much…it’s said that Corona beer is hardly selling… Joe: It’s a different Corona isn’t it? (laughs) God: It’s a different thing but it seems that it’s not selling well…. Joe: Ah, is that so? God: I think they are like “I hate drinking Corona beer”, due to the current mood. Tasai: It suits well Mexican food…. Corona beer… Joe: By the way, Does God like Corona beer? God: I don’t really know (laughs) Everyone laughs. Joe: He really doesn’t know right?

Tasai: I asked a friend who is a doctor, and the most preventive things are to wash your hands and gargling. These are the cheapest methods in terms of cost…. just to wash your hands without hesitation and gargle…

Kaoru: This year, it seems that influenza (cases) are at its lowest.…

Joe: That’s true. That’s because everyone is strictly washing their hands and gargling…. when it comes to masks, WHO already said it but, they don’t necessarily prevent infection, on the contrary, people who are sick don’t transmit the bacteria. Although it might a protection thing, just because you are wearing a mask it doesn’t mean you won’t be infected. This extraordinary buying of them…what about that?

Tasai: Then, Hirabane Monster* is like “I never have caught a cold since I was born!” *Hirobane Monster was mentioned in program #1

Joe: That’s probably because he is an idiot, right? (laughs)

Kaoru laughs

Joe: Because he is an idiot (laughs)

Tasai: He said that’s why it’s ok to not wear a mask…

Joe burst into laughs, Kaoru joins seconds later (6:50, the way he laughs) lol

Tasai: As this is something important…. this way of thinking….

Kaoru: Surely

Joe starts talking about the lives being cancelled and then asks Kaoru about it. Kaoru replies that live houses are now a bad “thing” (In venues, there are a lot of people crowded, which helps the virus to spread) Joe replies that other places are like that too and he mentions Yamanote line and the subway itself as well as parties and those places are still ok. It seems asthere were some cases reported after a concert, the measures were taken against live houses. Joe says this is “such a Japanese thing” to be done, as one thing happened, they applied it to all the rest. Kaoru: Now, at the time of recording this, we still don’t know if we should do something or not… (about Dir’s tour) Even if we do something about or not, as expected, there are some lives that will be reassigned… Tasai: I see… Kaoru: If you think a bit about this, it’s scary right? What’s the best thing to do? Joe: That’s true… something like this…. it’s not a problem that only musicians have to think about… Kaoru: it is not, right? Tasai: That’s true Joe: In the sports world…. the Japanese league (football) and baseball professionals league…Those two (tops) talked to each other, trying to find a solution. It is said that their relationship is like cats and dogs, but sometimes these two genres (of sports) cross and talk to each other. In that aspect, it’s not just music but includes all kinds of entertainment. This time, they have to think about 2 or 3 possible scenarios…. they have to think about a strategy. Tasai: I don’t know about this but, if a live is cancelled, who bears the costs of it? Kaoru: We pay for it… Joe: The organizer… Kaoru: It’s the organizer, right? Tasai: I see. Joe: Most one-man tours are organized by the artist. So that must be covered by the artist. As it is done that way, when you especially play in a big venue, the venue fee is very expensive. Of course, there are other cost besides the venue, in some cases you make stage-sets. Those make the cost go up really fast. If it is a big venue, like a dome or such, it can cost millions of yens. These costs go by the artist. When it’s a tour, as there are many places, it can end in the bankruptcy of privately-owned companies. It’s really a terrible problem. Tokyo Jihen did several lives and got a lot of criticism for it…should people be that angry at them because they did the concerts? Kaoru: Well, I understand the feelings of that people but, even if you go and decide to do a live or an event, the damage is going to be high.  I think people will hesitate about buying a ticket or not and with that happening, it feels really hard for us. Joe: That’s true… Kaoru: That’s how it looks right? Somehow, it feels like you are going in the wrong direction…. Joe: I see, even if the bans are just suddenly lifted, it’s hard to imagine people coming back to the venues the next day… Kaoru: After all, it’s going to be difficult to go again… Joe: For sure! Tasai: After  these things done for prevention, we must think about everyone… Kaoru: Yes, yes…. that’s it. God: If the tour and other things are skipped…. How many tours do you do? Kaoru: We do about two per year in Japan…. God: So, if one of those two tours is gone, the incoming money you would be getting… it would be the half of it? Kaoru: It would be the half……(sudden cut) Joe: It’s not the half of it, because you would be dealing with losses….you can’t easily say how it is going to be.... Kaoru: Or just foccuss in the  money…of course, that’s about it too… Joe: It’s a very difficult problem…. God: For example, if there is a big loss (of income), what would happen to the band? Kaoru: I think it will be hard….it would probably be hard….we are living in a time where the sales of cds or other sound sources are decreasing…doing lives… the sales of some things are related to them too and as expected those sales seem to be decreasing too….if all that is gone….the survival of the band….it may be exaggerated to say “the survival” but it is going to be hard…. Joe: I think it’s going to be a tough time but, there is no government actions against that… Kaoru: There is nothing like that right now….well, at this point, we should be moving into the next part...Today’s program came out a bit of a sudden*, so here it’s the first part....until the next part....please subscribe to the channel. Everyone: Thank you for watching.... *This program was uploaded on a wednesday instead of its regular schedule on Fridays, second part was uploaded on Friday 20th, being a continuation of this program.

[lunarimagines]

WATCH ME BABYGIRL [20]

Summary: Jungkook is your brother’s annoying best friend. You can’t stand him but he just can’t resist teasing you. How far will he actually go?

Warnings: language, implied smut

A/N: final part of the series! thank you for the support and the love you gave it! now onto the next one ;) (a jk bodyguard fic)

[pt.1] [pt.2] [pt.3] [pt.4] [pt.5] [pt.6] [pt.7] [pt.8] [pt.9] [pt.10] [pt.11] [pt.12] [pt.13] [pt.14] [pt.15] [pt.16] [pt.17] [pt.18] [previous part]

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“I think this is the last box babe,” Jungkook huffed as he looked for a place to set down the lumpy cardboard box. You gestured vaguely to a free spot on your counter as you surveyed your one bedroom apartment. Though you had toured it before it looked TINY now that all of your stuff was moved in. Would you even be able to fit everything? Of course Jungkook’s stuff was strewn with yours, but he’d insisted the two of you would only need a one bedroom apartment. You sighed as you reached down to begin unpacking some of the essential items.

Arms wrapped loosely around your waist and a soft kiss was pressed to the back of your neck. You hummed at the feeling. It had been a huge decision to move in with Jungkook during college, but you figured that since your relationship with him had already lasted this long it could stand to last many more years. Plus you loved being around him. You loved seeing a rogue sock here or there, smelling his scent on your bedsheets, placing your toothbrush in the holder next to his. The little things really do count.

“Hey… do you want to break in the bed with me?” Jungkook asked, craning his neck around so that you could see he had one eyebrow cocked. You rolled your eyes as you swatted his hands off of you.

“No. I want to unpack this and meet the neighbors before we even THINK about ‘breaking the bed in’,” you scolded, turning back to unpacking the box you had started on. Jungkook snickered behind you, but nonetheless he began to help you unpack. You mentally yelled at Taehyung and Jimin for jokingly giving the two of you housewarming gifts. At the time it had been amusing, but now that you were actually unpacking them and trying to figure out where the hell to put them it was considerably less amusing…

“Do you think they’d be heartbroken if we.. donated some of their gifts?” Jungkook questioned as he pulled a ridiculous doormat out of a bag. 

“They’ll never even have to know,” you replied, setting a now empty box aside. “I’m declaring this box the official donation box.”

Jungkook rolled up the mat and tossed it into the box before he continued unpacking. You watched the way his forearm muscles stood out as he pulled out heavier items and you admired the way his face became scrunched as he concentrated on figuring out where each item should go. You tried to busy yourself with unpacking more, but your eyes kept being drawn to Jungkook. You couldn’t help but think back to when you first started dating Jungkook. Both of you were so different now… You liked to think about how the two of you had grown together and how much you’d grown the love the boy in front of you. Your past self probably would have hit you if you’d told them you were going to be living with Jungkook someday, so infatuated with him that it was difficult to breathe sometimes. 

“We should frame a photo of me so that you can stare at that when I’m away,” Jungkook teased when he caught you staring. You smiled softly at him, not even bothering to joke with him. This was one of those moments when your chest felt so warm and tight and your heart felt too big to be contained and you wanted to cry because you were so in love with everything. 

Jungkook seemed to sense this because he quickly crossed the small space to grasp you in a tight hug. You snuggled into his chest, your arms wrapping around his waist as you breathed in his scent. 

“You know I love you. I love you so fucking much,” Jungkook whispered into your hair. You nodded in response and grasped at the back of his shirt to pull him closer to you.

“You know I feel the same way, right? It’s so overwhelming sometimes,” you replied softly, placing a soft kiss on his chest. He smiled and ran his hands down your back softly, tracing the words “I love you” as he went. 

“Do you think we’ll always be like this? I mean like this in love?” you questioned tentatively. 

Jungkook didn’t even stop to ponder before he replied, “Absolutely we will be.” 

You pulled back and looked up to plant a kiss on his lips before you pulled out of his grasp to continue unpacking. 

“What do you want to do tonight?” 

Jungkook looked at you with a mischievous glint in his eyes and his mouth pulled into a goofy half-smile. “I have something planned… We have to be there by 7pm though because that’s when I made our reservation. We can always go out to eat before we go I suppose.”

“What are we signed up for at 7pm?” you asked, your eyebrows scrunching in confusion. You knew whatever Jungkook had planned was bound to be fun, but you wondered why Jungkook was being so secretive about it. 

“Help me move this box?” 

You were pulled from your wonderings by Jungkook calling out to you. Not even bothering to call him out for changing the subject, you wove through the maze of boxes to reach him to see he was struggling to lift a box onto the counter. Wrapping your arms around the box, you prepared yourself… only to be able to lift the nearly empty box with ease. It probably didn’t even weight five pounds. Jungkook simply stood there smiling widely, his eyes crinkled at the corner and filled with love. You knew he’d done this to distract you, and it worked. You laughed out loud at his shenanigans.

“Wow muscles, okay!” he praised as you flexed. You smiled as you leaned over to peck his lips before going back to your own boxes. Yeah, living with the love of your life was the best decision you had ever made, second only to agreeing to be Jungkook’s girlfriend. 

When 6:15 pm had rolled around the two of you had finally finished unpacking most of the boxes and were halfway through devouring some takeout you’d ordered when it became clear the two of you had a SHIT ton of boxes left. You decided not to think about that and instead turned your attention to figuring out whatever Jungkook had planned for you. 

“What should I wear for our rendezvous tonight?” you questioned, trying to get a hint as to what you would be doing tonight as you tucked your leftover takeout into the fridge. Jungkook hummed as he reached around you to stack his food next to yours.

“Something athletic and comfortable,” he relied, kissing the side of your head as he moved back. Not helpful at all, although admittedly you were too distracted by the kiss to really think about what he’d said. The kiss had been so soft and filled with love. You adored the little kisses he gave you throughout the day and mentally noted that the physical affection was another thing you adored about Jungkook. “Oh! And probably something dark, too.”

You nodded as you walked over to the couch where your clothes were currently spread. 

“Is all black too much?” you questioned, holding up a jeans and t-shirt combo. 

Jungkook shook his head. “Nope. That’s just right.” 

Fifteen minutes later, you and Jungkook were both dressed in head-to-toe black. You were climbing into the passenger seat of his car as he held the door open for you, closing it when you were tucked into your seat.

“I heard this place is the best in town,” Jungkook said as he slipped into the driver’s seat and started the car. 

“What place?”

Jungkook simply quirked an eyebrow at you as he pulled into the street. “You’ll see.”

The place, it turned out, was a laser tag place. As in a laser tag place like where the two of you had your first date with one another. As in where you’d realized just how hard you’d fallen for Jungkook.

“Ugh you’re so cheesy and it’s so cute,” you whined as you walked beside Jungkook into the building. 

He wrapped his arm around your shoulders as the two of you walked, a cocky grin on his face. “I’m just too good, right?” 

The laser tag place had cameras set up to see inside of the laser tag course. There were not only walls to hide behind but also obstacles to get around. The vests were pitch black, no blinking lights to indicate they were even on. The guns only glowed faintly around the barrel, a soft white glow that turned a soft shade of orange when fired. You watched as another team went through the course, tripping over small indents in the floor meant to be challenges. They had missions on glowing screens within bases and you could see they were racing to complete as the timer ticked down from 1:30… 1:29… 1:28…

“This is a lot more difficult than the one at home,” you whispered to Jungkook. He nodded as he watched the screens but you knew he was up to the challenge. The reason he’d probably chosen the place was because it was so different and difficult. 

You suited up beside Jungkook, the two of you managing to be on the same team. He tightened a strap on your vest before kissing you quickly. “Ready to kick ass and take names?” he joked.

You adjusted your vest and gave him a thumbs up. “Absolutely, bitch.”

As soon as the course opened the two of you ran towards your base and you tried to note where the obstacles were before the lights were turned off. You knew you wouldn’t remember though, and you hoped you wouldn’t twist an ankle. You’d already signed a waiver saying whatever injuries you sustained would not be at the fault of the laser tag group. 

You ducked down behind Jungkook as the clock on the wall counted ten seconds until lights out.

“Okay here’s the plan. I take the front, you take the back. We switch each mission. If one of us dies we both go back to the base to recharge because it won’t be any good if we BOTH die. Sound good?” Jungkook reasoned. You nodded and he hugged you into his side and kissed your head quickly as the clock reached zero and you were thrown into darkness. The neon lights buzzed on. You and Jungkook took one look at the screen showing your mission, then at each other, and then the two of you were running through the course.

“Movement on the right side,” you whispered to Jungkook. He tapped your arm as an indication for you to shoot when you had a clear shot. As soon as you saw a flash of neon you were shooting. Your gun glowed orange and buzzed, letting you know you had fired and hit your target. 

It was more chaotic than the original course. There were about 20 more people to compete with and every now and then you would find yourself falling right into an enemy trap. Sometimes even Jungkook would fall for the traps. With one minute remaining in the course the two of you were down by one kill. 

“We need two kills to win… Here,” Jungkook pulled your arm as he ducked into a small alcove you hadn’t seen before despite passing the spot numerous times. “Okay, new plan. I know there’s another base across from here. We both take a side and hope the other team returns. Watch the scoreboard because even though they’re ahead in kills they’re also dying a lot.”

You hummed quietly in response, crouching beside Jungkook and leaning against his side. 

“Oh, and one more thing,” he whispered suddenly. You felt him tug at your hand and you let go of the gun only to feel him slip a ring… onto your left hand ring finger. You whipped your head around to look at your boyfriend, your mouth hanging slack with shock. He giggled. “It’s a promise ring. I don’t think I’m ready for marriage yet, but I do want you to know how serious I am about you. I love you so much, Y/N.” 

You were about to say something back, maybe even cry, when Jungkook quickly shushed you as he saw the enemies approaching.

“Ready?”

You nodded, your head feeling light. The clock was at ten seconds. 

“One… two… three… shoot!”

You felt your gun buzz and heard Jungkook’s buzz softly. 

“We should go pro,” you whispered as the clock hit zero, your mind still reeling from the ring now adorning your finger. 

“Fuck yeah we should,” Jungkook whispered back, high fiving you before pulling you into a tight hug. “Reigning champions.” 

The two of you tried not to hold your heads too high despite being happy with your win. You congratulated the other teams and even set up a time to come back to play. 

In the light of the lobby you could see the ring clearly. You could also see Jungkook had a matching one on his left hand ring finger. They were dainty, gold, and perfectly sized. You had no doubt he’d gotten Taehyung to steal some of your jewelry to figure out the perfect size. 

“I love the ring. I love you, Jungkook,” you said as the two of you walked hand-in-hand through the parking lot to his car. He squeezed your hand lightly before bringing it up to his mouth to kiss your knuckles lightly. 

“And I love you, Y/N.”

You weren’t sure you believed in fate, but you knew something had brought you and Jungkook together. Originally, Jungkook was just your brother’s annoying best friend. You couldn’t stand him but he just couldn’t resist teasing you. As it turned out, he would go to any length to find his way into your heart. And you weren’t even about to complain.