#tyler IS down bad for brian

[tyler-official]

what position you got him in? Also is he flexible???

not giving you alot of details but

his arch is a pretty good sight to see...

[fossore]

[Video Description/transcript: Over a blurred background is a cutout image of Joe Thornton holding a sign reading "Describe Jumbo." The image disappears and the background unblurs to reveal the Chelsea Piers East Rink as members of the Sharks organization walk past and others practice on the ice. As they walk past, people look down then speak to the videographer, implying there's a sign with a prompt.

Nico Sturm: He's got a nice beard. Fabian Zetterlund: Goat. Beard. Legend. Jeff Ulmer: Beard. Ty Dellandrea, following after Ulmer: Sniper. Loud. Macklin Celebrini: Life of the Party. Mikael Granlund: Really good hockey player. Jack Thompson, following Granlund: Exciting. Fun. Thomas Speer, with someone saying "Say beauty" in the background: Beauty. Henry Thrun: Funny. Ryan Warsofsky: Comedian. Vitek Vanecek, getting close up to the camera: Best guy. Mario Ferraro: Makes a high pitched "aaah" sound as he walks by Alex Wennberg, smiling: Oh, beauty. That's a great one. Jan Rutta: Very nice and funny human being. Tyler Toffoli: Animal. Jake Walman: Awesome guy. Barclay Goodrow: Bearded legend. Timothy Liljegren: Jumbo's the most positive guy I've ever met. Never have a bad day. Mackenzie Blackwood (next to Kunin with the camera focused on Luke Kunin then moving to him): Big beard. He's a fun guy. Luke Kunin (at first copying Blackwood then adding on): He's a fun guy, oh! Legend. Mario Ferraro, again: Repeats the same high pitched sound as previous. Cody Ceci: Unbelievable career. Great player. Givani Smith: Oh, just a great person. Brian Wiseman: Huge personality, infectious energy, and a legend. William Eklund: The. Goat. That's two words. Klim Kostin: Real gangster. Will Smith: Um. Fun and energetic. Dan Rusanowsky: Joe Thornton is one of the greatest people I've ever met in the game of hockey. A kind man, a real team player, and one of the greatest championship type personalities I've ever known. Carl Grundstrom: Great.

The starting image of Joe Thornton reappears, this time filling the entire screen, and the video ends.]

[squarebracketsmileyface]

How does Tyler and his little homophobic self feel about Tim in a relationship with men? Both before Jay was Lark and with Brian.

"his little homophobic self" lmao I love that

The answer is probably "Not Good" tho lol

No yeah especially in the early days he's UPSET about it, he hates it, it's wrong and it's bad and it makes him uncomfortable.

Tim has been in a couple relationships between uni and Jay I think, and at least one of them was ended by Tyler fronting while Tim's partner was around and him being shitty to try and get rid of this guy in his house sitting on the couch with his arm around Tim's waist. He knows how to make people hate Tim and he can and will use that knowledge, especially when he thinks it's the right thing to do, like to make sure they're not being gay, because that's gross.

This got long. Also there's one very brief and non explicit mention of kink (Tyler isn't involved in that directly, he just fronts afterwards because his whole thing is protecting Tim) so the rest is understandable the thingy bobber

To begin with with Jay? Honestly don't let Tyler near him. He already doesn't really trust Jay, already is kinda off about him, but like... There's A Situation, (Tim getting his boundaries pushed when it comes to kink and that unsurprisingly freaking him out really fucking bad) and Tyler isn't fronting for it, but I do think he would front AFTER it. Like, okay so while it's happening? That's Tim. Then there's like a solid 10-15 minutes right after, when Tim's already told Jay he needs some space to calm the fuck down so he doesn't do anything stupid and locks himself in the bathroom. That's like, they're blurry/blendy as fuck, no one can figure out who the hell should be dealing with this situation (also there's a new split but they don't know that so it's whatever). And then eventually Tyler fronts once they've calmed down a bit.

And, y'know, he's angry. He's really really angry. He's angry with Jay, he's angry with Tim, as well as feeling kinda vindicated? Because HE TOLD TIM. He made his stance on the whole thing clear. Jay was bad, being gay with Jay was bad, and now he's been proven right.

"canon" Sorry, It's Locked? Tyler's anger seeps through to Tim and mixes with his own when he fronts again. Tim is very much angry about it himself, as he should be, though he does get why Jay's like that, at least partly, whereas Tyler's just angry angry angry because Jay is evil evil evil. Anyway their combined anger causes Tim and Jay to go to Benedict Hall separately and then obviously Jay dies and it's a whole thing. Tim feels guilty as FUCK, but Tyler actually does too.

Not exactly the same way as Tim or as much as Tim, but he never wanted to kill anyone. He never wanted Jay to die, he just wanted him to stop making Tim fuck their life up.

Then I think by the time Brian comes back into their lives ten years later Tyler's definitely better about his lil homophobia thing. He's not perfect, he still wrinkles his nose when he sees gay people in TV shows and stuff like that. But he knows Brian, he likes Brian, Brian's his friend, so as long as Brian isn't gay with him he can be okay with him being gay with Tim, y'know? (Thinking about Tyler pulling a "I don't care what you do in privacy but no kissing in front of the children!! Aka ME!" is very funny to me)

Now in PGPau? Definitely different. Jay survives getting shot and he and Tim just kinda carry on. Alex is out of the way, Brian is Gone, Tim and Jay move away as soon as they can after Birdie's born. I think a lot of Tyler's acceptance of Jay in their life would be very closely linked to Tyler's love for Birdie. I've talked about it before (here) but after MH Tyler (and Sainty honestly but mostly Tyler) can't trust that their safe and constantly tries to run away to somewhere he feels safe when he fronts, and y'know, he fronts with Birdie in his arms like, pretty much straight away, and is like "oh, a baby, my baby, my baby sister. Gotta protect her too" so she starts coming with him and eventually he stops running away and stays at home with her blah blah.

Anyway, in PGPau it doesn't take long at all for Tyler front without Birdie in his arms and to panic trying to find her, only to find her in Jay's arms. And of course the first thing he does is take her from him because Absolutely Not she's his baby sister and he has to protect her and Jay is Not Safe. And y'know, that'd happen a few times, but eventually Tyler would probably kinda realise that Jay's looking after her.

"Oh, Jay's feeding her right now."

Or "Oh, Jay's changing her nappy."

Or "Oh, Jay's playing with her and she's giggling and happy."

And very slowly Tyler just kinda comes to trust Jay more and more because they both love Birdie very much, and if Jay's looking after Birdie then Tyler can at least not be actively hostile towards him, y'know?

He's definitely still like, his little homophobic self, very much doesn't like that Jay is Tim's boyfriend still, and extra doesn't like finding out Jay is Birdie's dad, because it makes him feel like Tim HAS to be Birdie's mum in that case, because Birdie absolutely cannot have two dads, that's awful she can't grow up like that. But, y'know, Tyler would HATE the idea of Tim being a mum because they're a man, Tim's a man. So he has to try and fit together "Birdie can't have two dad's," and "Tim CANNOT be 'mum'," and that kinda makes him think about it properly a little bit. I think he'd conclude that thinking of themself as a woman feels worse than letting Jay be Birdie's other dad.

It's such a mess with them being trans, and honestly I think Tyler's whole THING would probably extend to transness too, but specifically towards other people. He's wrapped his head around it for themself. It's okay for THEM because Tyler is a boy, and Tim is a boy and they're important so of course they're allowed to be trans as long as no one ever knows. I'm literally thinking about it like those pro-lifers who can justify having an abortion themselves because of their situation, but the next week are back in the line yelling at other people for it.

Oof now I'm thinking about how that'd interact with Lark coming to terms with her transness and transitioning. Maybe it wouldn't do too much because that is like 6-7 years after MH ends, so maybe at that point Tyler's been therapied a bit and is more accepting of his (their) own queerness as well as other people's? Could be fun to have him just be like "why the hell would you wanna be a girl? Being a girl SUCKED" but eh

Lmao Tyler if Lark came out way earlier "well that's wrong.... But at least it means Tim isn't gay anymore" 💀💀

[unitchiefs-blackbirdphoenix]

17x03 Spoilers/Thoughts

(Not very long of a post tbh. There’s just too much to kinda unpack tho)

(TWs bc the show doesn’t really give you much, but self-harm (around 32:00) and talks of p*rn and online exploitation) I think I might make the tws italicized in my spoilers to give that heads up.

This is directed by Adam Rodriguez!

The whole case basically isn’t connected to Gold Star, I don’t think it is. There’s a mask involved now and Tara and Rossi take on the case. Rossi trying to get through the window was pretty funny tho.

Emily is off with her old neighbor (played by Paul F. Tompkins), Brian Garrity. She is trying to get him to take down some misinformation. It’s pretty funny seeing those two actually.

Also Brian gets beaten up by a group of men and Emily finds him and tries to protect him, but the police come in and see her with her gun out, so now…

Emily gets arrested and framed

I kinda barely paid attention to Tyler at this first watch but uhhh he meets a guy named Sebastian Gasper

JJ and Luke team up together but Luke is feeling absolutely guilty of what Emily and Voit told him.

Voit said from ep 2 that there is a BAU Gate, which is a site full of memes and pictures and stuff about the team. But Emily says there’s something that involves JJ in it that Luke couldn’t believe was true.

BAU p*rn. And all of it is of JJ.

JJ and Luke talk to Sydney and on their way, they talk about what’s been bothering him. It’s just so hard for him to not keep it quiet and I feel for him.

JJ talking about how good of a leader Emily is and that she knew it would be for the best anyway.

And her saying whatever Luke doesn’t tell her will be protecting her and what he does tell, she will get hurt.

JJ is aware of the BAU Gate thing since before she was a profiler, so during her liaison days. She thought it was a lot of anime on it and ridiculous stuff of the team, but something on her face the more they talked about it seems like her fear of what Luke tells her later is affecting her when she suspects it.

There’s stuff with Sydney and Voit’s daughters.

Really cute moment with Luke playing soccer which… for the sake of this being the happy thing of it all, Luke and JJ playing soccer together 🥺

Holly(?) is the one having a hard time grappling with the fact that her father is a criminal.

In one scene, she cuts herself before her mom comes in to stop her.

Sydney talks with JJ and Luke after about going into witness protection and everything they need to do.

After that…. Luke finally tells JJ.

It’s honestly better for people to watch the scenes for this upcoming storyline for JJ bc I have no other way to describe it.

But Luke tells her everything he learned from the secret, that the site was flagged by Homeland Security in 2014 (said by Emily) and Voit and his network has an updated version of it.

He tells JJ that it’s not the other agents that were on the site but just JJ.

She was the focal point of it all.

The absolute heartbreak in JJ’s whole being. Everything is just sucked out of her. And if you thought this was bad, the next scene of this is worse.

After everyone leaves the office, JJ closes the blinds to the roundtable room and checks the website for herself. It’s just…. Heartbreaking and haunting are the two words to describe it.

There’s a bunch I have on this probably on a separate post but damn CM. They really went there. And it’s the worst of the worst. (Not to compare storylines or trauma but nothing can really go beyond that)

[moonchild-in-blue]

if you'll allow me some space to share my ✨thøught✨ for the day:

obviously we see the parallels between tyler & vessel. i think they're opposite sides of the same coin. vessel gave in willingly to his adversary (sleep) and tyler was captured by his (blurryface). while vessel remains under sleep's power, tyler is constantly trying to run away. they both made music used to garner support for their adversary, yet vessel did it willingly and tyler did not. as you said, vessel yearns to sleep because that's when he's at peace, but tyler hates to sleep because that's when the bad things happen. and there's so many more but let me get to my thøught:

(come to looney town with me and imagine that sleep and blurryface are the same. sleep is the deity connected to vialism.)

clancy and vessel are two sides of the same coin. they followed the same path into dema, yet vessel gave up. never tried to escape. he allowed himself to be overtaken by the bishops. he committed to the religion, dreaming of his neon gravestone. he spreads the message they give him (he wears black body paint. come on. smearing). clancy doesn't let himself follow that same path, so he runs. vessel only fights back when he hears of clancy's triumph.

(i'm sorry i hope you enjoy my word vomit. happy timezones lovely🫶🏼)

Em darling, respectfully, I'm kissing you on the mouth and taking a nap on the deep-ass wrinkles of your galaxy brian 🧠🌌

@fivewholeminutes Alex once you hear the album please come here, because we've had some Conversations™ about the ST x TØP parallels before and I know you'll love this.

(omg this is so long I'm so sorry)

Okay but this makes so much sense? Because in Vialism, in order to reach the status of glory and ascend to so-called Paradise, you must die and become a vessel (!!!!) to the bishops, who control your body through those antlers (!!!!!!!!!!!). VESSEL IS LITERALLY A VESSEL TO THE BISHOPS. HE IS DEAD AND IN "PARADISE".

The night comes down like heaven

Of course it does! That's what Sleep aka The Bishops want you to believe you silly boy 😭 Of course the night does not belong to God, it belongs to them. That's why Clancy can't fall asleep/dream - he must stay awake so the dark doesn't take over him (ODE TO SLEEP AAAAA).

What if Vessel was also trying to escape in that car with Clancy, before he surrendered aka Ascended?? What if Clancy made it out to Voldsøy alone, but Vessel was seized by Nico and therefore never met the Banditos? That's why he never references yellow. It's always red and blue.

Maybe the gold in Chokehold and Aqua Regia is him still holding on hope that the Banditos exist, that the myths are true. But he never made it out of the car with Clancy, so of course he wouldn't have known.

But in that case, just like Clancy is special and isn't affected by the powers, maybe Vessel also has a resistance? He surrenders to Vialism, to Sleep/Blurryface, gives up his name and identity in order to reach glory and fame and spread His word (omg how is this fitting so perfectly lmao), but a part of him is still aware of it all. He isn't really dead - he is asleep.

OH OKAY WAIT. SO! We know Keon is the most compassionate Bishop right? What if Sleep isn't specifically Nico/Blurryface, but a combination of the Nine? Or possibly the force behind them?

What if Keon was the one who had Vessel under control (possibly representing the romantic/affectionate nature of Vessel and Sleep's relationship), and since Clancy stabbed him, he severed that tie and allowed Vessel to regain some control of himself? Which leads us to Take Me Back To Eden aka Vessel fighting back. Maybe Euclid is what happens after Clancy reaches Nico's tower and have that final confrontation?

I don't think we know how Clancy initially reached Dema, but I'm assuming it has to do with his past - Dema offered an alternative/solution to all the pain he felt *if* he followed their twisted propaganda.

It took a while for Clancy to see what was wrong and gather up the courage to leave, so I'll assume it's the same for Vessel. They tried to escape but Clancy met the Banditos and the rebellion, which offered him a real alternative - hope. Vessel never did so of course he succumbed to Sleep/ the Bishop's brainwashing and accepted the deal - just like you said, he did it all willingly, while Clancy/Tyler didn't.

Also - Clancy was never alone since he had the support of the Banditos, of the Torchbearer, and of Ned. Vessel had to fight all by himself 🥲. Boy's got no friends 😔 (they are as brainwashed as he is).

AND THAT'S WHY!!! That's why TMBTE ends with Euclid, a song about hope and breaking the cycle - renewal - while still mourning for the life he lead up until now in Dema/ under Sleep's influence, while Paladin Strait is all about sacrifice, about the last effort to finally reach some peace.

I have a feeling the Paladin Strait mv will end with him dying - maybe his death will bring forth the liberation of the citizens of Dema and by consequence, of Vessel.

Also! Things I find interesting but can't really fit here but please latch on them (mostly typing this so I don't forget):

Trench has a lot of snow and trees, which could fit into the "diamonds in the trees / ancient canopies" imagery. Vessel spent more time there under Sleep/Blurryface's influence

The beach!! The water!! Both of them make a lot of references to water and That Beach aka sacred shores aka where Clancy and Torchbearer emerge from aka the only way out of Trench

CHLORINE IS A NEUTRAL CHEMICAL. NOT ACID NOR ALKALINE. The one used in pools (aka Ned's pool in Chlorine) is slightly alkaline according to Google. Coincidence???? I think not.

Also in Chlorine - Tyler makes a reference to the taste of lead. Hmmmmmm there's a connection there with Granite kinda? I'm reaching BUT!!

"And I'm done dancing to alarm bells" maybe it's a reference to him being done with SAI's propaganda/distraction?

The burning car / car crash references from both.

"I'm a waking hell and the gods grow tired" -> Vessel never fully ascended as the Bishops intended which causes a lot of friction between them

Josh and ii are the same person too. ii is Vessel's Torchbearer 🥹

Look. It's late (as I type this) and you come here with that amazing brain of yours connecting dots, and I can't help but latch on to them. I feel insane just typing this all out but!!! It makes SO MUCH SENSE OMG.

I wonder how Ned and Thrash fit into the narrative 🤔

[ragingstillness]

Criminal minds evolution 17x5:

Straight up forgot that Rebecca and Tara were together and when Tara was in the line of fire of the bomb I was like “why is Rebecca so worried?”

Love that they ended up having to leave hostage negotiation to Voit. Terrible situation, very funny for the viewer.

I feel sorry for Rossi still, I would love to see if he’s still hallucinating Voit because that could create a very funny angel/devil on the shoulder dynamic between hallucination Voit and real Voit.

I didn’t quite understand how literal Emily meant the whole trigger thing if Voit ran, I thought she just meant that would pretty much prove he’s a criminal because escaping federal custody is illegal and they’d be able to hunt him down again.

Garcia’s judgement is everything. So passive aggressive. At the same time though Voit is 100% giving as good as he gets.

I’ve said through this season and the last that the actor who plays Voit is having way too much fun but this has got to be peak “he’s having too much fun.” I mean, cooing over the jet, making up a ship name for Tyler and Garcia, singing in the BAU about Rossi being a coward. “Hi Rossi it’s me Elias it’s been a long time since my last confession.” He’s so entertaining I almost want to like him.

Brian makes me want to rip my hair out. He’s so infinitely frustrating. Can’t believe no one has done a thorough background check on Tyler enough to know that Teresa is one of his contacts.

I sure hope we’ll get more about the gold star program and Stuart house because we haven’t gotten nearly enough. And North Star too, if that’s even a thing. Maybe another house?

I get the impression Voit is a good hacker but how much information was he able to get in his year of crime? It’s a wonder he got any parenting or actual IT work done.

I actually said, out loud, “don’t cry Paget don’t cry.”

Emily says her breakdown started when she got arrested and maybe there’s smtg we’re not being told because honestly she didn’t seem all that traumatized by it at the time. I mean, Spencer got arrested but didn’t go off the deep end until he was actually in jail. Emily didn’t even spend the night I don’t think.

Emily smoking: bad sign for her character’s mental health but undeniably sexy.

Am I the only one who thinks they were almost pushing Rossi and Emily together? Like idk how to feel about that but that last scene (before the hug) just gave me an odd vibe.

Very curious what Elias’ true plan is. I mean, he seems to have said a true goodbye to his family and he might have an endgame for them but he seems to have refocused, although on what I’m not sure.

Happy to see Luke get to be smart. I know having him play dumb is an excellent way to get unsubs off guard but it also ends up not showcasing how smart he actually is.

Really really feel like they’re setting up this season for an old character coming back but idk who.

[vanosslirious]

BBS Dialogue Prompts: #400

BBS / Frouse IRL Names & Alias' Prompts: [ 5 ]

VANOSSGAMING

I could take it from Brian.

This fucking guy with his reverse psychology is working, Brian, you see that.

Wait, wait, you're still in this, Tyler.

Yes, Brian, you get all the credit.

Don't worry, Sark, he does this all the time.

Nice try, Lanai.

I'm not gonna say it, Brock, but that was…

Brian, you're a genius.

Brian, you have to come back, you have to help us, alright.

Nogla, don't do it, don't do it, don't murder me!

BIGPUFFER

I heard that too, Matt.

Matt, I got it, I got it.

Matt fucking started dragging my body around.

I'm jizzing on you, SMii7y, you deserve this.

Grizzy, back the fuck up!

Oh, Matt's dead.

I'm killing Matt.

SMii7y, you don't have a weapon.

Everyone get Grizzy.

You killed yourself, Matt.

NOGLA

Just to fuck with Wildcat.

Shut up, Evan, shut up.

Don't feel so bad now, Tyler.

Are you recording, Evan?

The fuck does that mean, Evan?

Okay, Brock…

That definitely don't look good, Brock.

I'm with Moo, he's pushing something.

Why do we need to go back, Moo?

Brock, how do we get it?

SMII7Y

Wait, is there something down here, Tucker?

Tucker come on, bro. 

Come on, Fl0m.

There's a robot, Tucker.

Nah, Tucker found it.

Tucker, are you in?

Wait, did you grab it, Eli?

If I catch Tucker on the boat playing a goddamn piano…there's gonna be hell to pay.

Prime suspect is Fl0m.

Eli, wait, did you have it?

H2ODELIRIOUS

Marcel's lost!

Wait, we have to find Marcel, he's out there somewhere.

Vanoss, fly straight up so you can see what I was trying to explain.

Okay, let's go find Moo now.

Wait, I see you through the wall, Vanoss, you up?

Vanoss, you need med kits.

Shut up, Nogla, shut the hell up!

Run, McNasty!

Vanoss, where you going, Vanoss?

Everybody be quiet so Terroriser can hear.

[cringycrisis]

Edit 1/29/25 @ 11:01pm: Okay, I calmed down a bit after work. I won't update daily here, I will, however, be constantly reblogging on my main blog @underdressedgoth to show I am alright. If I don't reblog for more than two days. Assume otherwise.

Top of the morning to ya laddies! I have never been more stressed, scared and embarrassed to be an American in my life! (doesn't even come close to how I felt after the 2016 election) :D

(please don't associate me with the idiots who put the dictator in office, I actually have a brain and saw through the lies from the beginning)

So, change of plans. I will be posting daily so that you all know I am okay. If there is a day where I don't post without explanation, assume something bad happened. Right now horrible shit is happening here in America, ICE is going around towns and cities (some are getting really close to where I live), not just taking immigrants who are here legally or illegally, but also ACTUAL AMERICAN-BORN CITIZENS who don't look white (look up "ICE raids taking citizens"). If you aren't caught up with what's happening in America, watch "MeidasTouch". It has been one of the few things keeping me sane. Link to the channel is down below, I also suggest watching "Brian Tyler Cohen" and "Luke Beasley"

[dustedmagazine]

Jennifer Kelly’s 2023 in Review: Still Human FWIW

I finally saw Sun Ra Arkestra

I first heard about Chat GPT in January this year, and it sounded bad from the start. I make most of my living writing things for big faceless corporations who view me as a cost. Cut that cost to zero and I’m out of a job. But for the first five months of 2024, I continued to be busy and I thought, well maybe it’s nothing. Then in May, like a light switch, everything stopped. I had one regular client who continued to pay a monthly retainer. Nothing else. And the usual mailings, pleadings with old clients, etc. had no effect. I’m close to retirement age. This summer, I thought I had arrived early.

Things have picked up since then, and right now, I’m in a good place. People are starting to notice Chat GPT’s ignorance of anything post 2021, its refusal to factcheck or footnote and its relentless blandness. Clients are coming back, but the floor doesn’t feel very solid under my feet. It could all go away at any time. (This is the lesson we all learned from COVID-19…that you could fall into the pit any time.)

The one thing that didn’t stop was Dusted, and for that I am very grateful. As I’ll explain to anyone who asks, there’s never been any money in Dusted, so there can’t be any less. We are more or less immune to economic pressures. And as long as we’re here, there is lots and lots of good music to write about.

My year started with two records that blew me away in January (and maybe December 2022) and held #1 and #2 slots all year. They were Meg Baird’s Furling and Robert Forster’s the Candle and the Flame. Next, came an email from Rob from Sunburned with a link to Stella Kola’s extraordinary debut, and then gosh, Sub Pop still sends me promos and here’s one from Mudhoney! Every time 2024 succeeded in getting me down, I’d get music from someone.

Live music was another solace. Shows that made me happy this year included Warp Trio, Sunburned Hand of the Man, Dear Nora, Vieux Farka Toure, Bridget St. John with Stella Kola, Sun Ra Arkestra, Kid Millions with Sarah Bernstein, Faun Fables, Sweeping Promises, Daniel Higgs, Constant Smiles, Baba Commandant (RIP), Xylouris White, Joseph Allred with Ruth Garbus and Ryan Davis with his Roadhouse band. Special mention goes to the always astonishing Thing in the Spring with Editrix, Rough Francis, Thus Love, Gorilla Toss, Equipment Pointed Ankh. Susan Alcorn, Marisa Anderson and Jim White and Bill Callahan.

The best show of the year, however, came late in the summer with William Tyler and the Impossible Truth band, an unbelievably talented, seasoned crew with Luke Schneider on pedal steel, Third Man mainstay Jack Lawrence on bass and Brian Kotzgur on drums. The way they opened up and fired up Tyler’s songs was a revelation, even to someone, like me, who’s been a fan since Behold the Spirit. Garcia Peoples opened, and they were great, too.

I should mention that we have recently been blessed with a bunch of excellent music venues nearby—Nova Arts in Keene and Epsilon Spires and the Stone Church in Brattleboro. Going to music used to always mean driving back from at least Northampton, sometimes further, late at night, and, as I get older and my night vision fades, it has been really nice not to have to do that. (Also, to all my Dusted-reader-musician-friends, if you play one of these venues, thank you, and let me know when you’re coming.)

With that, it’s time to talk about 2023 favorites. I’ll write about the first ten and then just list the rest.

Meg Baird — Furling (Drag City)

Meg Baird’s gorgeous solo album alternates between ghostly, inward-looking piano songs and bright swirls of 1960s psychedelia. Her extraordinary voice, high, pure, and unearthly, joins lush, burnished guitar grooves. Sometimes I think I like the swaggering bounce of “Will You Follow Me Home,” the best, but other times, the disembodied otherness of “Ashes, Ashes” is the prettiest thing I know.

Robert Forster — The Candle and the Flame (Tapete) 

Forster’s solo records are always good, wry and funny and stuttering with strummy punk energy, but this one, recorded with family while his wife battled cancer, is his best yet. “She’s a Fighter,” a group sing-along is prickly and defiant, the only song specifically written about Karin’s illness, but threads of enduring, life-long love run all through this album. “Tender Years” is especially moving, as Forster sings, “I’m in a story with her, I know I can’t live without her, I can’t imagine why,” in a voice cracked with sincerity and feeling. Very few albums make me cry, but this one does.

Anohni and the Johnsons—My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross (Secretly Canadian)

The sound on Anohni’s fifth album with the Johnsons smolders in the pocket, its textures a nod to Marvin Gaye’s classic What’s Going On? It’s velvety smooth but taut with urgency, as the artist contemplates climate disaster and personal struggles. “It Must Change,” trills with the coolest falsetto, while “Sliver of Ice” reverberates with a low, hushed passion. Every song lands a punch, soft when it happens but ringing for days in your ears.

The Drin — Today My Friend You Drunk the Venom (Feel It)

“Venom” lurches and blurts, bass thumping, drums clashing, monotone vocals drenched in menace. It’s a punk song distilled to essence, a world in itself, a short, brutal blast that is also somehow psychedelically expansive. The Fall, the Swell Maps and Adrian Sherwood haunt this disc in various places, but the Drin is its own mysterious thing.

Wreckless Eric — Leisureland (Tapete)

“Get yourself a one-way ticket for the merry-go-round,” sings the Bard of Hull on the last and most exhilarating song from his ninth full-length. That’s “Drag Time,” with its indelible hook, its enveloping harmonies, its hint of Amy Rigby in the chorus. Let’s just go way out on a limb here and say it’s as good, maybe better, than “Whole Wide World.”  

En Attendant Ana — Principia (Trouble in Mind)

Good lord, was Trouble in Mind on a roll this year or what? I could put Melanas or Tubs here, with FACS not far behind, but instead, let us contemplate the light-and-dark wonder of “Black Morning,” with its giddy counterpoints, its bright, sustaining trumpet, its boppy beat and its underpinning, somehow, of shadowy melancholy. Or the skanky bass that kicks off “Same Old Story,” in a prickly way, the lone element of dissonance that gives a daydream teeth.

Stella Kola—S-T (Self-Release)

Everybody who’s anybody in W. Mass alt.folk does a turn on this magical LP—centered around Beverly Ketch and Rob Thomas but including PG Six, Wednesday Knudson, Jeremy Pisani, Willy Lane and Jen Gelineau. Despite the expansiveness of the ensemble, these songs are feather light and lucid, like Pentangle sprinkled with magic dust.

Mudhoney — Plastic Eternity (Sub Pop)

Psychedelic overload meets raw punk and potty humor in this 12th album from the grunge godfathers. I like the sheer rush and swirl of cuts like “Almost Everything” and “Souvenir of my Trip” best, but bare, belligerent “Flush the Fascists” is grade-A too, and how can anyone resist Mark Arm paying tribute to his best bud on “Little Dogs.”

Beirut — Hadsel (Pompeii)

Hadsel is surprisingly cheery for an album recorded on a remote Norwegian island in the dead of winter, with swoony harmonies and counterpoints, intricate synthesized beats and blares of an antique pipe organ. “We had so many plans,” Zach Condon sings, both mourning and subtly sending up his cohort’s response to the COVID pandemic, but this remarkably pretty album seems more like a happy accident.

The Feelies—Some Kinda Love (Bar None)

What a total pleasure it is when one jangly, drone-y, indie rock phenomenon pays tribute to the wellspring. In this case, it’s the Feelies covering many of the Velvet Underground’s best known songs at a live show in 2018 where everyone had a blast. Now you can, too.

More albums that I loved in the order that I thought of them.

Iron & Wine—Who Can See Forever Soundtrack (Sub Pop)

Melanas—Ahora (Trouble in Mind)

Sleaford Mods — UK Grim (Domino)

The Tubs — Dead Meat (Trouble in Mind)

Sky Furrows—Reflect and Oppose (Feeding Tube/Cardinal Fuzz)

Lonnie Holley — Oh Me Oh My (Jagjaguwar)

Yo La Tengo—This Stupid World (Matador)

The Toads—In the Wilderness (Upset the Rhythm)

Dan Melchior—Welcome to Redacted City (Midnight Cruiser)

James and the Giants—S-T (Kill Rock Stars)

Ben Chasny and Rick Tomlinson—Waves (VOIX)

Bonnie Prince Billy—Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You (Drag City)

CLASS—If You’ve Got Nothing (Feel It)

The Clientele—I’m Not There Anymore (Merge)

Devendra Banhart—Flying Wig (Mexican Summer)

Kristin Hersh—Clear Pond Road (FIRE)

Sally Anne Morgan—Carrying (Thrill Jockey)

FACS—Still Life in Decay (Trouble in Mind)

Setting—Shone a Rainbow Light On (Paradise of Bachelors)

Airto Moreira & Flora Purim—A Celebration (BBE)

Sweeping Promises—Good Living Is Coming For You (Feel It)

James Waudby—On the Ballast Miles (East Riding Acoustic)

Emergency Group—Venal Twin (Centripetal Force)

Ryan Davis and the Roadhouse Band—Sing Dancing on the Edge (Sophomore Lounge)

Tyvek—Overground (Gingko)

Wurld Series—The Giant’s Lawn (Melted Ice Cream)

Various Artists—STOP MVP (War Hen)

[storiesofsvu]

Alright, it’s finale time. Is anyone else nervous?

I think I’d likely be more nervous is paramount hadn’t released SO many fucking teaser stills from the episode. And I’m not even talking about ones from this week, the one of em all covered in soot and dried blood was released WEEKS ago. And most of the main team has the “Meredith grey/olivia benson effect” where we know that nothing serious is going to happen to them so there’s no stakes when they are about to get shot/blown up/etc.

But then they go and release even more promo pics that are practically spoilers.. like.. what are y’all even doing? At least the tik tok person knows how to run shit LOL.

Anyways, here we go!

Oh GOOD! He’s hallucinating again… wonderful

Okay… what fucking kind of game is going on here? Is frank bullshitting? Are him and jade working together? Who’s actually playing hardball rn??

Okay at least this answers the question of what happened to her vest lol.

“shes injured” I think she’s relatively okay girl, she’s just knocked the fuck out, she’s been through worse..

Ngl it would be a helluva good plot twist if peter b WAS just doug bailey under a different name and he was still alive. I need a fucking INSANE plot twist like that in one of my shows

Im also ngl, I’m hella here for unsub jade. I wish she would have been the primary unsub for the season, a female is bad ass enough but someone as young as her is awesome.

UGH YES BADASS PRENTISS, THANK YOU. Uuugggh yessss using that fucking big brain. I love her so much. I’m so glad we got to see all sides/layers of Emily this season and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the episode holds!

I feel like 55 minutes is NOT enough to fully resolve everything that has happened this season. Like, yeah I know that there’s likely gonna be a cliffhanger but come ON.

How TF is voit in THAT low security of a prison??? That looks like a cheap motel!??

Also.. im not mad about him being a regular (as long as he’s not imaginary) cause Zach is SO good and he’s charismatic and this season he really brought some comedy and major likeability to the character we hated last season

It doesn’t matter what I see doug bailey in he will FOREVER be the guy from Fired Up. Lol.

“the first time I was in the field I threw up…” “really?” “no. I was just trying to make you feel better.” LOOOL.

Jfc there are SO many times paget does her little tongue/lip tick thing

Man I was JUST wondering if we were gonna get more Phil Coulson this season or not

“can we turn down the testosterone for one second?” loooll Rebecca. I love you SO much. She just hates men.

So this ENNNTTIIIRRREEE thing could have been avoided if the director had just put his foot down and told doug no??!!! put the foot down for Emily and threaten her entire career she’s built but let little doug do whatever he wants to try and save  his family’s ass. Uugggh I hate it here

YEEESSS REBECCA WITH THE FUCK. She’s like, 5 foot 2 at the most and her dick is so big, I just know it

AHAHAHAHAHA again voit with the comedy, fucking clown, I love it.

OH MY GOD! The still of Emily walking away from brian she IS SO DONE WITH HIS FUCKING SHIT. She looks SO pissed

God bless everyone who gifs this episode cause I swear its darker than normal. You are all angels.

Emily being tortured like this should not be this hot. LOL

Also like.. a taser’s gotta be tame compared to a branding. Our girl will be fine.

“our special time in the cell”  *gags*

Oooohhhhhkay. THIS is why tyler’s in the field and in an fbi vest. Okay. I take back what I said to the besties earlier

How and WHY is voit not HANDCUFFED.

PENELOPE BEING THE ONE STARING VOIT DOWN OMG YESSSS (and even jj stepping up incase she needs to get inbetween them. LOVE that.)

Not her password (presumably) being a derek call back. This seasons REALLY did a good job calling back to previous cast! (now bring blake back you cowards)

Oh fuck you voit

At least we’re getting some kind of closure on this baugate shit. “neither does your wife” WHAT. Damn jj. YEEESSS DOM! FUCKING JJ COMING OUT TO PLAY. UUGGGHH everyone so fucking hot this episode

PAGET IS SUCH A GOOD FUCKING ACTRESS JFC

The tiniest hint of realization and fear flashing across her face?! Give her all the awards pls.

Okay that was some HORRIBLE continuity. Emily’s hair all mussed up, her bangs falling out of her ponytail all episode and suddenly one of them is curled PERFECTLY.

Holy FUCK luke thank fucking god

Tara and Emily in matching shirts.. girlfriiieeeends (they might not be the same but whatever lol)

“tell me if its real” this is legit our future on all sides of the law now, AI has come WAY too fucking far and it freaks me out.

Uuggghh jaaaadddeeeeee she’s literally been through so much hell and her breaking down to prentiss and Emily saying she knows exactly what she’s talking about and filling in the blanks?!!? UUGGH MY HEART

…where’s tyler… (like jj even said he would get to find out if Emily was alive and ….where tf is he??)

“I am a dad so I know a passive aggressive action report when I see it” HAHAHAH

EXCUSE ME? EMILY IS THE *SECTION* CHIEF!! WOW that mis writing

So…do they only have the budget for garcia’s apartment now?

Ohh.. okay and now tyler’s gonna be a series regular?? God they’re still fucking flirting and there are still vibes there and I do not hate it. Im so sorry.

“Hooray you’re alive” LOOOOLLL Emily deserves that cake like 4 times over

Okay im glad Rebecca and tara are back together and happy but I do really wish we’d gotten a little bit of the “offscreen” development on that.

Jfc the hallucination of voit JUMP SCARE

Okay so most of it got wrapped up pretty well. It looks like jade is getting some help, voit is likely murdered in prison (shade to the cm team who said “someone’s gonna DIE” and all of us were barely concerned and they just made it him.. like.. you guys suck at promo)

I’ll rewatch Sunday or later, but overall, I liked this season. There were moments I was not into it and episodes that I loved. Sometimes that was just the jumping around and sometimes that was likely me being too tired to be able to connect the dots. I wish we’d jumped into things a little quicker and had jade around for more of the season, but I’ll take what we can get!!

Now imma either gonna go start from s3 again OR I’m gonna start with blake’s seasons cause I desperately miss her and I do need to watch the later seasons again….

[mashitandsmashit]

AGT Season 17: Auditions 6

10: Travis Japan. Are all Asian boybands trying to look like BTS!? Well, these guys still stood out with their Michael Jackson shirts and Beetlejuice pants...Otherwise, the song itself was mostly just cute...Decent singing, decent choreography, but they have a way to go for me...

Progress Prediction: I WOULD predict that their Asian boyband charm will get them far in this game, but that's what I said about Korean Soul last year, and they were much better singers...In the end, it all comes down to their choices, and how well they gel with their talents...

9: Duo Rings. There were a few slightly new tricks by the end, but otherwise I think I'm sticking with my guns that SOLO aerialists are more interesting to watch...

Progress Prediction: Another one that depends on future choices and competition...

8: Henry and Klauss. Well, it's not much of an escape act if they weren't really in the crates (at least by the end), but it WAS a nice magic trick!

Progress Prediction: Probably not very far...

7: Adam Winrich. I guess ALL tricks are better with Sophia freaking out on stage...While I agree with Simon that it started off slow, he did get into some pretty neat tricks as it went on...

Progress Prediction: I don't see America casting their votes to send him past the Quarters (if he even makes it THAT far...)

6: Ben Waites. Well, it looks like we have a triple threat on our hands! (I'd say CRIPPLE threat, but Ryan Niemiller still holds that title.) A handicapped man who sings Christian music...and admittedly quite well!? I'd say everyone else in the competition should be shakin' in their boots right now!

Progress Prediction: Another potential Top 5 act (probably even moreso than that country band a few weeks ago)! Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if he's in the Top 2 at the end! (Whether he wins it or not depends on whether or not a star player can rise by the end...)

5: Wyn Starks. Another very nice vocalist with a solid original song (at least as far as pop songs on this show go).

Progress Prediction: While surely not nearly as big a threat as my previous entry on this list, I can still see him making some decent progress (assuming he isn't one of those shock eliminations leading up to the live shows).

4: Acapop! It's “High School Musical” meets “Dear Evan Hansen”! Pretty somber, but the song was nice, as well as the vocals and choreography...

Progress Prediction: I can definitely see them being a heavy contender in this game, and if they play their cards right, we'll likely see them in the Finals...

3: Stefanny and Yeeremy. This takes salsa to a new level...Like, if you threw a ghost pepper into that salsa! Then again, BAD Salsa set the bar pretty damn high a few years back, so we'll see if these two can rise to that bar!

Progress Prediction: How well they rise to that bar (as well as who they have to compete with) will decide their progress!

2: Alex Rivers. While I was confused at first by his “I'm back, b***hes!” speech at the beginning, wondering “Have I seen this guy before...?”, in the end I'm grateful that we were spared all that padding from Simon making him find another song and went straight to the (presumably much improved) final results! I grow a LITTLE weary of these dancing violinists, but this guy definitely had a personality that we haven't seen before from Lindsey, Brian, and ESPECIALLY Tyler! I guess I'm on board for another of these, if he can stand out enough...

Progress Prediction: I will admit, I have been saying “It depends.” more than I ought to in these predictions, but some acts are just too hard to call early on...I just hope that if he makes the Finals, he'll do an electric string quartet with the pre-mentioned predecessors!

1: Balla Brothers. This certainly took the Rolla-Bolla to a new level, and I can see them stepping it up again!

Progress Prediction: If they CAN step it up, they could make the Semi-Finals...That said, the Finals sounds like a stretch for them, regardless of how they do...

Not the best show, but far from the worst either...

[marjaystuff]

Interview with Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson

Four Minutes by Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson is a new techno-thriller series.  It is different than most futuristic novels in that it does not alter the timeline completely as in the first Superman movie when Lois Lane lived instead of died.

The premise allows for intelligence gathering in the future to be used in the present to prevent an event from happening. Pat Moody leads a new elite squad, Task Force Omega to jump into the future for a short period of time, four minutes.

Another of their books is a Tom Clancy novel, Act of Defiance, to be published in May. It is a sequel of sorts to The Hunt for Red October. Instead of Jack Ryan trying to stop a Russian rogue submarine, it is daughter Katie who must put the pieces together.  

As with all their series, Andrews and Wilson never seem to disappoint their readers.  The plots are riveting and action-packed with premises that are mind boggling. Suspense is ratcheted up and the characters are compelling. 

Elise Cooper: How did you get the idea for Four Minutes?

Brian Andrews/Jeffrey Wilson: It will probably be a limited series but is open ended right now. We like our stories to start with these ‘what if’ questions. Both of us have backgrounds with the military and other government services. What if someone had a crystal ball to look into the future that can say what can happen?  For example, what if days beforehand people knew about 9/11?  Then we tied it to the cover Special Forces grounded in real math and physics. We did not want it to be a sci-fi book but rather a techno-thriller.

EC:  What about the premise?

BA/JW: If someone could look forward and anticipate consequences then in the present it is possible to act. It is about gaining intelligence and coming back to the present to stop the event. They do not get a do over and do not know if the mission will really work. This technology could be invented soon. The questions we want to ask: can there be technology that goes into the near future; if so, how could someone manipulate it; what would the limits be?  We put these limits where the team could go into the future 28 days and only stay for four minutes. They must use that information in the present to solve the problem.

EC:  What did you mean by the book quote, “everyone wants to see us fail?”

BA/JW: It was not meant to target a real-world administration or political organization. Yet, the powers external to the US: China, Russia, and Iran, want to see us fail.  They want to tear us down piece by piece, trying to destroy us from within, and trying to destroy us from outside. America needs to be united because when we are divided, we are weak, and our enemies realize it. They cannot beat us in the Cold War, economically, and militarily so they are trying philosophically and politically.

EC:  How would you describe Moody?

BA/JW:  Confident, charming, smooth, secretive, and the rest of the team do not trust him. When we first started writing him, we were not sure if he was a bad guy or good guy. He is apologetic for lying to his team, but not when it will help them complete the mission, safeguarding the country. He sees the need to make compromises and hard choices. 

EC:  Is this where your personal experiences come in?

BA/JW:  Yes.  This is what it is like when in command.  Some people must put themselves in danger. Brian says, for instance, as a submarine officer, I had to wear a radiation monitor. This team is making a big physical sacrifice. Our combined military service is what drives the engine of a lot of our work including the missions. 

EC: Can you describe each member of the team starting with Tyler?

BA/JW: Man of action, direct, and intuitive. He embodies the Special Operations officer being dedicated and committed. He is a natural leader and motivator. He is like Dempsey in our “Tier One series.”  He has courage, honor, and integrity.

EC:  Zee?

BA/JW: She is a perfectionist and takes her intelligence analyst role very seriously. She feels as an outsider.  Moody wants her to be a “spy.”  She immediately tells Tyler because she wants to be a part of the team, not considered an outsider.  Zee is the moral compass, the emotional glue, to keep the team grounded and not dysfunctional. 

EC:  Ben, Martin, Stan, and Adela?

BA/JW:  We wanted to create a colorful cast. They are all dynamic.  Stan is the fact checker and the researcher. Ben is the optimist.  Adela is the Devil’s Advocate.

EC:  Not harping on the math and physics but what is Spooky Time?

BA/JW:  Conservation of time. When the team jumps the present is still moving by four minutes.  When they return from their jump, they will always return to the present four minutes after they left. But what if they jumped two minutes into the future?  The present would have moved by four minutes. We put in the Einstein quote, “The past, present, and future is an illusion.”  There is a diagram in the book that explains it.    

EC:  You are now writing Tom Clancy novels so can you talk a little about your premise in Act of Defiance? This book was “Clancyesque.”

BA/JW: This, our first installment in the Clancy Universe come on the 40th Anniversary of The Hunt for Red October. We feel Tom Clancy invented the techno-thriller genre with that book. We are updating this story with the new technology and the new warriors. 

EC: Were you able to use “real life” military technology?

BA/JW: The navy gave us unprecedented access to the modern submarine force. We were able to go on the USS Indiana, a Virginia class submarine, and toured the Black Fish. We were able to see what a day is like for this current submarine officer. We are indebted to the navy and the admiral in charge of the submarine force. The US Navy should have been listed as a co-author since they supported this project.

EC: Do you agree that the Russian submarine captain, Ramius, would not have been able to disappear today considering social media and drones?

BA/JW: We agree completely.  This is why we went in another direction.  Konstantin, the new Russian submarine captain, has motivations completely different and far more dangerous.

EC:  You included that very famous scene, getting Jack Ryan on the submarine, only this time it was his daughter Katie. Please explain.

BA/JW: This scene was not in the book but was in the movie. We wanted to play homage to the book and the movie by picking out some key, super cool incidents that we wanted to replicate in this story. This was an iconic scene in the film. We used a tightrope to put just enough of the nostalgia without alienating people who never read the book or saw the movie. 

EC:  How would you describe Katie, the female Jack Ryan?

BA/JW: This series has two dozen books.  She is an original character, but readers do not know much about her.  We can build up her character. Katie is sensitive, confident, thoughtful, analytical, and she has studied Konstantin just as her father studied Ramius in the first book.  She is literally Jack Ryan’s DNA because she is his daughter, very similar to her dad.  Yet, she does not see it. Just like the hilarious commercial that says, ‘you turned into your parents.’

EC:  How would you describe Konstantin?

BA/JW: A warrior, stoic, unyielding, motivated, tenacious, and is a Russian patriot who hates America. He is also an angry guy and bitter about his father’s past, his wife’s illness, and his own disease. He is seeking vengeance and is self-destructive.

EC:  Next book?

BA/JW:  The next Four Minutes Book is dependent on the screenplay because it is optioned for television or the movies. Since the first book is left with a cliffhanger our intention is to figure out what happens to Moody and some of the other characters.     

The next Clancy book is titled, Defense Protocol, coming out in November/December of this year. The plot has a what if with China making moves on Taiwan.  Katie is trying to prevent having American and China in a shooting war. 

The next “Tier One” book is titled Ember, coming out in July of next year.  John Dempsey is back with his team. But the team must handle another new threat.  There will be more of the team dynamics.

Sons Of Valor IV will come out in summer of 2025.  It has not been written yet.

THANK YOU!!

[anthonybialy]

Buffalo Bills Won’t Win Like That Again

The Bills lost.  Sure, the league counts a victory.  But a team in the habit of not putting it together fell short just as surely as Harvard beat Yale 29-29. The complete lack of style exposed latent deficiencies.  Their choice now is to either pretend they can keep winning like that or realize the hangover has merely been postponed.

Tyrod Taylor started in Buffalo.  Jerry Seinfeld wonders what year it is. A sputtering offense should but doesn’t feel as confusing.  Looking like the Sabres of football reflects the Pegula empire’s consistency.  Don Granato thanks Ken Dorsey for making him appear to waste less talent.

It was considerate of them to let the first scoring drive continue until the fourth to really sum up the tone.  Being down after one quarter was almost as bad as losing at halftime, which was almost as bad as losing after three quarters.  The final result was barely less harrowing.  Going scoreless until the final stanza sums up the team’s state.

Observers understandably sensed the vibe that this game would be easy.  Players apparently agreed to the point that they didn’t feel like they needed to put it all together.  Relying upon the Giants not knowing how time works is an insufficient strategy.

This looks like a pompous team that thinks force of will is all it takes to coast to the playoffs.  Buffalo played like a C student who claims he doesn’t work hard unless he’s challenged.  Did they look that clever?

Ken Dorsey has passed The Rock as the Miami player I loathe the most.  The one thing worse than overthinking is when ideas aren’t swell.  The prevailing narrative is that he didn’t make it in the NFL because of a weak arm.  It turns out to not be the only reason.  

Dorsey’s fascination with the shotgun is as baffling as his Madden-style bomb reliance.  Wasting potential like Walter White is the natural consequence of being told the wrong things to do.

Not doing as told began a punk rebellion that saved the Bills from a fate worse than a Starland Vocal Band concert.  It took Allen making up a play while it happened to overcome the unimpressive call.  DIY projects that improvised away from the woeful design gave underused targets like Quintin Morris and Deonte Harty a chance to help.

Stefon Diggs needs help from anywhere he can.  This offense is struggling to the point where his outbursts are justified.  That’s especially so when the anger is at himself.  His high standard means he gets upset when his own outcomes are unsatisfactory.

The talented have trouble accepting the underwhelming.  Diggs is an opera singer who won’t tolerate his own scooping.  Pair that with passion on par with Charlie Kelly’s friend Ernesto to find someone who won’t settle.

His ostensible lashing out is actually cathartic.  Buffalo’s top option has a personality like the coach of fellow New York State team the Knicks.  Tom Thibodeau is renowned for haranguing officials for perceived blown calls before settling right down.  Having one’s say is sometimes all frustrated people need.

Everyone’s exasperated at Kaiir Elam for playing like a saboteur.  Like Dorsey, he’s in his second year on the job and regressing instead of adjusting.  The Bills pulled off victory that never should’ve been improbable despite endemic choking.  Tyler Bass is the Dawson Knox of Kaiir Elams.

Buffalo is not exactly the only team coping with injuries.  The stressful affair felt particularly mortifying noting New Jersey’s depleted line.  Brian Daboll was a turned ankle away from playing guard.

The toughest test was that it wasn’t much of one.  There’s a reason they play the games even if matchups seem uneven, and the Bills could’ve kept that truism hypothetical instead of creating an example.  This club should have learned nothing about themselves from what looked like an FBS team playing an FCS one.  A game that revealed that many flaws can’t be excused away by noting wins count no matter what.  Pretend they overcame challenges to reach delusional levels of optimism.

Dorsey’s infuriating ineptitude has become as unsurprising as NBC coming back from a commercial with a tour featuring the worst of tailgaters.  It’s well past time to stop defining a fanbase by a handful of dolts smashing tables.  Everyone sane was sick of the clown act years ago.  Bills fans are as tired of Pinto Ron as we are of Dorsey.

The music was better.  Playing Rick James before a commercial let everyone know this game was somewhat near Buffalo. Putting on Once in a Lifetime going into break was even more fitting.  The Bills never pondered how they got there.

Enjoy the technical win.  Playing that poorly for that long is a defeat.  A sense of nonchalance follows from misguided preparation.  Coaches must determine whether this roster is either not as awesome as they think or thinking they can be awesome when it’s needed.

That wasn’t merely a struggling outlier.  Feared flaws have become reality in a true horror show.  The Bills should be sorting their lives out like Shaun after playing like zombies.   The notion they can win despite staggering would be the worst downside of not caring about how it happened.

[the-silver-chronicles]

FC5(?) OC: Paul Yellowjack song list

Since I did one for the main protagonist of Far Cry The Silver Chronicles, Silva Omar (Deputy version), I decided to do one for who is undoubtedly the main antagonist, Paul Yellowjack.

Note: Reason for question mark is because Paul briefly appears in other works as well. Anyway!

Songs:

Amen - CG5

Quake in fear for he is near Waiting for you to take a step in here If you run you cannot hide You're in danger the moment you arrive

Why not relax? Come on, have some soup It's probably gonna be the last thing you do If you really don't wanna die Keep on running for your life

I am your disciple, don't you know that's true? Look at everything I've done for you You're here and there and everywhere My love is all I've shared

Can I get an amen?

Evil Like Me - Kristin Chenoweth & Dove Cameron

I have tried my whole life long To do the worst I can Clawed my way to victory Built my master plan Now the time has come, my dear For you to take your place Promise me you'll try to be An absolute disgrace

Don't you wanna be evil like me? Don't you wanna be cruel? Don't you wanna be nasty and brutal and cool? And when you grab that wand that's when your reign begins Who wants an evil queen without a sack of sins? Don't you wanna be heartless and hardened as stone? Don't you wanna be finger licking evil to the bone?

...

If you wanna be evil and awful and free Then you should thank your lucky star That you were born the way you are!

A Man Without Love - Engelbert Humperdinck

I cannot face this world that's fallen down on me So if you see my girl, please send her home to me Tell her about my heart that's slowly dying Say I can't stop myself from crying

Every day I wake up, then I start to break up Lonely is a man without love Every day I start out, then I cry my heart out Lonely is a man without love

Shadow of Myself - JT Music

I can sense the presence of evil Settled deep in this residence I've already been through shit And still haven't seen how bad it gets Crashin' their party, bash in their heads Pick up a weapon and splatter the rest This violence has me laughin' After making a massive mess I guess, I'm past the point of saving I'd rather end up dead! Give in to your temptation Transcend mortality Why let yourself be bound by mortal morality?!

Way past saving, can't be helped Just a shadow of myself Feel your darkness cascade over me (Cast it over me) Make me evil, feed me hell I'm a shadow of myself! Swallow my soul, take control of me (Takin' over me)

Instrumental Music:

Further - Brian Tyler (feat. Serena McKinney)

Might update later. Anyway, hope you enjoy.

[halucynator]

Save me.

Pairing: Gabe X fem!reader

Summary: You try to send Gabe back to the well house but it goes wrong.

A/n: so for this story I replaced edens role with Gabe's because it helps the story progress better. If you don't understand what I mean, I mean that I made Gabe have parents and Gabe not be a shapeshifted version of Dodge. Instead Gabe always looked like Gabe and did actually fall in love with reader until later. Sorry for this extended thing! Enjoy! Also if I make a second part, their may be an imaginary key (one I made up to help the story progress). I almost forgot to mention, reader is related to Kinsey. Adopted child of Brian and Duncan because why not.

Gabe looked at your chained body on the floor like a predator. His sight made you sick. He was the reason your uncle died. He persuaded Sam. You wanted to scream.

"You know, I don't want to do this. And I don't have to. IF you tell me where the keys are kept."

Keys, keys, keys. It's all about keys. Gabe probably never even loved you. He only used you, a blood Locke, to get to the keys. This was the only time you hated being a Locke.

"If's? You know, this is kidnapping. What you're doing is illegal."

"Oh yeah? Well, right now you are the one threatened so I'd better watch what you say. Now, where are the keys? Do you have any on you? Apart from this chain one obviously. You know, I'm shocked you thought you'd be able to capture me with this." Gabe smirked.

"You certainly talk a lot for a demon. Well, now that I think about it, I don't know how much demons talk. If they talk as much as you then I feel bad for every person kidnapped by a demon. And everyone in Hell. Are you from Hell? You probably are. Are you Satan? Oh my god, do you have any air conditioning? It's really hot in this room. Anyways, is being a demon fun? How does it feel? Do you li-" you went on and on about random things to annoy Gabe until you were interrupted.

"ENOUGH." Gabe shouted.

"Excuse me, if you want to talk, wait for me to finish. Now, where were we. Ah yes, so d-" you continued like you didn't just get threatened by a demon.

"SHUT UP Y/N. JUST SO YOU KNOW, IM THE ONE ASKING QUESTIONS HERE. YOU'RE HELD HOSTAGE." Gabe said angrily and loudly.

"Alright calm down." You were dying of laughter inside but managed to say it with a straight face.

"So do you have any keys on you?"

The correct answer was yes but ain't no way you were going to tell him that. You were in Gabe's basement and his parents were home.

"Gabe sweetie! Come for dinner!" His mum shouted for him. You started snickering like crazy.

Gabe was mad.

"I'M COMING MUM!" He said frustrated.

He walked towards you and leaned in. He then whispered in your ears.

"Don't go anywhere. Not that you can."

"I hope you trip and fall while walking up the stairs and die" you retorted.

He scoffed and then left the room and locked the door.

First things first, you took the keys you had out of your pocket and in your hand. Your movement was limited by the chains but not enough to restrict any movement at all.

You took the head key, the music box key and the prison of the self key out of your pocket and placed them in your hands. Then, you took your phone out and texted Tyler, Bode and Kinsey your location simply with the words "HELP IN GABE'S BASEMENT. STAIRCASE IN HIS ROOM."

After a few minutes you got a message back from Kinsey.

"omw" the message read.

Gabe came into the basement after a few minutes.

"oh! Good to see you haven't moved." He said with a smirk on his face.

"very funny." You rolled your eyes.

"I see you have some keys in your hand. Going to give them to me?"

"NEVER." You replied.

He took the chain and tightened them around you. Then he made them release and wrap around your hand with the keys. He made it really tight. So tight that you were forced to let go of the keys.

"NO" You screamed.

"Any more?" Gabe smirked. His smirk was unbearable.

You had one more key on you. The anywhere key. But you couldn't let him take it from you.

"no." You lied.

"Well, you see, I'm good at reading body language. You looked away from me when you said it. You always look away when you lie. So where is it."

Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. Oh. No.

You weren't going to tell him. He couldn't know. It was a hard to reach place.

"I'm not lying!" You lied. Again.

"oh really?" Gabe walked towards you and then knelt directly in front of you. He leaned close. So close your lips were almost touching. Any movement could result in you kissing and you for sure did not want that.

"look at me and say it. Prove that you're not lying." He whispered.

"I- I uh... I don't-" Him being so close to you made it hard for you to speak.

"I don't have it!" You finally managed to say it.

"look, I know you have it. You tell me where it is, you won't lose anything." He threatened.

"threatening does not become you Gabe." You said to him disgusted.

He gently placed a hand on your cheek. You couldn't believe this touch once used to make you feel comfortable. Now any touch from him made you feel less safe than ever.

He slowly leaned in.

"Where. Is. It?" He asked "this is the last time y/n. No more chances after this."

You resisted. You didn't give in.

He slowly leaned in and placed a kiss on your lips. You squirmed. He continued to kiss you making you feel more sick every second. He stopped after a good 15 seconds.

"why are you doing this to me?!" You asked, disgusted.

"you're doing this to yourself." He replied.

He looked down at you in a way which made you uneasy. He smirked.

"I promise you this won't hurt a bit."

He pulled out a knife from his back pocket.

____________________________________________

a/n (again lol) : tell me in the comments if I should make a part 2! Thanks for reading!!! Also sorry if there's any spelling and or grammar mistakes!

[ginnyweaslays]

80 Young Adult Books by Black Authors

Supporting Black authors is something that I definitely need to start doing more, so I’ve compiled a list of 80 YA books by Black authors. I’m putting the ones that I’ve read at the top in bold, and the rest will be books that I have looked up and have put on my list to read. I can’t do much to change what’s going on in our world right now, but I can do my part to support the Black community in any way that I can. These are in no particular order and please feel free to add more!

On The Come Up by Angie Thomas

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Calling My Name by Liara Tamani

Dear Martin by Nic Stone

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann

Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson

Odd One Out by Nic Stone

Jackpot by Nic Stone

Dear Justyce by Nic Stone - coming out 9/29/20

Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi

Oh My Gods by Alexandra Sheppard

Black Enough: Stories of Being Young and Black in America edited by Ibi Zoboi

Love Me or Miss Me: Hot Girl, Bad Boy by Dream Jordan

Spin by Lamar Giles

Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James

Watch Us Rise by Renee Watson and Ellen Hagan

Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds

The Belles Series by Dhonielle Clayton

The Weight of the Stars by K. Ancrum

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

Let Me Hear a Rhyme by Tiffany D. Jackson

The Voice in My Head by Dana L. Davis

I Wanna Be Where You Are by Kristina Forest

The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta

The Evolution of Birdie Randolph by Brandy Colbert

Dear Haiti, Love Alaine by Maika and Maritza Moulite

Kingdom of Souls by Rena Barron

A Blade So Black by L.L. McKinney

A Dream So Dark by L.L. McKinney

Full Disclosure by Camryn Garrett

The Forgotten Girl by India Hill Brown

Tyler Johnson Was Here by Jay Coles

Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson

Solo by Kwame Alexander

A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow

By Any Means Necessary by Candid Montgomery

War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi

Light It Up by Kekla Magoon

Who Put This Song On? by Morgan Parker

Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson

Finding Yvonne by Brandy Colbert

Learning to Breathe by Janice Lynn Mather

I am Alfonso Jones by Tony Medina

The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore

Ghost by Jason Reynolds

X: A Novel by Ilyasah Shabazz

The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds

How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland

Not So Pure and Simple by Lamar Giles

The Field Guide to the North American Teenager by Ben Philippe

Monster by Walter Dean Myers

Pride by Ibi Zoboi

Opposite Of Always by Justin A. Reynolds

Buried Beneath The Baobab Tree by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani

The Effigies Series by Sarah Raughley

Well-Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves by Glory Edim

Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid

I Almost Forgot About You by Terry McMillan

Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours by Helen Oyeyemi

A Phoenix First Must Burn: Sixteen Stories of Black Girl Magic, Resistance, and Hope edited by Patrice Caldwell

This Is My America by Kim Johnson

Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam

If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson

Nightmare of the Clans by Pamela E. Cash

Black Boy, White School by Brian F. Walker

Behind You by Jacqueline Woodson

Hush by Jacqueline Woodson

Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now by Dana L. Davis

Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson