#your-average-phan

[glassprism]

I don't know if you've answered this question before, but do you have favorite Phantom/Christine pairings?

I have answered it before, but not too recently, so maybe it's time to make a big ole updated masterpost of all my favorites as of now!

Keep in mind that if a name isn't on here, it doesn't mean they're not a favorite or whatever, it might just mean I never saw them with a Phantom or Christine I particularly liked (e.g. Gina Beck is an all-time favorite but she's not on here because I never really saw her opposite a Phantom I also really enjoyed) or I preferred a slightly different pairing (e.g. I really liked Franc D'Ambrosio with Lisa Vroman but I slightly preferred the latter with Brad Little). And there may be one or two where I could not decide at all (e.g. do I prefer Kelly Mathieson with David Thaxton or Josh Piterman? I can't tell!). Anyway, here they are:

Michael Crawford/Sarah Brightman - The OG cast. It can't be helped, they both had such unique takes on the role and it makes them one of the most memorable pairings for me.

Dave Willetts/Jan Hartley Morris - His rougher take on the mold that Crawford left vs. Jan Hartley Morris's old-school, classical Christine is a winner.

Mikael Samuelson/Elisabeth Berg - I love Samuelson's slightly harsher vocals compared to Berg's operatic tones.

Alexander Goebel/Luzia Nistler - Goebel is eerie, ghostly, and unhinged at the end; Nistler has a lovely classical voice and a scared, slightly naive take on her Christine. It fits well.

Davis Gaines/Tracy Shayne - Gaines is commanding, sensual, elegant; Shayne is innocent but with a touch of maturity that brings a certain uniqueness to the role.

Saulo Vasconcelos/Irasema Terrazas - Hands! I think both were allowed a lot of freedom in the role and it's great.

Hans Peter Janssens/Ineke van Klinken - Janssens is both very nuts and very sad while van Klinken is a reserved yet steely-willed Christine who is more than a match for him.

Ian Jon Bourg/Alison Kelly - Bourg is good with so many Christines, but I loved Alison Kelly's feistiness.

Michael Nicholson/Olivia Safe - Just a fascinating pairing, and they were both understudies!

Yoon Young Seok/Hye Kyoung Lee - It didn't matter that both were speaking Korean, they were so emotional that I felt like I understood every aspect of their performance.

Brad Little/Lisa Vroman - Kind of mentioned above, but I love how well these two act together.

Hugh Panaro/Julie Hanson - Hugh Panaro is a sarcastic jokester of a man and it makes you really feel for Julie Hanson's child-like Christine at the end of the show.

Gary Mauer/Elizabeth Southard - A real-life married E/C couple brings all the chemistry!

Earl Carpenter/Rachel Barrell - Barrell is also really good with JOJ, and more spirited around him, but I love Earl Carpenter more.

John Cudia/Jennifer Hope Wills - Oh the sparks these two brought to the role! Cudia was scary and dominating but JHW was absolutely able to hold her own against him.

Simon Pryce/Julie Goodwin - The voices of these two!

Marcus Lovett/Anna O'Byrne - Leroux-accuracy heaven.

Jeremy Stolle/Samantha Hill - Again, I've seen these two give fantastic performances with multiple performers, but I really do love what they bring to the show together.

Tomas Ambt Kofod/Sibylle Glosted - Very detailed, nuanced performances in a production that was full of it.

Jonathan Roxmouth/Meghan Picerno - There was fire between these two! Roxmouth was intent on bending Christine to his will but Picerno was so fiercely independent that you knew he could never succeed.

Jeon Dong Seok/Son Ji-soo - JDS is a swoon-worthy Phantom while SJS brought lovely expressions to the role.

And I'm sure there are many others...

[mintbrownieangelfish]

Okay, Ya know what, is there anyone who has made a index-type thing for batman characters/lore, specifically for phans? Because I'm loving all the art/fics. I've read several, and I'm starting to put together things from context clues, but it would be really nice to reference while I read because I am REAL lost sometimes.

Like: What are Lazarus waters? I get that they're green, brought Jason back from the dead, and now he's angry because it messed him up. What is Dick's backstory/character? Since Bruce doesn't do traditional batman things anymore, is there a batman, and is it Dick? Who's Tim? Whats Arkham? Damian is a literal child of Bruce, right? What's his deal? Who is in the batfam?

Basically: What could your average DP fan need to know cliffnotes-style, spoilers welcome.

[secret-origins-crossover]

Secret Origins: Masterlist

Okay, this is your captain Ghost speaking with more updates on this blog! I am slowly figuring out how this works, but I wanted to make a masterlist for the Secret Origins verse!

This is going to be a slow process though it’ll include links to the fanfiction, a potential discord server, lore, and so much more! I haven’t done this kind of thing often, so please bear with me if it isn’t immediately perfect.

Secret Origins is a passion project started by a fan (me!) and is meant to be for other fans. However, I’m the only moderator behind this account which means this is going to be self indulgent! The alternate universe crosses Danny Phantom, American Dragon: Jake Long, Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja, and Miraculous Ladybug into the same world. Following their unexpected encounter, they decide to team up in order to take on bigger threats. However, “Secret Origins” is the prequel to something bigger.

In other words, Secret Origins is almost like MCU where there are mini storylines that weave into a main one! And with that, let’s get right to the fun, yes?

SECRET ORIGINS SYNOPSIS

An unexpected trip to Paris for the Fenton’s causes a chain of reactions no one thought possible. Phantom discovers there are other heroes, and Secret Origins follows how the “Secret Quartet” was formed, consisting of Danny Phantom, Jake Long, Adrien Agreste, and Randy Cunningham. However when they’re confronted with new dangers, well, it’s only a matter of time before trouble follows them as it always. Of course, they’ll also have the rest of their expanding team to back them up.

Secret Origins is inspired off of the alternate universe “Secret Trio” though has its own lore and information.

Are you willing to enter a world beyond your imagination? Only one way to find out…

MAIN CHARACTERS

Randy Cunningham: Randy’s your average, normal teenager… right? Wrong! What Norrisville doesn’t know is that he’s also the current Ninja, and there have been others before him. Though his world is about to get a whole lot bigger.

Danny Phantom: Danny’s life was quite ordinary… at least until an accident in his parents’ basement caused him to become a halfa, an odd phenomena making him half-human, half-ghost. Now, he’s also the hero, Phantom, and is ready to kick butt.

Jake Long: Amidst New York is a hidden protector of the magical world: the American Dragon. For Jake Long, being a shapeshifting teenager is nothing crazy! At least until he ends up pulled into something he never thought possible… and bringing up the rear is…

Adrien Agreste: Adrien Agreste is a boy who seemingly has it all: money, fame, brought up in a rich family but what Paris, France, doesn’t know is that he’s Chat Noir! He’s quite used to the hero life until something opens a new door and who knows what come out of that?

Supporting Characters

Marinette Dupain-Cheng: Marinette is Adrien’s partner-in-heroics. As the current holder of the Ladybug Miraculous, protecting Paris isn’t easy until she meets another hero who comes from another country and well, things won’t be the same.

[REDACTED]

NAVIGATION PAGE

about | muses | lore

asks | series

OFFICIAL TAGS

#origins au #origins verse (main tag)

#secret origins lore (lore tag)

#phan noir (platonic tag for danny and adrien’s friendship)

#ghost speaks (answers/replies to asks)

#🌙 (general server tag)

NOTE: This blog is still under development as I flesh out the crossover! Please be patient with me

[bookwormscififan]

A Scientifically Good Time

Read on AO3!

A/N: I wanted to write something soft for Mad's birthday, so I went with one of my favourite museums... a science museum. Mare's gonna buy whatever Mad wants at the gift shop.

----

“You know you don’t have to do anything special for my birthday,” Mad started, fidgeting with his seatbelt as they stopped at a red light, Mare tapping his thumbs on the steering wheel to the tune playing on the radio. “You could have just made me dinner, and I’d be happy.”

“Why just make you dinner when I can take you somewhere nice?” Mare replied with a smile, resting a hand on Mad’s thigh as he turned onto a side street. “Besides, I’d rather make you a dessert or something instead of dinner, which I make you all the time. And Phan doesn’t have time to teach me how to make you a tiramisu, so this is the next best thing.”

“You could make me cupcakes, and I’d be happy,” Mad chuckled, using a free hand to push Mare’s glasses up higher on his nose. “I honestly don’t need anything—woah…” he trailed off as he realised where they’d parked, seeing the grandeur of a building past the parking lot.

“They’re having a special exhibition on space and quantum theory this week,” Mare explained, undoing his seatbelt and putting his glasses away. “Thought it might be useful for your research.” He got out of the car and walked around to open Mad’s door, extending a hand to help him out. “And I’ll get you anything you want at the gift shop when we’re done.”

The smile that spread across Mad’s cheeks was bright enough to put the sun to shame as he took Mare’s hand and practically skipped to the doors of the building. Smiling to himself as he walked alongside his partner, Mare watched the almost childlike wonder in Mad’s eyes as they moved through the museum, stopping at every exhibit to read the information and discuss the different experiments.

Stepping into the quantum theory exhibit had Mad squeezing Mare’s hand with excitement at seeing the walls filled with quotes and equations Stephen Hawking had suggested as well as other proposals from renowned scientists. Mare hummed quietly as Mad read through different information boards, holding back from touching the various exhibits while his excitement showed in the brightness of his eyes.

“Mare, look, there’s a whole part here on quantum mechanics and time theories!” Mad called, having let go of Mare’s hand to inspect something in the corner of the room. “There’s even mention of the NASA experiment that proved the time travel in Avengers: Endgame was plausible.”

“Jackie would love to hear that,” Mare joked, pulling out his phone to send a quick text to Phantom, summarising the information on the wall. “What about that time theory you told me about? Telling past you about your decisions making it impossible to figure out if those decisions were organic or not?”

“Oh, that would fit more into quantum theories and theoretical physics,” Mad replied, holding onto Mare’s arm with both hands as he leaned close. “Plus, it might be too advanced for this museum to talk about, considering the research on it isn’t that substantial yet.” He walked with Mare through the rest of the exhibit, pointing out certain theories and concepts that interested him, before they headed into the final part of the museum.

“Tell me about genetic coding,” Mare prompted, motioning to a chart with statistics about how much of each parent gene a person could have. “How is it all decided?”

“It’s more about the strengths of the genes,” Mad explained, pointing at some of the numbers. “Carrier genetics and all that. Someone could have a very strong gene, so all their offspring would have their hair colour, while others could pass down medical conditions or skills.”

“You’re studying this with twins, right?”

“Yes, but it’s difficult because you and Phan are so different to an average sample.” Mad leaned his head against Mare’s shoulder, a sign that he was getting tired. “Your abilities give you a different genetic code, and most of the literature comes from sources that I’d rather not look too deeply into.”

“How about we go to the gift shop, then we can head home?” Mare suggested, changing the subject when he felt Mad’s grip get tighter. “I’ll buy you anything from there, and we can go through it when we get home.”

-

Mad stepped up to the checkout counter with four books on quantum theories, two books on theoretical physics, and a book on astronomy and its connections with astrology. He grinned at the store assistant when Mare pulled out his card to pay, taking the bag with a mumbled thanks.

Once they were out of sight of the museum, Mare waved his hand to send them home, pulling Mad onto the couch against his side with a chuckle. Their car appeared in the driveway, and Mare took the bag of books from Mad’s hands before pulling out the astronomy one.

“Happy birthday, dear heart,” he hummed, brushing his fingers through Mad’s hair as the scientist started to read, curled into his side like he fit there. Maybe he did. Mad flashed him a smile in response, already engrossed in the book, settling against Mare when he set his arm around his shoulders.

------------------------

@iamvegorott @brokentimewatch @dungeon-dragons-dragons @planetpossum @rattyboyisemo

[phightinghottakes]

tl;dr- a lot of you act like youve never been in a fandom before, and youre allowed to complain but 80% of what you complain about is the most nothingburger thing i have ever seen

sometimes certain takes will remind me that people here are either incredibly young (roblox game, go figure), or are unused to average fandom behaviour

repetitive jokes like phighting babies is a staple in most if not all fandoms (Connection Terminated and I Always Come Back for fnaf, apologies for the deception and the Leitner Rant for tma, the entire concept of megalovania for undertale, etc), nsfw of the main cast (who are all legal adults btw. like theyre all above 21. idk why people behave like they arent.), selfcest for characters (undertale fans would kill everyone here i must confess), etc etc

you can be upset or annoyed by these things yes, they also annoy me, but ive noticed a lot of people act like its some moral failing for any of this to exist, and while i agree the phandom on certain sites is aggravating to no end, you guys are all no better most times?

curate your own experiences and avoid those site-specific communities, block tags and people, and stop going out of your way to find most of this stuff (and you cannot lie and say that this stuff is coming to you, i and others have had no issues with tumblr (i have no say on twitter, its very easy to get things shoved onto your timeline) and ive seen several people confess to actively going to tiktok in search for phighting phans)

though i do agree certain aspects of fandoms should Not be normalised

-⚔️

.

[antiadvil]

as far as your question in the notes about spn breaking tumblr containment I’d say it’s like pretty average. When I talk about the show people will be like oh yeah I’ve heard of that but people won’t know the actors names or obviously all the shit that we know on here. if anything they will say isn’t that guy from the boys on it. But when I mention I went to see Dan and Phil no one knows what im talking about. I feel like it’s a generational thing tho where spn might have a bigger overlap between online and irl but both still actively do stuff like the dnp tour and spn conventions so the fandom is still alive for both, online and irl. It’s been so weird seeing them interact and it’s nice seeing the destiel phan love lol cause those are my guys and the place i like to be in each community. Its just sad knowing there’s a voice for the bad people, we’re not all like that

see i'm on the other end of media exposure, i had no idea any of the guys from spn were on the boys LMAO

that makes a lot of sense though! like, spn was on a tv network, dan and phil are really just on the internet. sometimes i have to remind myself that i'm the weird one for only going on the internet and literally never even looking at or thinking about tvs. i didn't know that spn is still doing conventions, i think they trend sometimes because of shit misha collins says though so that makes sense. i guess i thought he was just like... saying stuff at other conventions idk.

it really does feel like this poll is some kind of crossover episode, it's already been hectic and it's only been up for a day or so. it'll be... interesting? to see how it all plays out

[turbobronco239]

hey just wanted to let you know your reblog about shipping dan and phil is really uninformed and you might want to check out what they’ve had to say about it in the past five years. tl;dr they’ve described each other as “best friends, husbands, actual soulmates” (dan’s coming out video) and “[basically your average gay couple]” (magazine interview by dan), also see phil’s recent video reading fan fiction where he states that he actively supports fanfiction and fanart in all forms (including rpf, tho he said he speaks only for himself), which they’ve basically been saying this whole time (see also: their own fanfiction they wrote in the amazing book is not on fire plus any mention of the topic outside of 2012).

basically, there was a time (especially around 2012, but really 2009-2019) that phan shipping and ‘phan proof’ put dan and phil in jeopardy of being outed when they weren’t ready. a lot of people took things too far back then (like leaking private romantic videos or stalking their home) and they had to pump the breaks at the height of their popularity.

but by and large they’ve always supported rpf as it relates to them, and now that they’ve both come out, dan’s gone on a solo self discovery journey, they’ve come back to joint content, and the rabid doxxers have left the phandom, they’re being really open about their love for one another in a way that still gives them plausible deniability and doesn’t force them to label anything. their community has resurfaced to celebrate the beauty in that, and i can assure you, the 15-year-long best friends who built their forever home together are more than okay with being shipped together

Thank you for informing me. I'll be prompt to edit my post. I apologize for the misinformation. I do believe at the time if reblog I recall not being entirely sure of the information. Thank you

[delusion-of-negation]

i hear people talking about how ask culture has died, and i think that's a little oversimplified, because i get quite a lot of asks, not really as many as i would've before, but still a lot, and the reason obviously is people know they can come to me about weird shit. there's toe-eating anon (they eat toes), there's the person who's simply saying "hug" every couple days, recommendations for an anime because there's gore and sex in it, questions about kinks, everything under the sun. people have a lot of thoughts they are nervous to share with their name attached, if you want asks you gotta be ready to hear that stuff, without putting them on blast. because part of what killed ask culture is if someone sends you "recommendations for phan fics?" you go "this is like all the bad parts of getting asked for id", and why would anyone feel like it's worth being at all vulnerable with you after that? stop trying for coolness points if you want to receive asks, and if you want that ability to be snarky, stop expecting people to want to send asks because you're a tumblr user not an influencer. people don't do asking on here because it's cool mccoolson the eceleb, they will generally just have weird questions they wanna ask somebody. i know there's other parts to the equation, it's not just this at all, i understand that, but hostility in answers drastically reduced the comfort levels of your average asker. you can make the odd joke obviously, even i do, but if you act mean every time a perfectly pleasant person is a little weird, people won't send you any asks.

[vietnamexcursions-blog]

Ultimate guide to Nho Que river boating in Ha Giang

Ha Giang loop tours - Nho Que River is located in Ha Giang province and flows into Lung Cu commune, Dong Van district. What makes this river special is that it flows along Ma Pi Leng pass, through Tu San gorge. That is why the destination Nho Que River - Tu San gorge is a must-see for all visitors to Ha Giang

Nho Que River originates from China and flows into Vietnam through Tu San gorge. From here, Nho Que River winds along the legendary Ma Pi Leng pass. Normally, you will need at least half a day to sit on a boat to admire the scenery and explore Nho Que River and Tu San gorge. It can be said that Nho Que River is an iconic destination of Ha Giang.

How to get to Nho Que River By bus Currently, Ha Giang does not have an airport or a train station, so the only way to travel is by road. From Hanoi, you can book a bus ticket to Ha Giang. Once you arrive at Ha Giang city center, you should take a taxi for a safer journey instead of renting a car if you are not familiar with the road conditions. There are many types of vehicles to Ha Giang, including traditional buses, sleeper buses and limousines, depending on your preferences and budget.

Here are some reputable bus companies serving the Hanoi - Ha Giang route that you can refer to.

Limousine Express: Departs from My Dinh bus station at 20:30 and arrives in Ha Giang at 3:00 am. The ticket price for sleeper class is 350,000 VND.

Quang Nghi Limousine: Departure times vary (7:40, 7:45, 16:00, 16:15, 16:45) and the basic fare is 300,000 VND.

Bang Phan: Departure times range from 0:30 to 22:30, with average fares ranging from 250,000 to 550,000 VND.

By motorbike If you are an adventurous person, you can choose to travel by motorbike to Ha Giang. However, this is a very long distance and not easy at all. Therefore, you need to be well prepared in terms of vehicle, health and driving experience. While driving, you can fully enjoy the beautiful landscapes and experience the simple lifestyle of the local people.

There are two suggested routes to fully explore the beauty of Ha Giang by motorbike:

Route 1: Hanoi - Trung Ha Bridge - Co Tiet - Phong Chau Bridge - Doan Hung - Tuyen Quang - National Highway 02 - Ha Giang - National Highway 34 - National Highway 4C - Nho Que River.

Route 2: Hanoi – Vinh Phuc – Son Duong – Tuyen Quang – Ha Giang – National Highway 4C – DT 182 – DT 176 – DT 182 – National Highway 4C – Nho Que River.

How to visit Nho Que River Nho Que River with its peaceful and rustic scenery is often considered by locals as a symbol of Ha Giang. Stretching over 192km, the river meanders through limestone mountains, like a silk strip winding between the towering mountains of the Northeast sky.

When embarking on a journey to explore this tourist destination in Ha Giang, you will be enchanted by its unique and rare green color. It is where you can immerse yourself in nature, let your soul be "carried away" by the clouds, and find peace while admiring the breathtaking landscapes of Vietnam's mountains and forests.

Today, the most popular way to visit Nho Que - Tu San Gorge is by boat. With the development of Ha Giang, boats visiting this river have become much safer. In particular, all boats are equipped with life jackets. This creates a sense of security and attracts tourists to visit this destination.

Although you can visit Nho Que River at any time of the year, the best time to witness the beauty of this “paradise” is in October and November. This is when the paradise of Tam Giac Mach (buckwheat) flowers blooms, and you can stand on the high mountains, watching the green Nho Que River and the romantic colors of pink and purple.

The beauty of the Nho Que River

Tu San Gorge - The deepest abyss in Southeast Asia Traveling to the Nho Que River, you cannot miss the Tu San Gorge and the journey to explore this river. Taking a boat is the only way for you to travel along the Nho Que River. Nowadays, the number of visitors to Nho Que is increasing, so there are 2 boat piers serving tourists: one in Ta Lang village, the other in Xin Cai commune. It takes about 2 hours on average for an exciting journey to explore Nho Que River.

When mentioning Nho Que River, you cannot forget Tu San Gorge. Recognized as the deepest abyss in Southeast Asia with a depth of more than 1000 meters, Tu San Gorge is the dream and desire to conquer of every traveler. Sitting on a boat on Nho Que River, you will surely be overwhelmed by the majestic scenery that Mother Nature has created for Ha Giang land. The blue river, the high canyons that seem to reach the top of the sky…

Deservedly known as the deepest abyss in Southeast Asia, the cliffs along both sides of Nho Que River pose a high level of danger. This does not allow visitors to climb and take photos among these cliffs. However, even if you cannot conquer these cliffs yourself, seeing them will still leave a deep impression on your mind. In general, Tu San Gorge will mark a beautiful memory in your Ha Giang discovery diary.

Admire Nho Que River from Ma Pi Leng pass Ma Pi Leng - one of the "four great mountain passes" in the northern mountainous region of Vietnam and closely related to Nho Que River. This is not only a challenging route for drivers but also a gateway to the “fairyland” when visiting Nho Que River in Ha Giang. You can combine conquering Ma Pi Leng with exploring other beautiful attractions on your journey to explore Ha Giang and Nho Que River.

There are not many places in Vietnam that offer such a wonderful landscape as Ma Pi Leng Pass. When standing on the top of Ma Pi Leng on your journey to Nho Que River in Ha Giang, you will be able to admire the breathtaking view of the river winding through the towering mountains under the peaceful clouds. Therefore, do not miss the opportunity to witness the most charming, majestic and memorable moment of your trip in Ha Giang.

Kayaking on the Nho Que River In addition to taking a boat to admire the beauty of the Nho Que River, you can also experience kayaking. This allows you to not only conquer the beautiful scenery but also capture unique views of the Tu San Gorge that can only be seen when kayaking.

October to November or February and March are the most ideal times of the year for you to conquer the Nho Que River. At this time, you can witness the bright red color of the cotton flowers and the yellow color of ripe rice. Admiring cotton flowers, buckwheat flowers or immersing yourself in the harvest season of the local people are things that await you in the rocky plateau of Ha Giang. To rent a kayak during the journey to the Nho Que River in Ha Giang, you should contact the boat rental service at least one day in advance. The average price is about 100,000 - 150,000 VND/person for about 30 minutes - 1 hour.

Sleeping If you want to spend more time exploring the Nho Que River area, you should stay in Dong Van town because it is very convenient to move to Tu San Gorge. Here are some accommodation options in Dong Van:

Dong Van Resort: This resort is one of the most popular places to stay for tourists visiting the Nho Que River area. Visitors can experience local culture and enjoy Dong Van ancient town (just a 10-minute walk away). Room rates range from 150,000 – 700,000 VND/night depending on room type.

Dong Van Ancient House: This traditional house over 200 years old has now been converted into a homestay to give visitors a unique experience of the mysterious and ancient culture of the Ha Giang highlands. Dong Van Ancient House has an architectural style that clearly reflects the local lifestyle. The homestay offers rooms for 200,000 VND/night, allowing you to immerse yourself in the unique culture of the area.

Dao Lodge: This is one of the most beautiful homestays in Dong Van area. You can experience the beauty of the Dao culture that is still preserved to this day. The materials used to build the homestay are environmentally friendly. Room rates range from 250,000 to 300,000 VND per night, making it a popular choice for tourists.

Some notes when traveling to Nho Que River

In addition to aspects such as geographical location, route, means of transportation, accommodation, clothing is also an important factor for any tourist when traveling to Nho Que River. If you come here in the cool and fresh season, choose comfortable and dynamic clothing. T-shirts combined with jeans are always a fashionable choice regardless of the time. In addition, you can wear a skirt when sitting on the boat to add elegance to your photos.

If you visit Nho Que in winter, it is important to prepare warm and waterproof clothes to protect yourself from the cold. Hoodies, long coats, and down jackets are suitable options to both protect your health and help you look more fashionable regardless of the weather. You can combine them with sneakers, hats, and scarves to add a stylish touch to your outfit.

One of the rather "annoying" things when traveling to Ha Giang is that children will ask tourists for money. Instead of giving money, you should prepare a small amount of cookies or candy to share with them. And because there are many tourists, children here will not want to go to school but stay home to help their families sell goods and earn money more easily. That is the reason why teachers working here find it difficult to take students to go to school.

Source: How to arrange a boat trip on Nho Que river in Ha Giang

[glassprism]

As an avid Phantom content consumer, do you know if there's a way to tell if they're using a pre-recorded E6 at the climax of "Phantom of the Opera"?

In basically all replica productions, the entire title song, including the E6, is pre-recorded. So I suppose that's easy enough, because it's not a matter of "how do I tell if it's pre-recorded", it's more like, "assume that it is almost always pre-recorded". There are times when the actresses sing over the recording or when the recorded track breaks down, but for the most part, assume it's pre-recorded.

For non-replicas and various modified or restaged productions, the way I tell, if possible, is to listen to different recordings of the same actor singing the title song on different days. If the song sounds like it's being sung differently, it may not be a pre-recording and the E6 may very well be sung live. If it sounds the same across different performances, it probably is pre-recorded, and that will apply to the E6 as much as the rest of the song.

There's always exceptions here and there and extenuating circumstances and such, but that's my basic rule of thumb!

[firstglosss]

Makeup Your Mind: The ugly truth behind beauty hauls

Words by Ella Warters.

Step into a realm where the attraction of limitless beauty products and the excitement of shopping intersect, giving birth to a captivating trend: beauty hauls. With over 2.5 billion views under #beautyhaul on TikTok, it ponders the existence of ethical consumption all together.

While the fashion industry has embraced the sustainable fashion movement, the social and environmental consequences of overconsumption within the cosmetics sector remain understudied and largely ignored by corporations, content creators, and consumers alike. According to a recent survey, the average person spends 722 USD per year on makeup and skincare. Excessive consumption often stems from societal pressure, advertising, and consumerism all together and is now causing detrimental effects to the planet and society.

According to the Australian Financial Review, globally, the beauty industry produces 120 billion units of packaging each year and it’s estimated a measly nine percent is recycled – the rest ending up in landfill. The cardboard boxes that accompany the products alone are said to contribute to the loss of 18 million acres of forests annually. Sadly, it’s not as simple as placing a plastic bottle into the yellow bin, often the multi-materials which create spray, pump mechanisms are costly to separate, dark coloured plastic isn’t as valuable, and aerosols often has pressurised air which makes them dangerous to recycle. However, the waste management company, TerraCycle uses a range of sorting techniques both manual and mechanical to sort and recycle cosmetic packaging. TerraCycle bins are found in MECCA cosmetic stores Australia wide. Brands are also continuing to produce refillable products from lipsticks to moisturisers, with a growing demand for ‘clean’ beauty too.

Not only product waste is an issue though, the beauty industry and societal consumption is a major contributor to worker exploitation. Mica is a naturally occurring mineral which is found in plenty of makeup and skincare ingredients, if it’s shiny, it’s probably because of mica. Listed as ‘mica,’ ‘potassium aluminium silicate,’ and ‘CI 77019,’ it starts off as a silvery shard which is mined by children as young as 5 in countries like India, then collected by brokers, sold to exporters, then delivered to manufacturers who mill it into a pearlescent pigment which is sold to international beauty retailers. It’s estimated that over twenty-thousand children work in these mines and will earn at best 30 rupees, the equivalent of 56 Australian cents, for a day’s work. Not only are most of these mines unregulated and in appalling condition, but the dangers of these mines are also more than just health risks, they can crumble too, leaving people to die. Families are given 30,000 rupees for each person who dies, the equivalent of $558 AUD, with no changes to the safety of the mines. In these countries, there is often no other form of work and leaves people in a vulnerable position just so first world countries can enjoy shimmery beauty products.

In recent years with the rise of a new generation on social media, beauty vloggers have gained cult followings promoting consumerism. It all started in 2007 with Michelle Phan, a college student who started posting beauty tutorials on YouTube. Not long after, creators such as Zoella, Bethany Mota & NikkieTutorials (and more) began posting hauls, ‘Get Ready with Me’ and more. Today, almost anyone can go viral whether it’s product reviews or shopping trips to beauty retailers like MECCA and Sephora.

The Beauty & skincare hashtag has a whopping 33 billion views on TikTok and this ranges from routines to hauls. The ideal skincare routine (for normal skin) should be 3 steps – cleanse, moisturise, protect, and then add in specific products for desired treatment when needed. The brand Drunk Elephant has coined the term ‘smoothie,’ which is the mixing of skincare products on one of their pump lid moisturisers. While the brand is reputable for improving skin, it has gained an army of young teens wanting to own one of these 100 AUD moisturisers. The problem with young teens wanting these types of products is not only overconsumption, but it can also cause skin problems too. Kids as young as 8 want to purchase retinoids just because they’re a viral product, even though it’s recommended for people in their early 20s.

However, amidst the frenzy of viral product reviews and shopping trips, we must remember the importance of responsible consumption. Overconsumption not only strains our environment and exploits vulnerable communities but can also harm our own well-being. It's vital to strike a balance between our desire for beauty and the ethical, sustainable choices that protect our planet and safeguard our future. In doing so, we can ensure that beauty truly shines, both inside and out, for generations to come.

(This was originally written as an assessment piece for my marketing class at University.)

[cadoodledoodleydoo]

“I see. Well I trust you Phan, just do yourself a favor and take things slow. There’s no need to rush, you’ve got plenty of time.” she paused in thought, rubbing her chin over the teen’s hair to ruffle it. Well distractions only worked for so long. These worlds…they were really taking a toll on her little ghost. She huffed, upset by the teen’s continued distress, it soured their colors in her mind’s eye. When their hand lifted to their throat Aven instinctually lifted a paw to cover it, to still it, gently petting over their fingers and cheek. Her tail gave a decisive thwack against the floor, it was time to revisit their original topic of conversation. Though…maybe not here.

Aven lifted her head to yawn, her jaw popping with the stretch. She shook out her shoulders and gave Phantom’s hand a little reassuring squeeze before gently releasing them from her hug. Lowering her head down again, she nudged their back until they were floating just slightly out of reach, giving her enough room to stretch her fore-paws. Her back dipped like a large cat’s as she bowed, muscles shivering after being seated for so long. She pushed off the floor with her fore-paws, moving to stand fully upright, towering over the little ghost where they floated closer to the floor. 

“Alright my love, we’re going to go on a little walk and have a mother and cub heart to heart.” she took a few steps forward, brushing the fan of her tail against their stars in passing, another reassuring gesture, “Let me shift into something more comfortable, I have a spot in mind that I think we’ll both enjoy.”

Aven’s shifts happened in the blink of an eye. Almost like she ceased to exist for the supposed split second it took her body to reshape itself into its new form. One moment she was a towering, 4 armed, alien. The next she was an average, round, seal-like yokai. She stretched her arms overhead, tail swishing lazily behind her. 

“That’s more like it,” she hummed to herself as she crouched, using a manicured claw to scratch a circle into the ground, followed by a series of swirling runes, “My working theory is that any living thing on earth, could potentially use Yokai magic with enough training. But I’ve found the abilities come easier when I’m in this skin.” she stood once she was finished, dusting off her hands and stepping into the middle of the circle, “Alright, come here sweetheart. You’ll have to touch ground for this transition to go smoothly. Just hold onto me, we aren’t traveling far.”

Aven opened an arm invitingly and waited for the teen to come close, making sure to hold them near to her side. “When the circle begins to glow, let yourself relax and close your eyes.” Once they were both settled and she made sure their stars were tucked within the circle’s edge, Aven began the spell. It was quiet and song-like, she lifted her other hand to snap her claws in time with her words. The circle and runes glowed a soft pink, a breeze picked up, and with a soft crackling noise the spell took effect. Aven always thought it felt like waking up with full body pins and needles. It made her blood buzz and goosebumps wash over her limbs. She blinked her eyes open and smiled at the familiar scenery. 

“You can open your eyes now love, let me know if you need to sit,” she rubbed her hand along their back as she turned to make sure they wouldn’t be disturbed. This part of the Hidden City’s valley wasn’t often a tourist attraction but it still got its fair share of foot traffic. The rolling hills were covered in soft teal mosses, fields of glowing flowers and stones spread between them. Off to the right in the far distance she could just make out a large crystalline lake. Her and Ci had accidentally fallen into this valley when they had first moved to NYC. Learning about the Hidden City hadn’t been through the best of circumstances but it worked out in the end, being just the ticket they needed to get settled and properly lose the EPF agents that had been tailing them.

[yay for loooooong replies, Aven's yokai form ref is under the cut, TW for vivisection scars!!]

Craving soft vibes ⊹ ࣪ ˖

Slowly coercing others into collaborative self indulgent oc shenanigans~ @splatting-stampede ························

There was a cool touch on her snout. A small palm petting gently across the bridge of her nose. It wrinkled, sniffing the air, instinctually trying to sus out who had stopped by to interrupt her mid-afternoon nap. Aven’s body twitched minutely, muscles fighting the pull back into consciousness. Her facial sensors and nerves were slowly starting ‘reboot’ for lack of a better word, the blood flow now speeding up again. She yawned, the hand only dislodged slightly by the motion. The colors of the room, and of the culprit were slowly coming into focus as her body finally accepted that the nap was over and she’d have to be aware of the waking world again. She tilted her head up and to the side, in order to get a better view of who was being handsy. Ah. There they were. Their swirling calm blues and purples finally came into focus in her mind’s eye, tinged only slightly with the smallest bit of yellow worry. Probably over waking her up. She huffed out a quiet buzzing purr, the corners of her mouth pulling up into a content smile. 

“Hello my little willow-wisp, to what do I owe the pleasure?” her voice was already a little rough with sleep, but her tired purr wasn’t doing it any favors either. She made sure her sensors were fully facing the little ghost now, her head laid on its side across her forepaws. They were floating overhead, laid out on their stomach as if there wasn’t just open air beneath them. They only removed their hand when Aven’s head had turned too much for them to continue reaching without straining their current position.

[latenightdork]

dear gigantic british beans

this is not a "large glass"

and this most certainly isn't an "average-sized cereal bowl"

[rockislandadultreads]

Book Recommendations: Celebrating Disability Pride Month

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases - a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old. It doesn't help that Stella has Asperger's and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice - with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan. The Vietnamese and Swedish stunner can't afford to turn down Stella's offer, and he agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan.  

Unbroken edited by Marieke Nijkamp

This anthology explores disability in fictional tales told from the viewpoint of disabled characters, written by disabled creators. With stories in various genres about first loves, friendship, war, travel, and more, this volume will offer readers a glimpse into the lives of disabled people in the past, present, and future. Each author identifies as disabled along a physical, mental, or neurodiverse axis - and their characters reflect this diversity.

Brave Enough by Kati Gardner

Teenager Cason Martin is the youngest ballerina in the Atlanta Ballet Conservatory. She never really had a choice of whether she learned to dance or not. Her mother, the conservatory's artistic director, has made all the decisions in Cason's life. But that's about to change. Cason has been hiding an injury, and it's much worse than anyone imagines. Meanwhile, Davis Channing understands all too well what it's like to give up control of your life. He's survived cancer, but his drug addiction nearly killed him. But just when he thinks he's got it together, Davis's ex-girlfriend, who is still battling her addiction, barrels back into his life. Cason and Davis are not friends but, as their worlds collide, they will start to depend on one another.

The Words in My Hands by Asphyxia

Set in an ominously prescient near future, this is the story of Piper. Sixteen, smart, artistic, and rebellious, she's struggling to conform to what her mom wants - for her to be 'normal, ' to pass as hearing, and get a good job. But in a time of food scarcity, environmental collapse, and political corruption, Piper has other things on her mind - like survival. Deaf since the age of three, Piper has always been told that she needs to compensate in a world that puts those who can hear above everyone else. But when she meets Marley, a whole new world opens up - one where Deafness is something to celebrate rather than hide.

[natigail]

October 2022 - natigail recap

This month I got started with my planned schedule for three fics, making it so that I had two updates each weekend. It’s been hard to keep up with but also very rewarding. 

Three chapters of Rest in the Belly of the Wolf (skz poly wolfpack AU)

Two chapters of 돈’t Lie (at least not to me) (svt jihan mafia AU)

Four chapters of The Journal of Wei Wuxian, the Yiling Patriach and Wei Ying (journal fic, wangxian, the untamed)

A domestic phan one shot in honour of 19th of October - More than 2 and a half weeks

Wrote three spilled thoughts posts (one about feeling drained after big social events), (one about being 27 and age in general) and (one about getting specific feedback comments on your fics)

And for writing for this month, we’ve got not one but two fics beating out my journalling! Which is a rare feat and I find that delightful. Look at so many words!

This month I had a daily goal of 2k and I not only reached it, I beat it by quite a bit! Landing on 2.4k on average and a total of 73.8k in total. I’m very proud of that. I did have a week off work, which definitely helped to surpass the goal word count but I will still celebrate it. Also keeping up with updating three fics at the same time is a bit much, but I’m proud of myself. I also started a little side fic to the svt mafia AU that got me excited and the surprise phan one shot, written immediately after a video. I will always love that sudden urge to write domestic phan after those idiots gives me laughs and smiles. It’s also been a delight to work with svt and skz both in found family settings. I’m such a sucker for those. 

In November, I’m “doing” NaNoWriMo, but with my usual 2k a day goal, we’re already at 60k, so I’m going to use that mark. The plan is to have the primary fic be my phan Stardew AU, which I hope to update in December, while also writing a bit on the other three updating fics, which will continue their schedules throughout. I’m putting all my word counts into a joint document with writer friends, so we’ll all take on the month together. I think it’s going to be a blast and I’m excited!

[akaisenhatake]

What would Estevao think of Rin ? 👉👈💦

Estevao: Kirinto Phan. Girl with short hair, mixed ethnicity. A Ravenclaw. Nothing interesting about her, though I've noticed she's not much of a dancer. That's a shame, but it must be delightful to step on everyone's foot. And you fall for that nerd lad? Now that's even more of a shame.

Estevao: Just your average student in Hogwarts. Don't waste my time.

[you have a very lovely mc! and rowan appreciation my beloved <3]