#Great Wall of China tours

[travelernight]

Ultimate China Journey: 30 Stops You Need to Make

[trainsinanime]

I wonder: Do Americans know about american school buses? Not their existence in general, but how they're seen overseas.

Over here, they're one of the symbols of America, on par with the Statue of Liberty, the flag, the Eagle, and well ahead of any chain restaurant you can name. People won't know any US states, but they will know these vehicles.

The thing is, here in Germany, we don't have dedicated school buses. The general idea is that kids go to school on their own. When that's not practical, they're expected to use (and given free tickets for) public transit. Public transit is designed around this requirement; there are many places where there is a bus, and anyone can get on it, but the route and timetable really only makes sense for school children. In case a dedicated school bus is really needed, that's generally subcontracted out, and the lines either use something like a Sprinter Van for smaller routes, or a normal city or interurban bus (often a used one that's a bit older). School trips are normal public transit, or a rented bus, typically a coach or regional bus.

It's not a perfect system, in the past couple of years there's been an epidemic of people bringing their kids to school in their cars instead of letting them walk, which is less than ideal. It is what it is. But building a dedicated network of public transit lines only for students, and building dedicated vehicles only for that, has never occurred to anyone here.

Of course we know about these buses, from movies and such, but they're as foreign here as cacti or pick-up trucks (actually we're seeing more and more of these here) or yellow cabs (all europeans will assume all cabs in the US are yellow until they actually visit).

You do see these buses here at times, because people still generally like the idea of the US, even if they have a lot of issues with a lot of details, and so folks bring them over, along with stretch limos and stuff (also not really a thing here). And of course, if someone goes to all that trouble, they don't do it to haul school kids, they rent it out for city tours or as a party bus or whatever.

So you see these yellow things as a symbol of faraway places, scenic vistas, some vague undefined idea of freedom that doesn't necessarily hold up to any contact with reality, and it's just a huge part of the whole US aesthetic.

And then you go to a student exchange with the US, and you finally get the chance: You yourself get to ride in one of these iconic chrome yellow buses! It looks just like in the movies! You get in, you drive in them a little…

…and you realise they're shit. Just the worst buses in the western world. Terrible suspension. Uncomfortable seats with weirdly high backs (so they don't have to put seatbelts in, they just restrict how far kids can fly in an accident). Everything made out of the cheapest materials. Turns out the reason why the US uses school buses like that instead of normal modern city buses, which the US has, is to save money and because they just hate kids.

And then it hits you why US Americans say "as American as apple pie", a dish that is made and enjoyed literally anywhere in the world, instead of "as American as yellow school buses". Of course the Americans already knew all this. They got tortured by these things forever. It would never occur to them to see this as a symbol of America, it's just a normal part of life for them. It's a symbol of school and school life and sometimes normalcy, and tells us that these actors getting out of it are supposed to be teenagers, nothing more.

But most people in Europe have, of course, never ridden on these buses. So when they see them in movies and TV, that's a giant big yellow signifier that we're not in Hessen or Wallonia or wherever anymore. A symbol of a different world, one that may be at most a once-in-a-lifetime-experience for most people, just like a picture of a tropical beach, Mayan Pyramids, the Great Wall of China, or Hildesheim (there's no reason to go there twice). And I think Americans don't know that, and that's fascinating.

[chinesehanfu]

[Ming Dynasty]Chinese Armor：Life of female general 秦良玉/Qin Liangyu

The only female general recognized by the Chinese Orthodox Histories,The Twenty-Four Histories (Chinese: 二十四史)

【Historical Artifact Reference】:

China Ming Dynasty Royal Painting:《出警图/Departure Herald》

In this handscroll is a great imperial procession making its way to pay respects at the imperial tombs. Departing from the Te-sheng (Victory) Gate of the Peking city wall, the artists here depicted shops along the way and the appearance of ceremonial guards to the final destination of the imperial tombs, the final resting place for Ming dynasty emperors 45 kilometers from the capital at Mt. T'ien-shou. Departure Herald is actually accompanied by another long handscroll painting entitled Return Clearing. That work depicts the process of the tomb sweeping and inspection tour. Usually considered as a pair, they are collectively known as Departure Herald and Return Clearing.

↑Emperor Wanli of the Ming Dynasty of China, Zhu Yijun, wearing armor

The emperor's guards and ceremonial guards, a good depiction of Ming dynasty armor

【秦良玉/Qin Liangyu：The only female general recognized by the Chinese emperor and official history】

Qin Liangyu (1574–1648), courtesy name Zhensu, was a female general best known for defending the Ming dynasty from attacks by the Manchu-led Later Jin dynasty in the 17th century.

Early life and education

Qin Liangyu was born in Zhongzhou (忠州), which is in present-day Zhong County, Chongqing.Her father, Qin Kui (秦葵), obtained the position of a gongsheng (貢生) in the civil service examination. He believed that girls should receive the same education as boys, so he made Qin Liangyu study history and the Confucian classics with her brothers. He also taught them martial arts. Qin Liangyu learnt martial arts more deeply than her brothers and became proficient in archery and horse-riding. She was also known for her skill in poetry.

Marriage to Ma Qiancheng

In 1595, Qin Liangyu married Ma Qiancheng (馬千乘), the tusi and xuanfushi (宣撫使; "Announcing and Pacifying Commissioner") of Shizhu County, and accompanied him in minor battles against local warlords in the southwestern border of the Ming Empire. They had a good marriage and he often sought her advice.In 1599, when Yang Yinglong (楊應龍) started a rebellion in Bozhou (播州; present-day Zunyi, Guizhou), Ma Qiancheng brought 3,000 riders with him to suppress the revolt while Qin Liangyu brought an additional 500 to support her husband. They successfully quelled the rebellion and destroyed the rebels' camps.

In 1613, Ma Qiancheng offended Qiu Chengyun (邱乘雲), an influential court eunuch, and ended up being arrested and imprisoned. He died in prison later. Qin Liangyu succeeded her husband as the xuanfushi of Shizu County. Those under her command were known as the White Cavalry (白杆兵).

Resisting rebel forces in Sichuan

In 1620, Qin Liangyu's elder brother, Qin Bangping (秦邦屏), led 3,000 White Cavalry to Liaodong to resist invaders from the Manchu-led Later Jin dynasty. He was killed in action at the Battle of Hun River (渾河之戰).

In 1623, Qin Liangyu assisted Ming forces in suppressing the She-An Rebellion in Sichuan and Guizhou led by She Chongming (奢崇明) and An Bangyan (安邦彥). In the following year, her elder brother, Qin Minping (秦民屏), was killed in battle by An Bangyan's forces.

In 1630, when Later Jin forces besieged the Ming capital, Beijing, Qin Liangyu led forces from Sichuan to reinforce the capital. The Chongzhen Emperor showered her with praises in poetry and presented her with four poems as she passed through Beijing. In 1634, when Zhang Xianzhong's rebel army invaded Sichuan, Qin Liangyu and her son, Ma Xianglin (馬祥麟), led their troops to attack the rebels, defeated them at Kuizhou (夔州; present-day Fengjie County, Chongqing) and drove them away. In 1640, Qin Liangyu defeated another rebel force led by Luo Rucai (羅汝才) in Kuizhou and Wushan. In recognition of her contributions to the Ming Empire, the Chongzhen Emperor appointed her as the Crown Prince's Guardian (太子太保) and awarded her the title "Marquis Zhongzhen" (忠貞侯; lit. "Loyal and Chaste Marquis").

Later life and death

The Ming Empire was overthrown in 1644 by rebel forces led by Li Zicheng, and its former territories were conquered by the Later Jin dynasty (later renamed to Qing dynasty). Some Ming loyalists formed a remnant state, the Southern Ming dynasty, in southern China to resist the Qing dynasty. Its nominal ruler, the Longwu Emperor, also granted Qin Liangyu a marquis title. Meanwhile, Zhang Xianzhong invaded Sichuan again, and Qin Liangyu attempted to resist him, but was defeated and forced to retreat, allowing Zhang to conquer most of Sichuan. She did however prevent her soldiers from surrendering to Zhang.

Qin Liangyu controlled part of Shizhu County and her policy of agricultural self-sufficiency made her region attractive for refugees. She helped about 100,000 refugees to settle down in Shizhu.

Qin Liangyu died in 1648 and was buried in present-day Yachun Village, Dahe District, Shizhu County, Chongqing. She was given the posthumous name "Zhongzhen" (忠貞; lit. "Loyal and Chaste") and was survived by her son, Ma Xianglin (馬祥麟).

Legacy

Qin Liangyu's life, along with her weapons and armour, is showcased in a museum in Shizhu County, Chongqing. A statue of her is in the Ganyu Hall of the Shibaozhai in Zhong County (that was preserved during the Three Gorges Project).Together with Hua Mulan, Liang Hongyu and He Yufeng, Qin Liangyu is one of the most well-known female warriors and heroines in China.

In the Twenty-Four Histories, Qin Liangyu was also the only woman whose biography was listed among the biographies of court officials and generals.

________________

📸Photo & Model :@金角大魔王i & @爱穿汉服的曠先生

🔗Weibo:https://weibo.com/1763668330/O3aKR4CSv

________________

[venusvity]

.⋆｡ 🍓 ࿔˚⋅ THE SWEETEST GIRL IN THE WORLD ... KLARA BLIX !

Klara Blix, formerly known as JIAH, was the second Venus member to debut solo after Baebi. Her image would greatly differ from that of her groupmates, taking on a much sweeter and teen-friendly image since she was just a teen herself. Debuting in August 2018 at just seventeen, her debut single album "Why, Why, Why?" would become an instant classic and beloved "confession" anthem among young girls. Klara's brand ranking would skyrocket, and she was dubbed "Korea's Favorite Foreigner" on every variety show she appeared on.

"For Girls" was the first mini album released by Klara in August of 2019. The title track, "Good Luck, Hun." was an excellent demonstration of Klara's vocal ability and cuteness. The song would not only be popular with her typical audiences but older audiences as well, specifically older women. Her first fansign held for this album would go viral for being filled with a majority of girls and old ladies. Good Luck, Hun would top multiple charts in not only Korea but in Japan as well, resulting in a Japanese version of Good Luck, Hun and Why, Why, Why?

Deciding to take her in a more vocal-focused and mature concept that wasn't even that mature, Klara would come back with her 2nd Single, "Moon, Sun, Stars," in June of 2019. While this song did not flop by any means, it was not popular amongst fans because of the concept change. A common phrase asked by netizens during this time was, "Where did Korea's little sister go?" despite Klara still being her cute self. Due to the poor reception and poor costume choices, this era would not be remembered fondly by Klara and is often forgotten by netizens.

After a four-year hiatus from solo music, Klara would finally return in May of 2023 with the adorable single "Teddy Bear!" which would catch the hearts of a new generation of young girls. Klara was clearly marketed as an idol for a younger audience, a role model, and even a Disney Star, but only on the weekends. Teddy Bear! would garner international attention for its viral dance challenge, which was done by virtually anyone with access to social media, putting Klara back on the map musically, though she never really left. It was clear Klara had a great time promoting Teddy Bear! and even went on her first solo tour of Asia, traveling to Japan, Thailand, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and the Phillippines. This would mark her most successful era since "For Girls."

Her most recent comeback would be in November of 2023 with the single "Like That," which wasn't even meant to be an actual promoted release but instead a gift to fans for giving her such a lovely tour. The fans would be very vocal about wanting at least ONE stage for the single, which, after much convincing, Klara would deliver. However, one stage turned into five and would later become a full-on promotional cycle. Like That would become a staple in her discography, many constellations asking her to perform the song to this day despite her saying, "It's a concert exclusive!". This era, though short, is very beloved by fans due to how connected she was with them. Towards the end of this era, Klara would announce she would be taking a hiatus from solo releases, wanting to focus on Venus and her acting career.

.⋆｡ 🍓 ࿔˚⋅ KLARA BLIX SOLOIST QUIX FACTS !

She has fifteen music show wins to her name. More than half of them being won by Why, Why, Why? and Good Luck, Hun.

During her performances of Why, Why, Why? Her background dancers would often rotate between DeepDive members, resulting in a lot of cute interactions and starting the groups public friendship. Fans favorite "Why, Why, Why?" boys would be Kiwoo, Finn, and Woojin. This would even result in a special stage where Klara and Kiwoo would perform a duet version of Why, Why, Why?

At Klara's first fansign, there was a photobooth where attendees could take pictures with her. Klara would put some of the pictures on her wall and they can still be seen in the background of her lives to this day.

Often, Klara would perform at retirement homes and still does to this day. Many videos of her have gone viral for dancing with the grandma and grandpas there. She says visiting old people is one of her favorite things to do because they all treat her like she's their granddaughter.

When asked if she wanted to try a more "mature" concept during the press release for Teddy Bear!, Klara immediately shook her head. "Last time I did that, I stopped making music for four years. I don't want to try that again. I like being successful and cute."

During Teddy Bear! Promotions, a picture taken by staff of a long line of idols wanting to film a TikTok with Klara was posted by staff with the caption "She's such a legend ㅋㅋㅋ," which would become a meme between constellations.

[porcupine-girl]

So far I’ve managed to find merch for Wang Yibo, Xiao Zhan, Gong Jun, Liu Yuning, Joker Xue, Wang Sulong, and Zhou Shen. Have not found any Da Zhangwei merch at all 😢

I have SO MANY THINGS to show you guys OMG today was the BEST.

My kid, 3.5 hours into our tour of this mall, on our way out: Ok mom you’re not allowed to go in any more stores.

Me: Hey, this is what I came to China for.

My husband: Forget the Great Wall.

Me: Whatever, everyone who goes to China sees the Great Wall. How many people go to China and get a sparkly Joker Xue poster?

My husband: Probably zero.

Me: EXACTLY! *pulls it out* Did you see that it’s sparkly???

[sodamnbored]

I’m aware the Ancient ones aren’t all around anymore, but this is fiction so they can see them if they want to. They’re always finding expired things laying around in PJO.

For reference, the original seven: the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Colossus of Rhodes, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Temple of Artemis, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

The modern seven: Chichen Itza, Christ the Redeemer, the Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu, Petra, the Taj Mahal, and the Colosseum.

[aggimaginary]

The Bad Guys: The Musical chapter 1 - In The Heights

Next

Hello everyone. I am very sorry I couldn't post this story during Summer because I had a lot of projects, I had planned for my Summer. Since it's almost the first semester, it's not too late. It's still Summer, so I consider this a summer story.

Anyway, I decided to make The Bad Guys: The Musical because Mr. Piranha was my favorite character because he was voiced by Anthony Ramos, who previously voiced my favorite Trolls character, King Trollex from Trolls World Tour. Both movies are owned by DreamWorks, and it inspired me to create the Bad Guys story involving music, like in Trolls. Sam Rockwell, who voiced Mr. Wolf, also featured in Trolls World Tour as he voiced Hickory.

Since Piranha proved to be a singer in the movie as well, I wanted to create a story that focused on him, his singing talent, and his dream to be in a musical band and be famous for his talent, but I would also like some drama as his friendship with the rest of the Bad Guys was put to the test when he almost fulfilled his dreams.

I also got the idea of this story from my childhood movie, The Fox and the Hound 2.

So, for now, enjoy the first chapter of my story.

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

In a beautiful morning, the sun rose from the horizon, and shined the busy streets and buildings of Los Angeles. Birds were now flying in groups, a few vehicles were already driving on the road, and people just woke up and ate some breakfast. It was a busy city, but not as busy as a group of former criminals/vigilantes whose hideout was under the bridge of the 6th Street Viaduct.

An alarm clock suddenly rang, until a green fin slammed it down to turn it off. Mr. Piranha, the short but strong and terrible Bad Guy, woke up exhaustingly on his little bed. He didn't want to get up in the morning, but every day was another day. All his friends couldn't do whatever they wanted without one would still be in their room. Piranha let out a big yawn before sitting up on his bed. He stared at the pictures of himself and his friends on the wall, having great moments with each other. Piranha smiled as he was happy to be living here in America with his friends ever since he left his home country, Bolivia.

Piranha tiredly left his bedroom while rubbing one eye with his fin. When he was headed to the fridge, he noticed on the calendar that it was his week to take out the trash. That was just great. He just woke up, and now he found out it was his turn to take out the trash. Well, everyone on the team got their part, so this was his part now. Piranha marched away to pick up all the trash around the hideout to take them away.

He came out of the tunnel, carrying a huge garbage bag. The bag was so big and heavy for a small little guy, but Piranha could handle carrying this bag. He is the "muscle" of the team! He could carry heavier than a ton of bricks. No harm was done to this little guy. His team's hideout was located under the 6th Street Viaduct bridge, so taking out the trash would be a lot. They had to keep their location hidden, despite their reputation having changed. The trash bins were somewhere up from the hideout, and someone had to search for the trash bins. And that someone had to be Piranha. It was his day to take out the trash after all.

Piranha took the long way to find the trash bin. Expectedly, he stepped on the gum. Luckily, it was on the sewer lid. He had to kick the gum off his shoe and leave it on the sewer lid.

Piranha: Lights up on Los Angeles, up at the break of day I wake up and I got this little waste I gotta throw away Pop the grate at the crack of dawn Sing while I walk down the alley

Hey, what's up, papa?

Finally, he found a trash bin at the side of the road. Surprisingly, Piragua Guy was traveling with a cart of Piragua.

Piragua Guy: Ice cold piragua! Parcha China Cherry Strawberry And just for today, I got mamey!

Piranha then encountered the Piragua guy with a friendly greeting...

Piranha: Oye, piragüero, como estas?

Piragua Guy: Como siempre, Señor Piranha

Piragua guy handed a cup of piragua to Piranha for free, and proceeded to push his cart to sell more of his piragua.

Piranha appreciated Piragua Guy's offer as he continued singing while heading back to his hideout.

Piranha: I am Piranha, you probably already heard my name Reports of my looks are greatly exaggerated Exacerbated by the fact that my syntax Is highly complicated 'cuz I emigrated To the single greatest little place in the USA: Living the Bad Guy lifestyle! I love it! Ah man, I'm a front of it And beyond that Ever since I left my fam I haven't gone back For now, I gotta get on lots...

When he arrived at the hideout, Piranha headed to the fridge to make breakfast, but he found out that something was wrong...

Piranha: No good ingredients? Hold up a second Why is everything in this fridge plain and lacking? Let's just go outside now, explore the streets 'Cuz no vibrant tastiness for the early breakfast isn't light and sweet!

Just then, Wolf came out from his bedroom, "Hey, Piranha!"

"Wolf, we don't have enough to make a good breakfast," Piranha reported.

"Oh, we can go to FasTogether. We can head there for a cheaper meal."

"Nice!"

Piranha: That was my amigo, Wolf, you already know how he surfed He practically brought me here, this territory is his turf Now you're probably thinking: "Is this a life of crime?"

Then, Snake came out of the room, rubbing his eye with his tail, "Is it already wake-up time?"

The other two Bad Guys came out from their respective rooms as well, just woken up from bed.

Piranha: Well, you never know the pack Hands on wheel, picked me up to teach me how to never lose a step back Keep the crew together for goals, take them to the escalator I hope you're writing this down, I'm gonna test ya later

Ignoring Piranha just suddenly singing for no reason, the other Bad Guys proceeded to the elevator where their car was, and Piranha just followed them while singing

Piranha: We already passed the test, on another level Change the views, switch sides, but only temporal Fighting to wisen up, mischief for loosening up And ever since our work rise up Our lives and shells became strong and tough And to us, that's just enough

The Bad Guys hopped into the car, fastened their seatbelts, and Wolf drove out of the tunnel from their hideout. They found a way to head into the road, and headed to Boyle Heights, where most of the residents started singing about their everyday lives.

Boyle Heights residents: In the heights I flip the lights and start my day There are fights And endless dreams And prices to pay

In the Heights I can't survive without café I serve café Yet the future seems like a million years away!

En Boyle...

Meanwhile, back at the Bad Guys' car, the song continued with Piranha.

Piranha: Next up to my side, there's Snake Doesn't deal with anything flakey But he's good at being shady And behind me was Shark, his heart is caring and tender My big brother who knows the strings, used the plaster

Snake: Piranha, are you singing again?

Piranha: Got to get into the good mood, chico!

Snake: Just pick up the pace, don't keep us waiting

Shark: It's still right up ahead there, babe

Piranha: Yeah, a man's gotta dream...

Wolf: Don't mind him, he's all excited 'Cuz he'll be meeting his bug again!

Piranha: (immediately blushing) Don't look at me, I have been expecting him to cook all morning this week!

Tarantula: FasTogether runs all night

All: There's plenty to eat!

As the Bad Guys arrived at their favorite restaurant, Wolf parked the car on the sidewalk, and, just in time, two ladies they knew just crossed the crosswalk.

A journalist mother was followed by her daughter, who copied the former's every move when they walked the crosswalk.

Mira: And then, Mira walks into the room... With Mariposa and new dooms! Another blonde ditz today Refusing to groom the tomb

It's true! He protests he's innocent his whole life.

Piranha: Mira

Mira: Court says he burnt workers like smores.

Piranha: Mariposa

Mira: But his autocrats will give him more!

The Bad Guys: No way! Seriously?!

Piranha: That's right. The Rose girls!

Mira and Mariposa: Hey, Piranha!

Mira and Mariposa waved at the Bad Guys, who waved back at them before heading towards the door of the restaurant. Piranha was left behind and Mariposa rushed towards him and hugged her favorite babysitter.

"Will you babysit me again?" The little girl asked.

"Si, chica. Sure I will," Piranha rustled her hair, making Mariposa giggle.

"Mariposa!" Mira called out to her daughter, gesturing that it was time to go.

Mariposa released Piranha from the hug and skipped along to follow her mother before turning back to her favorite babysitter, and squeaked, "Bye!"

Piranha smiled back before getting interrupted by his female friend.

"Piranha!" Tarantula called, who was waiting at the door, "Come on!"

"Chillax, chica, you know you love me!" Piranha teased.

Tarantula rolled her eyes as she crawled in, and Piranha caught up with her.

Inside the restaurant, the Bad Guys were standing in line to get to the counter to order their food. A lot of people were hungry this morning. There were a lot of customers ordering food.

Piranha: Just a little quip from Webs, like a boring sister Her sarcasm makes blisters And now, you know how we roll With a shining camera we control People used to come and go when around us But you see now, nobody is giving any fuss Everybody's got a role, everybody's got a dream Yet complain as I sip my coffee and smirk While watching the good ones hop to work You can hear the: "One dollar, two dollars, one fifty, one sixty-nine. I got it. You want a box of muffins? What kind? That's two quarters. Two-quarter soda. Done in no time. You need a bag for that? The tax is added." Once you get some practice at it You see how they get everything automatically Getting scrambled eggs, sprinkle sugar on the cream and practically Everybody's wins, yes! Just already passed the mess, Tick the checks, wonder what's next

The song continued with the people of Boyle Heights singing the story of their morning.

Boyle Heights residents: In the heights I buy my coffee and I go (I buy my coffee and I go) Set my sights On only what I need to know

In the heights Can be tight But even so When the lights go down, I blast my radio!

Just then, Chief Luggins burst into the restaurant, just in time the Bad Guys finally reached the counter to order with the restaurant owners, Mr. and Mrs. Gardener, took care of taking orders.

Chief Luggins: You ain't got no skills

Piranha: And that's Chief Luggins

Chief Luggins: Yo, lemme get a

Mrs. Gardener: One sausage and egg muffin)

Chief Luggins: Yup, and lemme also get a—

Wolf: (Daily News)

Chief Luggins: And a—

Shark: (Post)

Chief Luggins: And the most important, my...

Mr. Gardener: Favorite coffee, one cream

Snake and Tarantula: Two sugars!

Chief Luggins: I'm the number one earner (What?!) The fastest learner (What?!) At least I know every alley and corner

Wolf: (Yeah, you can)

Chief Luggins: I'm makin' moves, I'm makin' deals, but guess what?

Piranha: (What?)

Chief Luggins: You still ain't got no skills!

Piranha: (Hardee-har)

Chief Luggins: Hornet's gonna show up yet?

Piranha: Shut up

Shark: Hey, little brother, don't get so upset

Piranha: Man...

Wolf: Tell Hornet how you feel, maybe steal a meal

Or you'll be hearing

Wolf, Snake, Shark, Tarantula, Mr. Gardener, Mrs. Gardener, and Chief Luggins: You got no skills

Just then, it was Hornet's turn as he came out from the kitchen, carrying a tray of food, and his co-workers danced in two lines and both sides.

Hornet: Nooo! No no nooo! No no nooo, no-no-no! Nooo, no-no-no! No-no-no-no-no-no-no-no, no-no-no-no-no!

Stay on sight, eyes forward until you've done the deposit It's all on my hands, no time to search through my pockets One spill from the cup, one slip, should not rock it Keep your head high now, you're already out of the closet

No, no, don't let this fall down...

While Hornet flew towards the customers' table with their order, the Bad Guys, Mr and Mrs. Gardener, and chief Luggins watched him while waiting for Piranha to make his move.

Tarantula: Yo, here's your chance; ask him out right now!

Hornet: Work's nearly done, maybe I should have a raise.

Wolf: Do something, make your move, don't be fazed!

After Hornet served the food the customers' ordered, Piranha bravely walked towards Hornet, and lightly poked him on the back to get his boyfriend's attention.

Piranha: Hey!

Hornet: You owe me a bottle of cold champagne!

Piranha: Work doing alright?

Hornet: Just longer work for credit and I'll be on the rich train!

Piranha: Well, the victory dinner is on me...

Hornet: Okay!

Wolf: Piranha, ask him out

Shark: No way!

Hornet: I'll see you later, so...

Hornet gave Piranha a wink before heading back to the kitchen to continue working, and Piranha just dreamingly watched him go, hoping he'll see his boyfriend later for another date.

The trance was interrupted when other Bad Guys, Mr. and Mrs. Gardener, and Chief Luggins burst into laughter for Piranha being too slow and speechless to speak up to Hornet, not to mention too slow to reach his real goal in life.

Wolf: Oooh... Smooth operator, aw, damn, there she goes! Yo, bro, take five, take a walk outside! You look exhausted, lost, don't let life slide! The whole hood is struggling, times are tight And you're stuck to this corner like a streetlight!

Taking his friend's advice, Piranha headed outside for some fresh air, and, all of a sudden, the residents of Boyle Heights were on the streets, dancing to the beat of the song in the background.

Piranha: Yeah, I'm a streetlight, chokin' on the heat The world spins around while I'm frozen to my seat The people that I know all keep on rollin' down the street But every day is different so I'm switchin' up the beat

Cause I came here with nothing, searching for a little more And sure, it can look poor, at least there's the front door And it's all about the legacy that created me, it's destiny And one day I'll be on a beach with governors writing checks to me

Boyle Heights residents: In the Heights, I hang my flag up on display

Piranha: We came to work and to live and we got a lot in common

Boyle Heights residents: It reminds me that I came from miles away

Piranha: No need to look, we are not stopping

Boyle Heights residents: In the Heights Every day, we work all day

Piranha: Until the day we go from being broke to being free

Boyle Heights residents: In the Heights I've got today!

Piranha: And today's all we got, so we cannot stop This is our block!

Boyle Heights residents: In the Heights I hang my flag up on display

Piranha: (Lo le lo le lo lai lai lo le!)

Boyle Heights residents: It reminds me that I came from miles away (Before I came from miles away...) In the Heights It gets more difficult every day

Piragua Guy: (Every day)

Boyle Heights residents: And tonight is so far away...

Piranha: But as for mañana, mi pana Ya gotta just keep watchin'

Boyle Heights residents: (In the Heights!)

Piranha: You'll see the late nights You'll feel the bright sights

Boyle Heights residents: (In the Heights!)

Piranha: Blossom and the green ice I ain't gonna say it twice

Boyle Heights residents: (In the Heights!)

Piranha: So turn up the stage lights We're takin' a flight To a couple of days in the life of what it's like

All: In Boyle Heights!

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

The scene all changed when Piranha smiled while humming and having his eyes closed. Turned out, the whole musical number was just in Piranha's head. Everything was all in his head, his daydream.

The Bad Guys were in FasTogether, but they dined outside instead as the restaurant was still in ruins. It was still under renovation, so the customers were told to be dining outside. Business was still going to earn enough money for the renovation.

"Hey, Piranha! Wake up!" Shark shook Piranha awake from his daydream by shaking his shoulder.

The little fish snapped away to reality as he didn't know what just happened while he was daydreaming, "What? What happened?"

"You were humming for 15 minutes! You haven't eaten your food yet!" Snake said while pointing at a fried fish sandwich that Piranha ordered.

"Oh, right!" Piranha quickly grabbed the sandwich, and took a bite from it.

The Bad Guys were sitting on the table with an umbrella on top, shading themselves from the heat and the brightness of the sun.

Shark was still chewing on his burger, but he was uncomfortable dining outside "I hate eating outside. I wish we could eat inside. There's air conditioning there."

Wolf sighed as he explained while pointing to the restaurant, which had cardboards covering the windows, but it was dark and dusty inside, "Ever since the FasTogether kitchen burned down, Mr. and Mrs. Gardener had to make a lot of renovation in this place. The business is still going but there's a lot of adjustments for the time being."

As the other members of the Bad Guys understood, Piranha was fiddling with his sandwich as he thought of something or someone else than a burning restaurant interior, "Is Hornet coming after his shift?"

"Well, you know that bug. He wanted to change and forget his past. He'll come around at his own pace," Tarantula noted.

"I... guess so," Piranha hoped.

Ever since he and Hornet started dating, Piranha wanted to hang out more with him, but Hornet had been caught up with work, they dated less than usual on the first time of their relationship.

Speaking of Hornet, he arrived just in time in front of their table after serving another customer, "Hey guys."

"Hornet!" The Bad Guys greeted him happily.

"Did I miss anything?" The bug asked eagerly.

"Your boyfriend here really missed you. Isn't that sweet?" Tarantula cooed.

This made Piranha feel a little embarrassed that Tarantula tattled about his feelings, and Piranha looked awkwardly at Hornet, who was also blushing surprisingly.

Piranha wanted to drop the topic it was a little awkward and continued eating his sandwich.

Hornet snapped out of it as he was trying to stay focused on his job, "So... uh, here's your receipt." He put the receipt down on the table.

Wolf then pulled a 5-dollar bill from his pocket, "And here's your tip."

"Thanks, Wolf," Hornet happily accepted the money, even though the whole group shared the same money. It didn't matter. Coming from his friends made him so happy, "I'll meet you guys later at lunchtime. Mr. and Mrs. Gardener gave me a half-day for my hard work."

"That's great, Hornet." Snake smiled, feeling proud of his bug friend.

"Maybe we can do a little heist again?" Piranha suggested.

"Sure," "Hornet nodded smilingly. He liked the sight of Piranha, his best friend... his boyfriend. He really loved this fish, and he'd do anything for him, even if he had to sacrifice his work for him. The insect then shook his head to snap out of his thoughts, and said, "I'll see you later, guys." He flew off back into the restaurant to get some more orders as his friends waved goodbye to him.

Though Piranha expected something from Hornet, he didn't want to request it because of work, so Piranha just dropped it, and looked down, feeling a bit disappointed that Hornet forgot something. To his surprise, Hornet returned to Piranha's side, and said, "Almost forgot!" he kissed him on the cheek, "Bye!" He then flew away as fast as he could back into the restaurant.

Piranha was very surprised by that. He couldn't believe Hornet had almost forgotten yet did what he wanted from him. Guess this is what it's going to be from now on. Now that they're boyfriends, their relationship would evolve into romance. The feeling was new to both of them, but Piranha loved it hard, and wanted to stay that way with Hornet.

As soon as Hornet left, the Bad Guys finished up their food, and threw away their trash.

"Come on, we have to head back to the hideout," Wolf noted as he led his friends to their car on the sidewalk.

Piranha just finished his sandwich before throwing the wrapper away. Before he could follow his friends, he looked back at the restaurant, still thinking about Hornet. He wished he could see him sooner than lunchtime. Piranha quickly ran to the car before his friend would leave him behind.

As Wolf drove the car on the road of Boyle Heights, Piranha looked out the window, and began to wonder that, if these people worked really hard for their dreams, he wished he could reach his someday. He hoped there would be a sign for him to reach that dream.

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

The beginning of the chapter is a reference from In The Heights which Anthony Ramos was starred in. I even used the opening song from the movie from this chapter. I had been studying the location of the Bad Guys' hideout under 6th St. Viaduct bridge, and I found out it was near Boyle Heights, a neighborhood in Los Angeles, California, located east of the Los Angeles River, so that was why I decided to use the reference of the opening song of In The Heights.

Special thanks to TU4QU0I53T4IAN6L3 for helping me with the song lyrics. There were a lot of lyric changes for this song to fit Piranha and the Bad Guys universe.

In this story, Piranha and Hornet are a couple, but ever since their official relationship, they haven't gone out on a real date yet due to Hornet's working schedule.

FasTogether finally appeared and was still in business since its incident in The Bad Guys season 1 chapter "The Bad Blog". It is also shown that FasTogether restaurant was located in Boyle Heights, despite being an All-American restaurant.

Mira Rose and her daughter Mariposa only appeared in Piranha's musical daydream. Mira was "voiced" by Stephanie Beatriz who also appeared in "In The Heights" movie with Anthony Ramos as one of the Salon Ladies. In this story, she sang the Salon Ladies' verse from the original song. As a reporter, Mira's verse indicated Former President Donald Trump's current news.

I hope you like my first chapter of The Bad Guys: The Musical so far. This was a really good story to write. See you guys soon!

Next

[austin-in-taiwan]

July 15 - Taipei - Chiang Kai-Shek memorial, Shilin night market

Today was another very eventful day with tons of Taiwanese history and food! However, we did have a free morning today. How did I spend it? Since the time difference is +12 hours compared to home in Florida, I woke up at 8 AM to watch the Argentina v Colombia Copa America final. If you know anything about this final, you would also see that it not only went into overtime (+30 more minutes of gameplay) but also was delayed an hour and a half because of fans without tickets storming the stadium to try to get in. So, unfortunately, I spent my entire morning trying to watch this game. However, I filled the rest of my day with great food, and the itinerary was exciting, so that made up for it.

Jacob, Jack, Andy, and I went to a nearby beef noodle shop that was recommended by an Uber driver the night before. It was really good (picture below)! After that, we had an hour-long classroom session, during which I did some reading about the Chiang Kai-Shek personality cult!

Then, we traveled to the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall. It was one of the most amazing memorials I've been to. We were even able to catch the changing of the guards, which is very similar to one in Virginia at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Chiang Kai-Shek's statue was comparable to the Lincoln Memorial in terms of size and his position (sitting down). Downstairs, there was also a very cool exhibit about his life, and it included both a section praising him and one talking about his negatives!

After that, we traveled to the Grand Hotel! The view was absolutely stunning. A wall was filled with pictures of famous people who had visited and events that had occurred there. President Eisenhower, Reagan, Nixon, and Clinton had all visited the hotel before.

Finally, we ended our day at the Shilin night market. I tried numerous foods, including bao buns, peanut roll ice cream, a Korean cheese hotdog, pork skewers, and green tea. All in all, it was a great dinner, and I really enjoyed the Shilin market!

Academic Reflection

Throughout the guided tours and the reading I completed, I learned much about Taiwan's history, especially Chiang Kai-shek. I knew very little about Chiang Kai-Shek before today. All I knew was that he was a leader of Taiwan! So, after doing some independent research, I learned about his involvement in the Republic of China, WWII with China, the Chinese Civil War, his relocation to Taiwan, and his legacy as a leader here. Furthermore, from the article in my textbook for this program, I learned some fascinating information about how Chiang Kai-Shek developed a personality cult. Despite the absence of specific agencies or direct orders from him instigating this, several independent organizations played a role in its emergence. Competitions among artists were held to create statues and paint portraits of him, roads were named in his honor, and his photos were displayed in schools and military institutions, which also took part in celebrations dedicated to him. These collective efforts and many more fostered this "personality cult" for Chiang Kai-Shek among the Taiwanese.

Throughout the tour, I also learned a lot about the history of Chiang Kai-Shek and Taiwan from our tour guide, Peter, and the museum. First, I learned how Taiwan has transformed into a democracy after Chiang Kai-Shek and his son's rule (they both ruled until they died). It was super interesting to see how Taiwan is rated a much better democracy than the US (the US didn't even break the top 20 democracies in the world). Furthermore, I learned how the view on Chiang Kai-Shek is very split. Many people still praise him (probably party as a result of the personality cult), but also there are now many people who condemn him for his authoritarian style of rule, cultural suppression, and especially the 228 incident ( a violent crackdown on anti-government protests in 1947) which lead to thousands of Taiwanese civilians deaths.

[spudkid]

January 6th -

Today was a morning tour of Ho Chi Minh City. First stop was the Post Office, a vast grand building still in use today.

If you enlarge the interior photo, you’ll see a picture Uncle Ho on the back wall. Next stop, Reunification Palace…

The old Presidential Palace was bombed in 1965 by the NVA. After the war, they decided to tear it down and build a new one. Since the government was now centered in Hanoi, it was renamed Reunification Palace. We learned that in Vietnam, there were three wars. First the China War in the 1400’s, next the French War 1946 and finally the American War, the one we call the Vietnam War. Interesting to hear the history as told by our guide, the son of an NVA officer. All parties in a conflict have their perspectives and truths. He was speaking to us based on his life.

After the tour, I was talking to Rich from Colorado who served in Vietnam 1968-9. He said it was eye opening to hear our guide’s perspective! I give him credit for being able to see the other side.

Last stop was a shop where they make lacquer painting. It is a form of painting with lacquer which was practised in East Asia for decoration on lacquerware, and found its way to Europe and the Western World both via Persia and the Middle East and by direct contact with Continental Asia. You’ll see below that Tish was listening carefully!

Had our welcome dinner tonight. 61 fellow travelers. We sat with Mike and Janine (two Australians who are now citizens of the US and live in Orlando) and John and Susan (retired farmers from Australia). Very fun night and great conversation!

I’ll leave you tonight with this video of a typical intersection in Ho Chi Minh City where it’s every man for himself. If you close your eyes, all the motorcycles and scooters sound like a swarm of bees!

[manekinoodle]

(a heist in China, at the Great Wall)

Chains: Care to give us a tour?

Duke: This wall was used to defend from the nomadic tribes in the steppe that you can see out... this way.

Sydney: So... it wasn't built to keep the rabbits out? Who made this, then?

Duke: This particular section was built in the Ming dynasty, why?

Sydney: So it wasn't made by Emperor Nasi Goreng???

(based off here which is a classic aussie ad)

[rkhemlani]

June 11th - Himeji-jo

I could not sleep too much last night, so I did some laundry at like 3 in the morning, after going out with Chelsea, Julie, Casey, Nico, and Sam. After that I woke up at 7:45ish and went straight downstairs for 8:00 breakfast. The American breakfast is pretty bad in comparison to Japanese breakfast, I can’t lie. After showering, doing a quiz, and going to class, the group headed to Kyoto station for a two hour train ride to the castle town of Himeji. The ride offered beautiful views of the water. After getting there around noon, most of us guys (Nico, Xander, Sebastian, Sam, Bryce, Vishnu, and I) headed to an Indian restaurant near the train station. Everyone really liked it, but I did not think it was as good as the first place we went to in Tokyo. Sam also got a really upset stomach afterwards, so much so that he couldn’t fully tour the castle. I’m not sure if many people liked this castle because it was on top of a hill and we had a lot of climbing to do, but I thought the white color of the castle was particularly unique and I found that the architecture and interior design of the rooms was simple, yet clean as they contrasted the white walls with dark wooden floors and rock structures. The castle also offered beautiful views of the surrounding town, and we took several pics. I was really hoping there was a rooftop bar once I got to the top of all those stairs, because a drink with those views would have been amazingThere was also a well nearby that had a ghost story about a woman who had been thrown down there after breaking one of her master’s pieces of fine china. It is rumored that people hear her counting from one to nine at night because she is searching for the tenth dish that she broke. We headed back to Kyoto and I got some much needed sleep on the train.

Academic Reflection

The castle towns such as the one we visited today, we predominantly controlled and operated by the daimyos, who sat in the castles overlooking the city below. As we learned per last night’s reading, these daimyos established the groundwork for the design of the city, and they would usually accommodate uninvited commoners to move into their town by relocating farms and temples to set aside areas for commoner districts. The readings from last night also dove into great detail about the construction of these castles, which differed slightly from European castles. One aspect that separated castles from these regions is that Japanese castles were built upon the mountains or hills and did not use the great, high walls that the European castles implemented. Furthermore, the Japanese castles, such as Himeji-jo that we visited today, were very simply built on the inside, with dark wooden floors, sliding panels for doors, etc. This is in contrast to many European castles that prided themselves on the intricate art and details that decorate the castles. This castle in particular seemed to be primarily built up into the air, as we had to climb at least a dozen sets of stairs to reach the top of the castle, whereas many European castles are built more level on the ground but are wider and are often not as tall as the castle we visited today.

[hopelessromantic1352]

RCDAW Day 5 - New York Plus Two

Just a couple days later 🤦🏼‍♀️ Now my life has settled down, hopefully I can get caught up because today is the last day of Red Carpet Diaries Appreciation Week 2022. This has been super fun and although we haven’t had much participation, but it’s all good. I really slacked on this one and only used the one word prompt.

Prompt will be in bold.

Thomas tags: @choicesrcd2022 @alj4890

RCDAW tags: @alleksa16 @kuladekiwi @lilyoffandoms @moodyvalentinestories

Warnings: none

****

After realizing her brother and Addison would be a perfect couple, Natalia knew she must fly her friend to New York for Christmas. She and Thomas decided to stay a full week and her family, mostly her mother, doesn’t mind the extra guest. Most of their time in New York has been relaxing and consisted of all sorts of Christmas activities. Not to mention all the dates Thomas has taken her on. Many five star restaurants have been tried or revisited and both have favorites they’ve found together.

“Landon, mother, we are home.” Natalia leads Addison and the suitcase toting Thomas into the foyer before Mr. DuBois helps them with her luggage and coats.

The blonde marvels at the estate, running her fingers across the delicate woodwork that the mantle dons. Her eyes trace each piece of artwork on the walls and each statue setting atop one of the many tables.

“Is that a true Monet? A real one?!” She squeals quietly, rushing over to it, admiring each and every brushstroke.

“Indeed, it is.” Landon strides in, wearing an easy smile while his unruly chestnut hair is freshly trimmed and combed into place. “I am Landon York, Natalia’s brother.”

Addison freezes when the handsome young man extends his hand, her eyes widening slightly at the sight of him. His olive skin is perfect and his smile could rival many of the multimillion dollar, heartthrob actor’s.

“I—erm—“

“This is Addison Sinclaire. A very talented fashionista.” Natalia nudges her friend with an elbow.

Clearing her throat and pushing hair off her reddened cheeks, she takes Landon’s hand, shaking it. “It’s so nice to meet you. Nat has told me so much about you.”

Quietly pulling Thomas away from her intended targets, Natalia whispers into his ear, “I think it’s working.”

She smiles towards her brother and her friend talking and standing close together as they admire the art around the foyer. Soon, Landon leads Addison to the great room, giving her a tour.

“Natalia, are you certain this is the best idea?” Thomas’ deep voice is hushed as he wraps an arm around her waist.

Her shoulders raise and fall in a shrug, “Worst case scenario, they never see one another again. Best case… my brother and my friend will become what each other needs.”

He squeezes her waist, sighing quietly, “I do hope your idea works and does not hurt either in the process.”

She turns in his arm and places her hands on his chest, smoothing out his blazer. “I’ll believe for the best outcome. I just want to see them both happy.”

“As will I.” He kisses her softly, cupping her cheek with a gentle hand and rubs his thumb across her cheekbone.

By the time dinner was served, Addi and Landon had started becoming quite close. Thankfully, Mr. York had a prior engagement and would not be present for dinner, so the mood is light and cheerful. Quiet Christmas music plays while the clinking of silverware on fine china accents it. Most of the conversations have died since the food has been served, save for the two sitting together and whispering between laughs.

“Landon, perhaps you two would like to share what is so amusing?” Their mother looks at him with a neutral expression, but her eyes hold a glimmer of mischief.

A deep red flush spreads across his handsome face, but Addison just smiles brightly.

“I was just telling Landon, since I’ve been here, I’ve thought about starting a clothing line for all the statues that are naked. The sculptors were so inconsiderate.”

Thomas nearly chokes on his bite of beef Wellington, he hurriedly swallows before glaring at his former student and taking a sip of water.

Mrs. York just laughs, dabbing the corners of her mouth with a cloth napkin, shaking her head in amusement. “I’ve often wondered why they must show the human body so freely myself.”

Rubbing his back and holding back a smile, Natalia looks at the flustered Thomas, still glaring and scowling at Addison who just beams at him. He leans over to Nat, pressing his lips against her ear and bracing his hand on the back of her chair.

“You’ve created a monster, Miss York.” His lips subtly brush against her cheek before he sits straight again, shooting Addi a warning glance.

A simple grin is her only response and Thomas just moves his scowl to the woman next to him.

Once the plates have been cleared and everyone is full from a four course dinner Addison stands and claps her hands together excitedly. “Can we take a picture?”

“A photograph? But why?” Landon quirks a brow at the beautiful blonde standing next to him, he looks up to her with a smile across his face.

She proceeds to grab his hand and pull him up to stand with her before looking at the rest of the group. “Because! It’s our first dinner together and all of you mean so much to me. You’ve made me feel like a part of the family.”

Wearing a motherly smile, Elizabeth stands and nods. “I agree. This is a memory I’ll cherish for a long time.”

Her soft gaze slowly travels from her son and the woman who has grabbed his attention to her daughter and Thomas. All she has ever wanted was her children to be happy, seeing them happy in this moment, it means they must savor it.

The group gathers in front of one of the fireplaces when Carlton, the butler, comes up to the family. “Would you like me to take the photo for you?”

“Nonsense.” Natalia gently grabs the older man’s arm and pulls him into the group. “You will be in the photo with us, Mr. DuBois. You are family as well.”

Thomas grumbles quietly being squished between Natalia and Addison, scowling at the blonde when she hugs him tightly with one arm. Natalia ignores his grumpiness and focuses on the way her brother’s arm wraps around Addison’s waist, pulling her smaller body tight against his.

Addi looks up to the man next to her who has quickly turned her hopeless romantic ideas into beliefs since she met him.

He’s so charming, kind, funny, and handsome.

Their eyes meet and Landon’s smile grows as he gazes into her blue eyes.

Carlton got a younger maid to take the photo, and thankfully for Thomas’ sake, she didn’t take ten minutes to simply get one good photo. Before anyone else could look at the picture, Addison squeals while she reviews it. As the whole group gathers around, smiles grow wider.

Thomas pulls Natalia a ways away to kiss her softly and hold her close to him for a moment.

“I believe you can also add matchmaker to your list of talents.” As he releases her from his embrace, they both watch as Landon leads Addison off towards the large windows overlooking the city. “I’ve noticed how they’ve begun looking at one another. It reminds me of us.”

Her brother’s fingers are laced with Addison’s and Natalia feels her heart swell at the sight. She looks up to Thomas, only to find his gaze on her already. His eyes soften as he leans down and kisses her forehead.

“Every woman deserves a man to look upon her like you look at me.”

Thomas smiles when she rests her head on his chest, tightening his arm around her shoulders.

It was a perfect evening, for Christmas cheer and love was in the air.

[leslie-lyman]

I know we're drooling over his Great Wall press tour but babes, the bracelets he is wearing are killing me.

THANK YOU. For real, what is the deal there? And is it multiple bracelets, or one long strand looped multiple times? I honestly wonder if like, he got them or was given them while in China. His accessories are so chaotic sometimes. 😂

(I also just love his stance here. What. A. Goober.)

[wildgreatwall]

Ready to explore the Great Wall of China? Let us take care of the transportation! Book a driver or tour with us and receive a FREE Great Wall refrigerator magnet or canvas bag. Limited time offer, so act fast! https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpys47aOC0P/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[beijingbrown]

February 2023 Mix: Rahman Magic Orchestra

February 2023: 2 of 12 mixtapes connecting the music of my childhood (Tamil pop) and the music that influenced me (sinophone indie) to the music of my new home (The Netherlands). This month: A.R.Rahman to Das Wettbüro, via Nazia Hassan and Agnès Gayraud's theory pop. Also: Themes for Great Cities.

Tracklist: A.R. Rahman - Chandralekha (from Thiruda Thiruda, 1993) Yellow Magic Orchestra - キュー "Cue" (1981) Nation of Language - Wounds of Love (2021) Nazia Hassan - Telephone Pyaar (1987) Julia Holter - Everytime Boots (2015) 亲爱的艾洛伊丝 Dear Eloise - 她的歌 "Song for Her" (2012) Yuvan Shankar Raja - Jalsa (from Chennai 600028, 2007) La Féline - Dancing (2022) Folie 2 - SG Suprasound (2022) A.R. Rahman - Kannum Kannum (from Thiruda Thiruda, 1993) Das Wettbüro - Ungerade 19/36 (2022)

Notes:

A.R. Rahman - Chandralekha (from Thiruda Thiruda, 1993) A.R. Rahman - Kannum Kannum (from Thiruda Thiruda, 1993)

'Thiruda Thiruda' was the first music album I remember being impressed by, and some of the earliest music I remember acknowledging as good. I've never seen the film the music was written for.

Yellow Magic Orchestra - キュー "Cue" (1981)

For me, YMO was the band (after Linkin Park) that only access to the internet made visible. For me as a (not upper class) teen in India, there was no local circuit of record shops or alternative radio where I'd pick up on something like YMO. Early dial-up and Napster changed that.

Nation of Language - Wounds of Love (2021) The most important concerts I saw in 2022 were Nation of Language in Amsterdam, and Nation of Language in Iceland.

Nazia Hassan - Telephone Pyaar (1987) I was too young for the "indipop" wave of the 90s but, like Japanese city pop, its the stylistic predecessors of the buzzword that deserve wider recognition, like the extended discography of Nazia Hassan or the work that labels like Naya Beat and Discostan are doing.

Julia Holter - Everytime Boots (2015) I was part of the team that toured Julia Holter in China in 2015, and I was the band's local tour handler in Beijing. The group left a huge impression on me - one of my fondest memories of Beijing is the band singing acapella on the Great Wall under a crisp, blue-skied Beijing winter day. I like to think i left an impression on them as well....Julia did tweet about me once 😳

亲爱的艾洛伊丝 Dear Eloise - 她的歌 "Song for Her" (2012) For two years, I made the daily playlists at Jing-A's bars in Beijing and the only time I've seen someone break down in joy at a song coming on is when this Dear Eloise song played at midnight on a Saturday. Yuvan Shankar Raja - Jalsa (from Chennai 600028, 2007) This song lent its name to my brother's extremely-popular blog, and was really of an era when I learned that the power of the early Internet was its uncanny ability to take the cringe errata of our pop culture and turn them into lasting friendships.

La Féline - Dancing (2022) I love this song so much. I also love that La Feline is the musical project of Agnes Gayraud, a theorist whose Dialectics of Pop is one of my favourite music books. Folie 2 - SG Suprasound (2022) Das Wettbüro - Ungerade 19/36 (2022)

Two extraordinary albums discovered on a recent trip to Dusseldorf, courtesy of local labels Themes for Great Cities and Candomble.

Thanks for listening!