#Humor & Entertainment

[danielleurbansblog]

Review: Whiskey Business

Synopsis: Opposites attract when a fish-out-of-water actress and a grumpy Scottish whisky distiller are forced to work together to save the business they both love. As a child, April Sinclair dreamt of escaping her quiet island life to become a world-famous actress. Now fully grown and with her once-flourishing career at an all-time low, what better way to figure out where it all went wrong…

[alpine6news]

Lincoln wax sculpture rebranded as Ford's Theatre Memorial statue

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A wax sculpture of President Abraham Lincoln, which recently made headlines for melting and nearly decapitating in the obtuse summer heat, has been relocated outside Ford’s Theatre and rebranded as a memorial to the fateful night the late president was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. The statue, which was originally located outside a local elementary school, was created by…

[megantheestallion-ismypresident]

Kai cenat Headcannons

● Kai loves constantly annoying or pulling pranks on you he just loves seeing get irritated. He pulled a prank on you, telling you to 'shut up' constantly every word you say. He was laughing but not too long since you beat his ass to get back at him. "Bro, ow why you gotta hit me like that, yo?" Kai said, rubbing his arms since you hit him so hard. "That's what yo ass get for pranking me, nigga." Y/n said laughing at him, as he glarer at you.

● He has you on your streams 24/7. His fans love you. They love the dynamic friendship y"all have together.

● He does the most dumbest shit and it you always have to get him out of it like it's annoying but it's funny as fuck.

● Nigga is a big back he may not look like a big back, but no he's a certified nig back nigga would be stealing or eating alot of food.

● If somebody tried to do something to you, he'd defend you.

● His mom and sister love and be teasing him since you guys would be a cute couple, but y'all brushed it off, y'all were just close.

●You're practically a part of Amp. His friends love you and are treated like a part of the group.

● Randomly dancing together.

● You'll scare him during his streams when he's playing a horror game.

● You tease him about being short. He only allows you to tease him, and he actually finds your jokes funny, to be honest.

● Y'all be doing crazy challenges together that can possibly make you both end up in the hospital.

● Try not to laugh videos with the rest of the amp members.

● That one time he brought nicki minaj on his stream, you were so happy because he knew how much you loved nicki and got a chance to meet her, Nicki liked you so much.

● You're his biggest supporter through everything, even through his ups and downs.

● Y"all be making secret joke no one could understand of how close you two are.

● Kai wanted to have you around every time through everything he appreciated you and is very glad to have as his best friend he couldn't be more grateful.

● If you were going through something with your mental health, he would always stop everything for you and would check up on you and make sure you're alright.

● When amp popularity soared, Kai became a household name, a beacon of positivity and laughter in a world of negativity, But through it all y/n remained by kai's side,being his confidant advisor and most important, his best friend.

● Kai and Y/n have the most infectious humor together and very entertaining qualities. You both are everything funny since y'all are both unserious and someone who can take his sense of humor.

● Kai is very humble and didn't let the fame change him. You'll expect a lot of support from his fans, friends, and family members. If kai was facing a lot of hate or backlash, you'll be listening to him rant and give him words if encouragement.

● Kai loves spoiling you he'll put you anything you want that you never had growing up. He bought you a car, and you were never much happier and more grateful. "Nah, what?? Yo, thank you for everything. You didn't have to do this." Y/n said, wiping the tears from her eyes as kai smiled at her. "No, you deserve it. we been through so much, and you were there through my ups and downs, you my best friend." Kai said as you both hugged each other longingly.

● Kai takes you everywhere together. Your friendship was never boring. He was taking you on trips traveling across the world. Attending exclusive events, meeting people, and just having fun, from red solo carpets, concerts, and having such a fun experience together.

● You never turned your back on kai even if he be annoying arms times, you would never be fake like everyone else Is on social media, you never talked shit about him ever and never used him for clout, you was like a sister to him.

● As y/n and Kai's friendship grew even stronger, they faced through challenges, good time, bad times, fame, but through it all, y'all were inseparable, bound together. Kai loves you, and he's lucky to have you by his side.

[tea-with-evan-and-me]

man about town interview | spring/summer 2014

for the tweam! click through for my best attempt at deciphering this (maybe impossible to find?) throwback interview

‘’I don’t think I’m scary at all. It was kind of funny watching myself being scary. Because I’m not scary.’’ Says Evan Peters, the up-and-coming up-for-anything actor best known for his extreme roles on American Horror Story, the prestige television series that treats social taboos as map points. For three seasons, Peters has excelled at playing against his offbeat boyishness by amping up his young Malcolm McDowell intensity, with results that fall somewhere between ‘’teen dream in strangler’s gloves’’ and ‘’terrifying Michael Cera.’’ He most recently appeared in American Horror Story: Coven as Kyle Spencer, the good-natured university student who is decapitated and then reanimated with the body parts of his Kappa Lambda Gamma brothers as a temperamental Rocky Horror who beats his sexually abusive mother to death with a trophy.

Over a bold chai tea with stevia, at a restaurant in Venice, California, Peters is lighthearted and dryly humorous, like a young Michael Shannon, with whom he should costar in a successful disturbing family sitcom. He wears black jeans, a well-worn t-shirt under a plaid flannel, and a necklace with a toy dinosaur pendant. He drives a 2004 Pontiac Vibe that he correctly describes as ‘’vintage’’; says that he just feels like growing his longish blond hair into a ponytail, and has a red thumbs-up permanently inked onto the to pof his right hand, that was traced over a nightclub door stamp. At one point, he raises his forearm to show off a temporary tattoo that he received the night before at the castle park family entertainment center in Sherman oaks. ‘’This is a Belle tattoo. It’s not real,’’ he explains playfully of a small portrait of the beautiful young heroine from the animated Disney film Beauty and the Beast. I tell him it’s very pretty. ‘’Thank you. She’s gorgeous,’’ he responds. I ask if Belle is his favorite Disney princess. ‘’Well, I picked her out. There was also Jasmine, Ariel and Cinderella. My other buddies got those.” ‘’What about Belle appeals to you?’’ ‘’She likes the Beast.’’ Peters says.

This summer, Peters appears as the teenage Mutant speeder Quicksilver in X-Men: Days of Future Past, the sequel to 2011’s X-Men: First Class, which has proven to be an eventful ??? movie. In October 2012, director Matthew Vaughn – who relaunched the franchise with much needed style and a new cast of young, indie + credible actors – left the film to be replaced by original trilogy director Bryan Singer. As such, fans were already touched when Singer announced that he would retell ‘’Days of Future Past,’’ the seminal X-Men time-travel storyline from 1980, an ambitious plan turned wild when he revealed that both franchises would merge into one. Cut to the 2012 San diego Comic-Con whereby unthinkable feats of scheduling – the sprawling casts of the modern-day first series and the 60’s era prequel (that include expensive names like Jennifer Lawrence, Hugh Jackmon, Halle Berry, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellan, Michael Fassbender, and so on). Convened with ??? new additions like Peters to unhinge popular culture. ‘’You think to yourself, ‘’wow, people really, really love this stuff.” And it makes you appreciate it more. It makes you work harder at it.’’ he says about the experience.

Peters’ role in the films is crucial but concise. ‘’It’s a huge, huge opportunity but I always make sure to tell people it’s just one scene. Easy, it's just one scene.’’ Peters says, as if talking down a rearing horse. Quicksilver has already been the subject of film industry chatter regarding lawful usage of the character, who is both the son of Magneto and a colleague of the Avengers, making him fair game for inclusion in both Days of Future Past and the 20n5 Avengers sequel (in which he will be played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson of Kick-Ass). An Empire magazine Preview of Quicksilver’s costume design was greeted with comparison to Kid Vid, a ‘90’s cartoon form of the Burger King ‘’Kid’s Club,’’ and the news that Peters had been saddled with the Halle Berry “rough wig’’ role. But his fan’s enthusiasm for the project—in which desperate X-Men from a dystopias future try to stave off mutant genocide by altering the present day—is undimmed. ‘’I think it’s the best film of the francise yet,’’ proclaims Peters. ‘’It’s pretty dire. It’s a pretty epic situation. But there’s definitely some humor in there. Its’s just badass, man.’’

Quicksilver is a departure for Peters in some ways if not others. Both X-Men and Horror Story are tight productions that take extensive precautions to protect story lines. Peters says that he did not receive the full script for X-Men until arriving at the Montreal location days before shooting. Horror Story pages are often delivered the night before a scene. The short lead time can demand a ??? almost improvisational acting process. ‘’The minute we get the script, plans are cancelled, dinner is cancelled,’’ he says about working on Horror Story. ‘’Some of it you’re like, ‘Oh shit, I have to do that?’ Screaming and crying, realizing that my whole body is pieced together and I’m not myself? I’ll probably have to work on that.’’

Peters owes his career to television. ‘’I was watching a lot of TV and I kind of wanted to be on the TV and in movies. I love movies and TV,’’ he says, and cites inspirations like Joaquin Phoenix, Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, George Clooney, JIM Carrey, Chris Farley, Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump, and the millennial teen comedies Even Stevens starring Shia Labeuof and So Little Time with Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. ‘’That sort of stuff. I just really wanted to be a part of it and loved acting and performing.’’ He moved to Los Angeles with is mother when he was 15 years old, and steadily won work in television, on shows including Phil of the Future (2004) and One Tree Hill (2008), and in movies like the independent films Clipping Adam (2004), his first big break, and later Kick Ass (2010). Being cast as Tate Langdon in the first season of American Horror Story in 2011 was his tipping point, playing a Skull Boy-faced high school shooter in a latex catsuit who rapes his girlfriend’s mother to please a ghost. He has since become one of the five main players to appear in all three season of the series, sterling company that includes Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, Lily Rabe and Frances Conroy.

Now the world gets to enjoy a lighter side of Peters, like when he appeared on a 2011 episode of the G4 networks Attack of the Show and blithely volunteered that he was working a a rap song called ‘’I’ll Tap That Fucking Ass.’’ He laughs off a request to recite a verse. ‘’I can’t. That never materialized. I tried but it was too much pressure. It was just a concept. I was just trying new ideas,’’ he says, and then volunteers a different musical direction. ‘’It’s called ‘Natch Snatch.’ Like all natural snatch. Big bush. Snatch. Cause it’s nice. You know, ‘girl, you’ve got that natch snatch.’ It’s another nice concept. Probably on the same album.’’ Peters laughs in agreement at the suggestion that he is a kook in the best sense of the word. ‘’I get called a weirdo sometimes,’’ he admits ‘’But it’s like, I don’t feel that weird. I don’t feel that different. I look at everybody else and I’m like, ‘’you’re a fucking weirdo, too. You like all of your shit. I like my shit.’’ Why does one have to be weird and one have to be normal? It doesn’t make any sense to me.’’ Meanwhile, he seems to be successfully negotiating his public and private persona. ‘’I’ll try to be myself as much as I can but you obviously can’t be who you are at home in your skivvies eating donuts. You can’t be that.’’ He explains, before confirming that guy exists, with his tongue sort-of-in-cheek. ‘’You bet he does. Yeah, definitely watching New Girl. Crying.’’ But while Peters seems fairly comfortable in the public eye, fame no longer interests him. The development is not unrelated to his intense, closely-watched relationship with fiancée and two-time costar Emma Roberts (on coven and in the 2013 ?? Adult World) ‘’When I was younger I was like, ‘’That would be awesome!’’ now I don’t particularly love it,’’ he says ‘’Emma gets paparazzi a lot, and because I’m with her we get paparazzi, so it’s kind of a weird thing that I don’t love. But it’s so small in the big picture of all the positives that come with this job that I can’t really complain about it.’’ he may be surprised by the attention he and Roberts receive, but he is hardly self-ptying. ‘’Honestly, it’s not that bad. If you don’t set up a Google alert on yourself and go out searching for it then you’re not going to see it. So I don’t see it.’’ Roberts has already endured the Hollywood learning curve that Peters is now experiencing. ‘’She gives me advice, like cut your hair. She likes my hair to look nice,’’ he says, and laughs. ‘’She’s been around and knows the ropes and how to play the game very well. And she has incredible social skills. She can talk to anyone and everyone loves talking to her. I’m not that good at that stuff so she kind of helps me out with that.’’ I wonder what guidance she offers him. ‘’You’ve just got to be personable and talk to people, even if you don’t want to. Put on a happy face and buck up. Grow a pair of balls. Don’t be a little wuss.’’ Petersa says, and laughs. ‘’I mean, she doesn’t say that, but you know what I mean.’’ 

Next for Peters is Lazarus, opposite Olivia Wilde, Donald Glover and Mark Duplass a 2015 feature from director David Gelb, known for the documentary Giro: Dreams of Sushi. Peters describes the project, about a team of brainiacs working magnanimously to reanimate the dead, as a “contained Sci-Fi horror thriller” as it mostly takes place in one laboratory setting. He plays the party animal scientist. Peters encouraging sidesteps the questions of his involvement in the next season of American Horror Story, to be set in 1950 and the present day, for which Jessica Lange is practicing a German accent. ‘’I don’t know what I’m allowed to say so I’m going to say no comment,’’ he says.

‘’At the end of the day it is acting. You want to go with the biggest, weirdest, boldest shit and see if you can actually do it and go there,’’ Peters concludes, ‘’I’m very curious about everything. I feel like I don’t know that much. I’m trying to learn it all and figure it all out.’’

[sshadowritestoriess]

Hello hello!! I hope you're having an amazing day/night!!

If you've got the time could you mayhaps do some general headcannons for genji with a hyper n silly friend :0? Whether you want to add romantic undertones or ideas into it is up to you; I'm fine either way!

Ty!! So cute! I tried my best!

Genji with a Hyper Friend

Nowadays it’s so wild to think you were once very intimidated by the ninja cyborg, a skilled hero who seemed far too complex and powerful for you to be anywhere near his league

But now he calls you his closest friend, and you both are nearly entirely inseparable

You’re far more extroverted than he is, with a sense of humor he likes and an energy that makes him think of himself when he was much younger

You’re familiar to him, something like a human embodiment of nostalgia that he wasn’t about to let go of anytime soon

You brought out the excitable side of him— even when he should be focused, and he usually is, just a glance from your direction makes him want to laugh. Some unspoken inside joke that only you both understood by merely a look

He always tried to match your vibe: if you were amped up, so was he, and if you were angry about something, he was sharing the same frustrations. (But sometimes he’d help bring you down a couple notches, especially if you were feeling particularly negative)

You both are full grown adults, you pay taxes and stress about healthcare. But that’s not stopping you from casually tapping his shoulder and whispering ‘tag’ after leaving a war meeting, only to immediately end up chased down a hall with a challenging “come on!” coming from behind you

He always finds you in the middle of the day to have lunch with him, both of you taking turns on deciding what to eat. Even if either of you don’t particularly like the other’s choice, you’ll always go. Made for some good pictures when one of you were trying something new

He didn’t take off his mask any other time except to share meals. He has a huge appreciation that you never asked about it, or requested to see his face. As hyper as you were, you wordlessly respected his privacy and that made him feel all the more closer to you

He loves hearing you talk. The stories of your youth, before you came to overwatch, were nothing short of entertaining. Even if it was a particularly sad or traumatizing event, the way you’d reiterate these things made it easy to hear— and sometimes laugh at, if humor was the way you’d cope with certain happenings

And he’d feel comfortable being able to do the same

Every now and again he’d come by your room unannounced as night fell, and just scroll through social media while laying on your bed. Just so he could be in your space and hear you talk— or chill in the silence (but seldom were you quiet for long)

Genji enjoys the peace of quiet. But there was so much comfort when you filled a space with your noise, announcing something as childish as “pillow fight” in the midst of the lounge and tossing something soft at the nearest person with all your might

He’d had such good behavior until you came along. What a cool and collected ninja he was, but you just had to come in and ruin it— now he’s known again as the same troublemaker the young ‘Sparrow’ was in Hanamura

He felt invincible with you. The only regret he had being your friend, was that he wished he had met you sooner

[croctus]

i want to hear everything about the different AU versions of zer0 now

YOO!!!!

sure lemme summarize. theyre all at their core physically the same dude and have similar humor and tastes, but have grown up to have a few very different personality traits

red eyed raider (truffula flu au)

very very unhinged, vain, sado-maso hedonist leader of a gang of raiders living out of a fashion mall- whose culture is all about fashion, indulgence, fun and luxury in the middle of the apocalypse- even at the cost of others.

hes CAPABLE of being reasonable and patient with those who may be of some use (or entertainment) to him, but he'll still be some degree of antagonistic at best and violent at worst.

zero the horrible and hazardous (mainverse)

waaaaay more affable than his apocalypse counterpart, zero is a goofy supervillain whose primary aspiration is fame and attention at any cost. thus his capers and schemes are usually big and loud and even pretty destructive, but he isn't the type to want to seriously hurt anyone, and will actively avoid causing harm when possible.

hes the leader of a gang of croonies called the neon hounds, which are in practice more along the lines of a rowdy sports team who are more than happy to amp up their boss and cause some mayhem in the corporate zones.

nix (reverse au)

to most, he is a highly-sponsored superhero-slash-marketing ploy to show off physical enhancements of a gene splicing program he was born to. rather than leading people, he leads a pack of robot scout dogs of his own creation who patrol the city and signal for his help when needed.

deep down, he's a dude cracking under the pressure of a public image outside of his control, but he stays due to a strong sense of empathy and an upbringing essentially centered around preparing him for his role. even though its cost him a leg, and possibly more, under the surface.

[saintmeghanmarkle]

The biggest problem with H&M? They're boring. by u/Annabelle-Sunshine

The biggest problem with H&M? They're boring. When H&M got engaged, everyone was happy for them. They could have remained popular had they kept their mouths shut.Instead they had to "find their voice", "speak their truth" and let everyone know how annoying they are.Their 18 months in the palace was so horrific that they had to leave. It's been FOUR YEARS. They still whinge about their ordeal. If you left a traumatic situation, wouldn't you be happy?It's boring. Let's assume that everything they say it's true. Unlikely but for the sake of argument, let's say it is. It's very negative. They're still whinging about it. And they haven't done anything positive.Their "projects" consisted of a documentary where they told everyone how tough their life was. A book where Harry spoke about his todger and how tough his life was. He speaks about his mother constantly. Yes, it was bad. But bad things happen all the time. I know lots of people who lost a parent (or child). They don't usually go on about it for 20+ years.Other projects:Podcast: Hours of whinging about nothing.Suing newspapers: Weeks of whinging about the press.Interview with Oprah: Whinging about the royal family.Harry whinging about his mommy and trauma at every chance. He seems to think he's an expert in mental health, despite being a poster child for an adult needing help. Looking at him, makes therapy seem like a complete waste of time!They haven't created or said one positive thing. They say they love each other, but we haven't seen any reason why. There is no humor, joy or laughter. It's all misery and trauma dumping.Today's interview is a continuation of that.If they instead talked about light things, the weather, fashion, food and movies, it would be much easier to like them. They need to do ANYTHING positive and uplifting. They're so serious! post link: https://ift.tt/oawS6uH author: Annabelle-Sunshine submitted: August 04, 2024 at 11:22PM via SaintMeghanMarkle on Reddit disclaimer: all views + opinions expressed by the author of this post, as well as any comments and reblogs, are solely the author's own; they do not necessarily reflect the views of the administrator of this Tumblr blog. For entertainment only.

[juniperhillpatient]

I didn’t want to share this with the link but my one & only criticism of that video I shared is super specific & it’s that the video essayist doesn’t like Dennis trying to kill Dee in the castle. In my opinion that was a beautifully hilarious scene / culmination of a hysterically entertaining subplot & I strongly disagree with her that it fell into the same category as other cases of the show becoming too mean spirited & neglecting to show that these characters care about each other in the latest seasons. I do agree that this is a huge issue & literally everything else in the almost 3 hour video I fully agreed with though so please still know I loved the critique. I just really liked the castle episodes & this is an excuse to talk about it lol -

I actually found the sibling dynamic weirdly sweet in the Covid episodes. The joke was funny because it wasn’t that Dennis literally wants to kill Dee, it was that he was delirious with Covid & thought he was communicating with a ghostly castle which is so funny cmon. And before that they were renting a castle together & she was teasing him while also taking care of him & in a giant castle they still chose to share a room like they’re so cute. It’s my favorite plot we’ve had in so many seasons & I must defend it with my life.

To me it was mean in classic sunny fashion which is VERY very notably different to the way new sunny is mean. It called back to such iconic scenes as “Dee? I swear you would be of more use to me if I skinned you and turned your skin into a lampshade. Or fashioned you into a piece of high-end luggage. I can even add you to my collection” followed by a hilariously horrified expression from Kaitlin Olson.

Dennis rushing at Dee in a deranged attempt to behead her only to pass out & she has to take him to the hospital is great. It’s the above mentioned scene with talk of skin luggage - or Dennis & Dee’s talk of murder & Dee’s confusion and about what the “actual plan” is in “Mac is a serial killer” amped up to 100 to me. It’s “Dennis is a serial killer” jokes done right much like “making Dennis Reynolds: a murderer” & NOT like “The Gang Gets Cursed.” That last one takes the joke way too far by leaving the implication that Dennis might actually be a killer which completely ruins the joke both by explaining it & botching the punchline which should always be that Dennis is a pathetic bitch who WISHES he was a serial killer (side note - other than that, I mostly enjoy “The Gang Gets Cursed” btw).

This became an essay but I wanted to share that extremely good & insightful video without my huge block of text commentary on something extremely specific. However I did want to rant about how much i LOVE the siblings in the castle episode imo that is pure classic sunny dynamics shining through the fog of late seasons overall crappiness lmao I’d actually categorize that specific sub plot as one of my favorites in the whole show which is insane given that it’s from season 15. I just really really love the Reynolds siblings being fucked up but in a funny way that has almost sweet aspects hehe

I also think this is an opportunity for me to discuss WHAT the notable difference is between the “mean” aspect of sunny here & why it works SO much better than the other mostly uncomfortable humor of later seasons. The joke’s punchline is on Dennis - something that’s desperately been needed in the sibling dynamic & the way it’s narratively framed for a LONG fucking time. As discussed in that amazing & super insightful video, new sunny punches down & it’s frankly cringe more often than not. Old Sunny knew who it’s jokes were on & it was always the person just asking for comeuppance by being awful. I’m not saying Dee isn’t awful because that would defeat the purpose of her character but she does suffer from what I call “the Meg Griffin effect.” It also hurts such characters as Britta Perry from Community, Jerry Gergich from Parks & Rec, & Toby Flenderson from The Office. It becomes more uncomfortable & off putting than funny as an audience member after a while to see everyone being consistently awful to one specific character who is not inherently worse than the others but is always the butt of the joke. It’s a trope I will simply never enjoy, personally.

But the castle plot works because it’s certainly deranged & mean (it’s literally not even always sunny if it’s not deranged & dark & mean you might as well give up & watch a different show if you don’t like your dynamics fucked up) but the joke is not -

A. Dennis is a serial killer ooooh edgy! - tired, contrived, Reddit core, unfunny, defeats the point of sunny which is that these guys are all incompetent losers

B. Haha dee is gonna die! She sucks lol! - that is one way to interpret the joke I guess but it’s so clearly actually that Dennis is in a fucking fever infused hallucination about ghosts & dee ultimately has to take his passed out ass the ER because this stupid bitch didn’t get vaccinated

Like it redeems so much or the awful dynamic they’ve built (which they unfortunately double down on anyway later. *cough* the gang goes bowling *cough*) where it’s like…. Isn’t it hilarious that Dennis constantly abuses his sister guys? Haha what if dee literally killed herself lol? Isn’t this so funny aren’t you having fun?

Classic sunny is mean. I’m not trying to say I dislike mean punchlines. But……. Dennis passing out & almost dying Covid IS mean? Dee having to deal with her brother almost beheading her & listening to his deranged conversations with “the castle” IS mean? It’s just that it’s mean in a FUNNY way. Like Charlie getting rejected by the waitress in the musical episode. Like Dee realizing how disgusting her schemes are in “PTSDee” & feeling sickened by herself. Like Frank getting told to fuck himself in his fat fucking ass in the Christmas episode. Or Mac shitting his pants in “Mac Day.” These are all examples of times I’ve found the meanness of sunny funny because it’s about showing what happens when you’re a horrible person who never learns.

Anyway in conclusion I love the Reynolds siblings & the castle plot is the only good part of new sunny goodbye

[audioaperture]

The Dirty Nil: Des Moines, Iowa – 6.22.24 show review and "Free Rein to Passions" album review

The Dirty Nil’s latest album, "Free Rein to Passions," is an explosive amalgamation of punk rawness, stadium rock grandeur, and metal intensity, all served with a hefty dose of tongue-in-cheek humor. Hailing from Ontario, the trio has once again proven their prowess in crafting infectious anthems that are as lyrically sharp as they are musically ferocious.

The album kicks off with "Celebration," a high-octane track that immediately sets the tone for what’s to come. The riffs are heavy, the drums relentless, and Luke Bentham’s vocals are as gritty as ever. The production quality is polished yet retains the raw edge that fans of The Dirty Nil have come to love. Each track is a testament to the band’s ability to blend different rock subgenres seamlessly. From the punk energy of "Undefeated" to the Anthemic metal-infused "Am I the Menace” the band showcases their versatility without losing their distinctive sound. "Free Rein to Passions" explores themes of rebellion, individuality, and the absurdity of modern life, all wrapped up in a package that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The humor is a vehicle for deeper commentary, making the album both thought-provoking and fun.

One of the band’s stand out features is their lyrics. The Dirty Nil has always had a knack for injecting humor into their music, and this album is no exception. In "Stupid Jobs," the band takes a jab at the monotony of everyday life with lines like, “No offense to my friends in the workforce / I’m just saying what we’re all thinking / Fuck’em.” It’s a humorous yet relatable take on the struggles of the modern working class, delivered with a sneer that only The Dirty Nil can pull off.

Another lyrical theme is positivity in the face of existential dread.  On the title track," Bentham sings, “’Cause if the powers that be / Drop the bomb on you and me / I’m gunna sing with a big old grin / What a beautiful life it’s been.” In “I am the Menace, Bentham declares “Do some living while you’re able / try not to be ungrateful for the gift of suffering / the light, the void, everything”  It’s this kind of clever, biting humor that elevates The Dirty Nil’s lyrics, making them not only entertaining but also memorable.

Like the album, their live show is a wild ride from start to finish, filled with headbanging anthems, razor-sharp wit, and infectious energy. It’s a must-listen for fans of punk, metal, and rock alike, offering a refreshing take on these genres with its unique blend of humor and intensity. Luke Bentham, sporting his signature guitar moves, commanded the stage with the swagger of a rock deity. His solos were electrifying, his riffs sharp and relentless, each note echoing through the packed venue with the power of a thousand amps. Bassist Sam Tomlinson and drummer Kyle Fisher provided a thunderous rhythm section that could have filled a venue ten times the size. The chemistry between the three was palpable, their synergy on full display as they powered through their setlist with the intensity of a band playing to a crowd of 60,000 rather than 500.

The Dirty Nil's set was a barrage of anthems and rock star moves that simply couldn't be contained. "Celebration" and "Am I the Menace" had the crowd jumping, their choruses designed for mass sing-alongs. Even in such a small space, the energy was immense, each song a call to arms for rock fans. The connection between the band and the audience was electric. When they launched into “Nicer Guy,” Bentham’s cheeky lyrics resonated with the crowd, particularly when Bentham sings “can I get an Amen?” to which the crowd responds, “Fuck you!”  This struck a chord with the audience, many of whom undoubtedly related to its humor and biting social commentary.

Whether playing to 500 or 60,000, The Dirty Nil performs with the same unrelenting passion and exuberance, making every show feel like a stadium rock show.

The Dirty Nil’s album and live show isn’t just music; it’s a celebration of the chaotic, the rebellious, and the downright fun.

[terribletoonietuesday]

The movie is off the walls crazy but you really got to take the whole thing in. It's made really badly but it somehow is made amazingly as well. The film manages to cram in every quotes on quotes Urban stereotype into this film very quickly. However the film isn't 100% sure if it wants to be a soap opera or an action film or something else. The film mainly centers around a character called milk who is a young All-Star gangster leading a gang of thugs but his life turns around when his stepfather gets out of jail and tries to take back the streets in the town. Now I say that's the main character in main story but there are a lot of characters in here which is probably how it sets itself up to be a soap opera. What makes this kind of bad movie interesting is when half your cast can actually act fairly well and the other half can't at all. This makes the interaction with these characters really entertaining for a bad movie Hound like myself. The jumps between the room style over acting to days of our life soap opera acting right back to zero budget non-actors acting is very impressive. This could be because there's maybe just too many damn characters in this film.But it's not just the acting it's also the production. Take the very opening scene where a supposed action scene is happening with milk gang versus an opposing gang we see a very short struggle but done with intense action shots intense music and humorous gun flares added on but all that done in a good looking location and it fools you that as if this was an actual action moment when in reality they were just sort of bumping into each other and falling down. Milking his game come across this issue later on as well when they have to fight cops it's very weird that the cops seem to be in spirit of Halloween cop uniforms while the scene is paste and edited well and has again intense music but this time the camera is moving back a bit and we're just noticing that the cops are just sort of rolling around on the ground with the gang members and nothing's happening. It's the kind of scene in the movie where you imagine if the music wasn't there this would be really sad. But because the film seems to have decent direction at certain points in the film it almost seems like this is a joke. The thing is it might actually be a joke but I can't really tell. There are definitely moments where one or two characters are there for humor purposes including one who shoots a bullet after imagining he could curve the bullet like in The Matrix and then he actually does it. But the character who did it is definitely a silly character. And the person he shoots is wearing an obvious sight gag t-shirt. I really can't do that scene justice in type you really have to see it and when you see it you'll know what I mean. However beside the violent gang storyline my favorite character is milk much older brother who seems to be living a much more upper middle class lifestyle but it is ruining it by his addiction to becoming a gigolo and sort of drug addict. However the older brother is so much charismatic than most of the cast when his life starts to fall apart because of his addictions and man whoring you literally feel like he is the victim here when in fact he is no less evil than any other character in this movie. Maybe that's what this movie is trying to say that there is no good there is no bad in this world it's just the side that you choose and those that betray you should be left in the dust and those who are with you should be treated like kings and be honored all the way throughout their lives. Oh my God what the hell is wrong with me I'm only three films in this pain-athon and I'm already giving a Maverick films production a deep philosophical meaning. Trust me the movie doesn't really have that but it's waving quality from amazing to terrible lets this " trapped in the closet" amped up action soap opera movie play a few games with your head. This review is dedicated to the guys at Perfect Turd Podcast for bringing this film to my attention.

[haljathefangirlcat]

International Fanworks Day: Feedback Fest Recs

Or, a list of wonderful crossover on AO3 that you really, REALLY should read. Originally written down in the comments to this post, which you also really, really should check out.

In A Strange Land (Nibelungenlied/Parzival): The Medieval literature rare crossover I didn't know I needed in my life. Laugh-out-loud funny, taking full advantage of the differences in tone, narrative structure, and storytelling devices between the poems it's based on in an elegantly sharp way that's absolutely irresistible and of the various traditions behind those same poems. So clever I periodically reread it. Also, specifically for the other nerds following this blog: great Hagen and Volker voices.

Tea Journal (Strange Magic/Fables): A story that uses the worldbuilding of one work to highlight the characterization of the other and bring it to its full potential, taking the readers on a journey moving smoothly from romance to drama to fluff, angsty and tender and fun and sexy until it reaches a beautiful, moving conclusion.

When Wart met the Doctor (Doctor Who/The Once and Future King): A fic I have craved since reading a certain tiny little line in The Sword in The Stone, using an inconsequential moment in the canon to build up a short yet delightful scene full of wonder and fun.

Identity Crisis (Prince of Tennis/Yuri!!! On Ice): A subtly cracky romp that brings two stubborn, prickly characters together via two adorable, fluffy cats with an attitude. How can you not love even just the premise!?

The Pendragon-Gorlois Family Reunion (The Historically Inaccurate Remix) (Good Omens/Arthurian Mythology): A cute, fun story with some nice moments of quiet, understated angst in between, finding thoroughly entertaining ways to play with Good Omens' wit and humor, Arthuriana's penchant for telling the same story in fundamentally different ways and amp up the drama whenever it can, and even certain things taken from Merlin BBC and its fandom. Which is fair, because it was written as a remix of a story about Crowley and Aziraphale watching the show, making it a lovely display of fannish creativity in more ways than one.

Green (Mad Mad: Fury Road/Norse Religion & Lore): A story about redemption, death, and growth and healing -- in that order. As the tags say, it's all about "turning patriarchal myths on their heads." A great rec if you were fascinated by the Norse mythology references in Fury Road, spent way too much time pondering over the the writers possibly slipping in a few more implicit ones (okay, maybe that’s just me), were always fascinated by Loki's children and appreciative of more positive takes on them, were always thrilled by kinder takes on death and the afterlife in general, and/or simply felt for Nux while watching the movie.

[0firstlast1]

No, I'm not looking to see if Jesus the father of God is born, or to see if those who don't like me are still moving after dying, this photograph is a self-portrait that I took while I was testing an app, then I made a small adjustments to the image to improve it, I didn't want to remove the watermark from the app still in Demo version because I think it would be unethical for its developer, focus your eyes on the watermark to find out what the initial app was used, and if you are a female visitor and get 'excited' imagining that I am a 'latin lover' or any other entertainment industry imbecility, do not use this social network to ask me to participate in 'alternative action films' with 'emphatic' appeal, you probably will understand easily by looking at the photographic illustration that I have been very seriously concerned about the future of the universe and especially about the minerals that are floating around in space, specifically whether there is the possibility of a solar eruption attracting pluto, it crashing against the moon, against the Earth, against Venus, throwing everyone against the Sun, transforming everyone into aliens with no future, NoFutureX, my sense of humor is right there.

Maybe I'm looking at the Mediterranean Sea, deciding whether to stay in Europe or leave for the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.

Taking advantage of this didactic opportunity, I was never a guitarist in the band The Who, nor was I ever in favor of the breaking of musical instruments by musicians who try to appear 'rebels', by choice I would never break a Fender electric guitar, nor a Gibson electric guitar, nor I'd destroy a Marshal or Fender amp plus speaker set, or any other brand, I would treat all equipment with a lot of love and care, I know how to spend money, I never wanted to be a queen.

Any doubt?

.... Solar noon -> 12:04 Golden hour (evening, start) -> 18:19 Golden hour (evening, end) -> 18:52 Sunset -> 18:52 Blue hour (evening, start) -> 19:07 Civil twilight (evening) -> 19:17 Blue hour (evening, end) -> 19:27 Nautical twilight (evening) -> 19:48 Astronomical twilight (evening) -> 20:19 Solar midnight -> 00:04 ...

Urban buildings make it difficult to perceive events related to the Sun and the Earth, but they do not completely prevent it because it is possible to look at the changes in the color of the sky, the orange sky, or yellowish if it is cloudy, as if a lamp was turned on, or grayish if the amount of clouds is greater, to a bluish sky in the late afternoon, until the blue darkens and is close to black. It is also possible to follow the trajectory of the setting Sun when it is visible, not covered by clouds.

Checked.

[adamwatchesmovies]

Warlock (1991)

Warlock isn’t really a good movie. I say this because the writing is wobbly in the first act and there are a couple of clumsy plot points during the middle that someone should’ve ironed out before shooting began. That said, it’s so much fun you don’t even have to call it a guilty pleasure. The picture’s nasty sense of humor, some subtle touches here and there, and a half-dozen great scenes make it the kind of movie that’s a joy despite its flaws.

In 1691, witch-hunter Giles Redferne (Richard E. Grant) has captured a warlock (Julian Sands). The spellcaster is sentenced to death but is saved by Satan, who propels him into the 20th century. In Los Angeles, California, The Warlock prepares to fulfill his devilish mission: reassemble The Grand Grimoire and unmake Creation. Only the time-displaced Redferne (how he time-travels isn't that important) and an ordinary waitress named Kassandra (Lori Singer) can stop him.

I started this review by telling you Warlock isn’t really a good movie and you’ll be able to tell why as soon as The Warlock arrives in Kassandra’s home. She and her roommate, Chas (Kevin O'Brien), are just doing their thing when suddenly, this strange man bursts through their window. The fact that The Warlock is still there in the morning raises an eyebrow. Even if it’s because the police are too busy with the big storm raging outside to come pick him up, it just doesn’t feel right. Don’t worry, it gets a lot better from there. It isn’t long before The Warlock murders Chas and curses Kassandra. Now, she ages 20 years every night. In a couple of days, she’ll crumble to dust, which means the stakes are layered. Redferne needs to stop the evil sorcerer. Like a good Sarah Connor-wannabe, Kassandra is willing to tag along with the time-displaced hero so she can save the world and undo the spell threatening her. There’s a particular scene that showcases this film at its best. The Warlock has been knocked out. It's Kassandra's chance to grab the bracelet he uses to maintain the curse on her. Unfortunately, the villain is in a train wagon that’s slowly picking up speed and the bracelet is just out of reach. Kassandra desperately needs to not only keep up, but move a little bit faster so she can grab it, but she’s not young anymore. She can’t run! You'll be white-knuckled watching her grow increasingly desperate.

Some of the other scenes you can look forward to showcase just how evil the Warlock is. At one point, he encounters a boy playing outside on a Sunday morning. He’s surprised. “Shouldn’t you be in church?” The boy tells him he never goes and that he isn’t baptized either. When you see the gleam of delight in Julian Sands’ eyes, you’re filled with giddy excitement. What follows may be sick but come on. That brat deserved it. In a world where Satan is very real and he grants his followers magical abilities, not bringing your kid to church is bad parenting and the family deserves everything that’s coming to them! There are nice bits of humor here and there, including one in a taxi. The conclusion is what clenches it. That finale so effortlessly amps up the stakes it makes you wonder how the clumsy scenes ever managed to get in there.

While the special effects are dodgy, they’re acceptable for a low-budget film made in 1991. The makeup used to make Lori Singer old less so but even if they were great, they wouldn’t have been the reason to see Warlock. I’m not saying this is a great film. In fact, it’s pretty easy to make an argument for it being lousy but the entertainment factor is high. I suspect the two sequels will essentially be remakes and are unlikely to improve upon it but who knows? The second (or third) time might be the charm! (June 17, 2022)

[findfunnynames]

250+ Funny Electrician Nicknames (Unique, Clever & Trending)

Electricians light up our world, literally. They're not just "sparkies". They're wizards with wires. Have they ever heard of Current Magician? That's them. Or Volt Vanguard? Fits perfectly.  These nicknames aren't just tags. They're badges of honor. Each tells a story. It is a story of shocks, sparks, and smiles. Imagine Circuit Whisperer entering your home.  These names add humor to their high-voltage life. Let's explore these Funny Electrician Nicknames. Ready for a jolt of laughter?

Funny Electrician Nicknames

Here is a list of Funny Electrician Nicknames that will keep you entertained for a good time. 1. Circuit Whisperer Think of how a whisper can carry a powerful message. Your nickname could reflect your ability to solve complex electrical problems with intuition and finesse. It's about being the one who understands the silent language of circuits. 2. Volt Vanguard Are you always at the forefront of electrical innovation? This name suggests leadership and bravery in the face of electrical challenges. It's for those who protect and pioneer in the electrical field. 3. Watt Wizard Magic in every move. If you have a knack for effortlessly fixing electrical issues, consider yourself a wizard. It's about making the complicated look easy, turning electrical chaos into order. 4. Fuse Guru A guru is a master and teacher. This nickname suits someone with deep knowledge of electrical systems, especially when it comes to fuses. It's for the wise ones who prevent disasters before they happen. 5. Amp Alchemist Alchemists transform materials into gold. In an electrical context, this could mean turning simple materials into powerful solutions. It's for those who creatively solve problems, making the impossible possible. 6. Ohm Oracle Oracles predict the future. If you have a talent for foreseeing electrical issues before they arise, this nickname is for you. It's about using your knowledge to prevent problems and ensure safety. 7. Spark Sergeant Discipline and order are your realms. This nickname fits someone who ensures that every job is done correctly and safely. It's for the leaders who command respect and excellence in their work. 8. Current Conjurer Conjuring images of magic, this nickname is for those who can bring light to the darkest places with a simple gesture. It's about having the power to illuminate and energize with skill. 9. Wire Wrangler Just as a cowboy tames the wild, this nickname suits someone who can handle unruly wires with ease. It's for the skilled hands that make tangled messes into neat solutions. 10. Breaker Whisperer Some problems require a gentle touch. If you have the patience and skill to coax breakers back to life, this is your nickname. It's about understanding the delicate balance of power. 11. Lightning Librarian Organized and knowledgeable, this nickname is for those who keep track of every detail. Your 'library' is the vast knowledge you have of volts and amps, ready to be used at any moment. 12. Power Paladin Knights in shining armor, protecting against electrical dangers. If you see your work as a noble quest to keep people safe, embrace this title. It's for the honorable and brave. 13. Shock Scholar Always learning, always curious. This nickname fits someone who studies electrical systems deeply, always seeking to know more. It's for the lifelong learners of the electrical world. 14. Flux Philosopher For those who ponder the deeper meanings behind electrical flow and seek to understand the very essence of energy. It's a nickname for the thinkers, the ones who see beyond the wires. 15. Neon Ninja Moving silently, fixing problems with stealth and skill. If you're quick and efficient, leaving no trace except for the problem solved, this nickname is yours. It's for the agile and adept. 16. Cable Crusader On a mission to organize and conquer cable chaos. This nickname suits someone who tackles the toughest cable management challenges with zeal. It's for the determined and the brave. 17. Electron Enchanter Spinning spells over circuits, you enchant electrons to flow where you desire. This nickname is for the charmers, the ones who make electricity dance to their tune. 18. Wattage Warrior Battling against power outages and electrical failures, you emerge victorious. This nickname is for the resilient, those who never give up until the lights are back on. 19. Grid Gladiator In the arena of power grids, you stand undefeated. This nickname celebrates the strength and skill required to maintain and repair the vast networks that power our lives. 20. Joule Jester Bringing joy and light-heartedness to electrical work, makes even the toughest jobs feel lighter. This nickname is for those who find humor in their work, keeping spirits high.

Bad Electrician Nicknames

Choosing the right electrician name is crucial. It sets expectations. A bad name? It sparks doubt, maybe a chuckle. You want trust, not giggles when flipping the switch. Let's explore the world of what not to name your electrician business. Here's a list of creatively bad names, each a lesson in branding missteps. - Shock Shambles - Blackout Bandits - Fumble Wires - Oops Ohms - Zap Hazard - Short Circuit Sideshow - Burnt Bulb Brigade - Fizzled Fixers - Spark Scare - Jolt Jokers - Voltage Vagrants - Wire Wreckers - Flash Fiasco - Circuit Clowns - Power Outage Pranksters - Surge Stumblers - Flicker Flops - Zap Zeros - Gloom Glimmers - Faulty Flux - Dim Dudes - Glitch Gurus - Bungle Bulbs - Chaos Conductors - Mismatched Mains - Erratic Electrons - Tangle Technicians - Buzz Blunders - Outage Oafs - Sparkle Spoilers More Giggles: Funny Elf Names (250+ Unique Ideas)

Unique Electrician Nicknames

- Circuit Scribe - Bolt Baron - Neon Knight - Amp Architect - Surge Sorcerer - Dynamo Duke - Electro Sage - Watt Whisperer - Current Captain - Plasma Paladin - Grid Guardian - Voltage Virtuoso - Ohm Overlord - Power Prophet - Flux Forger - Wire Wizard - Charge Chieftain - Lightning Lorekeeper - Spark Sovereign - Conduit Conjurer - Electron Earl - Illumination Impresario - Tesla Tactician - Circuitry Czar - Powerline Prince - Amp Artisan - Volt Virtuoso - Ohm Oracle - Energy Enchanter - Spark Savant

Trending Electrician Nicknames

- Smart Spark - Eco Volt - Solar Sage - Pixel Plug - Cyber Circuit - Quantum Quirk - Nano Nerd - Grid Guru - Fusion Phantom - Byte Bolt - Digital Dynamo - Photon Phantom - Reactor Ranger - Virtual Volt - Amp Avatar - Circuit Cyborg - Power Pixel - Energy Echo - Tech Tesla - Wire Web - Cloud Conductor - Surge Stream - Electric Emoji - Watt Webber - Plasma Pilot - Flux Fluxer - Infinity Impulse - Neon Navigator - Omega Ohm - Zenith Zap

Clever Electrician Nicknames

- Spark Plug Sage - Bright Bulb - Genius Joules - Clever Conductor - Bright Idea - Wire Whisperer - Enlightened Electric - Circuit Savant - Bright Spark - Power Surge - Lightning Thinker - Voltage Virtuoso - Electric Enigma - Shock Genius - Current Genius - Flash Master - Bright Wire - Clever Current - Spark Savvy - Illuminator Innovator - Genius Grid - Lightbulb Luminary - Current Craftsman - Bright Beam - Power Brain - Shock Smart - Wire Wiz - Electric Epiphany - Clever Coil - Bright Circuit More Giggles: Funny Doctor Names (200+ Creative Ideas)

How to Create Your Electrician Nickname That Shocks and Awes

Ignite Your Imagination Ever wonder how "Sparky" became so popular? It's simple, memorable, and, well, sparky. Start with your specialty. Are you quick with fixes? "Flash Fixer" might just be your speed. Think about what makes you unique. Fuse Humor with Skill Why do we chuckle at "Circuit Whisperer"? It's the unexpected fusion of mystique and mastery. Combine your top skill with a pinch of humor. Imagine a nickname that makes clients smile while assuring them of your expertise. "Volt Vanguard" does just that, doesn't it? Electrify with Personality Your nickname should mirror your personality. Are you known for your calm demeanor amidst the chaos? "Current Calmer" could be a fit. This step is about reflecting your brand. Who are you in the electrical world? Let that guide your nickname choice. Short Circuits Work Best  Ever heard of "The High Voltage Virtuoso"? Probably too long to stick. "Volt Virtuoso" is catchier and easier to remember. Keep it short and zappy. The best nicknames are quick and pack a punch. Feedback Sparks Brilliance   Bounce your ideas on colleagues and friends. What do they think of "Amp Artist"? If they're not feeling the current, it might be time to switch gears. Feedback is invaluable in this creative process. Hopefully, you have enjoyed our post on Funny Electrician Nicknames but make sure you check out our main page findfunnynames for more hilarious content. Read the full article

[mediamixs]

Top 10 Horror Comedies

Horror comedies offer a delightful blend of frights and laughs, creating a unique genre that appeals to fans of both horror and comedy. Here's a list of ten top horror comedies that have left audiences screaming with laughter:

Shaun of the Dead (2004): Directed by Edgar Wright and starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, this British gem brilliantly combines zombie horror with sharp humor. Shaun, a slacker, finds himself fighting off a zombie apocalypse while trying to win back his ex-girlfriend and reconcile with his mother.

The Cabin in the Woods (2012): Directed by Drew Goddard and co-written by Joss Whedon, this film deconstructs horror tropes while serving up scares and laughs. A group of friends heads to a remote cabin for a getaway, only to find themselves manipulated in a twisted experiment.

What We Do in the Shadows (2014): Directed by Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement, this mockumentary follows the lives of four vampire roommates living in modern-day New Zealand. Their everyday struggles and conflicts lead to hilarious situations, offering a fresh take on vampire lore.

Evil Dead II (1987): Directed by Sam Raimi, this sequel to "The Evil Dead" amps up the humor while retaining the gore and scares. Bruce Campbell's iconic performance as Ash Williams, battling demonic forces in a cabin, has made this film a cult classic.

Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010): Directed by Eli Craig, this film flips the "hillbilly horror" trope on its head. Two well-meaning hillbillies, Tucker and Dale, are mistaken for psychotic killers by a group of college students during a camping trip, leading to hilarious misunderstandings.

Zombieland (2009): Directed by Ruben Fleischer, this post-apocalyptic horror comedy follows a group of survivors navigating a world overrun by zombies. With a talented cast including Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin, "Zombieland" delivers plenty of laughs alongside its zombie mayhem.

Ghostbusters (1984): Directed by Ivan Reitman, this supernatural comedy follows a group of eccentric scientists who start a ghost-catching business in New York City. Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson deliver memorable performances in this classic film.

Gremlins (1984): Directed by Joe Dante, this dark comedy horror follows a young man who receives a mysterious creature called a Mogwai as a pet. Chaos ensues when he fails to follow the three important rules for its care, leading to the spawning of mischievous and malevolent gremlins.

Dead Alive (1992): Directed by Peter Jackson before he became known for "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, this New Zealand splatstick horror comedy is notorious for its extreme gore and dark humor. When a man's overbearing mother is bitten by a Sumatran rat-monkey and turns into a zombie, chaos erupts.

An American Werewolf in London (1981): Directed by John Landis, this horror comedy follows two American backpackers who encounter a werewolf while traveling in England. Mixing humor with impressive practical effects, this film has become a classic of the genre.

These horror comedies offer a perfect blend of scares and laughs, appealing to fans looking for a thrilling and entertaining movie experience.

[happymeishappylife]

Books I Read in 2023 (Part 3)

21. Doctor Who: Death Riders by Justin Richards and Heart of Stone by Trevor Baxendale

A two-for-one novel with two great stories featuring the Eleventh Doctor, Amy Pond, and Rory Williams. Out of the two I enjoyed the Death Riders more, but I also will read anything Justin Richards writes for Doctor Who because he just gets the series. The TARDIS team arrive on an asteroid that was previously used for mining, but now is hosting a carnival. A mystery unfolds as the roller coaster crew inches too close to the forbidden tunnels and a performers pet alien turns out to be controlling him to open the secret cave of his race, which the Doctor must fight with the local marching band. Heart of Stone finds the three back on Earth at a farm that is failing, but also suddenly finds itself covered in moon rock. When a moon rock monster attacks and turns the farmer to stone, his daughter has to learn why, only to find out her fiancé knows all about it since he works in the lab that was studying this mystery moon rock.

22. Changes by Jim Butcher (Book #12 of the Dresden Files)

I have said it again and again, and even though I know its coming, I’m not looking forward to Harry and Murphy getting together. But that didn’t mean I wanted Susan to come back with the news that Harry has a daughter! I guess Butcher felt the need to amp up the personal danger and of course the kidnapping of her by the Red Court does amp this up. It was also great to see all of Harry’s allies help him out, but there didn’t need to be the stakes that were present. Like I’m still sad Thomas has given into his darker nature and his accidental preying on Molly was disturbing. Still it was good to see Murphy with a sword (she can’t fight it forever), and I love that Sansa is still just as humorous as he always was. But now that Harry has become Mab’s White Knight, I’m worried about how that changes the series.

23. Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

Who doesn’t know the musical? Of course, it’s the most famous and longest running musical of all time, but the story behind it is a little bit more sinister as crazy as that is to believe. Sure the book and the musical actually do follow quite a bit of the story, but the biggest change is the role of the Persian and the Phantom’s history is morphed and changed by making Madame Ghery more important of a character in the musical. I frankly liked the Persian (though a slightly racist depiction) and the history that Phantom was a famous torturer to the Sultaness in Persia. It explains some of his devious traps. But it was fun to sing the music as I read along.

24. Heaven Cent by Piers Anthony (Book #11 of the Xanth Series)

Even the puns couldn’t save this novel. I always thought the perspective of a child tamed the sexism of Piers Anthony, but this novel instead of being “innocent” tiptoed a little too closely into the world of pedophilia for my liking and especially fresh after ready a novel of actual childhood sexual assault, the antics of these magical women kidnapping and hoping to eventually have children with a nine-year-old Dolph was not welcoming or entertaining, but creepy. I don’t know how much more of Xanth I can really endure because while the rest of the plot of the other companions were fine, these lines of creepiness are getting more and more uncomfortable as they come.

25. A Tale of Magic by Chris Colfer

I didn’t realize until the end of this novel that this was a spinoff prequel to the rest of Colfer’s magic series and it then made sense why so much of this novel was a warm hug and return to his writing. But even though we get to learn of the Fairy Godmother’s origins, Brystal Evergreen’s story is both heroic, tragic, and super relatable. I think a lot of that has to do with the way Colfer coded this book to relate so heavily and so strongly to the Queer community through the community building of the magic community. And to have characters that not only related to that like Xanthous was, but also just to the feeling of being out of place and not relating to the world was so welcoming, that it was hard not for me to relate and cheer for Brystal. Especially in the beginning as she rebelled against such an oppressive society against women.

26. Deeply Odd by Dean Koontz (Book #6 of the Odd Thomas series)

I really liked this book except I’m so confused on why it set up all these amazing and cool new elements right before the final book. Especially because as Odd even notes in this novel, technically these aren’t supposed to be released while he’s alive so why give us cool new characters and connections just to lose it all? Still, I loved meeting Mrs Fischer, her mysterious life, and incredible limosine as she takes Odd in to race to save children from death of a Rhinestone Cowboy. And the fact that she is part of a group of people who normally come across these dangers to fix them and ushers Odd in is heartwarming. But coming across the cultists who attacked Pico Mundo Mall and knowing that’s where we are going back to, its also setting up for the penultimate fight.

27. We Are Displaced by Malala Yousafzai

A very tragic collection of stories from Malala and other young women who have been displaced due to war, oppressive regime, and tragedy and what they are fighting to overcome. Not going to lie, this was very hard to read given everything going on with Palestine and it makes my heart ache that so many people don’t survive this story. But these young ladies courageous journeys and continued fight for education is heartwarming and I’m glad that they all have gathered together to make it better for girls and women around the world.

28. Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan (Book #3 in the Heroes of Olympus Series)

I finally caught up to all the fan art scenes I knew about with this book and while yes I knew how it ended, it was still as gut wrenching of a hit. Percabeth in Tartarus!!! But truly, this was fun mainly because I appreciated getting to be inside Annabeth’s head for a quarter of the novel. I relate a whole lot to her and how she went about her quest, letting her drive to complete it and save her friends, help her overcome her fear, it was great. But I don’t think I can judo flip my boyfriend lol. At least they are together. I also liked how ‘The Seven’ interacted and worked together. I was worried that having all of them would pull the story too much, but the way it balanced on each of them, including Frank, Hazel, and Jason, whose perspectives we don’t get to see was well done. Also, poor Nico. I, like Percy, am still mad at him for how he treated Percy, but I’m glad that didn’t stop him from being kind or rescuing him. Hopefully Nico will be able to help, but I want to see his perspective on things so hopefully soon I’ll get my wish.

29. Innocence by Dean Koontz (with a prelude short story called Wilderness)

I can definitely tell this came after Odd, because Addison can monologue like Odd and its kind of annoying, but because his mostly had to do with his history it fit well with the story. Honestly I had no idea where it could go given that it was about Addison, so well hidden from the world meeting a gothed out Gwyneth who has seen some shit, but also seems to know way more than she lets on. As they flee a creep of a museum curator, find these haunting marionettes, and try and rescue a comatose child we get more and more of Addison’s backstory, but up until the end we don’t understand why people can’t tolerate his appearance. But I’ll admit, not a fan of the reason at the end because it had religious undertones and it was just weird.

30. The Olympian Affair by Jim Butcher (Book #2 of the Cinder Spires)

I'll admit, I may have forgotten a good chunk of what happened in Book 1 because it took Butcher so long to get back to this series, but I am so glad he did. It was easy to get back into and meet all our favorite characters again. Plus the stakes in this novel were high and fascinating to follow. From the politics and drama of the duels in Olympia, to Bridget's and Benedict's journey to the surface to find a cat willing to take in new 'halflings' as Prince Rowl put it, there was never an end to the suspense and action. I loved all the different stories, including Espira, who I like a whole lot even though he was responsible for the events against Albion in the first book. But he is a man of honor, so I wonder what will happen to him on the way back to Aurora. Meanwhile, the fallout between Abigail and Alex is sad, though I understand Alex's fury completely because if Grimm wasn't as full of surprises as he is, I too would have been mad at her for having gotten them killed. I hope they will reconcile and I do respect Abigail's decision not to tell him about her pregnancy during that argument. I'm also excited for Bridget and Benedict and am glad they survived. But the one I'm scared for is Gwen, especially since she has to team up with Cavendish. Hopefully it doesn't take eight years to get book three to find out.