#It also adds another layer of humour to me for them to play that game like it is appropriate for exercising sure

[isjeonginsoup]

Anyone else grow up playing that “scissors paper stone if you win you put one foot behind you” game that skz did during dwaekki’s gym

[authenticdesperation]

A Review of Every Single Episode of Inside No. 9 [1/2]

Disclaimer: my opinions are not definitive but they are bloody good. There may be spoilers so read at your own risk. This will probably have to be a two-parter for the sake of my sanity and your scrolling.  

Series 1

1. Sardines 

A killer way to kick off a series with an absolutely top notch cast. This episode probably wins the award for the episode I’ve spent the most time thinking about after watching, putting all the little things that went over my head at first into place. I love the set design in this episode as well with everything seeming delightfully old fashioned. 

2. A Quiet Night In

This episode is something of a masterclass in farce and it is a Bold Move to have the second episode of a new series almost completely free of dialogue. It’s dirty, it’s fully of silly slapstick and it’s a nice change of pace after the rather harrowing ending to the first episode. 

3. Tom and Gerri 

This is an episode I enjoyed more when I thought about it more. It beautifully shows the decline of Tom’s mental health (acted impeccably, lovely work from Reece) due to grief. Also it was quite nice to see Reece and Steve acting opposite each other more, they have great chemistry together and Steve as Migg is perfectly unsettling. 

4. Last Gasp

Now, I have to be honest with you: I do not exclusively have glowing praise for this episode. I enjoyed it far more after watching it more than once as I liked the humour of it. One of my favourite things was the video camera perspective at the start, as well as some lovely moments with the music. However, I’m not overly keen on the ending, I just found it slightly underwhelming. 

5. The Understudy

Back on the praise train kids! I am a big old Shakespeare nerd (as are Reece and Steve, apparently) and I studied Macbeth for my GCSEs so I was particularly excited when I watched it. I will also have to give a little nod to the directing of this episode, it was an absolute feast for the eyes. 

6. The Harrowing

Oh hell yes (no pun intended). I think this episode is a great one to cap off the first series, really demonstrating the versatility of Steve and Reece. Also, I’m a big horror fan and the entire atmosphere of it really appealed to me. Though I would say that the second I saw that house I would have run about fifteen miles in the opposite direction.

Series 2

1. La Couchette

This episode is very similar to Sardines in the sense that it feels rather claustrophobic, but this time it leans far more towards the comedy side of things rather than drama. Bonus points for Steve demonstrating his German skills. 

2. The 12 Days of Christine

Ah yes, the episode I’ve cried at every time I’ve watched it. This one is a strong demonstration of how to wrong foot an audience: you never quite know what’s going on until towards the end and all of the horror-esque moments just add to the confusion making the ending one hell of an emotional gut-punch. I wouldn’t watch it if you need something to cheer you up, though.

3. The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge

My second favourite episode of series two, The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge is packed to the brim with silly puns and smutty jokes. I personally predicted the twist but in this case I don’t think it really mattered as I was too busy enjoying the Horrible Histories for adults thing that was going on. Bonus points for another killer cast.

4. Cold Comfort

The first of two episodes directed by Steve and Reece and really quite a bold one at that. The whole thing is filmed in the style of a CCTV feed, which I’m pretty sure an experienced director would warn you off trying, but it really pays off in the narrative. Since the camera doesn’t switch focus at any point, it really relies on the acting performances to keep your focus which, in my opinion, the cast fucking nailed.

5. Nana’s Party

If I had to describe the episode in two words they would be ‘domestic drama’. It’s a fairly classic setup of a family with their fair share of secrets, namely adultery and alcoholism, but happily doesn’t give the game away too early and a layer of humour is added by the slightly irritating prankster character of Pat. It’s the second episode of the series directed by Steve and Reece and has a sort of understated quality to it, showing Claire Skinner’s character’s exacting nature above a layer of familial drama. 

6. Séance Time

My favourite episode of series two, at first you think you’re walking into another haunted house scenario until you find out it’s a prank show that went off the air due to a scandal. There’s a great sense of humour throughout, and I don’t know whether I’m easily freaked out or the final jumpscare was genuinely terrifying but I flew about fifteen feet into the air when I saw it. Once I’d peeled myself off the ceiling, I really appreciated that it felt like a slow burn horror despite still only being half an hour. 

Series 3

1. The Devil of Christmas

I live for schlocky horror films that are so cheesy they give you nightmares if you watch them before bed. So the 1970s film within the episode, accompanied by a director’s commentary-cum-police interview performed by Derek Jacobi, was an absolute treat. The story of Krampus is one that has been done a lot, but never as a snuff film (as far as I know) so it was a nice little twist.

2. The Bill

Every time I rewatch Inside No. 9 this is the episode I always have to watch no matter what. It is such a simple premise and it feels slightly reminiscent of the Geoff, Mike and Brian sketches from The League of Gentlemen. Now is probably the moment where I should sing the praises of director Guillem Morales who has, quite frankly, become my personal hero having seen the many, many episodes of this series he’s directed. The framing in this episode is absolutely genius, but it’s only really obvious after you’ve watched it a few times and I have to give kudos for making a dialogue-heavy episode visually interesting. There are jokes that I think about at least twice a week and I am obsessed with Jason Watkins’ acting...I think this will be my longest review of this whole post. 

3. The Riddle of the Sphinx

This is the best episode I will never watch again. I love horror, and I’ve watched some bone-chilling films but something about this episode made me feel so uncomfortable. It is also a real testament to Steve Pemberton, who I’m led to believe is the cryptic crossword fan who took the lead writing this episode, that he wrote something involving cryptic crosswords that didn’t give me a migraine. 

4. Empty Orchestra

Ah, what a nice change of pace after the last episode with something far lighter. The karaoke booth concept is so fun and I’ve never understood the criticism of the episode. That being said, of every single antagonist in every single episode of Inside No. 9, Connie is the character I love to hate the most. All of the characters feel more like people you’ve met before and the vibe of a group of work colleagues in a karaoke booth going through the usual petty drama feels familiar. I think series three is one that has some of the darkest concepts and this is a great exception to that. 

5. Diddle Diddle Dumpling

When I looked in the background more while rewatching this episode, I noticed a lot of things were in twos. I can only assume that was a deliberate choice made somewhere along the line, and one that pays off when you notice it. Both Mat Baynton and Keeley Hawes played their parts to perfection, with Mat really doing quite a lot with a fairly small part. The whole episode reads as an interesting analysis of grief, in a similar sense to Tom and Gerri. Also, Reece’s character did not murder the remaining twin and apparently I’m the weirdo for thinking that was what was being implied. In my defence, there was cannibalism earlier in the series; filicide did not seem like that big of a leap.

6. Private View 

Agatha Christie eat your heart out (that wasn’t meant to be a reference to the ending, it’s just a happy accident). Murder mysteries are my absolute jam so I am obsessed with this episode. The modern art show is such a great setting for a whodunnit as demonstrated by the reaction to the discovery of Peter Kay’s character’s body. All the characters have their brilliant little quirks, and the killer is revealed at the perfect time and it was a good idea to not make that reveal the twist. 

[wings-of-a-storm]

I imagine all of us had a scene in wtFock S3 that made the world stop for a moment with the realisation: ‘Oh my god, I think I just fell in love with this show and there’s no coming back now.’

For me that moment was the ‘Wow, that’s so expensive’ scene. I was minding my own business and that scene just pounced at me from relatively nowhere and stole my soul. Now, a week or two later, I think I’ve been able to figure out why it effected me so much.

Scenes that stood out as a wtFock newbie

#2. The Supermarket Metaphors/Exhilaration

The compliment

Oh my goodness, I love every single layer of the “Wow, that’s expensive” compliment!

At its most basic, it is a boy being silly with another boy, both of them having the time of their lives even though they’ve barely met. It’s a piece of classic, uncomplicated, dumb fun that makes me want to grin like an idiot with the characters. On that level alone, it makes for such a fun watch; a moment you can revisit many times when you want a chuckle.

Going one layer deeper, it is dumb fun that is so welcome because we know how much Robbe needs some classic fun that not only includes him but makes him the central recipient at a time when he’s feeling isolated from his broerrrs.

Going even deeper still, Sander’s choice of words “Wow, that’s expensive!” reads as a metaphor for how amazing he thinks Robbe is -- and it gets me giddy every single time. Sander is essentially saying ‘Wow, I think you are special and worth so much as a person.’ And I just want to melt at how sweet that is! Add Sander’s beaming, adoring grin to the mix and you have a scene that is toasty warm. I just love it so much!

The sound effects

The inclusion of sound effects from the device Sander is holding is honestly such a cherry on top in that scene. It is so clever to include them! That trill becomes its own metaphor, its own extension of Sander’s heart eyes. It sounds like winning a prize in a game, or like having a winning lottery ticket. To use that trill right before Sander makes his declaration, it feels like a representation of Sander’s feelings before he has had a chance to put words to them.

The happy giggle

Robbe’s shy, happy giggle after Sander compliments him… End me. No really, just end me. If Sander’s compliment and beaming smile feels like a toasty warm fire, then Robbe’s happy giggle is the marshmallow.

How good is it to see Robbe so happy! After after all the confusion, the loneliness, the feeling of being overlooked by his friends, and the relationship claustrophobia he’s trapped in, his little giggle is like a welcome respite from it all. And that is why when Robbe makes that giggle, I actually feel overcome with a profound gratefulness to Sander for not only making Robbe feel so appreciated and special, but for also giving Robbe one moment of uncomplicated joy. I just want to take Sander’s hands, look him deep in the eyes, and say: thank you.

Racing trolley, racing hearts: the great trolley symbolism

I think it is safe to say that you can find symbolism in so much of what they do with the trolley, including the blatant homage to Titanic. Everything is shot so fast paced to represent the exhilaration they are feeling in each other’s company. Racing hearts and all that. The part I want to focus on most though is the part at the very end, when Sander rides on the trolley with Robbe. It felt like the perfect way to express the climax of their shared giddiness.

Backing up a step, looking back at the supermarket clip in its entirety, their bonding starts off slow and halting, and then exponentially picks up more and more pace as they become more comfortable in each other’s presence, culminating in their world turning into just a blur of motion. If that isn’t the buzz of new friendship in action. Amazing.

The journey to exhilaration becomes even more lovely in context though -- especially with Sander in mind. We know Sander is already excited because he is able to actually talk to his moonlight crush (though this is only known in hindsight), but beyond even that, we get to watch the joy Sander feels at simply being able to share one of his great passions with someone else (however one sided at first). It is so relatable to have all this frenetic energy building up inside from a niche passion that has nowhere to go because there is no one to share it with in your friendship circle. And then it just explodes at the first chance it gets -- in this case, after hearing the opening notes of a Bowie song playing through the store speakers.

Sander is clearly so excited to be talking about Bowie with someone who is open to hearing it (Robbe even leans into the conversation and barely blinks), that he is actually transformed from a guarded, carefully engineered Mr Cool to someone so very open and unfazed by how dorky his own eagerness may seem. When someone is that unguarded with you, it comes with a level of innocence, trust and vulnerability that I think fast-tracks a budding friendship. It sort of sets the tone and creates a safe space for the second person to be a little vulnerable too if they wish, which is the core of any friendship, I reckon.

Sander is so eager, in fact, that before you even learn about his relationship with Britt, it seems pretty obvious that Sander doesn’t have much of an outlet for his passion (not that Britt has to share his passion, but she openly puts him down for it so…). But here is this cute boy who Sander already likes, actively listening to him talk about his favourite thing. You can see the natural high it gives Sander. And that is why I think it is so genius to demonstrate the mental exhilaration and momentum Sander is feeling through the action of him actually launching himself onto the trolley and propelling himself and Robbe down the aisle. In Sander’s giddiness, the aisle starts to feel more like a never-ending runway, where their momentum will launch them both into the sky at the end of it.

No matter how many times I watch that scene, I feel exhilarated from all the kinetic energy and blurring backgrounds. I feel as excited as Sander (and Robbe, who is hanging on for dear life in this hurricane of new emotion -- yet another metaphor, it seems). It’s just so well shot and so effective at replicating that rush of adrenaline for the viewer to experience too. Yep, we too are on a hurtling trolley leading to god knows where but unwilling to make it stop. ;)

Exhilaration that goes both ways

The last thing I love about this scene is how even it feels; how both boys are giving something back to the other and it isn’t a case of one person having the upper hand.

Sander makes Robbe feel special at a time where he feels isolated and wrong. Sander also gives Robbe a sense of connection at a time where his duties as a boyfriend to Noor has separated him from his broerrrs who are single and doing things without him because of it (whether subconscious or not. The broerrs may think they are being helpful by leaving space for Robbe to hang with Noor, but we get to see the bigger picture). That moment of connection to someone without any baggage feels like a lifeline for Robbe in that moment.

And then we have Robbe, who gives Sander an outlet for his immense passion with gentleness and no judgement. And of course Robbe also gives Sander a sense of connection on the start of a week-long trip with people he doesn’t really know while in a turbulent relationship with a girlfriend who undermines him/puts his humour and passions down in front of strangers.

I just love so much how mutually beneficial their friendship is for each other. It’s something you pick up on by the end of the same episode since Sander’s relationship with Britt is harsher than Sonja’s and Even’s, as is Robbe’s sense of (partially self-imposed) isolation from the broerrrs.

These two are so right for each other on this trip. :’)

(Whoops, this post got really long, but it isn’t one of my favourite scenes for nothin’!)

[shinygoku]

Top 10 CSatM Episodes (1/2)

Ahhh, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons...! Probably only Second to Thunderbirds when it comes to the most popular and beloved Supermarination programme, with only Stingray able to compete for that coveted Silver Medal. But for me, it’s my Favourite!

I could go on and on about it, but for now I’ll go over my personal picks for a Top 10, which may give some insight into what about the way the series ticks makes it so enthralling.

Without further ado, let’s jump in! I’m not ordering them by preference, but rather the Episode order as I watched them on my DVDs (tediously the ep listings never seem to be consistent :T) Spoilers for all eps covered! ✂

Winged Assassin

Starting off my Favourites is the 2nd episode of the whole show, featuring a good condensed version of the events of Ep 1 if ya missed it and probably the best explanation on the workings of Retrometabolism that canon media is ever gonna grant us. The plot is fairly straightforward, but what elevates this is the aforementioned Exposition, which feels more organic than it did last episode, the interactions between Scarlet and Blue, and even the shocking twist at the ending, where the mission that had been going so well falls at the very last hurdle, in spite of Spectrum’s best efforts.

One of the most chilling visuals in the series is a surfaced shard of a downed passenger plane floating up from the sea, before the camera pans out to show the duplicated plane flying through the air, and another dark shot later on, of Scarlet’s limp hand with blood running down after he died in the effort to prevent the massive explosion that occurs regardless.

Winged Assassin sets a lot of standards of things to follow; traits like massive collateral damage just as part of the Mysteron’s grander scheme, the close partnership of Scarlet and Blue, Scarlet’s seldom used Sixth Sense and even the occasional downer ending, where the Mysterons manage to sneak a victory in and actually kill or destroy their stated target.

White as Snow

This episode shines a very interesting light on the dynamics between Col. White and Scarlet. It’s obviously one of a superior giving orders most of the time, but in a twist from the somewhat strict nature of Jeff Tracy over his sons who show respect to their father by not arguing back, with these two there’s actually the occassional spark of friction, that Scarlet will voice when he doesn’t like the commands and will only reluctantly go through the motions in the situation. I’m referring mostly to the first Mysteron attack, where a satellite is on a collision course with Cloudbase, but Scarlet unsubtly opposes the plan as there’s the possibility of innocent people on board who would get killed if Spectrum shot it down first. However, he’s overruled... and it turns out that it was indeed a trap, the people on board had been exploded hours ago and what was shot down was a Replicant copy. And that’s just the first half of the episode! But I find it interesting that again, back in Thunderbirds, the call to not remotely destroy something like that on the offchance it was populated would be the Correct course of action, but in this show pragmatism is needed, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

Anyway, the episode has another Mysteron attack aboard a submarine, with plenty of tension... but yet, there’s something of a comedic bend to the episode, such as a furious White shouting at the currently dead Scarlet, much to the Naval crew’s confusion, and the scene at the end which I’ve taken the picture from. The weakest part of the episode is probably Blue in charge of Cloudbase, as he doesn’t seem to know what he’s doing and I feel they coulda done more with him. Oh well! At least we got the fantastic music insert, which is also titled White as Snow.

Operation Time

Probably ranking in my Top 3, Operation Time is pretty remarkably both one of the most tension filled... yet an extremely funny episode. I guess some of that’s just due to my own odd sense of humour, though some moments are clearly intentional. Both the operation scenes, the Mysteron’s pursuit of the Doctor, and finally Spectrum chasing the Mysteron!Doctor are all played very suspensefully, and I find myself holding my breath. But then the funny scenes, like everything with Magenta and how hilariously pissy and unsubtle the Fake!Doctor gets leave me in stitches! [pun unintended lol]

I dunno, maybe some of the amusement effect is enhanced by the strong contrast between the scenes. Also we get a very grisly death for the Fake!Doctor and this episode establishes weaknesses for the Mysterons that will come up in future instalments. There’s a lot this ep has to offer, even something of an insight into 60′s medicine (though the series is set in 2068). While an extremely minor point, both the scenes with operations have the pssssshh.....fsssssshhhh sound that I associate with ventilators even though they ain’t being used, what’s up with that? But it’s another thing to add to the Atmosphere so s’all good, man.

Odd that I can’t think of much else to put here, I love it so much but maybe it’s so solid in the couple of things it does that’s all there really is to say? I’m feeling frustrated at how I don’t seem to have written enough for it, but trust me when I say it’s excellent and that it’s absolutely a Must Watch if you’re giving the series a look. (Though again, I’m spoiling each ep covered so uhh... read at your own risk if you’re using this to judge it!)

The Heart of New York

An interesting tale that I’ve actually Heard more than I’ve watched, as the audio adaptation is a free sample on the official Gerry Anderson site! [At least at the time of writing lmao, it’s worth a look anyway. This message was not paid for.]

This story is somewhat unique in that the Mysterons’ plan is pretty tame by their standards. They want to blow up... a Bank. Sure, it contributes to the long game they play, causing disruption and destruction, but compared to the casual massive collateral damage they inflict as part of a more focused murder attempt (again, see Winged Assassin and the passenger plane) this is small potatoes. But still, they end up feeling more moral in this episode than the actual ne’er do wells, a trio of would-be Robbers. These guys are pretty assholish, deliberately using the horrible cosmic war that’s already taken lives in the triple digits to hide behind while they take their pickings from a vault. Captain Black locking these morons in with the explosives feels like poetic justice, that they really did get what they wanted and are punished in kind.

Maybe this feeds the Mysteron’s point, that humans are aggressive, corrupt and selfish... though Colonel White challenges this view at the end of the episode, stating the robbers aren’t indicative of humanity as a whole. The whole shebang is a lot like The Twilight Zone, honestly. All we need is Rod Serling to open and close the episode...

Point 783

This episode is a bit harder to go into depth on, to be honest, it’s not one with a particular gimmic that makes it more memorable, but it’s a very solid ep all the same. There’s still a fair few layers that keep me thinking, like how it seems one of the Methane Trunk drivers had seemingly been Mysterionised offscreen to enable the Mysteron’s main pawns to me made. Then the first attempt to kill the Supreme Commander is thwarted by Scarlet’s (somewhat inconsistant) Mysteron Sense and perspex tubes that take their sweet time to descend and don’t even prioritise the actual target lol

Anyway, the meat of the episode is focused on the guest vehicle, the Unitron implacable unmanned Tank that can be controlled remotely by human operator or programmed to destroy something particular, and it will not stop or slow down no matter what’s thrown at it. Something something Proto-Drone Warfare commentary. The Mysterons’ last big attempt to assassinate today’s dude has one of their Mysterionised guys from earlier become the target, unknown to everyone else until he draws his gun inside the SPV (who even points out the 6th sense didn’t activate!). Scarlet gets shot 3 times but manages to eject himself and the Supreme Commander, which leads to the above scene, which offers a nice, human response.

Mr Supreme Commander later chews Blue out as it emerges instead of Scarlet going to a Hospital within 10 minutes, Spectrum insisted on waiting for one of their Helicopters to pick him up, which took 3 hours. Poor Blue has to try reassuring the army guys that Scarlet will be fine, truuuuust hiiiim. It makes me wonder if Spectrum is making things easier or harder overall by keeping his Retrometabolism under their hats, though I can understand they’d have reservations, but just trying to gloss over it with a ‘no no, it’s fine, he’ll get better.’ type answer doesn’t seem all that convincing. But I enjoy that it’s semi challenged here. And this episode summary ended up longer than expected cause all the Thinking I’ve done, haha!

=======

This has gotten a lot longer than expected and will be Two Parts! Find the second half here~

[freddieslater]

To distract our hearts from ever missing them (But I'm forever missing him)

(So, I only remembered that Valentine's Day is a thing...yesterday, so this was Very rushed. But I'm forever going to be sad and outraged that Enzo's death anniversary is on freaking Valentine's Day. It's just cruel. Although, I may have made it worse with this Denzo/Bonenzo/sort of Bamon angst...)

AO3:

The slight scrape of a glass being placed down in front of him makes Damon lift his head. The new busboy who seems to have been stuck on bartending duty sends him an empathetic sort of smile. As if he can sense what's going on in his head.

Psychics are a thing, he remembers, and that only makes the pit in his stomach worse than it already was, because thinking about the sirens means also thinking about the reason he's drinking himself to, hopefully, unconsciousness so that this day can finally be over. 

"I didn't order this," Damon tells him. At least he doesn't think he did.

He remembers drinking something and then putting his head down on his arms for a few minutes, but he had told himself that he would leave after that last drink. Go home, wallow there in the privacy of his own house, which thankfully isn't overrun with tiny witches and baby wolves and newborn vamps like his old one. 

The busboy—Landon, he remembers from hearing Caroline mention him a couple of times, something about fire and wings—shrugs as Damon pulls the glass toward him all the same. He's not one to pass up a free drink.

"It's Valentine's Day," Landon says as if that explains everything, including his strange, most likely well-intentioned kindness. "And you've been here pretty much all day, which makes you the best customer I've had, so."

"Great," Damon says wryly. "I'm being pitied by a sixteen-year-old."

"It's not pity." Landon shakes his head and lifts a hand, pointing to the other end of the bar. "And it's not from me, anyway. Apparently it's an olive branch? Is she...like, an ex or something? Actually, you don't need to answer that, I'm sorry."

Damon barely registers his innocent prying, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion and already turning his head to look where Landon's indicating. In the second it takes, the possibilities of who it could be run wild through his mind like demons released from hell. 

Katherine, somehow resurrected. Or maybe Sybil's back from wherever she disappeared. Or even Elena since she's meant to be coming back to town today, and they didn't exactly part on the best terms. Hell, maybe it's Charlotte, come back to haunt him at long last, or Rebekah, or—

Bonnie. She smiles over at him, a slight curve of her mouth, gentle and sincere despite the look on her face. Relief hits him in a wave, then it crashes down on him in a cold aftershock of dread, and guilt, and a painful twinge in his chest. 

"Or something," he answers Landon's question, pursing his lips. He raises a hand to give a slight wave that's stilted and falters, before he glances back at him, feeling his questioning gaze. "Old friends. Had a...an ex in common, I guess."

"Oh," Landon says, nodding slowly. 

Damon takes the drink and slides out of his seat, approaching the other end of the bar. Bonnie just takes a sip of her own drink; bourbon as well, he notices with another pang in his chest.

Stupid Valentine's day and stupid feelings, and stupid humanity switch that's gotten itself stuck constantly on the "on" side no matter how much he wants to shove it off.

"You hate bourbon," he states without greeting, deciding to just smash the ice instead of tapping away at it. "You said it tastes like a bad Christmas mixed with stale Halloween...whatever that means."

"Hmm." Bonnie hums around a mouthful of it, then swallows, smiling. "True. But Enzo loved it."

No warning, no flashing neon signs saying turn back now, or red flags waving wildly to get his attention. Just a calm statement, tossed out into the open air between them that's stifling and now thick with tension if it wasn't already before. Just hearing his name fall from her lips like that; the slight falter before, the way she emphasizes with a lilt of pain that he hasn't heard in two years.

Sighing, Damon sets his glass down and properly turns to her. "Thanks for the drink and all, but—"

"It's actually a bribe," Bonnie interrupts. "I spent last Valentine's drinking alone. Spent a lot of days doing that last year, and some of this year. Don't really feel like doing it again, and I've heard that you're a great drinking buddy, and just happen to be the perfect amount of self-loathing to wallow with me."

She glances up at him and motions to the stool next to her. Damon hesitates, just staring back at her. It's a bad idea, he can feel it. If he sits down, there's no escaping this and that's all he's really been trying to do for the last few hours. But when Bonnie rolls her eyes and gives a slight tilt of her head as if to ask really? he doesn't have much of a choice. 

With another sigh, he sits down on the stool, much to her obvious satisfaction. Something about this doesn't feel right. He knows why, and he can't stop his eyes from darting around them despite knowing he's being an idiot. Still, the feeling of being watched isn't so easy to shake. 

"So," Bonnie starts, and takes a drink, tipping her head back and swallowing in one go, "should I take a guess at why you're here, alone, on Valentine's day, as if we weren't best friends at one point and I know exactly why you're here, or do you wanna just cut the bullshit?"

"Right on the first guess," he says in answer, though his voice is tight, setting his glass down. "Self-loathing and wallowing. My turn: why are you back? I thought you were away travelling the world. Paris, Italy, Spain, or whatever."

Bonnie shrugs, but he's not buying the nonchalance. "Caroline and Elena said they were going to come back for the weekend. They wanted to do a slumber party sort of thing, for old time's sake, I guess."

"Could have done it anywhere else," Damon points out. "I'm sure they would have agreed that old time's sake doesn't exactly have the happiest connotations when it comes to this place. For anyone."

Bonnie sighs and her shoulders sink down as if defeated. He can hear the weariness in the quiet noise, and when she turns her head to look him in the eyes, it's hard not to notice that hers are bloodshot and puffy, and everything about her is screaming of exhaustion. It reaches through him and grabs hold of the part of him that is as well. 

"Can we not do this?" she asks, shaking her head, all pretence falling away. "Please? This day's been hard enough already. I came here because...because I just thought, that with everything—maybe it would be easier..."

She swallows, trailing off, but she doesn't bother picking back up. He can't blame her. The hostility evaporates just like that, gone without a trace. It's hard for him to be anything but glad to see her right now, even if it's causing this clawing in his chest that makes him think someone's got their hand closed around his heart, except that thought makes it so much worse.

Because every time he looks at her, all he can see is who should be there beside her, and he knows that it's the same for her when he's around. It's one of the reasons they haven't seen each other since she left for Paris almost two years to the date.

"I'm sorry," he says softly, his eyes fixing onto the bar. 

"No," Bonnie shakes her head, quickly wiping at her eyes. "Don't be. I know how much today sucks. For both of us."

Damon clenches his jaw, if only to avoid biting a hole through his cheek. He glances up at her from the corner of his eyes but stays quiet.

In all honesty, he's not entirely sure what he could say. Nothing is going to help either of them. This hollow pain that's burning him from the inside that he knows is justified isn't going to go away just because he's not the only one feeling it. 

He stares at the glass in front of him then decides it can't do much harm and downs half of it. It does nothing to soothe the fire, just as expected.

It at least adds a layer of numbness to his throat and, slowly, the inside of his chest, so that's something. Not a comfort, but something. Enough to make his mind a little less focused. But it's brief, sharpening back up with a few long, stretched-out seconds that feel like minutes of silence.

"What do you think he'd say?" Bonnie asks abruptly, staring ahead with a narrowed gaze. There's a pensive expression on her face when Damon shoots her an exasperated glance before rolling his eyes and scoffing. "Humour me, Damon. If Enzo was here, what do you honestly think he'd say about us sitting here like this, drinking away our grief?"

The word grief pierces him like a stake. He hasn't been thinking of it as grief. Grief was what he felt when he thought his mother died the first time around.

It was what he felt when he thought he had lost Katherine.

Grief was what he went through all of last year over Stefan and knowing that he was never going to see his brother again unless someone decided to finally end his own immortality, which he would honestly welcome.

Grieving Enzo doesn't feel right. It's like a betrayal. With Stefan, he knows that it was his choice. He wanted to save Damon, to sacrifice himself, to go down in a literal blaze of glory and save everyone else, even if it meant losing everything for himself.

It's easier to accept that, because he made the choice to leave him. Enzo never made that choice. Grief feels like giving up. He promised he wouldn't do that to him again. 

And Bonnie's question makes him uneasy. The shiver of eyes that aren't there, watching, separated by an invisible barrier. As much as he doesn't want to, he can practically hear his voice.

That stupid, practically melodic British voice that always somehow carried through into his laugh, vibrating deep in his throat and lighting up his face. The teasing tone he'd take when Damon wouldn't play along with his pointless mind games, and how he'd get up all close to him to soften his voice to a bare murmur that still rang clear as day. 

The glass whines under the tight pressure of his grip. He sets it down a little too harshly, his stomach clenched and his throat tight. Bonnie looks at him, but he just keeps staring at the table, reminding himself that, yes, vampires do in fact need to breathe, but a little slower to keep that supposedly undead heart of his from pulsing right out of his chest like it's currently trying to do. 

"Sorry," Bonnie says quietly. 

"I think..." He blows out a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment to regain some sliver of composure and shaking his head slowly. His hands unclench, laying flat against the surface of the bar. "He would be lecturing us. For using him as an excuse to get drunk and be all self-pitying."

A small smile tugs at the corner of Bonnie's mouth as she makes a soft noise of agreement. 

"Yeah, he really did hate that. He, uh, he would say we should be finding a reason to enjoy the day and not focus on all the reasons to be miserable, even if they outweigh the good." She nods to herself, staring at her own glass. "That even the smallest amount of hope was enough reason to push through."

"Always the soldier," Damon mutters to himself. He imagines he can hear the faint sound of Enzo chuckling, see him rolling his eyes. 

Bonnie gives another hum of agreement, biting her bottom lip with a barely-there smile. Damon doesn't reach back out for his glass; as much as he'd like another drink, part of him is now aware of his own words and how Enzo would probably take it off of him if he was here. It's enough to stop him. 

Neither one of them speaks, letting beat after beat pass, filled instead with the quiet noises from the rest of the bar. There are couples scattered out across the tables, tucked away in booths and huddled together with secretive smiles as they celebrate the stupid holiday.

Damon already hated it as it was, but when it also becomes the anniversary of someone's death, it kind of takes out any chance of ever enjoying it. 

He watches Landon bustle around from table to table, trying to do all of the work on his own with the one other staff member. By the look on his face, Damon guesses he doesn't enjoy Valentine's day all that much either. Can't blame the kid. Love isn't all that it's made out to be. At least not all the time, and when it is, it doesn't last. The Enzo-voice whispers some crap about hope.

Then, as he considers asking Bonnie if she wants to head out somewhere else, for just a walk or to see Caroline, he could care less, she says, in a gentle voice, "I know you were in love with him, too, Damon."

Instinct tenses him. His heart leaps up into his throat. It's the first time anyone's said it out loud, acknowledged it. He never even did.

Not when he was trapped in that cell with Enzo for five years, the start of it all, not once throughout the fifty-five years he thought he was dead, not in the few weeks that he had him back, or even when he lost him again, and definitely not when he came back only to side with Lily.

And then Enzo was with Bonnie, and he couldn't say anything then, right? Then it was over. 

He glances at her only for her to lock his gaze, holding him there, looking back at him. There's no anger. No annoyance that one would expect when someone reveals they knew that you were in love with their ex-boyfriend while they were still together.

There's understanding and openness, and an invitation to talk. Not to explain or argue. To acknowledge.

"If Enzo was here right now and heard you say that, he'd have the time of his life holding it over me," Damon jokes, but his voice can't seem to leave the edge of pain behind. "Bastard probably wouldn't stop gloating that he managed to charm both of us."

Bonnie smiles. That seems to be good enough for her. 

"It was the accent," she says, playing along with a shake of her head. "It would make anyone fall in love with him."

"We just happened to be the lucky ones."

Surprise flickers across Bonnie's face, and he feels a spark of it as well. But then it fades away because he's right. He smiles, and Bonnie nods.

"We were pretty lucky, weren't we?" she asks, leaning her head against her shoulder.

There's a glint in her eyes, and he would worry she's going to cry again, but it's not sadness. It's that light; the one that comes with remembering the good things. The hope. Damn Enzo for always being right even when he's not around to know it. If he really is watching over them from wherever the hell he is, Damon just knows he's being all smug about it. 

Yet his mouth still curves a little more as he nods as well, not bothering to put up an act anymore. It's pointless with Bonnie. 

"Yeah," he breathes out a sigh. "Yeah, we were."

Silence falls back over them, and Damon knows they've got different memories running through their minds, but they all still come back to Enzo one way or another. To that hollow void that they're forever going to be left with because of him.

For Damon, forever could be much longer. For the first time in a long while, the thought actually scares him.

With a long, heavy sigh, Bonnie slaps her hands firmly onto the bar, drawing his attention. He raises his eyebrows in question as she pushes herself up, a determined glint joining her eyes like a little sparkle put there through a mixture of a couple of drinks and getting it all off of her chest. 

"Come on," she says, motioning for him to do the same, "we are not spending the last...three hours of Valentine's day drinking ourselves to death. Enzo would be disappointed if we joined him too soon, and you know damn well he would find a way to throw us back here if he could."

Damon snorts, knowing that she's right, even if it would be impossible. "Alright," he says as he obliges, standing up. "Tell me then, Bon-Bon: where exactly should we go that wouldn't disappoint our dearly departed ghost of a..." he hesitates, his brow furrowing, "...wanna say boyfriend, would be wrong about that. Enzo the friendly vampire ghost? I mean, he certainly wasn't friendly the first time he was one, so I don't know how much fun he would be this time around."

Bonnie rolls her eyes at him and gives him a light shove to start him walking, already slipping money onto the bar for their drinks. 

"Now you're just asking for him to mess with you," she points out, and he grins, shrugging. "But I don't care where we go. A walk around town, to see Caroline, or Ric. Anywhere that doesn't have alcohol."

"Then not to see Ric."

"Shut up and walk faster."

Damon's grin widens, and Bonnie returns it in equal measure. To his surprise, it doesn't make his chest so tight that he feels like he's having the air squeezed out of him by a giant, or like there's a black hole inside of him in place of a heart.

Enzo is still in the front of his mind, especially since one of the last times he saw her smile like that was when he was still alive and smiling just as wide. But he notices that the pain lessens the tiniest bit, and his mind latches onto that happiness instead of the loss. Maybe that's how he can do it.

Eternity. Maybe every valentine's day that he's going to eventually lose count of doesn't have to be spent feeling like he's missing something and wallowing, as Bonnie put it. Maybe every memory of Enzo doesn't have to be buried deep down to ignore the grief. Maybe a little hope for the future isn't the worst thing.

[cyberzombiepenguin]

Sonic Film Review: SPOILERS!

Sonic the Hedgehog

Rating: 👍👍👍👍👍 -- HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! 

I really enjoyed the film and recommend it to people of all ages.

Initially, I walked into the cinema with very low expectations, I thought the film would be lowbrow and only fit for young children. Also, after the bad publicity regarding the production, I believed the film would be disappointing. I understood the cultural significance and I appreciated the fact that the story of a very weird space hedgehog that we all know and love, Sonic, would now be getting his own film, bringing joy to the newer, younger generations that are maybe less familiar with Sonic.

My low expectations were shattered! The film was extremely captivating in every way, it wasn’t a film just for young children. I absolutely loved the way that the animators showed Sonic’s powers, the electricity and pure power energy that radiated from him. The cinematography was fantastic, applying vivid colours and using different camera-angle techniques, like dutch tilt, and various other shots to capture the feeling scene-by-scene. I know that the project had some issues when creating him to begin with, causing a massive global panic on social media. Good thing that they decided to go in a different direction, to make him look more like Sonic from the Sega games, and not like the nightmares of children. I really liked how the eyes were shown in the film, they reflected so much and they were so detailed.

Another favourite part of this film was in the final duel of Sonic vs Robotnik. Sonic rises from the floor, electricity surging through his entire body and again in his eyes, challenging him, saying that he won’t use his powers to run away anymore. Robotnik’s response? He gives the blue shining Hedgehog a disgruntled look and puts on his goggles, and in this moment we see Sonic’s reflection in Robotnik’s goggles. The CGI for this was on point! Just that one moment gave me goosebumps.

Also, another thing I loved about the film was the excellent choice to cast Jim Carrey as the actor for Robotnik. He utterly crushed the role. The beloved actor used his charisma to make the audience chuckle, even in those moments when you least expect it. He brought that insane, intelligent supervillain to heights we could only imagine. Jim Carrey is definitely a master of his art, his skilled acting is truly an art-form. 

The soundtrack was so fantastic, it was a well thought out compilation of tracks. The remix of ‘Blitzkrieg Bop’ by The Ramones with 90s game-SFX-sounds added was brilliant, so upbeat, what a great choice. Don't Stop Me Now by Queen was also an excellent choice. However, I have to say, the revelation of the soundtrack was Wagner’s ‘Flight of the Valkyries’ performed, or should I say whistled, by Jim Carrey, Dr. Robotnik himself. 👀

The least thing I liked about the film was the story-line, although it wasn’t bad. The script was pretty basic, nothing out of the ordinary, and it was predictable in parts. The scriptwriters, Patrick Casey and Josh Miller met the brief, they created a script within the expected formula. So, in that respect it was a job well done. If I could change anything about the film, it would be to add a few more dimensional layers to the story and a few more surprises.   

The advertising for the film, I feel was not really as good as it could have been. In my opinion, due to the backlash that the earlier version of the CGI Nightmare Sonic had gotten, the people behind the project may have slightly panicked and tried to keep it minimal, so as not to get anymore bad publicity for the film. Of the adverts that I have seen, it has mainly been on children’s channels, which is targeting for children, so that they would instantly pester their parents to take them. However, despite this the adverts are very clever, they are very short snippets over the span of all of the adverts between films and shows. All of the snippets conveyed everything that they wanted to convey about Sonic, they showed speed, humour, everything. It keeps coming back, I think they appear three times in each load of adverts. In my opinion, this was a very smart move, they had the opportunity and they took it.

I feel like the director (Jeffrey Fowler) and the animator (Moving Picture Company) had a lot of love for the blue space hedgehog, and tried to put in everything they remembered from their childhoods, when they may have played the games. I think that this is well reflected in the credits. The credits were incredible! They were designed like the many games made of Sonic’s adventures, going through them as he hopped through the story in the style of his games, and also, he actually went through his old games, multiple different ones, going from level-to-level. I absolutely loved this added bit of spice to an already pretty good film.

Feedback welcome 👌

Thanks to rai-smik for the feedback below:

[mindnoisenetwork-blog]

Words by Colin Osborn | Pictures by Léna Villari

With over 200 acts to choose from trying to navigate efficiently around Camden Rocks can be something of challenge. Inevitably there will be some clashes and the spread out nature of the hosting venues can also mean having to cut short a bit of a set to catch another here and there. Still, that’s the same at any festival and is hardly something to complain about, with the line up this year offering a plethora of acts from across a huge range of genres. The sun was out and Camden was heaving with festival goers all trying to decipher the best routes to and from various stages. My carefully planned itinerary came apart more or less within an hour but I did manage to squeeze in a few bands across the course of the day.

Things kicked off at 12 and I decided to head up to the Lyttelton Arms, which is one of the smaller venues to check out Arable Desert (6). This London based band play a swampy sounding type of psych rock with some heavy overtones of blues and the odd funk influence thrown in for good measure. It’s always tough starting out so early and there weren’t many people in the bar yet. That said, a good band can put on a show worth watching irrespective of crowd size and these guys did a decent job. They had a percussionist in addition to a kit drummer which worked pretty well, there was even some maracas brandished at one point. I think these guys would be worth seeing again with a bigger crowd and a little bit later than noon but they weren’t a bad start to the days festivities.

Ryuketsu Blizzard (6.5) are a Japanese outfit who  were playing in The Camden Assembly, formerly the Barfly. Upon going upstairs into the crowded stage room it was a little disorienting to walk into a space that was pretty much pitch black, not to mention hard to navigate. It’s hard to encapsulate exactly what the Ryuketsu Blizzard show was like. The band looked like extras from Mad Max with the addition of clown makeup and their stage antics were equally as flamboyant. Needless to say it involved a costume change from y-fronts into a mankini and the liberal distribution of sanitary products and a sex doll into the audience. Musically they were somewhere between hardcore punk and some unholy variant of J-pop which made for an interesting mix. While they were an engaging watch, the set was marred somewhat by spending about five minutes introducing the band in a half hour set. Their pantomimic stage presence and over the top clowning largely made up for this though and when they did actually play some songs they were tight. I’m not sure that I’d listen to them at home but they were an entertaining act who are worth seeing live for the spectacle as much as anything else.

Cavalcade (5) were playing in another fairly small venue, Coffee Crescent. The most noticeable thing about their set was how ear splittingly loud it was. There’s nothing wrong with playing loud but when everything is turned up to maximum for the sake of it can detract from the set considerably. Such was the case here, as a band who seemed like they could have been alright were mostly lost under a caterwaul of noise. Musically they were on the heavier side of Indie, there were shades of Bloc Party and Arctic Monkeys style influences detectable at times. The four piece certainly weren’t lacking in confidence but it didn’t really hit the mark for me. Perhaps if the guitars weren’t so loud that you could barely hear the drums they might have made a better impression but as it was they were one of the weaker acts I saw across the day.

Rews (7) are a duo who were gracing the Fest stage towards early evening. They got off to a slightly muted start but as they kept playing the crowd warmed up and its numbers began to swell. When there’s just two people on stage there’s not really anywhere to hide but that wasn’t an issue for this band at all. Between them they created a large sound that filled the room and their interaction with the audience helped to add to the atmosphere. You get the feeling that both members are very comfortable playing together and the fact that they both sing adds another layer to their sound, which encompasses solid percussion with some heavily distorted guitar that manages to retain a catchiness and keen ear for hooks and riffs.

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They are a good example of a band getting the chance to move upwards in terms of venue size at the festival having played the fairly small Hawley arms last year and now filling out the considerably bigger Fest stage. On the strength of their effort on this occasion it is not hard to see why.

Hands Off Gretel (8) followed Rews on the Fest stage and they wasted no time in getting started. Frontwoman Lauren Tate stalked across the stage with undeniable presence. The grunge sound of the music was complemented by her banshee like howls which resonated as if dredged from some deep primal recess. The energy of all members of the band was high but the interplay between Lauren and the guitarist was particularly strong. Their frenetic chemistry is evident and the live set was hard hitting throughout. There was a  cover of Now I wanna be your dog, which was very well delivered. It’s always going to be a challenge to match the sheer stagecraft of Iggy but Lauren did an excellent job putting her own slant on the enunciation and altering the song a little; which always makes for a better cover, rather than an attempt at a carbon copy. There was also a new track that was very well received. This was the first time I’d seen Hands off Gretel and they were a mesmerising band on the numbers where they really let rip. If anything it might have been better to see them a bit later on or at a show where they’re headlining to get the full experience but no matter, as an introduction to their live set this was excellent.

By the time I had reached the Black Heart to watch the Healthy Junkies (8) take to the stage the place was like a sauna. It was to a very sweaty crowd that the band delivered a storming set. The room was packed and guitarist Phil and frontwoman Nina were clearly enjoying themselves. They put in a highly energised performance and being on homeground there was a decent swathe of the crowd who were very familiar with the songs and sung every word back at them. They barreled through a number of songs, all of which hit the mark, though I remember Runaway Devil being one of the standout tunes. If the audience were warm they must have been positively sweltering on stage, particularly Nina who threw herself into the performance with gusto, moving all over the stage and working the crowd with abandon. They rounded off their set by inviting someone called Tom onto stage, (think they said he was from another band, but didn’t catch the name), to join them on vocals. He obliged and really let loose with some bellowing vocal accompaniment. Things were then built into a crescendo of increasingly fast drums and wall of sound guitar to bring the set to an electrifying finish.

Playing the penultimate slot at the Electric Ballroom were the Beatsteaks (7). This German band have a reputation for their full on live sets. Admittedly due to time constraints I wasn’t able to catch their whole set. However what I did see proved that since their formation in 1995 this Berlin based act have honed their set of upbeat punk numbers into a real crowd pleaser. There was a lot of jumping around happening towards the front and their verve and enthusiasm was infectious. The sound is to the lighter end of punk, at least for the numbers I caught but they’re a band I will make sure to look into a little further. They finished off the set with a version of The Beastie Boys Sabotage which went down a treat and set up the crowd nicely for the headline act.

John Lydon took to the stage and presided over the crowd of by now quite inebriated punters with huge charisma. He gave off the air of an irreverent preacher, proselytising over a back drop full of synth and and pounding drums. There was the predictable dose of anti establishment posturing but it was conducted with humour and a willingness to make light of himself; there were even a number of quips around butter. John Lydon’s voice was commanding throughout, feeling at times almost operatic in its range. The set itself was pretty varied drawing on the bands expansive back catalogue. For the most part the crowd was receptive though a spoken word introduction to one song did illicit a couple of heckles. Throughout, the set was tight and blended more esoteric numbers with hits such as Rise, This is not a love song and Public Image. There was also a range of instruments brought out at various points such as an electric upright bass and what looked like some form of electric bazouki, demonstrative of PIL’s (9) interest in experimenting with unusual instrumentation and influences. They played an hour and a half set that remained captivating from start to finish proving to be a band who are on the top of their game.

Playing the final live set of the festival were the appropriately named Nightlord (8.5) who took to the stage at The Dublin Castle at eleven to round things off. They did a grand job of it as well, playing a form no nonsense metal that was technically proficient without being overly flash. By this time most of the revellers had loosened up considerably and the combination of a full days drinking, some time in the sun and crucially some energetically played tunes resulted in a reasonably sized mosh pit. The standout song for me was one from the band’s back catalogue, apparently written in 1990 called for the faithful. This was a real thrash metal belter and went down a storm. There was also a pretty good new one about a witch and a deal with the devil that I forgot to note down the name of. In truth they were all new to me as I hadn’t encountered Nightlord before. However I’m very glad that I did as they provided a great end to a long and varied day of music. The crowd were into it and the band were clearly enjoying themselves. While there were DJs going on until later in the morning elsewhere I felt Nightlord had been a good conclusion and stumbled back to get the tube home.

This is the first time I had attended Camden Rocks and I would definitely recommend it as a day out. The team at Camden Rocks really do put on a huge range of acts and afford a showcase for much smaller bands alongside the headliners. It can require a military like attention to timings if you’re really keen to get in as many bands as possible. However the layout does invite the possibility of stumbling upon new bands if you’re willing to be a bit freer with who you decide to check out. The festival atmosphere spreads out of the venues onto the surrounding streets, with a number of performers and buskers dotted around as well. 

Festival Review: Camden Rocks 2018 @camdenrocksfest featuring reviews of: @arabledesert | @ryuketsukichiku | @cavalcade__ | @rewsmusic | @HandsOffGretel | @HealthyJunkies | @beatsteaks | @pilofficial Words by Colin Osborn | Pictures by Léna Villari With over 200 acts to choose from trying to navigate efficiently around Camden Rocks can be something of challenge.

[jamiekturner]

Best iPhone Weather Apps With Accurate Forecast

Ever find yourself saying “I need a weather app”? At one point, I found myself in the situation of having several weather apps on my phone.

You might be planning a camping trip, scheduling a family picnic, or just trying to figure out if you should grab an umbrella or sunscreen on the way out.

Searching for ‘free weather apps’ in the App store will net you more results than you know what to do with.

There are all kind of iPhone weather apps out there, from elaborate apps featuring radar imagery fit for meteorologists to one weather app that features different pictures of kittens every time you use it.

Here are a few things to remember when trying to pick out the best weather apps for iPhone:

User-created input can be appealing, but it’s not necessarily worth anything or practical use. Many apps offer an option for users to input the local weather to help create a forecast for your immediate area. While this can be very satisfying, turning the iOS weather app into a bit of a game, it isn’t necessarily useful, especially in areas with a low population.

Radar is vital. Forecasts can be iffy and are less than reliable on their own, especially in areas where weather can change quickly, like in the mountains. Up-to-date radar can make a serious difference in your weather-related planning. The best iOS weather apps uses radar updated within the last five minutes. Some give you a moving radar, forecasting the movements of storms over the following 30 minutes to an hour.

You won’t find a good weather app that works offline. Weather data is not cached, since it updates constantly. The best weather apps for iPhone get constant updates with new forecasts and radar imagery. You’re going to need a good network connection to use them.

The best weather apps are not focused only on local weather but also provide a broader picture. A lot of others only look at local weather, but that’s not necessarily the most useful kind of forecast. Regional forecasts can help you figure out the weather past the next few hours.

With these four principles in mind, what is the best weather app? You only have so much space on your iPhone, so it’s important that you pick out the best weather app. Below are some of the highest rated iOS weather apps from the App Store and a brief overview of what might make them work for you.

AccuWeather

The AccuWeather is considered the best weather app by many. It provides a very detailed weather forecast. It has comprehensively detailed weather reports, including temperature, wind speeds, conditions, and dew points. All of this data is updated to the hour.

CARROT Weather

This is a useful app, no doubt, but also offers up a heavy dose of snarky humour with your forecast. CARROT pretends to be a misanthropic artificial intelligence. It will provide mean comments depending on the weather; a hot day can prompt “I hope you get sunburn”, while a cold snap can bring in “Your heating bill is going to bankrupt you”.

It’s always worth a laugh and can be a nice pick-me-up whenever you see it. It has another fun feature, as well. The more you use it, the more secret locations you will unlock, including such exotic locales like Mount Doom or Hoth.

Dark Sky

Dark Sky is the best iPhone weather app for precision accuracy. It is a very useful app for predicting up-to-the-minute changes in weather. Dark Sky was built using forecast.io. It offers a very detailed 24-hour outlook on the weather, as well as a pretty accurate seven day forecast.

You can drag your finger through a timeline to see when storms will come or how long it will be until the day heats up. The app will notify you of any impeding bad weather including snow, rain, or a storms. This is a very accurate app.

Looking to make a quick, 10 minute run to the store but afraid it will rain? Dark Sky can tell you if you have enough time. It also allows for you to report the weather conditions from inside the app for an even more accurate assessment.

Fresh Air

Fresh Air is a minimalist app, providing minute-by-minute weather forecasts, all presented in a line graph. To access all these temperature, precipitation chance, and wind speed graphs, all you need to do is scroll the screen down.

You can set up sever weather warnings, weather forecasts for calendar events, and add in a ‘Today’ widget. You can unlock NOAA radar maps and get rid of the ads with a simple in-app purchase.

Haze

Haze uses animation and a pleas ant audio-visual interface to show current weather information. It offers a five day forecast, sunrise and sunset, wind speed, UV measurements, cloud coverage, high and low temperatures, precipitation data, humidity levels, and atmospheric pressure data.

Hurricane by Red Cross

This is the Red Cross’ hurricane preparedness app, one of the series they have set up for various natural disasters like tornados, wildfires, and earthquakes. This is a great app for anyone living in an area with hurricanes.

It is not an app about current temperatures or day-to-day forecasts, but instead it does send out alerts for hurricanes or high-wind storms.

It includes a flashlight and/or strobe function, can send an alarm for signalling your location, and can send automatic text messages to your friends and family to let them know you are safe.

This app connects directly to NOAA weather reports. It has what amounts to an encyclopaedia of hurricane preparedness, with a lot of information on how to prepare and what to do in a hurricane, as well as what to do in the aftermath.

Met Office Weather

The Met Office Weather app was recently updated and redesigned. It provides a daily forecast, as well as hourly forecasts for the next two days and three-hourly forecasts for the next week. It also has weather warnings, a ‘feels like’ temperature, and a helpful rainfall map.

Meteo Earth

This app displays the weather using a globe or map showing your selection of temperature, precipitation, wind, and more layered over the image. To see what the weather will look like over time, just swipe along the timeline.

You can also set it to run by itself. It may not be the best app to see what the local weather is like for any practical purpose, but it is very neat looking.

MyRadar

MyRadar is a fairly customizable radar app. While you can get all the basic weather data, the app is mainly focused on its radar feature. You can adjust the layers to your needs and toggle various additional information to display on the radar, including temperature or cloud cover.

You can even view an overview of the temperature across the country. You can upload photos of the sky near you, as well as share a picture of radar on social media or through text or email.

NOAAA Radar Pro

Developed by Apalon, the NOAA Radar Pro app has real-time animated radar images over an interactive map. It provides all the detailed weather information you expect from a weather app, to include temperature, wind speed, and future forecasts.

You can set up the app to send you notifications whenever a weather alert is issued, so you can be sure you’re never caught by surprise by events like flood warnings or snow storms. It is compatible with the Apple Watch, so you can get those same alerts on your wrist for easy access.

The Weather Channel

As you might expect, the Weather Channel created its own app. It offers all the basics that go with what could be called the most accurate weather app—daily, hourly, and 15 day forecasts; wind speed; humidity indexes; and a UV index. It presents all this information in a simple, easy-to-use interface.

You can also use this app to learn about any weather-related road conditions, as well as watch forecast videos for your local area. As with its television channel, The Weather Channel app features a collection of small weather-related news stories for a nice overview of both national and local storms, scientific discoveries, and even nature videos.

The Weather Underground

The Weather Underground app offers a highly personalized interfaced. The data this app uses is generated and uploaded from approximately 200,000 personal weather stations run by weather enthusiasts. You can add in your own data by reporting local weather conditions and local hazrds like flash floods or power outages.

You can also customize the details cards, removing hurricanes or tornados if you live in an area that rarely gets them. It also features a real-time report from the nearest weather station to your area. You can also see user-submitted photos, not just from your area, but also from around the world.

RadarScope

RadarScope is an app designed for amateur meteorologists. If offers native data rendering of reflective, velocity, dual-polarization, echo tops, and accumulation from any TWDR and NEXRAD radar in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or Guam.

It also includes lightning alerts, severe weather warnings, and numerous storm trackers. You can also get the Pro version, which includes real-time lighting alerts and extended loops. Any member of the Spotted Network and AllisonHouse can log in using their membership to get exclusive info.

RainAware

RainAware is a “nowcasting” weather app. It offers a 3-hour precision rain forecast. You can set precipitation notifications and it also provides rain forecasts at nearby points of interest.

The backgrounds will change depending on the current weather. Animated radar imagery plays with your location highlighted on the map. There are a few areas of iffy coverage in the western US, but it is largely an excellent weather app.

Solar: Weather

This is a very minimalistic app. It offers a bright and colourful gradient background. The explanations of weather conditions are presented in simple texts alongside the current temperature.

Weather Live

Weather Live is very nice app. It offers real-time weather condition background images. You can get daily, hourly, and 7-day forecasts. Weather Live features a highly customizable display, its more stand out feature. There are four different layouts, some simple and some complex.

If you live somewhere with a lot of rain, you can place the precipitation parameter at the top of the display. If you need to know sunrise, sunset, or moonrise, you can add that in and place it where you would like. The app will provide you with a daily weather report notification every morning on the current weather and how it compared to the day before.

WeatherBug

WeatherBug stands out because it is particularly helpful to those who suffer from allergies. It provides up-to-date assessments of typical allergens, with a daily pollen index of the most likely allergy triggers. It also provides all the typical functions of the best weather apps: daily, hourly, and 10-day forecasts.

It has a really cool home feature to connect to your Honeywell, Nest, or SmartThings hub to analyse and provide a detailed report on your energy consumption.

Even if you don’t opt to use this feature, you can still use the WeatherBug app to calculate your daily costs based on weather conditions, average gas and electric costs, and the settings on your HVAC. A good choice for anyone looking for an app to help them live a more energy neutral lifestyle.

Wild Weather

Wild Weather will add an additional, unique look to all the standard weather and forecast data. All the weather information is paired up with hand-drawn animations of wildlife.

If you’d like more detail, you can simple swipe upwards to get a more detailed forecast for the next 24 hours, as well as a quick 5 day outlook. The illustrated animations change with the time of day, so make sure to check the weather often to see what kinds of animals are on the display.

Yahoo Weather

Yahoo Weather is a professional app, offering up accurate weather forecasts and current conditions. It gives clean, friendly illustrations and animations to display data like wind pressure and precipitation. The app features an interactive map with overlays for rain and snow.

It is a really good looking app. City background images are pulled from a localized library of images from Flickr. Scrolling up triggers a blurring effect to the background that looks very nice. This is one of the best weather apps just for the pleasant aesthetic and presentation of information.

Ending thoughts on iPhone weather apps

These are the best weather apps out there in the App Store. If you like what’s described, go ahead and give it a try. See if it makes your next outdoor outing a hit!

If you liked this article about iPhone weather apps, you should check out these articles as well:

Best Sports Apps for iPhone

Best Arcade Games for iPhone and iPad

Best News Apps for iPhone and iPad

Best iPhone apps of the year

The post Best iPhone Weather Apps With Accurate Forecast appeared first on Design your way.

from Web Development & Designing http://www.designyourway.net/blog/tech/iphone-weather-apps/

[mermaid20348209]

Character questions:

What is your full name? Benjamin Arthur Jacobs.

Do I have a pet or nickname? No. 

What do I like about my name? I like the warmth of it. I enjoy writing it down on paper; there’s a lovely combination of letters. 

What history does it have? I was named Benjamin after my grandfather. A military man whom my father respected highly and saw as his role model. I notice a lot of similarities between them. 

What is my age? 18. 

How does it relate to my spirit? I am relentlessly curious as young people are and have many questions related to life, most without answers. I am fearful and worried however, I lack security and feel uncertain about my future. I think too much for my age, mostly about my own existence; arguably I don’t have enough distractions for my age, I have too much time. 

How does it relate to my experience of life? I’ve served in the army which is normal for people of royalty. I deal with matters of importance on a daily basis and my opinion is valued highly. Considering I’m only eighteen, it’s strange how protected and restricted I am. I have access to luxury and money has always been readily available. I don’t have a job but feel responsible for the country, which I’m told relies on my authority. 

What is your placement in your family? I’m not noticed so much within my family. I’m loved but my mother  is awkward when expressing this, seeing it as something I should know and not mention. My father never tells me he loves me. I have a lot to learn being the future king, and so discipline and duty are what I focus on - these two qualities make my father proud of me. 

What is your present martial status? Single.

How does this affect or influence you? I’ve never had a girlfriend because of my identity as a prince; it’s hindered my social skills and I find it difficult to present myself naturally paranoid of tainting my families name. I’m indifferent to marriage, knowing that my mother will likely choose a wife for me. Hopefully she’ll be a good listener. 

What is your greatest responsibility? My duty to the army; as a soldier on the field, boosting morale and demonstrating patriotism. 

Where do I live? I live in Buckingham Palace. 

Do I consider it home? Why? I do consider the palace home. I have fond memories of playing in the garden and swimming in the lake. I used to have friends from nursery whom I grew up with and were often invited to the palace to keep me company. As I grew older however, my role as a prince took priority over fun and games. 

Do you enjoy social life? 

I find it tedious and predictable. There’s no satisfaction or emotional release anymore. I don’t gain any useful knowledge from the kinds of conversation people my age are used too; there’s no opinions or trivia that can lessen the burden of my heavy future.

What is my most comfortable social mix? I do find it peaceful to sit in the most favoured living room of the palace and listen to my mother and father chat; they use words I’ve not heard before, talk of situations in far away lands and how to solve them. They are proactive and make me as though I have a place among them, being a prince and all. 

What is your profession? I’m an officer in the army. 

How does it affect your social status? When I’m serving in the army, I’m just one of the guys. No one treats me any different. and that equality is extremely liberating. I get along with the guys I serve with, we’re both used to the anticipation the army places on you and so keeping alert naturally bonds people. I’m sometimes teased about being a prince, but I’d rather that than be taken seriously for every slight utterance. 

 How does it affect your mental health? I hate the contrast between the army and the palace. Fighting on the front lines, there’s never a dull moment. You have to be focused and adrenaline filled. I’m taken away from the safety and comfort I’ve been raised in and placed into situations where only primal instinct matters. This kind of simplicity is vanquished as soon as I’m home. I’m treated like a hero even though from my perspective it’s the friends that died, who sacrificed themselves who should be named so. I am back to pacing the garden grounds, eating expensive meals and having far too much time to think. 

How does it affect your physical being? I am athletic and fit thanks to the army. When I’m at home however it just feels unnatural to exercise. My mindset prioritises literature and the imagination over push-ups. 

What kind of education did I have? I was educated at Eden College. It’s a prestigious school with a high quality of learning. I was well provided for. 

Vocal qualities? I took fencing classes, and also I also developed a liking for climbing the school buildings - against the rules of course. I still do enjoy climbing around the palace at home. There’s a lot of secrets there that people would never find. 

Qualities of movement? I lead with my chest, confident and controlled. When I’m under stress however I tense up and start to press, like the effort action.

Humour? What kind? I’m quite witty but also childish and enthusiastic when I want to be, like when I play pretend with the mermaid. 

What is your laugh like? It’s warm and hearty. 

Energy and vitality? I’m energetic when the situation arises. If I want something, I’ll often raise my voice and gesture more freely, without care. 

Temperament? I’m used to getting what I want, although I don’t like feeling this way. If I can see an opportunity to intimidate someone, I’ll sometimes take it. I don’t have a temper however, patience is a great virtue. 

Intellectual thought process? My thought process is based off of the teachings my books have offered me. I question people and their actions morally, but I also ask myself whether I’d do the same thing - I hate being a hypocrite. I like to take control of conversations instead of listening. I have a slight fear of being controlled by people in conversation, just like I’m controlled in life. 

General efficiency? I’m efficient at most life skills; I can cook my own food, wash my own clothes, although rarely do people understand why I’d rather do these things myself. I don’t like being treated like I’m famous. I know I am but I want to be well equipped for life. “As if this life didn’t render one ill equipped for everything”.

State of health? I’m healthy physically, however I often get headaches from thinking and stressing too much. I also had Frostnip once from spending to much time in the lake and then returning to the warmth of the palace right after. 

How sexual, sensual? I don’t care for sex although I am curious about it. I’ve never had it. I also do not see why people waste time being sensual. It’s self indulgent. There’s bigger problems in the world and while I value love for the togetherness it brings, there’s so much romanticism to it that all ‘love’ really is these days is a commercial nightmare. People buy each other presents and talk on phones instead of sitting in the park completely vulnerable to the threat that is conversation. 

How sensitive/aware? I am aware of myself and others behaviour. I like to be as it keeps me in the moment. I like to observe anything of interest and unless I’m learning something, I often find it hard t ease my mind. I’m sensitive about my existence, often I cause myself misery late at night as I think of death and whether I’ll see anyone again when I die. I’m certainly not religious. 

State of confidence? I’m confident within the palace however, I don’t like going out too much plus it’s mostly a hassle getting permission to go beyond the square. I’m confident in from of those I know respect me, sometimes I’ll question why that is in my mind, halfway through a conversation. 

What physical impression do you give? I’m not imposing whatsoever, it’s my role as a prince which gives me prowess, and people are naturally weary of saying the wrong thing to me. I don’t like this and feel like I should lessen their worries so I’ll try and communicate in a casual way. My wit does sometimes get the better of me and in a horrible way I enjoy watching people squirm now and again.. 

Ambition - short, medium, long term? I want to learn as much as I can about the world before I’m forced into ruling a country. I want to be a great role model but first must become that role model. I want to be loved by all, feared by my enemies but I also want to be at peace deep down, I want to write books and live in an imaginary world where I’m not a prince. It’s difficult. 

Biggest fear? My biggest fear would be being responsible for another’s death. 

Belief in God? I don’t believe in God, even though I should do. My parents think that I do, but every time I pray for the well being of others, nothing has happened. I have rarely prayed for myself - I don’t deserve divine guidance. I’m already powerful and rich. 

What would I do if I inherited a fortune? I’d add it to the rest and ignore it. 

What would I do if I was £10,000 in debut? I would ask my parents to pay it off for me and make sure to never be in such a situation again. 

Worst thing you’ve ever done? I granted permission for children to be hung from a tree, simply because they asked us soldiers for sweets. I had been under huge pressure to show allegiance to the army and the children had broken a law. 

Best thing you’ve ever done? I saved up my pocket money over two years and ended up with £3000. I then donated it all to charity, the soldiers with PTSD foundation. 

Care over personal appearance? No, people care too much about that for me, I don’t have the effort to outmatch them. 

Are you vain? No, I hate vanity. I want to be equal. I had a dream once that I was homeless on the streets, but it wasn’t a nightmare. 

Which season best represents you? Autumn, for that is when the world slows down and encourages patience and thoughtfulness. We see death and deterioration in its splendour and unlike my mother, nature doesn’t seem to fear ageing; it’s appearance is shown off, not hidden under layers of makeup and insecurity. 

What would you compromise for the sake of an easy life? I’d risk it all, my life even. That’s why I enjoy the army. I relish simplicity. 

What would I do if I had the weekend to myself? I never have had that, but I suppose I’d take a train somewhere, in disguise, with a hoodie on. I’d go down o the beach and play on the arcades and swim in the sea - I’d watch children play and envy their freedom. I’d buy sweets and drink cheap coffee. I’d read in a park and savour the company of the general public, the ones I care for. 

Favourite topic of conversation, least favourite? Talking about existence, no matter what the view on it is, fascinates me. I see nothing as spiritually important as questioning our life on this earth. How did it come to be? Science or religion? Or maybe neither. From the topic of existence stems how we exist with each other, and from that thousands of countless discussions. I don’t have anyone to discuss these topics with unfortunately. My least favourite topic of conversation would be marriage. It’s just not important! I’m expected to be interested in woman I’ve never heard of, and when I am told about them, it’s not their personality my mother shows off but their family background and appearance. 

Would you like to be remembered after your death? Only if I’d done enough to deserve it. I’d want to feel satisfied with myself most of all, content. Whether I’m remembered for what I’ve done with myself or not, doesn’t matter, it’s what I’d have done to be remembered that matters. If it was something that saved thousands of lives, I’d be proud of myself. 

Most embarrassing circumstances to be found? Often I have to represent the king or queen when they are away. I meet different people of high esteem and I must put on a facade of politeness and courtesy. Then I have to engage in conversation with them when the majority of the time, I’ve not a clue what they’re yammering on about. 

Situations in life you find most boring/stimulating? I find small talk dull and irreverent. I also dislike so called important meetings that I find myself in, that I have to attend. The lack of passion people speak with disturbs me and makes me want to run away. The world needs passion. It needs imagination. I find being caught by the press quite exciting because it allows me the opportunity to give my opinion on a world or country issue. It gives me a voice. I don’t express my personal opinion however, just what I’ve been taught to say. But there’s the opportunity, and that’s what gives me the thrill. 

Secret dreams and desires? Sometimes I used to dream about being a cat. Cats just wander with no tension whatsoever, until its needed. They’re the opposite of me; I’m tense when I shouldn’t be, relaxed when I should be. I desire to be ‘normal’. But I don’t know what that is, I’ve never been exposed to such a word. It isn’t meant for me. The lifestyle of the general public, the lower class, it’s something I’d like to experience, get a taste of. However It’ll never be. 

Confidence in future experience/success? I’m confident that I’ll make a fine soldier if I am allowed to go back more often. I’m not confident that I’ll make a good ruler however. I don’t understand my own people. 

Happiness? I’m not happy. I’m never satisfied and always thinking about what’s right, what’s wrong. In short, I live physically secure but couldn’t be more the opposite mentally. 

What qualities/circumstances do I like/envy in my closest friend? There’s a man named William who I patrol with in the army. He doesn’t care about me being a prince. He’s the least judgemental person in the world. He doesn’t even care about good or evil! He pities out enemies and values them as brave - he thinks we’re just the same as them from their perspective. I don’t know how he manages to fire bullets at them with that attitude. He’s completely without hatred. I can’t say the same. I have to pretend that they’re inferior.

[comiconverse]

Game Review: Reigns

Reigns is a simple to play strategy game with hidden depths, available now on PC, Mac, Android and iOS mobile devices. Alan Stock dons his crown and wonders how he’ll die this time, with this review for ComiConverse.

Game Review: Reigns

Turns out, being a king isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. I had visions of being a loved and respected leader of my people. I would bring peace and prosperity to my kingdom. I’d slap my naysayers in chains, defend my borders valiantly and enjoy huge feasts next to my beautiful queen, as I nodded sagely to advice from my helpful advisors.

Dead again. Credit: Devolver Digital.

Yet here I am in my death throes, being torn limb from limb by savage dogs; my starving citizens broke into the castle and have ended my reign. And this is only my most recent failure. My son’s assassinated me, the church has burned me at the stake, my general has deposed me, enemy armies have stormed my castle, I’ve been banished with not a penny to my name by the cut-throat merchant’s guild. I’ve been impaled by traps in a secret dungeon, murdered by my queen’s treacherous brother, my kingdom’s been ravaged by plague, and to top it off the Devil himself has my number. And it’ll all happen again, a hundred times over. Welcome to Reigns.

The Church gets angered if you take actions such as taking a lover or researching scientific improvements. Credit: Devolver Digital.

  You rule a Middle Ages kingdom and the gameplay is incredibly straightforward. Your advisors and citizens come to you with problems, and you choose to say yes or no to them – on mobile devices by swiping left or right. Just like some certain “dating” apps. Almost every choice in the game is tackled in this way – it’s a simple and elegant control method that keeps things moving quickly.

Your objective is to stay in power as long as possible and juggle the four “pillars” of your kingdom – Religion, Citizens, Military and Wealth. Each decision that you make fills or decreases these bars by different amounts. If one gets full or empties completely, your reign ends – usually in a brutal fashion. Each decision marks a year of your life and if you’re doing really well, you might occasionally live long enough to die of old age, but that’s a rarity. It’s perfectly possible to die just a few years into your current reign if you make the wrong choices.

On each death, you see your progress on a timeline where you can scroll back through all your previous failures. Credit: Devolver Digital.

But not to worry, after death you simply assume control of a new young monarch, carrying on where you last left off but with all the pillars reset. This cycle repeats until the timeline eventually ends. So what’s the point? Well, you have a lot of achievements to aim for. Reigns is presented as a shuffled deck of cards, with each choice reflecting a card randomly being dealt from the pile. After certain pre-set events, or significant choices that you make, you’ll unlock new sets of cards to shuffle into the deck. These contain new advisors and events which affect your kingdom. So over time, plotlines start to develop, shuffled amongst the normal juggling of your kingdom’s pillars.

The game tracks how many cards, advisors and achievements you have unlocked, giving you direction in what you might be missing out on. Credit: Devolver Digital.

An intriguing overarching quest-line also emerges. Your constant reincarnation is the result of a curse from the Devil, but apparently there is a way to beat him – but you’ll have to discover this for yourself. The achievements and quests are cleverly sprinkled through the game giving you a big hook to keep playing. Meanwhile, although you can’t predict the difficult choices that you’ll have to make, you get better at anticipating the consequences of your decisions, able to juggle those pillars for longer. You also get long term bonuses which last over multiple lifespans, for example investing wealth in a barn to protect against starvation. Some events or decisions lock a pillar in place, fill or drain it constantly over time, changing your strategy. Over the course of the timeline, if played right, your power will gradually grow as you get access to these bonuses, and advisors with useful abilities – giving you a better chance of achieving those overarching goals.

Going on ventures such as Crusades (which constantly increases your wealth but lowers your population) can be used strategically to allow you to make choices you can’t usually afford to take. Credit: Devolver Digital.

Reigns has a quirky, amusing style – through its angular, colourful art and sharp writing which often puts a smile on your face. There’s healthy doses of wit and dark humour in your advisors and your unfortunate circumstances. The game doesn’t take itself too seriously, but it still retains a good atmosphere with music and sound effects which keep the dark and medieval ambience.

The game’s initial veneer of simplicity and repetition belies its hidden depths. It’s addictive and because each of your reigns will last no more than perhaps 15 minutes, and usually just a few, it’s perfect for mobile to dip in and out of at your leisure. However I often found myself still sitting an hour after booting it up for a quick go, getting engrossed in its ongoing mysteries. Indeed I’ve been through the whole timeline (which stretches to colonial times) three times now, a trail of hundreds of dead kings in my wake, and I’ve still not seen everything the game has to offer, although I’ve come close to reaching the final goal.

There’s even a form of combat in Reigns, where you make dialogue choices which can be used defensively or to activate special attacks which you learn over time. This becomes important in the labyrinthine dungeon which is vital to the main quest. Credit: Devolver Digital.

Reigns does have a few issues which become more apparent over long play sessions (although the game isn’t really intended to be played that way). The randomness of the cards and events can get frustrating, and often you’ll be thrown situations there’s no way you could have got out of or prepared for. The unpredictability to the consequences to some of your choices can be annoying (until you’ve seen them enough to know the ramifications), but does add spice. The overarching quests and plot-lines can be a little too arcane, sometimes requiring you to make specific choices during events that will only appear every few hundred years.

Some consequences only make themselves known after many years or even generations. Start a war in one reign and you may live to regret it in another – or maybe you sacrifice wealth in another reign to build constructions to aid you in later attempts. The nice thing about the game is that all of your choices feel significant. Credit: Devolver Digital.

But overall Reigns is a great piece of game design and especially something original and different on mobile devices. It’s a showcase of how you can add depth, strategy and layers to a very basic idea with only simple controls, and how randomness can be fun, if there are ways for the player to control and manage it. I may hate the sight of my advisors with their constant problems, and my reign is always doomed to failure, but I keep coming back for more.

  The post Game Review: Reigns appeared first on ComiConverse.