#This is a recent read more than a weekly one lately my brain in soup

[riverswater]

🌊 Love Moves Like The Sea, by flamboyo_xx / @chrysopon (Harry/Louis, 33k)

“Of course I want to stay with you, I missed you, you know? We haven't spent so much time apart since…” Harry’s smile dims a bit. “Well, we've never done it.”

There's a hint of a question there, a why. Why did you stop reaching out, why did we stop talking for months?

Louis doesn’t answer. He can’t say, ‘I was hoping that by ignoring you for months I would have fallen out of love with you, and it didn’t even happen’ on their first day of vacation, can he?

*

Spending two weeks in his uncle's old house by Lee Bay beach is not Louis' ideal holiday, but sadly is the only one he can afford this summer. Away from everyday reality, maybe it's time for two friends to finally explore what they haven't said (but felt) for years.

🌊 Ever Since I Tried Your Way, by flowercrownfemme / @lesbianiconharrystyles (Harry/Louis, 25k)

Harry had been kissed before, but never like this.

He’d shared sweet, curious kisses behind bleachers and in soda shop booths, one or two more daring ones in cars parked on dark suburban streets, but the girls he’d kissed had never filled him with the desperation that erupted from Louis’ touch. He parted his lips and pulled him closer, as though he could breathe Louis straight into his lungs, as if he could swallow him. He wanted to consume Louis the way he consumed the body and blood of Christ. He wanted to place Louis on his tongue and feel him dissolve into a frothy mess of starch and saliva. He wanted to gulp him down until his teeth were stained purple and he was drunk on him. He wanted him in some violent holy way that made his hands shake where they were twisted in Louis’ shirt.

In 1949 Harry left his bride at the altar, running away from the only life he'd known. When a kindhearted farmer offers him a ride in his truck and a place to sleep the two find themselves inexplicably drawn together. Isolated on Louis' farm with nobody but a field of dairy cows to intrude, the men are finally able to explore the parts of themselves they've spent their lives hiding away.

🌊 He's Always On The Scene (His Engine's Bright and Clean), by sunsetmog / @magicalrocketships (Liam/Louis, 4k)

Louis sometimes has terribly disturbing dreams about Liam being naked and doing things to him. It's best for all concerned if nobody ever, ever knows about them.

Or: it's fancy dress party night on tour, and Liam's dressed up as a fireman. Louis has some feelings he needs to keep hidden.

🌊 with the hope that you would tame me (Liam/Louis, 14k)

Once, on a dull night off, Liam tries asking Google on a whim. He stares at the blinking cursor in the search bar for a while, trying to figure out how to phrase it, because something tells him "why does my mate like it when I hit him" won't bring up a lot of helpful results.

🌊 oh we're in love aren't we, by delsicle / @eeveelou (Harry/Louis, 20k)

Louis is trying to get through his second year of university while dealing with his three stupidly loud and stupidly in love roommates, a series of boring classes, and his job working the graveyard shift at his campus’s favorite drunk food shop. Harry is new to town and looking for somewhere to live when he finds a long-abandoned apartment that brings him right to Louis’s doorstep.

Or, a soft 19/19 university AU in which Harry is getting a fresh start, Louis isn’t subtle, no one does their homework and 3 AM is an excellent time to fall in love.

🌊 with no way out and a long way down, by we_are_the_same / @so-why-let-your-voice-be-tamed (Harry/Louis, 31k)

Prince Harry is ten when he receives his soulmark.

🌊 You Kill My Mind, by 28sunflowers / @vintageumbroshirt (Harry/Louis, 3k)

Louis spends one night with Harry and accidentally makes a deal with a demon. Now, he can’t seem to be able to control the awful thoughts forming in his mind. His best shot in solving that problem is to go after Harry and get a new arrangement.

Things don’t happen exactly how he expects them to. But then again, since when are demons predictable?

🌊 About the sea, by Foolishly_Fallen (Zayn/Louis, 25k)

Louis loves and lives for the sea and doesn't need any other person in his life. Zayn writes about everything and doesn't know what he's doing. And then they meet and everything fits into place.

An AU of sorts.

*.:｡✿*ﾟ Remember to leave kudos and comments, so the authors will know you appreciated their work! *.:｡✿*ﾟ

🌊 More here

[quitetheketch-moved]

so I’ve been seeing bad taste in youtubers, not like in my mutuals or anything but in general but it made me want to make a like, recommended list of youtubers i like who are pretty chill if not full on comrades so here we are - not prompted by anything specific but an itch I got here some of the channels I like:

Cooking:

BORE.D - Fun cooking channel with a stylish presentation 

Chinese Cooking Demystified - Like it says on the tin, informative authentic Chinese dishes from all over the country. 

David Seymour - started with buzzfeed taste tests but now covers most big cooking channels seeing if he can recreate them and how they are

Maangchi - Plz cook for me, like i’m begging feed me it all looks amazing 

My Name Is Andong - fun cooking videos from all over, especially the ones about Russian food.

Simply Sara Kitchen  - good home style cooking 

Souped Up Recipes - Traditional Chinese cooking

Movies/Tv:

Accented Cinema - a video essay channel with a focus on Asian cinema

Folding Ideas - Not strictly about film but I tend to watch a lot of essayists who fall into multiple things and I kinda just have to lean into their main aesthetic but Dan is a gif so check him out.

Jack Saint  - Jack and Joel have a lot of similar style of content but Jack leans into media stuff more so i’m moving him over here. (although i’ve been working on this post for over an hour going through my alphabetical yt sub list and i’m starting to regret trying to categorize them)

PushingUpRoses  - a must watch if you love old tv especially Murder She Wrote

Renegade Cut - Does games too, and frankly they are some of their best work, but quality media analysis.

Ryan Hollinger - Horror movie analysis

Scaredy Cats  - More horror movie analysis but my favorite channel of this kind

Gaming Essays:

Adam Millard - video essays about video games - really recommend the video on Frog Fractions and the Longing

Curio - I’m putting them here because theres been a big focus on games lately and they recently started twitch streaming which is fun but really it’s all media essay. Just please check out their four part Witcher series adfkj it’s the most recent so easy to find.

Errant Signal - I dont have much to add other than please check out Errant Signal, they dont post much but I am in love with this channel.

Game Maker's Toolkit  - in depth essays about elements of game design

Jim Sterling  - Okay not essays but gaming news - if you dont check out anyone else here you should still check out Jim. Especially if you care about the rights of workers in the gaming industry. 

Gaming Play:

Biffa Plays Indie Games - mostly does Cities Skylines but sometimes other, great videos to relax to.

GaLm - GaLm deserves so much much than he gets, Love him been watching him for forever and honestly he’s enough of a workaholic that there’s so much content you WILL find something you like. All complete with critical analysis.

GrayStillPlays - one of the few like, non overtly left-os here but listen, if you want some slightly silly slightly more edgy style of video game videos to kinda turn off your brain and just enjoy you cant get much better than grey. He’s chaos but chaos that doesn’t rely on racism. Maybe one too many jokes about addiction but they aren’t usually punching down so???

John Wolfe - chill horror youtuber - not much to say but one of my favorites.

KatherineOfSky - want the most soothing voice ever to gently play hardcore logistic games at you? Well holy fuzzy cats, you’re home.

Many A True Nerd - Partner to Claire in the category below, known for his fallout but plays just about anything. Also loves grand strategy and paradox games. Good playlist management too do easy to find what you need.

Wanderbots - A just, massive amount of indie game content.

Commentary/Other:

Claire Rousseau - Books youtuber who is just a delight, I dont know how else to describe her but even tho I dont read anymore i’d still die for her.

Courtreezy -  just the queen of being bubbly and fun (some of these I dont have good sales pitches for just *shoves them at you* give em a shot)

D'Angelo Wallace and dangelowallace - Main and second channel, both the same kind of content but the formats are different. Dont always agree with all his opinions but man, theres no fault in the way he presents and researches them - solid essayist but also just oozes charisma and good times.

Drawfee Show - one of the bigger channels here save D’Angelo above so you may already be familiar with them but just a fun weekly drawing show. Good times.

Foo the Flowerhorn  - Watch fish be fed bits of blanched vegetables, like that either sells you or not but it’s Good.

Jarvis Johnson and Jarvis Johnson! GOLD - primary and secondary channels, pure commentary channel on a wide range of topics - i recommend the videos on 5 min crafts and the bachelor.

Life in Jars? - Eco-spheres and terrariums oh me :0

MacDoesIt - Gay chaotic energy, just chock full of Moods and fun times.

Sarah Z - Unofficial tumblr historian

Politics:

Big Joel - kinda variety content, plenty of media analysis but through a strongly leftist lens. Torn between here and commentary but the balance is slightly more overtly political than just media commentary through a political lens so here we go.

Black Red Guard - A black leftist commentary/essay channel focused on black issues and self described as a “New Afrikan Maoist”, this is fairly new channel I found so I’m not as good at describing his content def not better than he does but solid stuff through a perspective I wouldn’t normally get.

hbomberguy - Just watch his video on Pathologic please. Or like, watch 20 mins then go play Pathologic then come back after you’ve beaten it and Pathologic 2 and finish the video.

Innuendo Studios  - Frankly I had no idea where to put this one, because it’s a little of everything but mostly media analysis but also please watch the alt-right playbook if you like, want to understand more about how radicalization happens.

KAR - Black anarchist channel, solid political videos but shorter than most of the ones here so better for consuming when you dont have much time.

Leslie Exp - Videos about disability

Luna oi! and NonCompete  - frankly best agitprop communist duo. A good place to start learning about mutual aid and what anarchism is, beginner friendly videos on leftist theory.

Philosophy Tube - Videos are super polished and well made essays about philosophy, super theatrical and flashy. Honestly cannot stress enough how fun the production value of these are.

Professor Flowers - Nuanced important discussions about race, media, and the political landscape.

Some More News - Like it says on the tin, news but told to you by a disheveled fed up leftist (I joke because i’m running out of things to say in the comment for each but really, Cody and his entire team deserve a lot of credit for their well researched videos on current events)

Thought Slime  - Agitprop but make it a little silly because tbh we all need some jokes rn

Honorable mentions of some slightly bigger channels you may already know but I enjoy: UpIsNotJump , Steve1989MREInfo , SmallishBeans , RTGame , Primitive Survival Tool  , Mumbo Jumbo ,  emmymadeinjapan ,  Kurtis Conner ,  Danny Gonzalez , Drew Gooden  , How To Cook That , JunsKitchen , Defunctland 

[gavins-consumption]

Day 1 - Friday, Jan 22

Food/Drink: Coffee, Soup, Apple, Nuts, Tofu Noodle Salad, Cream Cheese Wontons.

I drank my first cup of coffee with oat milk while reading in the morning, then a second cup at the start of my class. I’m not a big breakfast person lately. I quickly microwaved some leftover lentil minestrone during my class lunch break, and cut up an apple as well. I tend to eat really quickly, so I finished both the soup and the apple before class started back up. I snacked on some nuts during the second have of class. I also don’t think I’ve been drinking enough water today, I’ve only had one bottle so far as of mid afternoon. For dinner my parents ordered takeout, and I got a tofu noodle salad with various vegetables and creme cheese wontons, which I swear I haven’t had since childhood. They were a good treat. 

Media: Book, Instagram, Twitter, Hulu, Radio, YouTube, Netflix

When I first woke up I avoided checking my phone right away, as that’s a habit I’ve been trying to break. I find it’s way too easy to accidentally spend way too much time scrolling first thing in the morning. The first “media” I consumed was the latest book I’m reading Mothers by Brit Bennet. After a week of skiing first thing every morning, it felt really good to relax and read for a while. My first social media check wasn’t until 10:45, during the first break of my long five hour furniture design class on Friday mornings. I felt weirdly rushed while scrolling through instagram and twitter, and I wasn’t really paying much attention to anything I was seeing. A few other times during class I pulled out my phone and refreshed Instagram out of boredom — five hour classes are too long. During our 20 minute lunch break I watched part of an episode of Broad City on Hulu. I’ve already watched all of the show, but started re-watching it recently. It’s strangely comforting. 

I told myself I would work more after my class, but I felt completely brain dead after. I really wanted to go on a walk and listen to some music or a podcast, but it’s so cold I couldn’t get myself to do it. Oh, also the radio was on to 89.3 The Current while I drove to get supplies today, something so usual for me I didn’t really even register it. I decided to do a workout on the elliptical in my basement and watched a video from NYT cooking on YouTube as well as another episode of Broad City. Nothing makes me feel better than watching Claire Saffitz cook, so the YouTube video was a great addition to my weirdly stressful day. In the evening I read more of Mothers, scrolled a bit more through Instagram and Twitter, and watched The White Tiger, a new movie on Netflix, with my parents. It was good! It reminded me of Parasite in some ways, but less subtle and even darker. 

Purchases: Gopher Gold for class materials

I wasn’t expecting to purchase anything today, but ended up having to for some class materials. After my first furniture design class today, I found out I needed 10 basswood sticks for our first little project, and that I could get them at the materials shop in Rapson. The annoying part was that they only accept Gopher Gold, so I went online to load some more into my account. I had no idea how much these sticks would cost, so I loaded on $25, knowing I’ll probably use it eventually. Then there was the $2 “convenience fee” which is total crap, so my total came to $27. Already annoyed, I drove over to Rapson, only to find out the sticks I needed came to a grand total of $1.73. Overall an annoying experience. Being on campus also made me weirdly sad today. It’s been a while since I moved home in November, and I guess I’m missing being around campus like normal more than usual. Being outside also made me upset because it’s so bitterly cold. I think throughout this process I likely won’t have many purchases. I can only remember one other purchase I’ve made in the last month, so it’s funny that one happened to come up on the first day of this exercise. 

My family also got takeout, which we do pretty much weekly on Fridays. I did not personally pay for it - a big perk of being at home right now - but my food totaled to $19.90. It was from a place in Dinkytown called Pho Mai. It was nice to not have to think about making dinner or anything today, and even nicer to not have to do dishes. It feels good having a weekly routine of doing takeout, because it doesn’t feel excessive, and we try to only order from local places. The one part I really don’t like is how much waste comes with most takeout orders, but in my family we are obsessive re-users of takeout containers. 

Here are a couple pictures of the materials I bought for class, and the YouTube video I so enjoyed today. I think I’ll continue to post a picture or two of the thing(s) that most stick out to me each day, whatever they are.