#Weekly Music Video RoundUp

[avomagazine]

Every week, AVO Magazine brings you a treasure trove of captivating music videos from lesser-known, new and intriguing Japanese artists who deserve your support! Read our latest article, published for week 46 of 2023.

This week we highlighted music videos from:

🍙 GOTCHAROCKA 🍙 Tenbin O 🍙 SUGGESTIONS 🍙 The cold tommy 🍙 Stone Flower Blooms 🍙 ミズニ ウキクサ (Mizuni Ukikusa) 🍙 Neon Trip

Since 2020, AVO Magazine has been publishing a list of seven music videos by Japanese artists in various music genres (from pop to rock to metal) that we think you will find interesting!

Enjoy the music!

[ranchthoughts]

Inspired by a few people who have done this hi @wen-kexing-apologist and @justafriend-ql (and because I love organization):

Ranch's Thoughts

(aka, a meta roundup)

Meta 2023 Wrapped

GMMTV Multiverse

In which I attempt to untangle all the various universes in which GMMTV shows are set. An ongoing battle, so stay tuned for updates. My GMMTV multiverse posts can be found here, and my kissing chart posts can be found here.

Old Masterpost

Latest: The Multiverse so far, reorganized

Original GMMTV Multiverse Map post

Latest GMMTV Multiverse map

Kissing Multiverse: version 1, version 2, version 3

Latest Kissing Multiverse

ATOTS X Bad Buddy Our Skyy 2

Thinking about Snow White being the engineering play: parts 1, 2, and 3

Bad Buddy

Thinking about Bad Buddy and the (un)intentionality of seme/uke dynamics

Thoughts on genre, tropes, Bad Buddy, and My School President (aka, my Bad Buddy and MSP trope subversion thesis)

Wai as a faen fatale: a defense (in conversation with @chickenstrangers)

An analysis of the Baseball Mom shirt, Bad Buddy episode 5

Thinking of Pat and Pran, and genre awareness

Thinking about Bad Buddy, and prequels, and tragedies

An impassioned defense of the episode 5 rooftop kiss, aka the Rooftop Kiss and Dichotomies

Thinking about Pran's "Pat, you've got to stop doing this to me" (in conversation with @dudeyuri)

Pat, Pran, and pursuit (in conversation with @dudeyuri)

Thinking about Pat, Pran, and competition (in conversation with @dimplesandfierceeyes)

My School President

Thoughts on Tinn, his mother, and coming out

More thoughts on Tinn, his mother, and coming out

Thoughts on Tinn, music, Gun, and his mother

The Good Place and MSP: Pacing and Narrative Structure

Thinking about MSP and how it shows us that imagination and theory are not the same as real life

MSP and the relief of a sweet show

Thoughts on genre, tropes, Bad Buddy, and My School President (aka, my Bad Buddy and MSP trope subversion thesis)

Thoughts on the MSP ep.11 Chinzhilla fight scene

The Eighth Sense

The Eighth Sense and hazy cinematography

The Eighth Sense and missing pieces

The Eclipse

The Eclipse, repression, and self-knowledge

He's Coming to Me

"If you know how it's going to end, why start anything" as explored in HCTM and Bad Buddy (in conversation with @waitmyturtles)

Kieta Hatsukoi

Thinking about Aoki and Ida and how differently they think (in conversation with @chickenstrangers)

I Told Sunset About You

Conversations in ITSAY that are about more than they seem: Teh and Oh-aew floating

ITSAY is about: noses, backs, knees, and chests

Only Friends

Going to collect some of the OF ephemerality/voyeurism/control/trust, etc. posts I have written here for my own easier reference

Thoughts on ephemerality, permanence, YOLO, and photography post Ep. 2 (additions on photography by @chickenstrangers and @lurkingshan)

Where we are headed post Ep. 3 (with surveillance and voyeurism additions by @lurkingshan, @waitmyturtles and @slayerkitty)

Photography and audio/video in the series, as of Ep. 3

Boston's Manipulations - a study of two scenes in Ep. 3

Manipulate, Mansplain, Manwhore, Manslaughter: Ray confronting Boston, ep. 6

The Mundanity of Meanness

My series cataloguing moments of ephemerality/permanence/YOLO/photography/voyeurism/control/hypocrisy/accountability etc. in Only Friends: ep. 3, ep. 4, ep. 5, ep. 6, ep. 7, ep. 8, ep. 9, ep. 10, ep. 11, ep. 12

and then of course the collection of everyone's thoughts, which got updated weekly.

3 Will Be Free

Opposing Triads

Between Us

Thoughts on Win's rock shirt

Miscellaneous

Signs, symbols, icons, indexes, genre, and BL

[wishheroes]

Weekly K-pop Round-Up (20240523-20240531) pt.2

make sure to check out part one of the post here! 🪼

Virtual Angel - ARTMS

now that artms released their debut album dall and yves released loop, all 12 of the loona members have officially redebuted. right off the bat, i must say this is probably my favourite post-loona release. no matter what my opinion on jaden jeong is, i do have to praise him for creating masterpieces every time. the visuals and references to the loonaverse as well as the queer themes in this song/mv are incredible, and as blinding as the music video is, i definitely do understand the concept of it. does it need a warning? absolutely. but i also don't think it's a bad mv, i think it's very artistic. but releasing a safe (?) version of the music video wouldn't hurt either, it would be nice if ALL fans were able to enjoy this music video. i think odd eye circle and artms definitely have the most loona like feel to them in terms of music which shouldn't be surprising since well, they are under jj's roof. but i just think that whatever the loona-genre is, it just works so well and i will never get tired of it. virtual angel isn't really similar to any of loona's past works, but at the same time it still screams loona right at your face. the instrumental is extremely dreamy, the vocals are really nice to the ear and the lyrics are also very pretty. everything about this release made me emotional, i think it's beautiful all around. from the melody, to the instrumental, to the music video, to the lyrics. i'm so excited to see what artms will have in store for us next comeback, because it's going to be very hard to beat their phenomenal debut.

Satellite - TAEHA

speaking of dreamy, i think this MIGHT just be the resurrection of yukika. jokes aside, i have never listened to taeha's stuff. so if she has been making songs like this in the past, i had absolutely no clue. anyway, i think this release is worth checking out. it might not be the best song you'll ever listen to, but it's certainly not the worst either. i enjoyed this song a lot! the retro sound works with her voice so well, and i think this song is perfect to listen to while stargazing or just relaxing in general. the more i listen the more i fall in love. i think it's a song that would be to many people's liking, so make sure to check it out!

WORK - ATEEZ

i'm really liking the sound ateez have been doing for the past 2 comebacks. something about it just works (pun not intended). their voices really match this kind of sound and i think it's just really addicting. is it better than their noisy music? debatable. but both of these sounds match ateez very well. not that anyone asked, but crazy form is my favourite title track from ateez. so work having a similar vibe is nice, although funnily enough this is definitely nowhere near my fave tts from them. still, it's a solid comeback and i thought it was fun. i especially liked the mv. i think it's nice that ateez are willing to do something different for their titles these days.

1 to 3 - SUHO

i'm just so obsessed with the artistic direction for this whole comeback and mini. this man seriously needs to continue this sound for his future releases! if not something like this, then something similar. this fun sound is just absolutely perfect for him. this song feels like a cheese 2.0, but i'm not complaining at all. i actually don't know what to say because this song is just insane. i love everything about it. song so good it makes me want to rethink all my life decisions and delay my not confirmed trip to korea just to go to his concert in warsaw instead. i'm actually considering it.. but we'll see what the future brings.

that would wrap up this week's weekly roundup! as always thank you for reading, and make sure to check out part one!

[open-hearth-rpg]

Open Hearth Video Roundup - March 15, 2024

Welcome to the weekly Open Hearth Gaming video roundup!

These recorded sessions represent only a portion of the games we play every week, and anyone is welcome to join the fun! If you'd like to play in games like these, join our Playabl community and click on the "Calendar" tab to sign up for upcoming games. To browse our entire library of session videos, please visit our YouTube Playlists page.

Discussions, Panels, and Seminars

Talking Hard Moves, Costs & Consequences Lowell Francis A community event talking about GMing and playing hard moves, managing costs, and balancing consequences for PbtA, Forged in the Dark, and other storygames.

Open Hearth Gaming Calendar

#Rich Kid Problem$ (Session 1 of 2) Donogh runs for Madelancholy, Sabine V., and Thomas Manuel Our kids show that they have 'more money than sense' by throwing around their influence, time and money like there’s no tomorrow. Alen, the offspring of powerful black marketeers works with Delilah, the scion of old money to float a new must-experience party boat. Leo, the mid-child of a Novae Rich family does his best to help them out while Zara, the fledgling of a military dynasty aims to sabotage!

#Rich Kid Problem$ (Session 2 of 2) Donogh runs for Madelancholy, Sabine V., and Thomas Manuel Our kids know that, when you hit rock bottom the best thing to do is get out the kanji-hammers and keep digging! Alen attempts to prise away their cousin Vladimir from Zara’s embrace, but this doesn't quite go to plan and there is serious blowback on the way! Leo and Delilah continue to grow closer but there’s a surprising fly in the ointment...

AKA: The Transponder (Session 2 of 2) Donogh runs for Anders and Jonathan With our agent Carter off the grid in Baikonur it falls upon the conspirator JC to push through the deal. But handler James finds him an altogether different prospect. Meanwhile the boss Robert wonders who he can trust (if anyone)...

Pulp Cthulhu: Dark Passage (Session 1) Lowell Francis runs for Horst Wurst, Paul Rivers, Puckett, and Will H We meet our heroes coming off of a job is Los Angeles which cost them dearly. They're called to San Francisco where they must board a cruise liner headed for Shanghai. Their task: locate the person who has taken possession of some stolen occult relics. But things turn nasty quickly with one person murdered and another vanished.

Pulp Cthulhu: Dark Passage (Session 2) Lowell Francis runs for Horst Wurst, Paul Rivers, Puckett, and Will H Further investigations aboard the Coolidge point to an occult murder-- but the truth may be more complicated than they first thought. What's the connection behind the artifact smuggling person they seek and the shape-changing sorcerous killer. And what is this music?

Monster of the Week: The Rockies (Session 7) Blake Ryan runs for Brandon Ungar, David Montgomery, Dom, and Grey Dodgy Deals Delivery

Monster of the Week: The Rockies (Session 8) Blake Ryan runs for Brandon Ungar, David Montgomery, Dom, and Grey Fickle Fey Fortune

Eotenweard: Tarham (Session 1) Alun R. runs for Dom, Dominik, and Pawel S. Cola the Hunter, Izold the Storyteller & Gwylog the Revenant arrive at the village of Tarham to find a settlement recovering from a recent attack. There's a disloyal warrior, a cowardly herder, a loyal outcast and an aging Lord. Then...carrion crows return along with the stench of death, shadows take on a life of their own, and there's 'something' out there in the dark...and bagpipes...

Godbound: Sundered Cycles (Session 30) Lowell Francis runs for Dan Brown, Ethan Harvey, Patrick Knowles, Sherri, and Tyler Lominack The first half of a journey into the mythic plane-- the crossing of the threshold, a journey across the ocean of souls, and a challenge atop a mammoth lotus flower.

Trail of Cthulhu: Fearful Symmetries: Arc Two (Session 4) Lowell Francis runs for Alun R., Paul Rivers, Sherri, and Will H Having made their made into the Bradbury estate-- the circle realizes the threat is both more dire and more immediate than they thought. After wrestling with various plans and consciences, they split up-- with Isabel and Richard trying to find Flora and the grove while Wilford and the Doctor try to see what they can do with Mrs. Bradbury and her impending delivery. Things do not go well. They go messily. Very messily.

Orbital (Session 1 of 3) Donogh runs for Mark and Puckett Discover our orbital, a strange place of crystals, fractal architecture & psychic warnings - the perils it faces: hunted star-crossed lovers from the War, a damaged warship seeking assistance, and something ancient stirring in the depths... Meet the orbital's residents: Cash Only - the Source of exactly what you're looking for, Rye - the Heart of a bar that epitomises the genuine warmth of the station, & Hemlock Pangolin - a Shadow on a secret mission to ensure the Orbital remains neutral ground a stoic hydroponics engineer who minds their own business.

Star Wars Saturday

Fellowship (Session 4) Rich Rogers runs for Greg G., Kae, Steven Watkins, and Tyler Lominack The fellowship dances and fights until they uncover an ancient artifact that will rock an entire world.

Fellowship (Session 5) Rich Rogers runs for Cody Eastlick, Greg G., Kae, and Steven Watkins The fellowship makes a difficult choice about the holocron of stillness and escapes Vuarlock for Dathomir.

Stars in the Dark: Stars in the Dark II (Session 2) Anders runs for Marc Majcher, Mark (they/them), Rich Rogers, and Steven Watkins Strange Smugglers and Gamorrean Grapplers - Our stalwart spies follow their target(s?) and discover that not everything is as it seems. Also: Gamorrean wrestling! Hotwired speeder bikes! A traffic stop!

Stars in the Dark: Stars in the Dark II (Session 3) Anders runs for Marc Majcher, Mark (they/them), Rich Rogers, and Steven Watkins Industrial Automaton Entanglements

Off-Calendar Highlights

The Between: Stars and Suns, Season Two (Session 5) Madelancholy runs for Jack, Sarah W., and Steph "A Tale of Two Parties" - New opening credits! 🎉 A little bit of chaos ensues when the Explorer and the Undeniable throw separate parties at Hargrave House. A sinister royal personage drops by. Come day, a demonic presence is reported at Kilborn Abbey, Ernest experiences time distortion, Dame Georgie talks to Mr. Figg, and Liat pressures the abbot for some answers.

The Between: Stars and Suns, Season Two (Session 6) Madelancholy runs for Jack, Mike, and Steph "For All Good Intent" - Sir Atticus returns from the Void with the help of a familiar friend, and returns to Hargrave House with Ragg in tow. Dame Georgie comes to an uneasy truce because of his new state, and Liat invites her fellow hunters to tea and oh-so-innocuous conversation.

[twwpress]

Weekly Press Briefing #52: June 18th - June 24th

Welcome back to the Weekly Press Briefing, where we bring you highlights from The West Wing fandom each week, including new fics, ongoing challenges, and more. This briefing covers all things posted from June 18 - June 24, 2023 and marks ONE ENTIRE YEAR of our briefings! 🥳 Did we miss something? Let us know; you can find our contact info at the bottom of this briefing.

Challenges/Prompts:

The following is a roundup of open challenges/prompts. Do you have a challenge or event you’d like us to promote? Be sure to get in touch with us! Contact info is at the bottom of this briefing.

We (@twwpress, the Weekly Press Briefing team) will be hosting a Wheel of Destiny drabble-writing prompt challenge on Saturday, July 1st on tumblr and Twitter in celebration of our first anniversary! Stay tuned for more details. The Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda Josh/Donna prompt fest (hosted by @jessbakescakes and @thefinestmuffin) revealed on June 24th. Prompt claims and submissions are still open. Details here.

 Photos/Videos:

Here’s what was posted from June 18 - June 24. 

Allison Janney posted a photo of herself with her dad in honor of Father’s Day. 

Allison Janney posted a photo of herself thanking her hair and makeup artists. 

Amy Landecker posted a silly video of Brad along with a “for your consideration” message for the Emmys.

Amy Landecker posted some photos of herself and Brad by the ocean.

Amy Landecker posted a photo of her and Brad on a boat.

Bradley Whitford posted photos of himself and Amy attending the staged production of Transparent! at the Mark Taper Forum. 

Dule Hill posted a promo video for the second season of The Wonder Years, now streaming on Hulu. 

Josh Malina posted a photo of himself with his dad for Father’s Day. 

Kim Webster posted a funny video of herself “training” to do the Geena Davis trick shot she learned last week. 

Kim Webster posted a photo of herself the day after her birthday. 

Marlee Matlin posted a photo of her husband and a celebration of him for Father’s Day. 

Mary McCormack posted a TikTok of her daughter Rose singing an original song. 

Melissa Fitzgerald posted a photo of herself with her dad, along with a Father’s Day message. 

Rob Lowe posted a photo of himself and his son Johnny in bathrobes on a boat.

Rob Lowe posted a photo of his wife Sheryl along with a birthday wish.  

Peter James Smith posted a clip from Noël in memory of Paxton Whitehead, who played Bernard.

Richard Schiff posted a photo of himself with Robert Cardinal. 

Kathleen “Bird” York posted a photo of herself and Devika Parikh, who played Bonnie on The West Wing.

Donna Moss Daily: June 18 | June 19 | June 20 | June 21 | June 22 | June 23 | June 24

Daily Josh Lyman: June 18 | June 19 | June 20 | June 21 | June 22 | June 23 | June 24

No Context BWhit: June 18 | June 19 | June 20 | June 21 | June 23 | June 24

@twwarchive: June 18 | June 19 | June 20 | June 21 | June 22 | June 23 | June 24

 Edits/Artwork:

#CJTOBY: and we build it up to pull it down by @cjcreggswifey [VIDEO EDIT]

 Editors’ Choice: 

In honor of the one year anniversary of our briefing, we picked some of our favorite fics posted during this week in years past. Be sure to share your favorites we didn’t include!

and if you wonder about the spell i’m under (it’s your love) by mikaylawrites | Rated T | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete | “You don’t look so bad yourself,” she purrs, her fingers reaching out to unnecessarily adjust his belt buckle. “And I think you’re gonna win tonight.”

He groans, both because of where her hand is and because the superstitious side of him can’t tolerate that kind of talk. “I’m gonna need you to go outside and turn around and spit.”

“Don’t need to,” she tells him, “because I know I’m right.”

A night at the Academy of Country Music Awards with country music power couple Josh Lyman and Donna Moss.

 Friendship, Rings, and Heartstrings by JessBakesCakes | Rated G | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete | Sam feels sort of like a whack-a-mole at the arcade with how quickly and intensely the epiphany hits him. Maybe this is it. Maybe they’ll finally get it together. Behind all the flirting and banter is an incredible devotion they have to each other; one that possesses them to eat only a bite of a granola bar for nearly twenty-four hours or to hop on an international flight with whatever nonsensical items would fit in a backpack. He’s seen it for years now; he’s just been waiting for them to see it too.

 Help Me Hold Onto You by jeaniecregg | Rated G | C. J. Cregg/Toby Ziegler | Complete | In which CJ has a bit of an existential crisis...

 Hell Is Other People (But Not You) by McKat | Rated T | Will Bailey/Sam Seaborn | Complete | Sam’s visiting the White House when they go into a Crash.

He and Will get stuck together.

Maybe there are worse places to be.

 Champagne by arborealstops | Rated G | C. J. Cregg/Kate Harper | Complete | “I got you a present.”

 please linger near the door by cmbing | Rated T | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete | They’re definitely not dating when there is a presidential dinner and they don’t think to invite dates. Instead, they assume they’ll go with each other. Him in a black tux, her in a red dress. Their arms are interlocked as they enter the ballroom, and Donna even goads Josh into dancing with her. It’s friendly, nothing more.

They’re just having sex. That’s it.

 the weight of love (in your arms) by joshllyman | Rated T | Josh Lyman/Sam Seaborn | Complete | He steals a glance at Josh and sees that his face is carefully blank, intentionally wiped of all emotion.

“Just tired?” Sam asks quietly, and Josh looks up at him.

Josh shakes his head. “Something like that.”

   Misc:

Happy birthday to Kim Webster, who played Ginger! 

 Fics:

Presenting your weekly roundup of fics posted in the tag for The West Wing on Archive of Our Own. 

Josh/Donna

Errors and Omissions by Chinesepapercut | Rated T | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | In Progress

Wonderful in a Loathsome sort of Way by JayeReid1 | Rated T | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | In Progress

GOVT 3420: Campaigns and Elections by lunedecroissant | Not Rated | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | In Progress

Balcony Break by TemperanceCain for thefinestmuffins | Rated T | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete

3pm on a Thursday by KindaTea for Chinesepapercut | Rated E | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete

can’t help falling by sam_writes_fics | Rated M |  Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete

and i'll love you more than anybody can by JessBakesCakes | Rated T | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | In Progress

When it Rains, it Pours by onekisstotakewithme | Rated G |  Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete

Fragments of Days Gone By… by JayeReid1 | Rated T | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | In Progress

Children of Mortals… by JayeReid1 | Rated T | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete

she was a burst of colour, in his typically monochrome life. by katereadsandwrites | Rated G | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete

 Sam/Ainsley

Adorable, Yet Ill Adored by HotchkissRoyale | Rated E | Ainsley Hayes/Sam Seaborn | In Progress 

Sam and Ainsley Get Marriedby Hackney123 | Rated G | Ainsley Hayes/Sam Seaborn | Complete

 C.J./Danny

Off the Record by  onekisstotakewithme for daylight_angel, miabicicletta, Danny Concannon/C. J. Cregg, Luppiters, Zoey Bartlet/Charlie Young, hondagirll | Rated T | Danny Concannon/C. J. Cregg2C Leo McGarry/Annabeth Schott | In Progress

12 Months by Jxjxjx |  Rated G | Danny Concannon/C. J. Cregg | In Progress

 Other Pairings/Gen Fic

it started off with a kiss... now it ended up like this by imawkwardlysoc | Rated G | Sam Seaborn/Original Female Character | In Progress

Figures of Speech by Darsynia | Rated T | Toby Ziegler/Original Female Character | In Progress

Master of Improvisation by Antumbra | Rated G | Sam Seaborn, Jed Bartlet, C.J. Cregg (No Pairings Listed) | Complete

The Language of Tomorrow by silasfinch for justdreaming88 | Rated T | Ellie Bartlet/Original Female Character(s) | In Progress

Where The Hell…? by dumbchemist | Rated T | No Pairings Listed | In Progress

someone like you, a desperado like me by popmart (tambsi) for onekisstotakewithme | Rated G | Josh Lyman/Sam Seaborn | Complete

 Multiple Pairings

Operation in the Desert by mlea7675, Helen Santos/Matt Santos, Abbey Bartlet/Jed Bartlet | Rated E | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss, Ainsley Hayes/Sam Seaborn, Danny Concannon/C. J. Cregg, C. J. Cregg/Toby Ziegler, Will Bailey/Kate Harper, Zoey Bartlet/Charlie Young, Leo McGarry/Annabeth Schott | Complete

Yes, You are better than my old boyfriend by Proportional Response | Rated E | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss, Dr. Freeride/Donna Moss | Complete

at the dark end of the street by hell_to_breakfast | Not Rated | C. J. Cregg/Toby Ziegler, Danny Concannon/C. J. Cregg | Complete

 THE WEEKLY PRESS BRIEFING TEAM CAN BE REACHED VIA THE FOLLOWING METHODS:

Twitter: @TWWPress

Email: weeklypressbriefing@gmail.com

Feel free to let us know if we missed something, if you have an event you’d like us to promote, or if you have an item that you’d like included in the next briefing!

xx, What’s next?

[netherworldwritersguild]

Weekly Roundup April 28 2024

I've decided I don't want to spend $300 per year on a website builder, so I'll do a weekly roundup here for free on Tumblr.

Check out all the new books from indie and small press authors on Readers Roost.

If you're looking for a line/copy editor and proofreader for a project, click the cost-effective editing and book reviews link at the top of the blog. I currently have openings for new projects in May, but these close quickly. My contact information is in the post if you're interested in booking me for a future project.

The April PAD Challenge/NaPoWriMo are coming to an end for this year. I have poetry prompt posts to inspire you. I need to get my submissions ready for Soul Ink 2. The deadline is April 30. If you have poems you'd like to submit, head to the Dragon Soul Press website to learn more.

They are also accepting submissions for this year's horror drabble anthology with a deadline of May 31, and you can learn more about their forthcoming short story anthologies for this year and next year.

I've been working on a Lovecraftian fantasy fairy story starring my OG OC Yadira Root (Nyarlathotep's daughter with Queen Nathicana) and had been hoping to submit it to the Trickster anthology. However, if I don't think it's up to scratch, I'll submit it to next year's fairy-themed anthology.

You can check out my story (written as C. L. Hart) Of Outer Gods and Fallen Angels in the brand-new Fallen anthology. This is primarily a tale of platonic friendship, but there is also a star-crossed lovers arc.

Of course, there are many other wonderful stories in the anthology as well.

I almost forgot to mention that I've finished the A to Z Challenge for this year. Now I need to stop being a socially awkward little fucker and pay some of the other participants a visit. I also need to revive my promotional efforts. This year started off a bit shaky as far as my mental well-being was concerned.

Follow me here for updates and other good/weird stuff.

Ornery Owl Has Spoken

Free use image by Tamgra on Pixabay

[cobreja88]

What's Important in Email Marketing?

Emails provide the perfect opportunity for businesses to share industry updates, tips and tricks, features and blog roundups with subscribers - helping build long-term customer relationships while building trust. Personalize emails by including recipients' names in subject and from lines, as well as sending around important dates like registration or voting days. Concise and Sharp Copy Email copy is the text in an email that persuades readers to take action, such as making a purchase or subscribing to services. A good email copy should be clear, concise, and to-the-point while remaining consistent with your brand style. Using too much jargon or filler words can make an email appear impersonal and robotic; make your text conversational instead. Strong email copy can significantly boost the conversion rates of email campaigns. There are various methods of accomplishing this goal, including using psychology and crafting calls-to-action that are both obvious and persuasive - for instance, using fear of missing out (FOMO) and social proof can encourage people to act, while storytelling can connect with audiences while persuading them to act. Finally, it's important to keep in mind that people often receive multiple emails every day and may skip over your email if it is too long or boring. Bolding bullet points and using bullet points may make your message easier for recipients to quickly scan. Furthermore, emails should always be free from errors. So it's strongly advise that you proofread your emails before sending them, as well as outsourcing proofreading services for businesses. One way to increase email conversion rates is to upsell and cross-sell products and services. You can do this by including items commonly bought together in emails, or suggesting products they might like based on previous purchases - Mixcloud is one such music streaming company that encourages its customers to upgrade to its HQ audio feature through email. Email copy is also effective for collecting customer feedback through requests for reviews and testimonials, an excellent strategy for fostering brand loyalty and demonstrating your business's commitment to its customers. For example, Design District incorporates customer testimonials in its weekly newsletter to showcase its services. Visually Appealing Attracting recipients' attention with striking email designs and catchy subject lines will increase the odds that your content will be read, while many recipients don't bother scrolling past the body copy of an email. That is why visual elements play such an essential role in email marketing: they help catch and hold readers' interest while making understanding your message easier for recipients. Emails can include more than images; they can include video content and GIFs as well. While this type of visual may be effective, it can also become overwhelming and may not load or appear properly on certain devices or email clients. Therefore, when adding visuals to your email campaign, it is best to keep them straightforward and uncluttered. Steer clear of excessive colors or overly busy visuals that can distract. Strive for emails with well-define information hierarchies that can be easily read on mobile devices. Communicate Through Visual When selecting colors for visuals, think carefully about the overall tone and message you wish to communicate. For instance, using red in your email might send the message that your company is trustworthy; on the other hand, using bold blue may convey urgency more effectively. When including text in your visuals, be sure to choose a professional and legible font that is easy to read on both desktop computers and mobile devices. Furthermore, choosing the correct file type is crucial (JPEG files offer lower image quality compared to PNGs). Additionally, ensure they are optimized for rapid loading times and compatibility across various devices and email clients. Email marketers aim to craft visually captivating emails that resonate with recipients and drive engagement and conversions. While content is essential, an eye-catching layout adds the final touches and takes your campaigns one step further. By following these tips you can design visually captivating email campaigns that capture recipients' attention and encourage them to interact with your brand. Easy to Read Email is frequently checked on mobile devices, making it imperative that your copy be easy for readers to digest. Your audience likely has other things on their plates and won't spend much time reading an overly lengthy or complex message - be mindful of this when crafting your copy and remove unnecessary words or jargon to ensure clarity and keep reading! Your subject line is the first thing your subscribers will see when opening and engaging with your email, so it plays a critical role in encouraging them to do so. Aim for something short, direct, and descriptive of what's to come; to increase click rates use words with urgency like "act now," "you deserve this," or "don't miss out." Use your preheader text to spark reader interest, offer extra details about what awaits them, or underscore crucial elements of your promotion; for example, ensure to mention any free shipping in your preheader text so subscribers perceive it as legitimate and not spam. Once your email has been opened, make sure the content matches what was promised in its subject line and preheader text. Failing to deliver what they expected can be very disappointing to readers who open your message only to find it doesn't deliver on its promise will turn off many readers instantly. Be mindful when sending emails containing images. Too many images can slow loading times and are more likely to be spam due to their resolution or file size. In addition, ensure that both spelling and grammar are correct - this may seem obvious but even veteran copywriters can miss mistakes that could potentially have major ramifications on business operations. Utilizing an online spelling and grammar checker or having someone review your email is an excellent way of detecting these potential omissions before sending. Clear Call to Action Effective email marketing requires creating an eye-catching call-to-action (CTA). From encouraging subscribers to shop or sign up for your newsletter, directing them toward conversion is key for email success. Calls-to-action (CTAs) can take the form of clickable texts, images, or buttons that lead your audience to take the next step you would like them to. But they don't have to be anything more complicated - even simple texts or images without links can serve as CTAs. When creating clickable buttons without a hyperlink, select standout colors that touchscreen device users can easily see; avoid colors that blend with the background text or the email's color, as these are not optimal for CTAs. Consider the placement of your email CTA when crafting it. Most readers tend to read left to right, making it easier for readers to click your CTA and reducing any potential distractions. Wording your email CTA effectively can also have a dramatic effect on its click rates. In particular, avoid words such as submit, enter, and download as these can sound intimidating and make readers feel pressured into taking an action. Rather, opt for more approachable action words such as get, find, or try that clearly outline the benefits available if they take immediate action. W magazine implemented such an approach into their email call-to-action when still publishing in print, offering subscribers a complimentary first copy while making it clear they could cancel anytime if needed. This gave readers the confidence to take risks without risking losing money in the form of subscription fees or lost issues. Your email CTA should not only be clear and direct; it must also be engaging for the audience. People are much more likely to click on buttons that offer immediate benefits like discounts or free shipping. Resources: Social Media Body (Click Here to Unlock Your Social Media Supremacy) Article Forge (Click Here and try the Most Affordable, Unique Human-like Articles Writing Platform) Entre Institute (Click Here to Find the Secret to Become Millionaire) GetResponse (Click here to try the Best Email Marketing Platform For a Huge Discount)  Hostinger (Click Here to Start with One of the Best Webhosting Solutions at a Huge Discount) Pictory (Click Here to try the Easiest Video Creation Tool for Content Marketers) Fiverr (Click Here to Find the Perfect Freelance Services for Your Business Honest Loans (Click Here to Sustain Your Business With More Founds) Read the full article

[doktordismemberment]

Weekly Roundup: Dec 3, 2023

Couple days late on this week’s roundup cos I’ve been injured and busy recording but I had a minute today so here ya go.

Blah Blah:

Well, my foot still hurts but I’ve been a bit more “up and around” over the past couple days. Mostly because I had to hobble over to the post office and mail our rent check. It sucked, but it’s done now.

Other than that? We’ve honestly just been holed up in our studio and doing a lot of recording. Got a bunch of tracks in the “finish carpentry” stage of recording so hopefully the labels will have them soon and they’ll be out early next year. -

Muzak:

Elend - I’m usually pretty allergic to classical music, especially anything that falls under the general heading of “neoclassical”, but Elend popped up on shuffle after a soundtrack I was listening to and caught me in a receptive mood.

So yeah, my first impression is that this stuff sounds like Bloodborne boss fight music filtered through Cold Meat Industry style dark ambient/ death industrial and arrives at a place that kind of sounds like Gnaw Their Tongues with all the “metal” parts pulled out.

I don’t love every track I’ve listened to but the heavier, more dissonant, ones are pretty cool, especially when they’re backed by huge drums.

-

Skrol - Really digging a couple of the Elend tracks that had heavy drums inspired me to dig through my CDs and pull out Skrol’s “Insomnia Dei” which does a pretty similar thing with the dissonant neoclassical elements but welds them to really pounding anti-rhythms that are equal parts Swans, Neubauten, and super early Laibach.

I’ve always had a real soft spot for this album since I got it as freebie in a package I ordered from RRR ages ago… So much so that I’ve picked up multiple backup copies over the years in case I ever lose one or one becomes unplayable.

-

Lysergic Rites of Sadopriest - Dirgey industrialized goregrind/ noisecore that reminds me of the heaviest Mortician riffs being violently reconfigured by cEvin Key/ Chu Ishikawa. I think the guy behind this project used to be in Enemy Soil and Jesus of Nazareth, two of my all-time favorite weirdo grindcore bands.

-

Gored - Gored “Human” is one of the heaviest albums ever recorded. Period. Sounds like early Carcass on steroids.

-

My Dad is Dead - Imagine Joy Division with Big Black’s drum machine and a guitar tone that’s equal parts Husker Du and Mission of Burma and that’s pretty much what was happening with My Dad is Dead. 1987s “Peace Love and Murder” is one of my favorite things Homestead Records ever released.

Bitch Magnet - Late 80s “indie rock” (In the “Our Band Could Be Your Life” sense of the word). Think Swervedriver, Husker Du, Squirrelbait, and “Siamese Dream” era Smashing Pumpkins and you’re on the right track. Great drumming on this album.

Video Games:

Astebros - Not deep into this yet, but there's a real particular style of early 90's Sega Genesis pixel art that I'm really, really into and this game looks like it has a lot of that happening so I'll probably really dig it. -

Mushihimesama - Lots of bugs firing lots and lots of bullets. -

Reading:

Tales of the Dying Earth - Jack Vance -

Tube:

The Nun The Nun II Three Fantastic Supermen Killing In Istanbul Samson in The Wax Museum Bloody Pit of Horror

[parentingroundabout]

On our latest weekly roundup, we started by learning about the specialized profession of library moving, and Terri came up with an idea for a new TV show. What we're watching: On Dancing with the Stars, Music Video Night brought us some literal and some more creative interpretations of iconic music videos, plus Paula Abdul judging (we'd like to keep her on the panel, please!). On The Gilded Age, season 2, episode 3, "Head to Head," it's date night at a terrible play and, as Ward McAllister, Nathan Lane plays 19th-century Frogger literally and figuratively as the Opera Wars heat up. Catherine's library find this week is a picture book celebrating a holiday that doesn't get much attention in little-kid lit: Yom Kippur. It's Big Bad Wolf's Yom Kippur by David Sherrin, illustrated by Martín Morón (see a reading on YouTube). In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed unnatural consequences (November 14, 2022), mom flexes (November 15, 2021), and habit-breaking and habit-forming (November 13, 2019). ​ Next week, our TV watch will cover Whitney Houston Night on Dancing with the Stars and "His Grace the Duke" (S2 E4) on The Gilded Age. Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available!

[avomagazine]

It is Sunday evening, which means a new article where we put a spotlight on new music videos from Japan (week 24, 2023) Click here for the article.

Since 2020, AVO Magazine has been publishing a list of seven music videos by Japanese artists in a variety of music genres (from pop to rock to metal) that we think you will find interesting! This week we highlighted music videos from:

🍙昨夜のレイトショー (The last night's late show) 🍙DEZERT 🍙13.3g 🍙愛探眼影 (Ai Sagasu Eyeshadow) 🍙xatu 🍙リリカ (Lyrica) 🍙ハク。 (Haku.)

Enjoy the music!

[breakingarrows]

Introduction to 'X' as Literature Series

For some time now I have had the idea to approach writing about games in a way more akin to literary theory. Video game “reviews” come from a history of games as consumer technology, where technical performance was prized above all. A game had to be “fun” to be worthwhile, and the price-per-hour ratio was ever present. As the medium grew older, and the question of “are games art?” became more a topic of conversation, things finally started to shift, though has reached a rut for some time now.

Games writing and discourse is stuck in a circular cycle of rephrasing, rehashing, and relitigating the same subjects and topics seemingly every few months online in social websites such as Twitter or in forums and on podcasts. The largest games media outlets performing reviews rarely cite each other or any other writing in their own works, and the culture at large is worse for it. Obviously there will be no Council of Nicaea in which games media can come and put together a canon of thought and ideas, but I think a different intent behind games writing can hopefully push the conversation forwards even if by an inch.

There are many writers doing this work and have been doing so for a long time. During my research into 2009 for a different project I’ve found the “Brainysphere,” an informal collection of video game bloggers who were talking and writing about games distinctively different from your G4, Rooster Teeth, IGN, or Giant Bomb. While these blogs may have died down in favor of the YouTube “video essay,” you can still scrape Critical Distance’s weekly roundups for new blogs. Most attention is on YouTube, and while I do enjoy throwing on a random hour long video talking about Patapon and Planescape: Torment, they more often than not fall into the trap of recapping the plot beat by beat and continuing to adapt the breakdown box of graphics, sound, gameplay, etc, that was so often the basis of game magazines and online outlets.

The breakdown box is gone, yet you can still find it within the structure of the text of a review when it hard pivots into suddenly talking about the music or multiplayer. My hope is to approach each subject as a piece of literature, a piece of art that has thematic value that rises above so many others, that holds multiple possible interpretations of its text and its expressive qualities, the kind I find myself thinking about and returning to time and time again. Not just what we refer to as “narrative” but mechanical systems of interaction and restrictions.

Everything and anything can be literature, it is up to the people that read and write about it that make it Literature. To me, one of the approaches to literature I find most fulfilling is under post-structuralism that comes from Barthes’ analysis of Balzac’s Sarassin in S/Z (1970) and explained by Terry Eagleton in Literary Theory: An Introduction (1983):

“The most intriguing texts for criticism are not those which can be read, but those which are ‘writable’ (scriptible) – texts which encourage the critic to carve them up, transpose them into different discourses, produce his or her semi-arbitrary play of meaning at the work itself.” 

A video game like Disco Elysium is literature to me due to its ability to evoke and imprint an emotion, a feeling of place, of people, of history, of sound and speech and lines of dialogue that summoned laughter and sadness. In it are reflections of our own world and it adds its own ideas and innovative mechanics to the genre it occupies. It has created a large base of dedicated artists who add onto its presence their own varied contributions via interpretations and conversations.

A video game like Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies is also literature to me, due to its execution of the trope of the silent protagonist, of the player occupying that space of both viewer and participant so unique to games, how it leverages that position for its emotional ending. For its own sights and sounds that are so deeply imprinted in my mind. It may occupy a significantly smaller space in the culture comparatively, but that does not make it any less a work of literary significance in my mind.

This series is my attempt at performing readings of these texts, and not just games too, to show that they are writable and literary. Due to my lack of study underneath any formal literature critique program this is less about form than intent. I’ve already somewhat tried this in my replaying essays and videos but hope to make it a more formal statement under this series and keep the word count a bit lower than the comprehensive replaying essays tend to run.

I still have a lot of love for the written word. My cover sheet for a never used application to Giant Bomb was based around the argument that there was still a lot of value behind text writing, and most all videos I have created begin as text-focused works. If anything this will just be another umbrella of an idea under which will rest multiple unfinished drafts, though I’ve grown more accepting of that as time has gone on.

“‘Mass culture is not the inevitable product of ‘industrial’ society, but the offspring of a particular form of industrialism which organizes production for profit rather than for use, which concerns itself with what will sell rather than with what is valuable.”

-Terry Eagleton, Literary Theory: An Introduction (1983)

[wishheroes]

Weekly K-pop Round-Up (20240515-20240522) pt.2

make sure to also check out part one of the roundup here!

WOKE UP - XG

starting off part 2 with a non-kpop release, xg released their new single woke up. i must say, it didn't really wake me up. if anything it put me to sleep. but that's not to say i didn't like this release. i think xg is exceptional with their concepts and music videos, this one included. but i didn't enjoy this song musically as much as their past songs. still, this is an objectively good song and i like their rapping in it.

X10 - MCND

can someone tell me what's with mcnd and them suddenly making 2 cowboy-sounding comebacks in a row? to be completely honest, isn't this just odd-venture 2.0? but.. slower, noisier, and more lifeless? don't get me wrong. i think it's fun! i just dont really get why they're continuing this sound. this song might have to grow on me. i don't know whether i like it or not. but one thing for sure is that it sounds VERY mcnd. oh also the music video is nice.

Turtle - BLASÉ (ft. Chungha)

another song with a pinkpantheress type of beat as the instrumental and oh boy i love it. i have nothing to criticise here. this is my first time listening to blasé but his rapping is 💯💯 just amazing. and chungha's vocals on top of that? just pure perfection. went straight to my playlist. this is a great release.

NOW - ONEUS

the song on its own is alright. but when u know and love the original.. this sounds kind of, well, terrible. i'm a fan of the chorus, i think they did that quite well. a remake is a remake, it's hard to make a remake sound anywhere as good as the original. i think i would enjoy this way more if i didn't know the original though. because it's not bad. it's just not good next to the original.

that would be it for this week's roundup! this week had some great releases and it was super fun reviewing them! see you guys next week :)

[emustockings]

weekly roundup

what i've been working on

i haven't written in like a month but i've been enjoying life a lot, i hope this isn't correlated (i'm joking)

what i read

The Big Picture: a criticism of the AI art set by John Paul Brammer on his column Hola Papi finished Piranesi by Susanna Clarke She Loves To Cook, She Loves To Eat vol 1 -- cute lesbians c: started Gideon the Ninth -- stinky lesbians c:

what i watched

finally started watching Revolutionary Girl Utena with a friend who is a seasoned fan, so I get all the good hyperfixation commentary in the background Across the Spiderverse with my brother -- ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. the first movie was already the perfect movie, and then this one was just like "oh, did you like our warmup?". this one is completely rewriting how good movies can even be, and i'm here for it.

youtube highlights

The Greatest Living Show /Toby Fox & Itoki Hana - really cool animated music video with a Yoshitaka Amano vibe

[templetogavage]

I posted 941 times in 2022

That's 941 more posts than 2021!

35 posts created (4%)

906 posts reblogged (96%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@reluctantloser

@uyuiuyui2

@bulking-texan

@softjigglyprince

@yourenotsafehere

I tagged 940 of my posts in 2022

#fattening feed - 895 posts

#content type: image - 637 posts

#lard work and delicatessen - 206 posts

#before and fatter - 199 posts

#chasable chub - 156 posts

#content type: video - 149 posts

#temple to gluttony - 135 posts

#content type: text - 130 posts

#1k - 89 posts

#content type: gif - 81 posts

Longest Tag: 34 characters

#lifestyles of the thick and fatass

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Weekly Weigh-In: 05/08-05/14

As usual, here are some fat-related, feedism-related, or gaining-related posts from this week that I enjoyed.

1. https://doughydreamboat.tumblr.com/post/682600069982273536/doughydreamboat-is-creating-feederism-content

This still image from one of @doughydreamboat's videos shows the wonderful sight of someone appreciating a feedee properly while he eats.

2. https://bigjockchsr.tumblr.com/post/683640995299164160

A fun little video in which a guy acknowledges that he's not losing weight anytime soon.

3. https://menbearbeauty.tumblr.com/post/679124834827075584

See the full post

26 notes - Posted May 14, 2022

#4

Weekly Roundup (10/16 to 10/22)

Every week, I round up my favorite posts of the week (including one post of my own). Here's this week's Weekly Roundup.

1. https://www.tumblr.com/lardassboy/697844106961076224

Thanks to @lardassboy for putting this video on my dash.

2. https://greenrangergainer.tumblr.com/post/697871353581305856/what-was-the-moment-that-made-you-go-screw-it

@greenrangergainer giving an excellent answer to an anon question about what finally broke the camel's back and led to his gain. I recommend reading the whole thing.

3. https://www.tumblr.com/gainingprogress/697869537326039040

See the full post

34 notes - Posted October 23, 2022

#3

Satiating Slop (06/12-06/18)

As usual, here are my favorite posts from my dashboard this week.

https://bellylovr.tumblr.com/post/686990758897664000

Libra of @thic-as-thieves looking nice and chunky. Sometimes you just have to appreciate the fat male body.

2. https://reluctantloser.tumblr.com/post/687122234920337408/chubstffr-mrjaime20s-perfect-chub-chaser

See the full post

46 notes - Posted June 20, 2022

#2

Weekly Weighing (11/20/22 to 11/26/22)

Here is this week's roundup of my favorite gaining and encouraging posts.

1. https://www.tumblr.com/sumbellies/701744377010290689/by-the-way-i-love-seeing-pictures-of-you-from-your

See the full post

74 notes - Posted November 27, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Satiating Slop (09/25-10/01)

1. https://www.tumblr.com/creator/templetogavage/696572656212951040

Shameless self-promotion! Audio encouragement around the idea of milestones you hit while you're gaining. Follow the link and subscribe to my Post+ if you want the full audio. Moving on...

2. https://www.tumblr.com/fat-male-celebrities/696279277444939776

Lewis Capaldi's music not withstanding, I think we can all agree that there's a lot else to appreciate about this video. (The music is pretty good too, IMO, but that's not why we're here.)

3. https://www.tumblr.com/chub-redfield350/696745262106935297/thinking-of-going-as-the-brawny-guy-after-he-let

See the full post

87 notes - Posted October 1, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[twwpress]

Weekly Press Briefing #20: November 6th - November 12th

Welcome back to the Weekly Press Briefing, where we bring you highlights from The West Wing fandom each week, including new fics, ongoing challenges, and more! This briefing covers all things posted from November 6 – November 12, 2022. Did we miss something? Let us know; you can find our contact info at the bottom of this briefing!

Challenges/Prompts:

The following is a roundup of open challenges/prompts. Do you have a challenge or event you’d like us to promote? Be sure to get in touch with us! Contact info is at the bottom of this briefing.

Trope Soup: A Josh/Donna Tropes Fest is open for prompt submissions and claims. Fics were revealed on Saturday, October 22. The collection remains open to submissions. Learn more here.

The November 20 prompts in 20 days are up on Tumblr.

Photos/Videos:

Here’s what was posted from November 6 - November 12.

Bradley Whitford posted a picture of his dogs along with a call for people to vote. 

Janel Moloney posted a screenshot of a Hollywood Music in Media awards nomination for her husband, Marcelo Zarvos.

Janel Moloney posted a selfie with her “I Voted” sticker.

Dulé Hill posted a video of a conversation about the midterm election with March for Our Lives co-founder David Hogg. 

Marlee Matlin posted a picture of herself in front of a flock of pigeons at Penn Station. 

Rob Lowe posted a picture of himself and his son Johnny in robes and clay face masks, along with a birthday wish.

Robe Lowe posted a video clip from his podcast of himself sharing his thoughts about the NFL.  

Mary McCormack posted a throwback photo of her dad for Veteran’s Day.

Donna Moss Daily: November 6 | November 7 | November 8 | November 9 | November 10 | November 11 | November 12

Daily Josh Lyman: November 6 | November 7 | November 8 | November 9 | November 10 | November 11 | November 12

No Context BWhit: November 6 | November 6 (2) | November 7 | November 7 (2) | November 8 | November 8 (2) | November 9 | November 9 (2) | November 10 | November 10 (2) | November 11 | November 11 (2) | November 12 | November 12 (2)

@JanelMilfoney: November 7 | November 8 | November 9 | November 10 | November 11 

@down_brad_: November 6 | November 7 | November 8 | November 9 | November 10 | November 11 | November 12

 Edits/Artwork:

#CJCREGG: "You think government isn’t about you?" by sam_writes_fics [ARTWORK]

#CJDONNA x tropes: – “Donna, my darling” by jenniferjoIie [VIDEO EDIT]

#JOSHDONNA: can i ask you a question? by jcshualyman [VIDEO EDIT]

 Creator Spotlight:

Each week, we talk to a fandom creator and interview them about their work and their process. We also give you the opportunity (on Twitter) to ask them questions, too! Want to be a featured creator? Find us via one of the methods listed at the end of the briefing!

This week’s creator is @S4MWILS0N on twitter and rearviewmirror on ao3. You can find the spotlight on tumblr or on twitter.

 This Week in Canon:

Welcome to This Week in Canon, where we revisit moments in The West Wing that occurred on these dates during the show’s run.

Season 1, Episode 7: The State Dinner aired on November 10, 1999.

Season 2, Episode 6: The Lame Duck Congress aired on November 8, 2000.

Season 3, Episode 5: War Crimes aired on November 7, 2001. 

Season 4, Episode 7: Election Night aired on November 6, 2002.

Season 5, Episode 7: Separation of Powers aired on November 12, 2003.

Season 6, Episode 4: Liftoff aired on November 10, 2004.

Season 7, Episode 7: The Live Debate Episode aired on November 6, 2005.

Editor’s Choice:

In honor of the anniversary of War Crimes, we bring you fics centered around or referencing this episode!

out, out damned spot by jazzjo | Rated G | Abbey Bartlet/Jed Bartlet | Complete | She had sworn to do no harm, and had meant it.

or,

Abbey tries to cope with the witchhunt and her own mistakes.

Oversight by thefinestmuffins for BeneathAnOrangeSky | Rated E | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete | Donna watches, hands sunk deep in her coat pockets, as Josh trots back over to Cliff.

Moon glow intersects with street lamp to back-light the fountain, lending it a strange halo. Beyond it, all she can really grasp are two hazy silhouettes, both coiled with tension, paused there in the gloom of the night park for longer than she expects.

Her own pulse thrums, rabbity, in her fingers, and her guts sink at the prospect of her innermost thoughts being read out before a court or before Congress, let alone before an entire nation.

A gust of wind tosses her hair into her eyes, and she pulls her trench coat tighter around herself as she waits.

Josh was right — it is getting colder — but that’s not why she shivers.

Prompt: War Crimes angst + hooking up

Immolatio by hufflepuffhermione | Rated M | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete | When Cliff threatens to indict Donna for perjury, Josh puts himself on the line to save her from criminal charges. His choice has significant consequences professionally and personally; a media circus and a Congressional investigation are the least of his troubles when his actions might cause him to lose Donna anyway.

Circadian Rhythms by Luna [archived by westwingfancentral_archivist] | Rated M | Josh Lyman/Sam Seaborn | Complete

turns the flicker to a flame by fairwinds09 | Rated E | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete | Set during and directly after the events of Ways and Means and War Crimes.

Anyone could have predicted that Josh would be insanely jealous of Cliff Calley. Absolutely no one would have predicted that said jealousy would actually lead to him admitting his feelings to Donna. Sometimes, Josh surprises even himself.

(Also Josh has a thing for Donna's feet, but it's not what it sounds like, okay?)

for you i would ruin myself a million little times by thotsandfeelings | Rated E | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete | A post-ep for 3x06 War Crimes.

Something Stupid by notabadday for spinninginfinity | Rated G | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete |  A response to the episode War Crimes. This is explores what might happen if, some months later, Donna's diary did get out.

Fics:

Presenting your weekly roundup of fics posted in the tag for The West Wing on Archive of Our Own. If you are so inclined, please be sure to leave the authors some love in the form of kudos or comments. Be mindful of posted warnings/tags for each story.

Josh/Donna

absolutely smitten (never let you go) by JessBakesCakes for fairwinds09 | Rated G | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete

Decisions are made by those that show up 2 by kcat1971 | Rated G | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete

How Will He Find Me by Shinyrosa | Rated T | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | In Progress

feels like i’ve been ready for you to come home for so long by flowersinapril | Rated M | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | In ProgressThe Theory of Entropy by Jane_3yr3 | Rated M | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | In Progress always thinking you're behind me by cleansl8 | Rated E | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | In Progress

remember this moment by mikaylawrites | Rated E | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete

Danny/CJ

Ball Dropping by krazykitkat | Rated G | Danny Concannon/C.J. Cregg | Complete

Promises by krazykitkat | Rated G | Danny Concannon/C.J. Cregg | Complete

Snaking Along by krazykitkat | Rated G | Danny Concannon/C.J. Cregg | Complete

Shark Bait by krazykitkat | Rated G | Danny Concannon/C.J. Cregg | Complete

Gifts by krazykitkat | Rated G | Danny Concannon/C.J. Cregg | Complete

Jed/Abbey

Wait For Me by imperfectirises | Rated M | Abbey Bartlet/Jed Bartlet | In Progress

Miracle by imperfectirises | Rated M | Abbey Bartlet/Jed Bartlet | In Progress

Other Pairings/Gen Fic

domino by jazzjo | Rated G | C. J. Cregg/Toby Ziegler | Complete

it started off with a kiss... now it ended up like this by imawkwardlysoc | Rated G | Sam Seaborn/Original Female Character | In Progress

make an honest stand by jazzjo | Rated G | C. J. Cregg/Kate Harper | Complete

The Language of Tomorrow by silasfinch for justdreaming88 | Rated T | Ellie Bartlet/Original Female Character(s)| In Progress

Where The Hell…? by dumbchemist | Rated T | No pairings listed | In progress 

privacy sign on the door by fleurfemme | Rated M | C.J. Cregg/Donna Moss | Complete

Ghost Town by starbuckmeggie | Rated T | No pairings listed | In Progress

Figures of Speech by Darsynia | Rated T | Toby Ziegler/Original Female Character | In progress 

Gold by eowyn_of_rohan | Rated E | C.J. Cregg/Sam Seaborn/Toby Ziegler | Complete

Multiple Pairings

too wise to woo peaceably by jazzjo | Rated G | C.J. Cregg/Andrea Wyatt, Josh Lyman/Donna Moss, Abbey Bartlet/Jed Bartlet | In Progress

The Times They Are A-Changin' by mlea7675 | Rated T | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss, Ainsley Hayes/Sam Seaborn, C. J. Cregg/Toby Ziegler, Zoey Bartlet/Charlie Young, Abbey Bartlet/Jed Bartlet, Leo McGarry/Annabeth Schott, Helen Santos/Matt Santos | In Progress

Game On by mlea7675, Spybaby47 (Gilmore Girls crossover) | Rated T | Abbey Bartlet/Jed Bartlet, Helen Santos/Matt Santos, Logan Huntzberger/Alexandra Bartlet | In Progress

Not Quite the Parent Trap by eowyn_of_rohan | Rated T | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss, Ainsley Hayes/Sam Seaborn | In Progress

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tuesday again 1/5/2020

a list of firsts

listening house of the rising sun, the animals: no particular reason this was my first song of the year, i am simply fond of it. do you want to watch a man go ham on a travel-size electronic organ? of course you do.

@dying-suffering-french-stalkers​ has a killer playlist tracing the evolution of the Spanish Rakes folk song family. were i musical-history inclined, house of the rising sun is the song i would be most likely to do that for i think

watching it happened one night, (1934, dir. Capra). so every year, at around 11:20ish new year’s eve, i start a black-and-white “classic” movie i’ve never seen before. fuck i love a pre-code movie. it is easier for me to set aside my modern feminist sensibilities when i’m watching a screwball, because they’re supposed to be satire! i am allowed to watch and laugh without getting my hackles up as much!

[REDACTED TOO-PERSONAL ANGRY FEMINIST SCREED BC THOSE EIGHT HUNDRED WORDS ARE BETTER SUITED TO A THERAPY SESSION]

i sort-of haphazardly liveblogged my new year’s viewing here, the main point is that this early autogyro worsened my anxiety. modern helicopters are death traps!!! they just casually land this thing on a lawn in the middle of a crowd of people!!! PLEASE DO NOT

reading the trouble with doing these weekly roundup things is that i try to go beyond “did i like the thing” and go into “was this successful at what it’s trying to do? how did it go about what it’s trying to do and were these techniques that fit?” while trying to keep this within a reasonable wordcount bc i am not being paid to put out thousands of words of media critique a week. but sometimes i just straight up don’t like a piece of media for no particular reason. and that’s fine too, it just doesn’t make for very interesting reading.

anyway i read Cursed Pirate Girl (2009) and Cursed Pirate Girl Annual (2015). this is peak- i’m not sure how to succinctly describe this- late-aughts whimsical but sort of dark Alice-in-Wonderland? like steampunk that allows itself to use cool colors? published and re-published in a collection just as steampunk was starting to fall off the mainstream but the tim burton movies were still sort of on a high and weird little non-superhero comics and graphic novels were starting to make it into respected book reviews and bestseller lists?

the draftsmanship in these is beautiful, and they do look like “what if early 1800s comics were held to a modern standard of design”. but i simply do not vibe with the aforementioned trend bc i had a miserable time in high school at the peak of the steampunk/edgy British Empire trend and thinking about high school me makes my soul wither a little bit. anyway this cover slaps

playing the haunted island: a frog detective game, and frog detective 2: the case of the invisible wizard. this is really the epitome of “i want short games made with worse graphics made by people who are paid more” i would like one of these little bonbons a year please.

i am startled to find that my opinions on video game length jive with my opinions on tv show and movie length. i don’t want a “forever game” with infinite proc-gen quests (no man’s sky, for example, is not a game for me) and i think tv shows should be like three seasons max. no one iteration of a show should be on the air for a decade plus. this is partly bc i very rarely have the brainspace to get into tv shows, and i certainly do not have time to get into whole new longrunning tv shows at this braintime. i have the time for short self-contained media experiences like movies or video games under six hours.

these two games are really simple and really short- i blew through them both in less two hours- but i was charmed and delighted at almost every moment. it has the kind of straightfaced deadpan humor that some children’s shows have- i’m drawing a blank on specific examples other than vintage sesame street (pre-elmo) perhaps? (”kay why do you have an extensive knowledge of children’s entertainment and animation? you’re 26, sus” well you see i have two siblings that are significantly younger than me, which means sesame street was on constantly in our house well into my teens, and i’ve had at least one babysitting client at any given time since i was eleven)

i wouldn’t say they’re trying to make a particular point about cops/copaganda, esp since they’re from 2018 & 2019 by an australian team, but you could probably get an interesting paper about the portrayal of “crime” and “solving crime” in these games.    

making cinnamon raisin bread with sourdough discard, it’s on the last rise before it goes in the oven and should be photogenic enough for tumblr by like noon thirty