#although i have been a lifelong trek fan

[rhaenella]

Ed Speleers’ facial expressions masterclass: the annoyed look

Downton Abbey 3.9 "A Journey to the Highlands" (Christmas Special) — Jimmy Kent

You 4.10 "The Death of Jonathan Moore" — Rhys Montrose

Star Trek: Picard 3.5 "Imposters" — Jack Crusher

[spirk-trek]

idk if you would be into this BUT! i read your ask about tumblr archeology and i simply have to contribute this fic.

called observations, accessible here https://anon-j-anon.livejournal.com/30674.html, it’s essentially a book (i think like 200k words lol) written in 2009 that puts the AOS characters in the TOS deep space mission. a lot of the episodes are rewritten with their new counterparts— city on the edge of forever, arena, operation: annihilate!, what are little girls made of, so many more. it’s narrated by spock (his “observations” serving under jim) and definitely is a spirk fic, but i cannot emphasize enough how well it is written. contains math, philosophy, art discussions, and just has AMAZING characterizations into all of the cast (not just jim and spock but added depth into characters like chekov and chapel).

in my book it’s one of those “fandom foundational texts” but since it’s posted to livejournal, not ao3, i fear it’s kinda died off! but it is SUCH a good work i’m considering my duty as a star trek fan to spread it around. figured i would share it with you since you seemed interested in fandom revival!

hello friend! i've been working through this since you sent it and WOW. i can't believe the author saw star trek '09, went home, cracked their knuckles, and chose to write an ENTIRE K/S NOVEL. every day i'm blessed to have chosen star trek as my lifelong hyperfixation because i am treated SO WELL by other creators. thanks to them and thanks to you for sharing ♥

anyway. thoughts!

this fic is in such a unique format (first officer logs, spock's first person POV). i'll be honest that it takes some getting used to but i recommend giving it a shot! it really works with the story being told. like, really works.

for the sake of warning my fellow TOS and jim obsessed freaks, this is 110% AOS kirk. what i mean is that, personally, i don't tend to enjoy the hard, angry version of jim that's always watching his back and on edge... so if you're like me, this fic might make you wince a little at first. there's swearing and defensiveness right off the bat that i do not associate with the beloved version of james t kirk who lives inside my soul.... BUT.

but but but! i have still enjoyed what i've read so far! i think that really speaks to how thorough and simply enjoyable the writing is. jim is not out of character for AOS- in fact, he's incredibly in character and well written.

i can't express how much it means to me that you dropped this into my inbox! i never ever would have found it otherwise and although it might take me a while, i'm looking forward to finishing it in it's entirety :)

here is the direct link if anyone would like to check it out!!!

[bookwyrmshoard]

Phasers on Stun!: How the Making (and Remaking) of Star Trek Changed the World, by Ryan Britt

Informative, entertaining, and delightful

As a lifelong Star Trek fan, I found Phasers on Stun!: How the Making (and Remaking) of Star Trek Changed the World both very informative and highly entertaining. The book covered things I already knew (for example, how Martin Luther King, Jr., told Nichelle Nichols that she had to remain on the show) , but also went into depth on things I hadn’t known (like the extent to which Nichols was instrumental in getting NASA to diversify the astronaut program, and her subsequent recruiting on NASA’s behalf.)

Like me (and my husband, Mr. Bookwyrm), Ryan Britt is a fan not only of Trek in its many iterations, but also of the ideals and underlying beliefs of Star Trek: its optimism; its vision of a future where all intelligent beings are respected and included regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or even species; and its preference for diplomatic resolution of conflicts (although Starfleet is willing to fight to defend its member planets when necessary.) Britt looks at how those ideals have been represented throughout the various series of Star Trek, from the original series (TOS) to Strange New Worlds. The shows haven’t always lived up to those ideals—it wasn’t until Discovery that a Star Trek series featured openly LGBTQIA+ characters as regulars, for instance—but from the beginning, the Enterprise crew, and by extension Starfleet and Star Trek itself, was diverse in terms of race, gender, and species. (I suspect the original Enterprise crew would have included more alien crew members if the show could have afforded them.) And while Star Trek’s example of embracing diversity is very much aligned with the liberal and Quaker values with which I was raised, TOS and ST:TNG both had a profound effect in shaping my worldview.

In telling the history of the shows and how they impacted and interacted with popular culture and real-world events, Britt includes quotes and stories from a number of Star Trek luminaries, from writers and showrunners to actors. Some of these are drawn from interviews conducted for various articles Britt (a sci-fi and pop-culture journalist) has written over the years; other interviews took place specifically for this book. The interviews and quotes give an insight into the experiences and motivations of the people who made and remade Star Trek, and continue to do so to this day.

Whether you grew up watching one of the Star Trek shows, came to the fandom as an adult, or simply want to understand the wide appeal of the Star Trek universe, I recommend reading or listening to Phasers on Stun! It’s a warm, loving, but not uncritical look at a pop-culture phenomenon that, at over 50 years old, is still relevant, influential, and dynamic.

[stevetonygames]

Spotlight Post: Canon Soulmate Bonds

Yooo, this is a blog takeover, Mizzy here, ready to champion one of my favourite fictional causes: canonical soulbonds in the Marvel universe.

We all love a good soulbond fic. Words on your body, names on your wrist, red string of fate...so many glorious versions, and all of them *completely awesome*. The problem sometimes with starting a soulbond fic, though, can be all the worldbuilding required to make it work. But what if I was to tell you that no worldbuilding was necessary? That you could technically write a soulbond fic without having to set it in an Alternate Universe? What if you could set your soulbond fic *directly in main canon?*

Marvel 616 delivers you a canonical soulbond mechanic… not once… but at least *twice*. There could be more. There’s a lot of comics to go through and I’m only smol. But here’s the two I know about and I’m here to introduce you to today. :)

The was a ripple of mild confusion around fandom when Kevin Feige announced that the Eternals were getting a title movie in the next phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Created by Jack Kirby in the 1970s, in a wild combination of mythological fascination and spite at DC comics for not letting him finish his New Gods saga, the Eternals were an offshoot of humanity, created by the Celestials for humanity’s protection; this reason for their existence would lead them into their ongoing conflict against the deadly Deviants. There have been a few Eternals runs (notably one run by Neil Gaiman, which did not serve to bring the Eternals the commercial success Marvel was searching for with the title, that nevertheless remains the most fun and accessible Eternals volume), but they’ve not yet really reached wide-reaching traction among even the most die-hard comic fans. The MCU might change that, and here’s hoping, because I love these nearly-immortal idiots, and I’m hoping not to be alone in that for much longer. :D

But even my Eternals-happy soul has to admit, Eternals canon for the most part is dense and can be convoluted, and the spellings—both of their character names and one of the main fun parts of their existence, the Mahd W’yry—are enough to give one a headache. The idea of the Eternals is that they’re long-lived and have interacted with human history over the years in various impactful ways. You might think at first glance that you’ve never heard of the Eternals Sersi, Ikaris, Makkari, but I think you wouldn’t find Circe, Icarus, or Mercury unfamiliar names.

The Mahd W’yry is a symptom of the Eternals being so long-living. In order to stop them going insane, the Eternals have to bond into something known as the Uni-Mind, which basically squishes all their consciousnesses together into one, where they can share memories and blend temporarily into one mind. Regularly bonding into the Uni-Mind allows them to stave off the Mahd W’yry. (Yep, that’s just a headache-inducing spelling of ‘mad worry’, we know.)

Anyway, did you need to know all this? Eh, maybe, a little bit of canned backstory is always handy for you to briefly glance over and promptly forget. Because along with some dense mythological adventures, some glorious angsting across beautiful landscapes, and that ability to turn into a big massive floating brain, the Eternals also gave us a beautiful gift:

The Gann Josin.

In Avengers #361, Ikaris comes down to Earth and decides that Sersi needs to be bonded to Dane Whitman, an Avenger who canonically didn’t have any powers, he was just a *really good guy*, destined for tragedy. Honestly. That’s his bio. Really good guy. Destined for tragedy. The character creation in the 90s was peak talent. Dane, sadly, was in love with another woman, but did this matter to Ikaris? No. Apparently the Eternals don’t know about the dangers of letting himbos like Ikaris have life-changing powers, like the ability to create the Uni-Mind. 

Because the power to control the Uni-Mind also gives an Eternal the power to form a Gann Josin bond. And that’s what Ikaris does in Avengers #361—he forces a Gann Josin bond on Eternal Sersi and tragic human Avenger Dane Whitman.

Gann Josin (sometimes Gan-Josin because what is spelling continuity in Marvel comics) is both the name of the bond, and the title given to an Eternal and their chosen life-mate. It has a bunch of cool side effects. Both Gann Josins get glowing full-red eyes. It’s a really intimate tiny form of the Uni-Mind (without the part where you become a big floating brain), and creates a small scale mental union. The Gann Josin bond makes the Eternal and their partner lifelong soulmates. As the bond progresses, it creates a telepathic/empathic bond that strengthens in time. According to the Eternal Sprite, humans are rarely chosen by Eternals for the Gann Josin.

Now, Dane Whitman does manage to break the Gann Josin several issues later. But… it’s not easy. It’s rare. When Dane manages it, it is called an “astounding act.” It’s pretty dang hard, in other words. There’s every chance your chosen Gann Josins won’t have the mental fortitude of Dane Whitman to break it. (Although, we’re talking about Steve and Tony, and are there any bigger stubborn idiots in the universe? Probably not.)

But Mizzy, I hear you saying. I don’t want to write about Ikaris, even if he is a party king and that sounds pretty nifty. I don’t know anything about the Eternals and I don’t want to go down that gnarly rabbit hole.

That’s totes fine, my friend. I am here to save you. Because in very recent canon, during Jason Aaron’s turn at the helm, the Eternals are all dead. Very dead. That whole Mahd W’yry thing got ‘em, it got ‘em good. But before Ikaris died, he granted his Uni-Mind power to someone we all know and love.

Yep. Tony Stark. Tony Stark currently has the power of the Uni-Mind.

Which means that Tony Stark can now Gann Josin people.

In Avengers #361, Ikaris performs the Gann Josin by basically just pointing his hands at Sersi and Dane and some light goes WHEEEEEEE!! in their direction, and bam, this rare and special bond is done. And Tony Stark can do that now. To anyone! Unfortunately Ikaris is dead and didn’t leave Tony with an instruction manual. But the point is, he *can*. You can make up all sorts of fun things with this canonical fact (or write your own version because lbr Canon Is Dead; Long Live Canon.)

There are so many possibilities. Does Tony deliberately learn how to use it so he can bond himself to Steve? Does Tony *need* to be able to hear Steve’s thoughts (to thwart some bad guys) and thus end up soulbonded forever to Steve in result? Is Tony’s power activating at random because he can’t control it, and he ends up soulbonding everyone around him? Does he just subconsciously bond himself to Steve without consciously meaning to? Do Tony or Steve want to try it for science?

Gosh, I love comics.

But WAIT. There’s MORE.

It’s not just 1990s comics going ham on the soulbond idea. No, we got some *this year*. Canonical soulbonding? TWICE? In one universe? Two different kinds??

And this time, it’s not in a D-list Marvel title. We’re up the ranks to the big leagues this time, folx, with a brief trek to the world of the Fantastic Four.

In Fantastic Four (Vol. 6) #15, we’re introduced to a Spyre citizen called Sky, a winged team member of the Unparalleled (more cosmic-powered superheroes), who work under The Overseer. (The Overseer, in a burst of beautiful retcon in the way Marvel comics keeps doing to us, is apparently the entity who is responsible for giving the F4 their powers. Huh. The more you know.)

On the planet Spyre, all children are brought before something called The Great Eye. This measures them against the radiation signature of everyone on the planet, divining who their perfect match is. 

Sky looked into The Great Eye, only to find out her match was Johnny Storm, who was 44 light-years away at the time. Long-distance relationships can be tough. Anyway, plot happens, the F4 get stuck on Spyre, get told they can’t leave, and Sky tells Johnny Storm that she is his soulmate. Oh, and she attached a soul binding onto him while he slept. Neat, huh, all the bodily autonomy people get in this universe before being force soulbond to people? So neat, much consent, wow.

Johnny feels a connection to Sky, which is supposed to let us know this lack of choice is a good thing I guess. The Overseer wants Sky to renounce Johnny and crush the F4 which obv doesn’t happen, so of course she leaves The Unparalleled and skips off to Earth to be with Johnny. 

Who knows how this relationship is gonna last. I mean, you can look at the rest of Johnny’s relationship history and have a good guess. Who knows. Anyway, Reed and Sue are each other's soulmate, and also share a “Soul Binding”, so there’s some canonical proof right there that maybe this system has some validity going for it.

The soulbond for this form takes the form of a golden bracelet worn on the upper arm, that Sky explains her people call a “Soul Binding”; it represents them as being soul-mates. This bracelet can only be removed by your soulmate. This soulbond doesn’t seem to come with any extra powers, it’s just to show that The Great Eye has measured their radiation signature and declared them a match that is supposed to mean they’re perfectly compatible in every way: spiritually, mentally, and physically.

I don’t know about you, but I have a pretty good feeling that Steve and Tony might just have matching radiation signatures… Or what if Steve and Tony have perfect matching signatures….with other people? (Someone else on Spyre believes Sky is *their* perfect match, after all!) What if Steve has feelings for Iron Man, but he’s a perfect match with Tony Stark? I feel faint already just thinking about it.

So here you go. Two canonical types of soulbonds for your fannish consideration. Feel free to ask me questions! You can find me on tumblr (@mizzy2k) or on discord (addy#0908).

[vivypotter]

Vivy’s Harry Potter Fic Recs

I’ve had a load of people ask me for my favourite tomarry fics, so I thought I’d compile a fic rec! This will probably be updated as I think of things. However, I have a lot of favourite fics which aren’t Tomarry, so I thought I’d add a few other pairings as well. I think I’ll put up a few recs of other fandoms as well when I get ‘round to it, like Hannibal or the Hobbit (I have weird reading habits okay?) It’ll help me find them too xD.

Tom Riddle or Voldemort/Harry Potter

Consuming Shadows by Child_OTKW (WIP)

On the night of the attack, Lily managed to escape with her infant son, but at the cost of her husband’s life. Distraught and distrusting of her friends, she fled to France with Harry, to raise him away from the corruption in Britain and the rising influence of the Dark Lord. She trains him to the best of her abilities, shaping him into a dangerous, intelligent and powerful wizard.

But when Britain re-establishes the Triwizard Tournament, and Harry is forced to return to his once-home, he finds himself questioning whether he really wants to kill the Dark Lord. Voldemort finds an unexpected challenge in the child, and as his intrigue and amusement grows, so too does the desire to possess the spark in those defiant green eyes.

I feel this is genuinely one of the best Tomarry fanfics maybe ever written, and I’m sure you’ve probably read it since it’s so popular - but I thought I’d recommend it anyway! It’s not finished, but there’s enough of it to really sink your teeth into and action is properly going down right now. Harry is such an interesting character and his cat and mouse dynamic with Voldemort is so entertaining. I anxiously wait for every update!

Set the Sails (and don’t look back) by Terrific Lunacy (Complete)

1724. All Harry wanted to do was to cross the Atlantic and start his apprenticeship under one of the most renowned physicians. Tom Riddle is convinced everything floating in the seven seas belongs to him. That includes ship-wrecked, green-eyed youths. Especially if they tell him to fuck off.

This is a fic that’s really stuck with me. It’s complete (a miracle in the tomarry fandom) and there’s a fun back-and-forth between Voldemort and Harry. Our goodhearted Harry is a doctor! And for some reason, I’ve been really into Pirate AUs recently.

A Thousand Paths Among The Stars by haplesshippo (Complete)

Harry Potter, newly appointed Captain of the Marauder and son of the famous Captain James Potter, was falling apart at the seams. His crew didn’t respect him, he was lost in the empty expanse of space, nightmares plagued his sleep, and his Commander deserved the Captain position more than he did. Good thing multiple attempts on his life and a vicious warlord after his head was all it took to turn it all around.

Alternatively, that space fic in which Harry Potter almost dies too many times, Tom Riddle slowly becomes the most smitten fool on the ship, and the rest of the crew are all just a bunch of assholes with popcorn watching the show. And exploding ships, don't forget the exploding ships.

Another pirate AU, kind of! But this one is in space! And it’s actually more of a Star Trek AU. Okay, it’s not really a pirate AU but I wanted to keep the theme going. This is such a freaking good fic- the relationship between Tom and Harry is very unusual (not as combative as the last two fics) and there are some nice twists, as well as combination of HP lore and what I assume is Star Trek (I’ve never seen it okay). And the extended cast is excellent. I fully recommend!

The Dragon's Mate by Strange_Soulmates (Complete fics but WIP series)

Harry Potter has recently escaped from his dragon-guarded tower. So has his fellow prisoner - the dragon who was enchanted to guard him. Harry's friend is missing, however, and so he sets off to assure himself of his well-being before he finds the person responsible for imprisoning them both. Accompanied by a stranger with a familiar name, Harry finds himself with more questions than answers as he slowly learns about the customs of dragons and the history of the dragon he befriended, the fearsome Voldemort.

I really love pretty much all of Strange_Soulmates’ fics, but this is definitely my favourite (and maybe the only complete one? Don’t quote me on that.) The characters are so well done, and although I love the first fic a little more than the second, they are both excellent reads! Dragons and wizards? Yes, please!

Everything's Fine in the Beast Division by Merrinpippy (Complete)

Harry's lifelong ambition is to become an auror, but as his knowledge of Dangerous Beasts is somewhat lacking, Newt Scamander agrees to take him on as an apprentice. Contrary to the Weasley twins' predictions that Harry would die of boredom, Harry finds his time at the Ministry very interesting, and befriending the very attractive Tom Riddle doesn't hurt at all- in fact, quite the opposite.

This is such a fantastic fanfiction, and a crossover with Fantastic Beasts (a franchise I can’t stand but that’s a conversation for another time). It manages to be fluffy without going OOC which is difficult for tomarry fics, and the supporting cast are adorable!

To Be Set Free by Merrinpippy

Harry Potter, raised and abused by the Dursleys ever since his parents died, lives in the cupboard under the stairs. He has no friends or family who love him and his life is dull until one day a letter arrives arrives for him, written in green ink, that promises freedom. Sounds familiar, right?

King Thomas Riddle's illness combined with his political paranoia pushes him to arrange three royal balls, after which his son, Prince Tom Riddle, must choose a guest to marry, thereby securing the kingdom's future and solidifying their strength in the eyes of their allies/enemies. Tom is convinced that he will be able to defy his father and choose no-one, or at least he is until at the first ball he meets an attractive stranger with dark hair and glasses who won't tell anyone his name...

This is also excellent, and I love a good Fairytale AU. Merrinpippy has some really good stuff. I love all of it!

As Clichéd as Clichés Go by thecrimsonmonarch (One-shot)

Harry Potter wasn't known for his social skills, mainly because they were practically non-existent.

This is a bit random but very fun. Harry is a fucking dork. That’s all there is to say. A thoroughly amusing Lawyer AU.

Lily and the Art of Being Sisyphus by The Carnivorous Muffin (WIP)

As the unwitting personification of Death, reality exists to Lily through the veil of a backstage curtain, a transient stage show performed by actors who take their roles only too seriously. But as the Girl-Who-Lived, Lily's role to play is the most important of all, and come hell or high water play it she will, regardless of how awful Wizard Lenin seems to think she is at her job.

This is a still-uploading fanfic and one of my faves. It’s not for everyone- it’s a fem!Harry and she’s so different that she’s really an OC to be honest, and the story is slightly complicated. This is certainly not a fic to go for if you want IC characters. But I really love the writing and the ideas and it’s basically a new, fascinating universe. And even if they’re not IC, I love the characters all dearly. The Carnivorous Muffin is certainly an extremely talented writer- all of her stuff is excellent.

Little Bits by lordmarvoloriddle

Inspired by Cinderella. Only there's no prince and surely no one is singing about their feelings and Harry's life could be a lot worse than having three step-brothers and a father who didn't liked him. He's going to be proven right.

This is such a bloody creepy fic and so so good. The ending is a complete twist and you should definitely read it!

Drarry

Draw a Line from Your Heart to Mine by CreateImagineWrite (Complete)

Being Harry Potter's best friend isn't always fame and beating off raving fans. It's also the anxiety of hearing your best mate's been cursed by another Dark Lord, or love potioned by some crazy woman. Or having his boyfriend you knew nothing about turn up on the Burrow's doorstep.

This is a bit of a random inclusion, but I was just reading this and it is SO GOOD. Perhaps a bit cliched in places, but Ron Weasley’s inner monologue makes up for it.

Turn by Saras_Girl

One good turn always deserves another. Apparently.

This is an also an excellent fic that I read bloody ages ago and has apparently stuck with me. There’s this whole Harry going into an alternate dimension where he’s married to Draco Malfoy plot, but the really beautiful thing is Harry exploring his dissatisfaction with his life- through carpentry! I know it sounds like a crack fic, but it’s not- it’s a gorgeously written fic.

Away Childish Things by lettered

Harry gets de-aged. Malfoy has to help him.

This does the ‘Harry was abused’ revelation so well and really interestingly explores both Harry and Draco’s childhood. The overarching plot is also excellently done, which can’t always be said for character-focused fics!

Jily

#Jily by Chie (Chierafied) (One-shot)

Twitter seemed awash with the hashtag Jily. Lily blinked at in confusion, until she realised it was one of those silly couple monikers people had bestowed on her and Potter. …Though there was a small dissenting crowd following a tweet from Potter’s bandmate Sirius Black: Jily? Hah! More like LAMES.

This is such a fucking cute one-shot. I love social media AUs (if you find any, send them my way), so I loved this!

The Rise and Fall of the Extraordinary Jilysanschilly: Including Excerpts of their Best Collected Works by elanev91 (One-shot)

James Potter and Lily Evans are both wildly successful YouTubers and Sirius cannot believe that people ship them enough to write erotic fanfiction about them. 

You might be picking up on my love of modern Jily AUs. This is so cute, Sirius is weirdly IC as he gets caught up in a smut addiction and James and Lily don’t hate each other from the beginning so that’s fun. A very sweet YouTuber AU.

Hit the Like Button by elixirsoflife (One-shot)

YouTube star James Potter is living it up at uni: filming videos, getting drunk and professing his love for aspiring singer Lily Evans to anyone who'll listen.

It’s another modern AU, but this time, Lily is a famous singer! This was fucking adorable, enough said.

The White Album by cgner (Complete)

James poses as an advice charm in Lily's diary. He's really got to start thinking through his shenanigans.

This is the strangest mix of angst and fluff that I’ve ever read, but it really, really works. It’s also kind of a crossover, as it’s written by the co-author of:

Haggis from Algernon by Rude Gus (Complete)

The fic about nothing.

Everything written by both Rude Gus and cgner is brilliant (not a surprise as they’re almost the same person), but Haggis really is a classic. And check out their Bachelor AU fic! It’s surprisingly brilliant.

Gen and Misc

Kid by Anonymous (Completed)

A Potion's "accident" turns Harry into an eight year old. Draco Malfoy begins planning his kidnapping/conversion to the Dark Side. But Harry's a passive-aggressive, revenge-obsessed little bastard. Maybe Draco will wait on that whole Dark Lord thing… 

Such a cute fic! A really nice character study of Draco and cute kid Harry is always a bonus. I’m not usually a Draco Malfoy fan, but this is a great fic.

Harveste by kyaru-chan (Complete fics but WIP series - probs abandoned)

He's done it. He's just five years old, but he's finally done it. The Dursleys are gone. And now he's with a new family who seems just as twisted as he is. How strange.

This is a really weird fic series. It’s actually an Addams family AU? Harry kills the Dursleys and gets adopted by the Addams family, and then there’s a separate fic for each HP book up to Half-Blood Prince, where I think they stopped. It definitely still worth a read though. Harry is certainly not IC but it’s a fascinating combination of the two universes with all the quirky Addams family humour. It’s certainly a bit of a crack fic to read when you’re down.

Sarcasm and Slytherin by sunmoonandstars (Complete stories but WIP series)

After ten years of misery with the Dursleys, Harry Potter learns that he has magic. Except, in this story, it's not a surprise-the only surprise is that there are others like him. Including his twin brother, Julian Potter, the savior of the Wizarding world.

This isn't the Harry you think you know.

This is WBWL kind of story (although we don’t know if Harry actually is the BWL yet. Harry is a really interesting character and his relationship with his family- especially Jules - is very well developed and nuanced. Harry’s friendships and the authors interpretation of Slytherin house is also a new twist on old tropes- it feels very fresh! I’m eagerly waiting for updates!

So there it is. Just some of my HP faves. I’m considering doing one for Hannibal, Yuri on Ice, The Hobbit, Labyrinth (my tastes are so weird) etc, so let me know if you’re interested!

[hannah-deserved-better]

I am starting to feel a little depressed

It’s a couple of things. It’s the fact that my move is now only six weeks away and while I’m very excited about this next chapter in our lives, I am nervous too. 

It’s the fact that being a rare-pair shipper can be a little lonely. And while I’ve accepted my fate and most of the time, I don’t let it get to me, I feel like I am a good writer and my writing is largely unrecognized due to my preferred pairings. It’s also the occasional Hannah hater I encounter and their toxic hate can get very grating.

I know I’m an outcast. I will never be a very popular writer, either with my novels or with fan fiction. I do it because I love it and because I feel I have a story to tell, even if no one is listening. 

It’s the fact that I am beginning to realize that I am never going to be rid of kidney disease. It will be a lifelong fight and it will probably kill me one day. If you saw me, you’d never be able to tell that an organ in my body is shutting down, so you might think I am lazy because I’m tired all the time, my feet hurt because they swell due to toxins pooling at the bottom of my feet. I feel nauseous sometimes. My back hurts sometimes. And while it’s stable for now, I’ve accepted the fact that one day my kidneys will completely fail and I’ll have to endure dialysis, transplants, and eventually, death. 

It’s the fact that being autistic is still a struggle even though I am now 36 years old. 

It’s also the fact that with this move comes the knowledge that I won’t see my family as often as I do now. And as I get older, so will they. I lost my aunt earlier this year and in a large, tight-knit family like mine, this is only the beginning. I have a lot to lose. 

I will always be a California girl. California is my home and although it’s not working out for me anymore, I’ll take a piece of it with me when I leave.

Also, as a fangirl, its the knowledge that my Star Trek celebs are getting old. Still, not over Rene Auberjonois, he played one of my favorite characters growing up. He was the other have of my very first ship, Kira and Odo. Now he’s gone.

Writing is my biggest passion, I spend all day every day thinking about it. It’s with me in the morning, it’s the last thing I think of at night. The career I want is also my biggest hobby. But writing is more than a hobby or a chosen path. It’s also my escape and my salvation. It’s my therapy. 

So yeah, I’m starting to feel depressed. I haven’t been very active on discord because of that. I’m focusing on my writing because that’s what I do when I get depressed. 

[rockrageradio]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MULTI-PLATINUM SELLING GLOBAL RECORDING ARTIST BRET MICHAELS TO RECEIVE HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD AT THE 88TH ANNUAL HOLLYWOOD CHRISTMAS PARADE IN HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1

THE HOLLYWOOD CHRISTMAS PARADE WILL AIR PRIMETIME ON THE CW ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13th

PARADE WILL ALSO FEATURE A SPECIAL TRIBUTE FOR TOYS FOR TOTS; MAGIC PERFORMANCE BY STARS OF THE CW HIT SERIES “MASTERS OF ILLUSION”

Los Angeles, CA (November 13, 2019)-- The 88th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade, the largest Christmas event in America, announces its Humanitarian of the Year award recipient, Bret Michaels. Bret Michaels is a multi-platinum global music superstar whose multi-faceted brand encompasses record-breaking touring sales, TV stardom and chart-topping songs. A successful entrepreneur in addition to his musical achievements, he created the multi-million dollar selling Pets Rock Collection with PetSmart, launched his own line of custom guitars and created “Bret’s Blend, Diet Trop-A-Rocka” which is a number-one-selling beverage for Dr. Pepper/Snapple Group.

“I could not be more honored to receive this Humanitarian of the Year award,” said Michaels. “It truly touches my soul, and I am extremely grateful to be able to receive this award at the holidays, which is the perfect time of year to give back and donate to great causes like Toys for Tots. I can’t wait to play a song or two and I truly look forward to this chance to meet a lot of amazing people and fans at the Hollywood Christmas Parade.

Demonstrating Michaels’ never-ending commitment to giving, he has pledged to honor his reception of this Humanitarian award by dedicating one of his upcoming shows to charity.

Michaels, a lifelong diabetic, the son of a veteran, and survivor of a life-threatening brain hemorrhage has always stood up to any challenge that was thrown at him. As a type 1 juvenile diabetic since the age of 6, he consistently leads the charge for diabetes awareness, sending children to camp with his Life Rocks Foundation. Through his Foundation, he has raised millions of dollars for charity and he has additionally personally donated to causes throughout his career, including his winnings from “Celebrity Apprentice.” His philanthropy has helped not only diabetes education and research but also a diverse range of causes such as childhood cancer, Veterans organizations, PetSmart Charities, Operation Homefront, Feelgood Foundation and many more.

Michaels’ latest hit single and video, “Unbroken” is dedicated to the idea of overcoming any challenge that life puts in front of you. He cowrote and recorded the song with his youngest daughter, Jorja Bleu, who currently attends a music and arts school. His eldest daughter, Raine, is an in-demand model after being a finalist in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Search earlier this year. Michaels himself is one one of the most sought-after performers in the world, keeping him on the road for each of the last 10 years for nearly 300 live performances, speaking engagements, charitable concerts and private engagements yearly. Those talents, combined with his passion for philanthropy and helping others, made Michaels a fitting choice to receive this year’s Humanitarian of the Year Award.

Although Michaels is primarily a solo artist and is finishing his UNBROKEN World Tour of arenas and amphitheaters, he is giving the fans an early Christmas gift by agreeing to a confirmed tour in 2020 featuring a reunited, all-original Poison. Though no dates are currently locked in, Michaels is excited to bring the band back on the road for a summer jaunt of concert hits.

As the mother of a five-year-old Type 1 Diabetic diagnosed just a few months ago, co-executive producer Emma Sharratt MacEachern says there was no other choice for this year’s Humanitarian of The Year Award.

Comments Sharratt MacEachern: “Imagine running a marathon on a high wire for the rest of your life.This is what it’s like to live with Type 1 diabetes. Hundreds of calculations and decisions to be made each day, all with life-threatening consequences. A 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week balancing act that will never go away. When my child was diagnosed, I was handed a piece of paper with photos of famous people with Type 1. One person stood out to me: Bret Michaels. Bret was diagnosed at age six, and since then, he’s gone on to live the life he has, realizing his dreams and making a huge impact in the world, not just with his many accomplishments in entertainment, but also with his incredible efforts to advocate for those who have been diagnosed or affected, to help find a cure. November is Diabetes Awareness Month, and we are truly honored and proud to present the Humanitarian of the Year Award to Bret Michaels.”

The landmark anniversary celebration will take place on Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California, on Sunday, December 1, 2019, at 5:00 p.m. PT. The host of Access Hollywood, Mario Lopez, and the Lopez family, are this year’s Grand Marshals. They will join an eclectic array of musical performances featured during the parade and national telecast, including Jesse & Joy, Dionne Warwick, Brandon Jenner, Sheléa, The Band Of Merrymakers, Rock of Ages, Shawn Wayans presents The Boo Crew, Phil Vassar, David Archuleta, Ace Young & Diana DeGarmo, James Maslow, Ashen Moon with Mikalah Gordon and Brandon Rogers. The parade will also feature a special tribute for Toys for Tots and a magic performance by Mai Wynn and Farrell Dillon of The CW hit series, “Masters of Illusion.”

The 88th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade will be hosted by Erik Estrada, Laura McKenzie, Dean Cain and Montel Williams, with special co-host Elizabeth Stanton. It will premiere as a two-hour special on The CW Network on Friday, December 13 at 8:00 p.m. ET / PT. The parade, featuring Marine Toys for Tots program, which is essential in providing gifts to less fortunate children everywhere, will also air on the Hallmark Channel shortly after as well as on American Forces Network, to more than one million American servicemen and women worldwide. The event will be presented and produced by Associated Television International, in association with The City of Los Angeles.

A true Hollywood yearly tradition, the parade attracts more than one million in attendance each year, with larger than life inflatable character balloons, award winning bands, colorful equestrians, ornate floats, popular characters/novelties, celebrity filled cars and, of course, Santa Claus making the much heralded trek down the over three mile parade route.

For information on how to purchase Grandstand Seats to the parade, please visit www.thehollywoodchristmasparade.org

For more information on all things Bret Michaels, please visit www.BretMichaels.com.

[starwarsdc]

Women!

The title is simple and direct: this post is about women in the SW fandom. While watching The People vs. George Lucas last week, I was struck by the overwhelming number of white dudes featured. There were a couple of women sprinkled throughout, although none of them were onscreen for very long, and were not given much narrative attention by the documentary itself. This lack of female perspective disappointed me, but did not surprise me. Despite the fact that women invented science-fiction (thanks, Mary Shelley), made Star Trek possible (thanks, Lucille Ball), orchestrated the first fandom convention, play more video games than teenage boys, and attend conventions at the same rate as men, women’s presence in geek spaces is still seen as an oddity or a transgression. That’s why I’m dedicating this post to discussing women in the theaters and on screen in Star Wars.

In December, Newsweek published this article: ‘STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI’ OWES ITS BOX-OFFICE SUCCESS TO WOMEN by Anna Menta. I’ve selected excerpts and pasted them below:

According to data collected by Box Office Mojo, the audience breakdown for opening night for The Last Jedi was 58 percent male and 43 percent female. That’s a 10 percent jump in how many women attended opening night for The Force Awakens in 2015. That opening-night audience was 67 percent male, according to The Hollywood Reporter. (More women showed up to the box office in the weeks that followed.) Viewers are also getting younger—37 percent of those who turned out for opening night of The Last Jedi was 25 years old or younger.

It’s no accident.

“I love Rey. She’s so brave, I love watching her,” 16-year-old Faith Rodriguez toldNewsweek while she waited for the rest of her friends to arrive at the AMC Empire 25 theater in Times Square Thursday night. Faith grew up watching Star Wars with her dad, but she didn’t become a superfan until the new series. “I like The Force Awakens more than the first Star Wars,” she said.

The first film in Disney’s new Star Wars trilogy introduced Rey, the Jedi hero played by Daisy Ridley. And she’s undoubtedly one of biggest draws for new, young female fans. “I gotta say, when I see a woman who is the lead in a big action film, I instantly felt more connected to the series,” 18-year-old Addie Golden said.

Lisa Calagna, 29, agreed. She said she didn’t get into Star Wars until late in life—her fianceé forced her to watch the films before they were married. But she thinks a character like Rey might have piqued her interest earlier. “My niece is 8, and she’s obsessed with the films,” Calagna said. “It’s great to have that female role model. If I had [Rey], it might have helped me get into the movies earlier.”

[T]he appeal to women—especially younger women—is deliberate on the studio’s part. After introducing Rey in 2015, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, a vital female addition to the Hollywood’s executive universe, promised even more “really strong women.” And she has delivered, first with Ridley as Rey and Gwendoline Christie as Captain Phasma in The Force Awakens, and then Felicity Jones’ starring role in the 2016 anthology film Rogue One. In The Last Jedi, the Star Wars universe finally gets a woman of color in its main cast: Kelly Marie Tran, who plays Rose, a Resistance maintenance worker who gets close to Finn (John Boyega).

“Rose is so important to me, as the first main woman of color,” said Chelsea St. Juniors, 29, who is black. “To see all my friends who are Asian so excited for Rose, it’s amazing. Our time is now, basically!”

Disney being Disney, the company has put a lot of effort into promoting the new women of Star Wars through toys, clothes and other memorabilia. This, too, is new ground for the galaxy far, far away. Kate Fueyo, 21, and Alex Welch, 20, are screenwriting students at New York University and lifelong Star Wars fans. The attended the opening-night screening decked out in Star Wars shirts.

“I used to own like every piece of Leia merch they made, and it wasn’t much,” lamented Fueyo. Welch agreed, laughing, “Yeah, I had like the two Leia figurines you could find at Toys ‘R’ Us.”  

“You can find Star Wars fans a lot of places, but social media helps you find specifically female fans who are on the same wavelength,” said Fueyo. Welch agreed, adding, “Because of the internet, now I have friends who I can talk about Star Wars with all over the country. I have friends in Ireland, Scotland—I think that’s pretty cool. And they’re all women.”

Star Wars’ female fan base is not new. Women who love the original trilogy adore Carrie Fisher’s Princess Leia, while viewers who grew up with the prequels had Natalie Portman’s Queen Amidala. But as more and more female characters enter the Star Wars universe, it’s not surprising that more and more women will show up and buy tickets—taking the place of the older, male fans who are so vocal about losing interest in the series.

And it’s about time, say the die-hard women who have been there all along.

“Growing up, I was the only girl I knew who liked Star Wars,” said Chloe Jandsten, 27, who was in full Han Solo gear for opening night. “Seeing a woman central on theStar Wars posters—even now it makes me tear up.”

I, along with thousands of other women like me, am glad that there are more women in the Star Wars universe. However, while there are more women, there is still a huge gender disparity in the number of leading roles for men and women in the SW universe. For the first six movies, there were only two main roles for women, one main woman per trilogy: Leia and Padmé (yes, I realize Shmi Skywalker and Mon Mothma are important, however, they are hardly on screen and do not appear in every film). Even in the recent movies, Rey is still outnumbered in our main trio two-to-one, and surrounded by other men (Like Luke and Kylo Ren) rather than other women. Jyn Erso is surrounded by male companions and male antagonists. She is the only significant woman in the film! The introduction of Captain Phasma and General Holdo are encouraging, yet, women remain a minority when it comes to SW characters. More female characters mean more entry points, inspiration, and representation for female fans. Hopefully, future creators will add even more women to universe!

In my next post, I will highlight several women in the SW fandom here on Tumblr and elsewhere on the internet! 

[flauntpage]

These Soccer Fanatics Are Ready for Launch of Canadian Premier League

This article originally appeared on VICE Sports Canada.

While we don't yet know when the Canadian Premier League will kick off, one thing's for sure—the fans will be ready.

It was just last month that the CPL's existence and its first two teams, in Hamilton and Winnipeg, were officially confirmed. The rest of the CPL's initial roster of either six or eight teams is expected to be in similarly sized cities, since Canada's three biggest markets (Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver) will be keeping their Major League Soccer squads.

But that hasn't dampened grassroots enthusiasm about the league; if anything, it's intensified it, as fans in underserved markets across the country have been clamouring for the chance to finally support top-flight pro soccer in their own backyards.

For proof, we need look no further than the CPL supporters' groups that have come into existence over the last two years.

The most established is the Barton Street Battalion in Hamilton. At its core is a group of fans that, for the better part of a decade, scratched their soccer-watching itch by trekking to catch Toronto FC games at BMO Field.

When word got out, in 2015, that Tiger-Cats owner Bob Young of the CFL was helping to spearhead the creation of a new Canadian soccer league, they took matters into their own hands. The Battalion were born and released their logo on social media later that year, and held their first formal meeting in February 2016.

L-R: Kevin Matchett (Ti-Cats representative), Paul Beirne (CPL representative), John McGrane (ex-Canadian national team player), Nick Bontis (vice president, Canadian Soccer Association), James Hutton, John Gibson (president, Hamilton & District Soccer Association). Photo by Amanda Stancati

A rep from the Ti-Cats was at that meeting, sending a signal to the Battalion that their local team was on its way.

"That's when we got the ball rolling," James Hutton, a founding Battalion member, told VICE Sports. "It was validation… we didn't have to wait for the team to show up for us to express our passion."

Hutton quickly ordered up 50 Battalion scarves, which he easily sold that summer to fans at a pair of Canadian women's national team games in Ottawa and Toronto. He feels that a civic renaissance in the Ambitious City will mean success for the CPL side (which, as it turns out, will indeed be owned by Young).

"There's this massive swell of Hamilton pride [right now]," says Hutton. "This will be not only a driving force to continue that, but it will be an outlet for people who want to go support the Canadian players and support their local team, to be involved with something special."

Over in Winnipeg, the seeds were also planted for a supporters group back in 2015. Big crowds for the FIFA Women's World Cup convinced Adam Johnston that his city was ready for more soccer.

So when talk heated up in 2016 that Winnipeg could be a CPL host city, he headed online to gauge interest in forming a supporters group. The group held its first formal meeting in January 2017, picked a name (Red River Rising) in April and, earlier this month, met with a rep from the ownership group, which also owns the CFL's Blue Bombers.

A lifelong Winnipegger, Johnston became a soccer fan in the late 1990s, after the departure of the old Winnipeg Jets soured him on hockey. He knows the city may not seem a prototypical soccer hotbed, but he's determined to break that stereotype.

"People are going to be pleasantly surprised once the league kicks off, and supporters of it do show up," Johnston told VICE Sports. "We want to build a good and unique fan experience here in Winnipeg that I don't think many Winnipeggers have seen before."

When it comes to unprecedented fan experiences, perhaps no market fits the bill better than Halifax.

On June 20, Halifax Regional Council voted unanimously to allow Sports and Entertainment Atlantic (SEA) to build a "pop-up" stadium on the downtown Wanderers Grounds, making the arrival of a CPL team in the Nova Scotia capital seemingly a fait accompli.

Members of the Halifax Wanderers Supporters Group were on hand to hear the momentous council decision firsthand.

"We were over the moon," James Covey, a Wanderers SG member, told VICE Sports.

His group coalesced late last year, when stories emerged of SEA's plans to build a downtown stadium. Their excitement was tempered by cynicism about the numerous ideas for Halifax sports venues that have come and gone over the years.

Attendees at a Halifax Wanderers Supporters Group meeting in March 2017. Photo courtesy of the Halifax Wanderers Supporters Group

But when Paul Beirne (who currently works for the CPL, but rose to prominence for his off-field role with TFC in the mid 2000s) came out to Halifax earlier this year, Covey could sense that this time was different.

"Pro soccer is mostly untested here, but I don't think we've ever looked at a similar proposition to this in any sport," says Covey. "Historic grounds, a natural grass pitch, downtown—all of those pieces count for a lot."

Covey admits that his city's lack of history with pro soccer also means a lack of history with supporters culture. But he's got plenty of backup on that front, as members of the burgeoning CPL supporters' groups stay in regular contact with one another, sharing news items, tips and excitement about the league.

And if Covey's group needs any advice on how to build a raucous supporters section, they may find wisdom from an unexpected source: Saskatchewan.

In Regina and Saskatoon are a hearty band of Canadian soccer fanatics who've spent years traveling far and wide—losing their voices and minds in the process—to support the men's and women's national teams. Many of them have banded together to form a prospective CPL supporters group, called Pile O' Bones.

The group—whose name is a play on Regina's original name, Pile of Bones—openly admits the uncertainty on their Twitter page: "We don't know for sure if Regina will have a #CanPL team. But if it does, we will be ready."

Although things were very speculative when POB formalized themselves last summer, it's gotten much more real as of late, with a recent report in the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix about an ownership group looking to bring a CPL team to one of the province's two biggest cities.

Since that story came out, Rob Notenboom says that he and fellow POB members have been "banging the drum" about the potential team, trying to drive interest among local sports fans and businesses.

He feels confident—"like, 95 percent sure"—that a CPL team will come to either Regina or Saskatoon some day, and he's certain that fans from around the province (his group-mates included) would travel to support it, whichever city it lands in.

But he also knows that however committed and noisy his travel-tested contingent of fellow fans may be, the full-on "supporters section" experience might not find much traction among the wider fan base at first.

"For a while, we might be it," Notenboom told VICE Sports. "We might have a dozen people in the supporters group and slowly grow it, or 500 people might show up out of the blue. It's untested waters."

So Notenboom preaches a philosophy of openness and inclusion for his group, a recurring theme when it comes to these CPL fan collectives. Given their small scales at the moment (the groups we spoke to have unofficial membership counts in the dozens, at present), these groups can't afford to scare off potential converts.

But there's also a spirit of diversity interwoven into it as well; both Johnston in Winnipeg and Covey in Halifax cited the increased multiculturalism in their cities as a potentially massive driver of success for the CPL.

An artist's rendering of the new stadium on the Wanderers Grounds in Halifax, potential home of a Canadian Premier League team. Courtesy Architecture 49

"Whether you're rich, poor, you've been living here in Winnipeg all your life or you just got here from Latin America or the Middle East," says Johnston, "if you're interested in soccer and you want to support our local pro team, you're more than welcome to come on board."

Beyond these CPL-focused groups are other supporters' groups currently linked to teams in lower-tier US leagues that would likely jump to CPL if teams came to their cities—from Victoria (Lake Side Buoys), Calgary (Foot Soldiers) and Edmonton (FCESG) in the west, to Ottawa (Bytown Boys and Stony Monday Riot) and Kitchener-Waterloo (Grand River Support) in the east.

There's also support bubbling up on the outskirts of the three MLS markets—just this month, prospective supporters' groups in Quebec City and Mississauga, Ontario, have made themselves known, while a rumoured CPL team in the Fraser Valley could draw support from erstwhile fans of the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Heck, the cork has even been popped on inter-group banter on social media:

Screenshot via Barton Street Battalion Twitter

Of course, we are talking about a league that still exists largely in the realm of speculation. The Hamilton and Winnipeg teams don't even have names yet. In fact, we don't even know whether the CPL will begin play in 2018 or 2019—or maybe even further down the road.

For the moment, it all seems rather ambitious. But for Hutton, of the Barton Street Battalion, that's a motivator rather than a deterrent: "It's the perfect description of [Hamilton], and this CPL project and ideology as a whole."

These Soccer Fanatics Are Ready for Launch of Canadian Premier League published first on http://ift.tt/2pLTmlv