#always making fun of and challenging brian its awesome

[porrigens]

mr. devil drawing based off my brand new roblox avatar lol

[badbanaynas]

SINCE IM HERE i wann agive my raw quick match ratings/thoughts!!!

willow / ishii vs kris / stoke: so fun!! i wish we had more intergender fighting , but tony is coward so... 💫💫.5

latter match: LOVE.. i love the wackiness of latter matches, i loveed loved loved lucha in it i love how much they're dragging out the eventual moment lucha eats christiAN. i also liked that pac, yuta, and claudio won, very different and fun! 💫💫💫💫

gauntlet match: this was pretty fun too! was hoping jay white would show up but ALAS... i was really into christian running in for another chance at a belt because he CANNOT be beltless. it was awesome.. i love him.. AND LUCHA....AUGH...i kno there was some disappointment that hangman didn't win but i also think there's this shared idea that hangman is the main character of the show and deserves everything.. like no he dont! he's MEAN! and there's a story being told with him obviously, it wasnt this one. 💫💫

tony vs mariah: this shit was SO GOOD, i dont know why it was SO early in the show tho? they def should have switched slots with the tbs match...anyways it was pretty emotional , the way it PAINED toni to fight mariah.. she still loves her despite it all, and mariah feels nothing.. YES! 💫💫💫💫

jericho vs hook: why do we keep letting jericho have matches in the main show? why don't we zero hour this bitch and eliminate him once and for ALL...? dont get me started on hook.. he's just not good, he has NO juice. there's no reason to want him to win his belt besides the fact that his dad created it. and if its so important to uphold the family legacy then why not.. like make it important? why not have taz be like ' im gonna disown you if you lose this belt again' or something? there's NO stakes and hook suplexes like he's gonna leap out of the ring bc he has NO CONTROL CAUSE HE'S FUCKING 2 PPOUNDS BUT FIGHTS LIKE HE's JUICED. i DID like him throwing the cricket balls tho, that was really funNY. 💫.5

bucks vs ftw vs acclaimed: daddy ass looked SO CUUUTEE ^_^! (NO STARS)

mjf vs ospreay: 90% of this match felt like we were in the middle of a commercial break... why were they on the ground so much. why where they SO WINDED.. very boring, ospreay's ADVERTISEMENT entrance STUNK as well. this whole feud just could have not happened and i think things would have been fine....see in the jericho and hook match i can at least name a moment i thought was fun .. not so much this match, just a whole DUD..glad we got to see danny again tho, i know he WILL SLAY. 💫

britt vs mercedes: i anticipated this one the most cause i wanted to see if mercedes could carry britt to a decent match.. but it seems when you're working with someone as limp as THE DENTIST , it's just impossible. i feel bad for mercedes because she deserves better than to have the DMD thrown onto her lap like that. im glad she retained but i dont think these two will have another feud for a while...TO THE PERFORMANCE CENTER BRITTANY!! 💫 ( all stars are for merecedes)

jack vs darby: UGHH i wanted to love this one but it was just too short! this felt like being edged and then just getting over with the rest.. everything that happened was fun and good but it all just hAPPENED AND THEN ENDED. i dont like darby at all, but it didnt make darby look too good. he wasnt the challenge that he made himself out to be.. i dont blame either men because i truly think they were just rushed for time , because that's what it felt like. i am glad jack retained tho, he deserves it! i rthink the moment where the crowd starts doing his lil emote with him over the pile of glass was beautiful. a nice contrast to where he was last year at this time! im looking forward to who challenges him next, and i hope we see him more on tv now. >_> 💫💫

swerve vs brian: AUGH......SO GOOOD... swerve looked very pretty tonight, i loved his hair cuffs! bryan as always, just knows how to play a crowd he's a sicko that lives off upsetting people and i think thts really great :-)!! im glad bryan won, but i cant help but feel so sad when seeing swerve on the ground like that.. i wish swerve could have retained but i think thats what makes the match really good. you pick someone to root for and you can root for either of them honestly, both are great.. im glad it was bryan he lost the belt to than hangman honestLY...deducting points for no shaka khan tho... 💫💫💫💫

[grannygerd]

LYNN GUNN SHARES THE ONE THING SHE WISHES SHE COULD DO OVER AND MORE

The artist also shares the best meal she's ever had and the best fan interaction.

[Photo by: Sasha Samsonova]

PVRIS’ fearless leader Lynn Gunn ponders genres, the best-ever fan-dad interaction and comes clean about what she really wants a do-over on.

AN INSTRUMENT YOU WOULD LIKE TO OWN.

There’s something pretty magical about an old, worn upright piano—if it’s tuned and maintained. Makes for some great ideas. Or maybe a harp. If I had one around, I know I’d force myself to learn it. [Laughs.]

IF GENRES ARE STILL A THING.

In some ways, yes. Others, no. I think putting artists into specific genres is starting to be defined less on the instrumentals [and] production and being defined now through the culture, mindset [and] methods they’re created in. So many “genres” are being mixed and combined to create entirely new soundscapes that really blur the lines and make them hard to pin down. I think in each of those, there are specific threads—in the community, collaborators, etc.—that the idea and specifications of what makes a “genre” seem like it’s being reimagined.

In a perfect world, we’d just listen to music and not have to think about where it “belongs.” I still think compartmentalizing and categorizing is human nature, so it’s a hard thing to break. But it can be extremely hindering, not only for artists but for listeners. Music should be able to exist on its own terms.

IF MUSIC WASN’T AN OPTION.

There are a lot of things I’d love to try even while music is an option. I’ve always been heavily involved, when allowed, in our creative direction—music videos, graphic design, merchandise, album artwork, photos, etc.—so that would be a fun overall pursuit to creative direct for other artists or even just different brands or companies. I think any other creative pursuit, leaning in the visual world, would be the other option.

THE DAD JOKE YOU ACTUALLY LAUGHED AT.

Ha! It was my actual dad’s joke. He’s pretty old school and present in real life, so he doesn’t use his phone or text often, but usually once every few weeks while I’m away, he’ll send me a really funny text. The last one he sent was: “Just saw a road work sign on the way home that said ‘Be prepared to stop.’ If I’m not prepared, should I not stop? Just wondering.”

THE TIME YOU GOT REALLY ANGRY ONSTAGE.

Anger is hard to think of, but I have no problem finding frustration, and that was with myself. I was working through a lot of vocal issues for pretty much the entire touring cycle for our second record [All We Know Of Heaven, All We Need Of Hell]. [I] had to get up onstage every night with a voice that could only really do 20% of what I’m normally capable of. Some nights were brutal. I got so mad at myself onstage, but I tried my best to hide it. It was one of the most challenging and frustrating things to work through, but it taught me so much, and I’m very grateful for what [I’ve learned].

THE PLACE YOU HAVE YET TO VISIT.

I’m dying to go to Iceland. One of my friends went recently and said it was truly magical. Egypt is on my list, too. I was fascinated with ancient Egypt as a kid and still have a strange affinity toward it.

THE BEST MEAL YOU EVER HAD.

Brian [MacDonald, bass/keyboards] and I strive to eat a delicious meal wherever we are in the world. We make it a priority in every city to find great restaurants. But recently, one of the best meals I’ve had that really stood out was at my friend’s home: It was just a bunch of assorted grilled veggies and rice, but it was seasoned so well and made with so much love. You could honestly taste it.

THE THING YOU RECENTLY WITNESSED THAT MADE YOU THINK THE WORLD IS GOOD.

I try to see it every day. Even down to the smallest things. Simply smiling to a stranger you’re walking past or having a lighthearted exchange with a barista [or] waiter. Even simply getting onstage and looking at the crowd some days, the fact that hundreds of people can gather together and be unified by something that gives them joy—music—and exist peacefully and be unified in those environments, for the most part, is a clear sign of that.

I think at our core, we really are good at heart, and all we want is to connect with each other. Some of us are just harder to crack [and] more cautious than others. I think a lot of people have a hard time looking away from their own struggles to even notice [that] witnessing the good has to start in your own self a lot of the time.

THE MOST AWESOME FAN INTERACTION.

It was actually the most awesome interaction with a fan’s dad! We had a long flight to Belgium one day. A fan’s dad was one of the flight attendants and recognized us and upgraded our entire band and crew to first class. It was a godsend because the night before, some of us had to drive from New York City to New Hampshire and back overnight because we’d forgotten a legal document that we’d need at customs when we arrived in Belgium. Everyone was a bit sleep-deprived and about to board for a six-plus-hour flight, so we were extremely grateful for that.

THE THING YOU WOULD LIKE A DO-OVER ON.

My style, hair and makeup choices from the entire White Noise era. Seriously. Insert [the] world’s biggest facepalm ever. I don’t know what I was thinking. I cringe when I see old pictures sometimes. [Laughs.]

This 10 Topics interview appeared in issue 374.

July 29th, 2021

[dailyaudiobible]

11/28/2020 DAB Transcript

Daniel 5:1-31, 2 Peter 2:1-22, Psalms 119:113-128, Proverbs 28:19-20

Today is the 28th day of November welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I’m Brian it is great to be here with you today as we bring another one of our weeks together to a close and then make the final push through the end of this month and into the next month, which is the last month of the year. But we’re here and we’re here now and our next step forward will lead us back into the book of Daniel. We’re reading from the New International Version this week. Daniel chapter 5.

Prayer:

Father, we thank You for Your word and once again we find ourselves closing down a week and looking forward. And once again in that practice, looking back, looking forward and being right here where we are, we get a glimpse of this thread of redemption that has always been a part of our story. You have always been here, and You are at work in our lives. Sometimes we want You to be at work in our lives and want some sort of instantaneous thing to happen when Your work in our lives is the work of transformation, of remaking us, of sanctifying us. And this is a process that takes place over time. And, so, we find ourselves at little places that mark time, like the end of a week or the beginning of a week and we take the time to acknowledge this, that things are happening. When we look back to the beginning of the year and we zoom forward until this present moment things are happening, You are at work in our lives. This is how it works. And, so, we open our hearts and say continue the work. Continue the good work that You have begun in us. Transform us so that our will, aligns with Your will, so that our desires are things that You desire. And, so, often when we say things like that it's about big things that we’re fighting, maybe lust, or greed, or envy, or whatever we’re fighting, but to have our desires be aligned with Your desires is that we look through the eyes of love at everyone that we encounter. Come Holy Spirit, help us to be Your image bearers on this earth we pray. In the name of Jesus, we ask. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is home base, it is the website, it’s where you find out what's going on around here.

And it's…I guess its officially Christmas time around here, the holiday shopping season, all of the stuff that goes into…into the season itself is upon us. And, so, it's the same here. I mentioned yesterday the Daily Audio Bible Shop is definitely full of items for the journey that we are on and there’s wonderful items there to give away and there’s wonderful items there to hold onto for yourself. And normally we have a Christmas box but with Covid and everything this year we decided it's better that we don't try to do that because it wasn't clear we could do it excellently. But we have the Daily Audio Bible ornament, the Christmas ornament that we make each year with the words of the year on in the year that it represents, and we’ve been doing that for a bunch years now and we didn’t want to not have that. So, we do. And it's just, make your own Christmas box this year. If you spend $40 or more in the Daily Audio Bible Shop, we will send you the 2020 Christmas ornament along with your order. So, check that out. That is going on right now while supplies last.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible in this season you can do that at dailyaudiobible.com as well. There’s a link on the homepage. If you’re using the app you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner, or the mailing address is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174.

And, as always, if you have a prayer request or encouragement 877-942-4253 is number to dial or just hit the Hotline button in the app, it’s the little red button up at the top and you can share from there no matter where you are in the world.

And that's it for today. I’m Brian I love you and I'll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community Prayer and Praise:

Good morning everyone from Budapest this is John, John in Budapest and the many of the longtime listeners will know me as Paul in Barcelona. I know we all have our fun nick names and mine is rather boring, but Paul in Barcelona has moved to Budapest and taken his middle name of John as his nickname. So, I’m John and Budapest now. Okay? And doing quite well with my Hungarian by the way. So, you know, also if anyone wants to follow me on Facebook look for John Ransom in Budapest. So, John Ransom. So anyway, that’s not the cause of this message, the cause of this message is to just ask for special prayer for both Brian and Jill but also the entire staff during these very frenetic holiday season days. And I also want to kinda do a shout out for someone many of the new listeners will not know – SJ, SarahJane in Colorado in the DAB warehouse. And they’re gonna be going through just craziness starting from now. And, so, I just want us all to lift them up in prayer, you know, that they would have all the resources they need. They’re shipping out all those goodies to all of us and…but they’re…it’s not just what they do, it’s who they are. And they’re just pillars of the DAB from the very beginning. SJ has, you know, was in the UK, formerly organized some of the first European meetings. I could go on and on. So, we just pray for you. I also want to give a shout out to Victoria Soldier. Victoria I was praying for you this morning as I had breakfast with Abba and I just love your sweet spirit and your powerful prayers. Blind Tony and so so many others I send you much love and it’s a pleasure to be on the pod waves again with you. God bless.

Hey this is the Prodigal calling in. Just listened to the pain and the heartbreak of Terry the trucker. He’s back out in his truck again because of this plague and I just beg God to let the devil take his foot off…off Terry’s neck and give him some peace, he and his wife. They’ve been together 32 years, a lot longer than me and mine. And he needs some comfort. And only you Holy Spirit and the Lord Jesus Christ can give him that comfort. So, please God I beg that You…sorry I just worked out…You give him some peace, some release, some grace. Shine Your light on him. Let him rise up and get back in with his wife and with all the losses and everything lead as normal life as possible. We’re all challenged, we’re all plagued. It’s part of the human condition these days and it doesn’t look like it’s gonna get better for a while. So, please just…I beg You’d help everybody who calls in with cancer and MS and divorces and loneliness and depression. Unfortunately, I’ve had all those simultaneously and it sucks. So, Terry I know how you feel brother and it broke my heart dude. So, I’m praying for you. Always love to hear your calls. And you keep on drivin’ keep on truckin’ brother and God’s there with you. He’s riddin’ with you in the truck. He’ll heal ya. He’ll help ya. He’ll lift you up. Praying. And only …

This is I am Blessed from Canada and I don’t call in very often, but God is prompting me so often to call in and I don’t know why I don’t. So, in the midst of doing my dishes right now listening to the prayers I thought, “here it comes again. God’s prompting.” And I’m not gonna ignore this time. I just want to let God’s Yellow Flower know that you are in my heart, my thoughts, my prayers. Praying for Keith. Love you and can only imagine how difficult this is. You bring a smile to my face. The talk about the pounding of the concrete. I wonder whether that’s on Cordon Avenue or Pembina Highway or I don’t know I’ve driven by so much construction lately and I think of my other fellow Winnipeggers like Nave. Where you these days? And I’m just so thankful that there is community out there. And I think so often as I drive down, “I wonder if anyone out here is a DABber?” And it’s just such a big part of my life and I just thank you Brian for that. And I thank You Lord for everything for You have done and that You’ve called Brian to do and his faithfulness and for the faithfulness of others that call in. It’s just so valuable. Thank you, Jesus for these people.

Hey there Daily Audio Bible family this is John from Bethlehem Pennsylvania I hope you are doing awesome. I wanted to say first of all happy Thanksgiving to everybody it is Tuesday the 24th November, hard to believe. But happy Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving week. There’s so much to be thankful for. Family if you would be so kind as to keep a couple people in mind for me. We’ve got a good friend her name’s Jill and she’s on our worship team for our church in Easton Pennsylvania and she’s having some complications after having surgery…and…with some infection. If you can keep Jill in mind, that God’s amazing power and healing and mighty touch would be on her for healing and wholeness and health and peace and comfort and bring her through that, I…I’d greatly appreciate it. And then, if you could keep Pastor Randy and Maribel Landis in mind as well, they…they tragically lost…they’re the senior pastors for our church, Life Church here in the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania…and they tragically lost their son Randall who’s in his 30s last week. Pastor Randy and Randal, his son were doing mission work in the Dominican and his son got a mosquito bite and tragically died two days later of dengue. So, it’s a tragic time as it is for so, so many. I love you guys and covet your prayers over all these folks in Jesus’ name. Thank you.

Hello, my dear Daily Audio Bible family. How are you? I am so thankful for you for the Hardin family, thankful for technology that we can go through the Bible together in community during this pandemic in this crazy year. I am so thankful for all of you who prayed for our coworker Barb. The surgery to remove the tumor that was behind her ear in her skull was a complete success. They didn’t think that they would get all of the tumor, but they did, 100%. Not only that, her nerves in her face all the things that she was concerned about were totally protected and she has complete use, function of her nerves. Thank you, Lord we are so grateful. Today Brian read the passage about spouses with…well…with Christians with unbelieving spouses. I want to pray for some of those people. Lord, I want to lift up Radiant Rachel to You and Joe and all of the people in our Daily Audio  Bible community who love You and seek You, who worship You and whose spouses are not walking with You. Father, I just pray that You would do mighty work through these brothers and sisters of ours, that You would help them to be Jesus to their spouses and that You would be convicting the hearts of their unbelieving spouses so that they would see Your love and their sin and their need to…need to bend the knee before Your Father. Also, for our friends who are in that same boat Lord, please just touch the hearts of the spouses. Happy Thanksgiving Daily Audio Bible. Talk to you later. We love you.

[disinvited-guest]

3/6/2020 Chicago

I got to hang out with a whole bunch of awesome people before this show, both people I knew and ones I just met that day.  It almost made it worth the freezing temperatures to meet them all.  Once we got in to the much warmer venue, I got a spot to the left of the keyboard, with folks to talk to on both sides.  

Fresh outdid himself in the fashion department at this show. As he was setting up, he proudly displayed jagged-striped pink-and-green neon socks, a yellow sweatshirt with Simba printed all over it, and a headband with a print I didn’t catch all the details of, but included the word “Krap!” and bull horns.

Note: I am shortening the recap for the first set, since it was a copy of the one from the night before, except that they didn’t play the forward version of Sapphire Bullets.  This show didn’t have much banter in the first set regardless, but I’ll share what there was.  The second  set recap will be the regular length

During the first block of songs, Dan had to switch to his backup electric briefly, which sounded louder than the other, but switched back by the next song.  Danny had a band-aid with him when they went onstage.  He unwrapped it and put it on his thumb during the first few songs, then spent the rest of the set rewrapping it as it kept peeling off.

After the first block of songs, Flans asked Linnell how it was going.  Linnell told him to hold on because “I have to check.”  After a pause, he decided “I think it’s going pretty good.”

Flans  said he had a good day and that he had taken an afternoon nap.  He had also worked on some of the songs he had messed up the day before because “There is no off-switch on this okay button.”

Linnell replied that “Buttons with switches on them are tricky,” and then changed the subject, introducing us all to his new keyboard stand. “I did get a new keyboard stand and I can’t stop talking about it.”

Flans told him that talking a lot about the keyboard stand was okay because of “how much you have to listen to us talk about guitar amps.”

Linnell gave us some more details on the keyboard stand. According to him, the stand has wells in the front because it is based on his old keyboard stand, which was designed by Brian Dewan “who’s greatest wish was to design a school desk.”  “I keep my math homework over there, and over here I carved the Aerosmith logo”  He then told us that the new stand has a drawer, which the old one didn’t.  Linnell wanted to open the drawer to show us, but it wasn’t facing anyone, so he told Flans that they should post a video of what it looks like online. 

When Linnell brought up that Minimum Wage has a whip crack in it on the album, he suggested that the audience could do it here. Flans replied that the audience would have to, since they didn’t finish sound production on the song.

Before Stilloob, Flans called it the “Playing a Song From Flood Backwards Challenge.”  While  explaining what they would do, he told us that for this part of the show “I don’t want to say there is no audience enjoyment, but the amount of audience enjoyment is finite.”  At the next stopping point after the song Flans announced “We are challenging all other They Might Be Giants like bands.  WE KNOW who they are,” to complete the ‘challenge’.  During the next song, Lucky Ball and Chain, Flans pulled what I presume was the lyric sheet for Stilloob off of his stand, crumpled it up, and threw it upstage behind Curt’s riser.

Flans told the balcony that they couldn’t rock out too much, and that the venue last night had been “like playing in a coliseum.”

Later, Flans decided the show was going too fast, and he had to slow it down.  He told us to get out our phones, demanding “What are you? At work?” when we were slow to do so.  Then he had the whole band come up to pose for photos.  We were told to post the photos and tag them @hodgeman.  I wonder if any confused fans actually did.

In between sets, Fresh had to fight with a lady standing a few people to my left, who kept putting her jacket and purse on the carpet for Marty’s electronic drum kit, even after he had asked her to remove them.  Saul, making sure the lights for the Quiet Storm were adjusted properly, bent his legs while checking at Linnell’s mic so that he could check how the lights were at Linnell’s height, which was a hilarious necessity I hadn’t considered before.

When the intro music for the second set began, Flans stuck onstage by going around behind the risers for some reason.  Once he made it to his mic with his guitar, I realised he didn’t have his glasses on.

Once again, 2082 was the first song of the set, despite the setlist, which had 2018 written instead.  Linnell’s mic was off for the first line and a half of the song, so it was a strange start, although the rest of the song was unaffected by it.  

Because I was right by the electronic drum kit, the whole Quiet Storm was a bit strange, as the actual sound of the mallets hitting sounded as clear as the electronic sounds those hits generated.  It was a bit disorienting at first!  I also could see little pieces of fluff falling off of the mallets and floating away as he played.

After 2082, they played Music Jail, which once again blew me away.  I realized that a big part of its ability to be so rocking was that the electronic drums allowed Marty to take over a larger part of the song.

Once Music Jail was finished, John Brunette slipped onstage to give Flans his glasses.  Flans stepped back to grab them and even way off mic, it was easy to hear his cry of “Oh, thank god”  Stepping quickly back to the mic and placing his glasses on his face, he introduced Linnell as on on the keyboards for the next song.

“Nothing makes our short, unsatisfying unplugged set better than electronic drums and a keyboard,” he announced. 

 “It’s acoustic!”  Linnell promised us, “Except for the drums and the keyboard.”

Moving on, Flans introduced the next song. “This song is about what makes New England so special, which might not mean much here.”  This led, of course, into Wicked Little Critta, and then they all left us with the Underwater Woman Video once again while the crew cleaned up.

As the song was finishing, they all returned to the stage.  Linnell, watching the video as he came on, mouthed along to a few of the words, basically singing along to himself.

Rather than start back into the music right away, Flans came up to the mic and told us all “We talk a lot about healthcare in the band. Now it's time to talk about some music.”  He told us the next song was off of My Murdered Remains “a name no one in our management was happy with” and mentioned that it was not available for streaming.  

Linnell chimed in to say that this was a new strategy, calling it an ‘inreach’ program instead of outreach.  “If you think you can help,” Flans said to the crowd “We’re okay!” Then they started into The Communists Have the Music.  

From there, they played Wearing a Raincoat, and then Damn Good Times, which was their first deviation from the setlist of the night before!  I had honestly grown a bit tired of this song in 2018, but clearly all I had needed was some time away, because I was overjoyed to hear it again!  Dan was, of course, particularly amazing during this song, and especially smiley during the remainder of the set.

They paused only briefly after DGT to announce that the next song was about a near eastern rock band, then played The Mesopotamians, followed immediately by Spy.  Linnell had a different sample this time around, a woman singing “very-very” which I couldn’t place, and he also yelled high and low opposite the band playing.  Flans had a bit more luck directing the crowd than he did in Milwaukee, and also engaged in playing his guitar while pressing his mic stand to the strings.

They played Ana Ng, which is always fun live, and then Let Me Tell You About My Operation, with Flans calling out “Paging Doctor Beller!” before that absolutely epic drum part in the instrumental part of the song.

After that run of songs, everyone on stage looked a bit breathless.  Linnell must have been feeling it, since he decided they needed to “take this high energy and slow it down by talking about something boring.”

Flans agreed with him and said that the show was going by too fast. “It’s like it’s still the first set. It’s like we still care!”

Linnell, who had just taken a sip from his coffee cup, mentioned that his new keyboard stand had no drink holder but “I guess school desks don’t have drink holders”

“You do have a rearview mirror,” Flans pointed out.

“I do!”  He turned it around briefly so that we all could see.  “It’s so Marty can keep an eye on me.  So he can see if I’m making faces.”

“Marty has ways of keeping an eye on everybody,” Flans added. “Now that it’s the third act of Behind the Music all the secrets everyone already knew can come out.”

Linnell started to respond, then broke off  “Danny is pressuring me to start the song, isn’t he?”  Danny was waiting attentively, but patiently behind the keyboard.  When Linnell asked about him, I looked over and he met my eyes.  I smiled at him, and shook my head.  He wasn’t pressuring Linnell at all!  He smiled back at me, and walked over to stand in front of Marty’s riser.  Linnell, meanwhile, had turned to look for Danny asking  “Where is he?”  Finding Danny’s new spot, Linnell told him “Okay Danny, we can start the song.”

This led into Museum of Idiots.  Danny does seem to get a bit nervous about starting this song, which makes sense because it’s him all by himself for the first few measures.  I also think that the Johns tend to intentionally go off on tangents before this song just to tease him about it, but that’s only speculation.

Istanbul was very similar to the previous night (which means it was great).  I realized that Dan is playing both his acoustic and his electric guitar during the course of this song, which is awesome!

They finished out the set with Theme from Flood, but were back on soon for their first encore.  This started out with New York City.  Most of the time, their live version of this song starts off with an almost lullaby-esque quality to the first verse, before being kicked up into a super high-energy song from the second verse onward.  During  this performance though, that transition never happened, meaning that the whole song was performed in that softer tone, with Flans sweetly singing and the gentle xylophone tones on Linnell’s keyboard.  It was absolutely beautiful, but perhaps not entirely intentional.  I saw some of the guys exchanging ‘wtf’ looks during and after the song, and as soon as the song was over, Linnell told us all he was a bit confused.

They played Doctor Worm next, with Linnell changing the settings on the keyboard for Dan once again. Once it was over, as they were leaving the stage again, Marty smacked his head straight into a mic as he was walking offstage.  I guess he wasn’t looking where he was going, but he shook it off and seemed fine.

The second encore started with She’s An Angel, the version that starts with just Linnell singing so wonderfully.  They finished out their evening by playing The Guitar, with Curt and Linnell giving us the Future of Sound.  During FoS Marty, who was keeping time on his kick drum, had his hands above his head, and was moving them slightly as if he might clap, then jerking them back apart, which was beautifully bizarre.  Finishing the Guitar, Flans thanked us all for coming out and they left the stage for the night.

After the show, Marty and Danny were back on to give things out, Danny with a huge pile of stickers that he began passing out right away.  After a few moments, he broke off to give out setlists.  After giving one to me, he said “Goodnight, sweetie,” and touched my shoulder.  I left the venue feeling lighter than air.

[entamewitchlulu]

so i did a reading challenge this year and i wanna talk about what i read

transcription under the cut

i did Popsugar 2019 and wanna talk about what i read:  Book Reccs and Anti-Reccs 

1.) Becoming a Movie in 2019: Umbrella Academy (vol 1) by Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba

4/5. A fascinating take on superpowers, dysfunctional families, and the apocalypse. Can get pretty gory, confusing here and there and you have to pay close attention to panels for lore, but overall an entertaining romp.

2.) Makes you Feel Nostalgic: Circles in the Stream by Rachel Roberts

4/5. Middle grade novel about the magic of music, belief, and of course, friendship. Definitely written for kids, and has some unfortunately clumsy Native rep, but overall an absolute joy to dive into once again.

3.) Written by a Musician: Umbrella Academy (vol 2) by Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba

4/5. Ramps up the confusion to ridiculous degrees with some absolutely bonkers, unexplained arcs, but still fun to watch this dysfunctional family do its dysfunctional thing.

4.) You Think Should be Turned into a movie: All That Glitters by Rachel Roberts

4/5. Continuation of Circles in the Stream, but with more unicorns, more rainbows, and more fae, which makes it automatically even better than the first.

5.) With At Least 1 Mil. Ratings on Goodreads: 1984 by George Orwell   

1/5. I understand why it's important and all but wasn't prepared for some of the more graphic scenes and the overall hopelessness of the message.  Would not recommend or read again.

6.) W/ a Plant in the title or cover: The secret of Dreadwillow carse by Brian farrey

5/5. A fantasy world where everyone is always happy, save for one girl and the princess, who set out to solve the mystery of their kingdom. Poignant and great for kids and adults.

7.) Reread of a favorite: Cry of the Wolf by Rachel Roberts

4/5. Yet another installment in the Avalon: Web of Magic series, which clearly I am obsessed with.  Please just read them.

8.) About a Hobby: Welcome to the Writer's Life by Paulette Perhach

5/5. A welcome kick in the pants, chock full of great advice told without condescension, and full of hope and inspiration for writers both new and old.

9.) Meant to read in 2018: The Poet x by Elizabeth Acevedo  

4/5. Absolutely beautiful coming of age novel told in verse.  Do yourself a favor and listen to the audiobook version.

10.) w/ "pop," "sugar," or "challenge" in the title: Black Sugar by Miguel Bonnefoy

2/5. I think maybe I just don't understand this genre.  Or maybe the translation was weird. I was confused.  

11.) w/ An Item of Clothing or Accessory on the cover: Our dreams at Dusk by Yuhki Kamatani

4/5. It had a lot more slurs/homophobia than I was prepared for, but otherwise is a very touching, relatable collection of queer characters living in a heteronormative world.

12.) Inspired by Mythology or Folklore: Ravenous by MarcyKate Connolly

3/5. A girl goes on an impossible quest to save her brother from a child-eating witch. Really wanted to like it more because I loved the first one, Monstrous, but it dragged a little.

13.) Published Posthumously: The Islands of Chaldea by Diana Wynne Jones

3/5. I adore Diana Wynne Jones, but this one was missing some of the magic of her other books. Not sure if it was because it had to be finished by someone else, or if I just grew out of her stories.

14.) Set in Space: Binti by Nnedi Okorafor

4/5. Powerfully written story of a girl straddling tradition and innovation, who wields power through mathematical magic, surviving on a spaceship alone with a dangerous alien occupation after everyone else has been killed.

15.) By 2 Female Authors: Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian

2/5. Ostensibly a story about a revenge pact in a small island town, but leaves far too many dangling threads to attempt alluring you to the sequel.

16.) W/ A Title containing "salty," "bitter," "Sweet," or "Spicy": The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith  

3/5. It's okay but I literally just never know what anyone means at any time. Are they being reticent on purpose or do i just not understand communication

17.) Set in scandinavia: Vinland Saga by Makoto Yukimura

2/5. Technically and historically accurate and well made, but the story itself is not my cup of tea.  Very gory.

18.) Takes Place in a Single Day: Long WAy Down by Jason Reynolds

4/5. A boy goes to avenge his murdered brother, but ghostly passengers join him on the elevator ride down. Stunning and powerful character-driven analysis.

19.) Debut Novel: Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

4/5. Charming and then surprisingly heart-breaking comic about Nimona, a shapeshifter who wants to become a villain's minion. Really love the villain/hero dynamic going on in the background, along with the dysfunctional found family.

20.) Published in 2019: The Book of Pride by Mason Funk  

4/5. A collection of interviews with the movers, shakers, and pioneers of the queer and LGBTQ+ community.  An absolutely essential work for community members and allies alike.

21.) Featuring an extinct/imaginary creature: Phoebe and her Unicorn by Dana Simpson

4/5. Incredibly charming, Calvin and Hobbes-esque collection of comics featuring the adventures of Phoebe and her unicorn best friend.

22.) Recced by a celebrity you admire: The Emerald Circus by Jane Yolen

2/5. Recced by my fave author Brandon Sanderson. An unfortunately disappointing anthology proving that any story can be made uninteresting by telling the wrong section of it.

23.) With "Love" in the Title: Book Love by Debbie Tung

4/5. One of those relatable webcomics, only this one I felt super hard almost the entire time.  Books are awesome and libraries rule.

24.) Featuring an amateur detective: Nancy Drew: Palace of Wisdom by Kelly Thompson

4/5. REALLY love this modern take on Nancy Drew, coming back home to her roots to solve a brand new mystery. Diverse cast and lovely artwork, though definitely more adult.

25.) About a family: Amulet by Kabu Kibuishi

4/5. Excellent, top tier graphic novel about a sister and brother who have to go rescue their mother with a mysterious magic stone. LOVE that the mom gets to be involved in the adventure for once.

26.) by an author from asia, Africa, or s. America: Girls' Last tour by Tsukumizu

4/5. Somehow both light-hearted and melancholy. Two girls travel about an empty, post-apocalyptic world, and muse about life and their next meal.

27.) w/ a Zodiac or astrology term in title: Drawing down the moon by margot adler

3/5. A good starting place for anyone interested in the Neo Pagan movement, but didn't really give me what I was personally looking for.

28.) you see someone reading in a tv show or movie: The Promised NEverland by Kaiu Shirai

4/5. I don't watch TV or movies where people read books so i think reading an adaptation of a TV series after watching the series counts. Anyway it was good but beware racist caricatures

29.) A retelling of a classic: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy by Rey Terciero

5/5. We can stop the Little Women reboots and retellings now, this is the only one we need. In fact, we can toss out the original too, this is the only one necessary.

30.) w/ a question in the title: So I'm a spider, so what? by Asahiro Kakashi

4/5. Cute art despite the subject matter, and a surprisingly enthralling take on the isekai genre. Love the doubling down on the video game skills.

31.) Set in a college or university campus: Moonstruck (vol 2) by Grace Ellis

2/5. An incredibly cute, beautiful, and fascinating world of modern magic and creatures, but unfortunately falls apart at the plot and pacing.

32.) About someone with a superpower: Moonstruck (vol 1) by Grace Ellis

4/5. Though nearly as messy plot-wise as its sequel, the first volume is overwhelmingly charming in a way that overpowers the more confusing plot elements.

33.) told from multiple povs: The Long way to a Small, Angry Planet by becky Chambers

4/5. Told almost in a serial format, like watching a miniseries, a group of found-family spaceship crew members make the long journey to their biggest job ever.

34.) Includes a wedding: We Set the dark on fire by Tehlor kay mejia

4/5. Timely and poignant, a girl tumbles into both love and resistance after becoming one of two wives to one of the most powerful men in the country.

35.) by an author w/ alliterative name: The only harmless great Thing by brooke bolander

3/5. Much deeper than I can currently comprehend.  Beautifully written, but difficult to parse.

36.) A ghost story: Her body and other parties by Carmen Maria Machado

4/5.  It counts because one of the stories in it has ghosts. A sometimes difficult collection of surrealist, feminist, queer short stories.

37.) W/ a 2 word title: Good omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

4/5. Charming, touching, and comical, probably the best take on the apocalypse to date. Also excellent ruminations on religion and purpose.

38.) based on a true story: The faithful Spy by John Hendrix

4/5. Brilliantly crafted graphic biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and his assistance in fighting back against Nazi Germany.

39.) Revolving around a puzzle or game: the Crossover by Kwame alexander

4/5. The verse didn't always hit right with me, but the story is a sweet, melancholy one about family, loss, and moving on.

40.) previous popsugar prompt (animal in title): The last unicorn by peter s. Beagle

5/5. Absolutely one of my all-time favorite books, it manages to perfectly combine anachronism and comedy with lyricism, melancholy, and ethereal beauty.

41.) Cli-fi: Tokyo Mew Mew by Mia ikumi and Reiko Yoshida

4/5. Shut up it counts

42.) Choose-your-own-adventure: My Lady's choosing by Kitty curran

3/5. Cute in concept, a bit underwhelming in execution. Honestly, just play an otome.

43.) "Own Voices": Home by Nnedi Okorafor

3/5. The storytelling style was definitely not my style; while the first book was slow, too, it felt more purposeful. I found my attention wandering during this installment.

44.) During the season it's set in: Pumpkinheads by rainbow rowell

3/5. Cute art, but precious little substance.  The concept simply wasn't for me in the first place.

45.) LITRPG: My next life as a villainess: All routes lead to doom! by Hidaka nami

5/5. An absolute insta-fave! Charming art, endearing characters, an incredible premise, and so much sweet wholesome fluff it'll give you cavities.

46.) No chapters: The field guide to dumb birds of north america by matt kracht

3/5. It started out super strong, but the joke started to wear thin at a little past the halfway point.

47.) 2 books with the same title: Unfollow by Megan Phelps-Roger

4/5. A brave and enduring personal story of growing up in and eventually leaving the Westboro Baptist Church. Really called to me to act with grace and kindness even more in the future.

48.) 2 books with the same title: unfollow by rob williams and michael dowling

1/5. How many times do you think we can make Battle Royale again before someone notices

49.) That has inspired a common phrase or idiom: THe Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

4/5. Definitely good and deserves it's praise as something that pretty much revolutionized and created an entire demographic of literature.

50.) Set in an abbey, cloister, Monastery, convent, or vicarage: Murder at the vicarage by agatha christie

3/5. I just cannot. physically keep up with all of these characters or find the energy to read between the lines.

ok that's all i got, what did y'all read and like this year?  (oh god it’s gonna be 2020)

[moonlightmadnessreviews]

Child’s Play (2019): Chucky Come Lately, The New Kid in Town

We’re coming up on a month since the release of Orion Pictures’ Child’s Play remake. In the lead up to the polarizing release, there were two very different teams drawn up: you were either Team Good Guy, or Team Buddi. If you were the former, it was thought you were an elitist, unable to see past your love for the original and too closed minded to admit you were even a little curious as to how the new movie would turn out. If you wore the latter team’s jersey, you were part of what is wrong with horror today, ready to gobble up corporate studio schlock even if it means trampling all over the original. At a time when a remake is announced every other week, I want to discuss why it’s okay to root for the home town hero, while also being curious about what the rookie has to offer.

Child’s Play was originally released in 1988, having been written and directed by Tom Holland from a story by Don Mancini, produced by David Kirschner and distributed by MGM. The film was a hit, drawing enough at the box office to spawn six sequels, and the cult following was immediately under the spell of the pint sized, Voodoo practicing antagonist, Charles Lee Ray. I recently turned 30, and it wasn’t until I was in my early teens that I realized the original trilogy was called Child’s Play and not Chucky, as I’d always referred to the movies. Brad Dourif plays Chicago serial killer Charles Lee Ray, The Lakeshore Strangler. After he’s chased into a toy store and fatally wounded by Detective Mike Norris (Chris Sarandon), Chucky transfers his soul into the body of a Good Guy Doll. The rest of the movie follows Chucky and the first person he reveals his identity to, a six year old boy named Andy Barclay (Alex Vincent), as Chucky murders his way through babysitters, old accomplices and Voodoo mentors! All the while, Chucky preys on Andy’s innocence, telling him they’re “Friends til the end!” simply to make it easier for him to transfer his soul into Andy’s body.

This set up was, and still is, perfect! For much of the movie, Chucky is a stoic rubber doll, resembling one of the Cabbage Patch Dolls that were so popular in the 1980s. It’s clear to see how excited Andy is when he gets the doll as a birthday present, and you feel genuine fear for the kid knowing there’s the soul of a serial killer trapped inside his new best friend! I would give anything to travel back in time to sit in the theater on opening night and experience the moment Chucky finally reveals his true nature to Andy’s Mom! What may seem silly to us now must have made for an awesome group experience in that theater, especially considering the amazing animatronics and Dourif’s fantastic voice over work, his animalistic aggression striking fear into children for years after.

For all the praise we can give Chucky and the lore his movies built up, they did become somewhat formulaic, but Chucky and pals had solidified themselves in the minds and memories of millions. It’s easy to see why fans were hesitant, and confused, when the remake was announced. Some went as far as to write off the movie completely before even hearing what the changes would be. Well, as it turns out, the changes were pretty drastic, in part due to the legal issues of having a remake separate from the Mancini Chucky universe, soon to make a place for itself as a spin off TV show on the SyFy channel.

Child’s Play 2019 has brought Chucky and Andy into the era of asking someone for their WiFi password as soon as you walk through their door. The film is directed by Lars Klevberg (Polaroid) from a screenplay by Tyler Burton Smith (Kung Fury 2) and produced by David Katzenberg and Seth Grahame-Smith (IT, Chapter 1 and 2). In our post-Stranger Things world, Andy, played here by Gabriel Bateman (Lights Out), is no longer a six year old child but rather a young teen having trouble fitting in and making friends in his new neighborhood. His mom, Karen Barclay (Aubrey Plaza), is still a single mother working in retail, but the doll she brings home for Andy’s birthday is incredibly different due to the exclusion of one incredibly important character: Charles Lee Ray. Gone is the Voodoo. Gone is the Lakeshore Strangler. Gone is the voice! The new direction is daring to say the least.

In this version, Chucky is a WiFi capable, Cloud connected Buddi doll. As part of their use as an educational tool for children, Buddi dolls learn from their Best Buddies, picking up on their sense of humor, social cues and behaviors. Eventually Buddi could help you keep track of your calendar and even control climate setting in your home. Seems pretty cool, right? Well it would be, except Andy’s Buddi doll was hacked by a disgruntled factory worker who does away with Chucky’s limiters for language, violence, and seemingly even his free will.

What I feel works especially well in the new take is Chucky’s innocence at the start of the movie. A Buddi doll’s only mission is to imprint on their new owner and be the best friend this child could ever ask for. We get scenes of Andy and Chucky playing chess, hanging out, and even looking through scrap books of Andy’s art. Chucky takes a genuine interest in Andy and simply wants to be his Best Buddy, so when Andy is scratched by his mother’s cat, we get the first glimpses into Chucky’s unlocked potential for violence. He wants to punish anyone, or anything, that wishes Andy harm. Chucky hasn’t just imprinted, he is frighteningly obsessed.

One of my favorite scenes plays out as Andy, and his friends Falyn and Pugg (Beatrice Kitsos and Ty Consiglio, respectively) are watching a particularly brutal horror movie. I was genuinely giddy in the theater when the clips started to flash on screen, so I won’t spoil it here. This is where we see Chucky’s gears start to turn. Much like a child who may pick up on violent behavior they’re exposed to, Chucky sees Andy and his friends laughing at the outlandish violence on screen and decides to “entertain” them with a butcher knife.

Through out the course of the 90 minute run time, we see Andy struggling with how to control Chucky, now having gotten the wrong impression of violence and feeling rejected by his Best Buddy. The stakes are raised as Chucky becomes increasingly violent, seeking to please Andy at every turn only to make things worse, like a genie who twists their master’s words, making them sorry for not being more careful with their wishes. Come the third act, we can start to see hints of Chucky’s own fully formed personality, now having been twisted and deranged by the movies events.

This movie was more fun than I anticipated, and it even got my wife’s stamp of approval after I dragged her to the theater with me on opening night! Rather than try to be some incredibly bleak, super realistic take on the story, Child’s Play knew exactly what it was and went all out with the ridiculous concept. The movie’s R rating was also used to its full potential, and though most of the scares are pretty telegraphed, they shower you with so much blood and gore that you can’t help but laugh. Andy’s group of friends, though not nearly as charismatic or fun to watch as the cast of Stranger Things or 2017’s IT, really helped to give the movie some much needed warmth and heart. Brian Tyree Henry (Atlanta), who played this movie’s Detective Norris, also gave a great performance, balancing comedy and that detective bravado just right.

The standouts though were Gabriel Bateman and this movie’s Chucky, none other than Mark Hamill (Star Wars and The Joker in Batman The Animated Series, I mean DUH!). Bateman gave a great performance as Andy, carrying a lot of the movie’s emotion, and Hamill helped give this Chucky his own voice. The third act culmination of Chucky’s deranged personality would not have been nearly as effective if not for Hamill’s amazing voice over work. This is not to say though that the movie was perfect. Aubrey Plaza was bland as Karen Barclay, giving every line that classic, so-edgy-it-hurts, Plaza sarcasm. It works on Parks and Rec and even the movie Safety Not Guaranteed, but it feels so out of place here. Thankfully, Bateman was there to sell most of their scenes together, or I would not have been able to buy into their relationship as mother and son, much less care about their survival. In addition to Plaza, there were a lot of jokes in the first and second act that simply didn’t land. The lines fell flat and hardly got more than a chuckle from most of the audience I was with. I’m sure they were after the wit and timing of the young ensemble cast of IT, but that came from time and intensive work building off screen relationships within that cast. Some jerky editing also made the movie feel like it would have benefited from an extra 15 or 20 minutes, leading to certain scenes that were meant to be emotional being brushed over and rushed.

Lastly, let’s address the elephant in the room: Chucky’s redesign. The very first reaction I heard as Chucky’s face flashed on screen was “Ew, what the fu-“. I want to give the effects team credit for sticking to mostly animatronic work once again, but Chucky’s face was simply horrendous. I’d like to think this was intentional, perhaps they wanted to play up the Uncanny Valley effect as much as possible, but I can’t see myself or any other fans saying the design won us over, no matter how fun the movie was.

Did Child’s Play 2019 have to be a Child’s Play movie? No, not at all. In fact, they could have called it “Alexa Gone Wild.” and it would have held much of the same effect. With that being said though, I think I enjoyed it as much as I did because of their new take. It impressed me just enough to leave me thinking “Wow, that was really fun!” I love the original Child’s Play, and Brad Dourif is quite honestly irreplaceable, but the film makers saw the challenge they had with this new version, knew the audience they had to try and win over and they swung for the fences. I may not be able to convince everyone to give this movie a shot, and I’m fine with that, but I think the most important thing to remember is this: If you’re going to update one of my favorite toys, my “Friend til The End”, then make sure the new version keeps me entertained til the end, friend.

Rating: 3.5 Full Moons out of 5 ���🌕🌕🌗

[thezomblr-blog1]

HAPPY ONE YEAR WRITING A FUCKED UP NOT-A-ZOMBIE DUDE

I'm following suit and doing my own #FollowForever to celebrate my one year on this blog (Which actually was April 30th Oops!) Just wanted to take some time to appreciate my ride or dies and friends I've made over the course of this year. I'm so glad I made the choice to give Tumblr RP a chance because I've met so many fantastic people and inspiring writers. Overall this RPC is incredible and deserves all the positivity I can possibly fling at it. I can't believe there are 649 following this trash fire. Thank you all for the support!! Every single one of you liking threads, fics, participating in events, and sending in asks means the absolute world.

RIDE OR DIES

@hellrager​

Just as you started with me, there's no one else I could have started with but you. I was so shocked by how instantly we connected. Even before we talked OOC our writing meshed together so flawlessly without any prior plotting or discussion. We've always been on the same wavelength to the point it's almost creepy and yet in the same breath, we can still inspire and surprise each other with new ideas and plots. I never expected to find a friendship like this in the RPC, and so quickly. We've said this before but you are a breath of fresh air into my life and the first person I've been able to bond with so closely in a long ass time. Grim, you inspire me not only in terms of writing but also in my day to day life.  I don't think you'll ever understand how much of a blessing you've been to me. You've given me the motivation to work harder, to constantly improve myself, and do better each and every day. You've empowered me to take control of my life and stop coasting through it mindlessly. Our relationship means so much to me and I gotta stop now or this whole post is going to end up being about how truly incredible you are. 🐱 ♥ 🐺

@youngsouthey​ This time I actually get to write a bit for you instead of someone I just watch from afar! It was my first Follow Forever that actually got us talking and contrasting how we both played Brian! I'm never going to forget that moment when your incredibly talented self told me that you admired me – when I was the one admiring your work. It felt like I had been noticed by a celebrity honestly. It was insane. I'm so glad that its spawned a solid friendship where we can sit and talk about our OCs for hours on end just shooting the shit. I cannot wait to see where another year takes us.  God your art and writing ideas just take my breath away. It's honestly crazy to see how rapidly you keep improving. Just when I think your artwork can't get any better it does with the very next drawing or sketch and I have to pick my jaw up off the ground. Your artwork and headcanons made me feel so validated with my own (and I'm so glad to have someone else in Team Top Damien Bottom Brian – but you me and Grim go on about that for hours haha

@shadow-of-fear-and-doubt​ / @a-poisonous-gamble​ By now almost everyone has heard about how you were the first blog I encountered in the Monster Prom community. About how I was scared that I was going to be the only Monster Prom blog before we found each other and screamed about these idiots. I'm so proud of all the progress you've made personally and how you tackle challenges that come your way. A lot of other people would have let that defeat them or made them turn bitter. I admire your genuine positive attitude towards people around you. It's absolutely awesome.

@woofjock

Where would a Follow Forever list be without you? You've installed yourself as a centrepiece to this community from the get go. You've spent so much time and energy maintaining the Masterlist. You're constantly showering the dash with them positive vibes and reminders that the RPC tends to need more often than not. Not to mention your version of Scott is absolutely flawless. Brian and Scott have not gotten to interact as much as I would like but he will support him dating his purple eldritch daughter any day. One day our jobs will stop kicking our asses collectively and we'll be able to interact ahaha.

@zombfear​ / @d-e-lioncourt​ Honestly the best duplicate I could have asked for. I love how we forged a relationship between our Brian's that works so well for our canon. The idea of them as cousins is so fucking heartwarming and I want to make an effort to get more zombie cousins back on the dash again soon!! I also super miss your Liam and the 'dirty little secret' plot between Brian and Liam in their ship verse. Interactions with you are always so much fun to watch and take part in!

@hellrexgn / @gruselhigh

I don't think I have EVER seen a multimuse run so smoothly. You run the gold standard for multimuse blogs. How you keep interactions between all the muses even and active is just astounding and I only wish I had more energy to play with the ships we have concepts for because I love them all! Honestly, I do not know how you do it but other multimuse blogs should look to you as an example. You're so fun to chat and plot with or just talk stupid headcanons about their day to day. When things do go amiss in the plotting phase you are so easy to work with and have things rectified and it's never felt awkward or forced. I also LOVE that you indulge Grim and I with three-person threads! So many other people are scared of doing them, but I love that we can have our characters slip in and out of threads as they are needed. You're so accommodating and adaptable. I love it.  Thank you for putting up with my shit.

@screvvedloose​ / @outofthemaiinstream​

AAAAAHHH !! The relationship between Vicky and Brian is one of the most simultaneously heart wrenching and adorable thing I've written. The way you so readily took the role my Brian needed in his life is incredible and exactly what I pictured when I first conceptualized the headcanon and I'm so thrilled that you had a similar take on the relationship between these two! I also am a huge fan of your Liam and hope he and Brian will also get to interact more soon as what I've seen of them already is fantastic.

@loveyourfears​

I think it's so rare and fantastic to see someone so invested in other people's storylines on the RPC – I think you were the Damien/Brian ship's original cheerleader on this blog and at some points Oz became the mouthpiece for what a lot of others in our captive audience were thinking at the time when Dame and Bri were torturing themselves. It's really good to see someone try to foster platonic connections and take part in being part of a cast of characters rather than the one on one stuff you see most often on the RPC. It's been cool to get to know you over the past year and here's to another year of fun times.

@spoiledfins​ / @idowatercolours​  / @revcnga​  I LOVE YOU! Even though you aren't active on Miri so much I still love your take on her and I've got a Brian/Miri ship with your name on it whenever you wanna start working towards it. I'm so glad we've started to get to know each other OOC because you make me laugh so fucking much. Your stories are fucking gold as is the cursed content you provide! I can't wait to get to know you better as I think this is the start of an amazing friendship.

MORE FANTASTIC PEOPLE (Lets Interact More I Love Your Shit)

@caelestalis | @glitchwalking | @glamourwitchcraft | @quamxmulti | @fudox | @eldfic | @oz-answers | @electrifyingstitches | @howlkissed | @airxn​ | @bestiadeluna​ | @best-wolf-boi​ | @purpleshopkeep​ | @karismatickitty​ | @lcbotomy​ | @lxrosalita​ | @zgords​ | 

[widonotts]

Thanks For Ten ❤️

Starkid has been such a constant fixture in my life that it’s strange to think it’s only been around for ten years. At the same time, I remember the first time I watched A Very Potter Musical, a couple months after it went viral. I was in third grade and had read about it on some Harry Potter fansite, so I pulled up Act 1, Part 1. But I was an eight-year-old nerd who hadn’t yet realized I could be both the Smart Kid and the Theatre Kid—I didn’t see High School Musical until I was in high school myself and thus never learned from Gabriella’s arc—so I was actively suppressing my love for musicals. There’s also the fact I didn’t understand some of the jokes, which I’ll attribute to my youth and purity and also my lack of High School Musical knowledge. I decided the show wasn’t for me and promptly forgot about it.

A couple years later, though, I was raving about Harry Potter to a Girl Scout camp counselor who asked if I’d seen AVPM, and when I told her no, she acknowledged I was probably too young for it. I didn’t take it as a challenge immediately, but that conversation sat in the back of my mind for a while before I revisited it. The second time I watched it, I fell in love, and I fell hard.

So many of my memories of early adolescence involve Starkid, and I look back on those memories with so much fondness. I remember my friend and I unabashedly singing “Granger Danger” during science class; I remember another eleven-year-old friend approaching me at the lunch table, shell-shocked, and when I asked what was wrong, he told me he’d tried to watch Me and My Dick. I remember when the 2014 Summer Season was announced, and somehow (that is, through nonstop chores and yard work), I got to go. I went on GIMP and made my very own T-shirt design by dragging the Brush tool to spell out “Meet me at my place, the Fortress of Friendship!” in block letters inside a crude Superman logo, printing it out on that iron-on transfer paper and carefully applying it to a craft store white t-shirt. I wore it to Ani, where I asked Brian Holden to sign it, and it became my pride and joy.

Everything about the Summer Season was, for lack of a better word, totally awesome. Waiting in line for Ani, a group of older girls were kind enough to talk to me and my mom. She acknowledged that she’d worked in theatre herself, and therefore had seen a lot of risqué performances, and asked them “if there would be anything she’d blush at”; for some reason, those girls and I insisted there would be nothing of the sort. I can’t believe she didn’t drag me out at the first mention of Death Star boobs. But I loved the show, and I adored Trail to Oregon the next day. The Dikrats may have their official canonized names now, but to me, that family will always be Bitch Tits, Little Shit, Rico, Genghis Khan, and Jeff Blim Bacon.

Meeting the Starkids after the shows, though, was by far the best part of the experience, and I don’t know if I really have all the words to describe it. It was beyond inspiring. They all treated me with such humility and kindness; it still stirs me every time I think of it. A couple of them even seemed surprised that I asked for a picture. To know that each person in this group I adored so dearly was so grounded and kind… It was amazing, and looking back on those photos makes me smile despite myself; I was an awkward, gangly, anxious, overeager kid, but in every photo, my eyes are shining with happiness and my lopsided grin is wider than ever.

After a while, I fell out of complete hyperfixation, but Starkid’s shows stayed present with me. I sang the songs, referenced the jokes, dreamed of playing the characters, and watched AVPM every year on July 31st, but it wasn’t the degree of obsession I had in my early teens. I watched Firebringer the moment it was released, and I raved many times about how incredible it would be if they released the rights—and here we are!

Even though a couple years went by without hyperfixating on Starkid, my love for it stuck with me through years of difficulty with mental illness, and that means everything to me. I remember a very hard day when I didn’t know what to do or how to go on. I listened to “Not Alone,” and I cried, and even though I felt isolated and small, I felt at the same time that I was loved and that there was hope for my life and my future. That one moment has stuck with me, but it is not the only time Starkid truly helped me save my life.

Even with all the impact it had on me, it wasn’t until I watched The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals that my hyperfixation returned in full force. I had been anticipating its release for a while; when it was announced, I was about to leave my home city to go to college in Chicago, and I was so pumped to see that I would finally be living in good old Chi-Town when a Starkid show was released… only to learn that it would be playing in Los Angeles. But I guess I forgive them for not catering to me specifically, because seeing TGWDLM for the first time (and the ten times since) was extraordinary, and I was immediately in deep.

I’m The Starkid Girl again, and this time, I’m not self-conscious about it. When I was younger, I usually hid my passions, fearful of judgement, and my love for Starkid was no exception (except, of course, for that wonderful impromptu “Granger Danger” karaoke session in the middle of science class). I was a nerd; I knew what it was like to have people make fun of me for the things I found awe-inspiring, so I kept myself hidden, singing “The Coolest Girl” day and night but never quite having the courage to put myself out there in real life. Now, though, I’m going back to Starkid, and I’m not afraid to show it.

It’s wild to be in Chicago now, to live in the same city where so much of Starkid’s work was created. The first time I went to a counselor whom I now visit weekly, I took the L, got off at Belmont, and was amazed to see that my new counselor’s office was one single block away from Stage 773, where I had been so struck with awe at Trail to Oregon and Ani five years before. Every week, I walk past the giant “773” with reverence, and before I get back on the L to go home, I walk past the station to get a coffee at the Starbucks right past the Annoyance, where so many Starkids have performed. Typing it out, it seems silly, but it truly instills me with so much joy and inspiration to know I live in the same world as these people who have done such amazing things, people for whom I hold so much respect and admiration.

Because I myself am now a year into college, I’m even more struck at the ingenuity, dedication, and talent of the college kids who produced a hilarious Harry Potter musical ten years ago, and even more grateful that they took that success and continued to create and perform and inspire people with their productions. Whether it’s with Starkid, associated companies like the Tin Can Bros, or unrelated groups, the work all of these people has done never ceases to embolden me not only as an aspiring actress and creator of art, but also, most importantly, as a person. Starkid is a group of wonderful people who have done wonderful things, inspiring so many people along the way, and I cannot thank them enough for it. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.

This has been far too long a note, so I guess I’ll wrap it up before it gets too late. I just have one more episode left in my rewatch of Choose Our Destiny.

— Lelah

[theonyxpath]

Welcome to a series of MMN blogs where I’ll be looking at where we, Onyx Path, are with some of our methods of getting our projects out to you all. Seems to make sense here at the start of 2019.

Today, the topic is Kickstarters.

A little backstory:

Onyx Path ran our first Kickstarter for the V20 Companion in early 2012, the same year as we started publishing. Crowdfunding was a wild and wooly place back then, and KS was starting to be the “brand name” for the process.

I’d watched a few of our friends run campaigns, both successful and failed, and knew going into it that neither myself, who was running the whole thing, nor Justin, who was the developer of the book and as interested as I was in this new method of financing a project, really knew how it would turn out.

When I had put together Onyx Path as a publishing business, I hadn’t considered crowd-funding, but Justin and I had heard enough from our Vampire community clamoring for the V20 Companion to be a matching Deluxe book to V20 to know that we should figure out how to do it in a Deluxe format. Kickstarter seemed a way to get the needed upfront money for the Deluxe treatment.

Otherwise, the V20 Companion would have been available as PDF and PoD versions on DTRPG only. We just didn’t have the cash to pay the printer what they needed upfront to purchase all the Deluxe cover material, create embossing stamps, all that.

So, that’s how it started, this wild and tumultuous affair with Kickstarter that we’ve had for seven years and 33 Kickstarter campaigns.

Dystopia Rising: Evolution art by Marco Gonzalez

Here’s where we are now:

I told you all that so I could tell you this. We started with a very simple need – to afford a deluxe cover – and every single KS we did taught us more and more about how to run a KS.

If you joined us along the way, there may have been a method we used that turned you off, or another that you thought was awesome. From our point of view, we were learning how to do it well. Stretch Goals, Rewards, Add-ons, voting for sections in the books, when to run it, how much text to have finished and how much to share. The list goes on of the elements we have tried to add with some degree of success or another.

Now, this year, our KSs mostly have a few elements in common, like we try and keep the Reward Tiers to a smallish number, we go live only after we have all the text we need finished, and we reveal that text in chunks during the Kickstarter.

Getting Projects Into Stores:

Unlike when we started, we’re now doing most of our KSs with the stated goal of paying for a traditional print run that covers not just the backers’ copies but also to print an amount that will go into stores via our sales partners at Studio2 and IPR (who are they? look below in the Blurbs! section).

We might still do some Deluxes along the way, don’t worry, or some other special projects, but we’re exploring this trad printing option right now.

This greatly increases our retail options, which is a good thing as it’s another way for folks to get our games, and adds to the value of the Retailer Reward Tiers that have been a part of our KSs since the first couple of them.

Now Retailers can choose to wait and order the projects when they are made available through distribution channels, or they can opt in for pledging to the Retailer Reward Tier and get the copies earlier, with some bonus Screens and the Stretch Goal rewards they can sell or give away, and if they have polled their customers to get confirmed sales – those are books they don’t need to worry about selling off their shelves.

Geist 2nd Edition art by Brian LeBlanc

Getting Projects Out In a Timely Manner:

There’s no question about it, we prioritized everything else over hitting the Kickstarter estimates. This wasn’t because we didn’t care about them, but because we cared more about the quality of the projects we were creating.

And, in fact, still do.

BUT, we’ve leveraged our experience and are making sure that our Kickstarter projects have completed text before we go live with the KS now, which eliminates a huge percentage of our timeliness issues while still allowing our creators the time they need to insure high quality writing and rules.

That means that we have a bit less flexibility in the sorts of Rewards and Stretch Goals that add to the KS’d project itself, but its a trade-off that is working out pretty well. And we still have Stretch Goals that build additional and Companion books, so those extra sections are still being created.

Since we’ve put the “No KS without complete text” rule into effect, we’ve delivered Monarchies of Mau, Cavaliers of Mars, and Changeling: The Lost 2nd Edition earlier than estimated, and things still look great for Fetch Quest and Dragon-Blooded. To name a couple close to shipping.

Now no doubt, we’re still popping out projects that had troubled histories from before that methodology went into effect, so it did take us a while to get to this stage, but we’re here now and it’s working great.

Getting Projects to Backers (Kickstarter Shipping):

This is an ugly topic, I’m afraid. Don’t let the kids see it.

The biggest negative aspect of a Kickstarter campaign, in terms of costs and time spent, is shipping the rewards out. Shipping costs are insane if you are shipping from the US to anywhere outside the US. We look for working partnerships with shippers around the world to offset some of those prices, and sometimes it works.

We have seen shipping costs on some projects as high as $50 an average to Canada, $64 on average to the EU, and $70 as a rest of the world average. Then there are customs fees on top of that. So, like I say, we keep looking for alternatives.

Plus, now we hear that USPS, who is often used as the middle-man by the big-name shippers, is raising their rates, so we’ll need to deal with that.

We also have been through another round of getting quotes from fulfillment shippers, and trying to find ones that can be relied on and stay reliable (and that we can afford) has been, and may always be, an ongoing process.

Sorry, I know that just reading about these issues is a drag, but they are a very real challenge that we work on with each KS. We’ve tried the “tack the shipping price on after the KS” method, and that was received…poorly by the backers.

We also can’t sidestep the whole thing and “eat the costs” or even a decent bite of them. We just aren’t Amazon, for good or ill, and our volume of ship-out packages is not even close to being in the zone where a company can do that.

So, we keep on baking in the shipping costs as best as we can accurately estimate them with our fulfillment partners, and at least our backers can look at that and what they see is what they get.

EX3 Lunars art by Gunship Revolution

Getting Projects Kickstarted:

This is kind of a catch-all topic. First, there’s the question of which projects we are KSing. What’s the criteria? Well, new game line core books, to start. We want those in stores, and we want folks to find out about them, and Kickstarter does both of those things for us.

There are also the Deluxe Exalted “fatsplat” books, which we look at as a part of a series, the core CofD 2nd Edition books, and select WoD supplements. Doing the V5 Chicago By Night Kickstarter, for example, gave us that visibility I mentioned above, as well as a chance to let backers, and by extension the larger WoD community, a chance to see where we would be going with the text.

Basically, do we think the project would benefit more from being KS’d than not, and not all would.

Next in this topic, we have the way our KSs are now run thanks to our “Kickstarter Concierge” James Bell, who sets up all our KSs now, makes sure that they are run as we’ve agreed – and fun for our backers is a HUGE part of that – and then creates and runs the BackerKit back-end site after the KS is over.

Having a dedicated Kickstarter runner has made a huge difference in customer service, and as my list of Kickstarters that I ran keeps shrinking, I am so glad that I could pass on the responsibilities of handling our KSs to James.

I mentioned that James is also running our post-Kickstarter BackerKit sites, and BK has also been a huge help in the handling of our KSs. We now use them for every KS; they are just set up to make it so much easier to track all the rewards folks can pledge for and Add-on, and for us to get out to backers. More accurate for the backers, and faster for us: win/win.

Finally, we’re trying a new thing this coming year, as even with James, we’re hard-pressed to run all the Kickstarter campaigns we’d like to – that we think would be good for the projects we’re making.

Our friends and Handiwork Games will be creating the Scarred Lands 5e Creature Collection and then running its Kickstarter on a new Onyx Path Publishing Kickstarter account. If this works out, we’ll have more flexibility on which KSs happen when, and we’ll look at how things go and maybe we’ll have more of our projects KS’d by other folks.

Because even if we think we’ve got a really great system for our Kickstarters now, we still keep looking for ways to make them better. For us, for our community of backers, and for our:

Many Worlds, One Path!

BLURBS!

KICKSTARTER:

We finished up the They Came From Beneath the Sea! (TCFBtS!) KS last Thursday and those last 48 hours were amazing. I swear we added 200 backers, and finished up at 908 backers and over 200% funded. We were able to help fund several additional projects that will really help folks enjoy the game after they get through the main book. A smashing end to an experimental and excellent campaign.

Huge Thanks to everyone who contributed, and if you weren’t able to during the campaign, you can still get in on it via BackerKit when that site goes up, and then when we release the book into stores and DTRPG!

NEXT UP! We’ll be starting the Kickstarter for the Deluxe version of EX3‘s Lunars on February 12th – so don your beast forms and let loose a howl (or snarl or squawk or hiss) to let everyone know it’s coming!

ONYX PATH MEDIA

Illustration by Michael Gaydos

This Friday’s Onyx Pathcast features a deep dive by the terribly terrific trio into the Maelstrom of Wraith: The Oblivion, with special looks at Orpheus and how it all comes together with Wraith20! https://onyxpathcast.podbean.com/

And Here’s More Media About Our Worlds:

Last Friday our resident media man Matthew Dawkins got on YouTube and read the prologue for our popular Scarred Lands novel, Vigilant: Through Shadows and Dreams. Why did he embark upon this task? A couple of reasons! 1.) We want more people finding our fiction. 2.) We want to gauge your interest in our creating and releasing audio books of our fiction work! Please give the video a watch (https://youtu.be/SU1fgtGxSjw) or just download the mp3 if you want it to listen to as you drive or work out (https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/265096/Vigilant-Through-Shadow-and-Dreams-Prologue). Both are free and we genuinely value your feedback on our embarking into audio books and readalongs!

So please let us know in the comments here if audio books of our work would be something you like us to offer!

Our good friends at Caffeinated Conquests are at it again with “I Was A Good Boy Today”, the first part in their new Scion: Origin story! Please give it a watch if you want to watch some fun-loving roleplayers enjoy Scion: https://youtu.be/_S6IvpYSDFM

Speaking of Scion, the Scabby Rooster (so named after a sketchy fantasy tavern) is a superb Twitch channel who have just embarked upon a Scion story of their own, starting with character creation. Check them out and give them a follow! https://www.twitch.tv/scabbyrooster

The Story Told RPG Podcast is back too, this time with an interview with Matthew Dawkins regarding Wraith: The Oblivion 20th Anniversary Edition! This one is a real deep dive and it’s timely, given the recent dispatch of the deluxe copies. Here’s the interview http://thestorytold.libsyn.com/episode-19-wraith-the-oblivion-20th-anniversary-interview-with-matthew-dawkins and please check Wraith out on DriveThruRPG if you’ve not already done so!

Finally, the much-anticipated first part of Red Moon Roleplaying‘s campaign of They Came from Beneath the Sea! is now up on their channel! Terror at Make-out Point is a game of They Came From with a horrific, Lovecraftian edge, so if you’re less into B-movies and more into creeping nastiness (complete with perfect editing, sound effects, and music), this is one to check out: https://youtu.be/Vjjan4hcqoM

ELECTRONIC GAMING:

As we find ways to enable our community to more easily play our games, the Onyx Dice Rolling App is now live! Our dev team has been doing updates since we launched based on the excellent use-case comments by our community, and this thing is both rolling and rocking!

ON AMAZON AND BARNES & NOBLE:

You can now read our fiction from the comfort and convenience of your Kindle (from Amazon) and Nook (from Barnes & Noble).

If you enjoy these or any other of our books, please help us by writing reviews on the site of the sales venue you bought it from. Reviews really, really help us with getting folks interested in our amazing fiction!

Our selection includes these fiction books:

OUR SALES PARTNERS:

Running until Feb 3 is the Trinity (Aeon) 1e Bundle of Holding: https://bundleofholding.com/presents/Trinity1E and the Aberrant 1e Bundle of Holding: https://bundleofholding.com/presents/Aberrant

Check them out and get some amazing deals on the first edition PDFs (same as we have on DTRPG) and watch how the Bundles grow during the duration of the sale!

We’re working with Studio2 to get Pugmire out into stores, as well as to individuals through their online store. You can pick up the traditionally printed main book, the Screen, and the official Pugmire dice through our friends there! https://studio2publishing.com/search?q=pugmire

We’ve added Prince’s Gambit to our Studio2 catalog: https://studio2publishing.com/products/prince-s-gambit-card-game

Now, we’ve added Changeling: The Lost 2nd Edition products to Studio2‘s store! See them here: https://studio2publishing.com/collections/all-products/changeling-the-lost

Looking for our Deluxe or Prestige Edition books? Try this link! http://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/Onyx-Path-Publishing/

And you can now order Pugmire, Monarchies of Mau, Cavaliers of Mars, and Changeling: The Lost 2e! http://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/manufacturers.php?manufacturerid=296

DRIVETHRURPG.COM:

This Wednesday, we’re offering our monthly EX3 PDFs of Northern Ursidae and the Forest Strider for Hundred Devils Night Parade, and Ninegala, Forge Goddess of Makelo for Adversaries of the Righteous on DTRPG!

We are also adding Monarchies of Mau templates this week to the Canis Minor community content site for Realms of Pugmire! Now, you can add all your cat-astrophically good ideas for Mau books to the site!

CONVENTIONS

New convention notices coming soon!

And now, the new project status updates!

DEVELOPMENT STATUS FROM FAST EDDY WEBB (projects in bold have changed status since last week):

First Draft (The first phase of a project that is about the work being done by writers, not dev prep)

M20 The Technocracy Reloaded (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)

M20 Victorian Mage (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)

City of the Towered Tombs (Cavaliers of Mars)

Mummy: The Curse 2nd Edition core rulebook (Mummy: The Curse 2nd Edition)

Geist2e Fiction Anthology (Geist: The Sin-Eaters 2nd Edition)

Distant Worlds (Trinity Continuum: Aeon)

Dragon-Blooded Novella #1 (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Across the Eight Directions (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Exalted Essay Collection (Exalted)

Legendlore core book (Legendlore)

Creatures of the World Bestiary (Scion 2nd Edition)

Chicago Folio/Dossier (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Let The Streets Run Red (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Kith and Kin (Changeling: The Lost 2e)

Scion: Demigod (Scion 2nd Edition)

TC: Aeon Ready Made Characters (Trinity Continuum: Aeon)

Trinity Continuum Jumpstart (Trinity Continuum Core)

TC: Aeon Jumpstart (Trinity Continuum: Aeon)

Redlines

Pirates of Pugmire (Realms of Pugmire)

Second Draft

Tales of Good Dogs – Pugmire Fiction Anthology (Pugmire)

Heirs to the Shogunate (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Scion Ready Made Characters (Scion 2nd Edition)

Witch-Queen of the Shadowed Citadel (Cavaliers of Mars)

Deviant: The Renegades (Deviant: The Renegades)

Scion Companion: Mysteries of the World (Scion 2nd Edition)

Memento Mori: the GtSE 2e Companion (Geist: The Sin-Eaters 2nd Edition)

Development

Hunter: the Vigil 2e core (Hunter: the Vigil 2nd Edition)

Lunars: Fangs at the Gate (Exalted 3rd Edition)

WoD Ghost Hunters (World of Darkness)

Oak, Ash, and Thorn: Changeling: The Lost 2nd Companion (Changeling: The Lost 2nd)

CofD Dark Eras 2 (Chronicles of Darkness)

Night Horrors: Nameless and Accursed (Mage: the Awakening Second Edition)

Manuscript Approval:

Trinity Continuum: Aberrant core (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)

Scion Jumpstart (Scion 2nd Edition)

CofD Contagion Chronicle (Chronicles of Darkness)

Editing:

Aeon Aexpansion (Trinity Continuum: Aeon)

Dystopia Rising: Evolution (Dystopia Rising: Evolution)

M20 Book of the Fallen (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)

Tales of Excellent Cats (Monarchies of Mau)

V5 Chicago By Night (Vampire: The Masquerade)

V5 Chicago By Night Screen (Vampire: The Masquerade)

Spilled Blood (Vampire: The Requiem 2nd Edition)

Wr20 Book of Oblivion (Wraith: The Oblivion 20th Anniversary Edition)

C20 Novel: Cup of Dreams (Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition)

Post-Editing Development:

Signs of Sorcery (Mage: the Awakening Second Edition)

Night Horrors: Shunned by the Moon (Werewolf: The Forsaken 2nd Edition)

In Media Res (Trinity Continuum: Core)

Indexing:

Scion Origin (Scion Second Edition)

Scion Hero (Scion Second Edition)

Ex3 Dragon Blooded (Exalted 3rd Edition)

ART DIRECTION FROM MIRTHFUL MIKE:

In Art Direction

Dystopia Rising: Evolution – Art tweakage.

The Realm – More sketches coming in.

Ex3 Monthly Stuff –

Chicago By Night – Contacting artists to see who is open.

Aeon Aexpansion

They Came From Beneath the Sea!

EX3 Lunars – KS prep.

Signs of Sorcery – Over to layout this week.

In Media Res – Sketches coming in.

Hunter: The Vigil 2

Shunned By the Moon – Almost done contracting artists.

Book of Oblivion – Contracted and should see sketches soon.

Contagion Chronicle – Fulls/splats contracted for KS.

Marketing Stuff

In Layout

Slarecian Vault Materials

C20 Player’s Guide

Proofing

Scion Hero – Indexing.

Scion Origin – Indexing.

M20: Gods and Monsters – Waiting for WW approval.

Pugmire Roll of Good Dogs and Cats – Getting backer PDF ready to send to backers.

Trinity Core – Inputting Errata.

Trinity Aeon – Inputting Errata.

Ex3 Dragon Blooded – Indexing.

Geist 2e

At Press

Wraith 20th – Prepping for backer ship-out.

Wraith 20 Screen – Prepping for backer ship-out.

Scion Dice – At Studio2.

Scion Screen – At Studio2.

Fetch Quest – Shipping to US.

Ex Novel 2 (Aaron Rosenberg) – Backer PDF going out this week.

CtL2e Condition Cards – Waiting for PoD proofs.

Canis Minor – Opening up Monarchies of Mau for community content.

TODAY’S REASON TO CELEBRATE: 

Last Friday was my birthday, and I’m just always surprised I’ve made it this far!

[tgcnews]

Scott R Smith Inducted Into TGC Hall of Fame

Scott R Smith has been inducted into The Game Crafter Hall of Fame because his game, Dungeon Drop, won the Game Parts Only Challenge. Congratulations! Their designer interview is below.

Tell us about yourself and how long you've been designing games.

Like many other designers, technically I’ve been designing games since I was a kid. I designed a “mercenary shop” to hire pet monsters for Hero Quest and a Monopoly extension (yes, an extension) that included a hospital for accidents that occurred when two pieces landed on the same space. One summer, my cousins, brother and I completed a fully original space combat game in which each player controlled a fleet of fighters that leveled up with home-baked clay tokens. It was epic. At some point I “grew up” and started turning my energy into creative writing (which I still do), but over the last five years I rediscovered my love of game design. I began teaching a board game design class at my high school, formed a weekly game night with friends, and started churning out my own rough prototypes. This year, I decided to commit more seriously after admiring the work that was happening at The Game Crafter.

Please tell us about Dungeon Drop

Technically, it’s a dungeon crawl, but it takes a uniquely spatial approach to the genre. Players start by selecting characters and dumping a randomized bunch of colored cubes to the tabletop representing a variety of loot and monsters. The game hinges on the “pillar” cubes that players connect to form possible rooms in the dungeon. The idea is simple: find an awesome room and collect what’s inside. I recommend it to anyone who likes a good puzzle.

Where did the idea for this game come from?

For this one, there’s no question the idea came from the contest. I’m a story/theme driven person (I actually have my MA in English), and if I was going to make a game with no printed components, I wanted to be able to infuse the pieces with as much theme as possible. Once I began to imagine a physical dungeon taking shape on the tabletop, I was able to dive into the design.

What makes this game special/unique?

Dungeon Drop’s hook is its visual puzzle. Once players grasp the few rules, they’re able to pour over the possible patterns the pillar cubes present. The best moments come when a player discovers a way to grab a specific slice of loot their opponents missed.

Did you create a design journal for your game? If so, did you publish it somewhere we can link to?

I don’t have a design journal online, though it’s something I’d love to do at some point. I do all my brainstorming on a large graph paper notebook (below is a fragment of some early notes on Dungeon Drop). So much of the design of a game needs to be done on the computer, but I really do enjoy the ease and fluidity of sketching first. Any time I reach a roadblock with a design, I go back to my notebook. It’s home base.

Did you already have the idea for Dungeon Drop in your head before the Game Pieces Only Contest was announced?

When I read the description for the Game Pieces Only Challenge, my reaction was Oh, too bad. Have to wait for the next one. No art? No theme? Just pieces on a table? Not for me. Full abstraction isn’t something I’m usually drawn to, but then again maybe that’s why it was a good contest for me and a good lesson about stretching myself beyond my comfort zone.

What made you decide to enter your game into the contest?

Dungeon Drop was born for the contest. There was no way I was going to miss the deadline!

Would you have been motivated to work on the game as much as you did without the contest?

I can’t thank TGC enough for provided the platform both to self-publish and to create this genuine community of game creators (two incredibly important motivational resources). My first test run was the recent 18 card Hook Box Challenge. I dove into that contest late and learned a lot from the attempt—but one of the big take-aways was discovering the 18 card Facebook group (thanks to Odd Hackwelder for establishing and administrating). That’s something I never would have thought to look for without the contest—I love the micro-communities you come across in the board game world.

Has winning inspired you to enter more contests or design more games?

Of course! Contests are dicey things—the chances of winning are always slim with so many talented people entering and such a wide variety of creative designs. In this one, I really admired the playful energy of Brian LaPorte’s “Ghost,” the unique theming of Aron Emerson’s “Macaw” and the elegance of Gerlach Games’ “Antahpa,” just to name a few. However, the opportunity for real feedback and support from the outside world is worth the risk.

Could you describe any influence The Game Crafter has had on your success as a game designer?

Jumping into the 18 card challenge first helped hit the “design small” concept home for me. Thinking in a compact, limited way first, asking myself just how few elements I need to transmit my core gameplay experience, is enormously helpful. I’d also add that I’m seeing just how important the art of rule design can be. I try to remember that my game is only as good as the version my players understand from the rulebook—the goal is to create a set of rules that is both clear and as fun to read as possible.

What’s next for you?

The only thing more exciting than winning the contest is thinking about what’s next. I’m happy to say that I just signed a contract with Jason Miceli and Darrin Horbal about a future for Dungeon Drop v2.0 with Phase Shift Games. We’re already throwing around some great ideas for new twists on the concept, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to be working with them. In the meantime, I’m playtesting a possible entry in the Solo Game Design Challenge.

Any last words of encouragement or advice to all of the designers reading this?

The deeper I get into game design, the more clearly I see the balance between designing for “me” (meaning designing the kinds of games I would want to play myself) and designing for an audience. Get caught too far in “design for me” mode, and I get lost with an unapproachable product. Get caught too far in designing for an audience, and I lose my creative drive to produce something new. Managing this balance is key and it helps if you have a trustworthy playtesting group that does not involve your own family. My wife is wonderful, creative, critical thinker, but there are real limits to my expectations for her to give me feedback (no game is worth a marriage!). My small game night group at home and larger playtest group in Boston (Game Maker’s Guild) are invaluable resources. Like many designers, I’m an introvert, but finding other people to share the experience with is, after all, what board gaming is all about.

[yestolerancepro]

Tolerance Project extra Another piece in the puzzle Jigsaw Enterprise Training the first 10 years

Part 1 Cinderella you shall go to the Ball

Introduction

In this special 2 part blog I celebrate my friendship with Gemma Blagbourgh who I have known for some 36 years this month marks the 10th birthday of her business Jigsaw Enterprise training its a story of determination hard work and the loss of a few tears along the way but Gemma will tell its been well worth it those of you who are regular readers of this blog will know some of the back story behind Jigsaw.

As its been mentioned quite a few times in this blog Gemma recently let me publish the first 2 Chapters of her book How to build up your business piece by piece which told you how Jigsaw came about and how you could build up you own business by Self Employment

This Blog is not about that its more of a personal story of how I and another close friend of Gemma’s Claire Wallice become involved with Jigsaw

Claire’s Words come from a blog that me and Claire wrote about a fundraising ball that we put together for Jigsaw in 2014 that blog never saw print until now Thank you Claire for letting me use it and the use of the ball photos from her Facebook page

I can’t remember how I became involved in jigsaw but I think it must have been sometime in 2012 it might have been sooner I was asked by Gemma like Claire to come on the Jigsaw Enterprise training board to help her run it with some other friends being a board member meant we would go to meetings every other Saturday to discuss future projects help out with events and paperwork It could be hard work but most of the time it was a lot of fun

Gemma always seemed to be full of beans and have lots of ideas another thing I liked about her was that she would always have a different way to approach a problem if we hit a brick wall and I liked that I would call it Keilder Challenge* thinking I also met some new freinds the two Tracie's who I liked a lot and Ruth Sharpe who I took to Immediately we shared the same sense of humour too the cherry on the cake was that she was fellow Doctor who fan I would work allot with these three people over the next few years .

How did Claire get involved with Jigsaw Enterprise Training? I was lucky enough to see the impact jigsaw has on its participants as I was fortunate enough to be part of the very first skill builder course** as moral support for Gemma because it was all new and she was very nervous.

Well This was the start of something that would change even me

I spoke to a room full of strange people and helped to lead some of the sessions, Gemma wanted to give up after the first day but, it was me who said “no chance”

As a result of me being what Gemma and I call “Jigsawed” when times were tough I couldn’t see jigsaw go, when I knew people really needed us.

And so…. The conversation came between me and Gemma, we need to raise funds and company profile what can we do ?

So in 2014 Claire Wallice had the bright idea why don’t we have a ball, a white tie and tiara ball What was Gemma’s reaction ? Gemma – “If you are willing to take the project on, then “lets do it”

And so with Gemma’s go ahead Claire was raring to go so buzzing with ideas I start to plan our first ever fundraiser, with the longest to do list and internet searches for everything from venues to music and beyond after lots of time in the office, on the phone in conversation with many people, my plan was beginning to take shape.

I needed to somehow find a team of people to help one of which needed to design our posters and tickets, and so I had a lightbulb moment, and asked the very talented self taught graphic designer Dawn Roberts, who also did an awesome job of turning my vision into reality, helping to decorate the venue and be our photographer for the evening.

She was amazing, and did an awesome job.

Also along with Dawn and her many talents Tracy Jane was a big help in turning my vision in to a reality and I could have done any of this without my right hand man Ben Brown, between the three of them they were my rock.

So I put myself forward to host the whole thing silly me, I had done presentations for various projects before I thought this would be easy but even I found this stressful.

The programme kept changing I seem to remember that I had to change what I needed to say about 3 times and this wasn’t enough as things kept changing on the night itself it was a good job I had the whole thing written down on cue cards I even took a pen and pencil with me on the night in case I needed to change anything.  We did have to change things round when Claire decided at the last minute she didn’t want to do the speech she had written also one of our big auction prizes was withdrawn at the last second.

Talking about speeches Claire decided it would be a good idea to do one praising Gemma and the work she does with Jigsaw which I agreed I quickly wrote this as I knew exactly what I was going to say on the night of the ball, reading the speech I found myself with a lump in my throat and close to tears one of Gemma’s friends Lisa Morley took some mobile phone footage of my efforts and Gemma later said that when she feels down about Jigsaw she look at this short 57 second clip of my speech and it gives her the extra energy she needs to get going again which is nice of her to say. And here it is in all its glory https://www.facebook.com/100000097600947/videos/867016569978255/

What did I think about the ball and its end results I am pretty proud of what we did although I only played a small part in it.

Out of Respect for Gemma I am not going to put on the usual details on how to donate to the Tolerance Project because its not about me if you want to give a donation to Jigsaw Enterprise Training that would be great to do that please get in touch with Gemma she will tell you what to do

Pictures

1) The Jigsaw Enterprise Training Team Gemma me Claire Wallice Tracy Newsome Spink

2) Dawn Roberts our talented graphic designer and photographer

3) Gemma who this event was for

4) Ruth helping me with my Speech as the host with the most

5) Me doing my Brian May Impression when my hosting job was done

6) A Jigsaw Ball ticket

7) A 10th Birthday cake Happy Birthday Jigsaw

8) The Jigsaw Enterprise training logo

Video

Me doing my speech with thanks to Lisa Morley

Notes

*kielder challenge was an event that me and Gemma and others did when we were at Newsome high school where a group of disabled and non disabled people would make up a team to take on Crystal Maze type challanges the final would take place yearly at kielder Water in Northumberland for the record Newsome high never got to the final when I was there the best we could manage was three semi finals so near yet so far

**Skillbuilder is a foundation level course, that builds on peoples unique strengths, whilst providing them with the Skills to be work or volunteer ready, increase their independence, whilst playing a meaningful part in their local community. It is run for two days a week, and lasts for 12 weeks

 Coming soon  Part 2 of this blog Another piece in the Jigsaw puzzle The Tolerance connection

[msawesomegeek]

My top 10 sub-genred movies

Inspired by cinefix, I wanted to try and challenge myself, to see if I could too discribe my top ten super specific genre movies that I love. 

If you like this thing that I am doing, and you wanna see more, check out here, when I get really personal and tell you 30 movies that has been the building blocks in my 21 years of life (though from 2018). You can read that here. Fair warning, this turned out super long, but I had fun with the format so I hope you will too. Also since I am talking about movies freely, note that there may be spoilers about any of the movies listed her, this was your formal warning! 

1. Favorite classic danish movies - Sømand I knibe Starting off with some old stuff from my childhood, my first pick, comes from an era of film where they had just added colour, but it was still rolling on actual film. This is an era of films produced from the 40s to the mid 50s. Danish cinema from this time is its own brand of fantastic. All movies consists of heartwarming comedies that value family and the simple life on a farm. The good guys always win. Looking back, these movies has some fantastic music and makes the weather in my country look like spring time every day. However the thing I love most about these movies are its quirky humor, that has most certainly influenced me throughout my life. With a lot of movies starring Dirch Passer who is always a delight, and I almost considered picking a movie called Sønnerne fra Vingaarden solely because it features the funniest movie song known to man (A man singing about how drunk a horse called Nuller is.) I also considered giving this slot to one of the Olsen Banden films, it is a hilarious serious and asks the question: What if criminals were lovable goofy and combined with the perfect straighten and hilarious plots? The answer a set of cinematic masterpieces (at least if it was being measured in delight.) my pick for this slot did however end up going to Sømand I knibe. This movie has everything Dirch Passer being hilarious, Otto Brandenburg singing beautifully and looking good doing it. And everyone else acting their asses off in a heartwarming story that you just can not help but love. It is a perfect example of this sub-genre of movies, and one of my go to movies to watch when I am having a bad day. 

2. Films that I was forced to watch in school, but somehow ended up falling in love with - Trainspotting & Dead poets society

We all remember that gleeful feeling of seeing a TV rolling into the classroom. Watching films in school was amazing school wise, but could also spoil a good film, when you were forced to watch it sitting next to your annoying classmate. More than one movie has been ruined by being showed to me at school at too young an age, I still have nightmares about button eyes from Coraline, and I have still not dared to re-watch Lord of the flies after seeing both of those movies at the age of 11. Mostly my school years have traumatised me when it came to movies, or introduced me to lovely period pieces that I do love to this day like A Royal affair and All Quiet on the western front. However, my pick in this category has to go to my english teachers in high school. I had two wonderfully insane english teachers in high school that I am glad was allowed to show us the movies they did. Therefore this slot is a tie between two films I watched in english class, Dead poets society and Trainspotting. Two wildly different movies but also kind of similar in topic - adolensence (fitting). I hated reading Dead Poets Society when we did so my first year of high school english, the movie seemed boring at first as well, however as soon as Robin Williams utters the words carpe diem as Mr. Keating I was sold. This movie is beautiful, fun, magical and heartbreak all wrapped into a rollercoaster of a movie that is as inspiring as it is heartbreaking. A movie that will make me forgive same teacher for showing us the terrible Romeo + Juliet later that same year. My second slot Trainspotting was in my last year of high school with a much different teacher, he was kind of Mr. Keating, let us do wild creative things, he let us do a rap battle in class, while listening to some killer punk or hip hop music, he has sleeve tattoos but is one of the nicest guys I ever knew. However what I love him for most now, is introducing me to the masterpiece of a film that is Trainspotting. Trainspotting is Scottish, high and low, beautiful, whimsical and fun, while being horrible and terrifying at the same time. It is a movie about drug addiction, friendship, family and stabbing your friends in the back. It is till this day still one of my favourite films and I have my old (kick ass) english teacher to thank for that. 

3. Weird and whimsical comedy movies - Monty Python Life of Brian

Moving on from school, I wanna talk about the movies that brighten your day. These are the movie you put on a rainy day or when you're feeling depressed to remind yourself, that maybe, just maybe the world is not as bad as it all seems. I am talking, Ferris Bueller's day off, Singing in the rain, The grand Budapest Hotel, Lemony Snickets a series of unfortunate events and Wayne’s World. However, to me, nothing cheers me up like watching Monty Pythons Life Of Brian. One of my all time favourite movies, and hell this movie even has my favourite song in it. This is a movie from my childhood, it reminds me of a simpler time watching movies with my dad, and it looks damn good doing it. This movie to me has no faults. It is hilarious, and while I do adore the “I fart in your general direction” “I’m being repressed” and “Its merely a flesh wound” tomfoolery of the holy grail, Life of Brian is sacred to me. The holy grail is funny to the bone, but Life of Brian is funny and tells a compelling story while making you laugh your ass off. And for that reason my slot goes to Monty Pythons Life of Brian, making me say, Holy Grail Ite Domum! 

4. Action movies where you know they had fun while making it - Kingsmen the secret service

Transitioning smoothly from goofy comedies, we go to my other weirdly specific sub genre of movies, the movie that is fun to watch, where you can feel that someone had a lot of fun while making all of this. It is the kind of action movies where you know, someone said fuck it, this could be awesome, lets do it, and then went out and did just that. It is Action movies like Guardians of the Galaxy, Pirates of the Caribien Curse of the black perle, Zombieland, Goodfellas, Fast Five, The Gentlemen and my pick, Kingsmen The secret service. Forgetting the sequel ever existed, I love this movie! From the moment I first saw this movie in theaters I have been in love. It takes everything from the spy genre that had become too serious with Daniel Craig’s Bond and made it great again. Coming from an era of action movies where everything was serious and gritty and dark (almost noir action), this movie came bursting out in all its glory. It has fantastically choreographed fight scenes in a world that was dominated by shaky cams. It was hilarious while still taking itself seriously, it had heart while being witty and charming. It knew what it was and it used it to an perfect extent! If you wanna know exactly how to make the perfect long take or fight scene? Look no further than the bar fight and Church fight scene from this movie. This movie is entertaining through and through and it looks damn good doing it! To me this movie has no faults. It is a movie that gives zero fucks, and in no other movie has it been more clear how much fun everyone involved had making it. 

5. Movies that turn me into a blubbering crying mess - Lilo & Stitch.

Moving on from the fantastic, witty, whimsical and fun is the other end of the spectrum. These are the kinds of movies that has you crying your own eyes out while it breaks your heart into a million pieces. It is films like Titanic, Harry Potter and the half blood prince, Schindlers List, The Hunger Games and my pick, Lilo and Stitch. Disney and Pixar will always have a special place in all of our hearts, nothing makes me bawl like a baby like watching Dumbo being sung his lullaby with his mother in a cage, or seeing Remmy beaten down in Ratatuille. Hell the ending alone from Toy Story 3 is enough to make any strong adult curl into a ball of sadness. And while I most definitely cried at those movies, and also spent a while even some times afterwards crying of the movies I listed above, nothing will till this day beat Lilo & Stitch. The tale of a girl who was bullied and weird like me, finding her alien friend and a new family is a beautiful and fantastic story. As I have grown older and lost a parent of my own I cry even more through out the movie, and till this day I tear up just writing, thinking or saying: Ohana means family, family means, nobody gets left behind, or forgotten.

(Give me a moment to gather my tears before we move on here).

6. Films that changed my mind - Inception

Moving on from movies that made me laugh, made me cry to movies that made me think. Thee movies that blew my mind were the kind of movies that when you're done makes you think back and reevaluate your life. It is the movies that makes you answer the question: what if that was real? Holy shit! It is movies like The Matrix, The Truman show, The Hunger Games/Battle Royal, Birdman and my pick; Inception. While maybe a little cliche, this movie truly does blow your mind. It alters the way you look at your own world while also being a fantastic action movie. Is this a dream? Is the movie all a dream, or is it reality? It is like swallowing the blue in the Matrix but still not being entirely sure what is the goo and what is reality. This movie has some truly stunning visuals, and while we all love the dark knight, Inception is truly as good a contender to being crowned Nolans masterpiece. This movie till this day blows my mind while I am simultaneously being entertained, and for that it gets a spot on this list. 

7. Movies that pulled the rug from under me in a spectacular way - The handmaiden.

Moving seamlessly along to this category is the movies that blows your mind within its own movie. It is the movies that reveal that it was all a dream and are damn good at it. It is movies like the Sixth sense and Fight club, would both be natural picks for this category, as would Old boy, Birdman and even the Wizard of Oz. However my pick is a lot more recent and a movie that has truly blown my mind not only once, not just twice but three times, is the spectacular South Korean 2016 film The Handmaiden. The Handmaiden is the movie if Fight club had a baby with Old boy and the story structure of Inglorious Basterds. The movie split into 4 parts reveals something incredibly smart, that was right in front of your nose the whole time but you never noticed, replaying events to show you how you were a fool all along and back to the present where the consequences of all of this is then unfolded until the next chapter begins and reveals something entirely different. It is a masterpiece in plot twists and a movie I have loved since seeing it the first time. So while the reveal of Tyler may be great, it does not have the same impact like being fooled not only once, but three times, while being entertained to the fullest, never being able to look away from the screen for a second! 

8. Movies that has your eyes glued to the screen - Inglorious Basterds/ Joker

Moving perfectly along into my next category is the movies that are so intense you can’t look away from the screen. The world could be ending outside and there is nothing that can make you look away from that god damn screen. The movie equivalent of just one more episode! It is for me mostly thrillers, movies like; Good Fellas, The Handmaiden, The Gentlemen, Battle Royal, The Platform, Reservior Dogs, The Hateful Eight and The Dark Knight. However I could not pick between my two top choices therefore this spot is also split between an old time favourite; Iglorious Basterds and new comer Joker. Inglorious Basterds is tied with a few others from this list to being my favourite movie. It is a 3 hour long Tarantino movie that feels like time is flying by when you're having that much of a good time! It has humor, heart and scalping Nazi’s which is something we all need in our life! However the reason this movie is so fantastic is those elements of violent delights and funny scenes combined with the intensity of the other half of the movie. Making a glass of Milk and a strudel with whipped cream on it seem intimidating and holding a scene so intense you're holding your breath. While other times it is both intense to the extreme while being funny and mocking their italian accents. This movie is a god damn masterpiece and no one will ever be able to convince me otherwise!  The other movie is weird but has certainly earned its spot on this list. Joker, is one of the most intense and insane movies I have watched in a long time. While it lacks the good time of Inglorious Basterds and The Gentlemen, it makes up for it in pure intensity. The blur between reality and surrealism blended perfectly with the slow burning melt down of a man getting more and more broken as the run time goes on, is painful and intriguing to watch. This movie had me literally sitting at the edge of my seat painfully yet gleefully waiting to see what Jauquin Pheonix’s Joker could do next. It is though controversial, still an amazing film that I barely dared to blink while watching, scared to miss even a minute!

9. Fantastic films that no one else has heard of - Gentleman Broncos.

Second to last comes a sub-genre I rarely seek out but usually stumble upon accidentally. It is a category that actually makes me sad that it is like so. Between being happy that it can be my little secret great movie, and being sad that no one else gets the experience the wonders this movie has to offer! It is the movies that I sometimes have to convince my friends are not just made up, they are the niche of the niche and I wonder if anyone besides me not even the people that made it has even seen it? It is the movies I wish more people would see if they could just look past all of the blockbuster crap that we wasted our time on instead (you know who you are, Suicide Squad) They are the kind of movies so unknown they barely even have a cult following/status. It is movies like: The Gentlemen, A stupid and futile gesture, The Handmaiden, Circ Du Freak, my close second; The Voices but my pick; Gentleman Broncos. While I truly love all of the movies above, no movie has I been so alone in loving as with Gentleman Broncos. Stumbling upon it at the library it is a movie I have mentioned to many and has yet to meet anyone who has seen it before. The movie is weird to say the least, a coming of age sci fi comedy that looks exactly as weird as it sounds. It has the deadpannest of humor, but is hilarious up to par with a monty python movie. It has great actors, and half of it consists of what can only be described as doctor Who has an acid trip. It is to me a cinematic masterpiece because it is so fantastically surreal and dares to be nothing short of weird. Sadly, no one is willing to watch it with me!

10. Movies for the cinephile - Scream

Lastly, we come to the movies that honor movies. If this list or the rest of my tumblr is to be quickly summarised it would be with the world: Film-nerd.  I have since I have been a kid loved watching movies, and still make a habit of going to the movies alone to truly enjoy them to the fullest. I love movies, I am in no way shy about that. And like any other pretentious film nerd, I enjoy a good reference to other movies. Therefore my last category is dedicated to movies celebrating the media we all love! Movies like; Inglorious Basterds or Once Upon a time in Hollywood (basically anything Tarantino touches has a loveletter to the film media), The Truman Show, Adaptation, Big Fish (being an homage to great storytelling in my opinion) and my pick, though not directly about movie it is the movie dubbed; The scary movie for people who watch scary movies, and the only horror movie on my list, Scream.  Scream is the horror movie that has a special place in my heart. It is like a parody but instead of making fun of it, it takes everything that is fantastic about the horror genre and turns it into a masterpiece while pointing out the rules of the genre it is currently acting within and either having characters outright break them or letting the genre be the inspiration for their heinous crimes. It is the horror movie about the cinephile, while being funny, entertaining, just the right amount of scary and fantastically creative and gory when it comes to committing murders. It is an interesting story and it is in my opinion the perfect horror movie, therefore also the perfect movie about and for the cinephile. 

If you made it this far, then wow, incredible, I hope you liked what you read, and tell me if there is any movies you think I missed or have any ideas what I should watch, rank or review next? 

[jafreitag]

31 Days of Dead 2017 – Introduction & Day #1: “Terrapin Station” – San Bernardino, CA 2/26/77

Introduction

Annnnnnnnd, we’re back. Hello, friends! As the “Official 30 Days of Dead” draws to a conclusion I am getting excited to begin posting my daily selections for the Unofficial 31 Days of Dead in December as I have done in past years.

Last year, dead.net opened with a colossal “Dark Star > Brokedown Palace” from Boston Music Hall on 9/16/72. Be still my heart! I love a good challenge and a selection like that only served to motivate me to up my game. In that spirit I rolled out a new tagline for the “Unofficial 31 Days of Dead” that I think we all can get behind, “When they go high, we go higher.”

In case you are unfamiliar with the “Unofficial 31 Days of Dead” here is a description of what it’s all about:

The idea for this project was hatched after dead.net ran its “30 Days of Dead” in November 2010. While the Deadhead community at large was thrilled to receive previously unreleased tracks from the band’s vast archives, many of us were hoping for just a bit, uh, more. So, I thought it would be fun to keep the music flowing for another month by selecting my own daily picks throughout the month of December and ceremoniously ending on New Year’s Eve which was always a magical evening in the Grateful Dead’s legacy.

Daily selections will be posted here on Liner Notes, and on the Phantasy Tour Phish discussion forum.

Here are my self-imposed parameters for the selections for this project:

1. No official releases – Each year this criteria becomes increasingly challenging as new shows are officially released from the vault. Currently, there are over 75 shows that have been officially released via Dick’s Picks, Road Trips and Dave’s Picks alone. That number more than doubles when you add in box sets like 30 Trips Around The Sun, Get Shown The Light, Europe 72, May 77, Winterland 73 and 77, Spring 1990, Fillmore West 69, July 78, and the 1989 releases (Hampton, Brendan Byrne, Buffalo, JFK and RFK). Also, everything that was previously selected for dead.net’s “Official 30 Days of Dead” is obviously off the table. Whew! It’s starting to become a question of what haven’t they released yet!

2. Variety is the spice of life– I try to represent a variety of years and styles. Although it is very tempting, I make a concerted effort not to draw entirely from the “sweet spots” of 1972-74 and 1977.

3. Nothing too obvious – I’m looking at you, Cornell and Veneta. Actually, both of those are now disqualified, but I think you catch my drift.

4. Expect the unexpected – There will be plenty of classic jams that we all know and love but I also try to toss in a few surprises / lesser-known / under-appreciated jams. And, unlike dead.net’s Official version, I include some audience and matrix sources where appropriate. So, all of you SBD snobs out there will need to get over yourselves.

Finally, unlike the “Official 30 Days of Dead,” there is no contest here. Instead, the prize is the music and the winner is the listener.

Special thanks to Brian Levine (host of phish.net’s Mystery Jam Monday) for doing the awesome artwork since these projects started in 2010. I love that he used the Stranger Things theme for this year’s edition.

You know it’s gonna get stranger…

December 1 

Terrapin Station

2/26/77 – Swing Auditorium, San Bernardino, CA

The iconic album, Terrapin Station, turned 40 this year. The title track, which takes up the entire second side of the LP, is about as ambitious as anything the band has ever done. Nevertheless, Terrapin Station was the first song the band played…in the first set…at the first show of 1977. As Howard F. Weiner said in his book, The Rise of Terrapin Nation, it was an “absolutely fearless choice.” It was also a telltale sign that 1977 was getting off to a magical start. The band hit it out of the park. “Terrapin” achieved instant classic status after just its first performance. It is the way I am choosing to kick off this year’s edition of the 31 Days of Dead.

Here is what Robert Hunter said about “Terrapin” in his posthumous e-mail to Jerry in August 1996, titled “One Year Later.”

Seems like you’d had the vision of the music about the same time I had the vision of the words, independently. Terrapin. Shame about the record, but the concert piece, the first night it was played, took me about as close as I ever expect to get to feeling certain we were doing what we were put here to do. One of my few regrets is that you never wanted to finish it, though you approved of the final version I eked out many years later. You said, apologetically, “I love it, but I’ll never get the time to do it justice.” I realized that was true. Time was the one thing you never had in the last decade and a half. Supporting the Grateful Dead plus your own trip took all there was of that. The rest was crashing time. Besides, as you once said, “I’d rather toss cards in a hat than compose.” But man, when you finally got down on it, you sure knew how.

Read the rest of Hunter’s e-mail HERE.

Download today’s track HERE.

Stream today’s on relisten.net HERE, or on YouTube HERE.

And stream the whole show on archive.org HERE.

#terrapinstation #debut #fearless #instantclassic #thecompassalwayspointstoterrapin #inspiration #02261977 #swingauditorium #sanbernardino #gratefuldead #roberthunter #jerrygarcia #bobweir #phillesh #billkreutzmann #keithgodchaux #donnagodchaux #theriseofterrapinnation #positivelygarcia #howardfweiner #31daysofdead

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[greg38mcall]

Our HGTV Urban Oasis Experience

Did you all see that this year's HGTV Urban Oasis giveaway house is located right in my backyard? That's right! This year it is located in Minneapolis, MN and you are going to want to hurry and enter to win this beauty!

Photo Credit: Tomas Espinoza for HGTV

I know many of you come here for our organizing and house projects, but this quick story is just too great not to share! And I would be beyond thrilled if one of my readers happened to win this amazing home.

I have really gotten to know designer Brian Patrick Flynn over the past few years, and he is one of the most generous and kind humans I have ever met. He is ridiculously encouraging, really supports independent artists and small businesses, has an impeccable design eye, and can find beauty in just about anything.

Brian is the designer of the HGTV Urban Oasis home and he asked ME to be the organizing stylist! Organizing a house that no one actually lives in is slightly different than my typical duties; it has its own set of challenges but it is a bit of a dream at the same time. You have to work within the parameters of specific sponsors and design styles and be sure it is editorial, while also being able to use beautiful props. The ideas still have to be relatable and sensible, which of course is my favorite part! I wanted the folks that are entering the giveaway to be able to see the organization as possible solutions that they would be able to incorporate into their daily lifestyle.

Photo Credit: Kelly Christine Photo for HGTV

After the organizing was complete and the Urban Oasis was being prepped for media, Brian asked me back again. This time he had me bring my crew to be photographed enjoying the Hygge lifestyle at the house! My oldest son had college prep and work so he couldn't be there, but my younger boys were absolutely thrilled to take part of a really fun HGTV photoshoot. These pictures were such a treat and we will cherish the opportunity forever. Kelly Christine was the photographer behind the camera and she did such a great job of capturing us as a family pretending to live our best Minnesotan lives. As you can see, they definitely wanted to show the relaxed, comfortable, family-friendly lifestyle that this home provides. My son couldn't believe that he had a once in a lifetime opportunity to jump on a sofa and get away with it!

Photo Credit: Kelly Christine Photo for HGTV

This year's Urban Oasis is a Modern Scandanavian Farmhouse, which is an extremely popular design aesthetic around here. It is not necessarily my personal style (I lean more colorful and traditional), but I was still able to find so much inspiration throughout the entire home. It instantly hugs you when you walk through the front door and the entire place feels like a cozy nordic sweater. It is layered with plush and textural textiles and has art sourced from really incredible talent. And don't even get me started on the finishes and hardware and oak kitchen cabinets... #sigh

Photo Credit: Rustic White Interiors for HGTV

You can tour the entire house here, and enter to win here (GO DO THAT NOW!). Although this post is somewhat of a "check out this cool home and our awesome experience", I also wanted to share some images of my favorite no-fuss organizing tips that anyone can incorporate into their living spaces.

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As soon as I was hired, I searched Overstock.com (the sponsor website) to recommend some of my favorite organizers ahead of time and crossed my fingers that everything would be fluid enough to work when I was finally able to see the home in person. My first day on location everything was a blank slate of freshly painted walls and empty cabinets and drawers. It was an experience in itself to watch the house transform as the team worked to install and style all of the rooms. TIP #1:  SELECT VERSATILE ORGANIZERS

Photo Credit: Tomas Espinoza for HGTV

My biggest money-saving tip is to try and source products that are versatile enough to work in a variety of spaces and can move and evolve right along with you. I knew I would be tasked with organizing the master bedroom closet and bedroom, the studio armoire, and many of the kitchen cabinets/drawers. The key items I sourced were a mixture of wire and woven baskets, spring-loaded drawer dividers, clear bins, wooden hangers, and glass jars. I was able to mix and match these items in each area that I touched, which made my job much easier in the end. I do believe in measuring and purchasing storage that makes sense for each project, but by selecting items in basic and natural finishes, you are guaranteed that they will stand the test of time. TIP #2:  SPRING LOADED DRAWER ORGANIZERS ARE AMAZING

Photo Credit: Rustic White Interiors for HGTV

I have mentioned before that sometimes I am the last to hop on any trend train, and for some reason I wasn't quick to take advantage of spring-loaded drawer dividers. This experience flipped me completely. I am IN LOVE. I used the dividers throughout the kitchen and I now want to be the poster child for these special organizing tools. They were so easy to use (ANYONE can install them in a jiffy), and they instantly created flexible drawer dividers for all the things.

I used them for the maintenance drawers, utensil drawers, and even to hold pots, pans, and lids in place. A bonus is that the natural finish of these particular dividers fit right in with the custom wood drawers. Swoon. TIP #3:  FILE YOUR CLOTHING

I know that most of you know this by now but it is always worth mentioning. File your clothing. If your clothing is filed, it is always easier to see exactly what you have. It is also infinitely easier to take clothing out and put it away.

BONUS TIP: Use small bins and baskets inside of your drawers to corral the little things like undergarments and accessories. Sometimes the most obvious ideas are the most helpful. TIP #4:  MATCHING HANGERS

Hangers have come a long way over the years. Wooden and velvet options are both readily available and are fairly inexpensive in bulk. Anytime you can, swap out all of your mismatched hangers for ones that match. It will instantly take your closets up a notch and help them feel more uniform and calm. BONUS TIP: Color blocking the items hanging in your closet will have a similar effect. I like to hang items in order by type first (jackets/cardigans, long sleeve, short sleeve, sleeveless), and then color within each category. TIP #5:  USE DEEP BINS IN DEEP CABINETS

Organizing deep cabinets and pantries is always perplexing. It is truly wonderful to have all of that extra space, but making sure items are not being lost in the back can be a major problem. It is my goal to find the deepest bins possible in this situation because they turn into instant drawers. These bins not only categorize everything, but they also take items from the back to the front in a single motion. Also, whenever possible I like to organize from shortest to tallest. If space permits I will also add lazy susans to the mix.

Photo Credit: Rustic White Interiors for HGTV

Another tip is to place your small appliances inside of the deep cabinets and relocate your more frequently used items and foods into your standard cabinets and drawers. Small appliances are generally only used on occasion, so it may make more sense to store them in places that aren't as easy to access as the items you use every day.

TIP #6:  A+ ARMOIRE

This house didn't have closets in the two main bedrooms (one styled as an office, another as a guest room), so armories were added in their place. We use armoires in our own home where we are lacking in built-in closets also, and I love that they can offer customized and space-saving storage opportunities.

I especially appreciate the option of adding them to a home office, as they are an ideal way to conceal anything from printers, electronics, and craft supplies, to cozy sweaters and work totes. A clear workspace translates to a clear mind.

TIP #7:  CLEAR SOLUTIONS

Speaking of clear... I love a good woven basket when I am actually trying to conceal and streamline visual clutter, so I find they are a great option for open shelves and in open areas. But when it comes to organizing behind cabinet and fridge doors, I say the clearer the better. Anytime you can quickly see what you have on hand, you are one step ahead of the game. It also allows you to identify items without the need for fussy labels. Heading to the grocery store? Clear jars and bins will give you a quick look at what you have and what you may need. TIP #8:  PRETTY AND PRACTICAL AT THE SAME TIME

Photo Credit: Tomas Espinoza Interiors for HGTV

If you are limited on space, or even if you just love to keep things right within reach, find creative ways to use the walls as both decor and storage. Just off of the mudroom, Brian installed the most darling rail system and I was absolutely obsessed over how it was used to display and organize the ordinary in such a beautiful and organic way.

TIP #9:  ENTERTAIN THIS IDEA

Dedicate a spare cabinet or drawer to entertaining essentials. Our homes are best when filled with folks we love, so be ready to entertain at a moment's notice by keeping a drawer stocked with your favorite linens, candles, vases, napkin rings, serving dishes, etc...

This eliminates the stresses that come with hosting last-minute dinner dates and happy hours, or at the very least, quickly and easily elevates the setting for a nice mood boost. TIP #10:  DRAWERS ALWAYS GET MY VOTE

I was recently having a discussion with a friend about kitchen planning and storage and whether she should install lower cabinets or drawers. Drawers always get my vote if there is an option between the two. I typically find that lower base cabinets are a recipe for that deep and dark area of doom (standard depth is around 24"). Sure, you can add pull out drawers and mechanisms inside of the cabinets, but you have to open the cabinet doors all of the way, navigate around them, and then pull out the contents. A drawer is a quicker way to access everything while ensuring nothing is getting lost. Drawers are also much easier for kids to use and maintain while maximizing overall space (no need to install any extra components).

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Last but not least, let's just celebrate this amazing backyard moment. I am so envious of this year's lucky winner!!

Photo Credit: Kelly Christine Photo for HGTV

Photo Credit: Rustic White Interiors for HGTV

Photo Credit: Kelly Christine Photo for HGTV

ALL STORAGE SHOWN WAS PROVIDED TO URBAN OASIS BY THE SPONSOR OVERSTOCK.COM. IN THE EVENT OVERSTOCK NO LONGER CARRIES THE SPECIFIC ITEM, I SOURCED A SIMILAR ALTERNATIVE

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ENTER TO WIN THE GIVEAWAY HERE

TOUR THE ENTIRE URBAN OASIS HOUSE HERE

SEE MORE OF OUR FAMILY PHOTOSHOOT HERE

Brian and I had such a great time working together that he invited me to take part in another HUGE project last month. I can't wait to share more!

from IHeart Organizing http://www.iheartorganizing.com/2019/11/our-hgtv-urban-oasis-experience.html

[artificialqueens]

See you in the morning (Vatya) - Polly

Authors note: This follows a promo that was posted here a little while ago. Prompt: Trixie visits Katya one early morning and finds Violet at the flat. The three end up eating breakfast together and Katya has to balance between his best friend and his fuck-buddy to whom he has accidentally caught feelings for. Trixie and Violet barely tolerate each other.

I wrote this from Trixie’s POV because I thought that would be interesting. So this is somewhat domestic Vatya and I wouldn’t call it Trixya jealousy but Trixie isn’t exactly Vatya’s biggest fan either. I hope this is somewhat what you had in mind, Anon. I’m using Katya/Trixie/Violet and she/her but they’re all out of drag. Feedback is always more than welcome! xx

See you in the morning

Trixie was ringing Katya’s doorbell, excited to share her new ideas with her. It took Katya unusually long to get to the door but then again, it was only 10 am in the morning so maybe she was still sleeping. When the door finally did open though it wasn’t Katya’s sight that Trixie was greeted with. Instead it was a half naked Violet Chachki, standing there in only shorts and messy hair, looking good even now, Trixie noticed frustrated. Violet looked at her confused for a second before sighing and looking behind her.

„Brian!“ she screamed and Trixie was even more confused. When did Violet and Katya start calling each other by their boy names? Let alone the fact that Violet was even here in the first place. Trixie was pretty sure that Violet did not have a gig here. So why was she in L.A., let alone in Katya’s apartment? Trixie obviously knew that they had fucked, it was pretty obvious to everyone that paid even the slightest bit of attention towards their interactions, and Trixie had definitely paid attention to Katya and Violet. Plus Katya bragged about having fucked Violet all the time. However, she thought that all that was were out of the moment hook ups after the adrenaline of a show together. But apparently not.

„You can sign for the mail.“ Katya voice sounded from where Trixie knew her kitchen was. Violet signing for Katya’s mail? What kind of domestic bullshit was that? Trixie was growing impatient, still standing in the open door with Violet who was looking at her with furrowed brows, blocking her way into Katya’s apartment with her body. Meanwhile Katya had apparently noticed that Violet had been gone too long for it to be the mail.

„Jason, what is taking… Oh.. Ehm.. Hi.“ Katya said when she spotted Trixie while making her way towards the door, wearing only a bathrobe and finding a halt next to Violet who finally moved so that Katya could stand next to her, her body leaning slightly into Katya’s.

„What are you doing here? What’s going on? Are you ok?“ Katya rambled while looking at Trixie slightly panicked, obviously uncomfortable with the situation. That made two of them, Trixie felt way out of her comfort zone too. Violet however looked downright pissed off which made Trixie feel a bit better. It’s not like she hated Violet or anything, she in fact very much respected her for her craft, it was just that her and Violet never have gotten along in the first place. To Trixie, Violet was still the bratty bitch she had always been and she had no idea what they would even talk about if they were to be alone in a room and forced to have a conversation. Katya had been equally annoyed with Violet in the beginning but ever since they had to do that stupid dancing challenge together, their dynamics had changed and Trixie found it rather frustrating that she couldn’t bitch about Violet to Katya as much anymore. Sure Katya would shade Violet but it was always followed with a massive compliment. She had been rather smitten with Violet, especially more recently. Occasionally even showing Trixie videos of Violet performing and having a stupid proud smile on her face. Trixie tried to gather her thoughts and answered Katya’s question.

„I came here because I have a few new ideas for my tour and I just thought I could bounce them off of you?“ Trixie explained „But I can come back later.. or tomorrow.“

„Or never.“ Violet muttered under her breath and Trixie almost made a cunty remark had it not been for her noticing how Katya’s hand squeezed Violet’s for only a second. Their behavior around each other was really throwing her off.

„Don’t be ridiculous, you’re here now and we have pancakes. Come on.“ Katya smiled at her before starting to walk towards the kitchen, Violet following her suit. Trixie was standing alone in Katya’s hall now and was debating wether or not she actually wanted to follow them. But it would’ve been even more ridiculous if she would leave now. So apparently she was going to eat pancakes with Katya and Violet fucking Chachki on a Wednesday morning. Pancakes. Katya never really cooked, let alone pancakes. So why the fuck was she doing this for Violet now? She entered the kitchen and almost wished that she would’ve just left. She rather would’ve walked in on them fucking than seeing this. Katya was standing in front of Violet holding one of her hands while the other one was stroking up and down her arm in a comforting way, them just softly looking into each other eyes while Katya was talking in a gentle voice to Violet. Trixie couldn’t quiet make out what Katya was saying but it seemed to have the desired effect because suddenly Violet was beaming at her and Katya was smiling back at her with a smile Trixie had never seen on her before. It wasn’t her usual manic grin or anything like that, instead it looked soft and warm and welcoming and Trixie wasn’t sure how she felt about it being directed at Violet. So she cleared her throat which caused both of them to look at her and for a second she caught Violet’s facial expression that hadn’t been changed towards a glare yet and was still the same she had looked at Katya with. Trixie almost let out breath of surprise when she caught it. Violet loved Katya, she was sure of it. In no way would Violet ever look at anyone like this if she didn’t care deeply for them. Katya cleared her throat too and let go off Violet.

„Come sit.“ She said to Trixie while gesturing towards the table that was set for two. Trixie sat down on one of the chairs that had a plate in front of it while Violet left the room. While Katya was starting to put a plate in front of the chair that was diagonally opposite Trixie’s, Violet came back into the room in a beige shirt and her hair pulled up in a bun and started to get cutlery and a mug to place next to the plate Katya had just set down. Trixie was confused, Violet knew where Katya kept all her things in her kitchen. Trixie didn’t know that about Katya’s place and she had been here multiple times before. Katya was sitting down opposite of Trixie looking at her with a expectant grin.

„Sooo? Tell me about your ideas? I can’t wait to hear them!“

So Trixie started taking about different jokes that she had planned and how they would fit into the whole concept and how she would look at the audience at certain points and how she would pause and what she would wear. Katya was laughing throughout the whole thing with flailing arms and that laughing scream of hers. While Trixie had been talking and laughing with Katya, Violet had finished making the pancakes and had poured coffee into all their mugs and had gotten different kinds of jams and other spreads onto the table before sitting down next to Katya and listening to Trixie too, even smiling slightly at some of the jokes, though it looked like she was trying hard not too. But Trixie didn’t come here for Violet’s reaction anyway, she came for Katya and Katya was reacting the exact way she had been hoping for. Trixie was more proud than she probably should’ve been, Violet could never make Katya laugh like that even if she tried. So Trixie kept on talking and talking about her new routine while Katya and Violet ate, well mostly Violet ate since Katya was too busy laughing. Trixie’s mood was slightly dampened however when after at least 20 minutes of this, Katya’s hand had found its way to Violet’s neck and was playing with a loose strand of hair there. She was still laughing and Violet was still eating and still pretending not to laugh and Trixie wasn’t sure if either of them realized the intimacy of their position.

Once Trixie had finished telling Katya all her ideas, all their coffee cups were empty and all the pancakes were gone and Trixie heard Violet scoff after she had finished. Katya just stared at Violet with raised eyebrows, both of them just looking into each others eyes for a moment until Violet let out a surrendering sigh.

„It doesn’t sound that bad.“ she said now with a facial expression that looked like it actually physically hurt her to compliment Trixie.

„Yeah, the idea reminded me off that one time when Katya and I had that show together in San Fransisco and we had so much fun, remember?“ Trixie was directing this more towards than Violet than Katya really.  She didn’t know why but she suddenly felt like she was competing with Violet for Katya’s attention.

„Oh yes!! That was so much fun! I don’t think I’ve ever laughed that much in one night. God that was awesome!“ Katya answered happily, oblivious to the tension between Violet and Trixie.

„How much fun exactly? More fun than Mexico?“ Violet asked Katya while looking at Trixie with a challenging look on her face. Katya was looking between Violet and Trixie now with a confused look on her face.

„I wouldn’t say that. It was very different kinds of fun.“ Katya said in a soothing voice, trying to calm both Trixie and Violet down. „Mexico was great in a lot of ways.“ Katya added with a wink towards Violet who just smiled back with a glint in her eye. Trixie knew that she shouldn’t keep pushing it, this was no battle she could win if the look on Katya’s face when glancing at Violet was any indicator.

„You should come to a couple tour stops, that would be so much fun!“ Trixie said almost expecting Violet to try to try to excel her.

But Violet looked at Katya who was looking back at her with a pleading look and Violet just sighed but didn’t say anything. Katya put her hand on top of Violet’s, squeezing it in gratitude. Katya was now looking excitedly back at Trixie and started talking about how awesome it would be if they would do some shows together and when and where and what routine would she even do. But Trixie could barely listen, zeroing in on Katya’s hand that stayed on top of Violet’s for the rest of breakfast. Were they a thing? Were they an actual couple? Trixie didn’t see that one coming and was trying to figure out how she felt about it. She had been slightly pissed off when first seeing them interact, almost jealous. But Katya did look very happy and the same could be said about Violet. And it’s not like she was secretly pining for Katya but it did feel weird to see her best friend that she had only ever known single and ready to mingle (and to fuck) all loved up and she felt strangely protective over Katya. There were a million questions running through Trixie’s mind that she wanted to ask Katya but she couldn’t exactly do that while Violet was still there. She noticed however that Violet had stopped glaring at her the second Katya had placed her hand on top of hers and was starting to be actually nice and turned out to be fucking good company.

Trixie was still thinking about how strange that whole situation had been from start to finish but she figured that if Katya was happy, so was she.