#and personally i adore subscription based services

[angelpuns]

Sometimes I wish I could do a patreon for realsies but every time I make one/work on something related to one I immediately get so horribly burnt out lmao

[innuendostudios]

new video about Edgar Wright's Cornetto Trilogy, and how everyone* keeps getting them wrong! this video is sponsored by Nebula, a place where you can watch the original version of this video before I had to tweak it for YouTube's copyright bots. (by clicking that link, you can get an annual subscription for 40% off.) or you can just back me on Patreon, which is also cool and good.

transcript below the cut.

I adore Edgar Wright’s Cornetto Trilogy. I flirted with making a video about it ages ago, had a draft of a script, but ultimately decided it wasn’t about anything except “here’s a thing I like, and here are its (I thought) very obvious themes.” So I shelved it. But, in the years since, I have seen multiple video essayists on this here website claim that these movies are about growing up and taking responsibility. (I say “multiple.” It’s not a lot. But it’s more than one! And that’s enough.)

These people are 100% wrong.

Lemme lay it out: the Cornetto Trilogy is not about growing up. It is not about taking responsibility. It is the exact opposite, and that’s not subtext. It is three movies about stunted manchildren thrust into extraordinary circumstances, and each, in the end, is saved - is redeemed - by abandoning his character arc and failing to grow or change. It is a three-part love letter to immaturity.

And I guess I have to set the record straight.

Sometimes making a video about a thing you love is an act of appreciation. And sometimes it’s out of spite.

The Cornetto Trilogy is three movies: Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and The World’s End. All three are written by Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright; Pegg stars, and Wright directs; all three center on a relationship between Pegg and real-life best friend Nick Frost, which makes each film a reunion of the core team behind Spaced (excepting, but for a small role in Shaun of the Dead, Jessica Hynes). The three films span three genres: zombie apocalypse, buddy cop, alien invasion; each features a Cornetto ice cream cone: strawberry to represent blood, original blue to represent the police, and mint to represent little green men; this is a joking nod to Krzysztof Kieślowski’s Trois Couleur films, Bleu, Blanc, and Rouge, which were based on the colors and themes of the French flag (I don’t care what you say, Emily: #TeamRouge); that nod is funny because Trois Couleur is high-art drama and these are comedies. All three are parodies of, tributes to, and actually surprisingly good executions of their respective genres. And the hook, the gag at the center of all these movies, is that Simon Pegg plays a character wholly unsuited to be starring in this kind of film.

Shaun, the burnout, is the wrong person to survive the zombie apocalypse; by-the-book British bobby Nicholas is the wrong person to lead an American-style bombastic actioner; and alcoholic asshole Gary is the last person to save the world from aliens.

And I think that’s where people get stuck. Because “schlub finds himself protagonist of a genre film” is the elevator pitch for like a dozen Adam Sandler movies. The genre trappings may be as mundane as parenthood or mandated anger management classes, or as high-concept as action movie, whodunnit, or time travel It’s a Wonderful Life if Clarence were Christopher Walken as the angel of death (that… that makes it sound good, it’s not, don’t see Click; leave Frank Capra alone, Adam). But all these movies have the same basic shape: an extraordinary situation forces a guy to confront his shortcomings, which always stem from having never grown up. And you probably haven’t seen all of these movies, but if you’ve seen any, I bet you have assumptions about how the rest end: even though “Adam Sandler acts like a child” is generally the selling point of an Adam Sandler movie, they all end with some lip service toward becoming an adult: hey man, grow up a bit; appreciate your family a little more; square your shoulders; clean your room. This is so standard, it was parodied mercilessly in Funny People.

And this was a formative microgenre for my generation! Whole universe turns itself upside down to teach some shitty dude to, like, do the dishes and pay his wife a compliment now and then - Liar Liar, Bruce and Evan Almighty (all directed by the same guy, by the way). So I don’t blame people of a certain age for seeing the first act of Shaun of the Dead and thinking “I know where this is going.” And when, at the last minute, it swerves and goes someplace else, you could read that as a gag, a final subversion of expectation, still the same basic shape. But no! No! Once is a gag - thrice??? Thrice is a thematic statement!

So lemme make my case. I’ma take you through these movies one by one - we’ll talk about the manchildren and the expectations set by the genre, and then we’ll talk about that last-minute swerve and what it means. And then you’ll tell me I’m right and apologize!

Shaun of the Dead:

Shaun is a man in his twenties. What kind of manchild is he? He’s the slacker.

What is his problem? He needs to sort his life out. Shaun doesn’t know how to take action. He hasn’t advanced since college - he’s been working the kind of job a teen takes over the summer for like a decade, lives with the same best friend, has the same petty fights with his stepdad, goes to the same pub every week with the same group of people. He can’t make a reservation, he can’t manage a calendar, he’s a washup. This makes his girlfriend, Liz, feel stifled, trapped; he is a weight around her ankle, taking her on the same date week after week, keeping her from living her own dreams, having her own adventures. She gives him one last chance to prove he can sort his life out, and he blows it, and she dumps him.

And then: a zombie movie happens.

The genre forces him to confront his shortcomings: to survive, and save his loved ones, he’ll have to take action, make plans, be decisive. This is a common fantasy: when you feel ground down by the mundanity of life, you might imagine, oh, if only a crisis would happen, like a zombie virus outbreak, where my normal-life problems like “am I gonna make rent,” “is my girl gonna take me back,” “is my roommate gonna kick out my stoner buddy who’s crashing on the couch” become meaningless, and it’s immediately clear what’s really important, what matters. Then I’d know exactly what to do. It’s why disaster movies work as escapism: a necromantic plague - or at least the fantasy of one - is sometime preferable to normal life.

Hot Fuzz:

Nicholas is a man in his thirties. What kind of manchild is he? He’s the hall monitor.

What is his problem? He can’t switch off. He is a hypercompetant police officer with a rulebook where his brain should be. He’s so good at being a cop that he’s spotting and unraveling crimes even on his day off. He can’t maintain a relationship, has no friends, all his coworkers hate him because he keeps finishing their work for them, and his stats show up the rest of the force so badly that they scuttle him out to the country.

Now you might be thinking, “Mmm. A fastidious police officer who can’t have fun? How is that a manchild? Sounds pretty grown-up to me. You’re reaching, bud.” Ohhhh ho ho, smartass, do you remember this scene? [bar scene] Yeah! Nicholas Angel has a five-year-old’s notion of law and order. He’s still playing cops and robbers.

And that’s a problem, because then: an action movie happens.

It doesn’t happen all at once: he goes out to the country and finds they do things a bit differently there. They are (ostensibly) less concerned with rules than what than the rules are for: if the purpose of drinking laws is to keep the streets safe and orderly, and letting some people off with a warning or allowing kids drink so long as they do it inside achieves that end, the rule can be bent. That’s a judgment grown-ups can make; I mean, they’re the ones who wrote the rules in the first place. So be lenient with shoplifters, don’t hassle people for speeding; this isn’t the Big City, you can use your better judgment. But Nicholas never got past doing whatever Mom & Dad said; obedience, and trusting whoever’s up the chain, is his entire moral framework. He can’t accept that bending the law could be more righteous than following it.

But also maybe there’s a criminal conspiracy murdering people and writing it off as accidents and the police chief might be in on it. Or maybe Nicholas is so desperate for a big case with no moral ambiguity that he’s seeing things where they aren’t. 

The genre forces him to confront his shortcomings: either there’s nothing going on and he needs to chill out about procedure, or the department is corrupt and he’ll have to go rogue like it’s Point Break - and this is how he experiences Point Break. [“paperwork”]

No matter what, he’ll have to bend the rules, which he constitutionally cannot do.

The World’s End:

Gary is a man in his forties. What kind of manchild is he? He’s the delinquent.

What’s his problem? Pfffft. What isn’t his problem? Gary is a manipulative, narcissistic, lying, self-destructive, ignorant, violent, thieving, shit-talking, unapologetic asshole who peaked in high school when being all those things was still kind of badass. The greatest night of his life was the drunken pub crawl after graduation he and his friends didn’t even finish, and he’s been tumbling downhill ever since. He’s spent his life ruining everyone who knows him until there’s no one left to ruin but Gary King. So now it’s time to bully the old gang into going back home with him to relive that night by finishing the pub crawl, because, in his own words, it’s all he’s got. And he and his friends have to confront how home has changed since they left - the bars have gentrified, not everyone recognizes them; the defining, epic deeds of Gary’s youth have been forgotten. You can’t actually go back because that place doesn’t exist anymore.

And then: a sci-fi movie happens.

Turns out the town’s been taken over by aliens, and all the people who couldn’t conform to their new order have been replaced with robots! That’s why no one recognizes them! And that’s why the pubs all look the same: the aliens are homogenizing everything! And it’s clear, if they can’t get Gary and his friends to play ball, they’ll roboticize them as well! The obvious move is to get the hell out of town, but Gary keeps inventing excuses to stay and finish the pub crawl, and they sound pretty sensible because the group’s already five pints in. The genre forces him to confront his shortcomings: sooner or later he’s gonna have to give up on recapturing his youth and do what’s best for him and his friends now, even if it means running back to the city where all his problems live.

So there we have it: the characters cross the threshold into an unfamiliar world where an external conflict cannot be addressed without resolving the tension within. The slacker will have to get his shit sorted, the hall monitor will have to break the rules, and the delinquent will have to do what’s good for him. And, to an extent, all three know this! The movies Wright and Pegg pay homage to exist in these stories - Shaun knows what a zombie is, Danny keeps Nicholas up watching Point Break and Bad Boys II, and Gary and friends know bodysnatcher movies so well they have philosophical debates with the robots about whether “robot” is the PC term.

So, yeah, if you turned the movies off there, I could forgive you for thinking that’s where they’re headed. But you goofballs watched them to the end and then made content about them, what is wrong with you???

What actually happens in the second halves of these movies?

Shaun twigs that he’s in a zombie movie and, at first, tries to play the part - his survival plans are miniature hero’s journeys with him as protagonist, wherein he’ll save the day by neatly confronting all his flaws. He’ll resolve parental conflict by saving his mom from his zombified stepdad, resolve romantic conflict by showing his girl he can come through when it counts, and resolve internal conflict by being a man who saves the day. And all his plans suck! It’s just the same plan he always comes up with! Dragging around the same useless liability of a bestie, collecting the same group of people, and holing up in the same pub! He doesn’t save his mom: his stepdad apologizes, resolving their conflict for him, and then survives in zombie form but Shaun’s mom gets killed; most of the friend group gets killed because the crisis does not actually suspend but in fact amplifies their personal grievances; and he doesn’t save the day, just manages not to die long enough for the military to show up.

But… well, Liz wanted adventure and now she’s had enough for a lifetime, so… she’s down to just be boring with him for a while - sit on the couch, watch TV, hit the pub. Beats running for your life. Tensions with the roommate are gone cuz roommate died, but rent is covered cuz Liz moved in. Zombies don’t get eradicated, just folded into normal life, so Shaun can mindlessly play video games with his bestie forever, and it’s not a problem that bestie doesn’t have an income cuz he doesn’t need food or shelter.

The zombie apocalypse doesn’t make Shaun sort his life out, it changes the world til he doesn’t have to.

When Nicholas discovers that, yes, there is definitely a murderous criminal conspiracy inside the police department, he recognizes the only way to bring about justice is to become what Danny has always wanted and go Dirty Harry on the town. It’s either that or just swallow the crimes. But he does neither. He and Danny go on an epic shooting spree, recreating famous movie scenes, taking out the entire criminal organization against all odds, and spouting badass one-liners… but everyone who helps them is a cop, they don’t actually kill anyone, all perps are formally arrested, and they fill out all the paperwork. I think he even properly signs out the weapons. He never switches off, never breaks a rule, does absolutely everything by the book, only… louder. And this violent showdown saves him from the chill town with lax rules he thought he’d moved to. Now he, with his five-year-old notion of right and wrong, is in charge of the police department.

The buddy cop actioner doesn’t make Nicholas bend the rules, it changes the world til he doesn’t have to.

Gary knows exactly how a movie of this sort is supposed to go and spends the whole movie running from it. Friends and secondary characters keep sharing these poignant moments with him, because they know this story, too: yeah, he’s gonna reject help at first, but sooner or later he’ll hit rock bottom and then someone will get through to him. And, as the night goes on, and the characters get drunker and drunker, and Gary passes up more and more opportunities to abandon the pub crawl and go home, these moments take a tone of desperation. They start to sound more like interventions; like, Gary, we all know you’re going to come to your senses but could you hurry up with it??? How many of your friends need to literally die for you to shape up? Are you gonna get them all killed?

And the answer is: Gary will never shape up! To Gary the Human Dril Tweet, his friends trying to save him, psychiatrists trying to treat him, and aliens trying to assimilate him are all the same thing. He doggedly makes it to the end of the pub crawl and confronts the alien overlord who tells him all the technological advancements of the past few decades - all the efficiency and homogenization that’ve changed the face of his home town - are their doing. The Information Age is an intervention on behalf of Earth, a pan-galactic effort to save humanity from itself. And the reason they’ve been replacing people with robots is some people are too fucked up to go along with it.

And here’s Gary, King of the Fuckups, brashly declaring that fucking up is what makes us human. There is no freedom without the freedom to ruin your life. We are endowed by our creator with the right to be drunken, ornery pieces of shit.

He tells the aliens to piss off and he’s so fucking annoying that they do, and they take the Information Age with them.

Now… I know… ugh… I know a lot of people love this movie, say it’s the best of the three. Some friends who’ve struggled with mental health or just being an adult under late capitalism really identify with Gary, and the valorization of being a mess. I see you, you’re not wrong, I get it, I really do. But can we just… not “but” but “also” can we… can we also admit that this ending is… this is Space Brexit.

Like, literally it’s an alien invasion but symbolically this is Gary rejecting the adult world of rules and authority and doing what’s best for the community and that’s how Brexiters view the EU. And people keep telling him “Gary, this is in your best interest” and Gary says, I don’t want my best interest! I am registered in the anti-Gary’s Face Party and I will cast my vote by cutting my nose! I choose to do what’s bad for me.

And, like a true Brexiter, he chooses for everybody.

Now tell me that’s a movie about growing up. Gary collapses human civilization in its entirety rather than change, and in the world that follows, he thrives… by being an immature, irresponsible bag of garbage.

To Wright and Pegg, growing up is death, and these are movies about being alive. These characters don’t cross the threshold back into the ordinary world with the ultimate boon of character growth; all three stay in the extraordinary world. The zombies remain, the robots remain, Nicholas is offered his London job back and chooses to stay in the country. These are stories about normal life spontaneously turning into a genre film, and they are made with deep love for those genres; why would they end with leaving those genres behind? Because it’s what Adam Sandler would do?

So there you have it. I rest my case.

“Okay Ian. Why does this matter?”

…what was that?

“You’ve made your point: these movies aren’t about growing up or taking responsibility. So what?”

Uhhhh.

“Bring it home for us.”

…

“Why do you care so much?

[breath]

I wrote the first draft of this script when I was around Shaun and Nicholas’ age, and “so what?” is why I shelved it. Now I’m Gary’s age, this video’s been in the back of my brain the whole time, but I got this far and “so what” is where I got stuck, again. This is why the CO-VIDs came out quicker, cuz I let myself end with “so that’s interesting!” and got on with my life. But there’s clearly something sticky here, more than “someone is wrong on the internet.” (Also, to the YouTubers I’m vaguebooking, who said these were movies about growing up - I’m way more annoyed at the folks I’ve argued with on Twitter about this, you just made a better rhetorical device; you do not owe me an apology!) (Also, to the commentariat: I am not extrapolating this from like two data points, this is chronic and recurring and has been bothering me for years.)

There are a few directions I could take this to give it some “cultural weight.” I could put on my social justice hat and talk about how the “crisis of adulthood” doesn’t play as broad comedy unless you look like Adam Sandler or Simon Pegg, or put on my class analysis hat and talk about how signifiers of adulthood are, traditionally, ways of spending and accruing capital which are, today, often inaccessible to people under 40.

And that’s all legit, but here’s the real deal: I’m just mad at Gary. The world changed around Shaun such that he could stay a child. And Nicholas ended up somewhere he could stay a child. If you missed that, you’re wrong, but whatever. But to say that Gary grew up grinds me, because Gary chose this. The whole movie is people telling him to grow up, and he says no! He says it out loud! He says it to the literal end of the world. To walk out of the theater and say “that’s a movie about growing up” is more than a mistake, it’s a refusal. It’s trying to “fix” the movie by fitting it into a more familiar shape, so it doesn’t say what it says, so Gary isn’t who he is, who he chooses to be.

I’m being cheeky when I say this because he’s a fictional character, but saying Gary grew up is enabling.

Gary says there’s no freedom without the freedom to ruin your life, which is the problem with alcoholics and libertarians: it’s not just your life, Gary! You live in a community, a culture, and an ecosystem! Your actions - everybody’s actions - impact other people! That’s just the way the world is! You can’t shit yourself at the bar without other people having to smell it. We’re all fuckin’ connected, man! You don’t want anyone’s will imposed on you; you spend the whole movie imposing your will on everyone else! You say humans don’t wanna be told what to do, and then you decide humanity’s future by yourself with no input or consent from anyone!

People point to Gary ordering water in the last scene instead of beer as evidence that he got sober, like that’s proof that he did grow up in the end, which are you fucking joking??? Getting sober is a shorthand for maturity the way buying a house is, it doesn’t signify anything in and of itself! Gary drank to escape the adult world of rules and responsibilities! So, yeah, under normal circumstances getting sober would mean he’s made peace with that world and is ready to integrate. But that’s not what happened! The thing he was escaping doesn’t exist anymore! He literally destroyed it!! People died! Probably millions! Now he lives a happy life LARPing as Omega Doom - no I don’t expect you to catch that reference! He doesn’t need to drink! He is literally reliving the best day of his life forever. And even if it did mean personal growth, the idea that a person could make what would be, unequivocally, the most selfish decision in human history, and then spend his life celebrating the outcome, oh but if he overcame a personal demon in the process then on balance that’s maturity? That is lightspeed solipsism! Who are you if you think that way? Are you all Adam Sandler???

And none of that makes this a bad ending, or Gary a bad character. I mean, he is the reason The World’s End is my least favorite, and I don’t like the ending, but I don’t think it’s bad that I don’t like the ending. Rather than watch another addict pull his life together or destroy himself, we watch a downward spiral with so much gravity the whole world self-destructs alongside him. And that’s why The World’s End is the most interesting of the three: it is a bold choice, and I think we are free to feel however we want about the conclusion Gary engineered for himself. I don’t think it’s valid to pretend it didn’t happen.

In the context of the trilogy, we see that Shaun’s immaturity is mostly a problem for Shaun: he would be, at worst, a footnote in the lives of the people who love him; “yeah, I liked Shaun a lot, but I couldn’t carry him through life anymore.” Nicholas is the kind of overachiever that is useful if pointed in the right direction; juvenile code of ethics aside, he is, empirically, helping the community (within the entirely fictional framework where that’s a thing police do). If the world hadn’t changed to turn their flaws into strengths, they would still be relatively harmless. Gary is what happens when immaturity isn’t harmless, and shows us how a world built by that immaturity would look.

There is an appeal to Gary King, a wish fulfillment. Letting your id fully off the leash because you no longer care what anybody thinks - it’s why some people drink, and it’s why some people would like to drink with Gary. But if that’s not just your Friday night, not just your twenties, but that’s your life? There is a destination at the end of that road, and it’s Gary doing something truly ugly. And we see that ugly thing the way Gary sees it: as awesome. But then you see the reality: the Monday morning after the Friday night. We went out with Gary and he did something terrible.

And I’m not telling you to hate Gary for it; I’m not saying Gary can’t be forgiven. In fact, seeing it for what it is is the only way Gary could be forgiven, because, if he “grew up and took responsibility,” there’s nothing to forgive.

I think this is the only way the trilogy could have ended. I mean, you make stories about boys who get older and older and don’t grow up, it eventually becomes a problem. There’s only two ways to resolve it: you either end with a guy actually sorting his shit out, or you go for broke and show what happens if he doesn’t. And I think some of us boys saw that and said, “no, noooo, they did grow up! all three of them!” rather than say, “haha! hahaaa! ……………shit.”

[alertarchitect]

Sorry if this meanders a bit, I'm writing this as the thoughts go through my head early in the morning running on maybe 3-4 hours of sleep, tops. I do have something I want to say here, though, so if you want to see my rambling then please continue.

I used to feel terrible about missing out on live events, both in-person and online. Like I can't support a creator whose work I enjoy, especially the less well-known niche creators, as much as I wanted to. But I had a realization last night...

My best friend and I both really enjoy the work of WayneRadioTV and his friends, and last night he did a livestream involving a social game the two of us play - Tower Unite, of you're curious - where viewers could get involved in some capacity. I'm not fully sure, though, because despite the excitement, I had something else going on; an online date with my boyfriend.

See, I got him Halo: The Master Chief Collection on Steam as a part of his birthday present, both because he was interested in it and because I wanted to go through the games and share with him what is unironically one of my favorite sci-fi franchises out there, despite the reputation it has as a "bro game" with all of the toxic bullshit associated with it thanks to it pioneering online console multiplayer and the, rightfully deserved, reputation that brings with how early-mid 2000s multiplayer lobbies were. It's a way of showing him something that I genuinely adore as one of my more consistent hyperfixations, and sharing with him a part of what has made me, me.

And that's where the realization came in. Yeah, it came about because of me having something else going on, but honestly I don't think I would've had the energy for something as intensive as a high-energy livestream like that without some adverse affects to my mental state last night with everything I currently have going on. So, here's that startlingly simple realization that should've happened far sooner, as it would have helped me immensely in our current capitalist hellscape of subscriptions and content churn and all that other bullshit - you don't have to experience something immediately, or even within a similar time frame as others, to enjoy it just as much. Just because I was too young to ever see some of my favorite bands live at their peak doesn't mean I'm "less of a fan." Just because I'm not binging every show that catches my interest doesn't mean I like them less than someone else.

The time at which you enjoy something, and your method for doing so, does not determine how much you like it.

I think that is honestly an important message we need to spread around now. We have all of these games with FOMO-based systems, their battle passes & shit, all of these movies and shows that get released and stay up for a couple months before getting dropped as a tax write-off (looking at you, Warner Brothers, and how you treated all of those Cartoon Network shows we adored and your fuckery of discarding Wile E. Coyote vs. Acme for tax breaks), all of this relentless content churn. It's the reason we get burnt out so hard on things we used to love - instead of having a world where we pace ourselves, and enjoy things in a way that still lets us enjoy it afterwards, we still have this mindset leftover from the days of only getting maybe one new episode per week of a show, or maybe 2-3 big movies a year, or being fine waiting for sequels to games instead of demanding them to be released immediately - watching things as they were released. Before the explosion of streaming services due to the pandemic, that was more sustainable. You got a bit of new stuff on regular or semi-regular intervals. You had a chance to savor what you saw, to process what happened, and to theorize and work on those theories for fun. Now we get so much, so often, with the expectation of something new every week not being a new episode of a show, but a new series entirely to binge. Things appear, get talked about, and then get discarded more quickly than ever. Hell, the original foundations of this site, the fandoms, don't even last anywhere near as long anymore as the bulk of people find something, engage with it for a short time, and move on. It's to the point where the only fandoms you really get to see stick around like they used to are the ones that already existed - your Trekkies, your Whovians, your LotR nerds, and even the ones that only came about a relatively short time before all of this content churn bullshit, like the Undertale, Homestuck, and Critical Role fandoms. Now the years-long communities like that are relegated to the existing works, the old reliables, and literature fandoms like The Locked Tomb where the very nature of it necessitates longevity thanks to how long it takes to write a novel.

It's relentless. But it doesn't have to be.

We live in a world that prioritizes this content churn, but y'know what? Fuck that. Fuck these big companies that try to sell you a monthly fee for what was once a one-time purchase. Of course, try to still support smaller, indie creators where you can - small-medium size streamers, those YouTubers who make video essays that take so long to release they have to rely on fan contributions in between them to survive due to lack of ad revenue, smaller film productions, etc. - but don't feel the need to do so when you can't afford it, either in terms of how much energy you have (like how I would've been absolutely fucked had I attended that livestream I mentioned at the start of this due to the high-energy nature) or monetarily. Hell, enjoy those big shows and movies too, but what matters most is that you don't - or at least shouldn't - have to enjoy them at breakneck speed.

Pace yourself. Give yourself room to breathe. Take some time to enjoy your content, and to have fun with it, goddammit! There is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Hell, if you're someone that derives enjoyment from waiting for all of a show to be out just to binge it, go ahead - but maybe you don't need to binge-watch something new every week. It gets tiring. But at the end of the day, it comes down to this:

Leave time for the discussion. Yes, enjoying the content is fun, but picking something up and then moving on almost as quickly misses the point of why we love these fandoms so much. The content churn gets in the way of us getting to do our thing of talking about our passions, theorizing about them together, infodumping about them to our friends. Give yourself space to talk about it. You don't need to see every livestream from that streamer, you don't need to watch all 10 hours of that new Netflix show in a day and then watch another one the next, you don't have to watch every movie you're interested in like a marathon of back-to-back productions, you don't need to beat every level of that video game in your first sitting. And that's okay.

[primeiptvservices22]

Beast TV Shows - IPTV Service

Even if you adore Netflix, you almost certainly haven't seen a number of its most excellent shows. There are a lot of other shows that may have slipped below your radar. There are various other platforms other than Netflix where you can watch all the series that are accessible on Netflix there at a really low cost with more Benefits on IPTV services, so here in this blog, you will come across various TV shows that are broadcasted by Netflix and moreover you will get to know about the best service of IPTV service that is rocking the market these days. Choosing the finest IPTV provider can be an intimidating task. Limited self-determining information is obtainable and a lot of providers’ claims are not effortlessly verified. We, consequently, decided to do the grave lifting for you as well as compiled this appraisal and contrast of the largest players in the IPTV subscription bazaar.

"Gentefied" (2020)

Netflix description: "In this badass bilingual series in relation to family, group of people, brown love, as well as the dislocation that disrupts it all, three Mexican-American cousins thrash about to pursue the American Dream, still at the same time as that similar dream intimidate the things they hold nearly all dear: their neighborhood, their refugee grandfather, as well as the family taco shop."

Why you should look at it: Charting the sensible question of gentrification in Los Angeles with an abundance of heart and wit, "Gentefied" is one of the most excellent fresh comedies of 2020. With just 10 episodes clocking in roughly 30 minutes each, it's a fun as well as engaging binge-watch.

"Unbelievable" (2019)

Netflix description: "Inspired by actual events, teen reports moreover sooner or later recants her reported rape, at the same time as two female detectives, states missing, investigate facts that could disclose the truth."

Why you should look at it: The first chapter of "Unbelievable" is one of the nearly all gutting hours of television completed this year, particularly when you be on familiar terms with it is based on actual reported events. After the horrific events of the opening, the following seven episodes are powerfully cathartic as well as downright incredible. It's no speculation the series just landed a lot of Emmy nominations. This is a show each person should be talking about, in particular at a time when the subjects of sexual attack investigations are below strong inspection. 

"Special" (2019)

Netflix description: "'Special' is a characteristic and inspiring new series on the subject of a gay man, Ryan with meek cerebral palsy who decides to rephrase his individuality and in conclusion go behind the life he wants."

Why you should watch it: "Special" is a fresh type of Netflix original series that delivers its humor (with a wonderful dash of drama) in extremely short episodes. Each installment is now below 15 minutes, which means you can effortlessly binge the complete fantastic primary season in below two hours. 

"The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance" (2019)

Netflix description: "The drive begins as darkness rises. Join three Gelfling heroes on a heroic quest to set aside their world."

Why you must watch it: This ambitious live-action dummy series acts as a prequel to the 1982 Jim Hensen film "The Dark Crystal." Working in an average never-before-seen on Netflix, it tells an incredible epic hope tale with an incredibly star-studded cast.

"I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson" (2019)

Netflix description: "There is no such thing as a normal contact in this unusual sketch comedy series that features a profound roster of visitor stars."

Why you should watch it: "I Think You Must Leave" is a set of comedy sketches, each with an exclusively off-kilter style that will depart you crying with laughter as well as quoting casual phrases for days afterward.

"Never Have I Ever" (2020)

Netflix description: "'Never Have I Ever is a fresh coming-of-age comedy on the subject of the complicated existence of a modern-day first-generation Indian American adolescent girl."

Why you should watch it: This Netflix unique funny side has small episodes, and a convincing dramatic subplot, as well as an original turn on the typical teen coming-of-age story. You'll come across yourself as surprised, pleased, and (in the end), intensely moved by Devi's trip.

"Feel Good" (2020)

Netflix description: "'Feel Good' is an intensely personal, dark but amusing story on the subject of two young public navigating the modern-day landscape of love, habit, as well as sexuality - moreover trying to form a meaningful as well as lasting connection."

Why you should watch it: "Feel Good" is the type of great, short show you can indulge in an afternoon as well as feel, well, well about. Telling the autobiographical tale of comedian (as well as recovered addict) Mae Martin as she falls in love moreover tries to poise her mental well-being, it's funny as well as earnest moreover endearing, and unprepared all at once.

"Dark" (2017)

Netflix description: "A missing child sets four relations on a worried chase for answers as they discover a mind-bending secrecy that spans three generations."

Why you should watch it: It's a deliberate burn, but its value sticking to for the reason that it proficiently weaves nervousness into the sci-fi noir planet. 

Beast TV Services

With the propagation of IPTV services, it might often be fairly easier said than done to decide on the best match for your character needs. As is more often than not the case in life you may require making sure tradeoffs or compromises in your hunt. For case in point, one IPTV service possibly will have all the content you could do with, good stream superiority, and a complicated EPG but all this would appear at a cost. Another service might be more reasonably priced but lacks in the extra areas. It in general all boils losing to which is the “slighter evil” you are willing to set up with.

Beast IPTV is an IPTV provider that sings your own praises with a dazzling 3500 live TV channel list ranging on or after Sports, TV shows, Cartoons, as well as many more. It is also laudable to message that the channels are grouped per nation making it easier to classify the vast content accessible. One thing I originate predominantly unique about Beast IPTV is the extensive diversity of Adult content accessible on the display place. If you have underage persons’ right to use the service, you might want to seem for an IPTV entertainer that supports channel collection locking or hiding despite the fact that.

In terms of expense, Beast IPTV supports PayPal, credit cards, as well as Bitcoin. You will find this wide-ranging range of options fairly refreshing as it doesn’t pack you into one payment choice.

You will be uniformly extremely impressed by the receptiveness of our client support. You can try reaching out to us by the use of the contact-us page on our place in addition you will be surprised just how rapidly you will get a reply, so that’s a very brilliant positive. In the past, if you have had circumstances with additional providers where as soon as completed an expense, it is a pretty great deal on its own.

[mzgotron]

The Ultimate Strategy For Dating

By comparison, just 25% of those with a high school diploma or less know someone who uses online dating - and just 18% know someone who has entered into a long-term relationship with someone they met this way. As a monkey swings from one branch to the next, some people jump from one relationship to the next with no break in between. There might be only one thing that is more challenging than being with a man in the military, and that is dating or being in a serious relationship with a man in the military. There are many dating sites and apps including those for casual relationships, long-term relationships, and many others. The point is, mail order bride services and international dating sites are not the same things - they have lots of differences, and the main difference is in what female members of these sites are looking for.

And while each sign is different, members of the same element, in this case, air, have similar traits. Each element has three signs attached to it, which in turn make up the twelve members of the zodiac. A downside to this element is that they can sometimes live inside their heads too much; they can get very philosophical at the simplest of questions. If you attend an event, you can contact guests from the event through the website for free for two weeks after each event. נערות ליווי ברמת גן This is not such good news for Tinder, which is free but relies on premium subscriptions for its revenue. Most autistic adults that I work with tell me they are trying incredibly hard to be a good partner. If you want to make a real connection, spend time writing a good profile to show that you care about making a good impression. Warren’s wife would claim that she didn’t want limits on the Gazette’s publicity, she wanted them prohibited from collecting the information in the first place. Zendaya revealed on the red carpet that the first person she would message following a victory would be her other half - adorable!

Following their starring roles in 2017’s “Spider-Man: Homecoming” - in which Holland played Peter Parker and Zendaya portrayed his classmate Michelle - sources said they had started seeing each other. All your activities will stay on Facebook Dating and won't be shared on Facebook. Contact the Facebook Help Center. Ar-Ar dating is a similar technique that compares isotopic ratios from the same portion of the sample to avoid this problem. Also this technique helps in accessing different documents at different places where internet connection is available. That it helps your country. He also may have to move all around the country and possibly even around the world. I would for my country. Well, now you know all the essentials to create a dating website that matters. Well, yeah I do it all the time. I do that all the time. Yes, all the time. By the time you reach 50, you’ve likely experienced quite a few different relationships of varying lengths. Zoosk then “observes” who you’ve liked or clicked on on the app to curate more compatible matches going forward.

The newer Millennial dating app offers casual daters to find like-minded matches, although that does not mean there are no opportunities for serious relationships. 👤 Display Profile: If you want to chat only with the people you have liked, you have the option to go incognito, the best dating & chat app for you. Seventy-nine percent of you are interested in hearing about their hometown while 78% of you want to know more about their hobbies. The more people who liked and swiped right on a person's profile, the higher they were ranked. A guy who makes a lot of money. The most obvious place to find Christian singles who hold the same values and views on faith as you is at your church. The site also talks about connecting Christian singles to experience romance and find love online. They do say they are a Christian based services but so is Dave Ramsey. This is not to say that every intervention was successful, but there is strong evidence that IndieWeb’s community culture is acknowledged as equal to its material artifacts.

[hexdsl]

JotterPad

Part of my obsessive personality type drives me to obsess over things that don't matter. Part of this is the very real fear that I am stuck in my ways. I don't like the idea of being stuck. I certainly don't like the idea of beging to stagnate. Because of this I often try new things for basically no reason.

I not only try loads of writing tools and applications but I learn them, I bask in them and I blissfully dissect them in my head.

What is JotterPad?

I discovered JotterPad a while back, when I was looking for a Android writing apps. Eventually I settled on Word, because it turns out that Word on Android is actually very good.

The attraction of JotterPad was that it had support for Markdown, LaTeX and even the script writing markup-language Fountian. It supported cloud services for syncing to local files and had a dark mode by default.

It is almost like the app was designed for nerdy writer's like me.

Originally, I bounced off it because it lacked some note taking functionality I was looking for. Fast forward a year or so and I have my notes app that I love. I have Word and I love that too. I was in not way looking to pick up a new app, especially not one that costs a subscription.

JotterPad came up on a random recommendation inside Google Play. I shrugged and decided that I should give it another look, just to stay up-to-date.

Upon opening it and accepting the three day trial that it offered me, I had some instant thought, chronicled as such...

No nonsense interface is nice.

Default font is nice.

Default dark mode, nice!

Chunky menu buttons, I like!

Built in definitions menu - yay.

Header/section based navigation in a pop out, good!

Unsplash hu! I have no idea why but I love it!

As you can see, there was a lot that struck me as great and very little to put me off. But still, I don't need a notes app, I don't need a writing app and I certainly don't need a subscription.

JotterPad positions its self as a novel script writing solution but offered no annoying layers of useless tools that I would never use.

An example of this is how DabbleWriter (which I really like) has a whole section in the document for characters, locations and plot points. While I like it all, I wouldn't really use it because I have a notes solution (Notion) and aside from a few choice plot reminders, it would stay unused. JotterPad doesn't give you that fluff and bloat (that was mean, lots of people use all this stuff and find it useful - Sorry. )

What Jotter does do, is have first class markup support (Mardown, LaTeX and Fountian,) easy to use cloud storage and a bunch of plug-ins you can ignore, if you want. You can literally never interact with the plugin list and never know about a lot of functionality unless you are looking for it.

It has good word counters, nice simple menu items and it saves after basically every word. Its a good place two write with no slowdown or distractions. It even supports Typewriter scrolling, which is something that I find super helpful when I hit flow; something that Word is missing!

Its competent, convenient and priced reasonably. On offer you can get a years subscription for a hair over £17, or a lifetime for £150 (at full price.)

Your use case?

Once I had explored and investigated the application, I decided it was actually great! then I realised, I don't need it. I recommend it, I like it but I have no use for it. My novels get written and edited in Word and I love the workflow. I have no desire at all to move on to something else. I don't need it for notes since I have setup a solution I adore.

The app/service exports as PDF, DOCX, Plain text and supports citation management via the BibTex standard. I have played with it a lot and can not find any criticism to raise about its Markdown support. It also uploads to Ghost, WordPress and, my current darling, Tumblr.

I love that I can type a Tumblr post from JotterPad. This isn't enough to make me put my hand in my pocket and pay for it (I don't think) but it is enough to make me talk about it on the internet.

JotterPad as an organisation have some great articles and posts linked at the bottom of the main page and seem to actually care about their product. I have a lot of respect for them. Their whole product smells like the opposite of Scrivener, its just what's required and nothing more, rather than everything anyone could ever dream of. It's a clean-room ready for words and, because of this, I like it!

Should everyone give it a go?

Its a bit surprising to me that there is very little in the way of guides and chatter about it, outside of their own forums. Maybe its just quietly enabling a lot of writers, or, no one is using it.

Try JotterPad, is good. Or... you know... Don't, I guess. Heck, I'm not even sure I'll be using it long term, but I am sort of hoping they are going okay.

[justine-the-guillotine]

I saw on your profile status in ikerev you said it deserved better and I agree but why do you personally think that

It's no secret that IkeRev is my favorite Cybird game but I'm gonna preface this by saying I also really enjoy IkeVamp and I spend money on IkeVamp just like I spend money on IkeRev, so I don’t want anyone to think I’m hating on the game or on Cybird (because I owe Cybird my life and sanity to be quite real with you) when I say what I’m about to say.

But the way Cybird treats IkeVamp is wayyy different than they treat IkeRev. Please note, I only play the EN versions of these games, so I cannot in any way speak on how the JP versions are treated. This is just based off my experience as an EN player.

Also as another note, I have been playing IkeRev since only a few months after the release date, and I have been playing IkeVamp since the minute it was released, so I have been playing a looong time.  I also consistently rank in the top 100-150 in IkeRev events. I feel like that's probably relevant for credibility's sake.

So the short version of this is... comparing IkeRev to IkeVamp, fuck yeah I think IkeRev deserves better and I think it should be treated as IkeVamp's equal rather than it's fucking step-sibling.

For starters, it is cheaper to buy premium currency in IkeVamp!! Yeah, IkeRev does that Secret Tea Party thing which is a great deal and I do religiously purchase it every two weeks. (I budget it as another one of my subscription services tbh). However, only the first 200 crystals count as paid and the rest are free (I know this isn't uncommon, just saying). With IkeVamp, if you buy the most expensive premium currency package, YOU GET MUCH MORE THAN IF YOU COMPARE IT TO WHAT YOU GET FOR THE SAME PRICE IN IKEREV. Plus, in IkeVamp, you can watch ads for free diamonds. When will we ever get this option in IkeRev.

Anyway, this makes premium stuff much cheaper in IkeVamp overall.

In my opinion, IkeVamp - I don't know that it will stay this way, of course, because IkeRev has been out longer- gives more equal opportunity to their suitors than IkeRev has done in story events and side stories.

IkeVamp has the gacha library where you can revist old gacha whenever. Where is this in IkeRev.

IkeVamp, so far, gives better opportunity for lucky times and also includes TRIPLE lucky times. Which yeah, IkeRev has its "super lucky time" but is it better to be guaranteed a win or is it better to get more points per win??? Not really sure tbh but I feel like it wouldn't hurt to try it out in IkeRev

YOU CAN BUY EPILOGUES IN IKEVAMP. I am so, so tired of having to clear 8 endings to get Ray's fucking epilogues every damn event. Obviously this is only an issue if you stan Ran (or Sirius, as he is I believe the next most expensive guy after Ray) but unfortunately for me he is my #2 after Fenrir. And yes, of course, I do NOT have to play the events and I do not have to get the epilogues. What I am saying though is it is easier for me to get all the event stories and epilogues for my #1 in IkeVamp (Leonardo) than it is to get all of that for my #2 in IkeRev (Ray). IkeRev ONE TIME let us buy epilogues and you know what?? I actually fucking bought all of 4 of them that one time they let us do that so... I dunno maybe they should just let us buy the epilogues LIKE YOU CAN IN ALL THEIR OTHER ENGLISH GAMES.

Again, this is all my opinion, and if you have a different opinion that's cool man that's fine that's whatever but also, in my opinion, I feel like the way events and releases are handled in IkeVamp are overall just better than how they are handled in IkeRev. I don't know if this is because IkeVamp is the newer game but like I really feel it is because IkeVamp is EN Cybird's cash cow right now so they spend more focus on it.

ALSOOOOOOO SAVE ROOM FEATURE WHEN IN IKEREV??? I love that I can create an avatar look I absolutely adore, SAVE IT, and then create a whole new other look AND SAVE THAT AS WELL ugh I know these are just minor nitpicky things but really I just love IkeRev soooo much and I want it to be treated well and I don't want people to hate on it.

Thank you so much for your ask I'll reblog this tomorrow in case you miss seeing this. <3

[dark-muse-iris]

Quick Guide to AO3 Account Setup & Subscriptions

After receiving some messages expressing confusion about Archive of Our Own (AO3) and how it works, I’ve made a little guide to help you keep track of the writers you love. This guide is intended for readers who

haven’t read AO3′s FAQs,

claim Tumblr never notifies them of anything so they miss fic updates,

follow too many writers and can’t keep anything organized because of it, and

adore email or use it to keep their life in order.

This guide is only on setting up subscriptions and full disclosure, I’m doing this because I only upload to AO3 now, yet only 5.1% of my readers from Tumblr use this free service. I think it’s because you guys may not know how to use it, so here’s the first tip: set up an account on AO3.

Setting Up an Account on AO3

Background: To create an account, you need what AO3 refers to as an “invitation,” a code or link that allows you to access the Archive. This system, while a bit tedious, is in place to prevent the site from growing beyond a manageable size. Every AO3 user, upon creation of an account, is given eight (8) invitation codes to give out to their friends. I have a few left that I would gladly give to a reader, as I’m sure other writers have.

Step 1: Get an invitation code/link from another AO3 user OR go to the AO3 home page and click Get Invited.

Step 2: Add your email address and click Add me to the list.

Step 3: Wait until you are emailed an invitation from AO3. They’re currently sending out 4k invitations per day, but it’s subject to change based on varying factors. I waited less than two weeks when I signed up.

Step 4: Finish setting up your account. For more information, see FAQ - Invitations and FAQ - Your Account from AO3′s website.

Setting Up a Subscription

Background: The most important thing I can say is this is free! If you’re someone who’s too busy or too lazy to check in on your favorite writers, you should consider this service. The only time you will ever get an email from AO3 is when one of the writers you are subscribed to updates or posts a story. More importantly, Tumblr doesn’t have anything like this! That’s why readers demand Updates or WIP pages or, worse, they’ll ask to be manually tagged for every update so they “don’t miss anything”. I gotta tell you guys: many of your faves won’t do this because it feels like personal assistant work and screams, “I want to read you, but not so much that I’ll keep up with you on my own. Do it for meeee!” I don’t tag anyone for updates and never will. Why? BECAUSE AO3 HAS SUBSCRIPTIONS! So, let’s see the steps.

Step 1: Find a user you want to subscribe to. Here’s my user page to get you started. 🙃 When you get to the page, click Subscribe in the upper-right corner.

Step 2: Check for the blue confirmation banner.

Step 3: Wait patiently for one of your favorite writers to update. When I update a story, you’ll get an email from Archive of Our Own with the following subject line: “dark_muse_iris posted [Fic Name or Chapter X of Fic Name]”. For more information, see FAQ - Subscriptions and Feeds from AO3′s website.

And that’s it. You’re now equipped with the knowledge to venture forth with confidence and subscribe to any writer who posts to Archive to Our Own!

[closecry]

The Back-up Plan (Pagan Min x Reader)

Word Count: 2,223. Rated T for light cursing. Cross posted to my AO3, MadQueen. Based off a recent shitpost I made.

It's 2018. Late 2018… Maybe. Probably. These days, it was hard to pinpoint what day it was exactly. You were on an island Pagan had purchased for his retirement from being the King of Kyrat. What with the constant sunshine and nice weather, it was hard to tell exactly what time of year it was.

Pagan had a calendar in the villa that he used to keep track of time (It went to the year 3000. Which you thought was ridiculous.). It wasn't needed, because while you were on an island in the middle of the ocean, it wasn't without the "necessities".

There were solar panels that were used to power the house, there were satellites that adorned the roof of the villa that could pick up stations halfway across the world, 4 swimming pools, a tennis and basketball court, and of course, Internet Access. Pagan couldn't live without access to Netflix, Prime, HBO GO, Hulu-... all of the subscription services. He had all of them.

Most days for Pagan are spent at the villa, enjoying one of the many activities he could while there.

As it stands, though, you were sitting on the edge of the sand at your favorite beach on the island. It had nice tide pools you enjoyed exploring when the option is made available to you. You were enjoying rereading one of your favorite books, one that Pagan had first introduced you to.

Today, you had been able to convince Pagan to come out with you, and while he was in the shade far away from the ocean's side… he was there. A nice steady presence behind you. He had a radio sitting beside him blaring music in order to be heard over the raging sound of the crashing waves.

The water laps up to your ankles and startles you from your book you had been engrossed in.

You had been sitting on the edge for hours, and the tide apparently had time to rise up to meet you. To be be fair, it was a good book. And Pagan's choice of music had really lulled you into a sense of bliss that left you ignorance of the passage of time.

You sigh, and lean back, your book now momentarily forgotten as you instead focused on the radio behind you and the waves crashing in front of you. It was playing ABBA, one of Pagan's favorite artists. You're not surprised about that, if you're being honest. He adored most music in the same sort of genre, the over the top ballads and upbeat songs being his go to jams. You suppose it did fit his drama queen personality, though.

You lay down against the sand, and your head lulls back in order to focus on getting a good look of Pagan from behind you in the shade tree that he often frequented these days.

For a man that bought a tropical island to spend his retirement on, he didn't really enjoy exploring the edges of the island, or the ruins of the former village, or the small mountain tops that littered the island, or even swimming.

No, he much more enjoyed sitting down in the shade reading through Vogue, a magazine he specifically had shipped to the island monthly. When he didn't have a new copy to peruse he often would pick up a book, but for now, being at the beginning of the month it was, it was time for his magazine.

Pagan had let his guard down on the island, no longer fearful of assassins around the corner, or an uprising in the shadows. He was just allowed to be himself.

The only other people on this island were a few farmers, chefs, repairmen, and cleaners who kept the island's villa and guesthouse up and running… and well, Gary. (You weren't sure Gary's exact job title, he just kind of did whatever Pagan wanted him to. He was deeply devoted to the former king.) There were shipments of whatever exotic item Pagan were craving, but for the most part you were incredibly self reliant.

You didn't have a care in the world on the island, it was bliss. While it was humid, you, unlike Pagan, enjoyed the island for what it was. You explored, and swam, and even had your own little garden by the house… Perhaps that's why he had picked the island, if he didn't himself enjoy the activities?

Pagan was still Pagan, though, somehow always able to tell when eyes were on him from years of being on the run. It was like he had a sixth sense for the thing. So, after a moment, his magazine slides down and he meets your eyes with a questioning look.

You're confident that if It weren't for the deafening noise of the ocean and ABBA drowning out any possible noise that he could make, he would perhaps teasingly ask what you were doing watching him, but as it stands he simply smirks, motions for you to take up the space beside him, and slides the magazine back up after a moment.

There was an empty seat beside him, across from the table where the radio sat. It was an over the top lawn chair, incredibly expensive and adorned in exotic metals in the frame with your name embroidered into the fabric covering the cushions. A set of seats fit for a king and his spouse.

You let out a chuckle at his overconfidence, knowing that he was now waiting for you to join him, but sure enough, after a few seconds you do stand up and make your way over. You couldn't deny, his company did sound preferable to the crashing waves and small sea creatures that had washed up on shore.

You wipe as much of the sand off your body as you can while you walk, and when you end up in front of Pagan you're left with two choices. As it stands, you could easily take the chair beside him, the one that he was motioning for you to take, but the area between his legs looks too tempting for you not to at the very least try.

It wasn't often he denied you anything you wanted, so you're fairly certain he won't push you away if you attempt to share the seat.

You lean down, sitting down at the space between his legs. When Pagan realizes what you're doing, the magazine slides up slightly to make room when you start to slide between his spread legs. You gently lay your back against his stomach and your head against the lower part of his chest. Your arms fall against his thighs where they surround you, essentially making makeshift arm rests.

You half expect him to simply move the magazine up to your head and use it as a sort of stand, as he has done before when you've interrupted his reading by doing similar feats. He especially did it when you were back on Kyrat, where his task had to do more with life and death rather than whatever Vogue was featuring this month. He throws the magazine to the side table, and tangles a hand into your hair, beginning to stroke the strands.

You push gently up into his hand, nuzzling back into his chest with a satisfied smile. Now this, this, was nice. Pagan normally only gave intimacy when it was first initiated, he rarely reached out. He was normally a reserved person, and before you had moved to the island he enjoyed showing his affection in other ways. Mostly monetarily, but his kind words did also hold a sort of reverence for only you.

Pagan can't help teasing you though, always finding a way to do so when at all possible. As it was, with you pushing back into his hand with contentedness, it wasn't hard for him to find something to point out. "Needy." He breathed, but the word was spoken with such fondness that he carried with him in nearly every breath.

He would never readily admit it, but you knew he liked it when he felt needed. Wanted. Before, when he was king, he had hundreds of people constantly reaffirming him. You tried to fill in where you could, and you're sure he understood exactly what you were doing. If he did, he didn't comment on it.

***

You're half asleep when the noise of the radio's static alerts you. You jerk against Pagan's body at the sudden change, surprised. It's cut out from Dancing Queen to a sort of alert noise that's taken the place of ABBA's voices.

Pagan's hand stops it's careful and calculated strokes, and he offers a glare to the radio. "What?" He grumbles, seemingly to the object as though it would answer him back.

As it is, you make no move to get up in order to inspect the radio, but instead watch it with confusion. Perhaps it had somehow switched stations to something else? Maybe it lost signal?

It beeps again and a voice starts speaking, sounding panic when it does so.

"There has been a nuclear attack on United States soil," You hear what sounds like the person shuffling papers.

You move forward, sitting on the edge of the seat now with bated breath. The lazy afternoon turning into the most stress you've had in years.

The voice starts up again after a moment. It doesn't sound any less nervous than it had previously. "It appears to been a direct retaliation from North Korea as a recent change in policy-"

The radio cuts out, and static takes it's place. You stare at it for a moment, your eyes widened with disbelief.

You had known about the rising nuclear threat of the other countries, but you never thought it would come to this. Sure, there would be alerts on the radio occasionally interrupting the stream of music that Pagan had playing, but… they were never like this. Never this severe.

You look at Pagan now, unsure of how to react to news of one of the biggest countries in the world being nuked. Millions other casualties, what with the tech that existed nowadays. There would undoubtedly be retaliation from the United States as well, thereby creating more death. Destruction.

Eventually, Pagan's arm reaches forward and he switches the radio over to the CD that he had in the device, and ABBA once again overtakes the noise of the waves in the background. He was never without his contingencies.

"Well, that's unfortunate." Pagan says, his voice not sounding the least bit sorry or worried. "A real shame." He says, reaching forward as to pick the Vogue magazine he had dropped when you plopped down into his lap.

You reach over to the radio and turn it down, but not off. He would complain if you turned it off entirely.

"Pagan." You say, your voice patient.

Still, he doesn't look up at you, he offers nothing but a simple hum in response, dismissively.

Your eyes narrow at him now, and while you want to take the magazine away and throw as far into the ocean as you can at his blasé attitude to all of this, you restrain yourself to moving a single finger over to his magazine and gently sliding it down, until his eyes meet yours again with a roll that doesn't go missed by you.

He looks entirely unimpressed. "It wasn't my fault, why are you looking at me like that, darling?" Pagan asks, his voice sounding almost annoyed. "I can't control what other countries do, hell, I can't even control what Kyrat does anymore-"

"Pagan," You start, effectively cutting him off, a sigh being unable to hold itself in. "We should still talk about what this means." You say, and after nothing but a raise of his eyebrow in question, you continue. "I mean, they are undoubtedly going to retaliate, and that means that most of the rest of the world is fucked."

Pagan, once again rolls his eyes. You want to hurt him. (Not really, but, still… He's being an asshole.)

His tone is still unworried when he speaks. "It won't reach us here, we're in the middle of nowhere." He assures you, but it's said like someone might talk to a child. As if it's obvious. "And, God-forbid if they drop one close enough for fallout to reach us, we'll simply move to the underground shelter. It has food and water enough for 30 people for another 30 years, the same as the one in Kyrat that Ajay is undoubtedly occupying currently..." He chuckles, and shrugs. "Hell, I believe the one here has it's own set of swimming pools as well, among other things."

He moves a hand to your shoulder and pats it softly. "We'll be fine." And with that, he has the magazine back up. A hand blindly reaches out and the radio is back to the volume it was before.

You believed him when he said you would be fine. The rest of the world might be going to shit, but here, on the island in the middle of nowhere, Pagan's retirement would not be interrupted. He couldn't save the world, society may be collapsing around him, but he could protect what was important to him. His world.

...Pagan never was without his contingencies.

[itsclydebitches]

How do you feel about derivative art? I'm guessing you approve since you're big into fanfics. Is art that's derivative as good as original art? Could a well made video critique of a film be better then the film? Or a fanmade rewrite be better then the original book? And yes I know nothing "original" exist, but that's not the same thing as art that is obviously derivative. And the big question. Should artist be allowed to make money off derivative art?

For me it’s an all around “Yes.” I’ve read fics leagues better than published novels. I’ve seen fanvids far better than films. Granted, when you get into the subject of visual media you run into things like finances and access to technology. Anyone can craft a story with words, but only a few have the budget and tools required to re-create the sort of Blockbuster films we’ve grown used to. But why in the world would that very specific style be the only “good” art out there? Obviously it’s not. If anything, we value limitations in our art. Six second vines shot on cell phones are adored and can lead to lucrative careers. Films like the Blair Witch Project want to mimic an armature cinematography, like these people really were just shooting what they could while running for their lives. Amateur does not in any way equal lesser. To say nothing of the fact that fans have shown time and time again that a passion for the material and a huge amount of work ethic is more than enough. As the recent Loki logo abomination attests, all the money and resources in the world doesn’t guarantee taste---or success. Outsiders to fandom love to criticize the “horrible” fics they found when they dove into AO3 for all of ten minutes, but fail to acknowledge that you’re just as likely to find a terrible book when you pull one randomly off of B&N’s shelves. If derivative art is somehow lesser than we need to re-evaluate the comics industry. And every formulaic western, rom-com, police procedural. And every great author (there are a LOT) who wrote “classics” based off of other’s characters and worlds. Art is art. Mainstream art is in no way superior to fan art, no matter how much people still want to convince us of that. 

The money question is, admittedly, waaaaaay more complicated. For me though it’s still a “Yes” simply because of how fandom functions. That is, we need the canon. Even if it becomes outdated, or is considered offensive, or is absolutely terrible compared to what the fandom has now produced, people will STILL consume that material (and more importantly buy it) in order to get access to all the good fan stuff. I’ve simply never bought into the argument that derivative works are a threat to the livelihood of the original piece because they depend on that piece. All my friends are in a fun discord for TV Show X. They’re producing all these fics I want to read. I’ve heard that Show X is actually pretty bad, but I’m going to watch it anyway because that provides me with the context that produced all this other stuff. It’s the foundation, the blueprints, the golden ticket to get inside the fandom. Will every fan do this? No, some do bypass the canon and just dive right in, but the majority of them will. Meaning that rather than posing a threat to the original author’s livelihood as most people assume, fanworks help keep mainstream content alive. Adding a price to that doesn’t change anything. If someone offers me a fic for free I’m gonna tackle the canon book first. If someone offers me a fic for $10... I’m still gonna tackle the canon book first. Either way the author gets paid and are likely to get more if fans use their work as an entry point into the fandom. “I wouldn’t have read/watched your stuff at all, if it weren’t for the fact that I want to read the stories my friend is now producing.” Giving that friend some rent money is the least we can do. 

(There are obviously other arguments against making money off of derivative works, two of which boil down to “It’s against the law”---which funnily enough we create and control and can change if perspectives change---and “They’re my creations and I don’t want you messing with them, let alone making money off them.” I’ve got a lot of feelings regarding that one and in an effort to save a bit of space I’ll boil it down to a very unkind response: Too bad. Transformation is at the heart of human interaction with art. If you didn’t want that you shouldn’t have given it to the public in the first place. Authors don’t get to police how fans interact with their work: “I love it when you take the time to write me glowing reviews! .... oh, but not when you write another story. Please continue making awesome fan posters that promote my work! ... but not one with those two characters kissing ew.” Authors don’t get to dictate how fans interact with the art they’ve put out there; how much of it is active and in what ways.) 

We also have to consider that we’re already in a world where those lines are irrevocably blurred. Why does E.L. James or Anna Todd get to make a fortune off of their barely changed fics? Why do artists get to sell their fanart but fic writers are still largely terrified of lawsuits? Fans are already making money off their work---always have, really---and I doubt that’s something we can reverse. Whether or not it continues to grow is the real question. 

Personally, I wouldn’t want to see derivative works commercialized, not because fans don’t deserve to earn money for their labor (we do), but just because that would irrevocably change fandom dynamics. We’re a gift economy and we’re built on that. Fandom has always been about progressive acts: be it writing about queer identities, providing accessibility accommodations decades before mainstream art did, or (and this is the kicker) helping to level out class differences. Meaning, mainstream art is often for the rich and the elite. Broadway shows are insanely expensive and impossible for most to get to. Movies prices have skyrocketed. Every company is creating their own streaming service, requiring that you pay three or four $20+ monthly subscriptions instead of just the one. It’s all about money and fandom is one of the few places where we still exchange art for praise and more art, rather than a paycheck. Fic is free. Fanvids are free. You guys want a cute drawing of this couple? All you have to do is send in a prompt ask and I’ll draw it! Sure, I’d also love it if you paid for a commission, but I’m going to keep creating free drawings on the side. When was the last time we saw a mainstream author go, “Please continue to buy my last story, but in the meantime here’s a free novel I’m putting up on my website. Hope you enjoy!” I mean yes, we do get things for free (especially when it comes to many games, apps, and some short stories), but not like in fandom. There’s a culture of giving that I never want to lose. Are we already doing commissions and con sales? Yes. Do we often ask for donations and payment? Yes. Should we be able to continue doing so without fear of legal action? I think so. But I don’t want a general sense of “I should be allowed to earn money off of this” get turned into “Well if I can earn money off of this why wouldn’t I?” I never want our work to exist fully behind a wall where the key in is your credit card number. Fandom is unique in its, “I made this thing because I wanted to and I shared it with you because I wanted to do that too, no strings attached” and that, I think, is worth protecting. 

[cruddyborderlandstheories]

athenas or the new ign videos... hmmm

im gonna go for the ign videos (moze gameplay and sanctuary-iii, no guns yet, i have a reason for that) because athenas hasn’t gotten its sweet instagram video yet. once that’s released i’ll do a full post on it. by the time i got around to finishing this post, they had released the video. oh boy... gonna do the gun post then the athenas post, i think. alright, off we go.

tl;dr: we read the entire end user agreement DAHL thrusts upon us for using the ECHO device, talk about some stuff like how (spoilers) it seems like Lilith will be getting her powers back at the end of the game, and a voice line Lily says that sounds like “Tyreen took my powers. it’s like Tannis said: [inaudible] Siren” (altho im not 100% sure on the [inaudible] part because 1) it sounds weird and 2) there’s a drum beat and also the devs are talking over her, the Siren part seems fairly accurate because of the way her mouth moves). so you know. im gonna be agonizing over that until i can hear what she says. ive already spent an hour just repeating it over and over. i nearly fell asleep lol

we’re gonna start with the moze gameplay (the first 14 minutes of bl3) because chronologically it’s first in both timeline and release date

i love the license plates on the right there

also it looks like they added in claptrap’s old welcome sign from windshear waste! time to stand in front of it for 30 minutes to see if any messages pop up like bl2

fast travel station as well, definitely going to see if/where i can teleport and going there immediately. i imagine this is more for DLC stuff and grinding tho.

also! i do believe we saw Covenant Pass previously. good to know this is actually where it is!

Marcus saying “And Welcome to Pandora!” in the beginning confirms that, yes, they’re going to be on a bus!! i wonder if there will be a fight scene before that though. it’s interesting Clappy mentions that “those jerks who tried to murder you are the children of the vault!” so i mean... there’s gotta be... right?

im also convinced this intro is going to be a mirror of Borderlands 1. i stg if it starts out with the first few notes of Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked and then swaps songs I’m going to lose my mind

also also, the order is totally going to mimic the bl1 one. Fl4k = Mordecai, Amara = Lilith, Moze = Roland, Zane = Brick. We even have Lilith taking Angel’s spot as the mysterious voice in our heads, and probably Marcus driving, AND being dropped off at a bus stop.

bet the reason they changed it from ‘Moze as the Bot Jock’ to ‘Moze as the Gunner’ is because it fits under ‘Roland as the Soldier’ better. Also, ‘Zane Flynt as Himselfs’ would be a play off ‘Brick as Himself’. Amara as the Siren is obvious, and ‘Mordecai as the Hunter’ vs ‘Fl4k as the Beastmaster’ is pretty similar as well, given Fl4k has all those Hunter skills.

the 4 basic emotes im guessing. im so glad we have the option to boop our friends in the face with emotes.

also moze’s little bunny skin is adorable

the ECHOnet used to be called “Riftspace”, “the Spline”, and... “MercTel: A Cyber-Dahl Joint” lmfao

specifically calls out Pandora. also, “artificial megastructures”??? THAT’S SO COOL

AND FUCKING

SENTIENT MEGASTRUCTURES???? 

gearbox. please. i have never ever wanted anything more in my life. please. it’s probably my birthday. PLEASE GEARBOX

also interesting that the user agreement specifically notes ‘Respawns’. I assume this is a joke because New-U stations have been confirmed not canon

“Core law”. Core law? Core... daddy? ... ????

core as in like a core government somewhere that’s not the border worlds? that’s interesting...

“The Legion”, okay, acknowledging TPS, that’s dope

“Project Blackrakk” ... im interested

“Thresher Company” lmao

im curious if Axton was apart of any of the mentioned ones. i don’t think it’s been stated, but i could be wrong

“Chieftain Oort”. also ‘Recently Legless Gary’, lmfao poor dude.

oh yeah im sure this is fine. also holy shit did they google the synonyms for ‘change’ and just start listing them? lmfao

“implicit subscription to the Digby Vermouth ‘Dig’s Gigs’ secret concert subscription service” 

sorry, what?

if this doesn’t come up again in the future- if we don’t get a spam letter or 3 in our mailbox about this concert subscription thing i'm gonna be so disappointed

Dahl hates you if you’re not a fan of hyper-jazz, “you snob” lmfao

my brain hurts, they’re good at writing these 

damn phones exist? i thought everything was ECHO. aight, that’s good to know. i guess there just aren’t any phone networks around the border worlds

also “shared dreamspaces” sound really cool

hm. that’s no good lmfao. also i love that the buttons are ‘Agree’ and ‘OK’. there is no escape, once you agree, you can’t even leave because you’re agreeing that you’re trapped with these rules even if you cancel.

that’s fucked up, DAHL. can’t believe you treat your user base the same way you treat your employees. i guess i shouldn’t be surprised.

anyway, shoutout to literally the only TOA I’ve ever fully read in my life.

also, clicking through this TOA too fast WILL end claptrap’s voice line early. so be careful if you want to hear what he has to say!!

oh shit lmao I gotta go edit that Fl4k post

ok im back ~time magic of being able to save things in drafts and post them at a later date~

sliding preserves momentum, so you can actually slide (nearly) the entire way down! i love this.

small, but claptrap bends his antennae when trying to be stealthy. i thought that was a pretty cool detail

“and some guns include an alternate shooting mode~! try it out!”

player: `immediately shoots claptrap in the face`

i died lol

a very nice look at this sign.

good to know that the twins really are tempting people to join with promises of food. i mean it makes sense, i imagine most of the cultists are desperate for stability and a reasonable life on pandora.

also, Shiv calls himself “holy influencer of the children of the vault” lol. i love that. gearbox really is going for the internet’s throat, isn’t it?

i do like that hovering over an NPC will give you their name only and not name/healthbar.

a better look at one of the signs referencing the Mother!!! i was waiting for this, the only real look we got at one was in that one scene with Moze and IB

“Behold the Mother strength surrender to the truth” 

yeah that’s not ominous...

i assume the mother and father are intended to be tyreen and troy? but idk how i feel about that implication...

i like the new little gear/spring effect for the magnet lol

new lilith! i know a lot of people don’t like it, but i do. she looks better than the bl2 vers. altho i think it’s weird they swapped both bl1 and bl2′s ‘AI’ effect to those dots and then didn’t bring it to BL3. the dots effect felt cleaner. curious why they’re not applying it to bl3 when they went thru all that effort in 1 and 2.

... back up please.

i like that there is a changing icon for long pressing now

“time to check out our slay of the day!” sounds like Tyreen but tbh i legit thought this was moze’s reaction to opening the chest at first lol 

you can hear someone start screaming in agony while she’s walking up the stairs, so i know it’s not moze, but im so used to the VHs talking when they see a new piece of loot my brain just assumed.

also THE MUSIC IN THE BACKGROUND IS A REMIX OF BANDIT SLAUGHTER!!! IM SO HAPPY ABOUT THIS I WAS FREAKING OUT THE FIRST TIME I HEARD IT

also, claptrap when dropping health yells “this could save your life! then, you’ll owe me a life debt!” bullshit im pretty sure you already decided we owed you a life debt the moment we stepped off that bus

“i see it... the great vault” - a line from a cultist you kill

i know i mentioned in this post that the Great Vault may be already opened, but it could also just be a Vault they’re planning on opening and using the propaganda to convince the cultists to help them find it. 

“if you help us get this vault open, you’ll be handsomely rewarded! you’ll get superpowers! you’ll get regular meals! you’ll get money and guns and dates!” you know, the usual stuff. 

either way, elevating the Vault to a higher state (god/heaven/whatever) makes sense if you’re running a cult.

btw there is a hidden chest in the scaffolding to the left of the door, if you’re interested in grabbing some better guns before shiv. personally, i’ll be using the toy guns.

also the TVs are actually playing propaganda now!!

this one is asking questions that i cant understand due to the sound effects of the chest and claptrap talking, but it says something about “... the dust? ... join the Children of the Vault!”

“hey shiiiiiv all your dumb friends are dead!!”

shiv be like

“all my friends are dead”

some cool level-up art! I notice these are the same pictures as used on the japanese site. i wonder if they change depending on which VH you’ve picked (If you’re playing Amara/Fl4k, do you get pics of Amara and Fl4k? the player is playing moze, afterall).

also also “it’s a KIA on the knife wielding maniac. suuuper dead.” 

it’s cool that the VHs have specific lines for the deaths of bosses. i hope that continues and it’s not just a ‘15 min of intro gameplay’ thing. you know, where everything is super detailed in the beginning and then slowly gets less and less as the game progresses? anyway, moze’s little chuckle is fuckin adorable lol

ah. the door closes now so you can’t even explore Shiv’s room before Lilith shows up. gearbox plS you know me too well, i was looking for a g l i m p s e

claptrap’s voice line for getting released is SUPER off time, he hits the ground before going “you did it! i’m sa-ahhhhhhhh!” it’s weird, wondering if that’s just a glitch.

also also we get a nice listen to the revive ally sound. i could’ve sworn it wasn’t in the first look at this mission we got, because i heard it for the first time during the coop Zane/Amara gameplay on Promethea. i might be wrong, tho.

im very curious what these symbols are claptrap is beaming up

i mean you know what im gonna say

they look eridian

and they do

so wtf clappy why u beaming up eridian letters to Lilith

i assume maybe Tannis gave clappy some weird upgrade or something so he could communicate with the crimson raiders without the CoV listening in? it could be that Tannis or someone is decoding this message since Tannis does know how to translate Eridian (as shown in her bl1 ECHOs)

... or at the very least she gave Lilith a translator

the darkening makes it so that you can see the crackening. also this COULD just be a beam that lilith can see from wherever she is, but i want to believe there’s more eridian stuff. bc eridian stuff is fun.

this is so fu cking crisp im dying i love it

lilith’s tattoos spreading down her fingers

same symbol as her chest tattoo. maybe the symbol denotes new powers? like how lily has one on her chest for phasewalking, and a new one on her hand for teleportation

i love how her wings look like actual fire. i fucking love this

lilith is looking so fucking good in the new engine

im glad they got rid of her super red eyes, tbh it looked a bit weird

i think they are really pushing her fire affinity, im sure we’ll see Maya has an elemental affinity as well (im calling corrosive) and im sure Tyreen will too (slag). Amara looks to be Shock because that’s her ‘default’, but who knows until (if) bl4 comes out. but corrosive wings on maya would look SOOO fucking cool. please. please please please.

god she looks so good compared to bl2. i love how the tattoos softly glow in the dark, too. i gotta play this mission late in the day...

“you’re... the voice in my head, right?” i love this so much, i really hope my shitpost comes true.

lilith gives you a grenade mod for completing her mission! im really glad they are PUSHING through the tutorial/intro so you can get right into the game. bl2′s ‘intro’ of all these tutorials was brutal. especially waiting to unlock your action skill.

in 3 you get your action skill automatically at level 2!!! which is insane, i love it! they’re jumping right into it, it’s great. and they seem to be pushing for you to get all the stuff you need right away. 

it’s curious to note that in bl3 we get our class mods at the end of the Promethea demo (after Gigamind), since in bl2 you get your first (usually?) after the hunting the firehawk mission and both seem to take place immediately after we get to the ‘base of operations’ of the game (Sanctuary vs Sanctuary-III).

yep that quest is 100% in line with the quest marker. 

i imagine From the Ground Up may be discovering where the Vault Map/Key actually is? maybe bringing people to the Recruitment Center (notably Tannis)

for this scene. i hope this takes place after the HBC, because i seriously... can’t imagine the twins showing up, taking the Vault Map, bringing it to the HBC, and then NOT taking Lilith’s powers/trying to kill Lily and accidentally taking her powers. it just doesn’t make sense, Vault Hunters be damned, we are level 2 they could melt us easy peasy. 

If anything, it feels like we COULD find the Vault Map in the Recruitment Center, Tannis tries to activate it/fix it, we find out it’s mega broke, and then the Sun Smashers show up and take it. but i seriously can’t imagine Lilith nor the new VHs allowing that to happen while they’re still there. maybe if Tannis sends us to do something while Lilith is gathering other CR members? then it could make sense if they attack while Tannis is alone with the Key...

OR

we end up finding something in Shiv’s room that shows/helps us realize the Sun Smashers bringing the Vault Map to the Calypsos. tho this would mean the quest From the Ground Up is SUPER short and I imagine it’s not. Maybe we raid a camp of theirs like the one in front of Sanc-III with the bridge/ramp? We need to be about level 6 before we go and we start From the Ground Up at 2 so there’s obviously something DEEP we’re missing here. maybe this is a mission where we go gather the other Crimson Raiders? HMMMMMMMM...

.... oh.

nevermind lmfao

she opens her ECHO immediately after this LOL i feel kinda dumb now

raiding their camp it is! the Droughts sounds like a fun location. Very much like the dust. you guys think there’s a Shade situation going on there? i’m excited to see it. Still think we’re going to use Shiv’s room to get that lead, though. i just really wanna watch tv lmfao. i hope this means the bandits run from the camp to the HBC, or we find info that the bandit warchief sent a party to the HBC with the Vault Map. either way, i just don’t want the twins showing up until after the HBC or i will have so many questions. “why didn’t you kill lilith?” being the first. “the god queen wants her head!” ur goddamn right she does, so why doesn’t she (try to) kill lilith???

85% already?! hot damn

also

that’s one badass description there, Moze

also also

while having gun slots locked is pretty normal, im surprised they’re locking class mods and relics, too! i wonder when we’ll be able to equip relics. maybe when we first go to eden-6 or smth. or maybe after we meet up with Rhys. shit maybe he’s just handing us an artifact (im gonna interchange these a lot, sorry!) in that Promethea video lmfao

“ready to chuck some boom and frag some maniacs” lol moze i love you

if you’re playing Zane... `equips grenade mod for checkmark` `immediately equips second action skill and never actually uses grenade mod`

“it’s the firehawk! the god queen wants her head!” 

like i alluded to before, i would not be surprised if Tyreen doesn’t know she can absorb Siren powers... when she goes to succ lilith in front of Sanctuary-III, it’s totally possible she actually was trying to kill her. That could explain why she looks so intrigued at her hand like “oh shit okay lets see what this can do”

might be why she was okay with sending her cultists after her instead of showing up herself.

“alright, we got a foothold. maybe things are turning our way. come on killer, you’re with me” we are going to explore the SHIT out of shiv’s room.

alright alright alright

let’s move on to the Sanctuary-III stuff

yessss

i love the quest objective thing, it looks like we will be able to swap through our quests with the push of a button! also im curious why exactly we’re going to promethea right away. i wonder if the twins say something about moving there after getting the vault map/lilith’s powers, or if we hear from rhys. im expecting something about the vault map, since our vh will admit they don’t know rhys at all when talking to lorelei. but for some reason we need to be within the city limits? since lily says ellie got us within the city limits. 

hmmmmmm. okay, okay, maybe the map was trying to lead us to promethea for vault reasons during that short amount of time that we had it and it was working. maybe promethea is what we see when tannis is activating the key during that one cutscene? ohhh shit how dope would it be if we got that fucking easter egg message? omg “Children of the Vault. Come to Promethea. We are not on Pandora anymore. Tannis is not what she seems. Do not open the Vaults.” and everyone is like ‘uh did that thing just mention Tannis by name??’ and now it’s REALLY important to get the map back just so we can figure out wtf it’s trying to tell us. 

i will question how ‘Tannis is not what she seems’ would affect character relationships, especially if it’s said so early in the game. so perhaps we only hear the first part of the message. maybe it’s corrupted because it was recently broken. iunno. just playing around with ideas. the canon of this game is like flarp putty until sept. 13th

anyway moving on because this is literally the first f r a m e of the video

i like that you can see pandora’s eridian scar. if the destroyer is speaking through eridium to people, it’s gonna bust outta the side of this planet like you wouldn’t fucking believe lmao. eridium is a window to the soul and if you stare long enough into its glossy, shining sides, the destroyer stares back

that or it’s just like a beacon, slowly spreading its influence across the universe. but i like the idea that the destroyer can waltz out of a big enough hunk of eridium. so it will bust out of pandora’s eridium scar. F in chat for pandora but also lmfao the amount of tentacles and rage would be unparalleled.

reality is that the twins are probably farming this scar for eridium to turn into slag for multiple purposes. like brainwashing their cultists, giving them powers, and ensuring their guns have their manufacturer’s quirk (im getting to this in my next post bc im just gonna compile all the ign gun videos into one big post)

the floor art is different from the actual sanc-iii demo. i mention this first in my behind closed doors panel analysis, but im gonna mention it again because this is ~official~. the floor list on the first walkthru of sanc-iii we got had the names of all the crimson raiders and lines leading to their shops. so we had the infirmary/tannis, marcus, moxxi, etc listed on the floor. i imagine this new sanc-iii will change as we get more people on board or if we do a sort of re-decoration of the ship.

also also, it’s cool to see that we have 4 rooms on the minimap, likely one for each of the VHs (and your coop buddies). ive seen speculation that the other, non-played VHs will hang out in their rooms when you’re not playing them, and tbh i really hope this is the case.

we also know this version of sanctuary-iii is after pandora, so there are no promethea citizens aboard yet. which makes me double certain the first sanc-iii video we got takes place either after endgame (explaining why Lily has her tattoos back) or right after Athenas (explaining why Maya is there). which... i mean... spoilers, guys. 

that’s one good lookin fast travel station, holy shit

im in tears over here because “Caution: no steppy”. this is so fucking funny to me

no steppy on me

okay moving on because i will cry laugh over this for forever im allowed

moze’s room is so much different than amara’s

also i notice she’s on the left of the two on the top, which makes me hope the other 4 are reserved for the other VHs (or your coop buddy).

compared to the official sanc-iii demo video

and amara’s room

moze’s is so barren oh my god

someone get this girl like... a colorful throw pillow or something

baaank. also doubles as the secret stash. kinda upsetting, because that is infinitely less loot i can store when i make a lot of characters. also if i upgrade the bank once, is it upgraded across all my other characters too? or are the guns i put in storage slot 11 locked up until i buy the upgrade?

either way, i am saddened because no more mule characters. and way less space the more characters you make and more gear you find, because all gear you put in here is there across all characters. i hope this means our backpacks will be a lot bigger this time around!

supamax mfg shows up again

ppm/04-02 matches up with the number behind the fast travel station. i wonder if this will come into play. if the number changes later in-game im going to freak the fuck out bc that means wherever we are isn’t actually sanctuary-iii

ppm/04-02. remember that 👀

also, the wall behind the golden chest changed from red to steel/greenish. can’t tell the actual color. same as the floor

you know. that color.

“golden keys are popular. you can get some in-game and also get them online”

in-game you say??? im interested! i wonder if there will be some sort of arena (like moxxi’s) where if you complete it you get a key as a reward. i saw people speculating about some sort of randomized boss rush, that could definitely be a way to get gold keys, as well.

oooo engine room! im excited to explore here.

original size is 16. so, we have 40 backpack slots! still... you know... only 1 above the max of bl2, but hey. at least that’s an upgrade. as small as it may be

on the bright side: bank upgrades increase capacity by 5. with a base of 10, and 8 upgrades, we have 50 slots to fill. which is a big leap from the original 24. it is still a shame we have to share these across characters, tho

offline cultist stream? makes me think the CoV really was trying to steal/take over sanc-iii from the crimson raiders and we went to go take it (back?) in Taking Flight. either the CoV found/ordered Sanc-III, or the crimson raiders were building it/fixing it up, their stronghold got taken over, and the CoV were prepping it for takeover.

the shooting range. and if you notice that little CoV symbol in the bottom left there? yeah pretty much backs up my previous theory

all those red bits are tied to ellie’s crew challenge. so we’ll be collecting things for her!

an altar for scooter 😢

“we’re gonna get those cultism sumbitches, believe you me”

where you get yeeted out of Sanc-III. im definitely going to try jumping in it to see if it kills me. doesn’t look like the drop pods are available yet

that’s not clappy, pretty sure he’s hanging out on the bridge right now

schematics for veronica

the thing i was most excited about in this video!

loooots of customizations! which excites me because i know eridium used to get useless late game when you’ve grinded all the raid bosses. it looks like eridum is going to be in ultra high demand. but u can bet ur ass im gonna be unlocking all those fucking customizations asap.

veteran rewards is also super super interesting

hgggggg i wanna know what the shields do!!! 

i like the vault symbol at the top of the item card as well, shows you its a special type of weapon/item. im honestly surprised we’re able to buy ‘veteran rewards’ so early in the game? i mean obvi we won’t have enough eridium (look at the costs!) but it’s wild it’s even accessible. im personally a fan of the first bonus ‘anointed: gain life steal on action skill end’

looks like these guns have been chosen

to give them those special bonuses

i do see that just anointed is not class specific, but the ones that say anointed gunner or maybe anointed siren will be (confirmed by the devs in video).

you pay with eridium, so maybe the vending machine has some way to confer the power of eridium to the guns. or some shit. iunno. it’s possible this won’t be available until the end of the game, hence veteran rewards, and is only being shown to us right now since this is a showcasing video.

pandoran civilian. no promethea civilians today folks! i am CONVINCED that the old sanc-iii demo takes place after the end of the game. at least after athenas.

it’s weird seeing moxxi hanging outside her bar.

is also cool to know that the 4 slot machines are actually available. seems like npcs can play them, but we can use all 4 if we want to. which is really nice

the one on the far left is called the ‘loot boxxer’ and it gives mostly guns lol. i see they are taking jabs. good for them

better pic of the leftmost machines

Zer0 seems to have a bounty board? not sure if this is like a physical bounty board or if they will contact you when they want something dead, but it is cool to note. this isn’t shown in video, just the devs speaking about it.

similarly hammerlock has ‘big game hunts’ where you find “rare, challenging creatures” and kill them for him

apparently we’ll be killing something known as a manvark

this book

i fucking recognize this book

HAMMERLOCK NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

in all seriousness tho

hammerlock probably isn’t in his room because we haven’t rescued him from eden-6 yet.

a cool thing about the crew challenges: as you progress through the game and do these challenges, sanc-iii will ‘grow and change to reflect the things you’ve accomplished’. altho another dev says “sometimes these are optional things, like challenges” 

so now im like oh shit we’re gonna change sanc-iii as we play the game. i wonder if that means we’ll be changing the hull, too. because you know. the blue paint job. we gotta go STEALTH. sneaky beaky into the calypsos fleety

tannis doesn’t have the saurian on her table. also, interesting note, she DOES have the eridian log in the corner. meaning she must have had that before eden-6. interesting... maybe we’ll find more on Pandora.

she is still covered in blood tho. idk i don’t have an explanation for that. don’t think i want to think of one, to be quite honest.

oh no. (those are skulls next to all the gurneys)

“tannis plays a much bigger role in bl3 than she has in past games”. bigger than borderlands 1? that is... impressive. she’ll be running the health vending machines (which is weird bc i could’ve sworn in the promethea demo, zed was still running them... hm.)

another angle of sanc-iii

clappy? you good there?

the devs said they’re using him to plug a hole. i assume the calypsos shot at the ship as we’re leaving or smth.

lily with no tattoos, who also looks significantly more pissed than her other sanc-iii demo counterpart

you know. because she got her tattoos.

also

fucking

lilith says something right here. all i can make out is “Tyreen took my powers. it’s like tannis said. ..... [inaudible] Siren.” maybe some weird word i haven’t heard before? i swear she’s saying ‘like tannis said: a ‘m...’ Siren” but i am not 100% sure. if someone could help me out, that’d be rad.

so its sounding like lilith rushed in with explicit warning from tannis about tyreen stealing her powers, and tannis knew tyreen was some sort of Siren and warned lily, but lily didn’t listen. it could also be that lily is saying something like “im not a siren” but i can’t really hear it if she is. it sounds like she saying a word that starts with m to me. if someone could help me with this i’d owe you my life

whew. i am. fucking TIRED.

im gonna sleep for like 3 hours and then wake up and make food before the fl4k streams start.

[cactusbaseball]

On the end of Warped Tour

To the great despair of the emos, the pop punk kids, and anyone mentally stuck in the early 2000s like me, Warped tour has come to an end. Though I was only able to attend two of the last tours, warped was honestly such an important part of my teenage life, and I can’t let it die without writing a hideously cheesy and overly analytical good-bye letter that no one will read to send it off. 

Long post ahead, but i honestly had a lot to say and I think some of it is pretty well written so if ur emo give it a read

My first Warped was warped 2015, and it was one of the best days of my life. I had spent months planning, religiously following the weekly artist releases, watching altpress’s advice videos and picking out the perfect outift (it was very important to 14 year old me that I looked as cool as possible). I was a fresh emo kid, having just gotten into the whole altpress-pop-punk-emo scene, and had built warped up in my head to be the mecca of my new music taste. Arriving at warped tour was, for me, almost like stepping into the pages of a beloved book or through the screen of your favorite TV show. Suddenly I had entered a world where everyone had badass neon colored hair and wore shirts for all the bands I had come to adore, where my favorite musicians were not simply characters in music videos but real people I could talk to at their merch tents. I felt like a kid in a candy store, dashing from stage to stage to see set after set after set, my eardrums suffering but my soul glowing. It was at that tour that I experienced my first Real Mosh Pit (thanks pierce the veil hehe) and that I bonded with my mom over out shared amazement at seeing pvris live, leading to a tradition of us seeing them together whenever they come to town. I felt elated, I felt accepted. I felt like I was finally more than the nerdy, naive little girl that everyone at school thought i was. Who knew that the girl who spent all her time in her room doing math and who was faced with extreme anxiety when deciding where to sit in the cafeteria could hold up crowd-surfers, shove her way to the barricade, and handle 5 sets back to back on different stages? i felt like a superhero discovering my powers for the first time.

Beyond my personal experience, I truly believe warped was just a uniquely wonderful organization. I loved how it was designed to be accessible to young people (with the free parent tickets, the shuttles, the reverse daycare, etc), making it easy for teens to become involved in the scene even if they didn’t have parents who were willing to pay for a ticket or even drive them to the show. I loved how they kept it affordable and how they didnt do vip bullshit or higher prices for more popular artists: one $50 ticket let you into any show your heart desired and as many as you could keep standing for. The way warped made music available to so many different types of people around the country is so integral to the tightly knit community surrounding this kind of music. And I feel like the way the show orders were randomly decided was super important in giving smaller bands the chance to be noticed and rise to fame. So many bands seen as legends today (paramore, mcr, fob,etc) were helped by warped on their journeys to fame in the early 2000s. 

I honestly just feel like warped was an irreplaceable aspect of the alternative music scene and with warped ending (and altpress becoming this super expensive monthly magazine instead of a $5 yearly subscription) the scene i loved as a teenager is losing the glue that held it together. I know nothing lasts forever, and obviously the music scene and bands I loved as a kid will have to grow and change just like I will. But i feel like that rebellious, teen-angst fueled punk rock spirit that warped represented, the idea that music should be loud, emotional, and available to everyone, is fading from popular culture. And that breaks my heart. Live music is becoming less and less accessible as streaming services make it necessary for ticket sales to be artists’ primary source of income, and as the internet makes live shows less of a necessity for bands wanting to get their sound out there. Alternative music has been largely taken over by indie-pop and dream-pop and psych rock and the like, and while these are by no means bad genres, it really frustrates me that deafening guitar based rock is becoming harder and harder to find. Warped tour was also a place to love the music you love unapologetically, which is harder and harder to find as the pretentious politics that decide which music is “cool” become more and more convoluted.

Like I said, I know nothing lasts forever. But I just hope that some tour or magazine or something will come along that will bring the alt rock scene together in the way warped did and carry on some of the spirit i feel it represented. There’s elements of that spirit in events like Emo Nite that celebrate the unashamed love of obnoxious music, and in every former emo teenager that decides to pick up a guitar and start a shitty band with their old friends. I just hope that spirit never dies, and I hope I will be able to do my part to keep it alive. 

Anyway, sorry for the insanely long post. To some of you it may seem like i’ve just spent several paragraphs ranting about something that doesn’t matter but I just feel like I needed to get all this off my chest give this tour a proper goodbye. So goodbye, Warped Tour, and thank you for everything. Your memory will carry on ❤

[markantonys]

did medici the magnificent make you thirsty for matteo martari? are you Suffering because you want to watch him in more things, but you don’t know italian? fear not! i have tread this path already, and now you can enjoy the fruits of my labors thanks to this handy Guide To Watching Matteo Martari’s Filmography As An English-Speaker

note: most of these are on a paid streaming service such as amazon prime, because it’s almost impossible to find free streams of italian things with english subtitles. but free trials can go a long way in getting around this! i ended up not having to pay a cent aside from the amazon prime subscription that i already had anyway

note 2: i live in the US, so i’m not sure if some of these links might not work in other countries. i also can’t speak for how to find subtitles in languages other than english, sorry!

under the cut are links for watching: non uccidere, luisa spagnoli, 2night, and hundred to go, all of which matteo has a very major role in and thus are well worth watching if you enjoy looking at his face

update: find a more thorough and updated version of this list here

non uccidere (tv show, 2 seasons)

synopsis: a team of homicide detectives solve murders, with a healthy dose of personal drama on the side. this show is, obviously, pretty dark and intense and i would slap a whole bunch of trigger warnings on it. on the other hand, i personally was perfectly able to handle it and in fact absolutely loved it, and i’m usually a giant wimp, so make of that what you will

where i watched it with english subtitles: amazon prime (under the title “thou shalt not kill”)

note that it’s on the pbs masterpiece channel of amazon prime, which costs an additional $5 or $6 per month to subscribe to. but you get a 7-day free trial, and i easily finished the available episodes within 7 days, cancelled my channel subscription, and didn’t have to pay anything extra

also note that amazon prime lists it as 4 seasons, but in reality this is the full 2 seasons each split up into 2 parts

other places it’s available: not sure of anywhere else with english subs (it miiight be on xfinity x1 but i don’t have that myself so i haven’t checked), but if you know italian, the entire show is available for free on raiplay. it just doesn’t have subtitles in even italian there, let alone other languages

luisa spagnoli (tv movie, 4 hours)

synopsis: based on a true story. a woman in WWI italy buys a chocolate shop and ends up running a large-scale chocolate corporation. plenty of business drama and romantic drama. this movie honestly touched my Heart and i would highly recommend it

where i watched it with english subtitles: MHz choice

you have to make an account and it does ask for payment info, but you get a 30-day free trial and won’t be charged if you cancel within that timeframe

other places it’s available: amazon prime. same deal as non uccidere with needing an extra channel subscription, but you get a 7-day free trial here too.

2night (movie, 1 hour 15 mins)

synopsis: two people meet at a club and spend the whole night driving around rome looking for a parking space so they can bang. it doesn’t sound that interesting, but i enjoyed it (it’s a very short movie anyway) plus matteo is one of only 2 characters so he’s in just about every single second of the movie, which is great for me

where i watched it with english subtitles: amazon prime, tubi

hundred to go (webseries, 40 minutes)

synopsis: in a society 100 years in the future, everybody has a clone. matteo 1 timetravels back to 2016 in order to prevent the dystopian society from happening, with assistance from matteo 2 who is still in the future. THIS ONE’S IN ENGLISH YAY!!! finally i get the privilege of hearing matteo speak english and oh my god is his accent adorable. and he plays two different characters which is cool

where i watched it: youtube

aaaand that’s it! i hope this helped the approximately 6 other english speakers on this website who know and love matteo martari lmfao happy watching!!

[brianburell]

Future of Fashion Lies with Technology

Valerie Steele, an American fashion historian, puts, “I think that a lot of our fashion history shows do touch on important issues. Fashion and technology obviously do, because technology is impacting fashion in so many ways, from computer-assisted design to the way we actually purchase clothes online”.

Indeed, technology has become one of the highly applauded value-generating elements in the fashion industry. Brands are focusing on a digital-first approach. They are committed to leverage tech advancements to strengthen their diversified assortments offered through online channels. The head-on sustainability agenda is inspiring them to invest in a tech-driven business model for longer-term transformation and serve a growing breed of customers who adore sustainable fashion.

The fashion industry is witnessing changes as brands are pioneering exciting business models leading to new paths of profitability. As 2020 will experience tectonic shift with fashion companies pushing tech-integrated services in the market, the future of fashion will undeniably be driven by tech currents as companies will keep their fingers on the pulse of market demand.

Delivering top-end consumer experience is a priority, and technology is available at the perusal of fashion brands to make them digital right. Here are some tech-centric fashion business concepts that will revolutionize this highly competitive space in the coming years.

Technology Changing the Future of Fashion

Blockchain making fashion transparent

The technology well known for fusing immutability in business transactions, is now finding its way in the fashion industry. Statista reveals that the Italian fashion and luxury sector is showing a keen interest in blockchain because of its capability to make supply chain traceable while preventing counterfeiting. Fashion is all about offering exclusivity and desirability, and nothing is better than a technology that can assure the authenticity of every transaction. Whether it is about supply chain activities or procuring raw materials unethically or involving child labor in production or emitting hazardous waste in the environment, blockchain can keep a check on all. Fashion brands can create a digital identity of the apparel and accessories, thus thwarting the economy of fake goods.

Moreover, it is offering food for thought to socially and environmentally aware consumers as they shift towards ethical consumerism and sustainable fashion. Blockchain is facilitating a win-win solution for all stakeholders by calibrating the information. Brands can experience more customer engagement as consumers develop trust in them. Blockchain is still in its nascent phase as far as the fashion industry is concerned. The future is perky as it will bring enormous opportunities for the brands to show consumers that they care for them.

Digital Stores rendering immersive and convenient experiences

In an attempt to fine-tune the customer experience and differentiate themselves from competitors, fashion brands are investing in digitization and unconventional business models. In a “winner takes all” economy, fashion companies are keen to offer a value proposition to their customers by implementing cutting-edge tools for a marvelous in-store experience. With interactive devices like AR-powered smart mirrors, AI-powered apparel design software, tailored suggestions driven by big data, interactive catalogs in 3D, digital tags, virtual fitting rooms, agent-facing bots, automated and contactless checkouts and selfie kiosks; brands are underpinning revolutionary ways of selling through brick and mortar stores. It would not be superfluous to say that fashion brands are going phygital.

The stores of the future will offer RaaS (Retail-as-a-Service), where innovative technologies will spellbind customers by providing on-demand services in the stores. Research by Raydiant justifies that retail is not dying; it is technologically evolving and redefining customer experience with new engagement models. Undoubtedly, in the quest to become the best-in-class fashion retailer, companies will continue to offer an immersive environment powered by new-age technologies.

Clothing-as-a-Service (CaaS) offering luxury fashion easily

The rental and resale model is an emerging concept in the fashion industry. With the potential to tackle the problem of overconsumption, this model is all set to end permanent ownership of the clothing and begin circular fashion. The craving for newness in the younger generation has inspired brands to come up with this creative way of refurbishing the apparel.

Clothing-as-a-Service is a subscription-based model in which apparel and accessories are provided to customers for temporary use. Gaining widespread momentum as key players are experiencing customer engagement through this model; fashion by subscription heavily relies on the latest technology. Advanced tech like AI is helping entrepreneurs in this segment to predict inventory and demand patterns. They are designing highly interactive web-based platforms where users can place an order after taking smart trials. Needless to say, fashion retailers will harness digitally advanced ecosystems in the coming years to add CaaS in their omnichannel portfolio.

Bespoke apparel transferring style ownership

Bespoke apparel now no more signifies a tailor-made outfit; instead, it is an emotion, a sentiment that is driving customers to design their own clothes. The trend of empowering customers to custom-create their clothes is a paradigm shift in the fashion industry that not only makes customers, style owners but also contributes towards sustainable fashion. Powered by sophisticated tools like apparel design software, fashion lovers are customizing any form of apparel with few clicks.

Apparel companies and brands are investing in AI and AR tools that augment the online experience of designing clothes, thus helping brands to simplify their technology footprint. Moreover, customers are attracted to create a statement piece that reflects their personality and taste. Therefore, the future of tech in fashion is optimistic as companies are moving towards a made-to-order style that is faster to market and agile to implement.

Katalyst Technologies can Catalyze your Journey to Future

The unfolding implications of disruptive technology will continue to impact players in the fashion industry. If you are still on the other side and are exploring ways to enter into the realm of tech-driven fashion, Katalyst can help. We are a leading IT company with immense capability to support the digital transformation of businesses in all verticals. iDesigniBuy is our established product that offers customization software for fashion apparel and accessories. Our experts are continuously working on removing hurdles while paving a path for digitization coupled with sustainability.

Collaborate with us.

Source Link - https://katalysttech.com/blog/future-of-fashion-lies-with-technology/

[forasecondtherewedwon]

150 Favourites for 1000 Followers

As promised, to celebrate 1000 followers, here is a list of lists of my favourite things. (Yes, that’s what I meant to say.) I thought about doing 1000 favourite things, but OH MY GOD. It was getting tedious and no one would’ve wanted to read that many, so I just went for a nice, even 150. Cool?

Some categories were my idea, others were requests, all are things I am happy to bond with you over. We’re such a large group now. Let’s not be strangers.

My 5 Favourite...

Disney villains:

Hades

Madam Mim

Scar

Gaston

Captain Hook

Serpent headcanons (requested by @cherylblossom-komwonkru):

Fangs and Sweet Pea live in the same trailer and sleep in a bunk bed

Sweet Pea and Toni were each other’s first kiss

Toni, Fangs, and Sweet Pea were watchfully accompanied on their scrappy childhood adventures by Hot Dog (think Nana with the Darlings)

F.P. is afraid of needles and had to be held down to get his tattoo

Tall Boy is somehow two Serpent children in a trench coat (don’t ask me for logistics)

Smells:

vinegar

garlic

peaches

hot chocolate

Scotch mints

Fanfics I’ve written:

Sweetwater Boundary: A Riverdale Western

Home Fires Burning

Finally, Finally (The Hunger Games)

It Ain’t Over Easy

Every Minute (Varchie)

‘70s films:

Jaws

Rocky

Alien

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Riverdale ships (requested by an anon):

Bughead

Archie/Valerie (Valchie? Archerie?)

Rosie (Josie/Reggie)

Choni

Fred/Mary

Cheeses:

Jarlsberg

Havarti

provolone

smoked Gouda

aged cheddar

Riverdale episodes and why (requested by an anon):

1.01 - just a great setup, eerie and atmospheric

1.04 - who doesn’t love a night at the drive-in? Plus the reveal of Jughead’s dad, and Kevin and Joaquin’s kiss

2.02 - retro night at Pop’s was such a fun idea and great nod to the nostalgia the show frequently flirts with. Also my favourite Pussycats performance

2.16 - the Jughead vs. Archie showdown that had SO MUCH POTENTIAL before they decided to resolve it in about five seconds, and Fred’s decision to run for mayor

2.21 - I loved the apocalyptic tone this episode committed to. Utter madness and a total-town riot

20th Century novels:

Rebecca

Islands in the Stream

The Outsiders

The Hours

The Things They Carried

Acts/things/etc. (lol) in smut fics (requested by @theheavycrown)

games

a character becoming clumsy because another character is giving them The Look™

well-described kissing (I like the simple things, ok?)

morning sex

accurate vocalization

Personal holiday traditions:

watching White Christmas every Christmas Eve

carving pop culture jack-o’-lanterns every Halloween (last year, I did Steve Harrington with his bat o’ nails)

childhood Easter egg hunts in my uncle’s yard

Canada Day fireworks at the park during my teen years

everyone being together for Thanksgiving

Quotations between Riverdale couples (requested by an anon):

not an official couple at the time but... Alice [to F.P.]: “Is it true what they say about men who’ve just been released from prison, F.P.? That they’re incredibly sexually frustrated?”

Toni: “I usually do the honors.” Cheryl: “Not today, Cha-Cha. I was born for this moment.”

Hal: “Alice here, she’s been redecorating the Register. The other day, she threw a brick through the window.” Alice: “Keep talking, Hal, and the next brick I throw may not be at a window.” (so maybe not the most loving exchange, but I do adore Alice Cooper)

Archie: “I just wanted to say, what if we made a mistake?” Val: “First of all, we didn’t do anything. I broke up with you because I thought you were a hot mess. Clearly, I was right.” (are you sensing a pattern here?)

Jughead: “I didn’t think you were the American Werewolf kind of girl.” Betty: “Oh, that’s where you’re wrong, Jughead Jones. I’m all about the beast within.” (I based an entire story off this exchange lol)

Shakespearean plays:

Much Ado about Nothing

Richard III

King Lear

Macbeth

Henry V

‘60s songs:

“Do You Love Me” - The Contours

“I Can See for Miles” - The Who

“Wouldn’t It Be Nice” - The Beach Boys

“Paint it Black” - The Rolling Stones

“Bang Bang” - Nancy Sinatra

Fanfiction tropes (requested by @norhernserpent):

the boy/girl-next-door

enemies to lovers

friends to lovers

falling for the best friend’s sibling

historical AU

Methods for organizing my bookshelves:

book height

continent (based on the story, not the author’s nationality)

year of original publication

hardcover/softcover

genre

Least favourite Riverdale couples, canon and non (requested by an anon):

Chuck and Veronica

Nick and Cheryl

Penelope and Claudius (Really, Penelope? Your child-murdering dead husband’s dastardly identical twin who resurfaces just in time to get a chunk of that Blossom fortune? Ew.)

Polly and Jason

Hiram and Hermione (good characters, terrible marriage)

Items in The Parent Trap (1998):

the luggage set Annie brings to camp

Annie’s tin (containing the torn photograph)

Hallie’s (as Annie) pale blue suit (the great material desire of my childhood)

Annie’s (as Hallie) inner tube

Elizabeth’s second wedding dress

Desserts (requested by @village-skeptic):

pumpkin cheesecake

pumpkin pie

mint chocolate chip ice cream

sticky toffee pudding

raspberry pie

Things to say “no” to:

lite mayonnaise (give me regular or give me death)

department store perfume samples

email subscriptions

having my hair straightened at the hair dresser’s

trips to furniture stores

Roles of actors who also appeared in the Hunger Games series:

Paul Child (Julie and Julia, portrayed by Stanley Tucci)

young Ellie Arroway (Contact, portrayed by Jena Malone)

Mr. Bennett (Pride and Prejudice [2005], portrayed by Donald Sutherland)

Bernard (Westworld, portrayed by Jeffrey Wright)

Laura Brown (The Hours, portrayed by Julianne Moore)

Colours (requested by an anon):

olivey-gold

Kelly green

periwinkle

burgundy

seafoam green

Board games:

Life

Ticket to Ride

Clue

Trivial Pursuit

Scattergories

Canadian novels (because I, myself, am Canadian):

Half-Blood Blues

419

Cockroach

The Book of Negros

The Englishman’s Boy

‘80s songs:

“The Way You Make Me Feel” - Michael Jackson

“Every Little Thing She Does is Magic” - The Police

“Dancing in the Dark” - Bruce Springsteen

“Crimson and Clover” - Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

“Call Me” - Blondie

Over-40 celebrity crushes:

Adrien Brody

Simon Pegg

James Marsden

Oded Fehr

John Cho

Things in “My Favourite Things” from The Sound of Music (let’s get meta):

warm woollen mittens

brown paper packages tied up with string

crisp apple strudels

sleigh bells

silver-white winters that melt into springs

Fictional female friendships:

Vivian and Kit (Pretty Woman)

Bliss and Pash (Whip It)

Carmen and Tibby (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants)

Katniss and Johanna (The Hunger Games)

Jo and Beth (Little Women... yes, they’re sisters. Still counts)

Clubs/teams I was involved in during high school:

student athletic association

service club (collecting for food drives, community involvement, etc.)

grad commitee (planning the prom, essentially)

badminton team

band (junior, senior, and even, very briefly, jazz band)

TV shows:

Stranger Things

Westworld

Dawson’s Creek

Gilmore Girls

Parks and Recreation

[ovgallery]

ProfessionalFreeAndSingle: A good Well-Known Internet dating Brand Carves a Niche Along with White-Collar Persons

OV Gallery ProfessionalFreeAndSingle: A good Well-Known Internet dating Brand Carves a Niche Along with White-Collar Persons

ProfessionalFreeAndSingle: A good Well-Known Internet dating Brand Carves a Niche Along with White-Collar Persons

The Portion: Following the effects of FreeAndSingle. com, your UK-based relationship site, Bernard and Paula Taylor brought out brainstorming brand-new ways to expand ones own audience along with bring ones own proven speak features every single child singles through out. So they launched launching market dating sites designed to target several dating areas. In 2012, they introduced ProfessionalFreeAndSingle. com to fit the needs with hard-working 30-somethings who have ones own careers as a but this is the little assist in the absolutely adore department. ProfessionalFreeAndSingle’ s protected environment together with targeted course of action has produced fantastic results so far. The niche world-wide-web dating site has changed into a trustworthy aid for several thousand professionals needing to meet the entire family on their level.

Frequent dating sites are typically great for singles who don’ t discover exactly what they really want. They can have a look around and listen to what’ improved lenses out there just by chatting with most people. That gives you them an alternate way to drop a wide web site and see just the thing comes back.

But some singles don’ t will need to explore ones own options when they don’ capital t want simply any outdated date. Specified singles possess a clear and additionally specific very idea of who your dream particular date is, and also don’ watts not want to very happy with anything lowered.

For those singles, mainstream online dating sites can be meticulously frustrating. They’ re tangled searching owing to incompatible times to find the a few people who talk with their conditions. And maybe this attribute they’ re addicted to — including lifestyle, schooling, or close friends goals — isn’ much longer in the get filters.

ProfessionalFreeAndSingle. com published in 2012 to help a professionals pool filter undesirable comes by aimed at a world wide web dating network tailor-made for them.

ProfessionalFreeAndSingle fosters several safe market community to build successful, career-driven singles.

Bernard and Paula Taylor, ones own Founders involving ProfessionalFreeAndSingle, honestly met one other on a relationship site, to verify they understand what their users are going through in conjunction with what they’ re serious about. The a lot of launched your own first online dating site, FreeAndSingle. com, to allow online daters a more very and user-friendly alternative to best-selling dating sites. Right now they have increased to unveiling over a dozens of niche web dating that employ a same know-how to capture the luxury of select various singles.

By means of targeting qualified dating documents, the FreeAndSingle brand comes with grown  to achieve more singles and sketch them along with with the assurance of a world-wide-web dating pool of like-minded consumers. ProfessionalFreeAndSingle, just like, encourages high-caliber singles that can help abandon standard dating communities and find solidarity fellow earning money professionals.

“ The saying is available that opposites attract, however , it’ lens the things that we have now in common this keep us together, ” Tim proclaimed. “ That’ s how come these market brands materialized, and their own individual success is frequently testament to the next philosophy. ”

Browse at no cost & Enchancment for Connectors

ProfessionalFreeAndSingle provides members demand the UK, europe, Ireland, Queensland, New Zealand, and Lower area Africa, in addition to it’ ersus always escalating its reach. Its software programs appeal to the entire family of all grow old, backgrounds, together with locations. Ones own dating product started out as being a thought homework in the UK, and now it has developed into a around the world community concerned with high well-informed and career-driven singles.

“ We never expected a really take-up as soon as you launched and find been incredibly with the tactic things possess gone to night out, ” Bernard said.

A FreeAndSingle business verifies each of its owners by location and mail.

Joining a good dating site is for nothing and will administer only a few presses. Members need to enter in ones own first discover, birthdate, in addition to email in addition to identify independently as many times a man getting a woman or maybe a woman shopping a man. The majority users is required to be at least 21 years old to become listed on.

ProfessionalFreeAndSingle gives you a mature, given the assurance, and flourishing audience, along with team will take care to help screen searchers and marijuana out synthetic profiles along with unsavory heroes. One of the ways the positioning ensures a heightened level of a pleasant manner and interconnection is as a result of its advanced subscription ideas. Members have to upgrade their own personal accounts and additionally invest in that dating face if they wish to have a real dialogue with most people online. Your pay-to-chat process ensures that anyone sending e-mail to one another one specific are serious about meeting most people.

Full affiliates can also change for the better an indefinite number of injections and see their particular profile feedback. Free website subscribers can surf for games and give a free commencing message to help gauge destination, but they just can’t respond to a person’s crushes before they better.

Over the years, ProfessionalFreeAndSingle has mastered its elements to offer the perfect to customers and giving them an enjoyable in addition to safe relationship experience.

“ It’ lenses actually a tricky concern to offer which you dating internet site that is befitting you, which can be not spammy or even intrusive, ” Tim claimed, “ in addition to I believe people strike which balance elegantly. ”

Some sort of In-House Customer support Team Capabilities Behind a Scenes

A minute, committed team of web dating experts run ProfessionalFreeAndSingle with dozens of additional sister web pages. It’ vertisements a big spot to keep numerous niche music labels running effectively, but the set is keen about assisting singles stay an increasingly challenging and mind-boggling dating sector.

Tim’ ohydrates wife Paula oversees your in-house customer support team headquartered in the UK. Nothing like other designs, ProfessionalFreeAndSingle doesn’ t outsource its client satisfaction. They surely engage with clients and maintain close a record of the needs with professional singles seeking a date.

Whether they’ re issuing an answer to help you questions how to use a good site’ vertisements features or simply brainstorming advancement to the complimenting, search, or chat apparel, the ProfessionalFreeAndSingle team position a lot of strategy and attempt and diligence into each and every last detail in the user skills.

Together, this knowledgeable strength team maintain an adequately reputable but also efficient courting service of which brings unique singles around and urges friendships, romances, and passionate relationships.

Giving Singles the Solutions They Need to Meet Someone

Specified hard-working parents have a challenging time dating on their own. Such as their city connections disappear, they may for no reason know you’ll be able to go to talk with new most people. Online dating gives you provided some time-saving solution for modern singles attempting to find a compatible choose.

ProfessionalFreeAndSingle retain a share of potential to be able to rotate people’ ersus lives as a result of introducing these to relationship-ready people in their area beautiful russian brides.

The romance site’ vertisements search machines give subscribers the chance to obtain the type of young families they’ re interested in with no wasting time frame wandering as a consequence of bar to help you bar. They will chat with their own individual online crushes to determine generally if the connection will probably be worth pursuing and additionally build interactions based on shared interest together with shared valuations. Members with ProfessionalFreeAndSingle get one of these streamlined in-take that assists them slender down the following dating billiards and become up to date and robust daters.

“ I have gotten to some surely genuine females and are generally back in that swing out of dating just as before. ” — David B., a ProfessionalFreeAndSingle member

Tim almost guaranteed us some dating website has noticed many outcomes stories, however , his a lot of loved one desired a member which often reached released to the FreeAndSingle team considering she desired to blog close to online dating. They will hired ones girlfriend to write options posts and share your ex girlfriend insights for the single lovely women navigating a lot of dating blog. Withing next year, the woman met that special someone, and they’ re right now happily wedded.

“ Your sweetheart still publishes occasionally designed for american, ” your puppy said, “ but it is actually a great having to help a girlfriend in a set of ways in her everyday life! ”

Studying the Industry A Niche at any given time

Now that ProfessionalFreeAndSingle has received traction indoors its niche market, the team’ s vital focus is actually keeping which momentum moving and keeping high necessities in the industry. A few may tweak that structure of the courting site, nevertheless essential tasks of ProfessionalFreeAndSingle — its customer support, free features, and knowledgeable atmosphere — will remain a similar.

Tim instructed us he’ s excited by how the item has been accepted and contributed by it can be members, in conjunction with he’ vertisements open to results from singles in the market.

“ We’ re also looking through everything which includes a fine-tooth mane comb, ” he said, “ and were very face to face with our most people, asking these ways we are able to easily improve. ”

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