#boycott cupid

[angryorbit]

Stop listening to Cupid by Fifty Fifty oh my fucking god how many times do we have to tell you that they were unpaid and abused and their company is literally using the money against them in court???

[theladycup1d1in1the1flesh]

"You can't just argue with people to boycott Israel and McDonald's!! Your replies are getting deleted anyway!"

My honest reaction:

I previously commented explaining to the person who asked why what Israel is doing and what it has to do with McDonald's but it keeps getting deleted all my replies to them have been getting deleted

[heartmush]

💘 tired of reading the 𝖘𝖆𝖒𝖊 𝖔𝖑𝖉 𝖙𝖍𝖎𝖓𝖌? 🪽

Within these bounded pages of love are countless promises, written in the stars. Whether doomed or destined, find them all inside our saccharine bookstore. 📖

💘 we're moving! 🪽

Lunar Menagerie is ceasing activities on DeviantArt and will now conduct all sales on Toyhouse.

This decision is made in light of DeviantArt's pro-Israel stance. We feel a clear responsibility to, standing in solidarity with all Palestinians, to boycott the platform. Starting with Cupid's Bindings, we will no longer be hosting our adoptable events on DeviantArt and will be carrying out all future operations on Toyhouse.

Invite codes are required to create Toyhouse accounts, which all prospective buyers will need to have in order to engage in Lunar Menagerie events.

Starting today, we will be readily giving Toyhouse invite codes away. Please get them prior to the event by replying to this post.

💘 participating artists 🪽

With love, from us:

@koloquials, @heartmush, @_aomaoe, @caebeans, @basilicca, @japhers, @lana0933, @nejinrou, @tearfang, @sachidraws, @star_amet, @cureyunny, @ninjyace, @lenlipui, @poursuu, @princehoneytea, @mu___jin, @toorurii, @yanm0ri, @yinyuszi, @starriewing

[cupidseok]

hi guys !!

so sorry i said i'd be back then disappeared again 🧍🏻‍♀️ i've just been rather busy with life lately and the seunghan situation just made me even more demotivated to write 💔

i was more positive at the start but it really seems like sm has no plans of bringing him back anytime soon 💀 most ( if not all ) of you guys must have heard of the boycott by now,, and i hope you guys do consider doing it 🥲

i definitely do plan to finish cupid hotline because i have the whole story line planned already but i'll continue writing it when i feel motivated again ( when riize is 7 again ! ) i don't want to force myself to write and i'm sure you guys don't want to read a half assed story either so i hope you can understand 🫶🏼

[infinitestagearchive]

POSTED 04.03.2024

it has only been five days since member Kim Minho was removed from Infinite Stage Entertainment’s boy group BOYFRIENDZ, and the company has already announced the idol that will be replacing him. Lee Haru, who had been a trainee at ISE for the past two years, is mostly known to the public for his appearance earlier in february in the LIMIT/LESS mv for ‘Cupid’, their valentines day release. netizens fell in love with the then-trainee for his ‘perfect’ visuals and demanded that ISE soon debut him, but now it seems that they might turn on him.

Kim Minho was removed from BOYFRIENDZ on february 29 following his alleged abuse of other idols. many netizens speculated that he was fired for other reasons, however, as Minho was spotted in a seemingly compromising position with another male idol. ISE has since been under fire for alleged homophobia, with mainly western fans calling for a boycott. 

still, Haru seems undeterred by the online reaction, posting for the first time on the BOYFRIENDZ instagram earlier today, thanking the fans for their warm welcome and promising that he will work hard for them.

what are your thoughts?

[ +102 / -2 ] he’s handsome he fits the concept and he’s really talented already! until we get proof that he doesn’t fit with the boys in some way i’m going to be a fan bc he shouldn’t be hated for this! [ +57 / -8 ] ise set him up for failure with this because who wants to stan an idol that gets popular bc of the misfortune of other people? sorry but I couldnt [ +40 / -8 ] hes so pretty he doesnt deserve all this mess honestly [ +29 / -8 ] literally good for him??? slay [ +25 / -5 ] atp throw the whole group away sdsdsds

[aroaessidhe]

November Reading

audio favourites

Godly Heathens - 3.75 arc, (reviewpost held for SMP boycott)

All That Consumes Us - 4

Fakes Dates and Mooncakes - 3.75

The Vanished Birds - 4.5

A Crown So Cursed - 4

Alebrijes - 4.25

Technically You Started It - 2.75

The Archive Undying - 4

Mammoths at the Gates - 4.25

Their Vicious Games - 4.5

We Are The Crisis - 3.75

Unwieldy Creatures - 3.5

Abeni's Song - 4

Just Lizzie - 4.25

System Collapse - 4.5

The Meadows - 4.25

Provenance - 4.25

Foundryside - 4

The Poisons We Drink (arc) - 3.5

Everyone's Thinking It - 4

Translation State - 5

The Absinthe Underground (arc) - 3

Cupid Calling - 4

Chain-Gang All-Stars - 5

Graphic Novels

Atana and the Firebird - 4.5

Brooms - 4.5

Roaming - 4

If You'll Have Me - 4

Nonfiction

Freedom is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement

Except for Palestine: The Limits of Progressive Politics

Braiding Sweetgrass

Cobalt Red: How The Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives

[glasshcvse]

⸻⸻   ﹕ WELCOME  TO ⠀ › ⠀ GLASSHOUSE. 

GLASSHOUSE  INCORPORATED,  better  known  as  GLASSHOUSE  INC.  or  simply  GLASSHOUSE,  is  a  fictional  entertainment  company  that  was  established  in  2008  by  a  woman  named  DO  GA-IN.  among  many  things,  the  company  mainly  operates  as  a  record  label,  talent  agency  for  modelling  and  acting,  and  music  production  company,  having  debuted  over  ten  most  successful  groups  in  its  best  prime.  the  company’s  first  active  group  was  LILYPAD,  a  four-member  girl  group  which  brought  them  a  lot  of  resources  and  recognition  as  an  entertainment  company.  in  2015,  glasshouse’s  founder,  ga-in,  announced  she’ll  be  stepping  back  from  the  company,  and  in  her  place,  will  nominate  LILYPAD’s  youngest  member,  GRACE.  this  announcement  angered many people,  ending  in  a  boycott  of  the  company  that  was  quickly  abandoned.  up  until  now,  glasshouse  is  praised  for  how  collected  its  artists  are  and  for  being  a  comfortable  area  of  work,  especially  for  the  company’s  producers  and  various  other  staff  members.

⸻⸻   ﹕ FLOOR  ONE ⠀ › ⠀ THE  BASICS. 

NATIVE  NAME  :  glasshouse  inc.

TYPE  :  public

FOUNDED  :  april  25th,  2008

FOUNDER  :  do  ga-in

CURRENT  CEO  :  grace  chwe

HEADQUARTERS  :  jongno-gu,  seoul,  south  korea

AREA  SERVED  :  worldwide

NUMBER  OF  EMPLOYES  :  200+

WEBSITE  :  glasshousecorp.com

⸻⸻   ﹕ FLOOR  TWO ⠀ › ⠀ THE  SUBSIDIARIES  &  MORE. 

MIGHTY  DEVIL  RECORDS  :  established  in  2014  but  bought  by  the  current  ceo  of  glasshouse  in  2015,  this  subsidiary  is  one  of  the  first  ones  under  glasshouse.  since  it’s  official  merge  with  glasshouse,  mighty  devil  has  debuted  various  groups  /  artists  (  both  disbanded  or  still  active  )  and  it  continues  to  be  active  to  this  day.  most  famous  artists  under  the  company  are  STUPID  CUPID,  HERO  and  ROSARIO. 

PENROSE  RECORDS    :    established  the  same  year  as  MIGHTY  DEVIL  but  was  under  glasshouse  from  the  start.  second  subsidiary  under  glasshouse  that  serves  as  record  label  and  music  production  company.  penrose  records  is  not  as  popular  as  mighty  devil,  but  its  artists  are  just  as  talented  as  the  rest  of  the  company.  most  artists  under  this  subsidiary  are  krnb,  as  well  as  producers  for  the  whole  of  glasshouse. 

THREE  WISHES  :  established  in  2017  as  a  division  of  glasshouse,  it  serves  as  a  modelling  and  acting  agency  for  glasshouse’s  artists.  three  wishes  currently  have  partnerships  with  various  other  acting  agencies,  along  with  netflix  and  youtube.

⸻⸻   ﹕ FLOOR  THREE ⠀ › ⠀ THE  ARTISTS  OF  GLASSHOUSE. 

LILYPAD  :  ❪  2009  –  2014  /  npc  ❫  ⸻  4  member  girl  group. 

MIXXNMATCH  :  ❪  2013  –  2020  /  npc  ❫  ⸻  7  member  girl  group. 

RAEVIL  :  ❪  2016  –  present  /  active  :  @raevil​  ❫  ⸻  7  member  girl  group. 

JADED  :  ❪  2017  –  present  /  under  co.  :  @greenjaded​  ❫  ⸻  6  member  girl  group. 

E/DEN  :  ❪  2017  –  2019  /  npc  ❫  ⸻  6  member  co-ed  group. 

MEW  :  ❪  2017  –  present  /  active  :  @mimcw​  ❫  ⸻  female  soloist. 

CHERRY:DAY  :  ❪  2017  –  present  /  active  :  @cherywrld​​  ❫  ⸻  6  member  girl  group.

COSMOS  :  ❪  2018  –  present  /  active  :  @synkluvs​  ❫  ⸻  7  member  co-ed  group. 

COTTAGE  GIRLS  :  ❪  2018  –  present  /  npc​​  ❫  ⸻  5  member  girl  group  /  project  group  with  alfea  labels. 

NEXTONE  :  ❪  2019  –  present  /  active  :  @4ncw​​  ❫  ⸻  6  member  boy  group. 

VERONIKA  :  ❪  2020  –  present  /  active  :  @iamvercnika​​  ❫  ⸻  female  soloist.

NEEVE  :  ❪  2020  –  present  /  npc​  ❫  ⸻  3  member  co-ed  rock  band. 

SEGRETA  :  ❪  2021  –  present  /  @ensegreta​​  ❫  ⸻  3  member  girl  group.

NAISU  :  ❪  2022  –  present  /  active  :  @xonaisu​​​  ❫  ⸻  female  soloist.

CRYSTYLE  :  ❪  2023  –  present  /  active  ❫  ⸻  5  member  girl  group  /  project  group  with  artists  of  glasshouse  &  mighty  devil. 

⸻⸻   ﹕ FLOOR  FOUR ⠀ › ⠀ THE  ARTISTS  OF  MIGHTY  DEVIL. 

DOOM  SERVICE  :  ❪  2015  –  hiatus  /  npc  ❫  ⸻  8  member  co-ed  group. 

STUPID  CUPID  :  ❪  2017  –  present  /  active  :  @stcpidcupid​​  ❫  ⸻  5  member  girl  group. 

HOLIC  :  ❪  2017  –  hiatus  /  npc  ❫  ⸻  5  member  girl  group. 

HIRÆTH  :  ❪  2017  –  present  /  active  :  @almostyours​​​  ❫  ⸻  female  trio.

HONEY  BEE  :  ❪  2018  –  hiatus  /  npc​  ❫  ⸻  female  sister  duo. 

SOUR  GRAPES  :  ❪  2019  –  present  /  active  :  @cultkive​  ❫  ⸻  female  soloist.

HERO  :  ❪  2021  –  present  /  active  :  @anqelblccm​​​  ❫  ⸻  male  soloist. 

OCEAN’S  ECHO  :  ❪  2021  –  present  /  active  :  @goodbcnes​​​​  ❫  ⸻  4  member  girl  group. 

ROSARIO  :  ❪  2022  –  present  /  npc​​  ❫  ⸻  female  soloist. 

BLACK  VEIL  :  ❪  2023  –  present  /  active  :  @blvckveil​  ❫  ⸻  4  member  girl  group. 

NAYE  :  ❪  2023  –  present  /  active  :  @nayeverse​​​  ❫  ⸻  female  soloist. 

4TUNE  :  ❪  2024  –  present  /  active  :  @attuncd​​​​  ❫  ⸻  6  member  boy  group. 

⸻⸻   ﹕ FLOOR  FIVE ⠀ › ⠀ THE  ARTISTS  &  STAFF  OF  PENROSE. 

WORD  SOUL  :  ❪  2014  –  present  /  npc  ❫  ⸻  male  krnb  soloist  /  producer. 

LAZY  BOY  :  ❪  2015  –  present  /  under  co.  :  @kaleidas​​​​  ❫  ⸻  male  producer. 

HOURGLASS  :  ❪  2016  –  hiatus  /  npc  ❫  ⸻  co-ed  duo. 

RE:INA  :  ❪  2016  –  present  /  npc  ❫  ⸻  female  producer.

UKIYO  :  ❪  2017  –  present  /  npc  ❫  ⸻  female  producer.

PANDORA  :  ❪  2017  –  present  /  npc  ❫  ⸻  female  producer  /  choreographer. 

ASTER  :  ❪  2018  –  present  /  npc  ❫  ⸻  female  krnb  soloist  /  producer. 

CHARMING  :  ❪  2018  –  present  /  npc  ❫  ⸻  male  producer  /  choreographer. 

WYLDFLOWER  :  ❪  2019  –  present  /  npc  ❫  ⸻  female  trio. 

GLOOMY  :  ❪  2019  –  present  /  npc  ❫  ⸻  male producer. 

MOON&SUN  :  ❪  2020  –  present  /  npc  ❫  ⸻  female  producer. 

[destielgaysex]

tagged by @heller-castiel 🫂

🎶✨share 5 songs you've been listening to, then tag 10 followers 🎶✨

1. Cupid by FIFTY FIFTY

2. Flip That by LOONA

3. FUN! by fromis_9

4. POSE by LOONA

5. Hi High by LOONA

and ofc all loona songs are not actually streamed ;) bc of the boycott. i d*wnloaded all loona’s songs :3

tagging @demonmary @allegedlyopposed @4x01 @castielsclitoris @bimbodean :>

[heartsinsummer]

Guidance

1. One account per head 2. We accept All Stars that were born in 1997 and no younger than 2004 and please make sure your faceclaim isn't in the boycott list. 3. No twins unless your faceclaim has the real twin. 4. Once verified we expect you to have 60 tweets on your first day, and on the second day onwards please try to have 30 tweets in daily. 5. Changing faceclaim is only allowed once, 24 hours after verification. 6. Circle in circle, inside jokes, and exchange any personal information are strictly prohibited when we're still running. 7. Since we're only running for 7 days, we expect you to be participated in every activities. But, if you unable to meet the minimum requirement tweets or participate in our activities, please let The Cupids know. 8. Being inactive for 24 hours after verification or not fulfilling the daily tasks or daily tweet lead you to unverification without any notice.

[farm-witches-fic-recs]

“Love is friendship set on fire.” (unknown)

Feels are in the air, friends! Whether you celebrate February 14th with a special someone or boycott all the cards, candies, and flowers, we’re with you. And more importantly, the witches want you to know that we love you and consider each and every one of you our Valentines. We wouldn’t be doing any of this without you!

So, happy Friday, everybody. Grab some chocolates and read some of these specifically-curated, Cupid-approved fics. And, as always, leave the  writers some love! 

David Rose vs. the northern lights (houdini74/@mostlyinthemorning) “David and Patrick celebrate Valentine’s Day with a soft, chilly adventure and an epic view.”

i believe in the power of love (Anonymous) *RPF* “Noah visits Dan in LA. Some things are different, but some things are very much the same.” 

An open smile on a friendly shore (cromarty/@patrickredactedbrewer) “Married David and Patrick on a Singles Cruise? We’re down for all the boat-based shenanigans.”

Never felt this way before ( @schittposting ) “A first-date-on-Valentine’s-Day AU? Sign us up with a red sparkle pen and a heart over the i.”

Patrick Brewer the Valentine’s Troll  (@fortheloveofdragandschitt) “Patrick shows David his love in the most Patrick-y way possible.”

Secret Admirer (@alinelovelace) “Alexis has a plan to get Ted back via some Valentine’s wooing.” 

Valentine’s Day is for lovers (@middyblue) “Patrick’s out of town on Valentine’s Day and David has to suffer through the day alone… or does he?”

When You Open It To Speak (MoreHuman) “David and Patrick dish out Valentine advice (with varying levels of success) to Patrick’s nephew. There’s discussion of song lyrics, first crushes, and of course the animated Robin Hood fox.”

[angryorbit]

Update on FIFTY FIFTY's new Instagram:

PLEASE BOYCOTT ALL MUSIC BY FIFTY FIFTY, INCLUDING ALL VERSIONS OF CUPID.

[samedaydumpsters]

No matter if you celebrate Cupid's holiday or boycott and treat yourself, we think you rock and want to share our appreciation and a few crazy fun facts!

https://samedaydumpsters.us/2021/02/12/so-we-think-youre-amazing/

[stringsofstarlight]

Gosh, doesn’t sb understand how toxic he looks to everyone or even care, which is worse.  People do remember things, now I understand the guard outside 16th st., they are afraid of karma.   Funny because karma has a way of finding its way to one no matter what you do to hide from it.

        I was on twitter when sara bareilles called him out something fierce, which made me smile so very big and wide.    I have come to love the live Manderley version of the song, now after reading the book and watching the movie I have a multi dimensional connection to it.    I hope that you are doing as well as possible with everything, as you have known this was coming for a bit.  May the arrows of Cupid fill your heart with love and serenity in these days of full on crazy.   It doesn’t make it any easier in real time I am sure, the outcry across the fandom is/was quite sensational and powerful to watch.   I, we, do so love you and are willing to stand to fight for you every moment.  It wouldn’t surprise me if some people start a boycott of Disney because of the family connection(last check 3-4% ownership for the Disney family  stock).  The fandom detectives are fast and super efficient, I am always amazed at the info that appears in a blink of an eye.   One would really have to be playing a long, long game to hope to recoup anything with the fact of the re recording happening.   Do they think the Swifties are going to wake up one day and go “aww, shucks let’s stream the old ones Taylor doesn’t own?”     Even if you figure the number of videos, random plays via radio, spotify streams from folks who don’t know, and the other little bits--it doesn’t make sense in a world where touring are the means to get paid for most artists.    The one third to half a cent per stream would take lifetimes to recoup.    It sucks that your lovely body of work is being traded without giving you the rights to purchase out of spite and sb’s unmet needs.  This is shitty, plain and simple, pardon my french.  The only reason they can be buying is to potentially sell for more money in the future, it is gross to watch and I am so tired of watching this movie happen over and over.   The feelings of loss and disappointment have been immensely felt today, once you clarified what was really happening.    You know that I do my best to hold out for the best outlook in situations, this makes me wonder if capitalism in this form is really a sick kind of parasite eating away at the souls of all of us.   I was praying that you were holding out some cool purchase info for later in the day.  Which I kept wondering why this didn’t come through the other night, because that is the kind of random things that come into my understanding during that kind of deep dive.    

      The timing after the RS cover and then the ballots ending for the AMA’s just all is a little too convenient for me.   Plus, the way so many of the big accounts were suspended on twitter only a week before to be in JB’s favor.   Honestly, jb looks much better these days with his health and I don’t want to throw him under the train with sb, just to be clear.     So that big rainstorm in TN was right on the heels of all this happening, crazy how it all comes together.   There are so many times when you have so many forces that aligning away from your favor and I end up telling all of these stories about myself--my apologies.    Working on opening to the bigger picture and the forces that are at play in whom greed, selfishness, and narcissism are the common currency.   Sometimes being here in this town blinds me to how crappy people can be when it comes to power and money.    It always impresses me that you stand in the honorable position willing to give up both of those to be in the right place to make a stand to such neglectful people.    “The right side of history”  becomes very apt when this whole story is told so many years form now, when sb’s infidelities, lack of soul, and sucky way of treating people comes out through the years.    Right now and even more in those days you will always hold the moral high ground because you have earned and live it as a daily practice.    Damn my dearest, you do handle the hornet’s nest with such grace, and the way you worded the message plus the letter were just iconic and empathetic.   I will write more in a bit in this vein and a little about the book + this weekend.   Gosh, so much has happened since last week, it is like the RS cover with Paul is years ago already.  

eternal love,

james    ;)

[brandenwyz]

Valentines 

Dear fellow once, Happy Valentines Day!Cupids setting the mood by shooting love arrows to pair couples up. Is that why love hurts? Bet you’re showering your significant other with chocolates and roses on an expensive date am I right? But for those once who are on team #ForeverAlone, it'll be better known off as Single Awareness Day. Sure, there will be cute couples all around in the public smooching and hugging all day, but don’t let them ruin your day. Instead, uhhhhh how about looking at twice all day or your favourite stans? Joking~

There are a few options for you (single once) to choose from, the first would be spending your hard earned savings to give yourselves a little pamper treatment because YOU definitely deserve it. Buy yourself a box of chocolates and don't share it with anyone, light some candles and pour yourself a couple glasses of wine and drink them all, wrap yourself in a sushi position or a “blanket burrito” and head straight to binge watch/ marathon some horror or romantic movies with your plushies or pet cat. Another option is to drunkenly purchase your entire amazon wish list after chugging that whole bottle of 1950′s hard wine.

Secondly, hang out with your family by going out on a nice dinner together, love is meant to be shared, the more you give, the more you’ll receive in the nearby future. It may been a while since you’ve been dumped by your ex, maybe you’ll start to think about that crush you had way back in the third grade, well, if that makes you better, you don't have to be sad about being alone on Valentine's Day if you remember you're pretty much alone all the other days too. Oops* Singles once, please do not hate valentines day thinking it’s probably the same old dating routine couples have been doing for the past few decades, look at the bright side! Don't you singles love valentines day because you don't have to buy anything until the day after when all the chocolates displayed on the shelves are on a 50% clearance?

You will definitely receive this notification from someone special because they really do love you. With a bright smile on your face after hearing the notification ringtone on your phone, you proceed to flip your phone and there lies a notification “HAPPY VALENTINES DAY FROM TEAM SNAPCHAT”. Feels bad aint it? Well,at least now we know we gotta boycott snapchat and plus the recent update was crap. Sighs*. Couples will eventually pop up the “How are you still single? You are good looking, nice and always loving..etc” question. Answer smartly! Your reply should be “Im overqualified”, or “you guys definitely have low standards”. {PS. Please don’t show them this thread if they proceed to beat you next, i don't cover your insurance (T.T)}

Finally, the last reason why Valentine’s day is meaningful because it is also a day with someone that you love which could be friends or family members. On Valentine’s Day, one should also thank their friends as they are the people who keep their faith in us even when everyone else seems to be losing theirs in us. Friends are those people who understand those problems of ours that our family, parents or partners do not understand. Do things for them that they would like and appreciate and it would make them feel good ^.^ (embarrass them in public hehe).

We also need to remember to look beyond the romantic part on this particular day. For example, everyone has loving parents or grandparents so why not say “Thank you” for the love and support they have been providing you with on this very special day. However, everyone portrays valentines day differently and might be celebrating this day towards parents, family, children or their significant other. In conclusion, these simple little acts of kindness of spreading love can make a big difference in someone’s life. I'll end this little thread of mine with a quote i truly adore “We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning a to see an imperfect person perfectly”. Thank you!!

*ONCE, if you’re still reading this, congrats on finishing this little rant/thread of mine lol. I really felt the need of spreading and writing a little this valentine to those lonely singles out there. Till then, do continue to spread unconditional love to our 9 angels like they would do to others, spread a little sprinkle of positivity daily even after today. Till then, till my next urge to write with my little keyboard. <3

-Branden-

[sweetlifetownsville]

Solicitor Barry Taylor's Former Business Mate Gets Two And A Half Years In The Jug

Labor influencer Wayne Myers getting jail time for his role in the Ipswich corruption scandal must be embarrassing for Big Bazza Taylor, the worlds most touchy solicitor when it comes to his business dealings. Mind you, Taylor did no wrong when he teamed up briefly with Myers in Townsville more than a decade ago, but unfair perceptions of guilt by association may be about to get worse for our much loved legal foghorn. Our receding floodwaters have revealed some home truths about the cupidity of our council, and the fallacy of the Bulletins tub-thumping agenda. Do you reckon that her call for a Qantas boycott was our mayors finest hour? Well, now the she who would be the Battlers Boedicia has gone one better threatening insurance companies with a big stick, which may well end with a more damaging push back than the Qantas call. But spite of all our tribulations, love was in the air during the week, when we endured that annual dork fest of bad poetry and unrequited lust known as Valentines Day and this year, animals got in on the act no no, you grubby lot, not like that, they just played it for laughs. But first Getting Even Since Indias gift to the desecration of Australian native bird life is the unpleasant Indian Mynah, somehow it seems only fair it is a native Aussie bird that is now taking its revenge on an unpleasant Indian miner.

The row over the state governments somewhat clunky internal factional power play about the protection of the Black Throated Finch habitat which is apparently threatened by the Adani Carmichael mine project is a right old knicker twister. The Astonisher iditor Jenna Cairneys dainties have taken a hell of a contortion, forcing her yet again into unintended humour. First we had two News Corpse journos in the same edition of the paper making exactly opposing claims about the birds. One, The Astonishers John Andersen, who knows about these things being a straight down the line bushie, quoted some of his widespread old timer country contacts that the bloody bird was everywhere, always had been, not just near the mine site. In the very same edition, the Astonisher had lifted a piece by tired old Courier Mail click-baiter Des Houghton trying it on that the bird would become extinct, killed off by feral animals (cats and pigs apparently) if the Adani land set aside for its protection area DID NOT PROCEED. Ando is the far more believable in this face-off, rather than the Alan Jones-Lite Houghton, who didnt explain how the dreaded cats and pigs would be kept out of the protection area signage perhaps?. The finch has become our own native Scarlet Pimpernel: They seek him here, they seek him there, Those pollies seek him everywhere, Journos seek him near, they seek him far, Under sun and under star, They try so hard, but they try in vain, For he eludes them yet again. But Bentley was there to record a meeting between avian cousins to solve the mystery.

Then enter the obviously discombobulated Astonisher iditor Jenna Cairney, the very same Jenna who gave a good laugh in a recent iditorial when she insisted the Bulletin only did fair and balanced reporting. Deputy Premier The Treacherous Trad came to town to talk about flood recovery measures during the week, asking what could be best done for the victims, but the Astonisher wanted to talk about the Black Throated Finch. Trad swatted away a few weak attempts to engage on the matter, somehow judging that the governments flood recovery measures were surely the overriding topic of the moment. Boy, didnt that make Jenna stampn her feet in rage, she saw red, and fired off a blistering iditorial, suggesting, (topically if unfortunately), that we were being sold down the river which is where a fair amount of Townsville ended just a few days ago. But then, right in the middle of this foot stamping tantrum, this little thigh slapper popped up from nowhere.

A moment,please (gasp, wheeze, splutter ahem, sorry.) Leaving aside the absurdity of this virtue-signaling boast, this twaddle comes from an iditor who wagged a finger at those who have had the temerity to raise questions about the handling of the flood emergency.

Even your southern betters arent buying that one they can apparently walk and chew gum at the same time, handling more than one story at once heres just one instance from the Courier.

Heres a newsflash, dearie the days of outfits like the Bulletin being the gatekeepers of information are long gone, and you no longer set the news agenda. Some Say The Council Over The Years Has Had A Lack Of Vision Any inquiry into the handling of the flood is should not be restricted to just recent events themselves, but should surely delve back into council building policy and approvals over many years, to see why so many inappropriately designed structures, both private and commercial, were allowed to be built on clearly identified flood plains. A Nest read sent is a photo that might help explain the problem he believes this is the TCC building where these decisions were made.

Mayor Mullet Jumps On The Boycott Bandwagon Again Ms Cairney, under your newly announced tough question policy, any chance of asking Mayor Mullet about her bogan bluster that if insurance companies use southern tradies to do repair work in Townsville, she will name and shame them.

Even your own reporter, Clare Armstrong (the soon to join the Sydney Telegraph), described this piece of electoral grandstanding as extraordinary. Embarrassing empty threat might have been just as apt. Talk about Qantas boycott redux this implicitly means that your paper, Jenna, will have to be the mayors bully pulpit in this naming and shaming exercise of companies that are major News advertisers, going about their legal business funded by shareholders, and who couldnt give a fig about Mayor Mullet and her barroom style bluster. You OK with that? Or is there the odd tough question you might like to ask your pal the mayor? Naming and shaming? The bottom line, if it is followed logically, is that Mayor Jenny Hill is on the boycott bandwagon again, threatening to call for a boycott of companies who legally, if not morally, use outside tradies for whatever reason (like legally binding existing contractual arrangements). Given her shoot from the lip bravado over several issues recently, Mayor Mullets big stick is in reality a squizzle stick: she must have quite a supply of used lying about. And You Can Add Casual Racism To Her CV, Too Another shoot from the lip, when talking about the two blokes who drowned while ruinning from the police.

You cant pick your family members? What the hell does that mean? Judge Jenny at her best. Sorry, what was that? Oh, yeah, right, forgot, Palm Islanders dont have a vote in Townsville local elections Well, remember, all you other folks, you can choose your mayor soon, up to you. Ghosts Of Mates Past Coming Back To Haunt Bazza Taylor

Big Bazza Taylor As reported here recently, solicitor Barry Taylor was once briefly in business in Townsville with convicted briber Wayne Myers. During the week, Chief Judge Kerry OBrien gave Myers two and a half years in chokey, to be suspended after six months, for greasing the wheels of corruption with council and contractor officials in Ipswich.

As reported here recently, back in the early 2000s, Myers and Taylor tried to start a local teleco company with the council, with Barry charged with roping in local bizoids to pony up $20k each for the venture. The then Mayor Tony Mooney saw the scheme was a financial rip-off, and knocked it on the head. While hes living down that little episode, Bazza now waits to see how big will be the embarrassment of another of his erstwhile clients, Craig Gore. The question here is which will be the biggest embarrassment , Gore refusing to keep his promise to return from Sweden to face trial on multiple fraud charges, (how he was allowed to go only God and a Brisbane judge know), or if he does show up (ring Tab Extreme Bets for the odds on that), is found guilty and cops an expected dozen or more years for his grubby rip-offs. Gore was squired around town by Bazza also in the 2000s, while the shyster was spruiking the completely impossible canal estate scheme in front of the casino. To the best of The Pies knowledge, Taylor had no stake in the venture Gore was only here for a short visit but if Bazza had any sense of shame, he wouldve been red faced when all that turned to highly questionable shit. Probably not, since he only hosted the grub to brown-nose his Labor pals in Brisbane. Wonder if Baz will lead the defence in the unlikely event that Gore does return. Probably not, not at Bazs prices. Puppy Love It was Valentines Day during the week, and public mawkishness was all around, it was unavoidable. But then The Pie discovered that zoos around the world they all regularly stay in touch to talk shop had decided that their animals had been left out of the annual love fest long enough. From San Diego to Sydney, to London and all points around the globe, this was the very punny result.

Lets get straight to the point anyone want a shag?

Stop! Youre making me tawny!

Talk birdy to me.

So glad we could support each other on this day, because as they say love is a cattlefield.

Of course I mean it! Id love you to the baboon and back.

Alpaca my bags.

May our love never tapir off.

Seal-iously, we think youre all keepers. A Warning Sign In These Trouble Financial Times

And our gallery of the week from Trumpistan

Finally The Pie normally likes to leave you laughing with a parting joke, but lets break from that rule this week, and ask you to think about this emotive tweets rarely penetrate the Magpie necessary cynicism , but, perhaps because he the father of a daughter, this one hit home for the old bird. Simply but shatteringly highlights the horror of being a school kid America, and the damage being done to an entire generation. It also shows why we are a far saner and safer society, natural disasters and all, here in Australia. A mother in Delaware tweeted this during the week. So my kids school had a genuine lockdown today. Some whack job called in a bomb threat Police came and everything was fine, Thank God! My guys seemed fine when they got home and they talked about it with me, and told me their versions of what happened and then went right into their homework and normal after school stuff, and all seemed fine. It wasnt until later when Vanessa was changing out of her school uniform that I saw this on her arm.

I say to her, why did you write that on your arm?She says, in case the bad guy got to us and I got killed, you and daddy would know that I love you, and she started to cry (as did I as I watched a little piece of her innocence get stolen away) To know that my 7yo was put in a position to think that thought is absolutely gut wrenching and its killing me inside.Its now been a couple hours, and I cant seem to shake this awful feeling, feeling of sadness, fear, and plain disgusts for this new normal our kids have to deal with on any given day..its a very scary and disturbing society we now live in, and its heartbreaking It certainly is. What have they wrought? Its unfathomable. .. A tumultuous week gone, and all The Magpies thoughts to those getting their life back together. Have your say about anything on the blog comments, they run 24/7. http://www.townsvillemagpie.com.au/solicitor-barry-taylors-former-business-mate-gets-two-and-a-half-years-in-the-jug/

[secretsofthemasquerade]

What this all means? WoD prelude issues

Abuse will be mentioned

Disclaimer: I don’t want VtM to become a nest for gamer-gaters asshats, so let it be clear that I stand for feminism, positive representation and progressiveness. And further than that, I stand for meaningful, well written media. This is both beyond offensive, and badly written (and badly coded!).

Alright, now that you may (or may not) have read my spoiler free review of the WoD: Prelude vampire game (we eat blood all our friends are dead), this is the second part of this review. The one that really stirs shit, tackles what this all means, and talks about the problems surrounding the two authors. Good brew incoming!

There are a few issues that need mentioning; Zak’s reputation of being a dick (to say the least), white wolf saying they don’t give a shit, and one trans character in the game.

First, I must say I said what I needed to about Sarah (the second author of the Vampire gale) in a few reblogged discussions I had with her about it; you can read that here. She claims the “problematic trans character” is a reference to someone else, but as the anon in that ask pointed out, the name given to the character totally references someone else (and it’s not like Avery is a common first name, so the “coincidence” excuse is weak, to say the least). It’s probably a little bit of both tbh. White wolf stands behind their choice btw.

This is my random, worthless opinion on the trans character’s subject: I don’t think the trans community deserves to be treated like this, and I’m not going to police whether trans people can talk about their dicks (or lack thereof) or not. Sarah likes her characters bold and unapologetic, which is perfectly “none of my fucking business”, I just find that it gives too much of an excuse for people to actually ask trans people about their dicks (or not) which is a definite no-no when it comes to, you know, basic manners. Why encourage that? Most trans people do not want to talk about it to random strangers they’ve just met, so why have that be the main representation of trans people in the media? Sex workers who brag about their dicks and who are serial killers? I find it tasteless at best, dangerous (again, “hey, if this is what trans people are, i totally can ask about their dicks!” kind of shits) at worst. Not that sex workers who talk about their dicks are wrong in anyway, of course. Note that I have no problem with a character being trans, being a serial killer, or being a loud unapologetic bitch. I have a problem with what it may lead to, and how respectful of/to the community the character is. And it’s simply not written with the respect and the love the trans community deserves. The fact that Sarah herself is trans doesn’t make her a good candidate to write well-made (trans or not) characters. I’m all for more diversity in authors (cuz it’s still a bunch of white old dudes out there), but they still need to be good writers (or at least more decent than the shit that’s being published nowadays). Writer is a job. And this is were Zak and Sarah failed; they just didn’t work with basic decency, respect and research of the characters, and what they are, what they represent and what they mean to the community. The fact that White Wolf Publishing used the “but we have a X friend!” excuse only makes it more profoundly wrong. And you guys can’t even blame that on Europeanism (racism takes very different forms here than in the US, certain things are more blurred, and ethnicity is overall understood differently), even in France we consider the use of a token minority person to excuse controversial stuff to be just plain wrong (and god knows France can be very weird about the treatment of minorities). 

If you’re trans and knowledgeable of trans representation, please tell me off about this. It’s just my thoughts on the matter as someone who cares deeply about characters.

The other trans character, Morgan, exchanges like, four texts with you. So, this character’s existence gave nothing to my run. I need to replay the thing and see if other choices give us more interaction with this one, and I really have no problem with this one so far.

Now, the “unique aesthetic” that was brought to the game, I could find interesting modern artists on tumblr to draw for this game, and actually have their modern art be readable, as in, “really in accord with the game’s content (a quick sketch needs to be a quick sketch)”. I can also guess that it would come out far cheaper than whatever this guy took (I hear he sells his art pieces in the thousands? people, you’ve got too much money on your hands, give it to me instead).

The writing, however, I’m pretty sure (read absolutely certain) there are very knowledgeable wod fans out there who can decently hold a pen (half of the RPers I exchange with can come up both with a decent story and can write it out in a very.. literary and interesting way, and so without having to sort through the bs ramble that brings nothing, and without the “options” branches that lead to just a game over screen...).

Zak’s reputation of being a harasser and abuser doesn’t seem too far fetched from where I stand, especially since people who complained have said that White Wolf never contacted them back, even if they said they did. I can’t say deffo what he did or didn’t, but I can certainly assure you that the choice of White Wolf knowingly hiring the guy, then defending him, all while knowing all of this shit, and having one of their writers be one of the victims of the abuse, is not an innocent move from WW/Paradox.

We wanted fresh blood, fresh views, fresh takes, and they willingly hire a veteran known for beyond “problematic” behavior. And excusing all this shit because “but he’s an artist!” doesn’t cut it. Not from White Wolf. Not from a Scandinavian company. Not in the world we live in today. Not with the very talented people who are fans of the WoD and who can come up with something so much better, so much smoother, so much more respectful, and without all this negative publicity. This isn’t just some loud mouth rough corners guy (like I can admit I am!! let’s be honest I’m a harsh bitch lol), this is seriously.. wrong. It leaves a very bitter taste in my mouth, and tbh, Werewolf already has a reputation of being a game played by fascists, and LARPs are known hunting grounds for less-than-polite predators, why fucking continue this fucking shit? This isn’t what we want our hobby to be. This isn’t the kind of people I or anyone around me want to be associated with. Art is political in nature, but that doesn’t mean I am willing to accept the company owning the IP I love most hiring fucking extremist assholes. Everyone has a “problematic opinion” on something, honestly, that’s fine, I mean I get my share of anon hate for many of those, but can you guys straightforward tell me I’m a bad person doing evil and spreading evil into the gaming industry? (If I am tell me now so I can quit!)

TBH, I believe they hired Zak because he was a known “controversial figure”. To have free publicity. To pander to the GG community (EDIT: I failed here, I wanted to say “attract extremes”, Zak is not a gamergater at all). To get everyone angry about “the gay agenda”, “modern art” and more. They’ve succeeded. But it’ll blow up in their faces, and I really want us all to show them this is not acceptable.

What to do now? Be heard. Show your displeasing of such choices. Don’t let them have it their way with an IP you care about. They may own the rights, but ultimately, as Brucato (Mage RPG author), the games belong to us, the fans. Write to white wolf, boycott. Do not harass and insult, but tell them exactly what you think.

There are free visual novels out there, and cheaper princess makers who have more interesting outcomes, badges, achievements, easter eggs, all sorts of different endings if you fail/die, and all sorts of different failure paths that still let you play, and replay, and replay, without feeling frustrated, fucked over, and just plain trying to follow some incoherent druggie’s trail of thoughts.

Here’s a few things I recommend playing, to read how good characterization, art and horror can come around, as well as player agency and choices that mean you continue playing despite failures (linking steam, but gog works too for most of them). So here’s a few games you deffo wanna try out instead of these.

Long live the Queen

Actual “Princess Maker” games :)

Cupid (I can’t recommend @cupidvn enough, it’s  great free game, it has a few flaws considering it’s purely fanmade but overall, it’s very interesting and treats the subject with a good amount of respect)

This war of mine

Choice of vampire (free on web, available as a mobile app)

Vlad the Impaler A very awesome replayable story, you pick one of three characters who has one of two specializations mid game depending on your choices. Just. Get Vlad. It’s great.

I’d also mention an Actual Lone Wolf (by Dever!) video game/visual novel/cyoa. 

Heavy Rain (PS3) So many choices, and the game goes on regardless of what happens. The illusion of choice is so well made. Beyond Two Souls also does this fairly well, but the story is more linear 

The Last of Us (the MC is still a 40 something rough guy, but there’s more to it I promise! there’s no “choice” to be had, but the characterization is great)

And finally, I highly recommend watching like, all of Extra Credits videos about game making, characterization, illusion of choice and so on. They did a playlist. And other one about genres that might come in handy.

I’m very close to angrily make the text/choice/agency/multiple paths adventure we all need and deserve, and publish it for free... But I really don’t have the time, nor the funds, nor the skills, nor the legal knowledge to make it. So if someone wants to, know that I have a hot story that’s worth telling to initiate new players to the WoD :)))