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artsybi · 2 years

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so a few nights i had a dream, it was daredevil but with virgil as matt and logan as foggy (and an oc as karen for some reason, i kept her) and i knew immediately upon waking up that i had to make it a proper au, so i did a BUNCH of art, and some writing, so like, have an art dump while i infodump about this au :D

(also PLEASE click for quality, these images are all pretty big and tumblr hates me for it, so PLEASE click for quality)

[all image IDs in alt text]

virgil's daredevil suit! no cowl version bc i haven't managed a cowl design i like yet, so that'll come later with any hope. i'm not a huge fan of zdarsky's run for my own reasons, but i do love how checchetto draws the daredevil suit, so i took a lot of inspiration from that for this look. i did feel like it needed a little more visual interest, hence the black paneling and the wraps being a different shade of purple. i actually love the boots, and i imagine they were designed with good grip and range of motion in mind, so they're really flexible while looking like combat boots. virgil strikes me as more of a staff kind of person, but it does disassemble into a pair of escrima sticks, and it also assembles into his white guide cane, bc it's my favorite detail from the comics and NO i will never be letting it go 💖.

and the boys!!! this is how they appear in the main time frame of the fic. i went back and forth on virgil's outfit, but i decided that he's the type of person to show up to a client meeting wearing his patched up hoodie and combat boots, so his design is pretty true to ts canon lmao. logan bought him his purple sunglasses as a grad present, and they are one of the most precious things virgil has ever owned for it. they run brooks and storm law offices together.

you know i had to draw the boys in college!! this is how they looked when they first met, and it's for sure the blondest virgil's hair ever is. i do however like this length for his bangs a lot, so i might rework my current design for him, it's not like it matters if his eyes are obscured lol. they roomed together for the entirety of law school, and have been best friends since basically day one, because they clicked so easily. logan got into so many fights with ableist professors on virgil's behalf, even though he knew that virgil could defend himself, logan never let anyone say anything negative about virgil behind his back. virgil appreciated this more than he could ever put into words, but once he managed to decode the weird ways in which virgil shows affection and appreciation, logan understood. (virgil stopped wearing his cross one day in their third year. logan never asked why, and virgil never shared.)

the other roles in this au i have so far are an oc as karen (her name is eleanor "ellie" valentine), patton as claire, janus as brett, and remus as melvin , but only kind of, it's a whole thing that i will explain in due time. i'm not sure of roman's role yet, i had the thought of his as elektra but that felt WILDLY mean, so i'm probably not going to do that lmao. i will find a place for him, because i like roman, i'm just not sure yet. i considered thomas as lantom but idk, virgil is less religious than matt is, (actually, he's exactly as religious as i always write matt to be, but in terms of this au loosely following the show, he's less religious) so i doubt that'll stick.

(also yes!! romantic analogical endgame!! i am a sucker for both mattfoggy and analogical, so it was the only logical progression :D)

there'll almost certainly be more of this au soon, and please feel free to ask me any questions you have about it! my anons are on and everything, i really just want an excuse to talk even more about this au, i'm so hyperfixated rn lol.

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pansexual-pied-piper · 1 year

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Ich habe 1.244 Mal im Jahr 2022 etwas gepostet

79 Einträge erstellt (6%)

1.165 Einträge gerebloggt (94%)

Blogs, die ich am häufigsten gerebloggt habe:

@dappercyborg

@eroticcannibal

@aroworlds

@lostlovepunk

@mordcore

Ich habe 266 meiner Einträge im Jahr 2022 getaggt

#anon – 17 Einträge

#aromantic – 8 Einträge

#aro – 7 Einträge

#anonymous – 6 Einträge

#queer – 5 Einträge

#anon hate – 4 Einträge

#id in alt text – 4 Einträge

#pride – 4 Einträge

#amatonormativity – 3 Einträge

#it pronouns – 2 Einträge

Longest Tag: 139 characters

#can't help finding the mental image of somebody going 'oh no! what if my baby girl is actually my baby boy?? he won't have baby boy pics oh

Meine Top-Einträge im Jahr 2022:

I don’t remember, did I ever tell you guys about that one pride exhibition I went to last year? It had photos of and info about CSD parades in Hambug from 1980 to nowadays.

I just wanted to let you guys know bc I just found out where you can see all of the photos online.

Some examples:

Vollständigen Eintrag ansehen

243 Anmerkungen – Gepostet 7. April 2022

*logs off tumblr*

*goes to a CSD parade*

*listens as somebody addresses their group as "Liebe Tunten, Tunteriche und Tuntösen" via microphone*

*is handed an informative flyer on puppy play by a guy in leather and a pup mask*

*grabs a Queer-Referat sticker reading "QUEER, PERVERS & ARBEITSSCHEU"*

*talks to two 50+yo ace drag queens who are dating*

*chats with a cis heterosexual arospec woman*

*buys a pan pride flag*

*compliments somebody on their polysexual pride flag*

*buys a group of teenagers coffee, including an it/its enby and a pre-HRT trans girl with a lesbian pride flag*

*eventually goes home, logs onto tumblr and is hit by discourse about whether any of this should be allowed at a pride parade*

486 Anmerkungen – Gepostet 9. Juni 2022

Some people get really weird about it/its pronouns and I think sometimes it's honestly just anglocentrism.

It's like - My desk's a he and my lamp is a she, why shouldn't I be an it?

Hell, I've always been and always will be an it - "the child", "the girl", "that young miss"? All it. I'm an it the moment I'm a member of anything - a group, a club, an association, a guild. My dad used to do a lot of photography, including of me - the moment I'm modelling for a photo, I'm an it!

If I'm "he" when I'm a human and "she" when I'm a person, I can be "it" whenever I damn well please, actually.

672 Anmerkungen – Gepostet 13. April 2022

Just saw a bunch of teenagers talk a big game about how they're gonna beat up kinksters at pride.

And y'know what? I hope they try. I truly, genuinely hope they try. If they wanna be annoying brats and start shit, I guess finding out the hard way that real life people at pride aren't on their side in this is just gonna be how they learn.

959 Anmerkungen – Gepostet 6. April 2022

Meine #1 des Jahres 2022

Local aro forgets alloromantics exist and is blindsided by amatonormative uquiz question

2.267 Anmerkungen – Gepostet 23. April 2022

Hol dir deinen Tumblr-Jahresrückblick 2022 →

#tumblr2022 #Jahresrückblick #Mein Tumblr-Jahresrückblick 2022 #Dein Tumblr-Jahresrückblick #year in review #my 2022 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review

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b1genderisms · 1 year

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pinned post!!

my listography / my pronouns.page / my tag guide

about the mod:

hi, im quetzal/claudia/spencer, im 19, and i use he/she/it pronouns. im bigender (fem guy-leaning boygirl), im aromantic + bisexual, and i wanted a dedicated place for posting about gender stuff. my main is @cactusfru1ts, if you wanna check that out. i also have a longer list of labels i use on my listography but thats more for fun, my gender gets kinda weird sometimes lol.

about the blog:

my current plan is to use this blog to reblog posts relating to gender, especially being bigender, and maybe make some original posts about it sometimes. i will probably post a mix of silly and serious stuff, so one of my priorities is to decide how to tag more triggering stuff. ill also probably end up reblogging labels i like and maybe some gender envy stuff because its my blog and i make the rules, but again, im going to come up with tags for that as soon as possible.

(let me know if you want me to tag for something specific, by the way, i cant promise that ill remember 100% of the time but i will absolutely try! the only thing im not willing to tag for is words like “queer” or “transsexual” - if you dont want to see the word queer, maybe just dont follow queer people instead of trying to make them censor their own identities.)

i dont have a dni because i find them confusing and exhausting to write and to read, and i honestly dont care that much who reblogs my posts as long as theyre doing so with good intentions and not using them to spread hate or anything, but i will block people for being queerphobic, racist, sexist, ableist, saneist, or otherwise hateful in my notes.

im already in the habit of writing image descriptions for original posts, but i simply do not have the energy to id every post i reblog, as much as id like to, so i cant promise that everything here is going to have an id, sorry. for now ill be using “id in post,” “id in alt text,” or “no id” for posts with images, but i might forget sometimes- please let me know if i mistag something, because i do want to try and be as consistent as i can here.

this post, along with the rest of this blog, is a work in progress!! i will be adding more information once i have a better handle on how im going to run the blog, and ill make a post about it any time i make substantial edits to this post or the tag guide.

#pinned post

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gammija · 3 years

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[Basic image ID in the alt text, more elaborate below the cut]

I do have some kind of justification for why Jon would show up weird on polaroids (as opposed to digital media, when in tma it’s often vice versa) but to be honest, the actual justification is “because it’s funnier”.

Bonus:

[Image ID: Jon is frowning, trying to grab the photo, which Martin has passed to his other hand. Martin is smiling, eyes closed. Jon: “I... I’m sorry it’s ruined. I��ll just, toss it-” Martin: “No, its - I want to keep it. I think it’s a good photo.” /End ID]

[Image ID: A digital comic drawn as black on white lineart, featuring Jon and Martin, consisting of 9 images, one panel per image. Throughout, Martin is a fat, white man, with short hair and freckles. He’s wearing an open jacket over a hoodie, and small round earrings. Jon is a smaller South Asian man with long, wavy hair, a beard, and glasses. He’s wearing a long coat. He’s covered in small scars. First image: Jon is leaning over a fence, holding out a handful of grass towards a long-haired cow. Martin is standing next to him, wearing a backpack, saying: “Oh! Jon, don’t move, I need to grab something.” Above Jon, gray, smaller text reads: “Yes, come here, here’s some fresh... grass?” Second image: Martin is kneeling while reaching into his backpack, saying: “I know I put it in here somewhere...” Jon is standing behind him, looking a bit confused, dropping the grass. Third image: Same composition as the previous. Martin is holding up a polaroid camera, saying “A-ha!” Jon, behind him, laughs. Martin: “What?” Jon: “Nothing, just- you would have a polaroid camera.” Fourth image: Martin is standing, holding the camera in two hands, smiling. “Yes, yes, ha ha - you know, I actually bought it years ago? But the refills are quite expensive, and I could never find anything to photograph that justified using it.” From off-screen: “Until now?” Martin: “Exactly.” Fifth image: Martin is holding up the camera in one hand, his other arm around Jon, who also has his arm around Martin. They’re leaning against the fence, behind them is the cow. Martin: “Now, say cheese!” A piece of paper is coming out of the camera. Sixth image: Laughing, Martin is keeping away a piece of paper from Jon, who is also smiling and reaching for it. Jon says: “You do know that shaking the photo doesn’t make it go faster, right?” Martin: “Jon, you are not going to take shaking the polaroid picture away from me.” The cow is still standing behind them. Seventh image: Same composition as previous. Martin has lowered the paper, Jon lowered his arm. Martin: “Okay, I think that should probably have been long enough? Let’s see what we’ve got.” Eighth image: We see the photo Martin took, his hand holding it, and Jon's hand, reaching for it. The photo shows everything the same as image five, except in Jon’s place is a big, black, staticy shape, with several realistic eyes placed in it. Ninth image: Jon, Martin, and the cow are all staring at the paper with baffled expressions, their eyes drawn as simple black circles with white centers. /End ID]

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downthetubes · 6 years

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Comics artist John Tucker reflect on his first Thought Bubble Festival experience, the culmination of his busy year as a creator…

Well, here we are then. Our first Thought Bubble is in the bag. The show I’ve wanted to do for the best part of a decade, over in the blink of an eye. I am now back in my house, near Swansea, with a cup of tea and the biggest convention of my “career” thus far in the rear view mirror. Let’s try our best to make sense of the show, the year that preceded it, and what it all means. Easy.

Thought Bubble 2018

What can I say about Thought Bubble that somebody else won’t have already said? It’s the big leagues of indie comics; small press tastemaker and impresario Sarah Harris (of Swindon’s Incredible Comics) once said that Thought Bubble is where you go to “arrive”; to announce your presence on the scene. A lot of people were making that announcement this year, including us (me and my wife, who is my salesperson and spokesperson while I’m busy drawing or scowling).

Thought Bubble looks, superficially, like other conventions, but it is not like other conventions. On its face, the process of getting to Thought Bubble was identical to the Cardiff Independent Comic Expo and True Believers processes – we applied early, sent in some JPGs and text, then we turned up with comics and a roulette wheel. There was a folding table and some chairs, and nearby people were putting up those wire print holders that you clip together. Same old. But, as we soon learned, Thought Bubble is unlike anything else we’d encountered previously.

I knew Thought Bubble was big, but I had no real concept of its breadth and scale until I saw it all laid out, taking over a large portion of the city centre. The marquee we were in, alone, would have been the largest comic convention I’ve ever exhibited at, before you consider it was one of four venues. Thought Bubble is almost too much, but of course if you’re into comics there’s probably no such thing as too much. I had grand plans to see so many people, almost all of which were lost to the blur of the event (except for Tony Esmond, Todd Oliver, and Sarah Millman, and even then I didn’t even get to see at her at her actual table; I bumped into her purely by chance in the street).

If you want to experience Thought Bubble, don’t get a table. You can either be at it or in it, and never the twain shall meet.

Image: Thought Bubble Festival

The mid-con party was a godsend in that regard, and it was a real pleasure to talk shop with other exhibitors while watching a flamboyant German attempting pistol squats to Boney M’s “Rasputin” in full cosplay.

In fact, of all the things that happened in Leeds this weekend, I think I enjoyed the mid-con get-together more than anything. It’s so rare you get to really talk to other people doing this sort of thing – comics is, by nature, an isolationist pursuit, and even if you’re tabling next to good people (as we, fortunately, have done every time so far – this time with Paul Moore, a true gent and a talented man) you never really get to talk.

I also managed to get some good conversations in with Jon Laight, fellow weird comic producer Todd Oliver, and Andy Barron (whose work is so unique it looks like it was produced off-planet, a distant civilisation’s take on sequential art). And I saw the pistol squats. Great party, cheers lads.

In regard to the actual show itself, I’m probably one of the worst people to write about Thought Bubble, because I saw very little of the actual show. We had so much fun – we met lots of great people, saw friends from shows past, Lauren met somebody off the Bake Off (I don’t watch it but she seemed very nice) – but it was just so hectic we couldn’t get a sense of what the punters experienced.

Image: Thought Bubble Festival

All I can really tell you is how we did as exhibitors, as rookie exhibitors with a half-table in a marquee large enough to accommodate several hundred of the most talented indie comic artists in the country.

How Did We Do?

I went to Thought Bubble feeling relatively conflicted in regards to expectations. What would low sales mean? What would high sales mean? Would we sell anything at all? Would we be kicked ceremoniously in the arse with a big pointed boot if we didn’t meet quota? No way to know. Had to just go there and see what happened. I had advantages here that I hadn’t had at our first show at True Believers – we’d had some experience, and some success, and we had the roller banner, at once repulsing and attracting, a cursed beacon luring punters towards it against their will.

It’s impossible to deduce your standing in comics from any one show, but if there’s one thing I learned from Thought Bubble, it is that any lessons you have learned from other shows do not apply there. Thought Bubble is a different animal; the punters look the same as the punters elsewhere, but they are not the same. They will do what other punters do – look at the roller banner with either amusement or disgust, pick up a comic to a gruesome page before sidling away, the usual – but these are not the people we encountered in Cardiff, Cheltenham, or Swindon.

At smaller shows, we sold a lot of bumper packs (complete sets of my entire back catalogue, with a sketch, for a tenner). We offered a very similar package at Thought Bubble, and we priced competitively as we always do (or at least I feel we do). But the vast majority of money that came over the table was either for a Death Roulette on its own (£5, and fine by me – it’s the highest margin item on the table, considering I’m going to be at the table anyway and I genuinely love doing them) or a single issue, typically Adrift or one of the other shorter minis (Hell – my £1 mini-comic – was the breakout star).

We put this down to the sheer crushing weight of the competition; whereas a £10 pack of comics may seem like a good deal at a smaller show, at a show the size of Thought Bubble the smart play is to get a little taste off everybody. We’ll be making sure we’ve got more little things for sale next time, and I would definitely recommend anybody thinking about Thought Bubble to make sure you have plenty of “easy pickups” – badges, short comics for cheap etc. It also helps if you have something unique, which we will come to shortly.

We didn’t quite break even – nor, frankly, did I expect to; how could we? We’d driven from Swansea and spent two nights in a hotel, and then there was the cost of the table on top.

But we came closer to breaking even than I would have imagined; very close indeed. Especially considering:

– I’m still a no-name, in the grand scheme of things (though some people did seek me out to pick up Adrift based on good reviews they’d read, and I signed my first few honest-to-goodness autographs for people who don’t realise my comics are actually worth lessif they’re signed).

– What an honour it is for anybody to spend anything at your table at an event like that. Considering the exhibitor list was essentially a who’s who of UK indie talent, I know how lucky we were to have made one red penny. I wouldn’t have bought anything from me if I’d been a visitor at that show, for fuck’s sake.

If you bought from us this weekend, even if it was just a badge, or you just took a business card or talked to us for a minute, I’m very grateful. I’m especially grateful if you joined the 2018 class of Death Roulette.

Death Roulette

For those who aren’t aware, Death Roulette is my signature convention sketch game; we bring a small toy roulette wheel, and each of the 37 numbers corresponds to an improbable mode of death that I keep hidden under the table. You pay £5, spin the wheel, I take a good look at you, and you come back in 10 minutes to find out how you died.

We welcomed an all-time record number of people to the Death Roulette hall of fame at Thought Bubble; nearly 30 people elected to be mangled, crushed, decapitated, stabbed, shot, frozen, impaled, or otherwise maimed. I love doing Death Roulette portraits, and thankfully everybody so far has seemed happy with the grim vision of their own demise they’ve received. Here’s some of my favourites from Thought Bubble.

Death Roulette has been a godsend at conventions; it’s gotten conversations started and it’s driven comic sales (either from people “upgrading” to a bumper pack that includes the portrait and all the comics, or people getting a sense of what’s inside the comics from their portrait).

Out of respect to those brave enough to take a blind punt on their own demise this year, I’ve decided to draw a line under the 2018 class of Death Roulette, in that any deaths that were drawn this year will never be repeated. If you took part in Leeds, or Cardiff, Cheltenham, or Swindon, thank you so much. You are more handsome than god and braver than the troops.

In Conclusion…

Thought Bubble has been a long time coming for me; I may have had the highest ratio of “years planning on exhibiting” to “years exhibiting” of any attendee this year. When I moved to Manchester for university (in – ugh – 2008), myself and my good friend Paul Capewell arrived a little older than our contemporaries and unenthused about the idea of chugging beer through a funnel or playing soggy biscuit on a flag frisbee team.

We were hugely fortunate, then, to have found a poorly-advertised “society” – the ragtag group of misfits responsible for running PULP Magazine, the student union publication. We signed up in the afternoon one day, and joined the editorial board that evening. I would spend my every waking hour that year writing print and video content for the magazine and the website, and Paul became its defacto web lead, building its website and churning out videos that looked far better than they had any right to considering the equipment on which they were made.

PULP Magazine had no money, no time, and no oversight beyond its perennially overworked editor. Paul and I were not the best-qualified people on campus for the jobs we did at PULP, but we were available, and willing, and if we didn’t do things, nobody else would. The editorial team of PULP 2008/09 spun straw into gold in a way I’ve not really experienced since (and would do anything to experience again).

I think everyone who worked on PULP that year got something out of it, but the main thing I got out of it is that you don’t have to ask permission to make things, and you can’t afford to wait. PULP changed hands the following year and folded shortly after due to perennial mismanagement on the part of the student union (leaving Manchester Met – a university that so prides itself on its art and design faculty – as the largest university in the world without an official print outlet for its students’ work), and shortly after it died, I began producing photocopier comics under an assumed name. I think I just needed something to fill the void that PULP had left behind. They weren’t the best work I’ve ever done, but that doesn’t matter.

Manchester had a vibrant, healthy culture of weirdo small-press bullshit where the only thing that mattered was the willingness to make something; be it zines full of emetic-grade poetry, or – in my case – self-produced compendiums of the worst comics ever made. I had experienced a late-stage conversion to comics after becoming intoxicated by the beguiling work being put out by Kate Beaton and KC Green, whose work seemed to single-handedly wash away the ungodly stench brought on by the mid-2000s webcomic “boom” (many people think the 90s was comics’ nadir, but all the foil covers in the world cannot touch the sheer volume of excruciatingly poor content produced by the supposed champions of webcomics in the early-to-mid 2000s). And PULP had taught me that nobody’s going to tap you on the shoulder to let you know it’s time – you just have to crack on with what you’ve got and hope you eventually land somewhere you want to be, knowing that even if you don’t you’ll probably feel better for having done something.

I had heard, through regional channels, of Thought Bubble, which was growing each year. I swore I would, one day, when I was ready, fill out an application, set up a table, and do it. Just do it, f*** it, see what happened. That was 2010.

A lot happened between those first photocopier comics and my Thought Bubble debut – I graduated, got a job, got married. Got a kitten, called it Potato. Life happened. I stalled on comics, but the idea of comics never really went away; I dabbled with it the whole time, aimlessly, never sure what exactly I ought to do with it. Just over a year ago, I decided to actually make a proper go at it for the first time; really put all my effort into it, and see what happens. I didn’t know what success looked like, but I thought I’d know it when I saw it.

Looking back over the past year, I think I have had a successful rookie year in comics. I’ve had profitable showings at good comic conventions, my work has had good reviews from established critics, and I finally held my own at the convention that has been my white whale, taunting me from afar, for eight years. It’s hard for anything to live up to eight years of hype, especially when that hype is entirely self-generated.

But I think the past year, and Thought Bubble with it, was a bigger success than I could have reasonably hoped for. And I believe now, perhaps more than ever before, in the ethos I learned at PULP Magazine – if you don’t make whatever it is you have the urge to make, nobody else will, and there’s never a good time. You just have to get on with it. It took me a while, but I’m just glad I finally got on with it.

Thanks for making my first year in comics a success, and hopefully I’ll see you at next year’s Thought Bubble.

John Tucker

John Tucker is an independent illustrator and writer from Cardiff, South Wales. After spending a year on the writing staff of PULP Magazine in Manchester, he began self-publishing short-run comics.

His recent works include Adrift (reviewed here by Tony Esmond), the horror-comedies The Taxi and Night Watch, the short comics Hell and Gang Culture set in 1950s Swansea, and the critically acclaimed one-shot Bald. His first graphic novel, The Floating Hand, is set for release in late 2018

• Find John Tucker online at www.johntucker.co.uk | Follow John Tucker on Twitter @johntuckerart | Facebook | Instagram

• The Thought Bubble Festival returns in 2019: www.thoughtbubblefestival.com

Thought Bubble is a not-for-profit organisation that seeks to promote literacy and artistic skills through the medium of comic art. We see sequential storytelling as an important cultural art-form, and believe it is the most diverse artistic medium in the world.

From the Trenches: Thought Bubble 2018 and My Rookie Year Comics artist John Tucker reflect on his first Thought Bubble Festival experience, the culmination of his busy year as a creator...

#Adrift #Andy Barron #Creating Comics #John Tucker #Jon Laight #Leeds #Paul Moore #Sarah Millman #Thought Bubble Festival #Todd Oliver #Tony Esmond

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thereviewsarein · 4 years

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Before Ann Chaplin became one third of country music trio Runaway Angel, she was a solo artist, writing and performing her own music. And now, as we all work through the upside down times that 2020 have brought us, Ann is back with Runaway, her first solo single since 2013.

We’ve known Ann since 2014, but we’ve never known her as a solo artist until now. So, we reached out to talk about Runaway, how it feels to get back into a solo vibe, and we got the Deep River, ON artist to play a round of 5 Quick Questions with us – filmed in the most unique setting of any video we’ve shared to date.

Big thanks to Ann for taking the time to answer our questions and for releasing this song and giving fans of music something to dig into and share in these weird times.

Q&A with Ann Chaplin

Q) It’s been a bit since you released a solo single outside of your work with Runaway Angel, how does it feel to have Runaway out to the world?

Ann) It feels like an eternity! It feels just as great as it feels strange to have Runaway out in the world. I was worried that, although I couldn’t be more proud of Runaway Angel, my identity as a solo artist would be lost. It feels good to show people that music is still such a huge part of who I am.

Q) Can you tell us a little more about the song? How long you’ve had it ready? Why you made the decision to share it now?

Ann) I started writing this song probably over two years ago now, and took it to a writing session with Cadence and Stacey (from Runaway Angel) and Karen Kosowski. I’m so glad I did because they worked their magic and helped me finish it. It’s one of my favourite songs I’ve ever had a hand in. It has been recorded (by the exceptional Adam Newcomb) for about a year now. Quite honestly, it was not initially intended for public release but I have such a connection with it. People have a need for music right now just has heavily as I have a need to share and create. I figured “why not?” Why overthink this?

Q) We can imagine that the process of creating the song was a little different than with the group – was there anything you rediscovered about your solo process or style as you were working on Runaway?

Ann) I definitely reconnected with singing in a different way than I had been with the girls. When you are trying to blend voices you have to be careful to not deviate too much from melody, bend notes or be too expressive or the vocals won’t be cohesive. It was certainly fun to just sing what I feel. I also learned that I miss singing with them! Both are very different but fulfilling creative processes.

Q) What can you tell us about what else is coming? Is there a plan for more solo stuff, new Runaway Angel stuff, something else?

Ann) The past few years have been such a roller coaster. As for Runaway Angel; in our hearts we still very much want to create and share, but we won’t let ourselves sink into the pressure of timelines etc. This is when we are adjusting, doing what we need to do to be creatively fulfilled, and allowing things to unfold while supporting each other. I DO have something I’ve been holding on to though that I will make sure you know about!

Q) Last one for a little something extra, can you tell us all something that we wouldn’t find on your social channels or in a Google search.

Ann) I have taken a few stunt courses recently! Learning fight choreography, falls and impact/strike reactions. It was SO fun. My neck will never recover from taking all those fake punches.

Thank you to Ann for taking the time to answer all of our questions. Hit play to check out her 5 Quick Questions video to find out who she’d love to sing with, which stage she’d love to play, and more!

5 Quick Questions with Ann Chaplin

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Hit play to listen to Runaway, now!

Ann Chaplin – Runaway

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Runaway, Ann Chaplin Q&A + 5 Quick Questions Before Ann Chaplin became one third of country music trio Runaway Angel, she was a solo artist, writing and performing her own music.

#5 Quick Questions #Ann Chaplin #country music #Runaway Angel

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justabelfastgirl · 5 years

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This is a repost from Northern Irish Girl Online which is no longer active.

Hello, you beautiful, sexy, people,

Thanks again to the AMAZING ROSS, I felt that should be in capitals because it’s like a superhero name. He tagged me in this and I loved his responses so I’m excited to get started with this one.

1. I can text in Swedish/Danish (kind of)

Have you ever seen The Bridge? It’s a Swedish/Danish show based on two detectives. It’s probably one of the hubby and I’s favourite shows to watch together next to Parks & Rec, Brooklyn 99 (NINE-NINE! Fans of the show will get this and I better see it in the comments!) and The Vikings (Ragnar can father my children whenever he wants, thanks).

We got so engrossed in it that we started texting each other in Swedish and Danish one day, lol. We know a few words just from watching the show so much and the rest was down to Google Translate. It’s on the bucket list to visit both Sweden and Denmark one day and the infamous bridge the show is named after. I can’t recommend it enough.

I don’t mind watching a programme with subtitles as you honestly get so engrossed in what is going on that you don’t even realise they aren’t speaking the same as your native tongue.

Author Top Tip: It’s also a brilliant way to learn a new language.

2. Farts

My farts, or as we say in Northern Ireland if we want to be polite, poofs, are so loud that they can wake people from their sleep. My biological mother used to tell me that if I was sitting on the floor (which I tended to do a lot, I found a hard floor more comfortable than a chair, I still do… I don’t know why), and I farted that she could feel it vibrate in her feet.

I suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome and was first diagnosed at 17 whilst studying for my A-Levels. I’ve lived with it for a very long time so I know what can upset my stomach and what might set me off. I have to be so careful with my stress levels as that’s my biggest trigger. I do plan to do a post on it as I’ve noticed the pain has increased as the years have gone on, so I’m currently researching more on the subject before I post my own blog post on it.

3. I’m weirdly obsessed with certain cultures and historical eras.

I’m weirdly obsessed with Native American culture, I have been for as long as I can remember. I think it first started when I was a kid and saw Pochantos which, fun fact, is my favourite Disney film. For those unsure of what I mean by Native American culture or haven’t seen Pochantos (um… why are you reading this? Go watch it!) I mean Indians. Not people from India, see below picture.

I mean… he’s not wrong.

Historical Eras I’m obsessed with are Ancient Egypt, especially the Gods & Goddesses. Which is strange because I have little to no interest other “modern-day” Gods. However, I would definitely follow the Ancient Egypt Gods until the end of the earth. Weird, right? My favourite was, of course, Anubis, not because he was the God of the Afterlife, but because duh, he was a Jackal’s head.

Photo Credit: Sunima

The Tudors

Again, this is strange (you’ll see why on my next one), but Henry VIII era had me totally absorbed in History class and I remember asking my Nanny that I wanted books on The Tudors for Easter that year instead of an egg (yeah, I was that geek). I really don’t know why as we all know that Henry was a wee wanker when it came to women. He was just greedy all around with food, money and women.

Big Henry VIII – The Original Manwhore Fuckboy

4. I don’t like The Queen and hate the hype around The Royals

Before you start, my mum (my step-mum) pretty much verbally smacked me for saying this. My mum loves The Queen, as does my dad. My granda… he was on the fence from my chats with him. I honestly feel the older I get, the more I remember my talks with my hero, the more I realise he has basically formed my opinion’s on a lot of things. The only time I’ve watched anything Royal related was Harry & Meghan’s wedding because Harry is an actual ledge (and I have a bit of a thing for him, I’m not gonna lie) and I was already a fan of Meghan from her role in Suits. Also, has anyone seen the bad lip reading at Harry & Meghan’s wedding?

If not, I swear on my life it’s funnier than the Star Wars ones. If you haven’t seen those or the NFL ones either… I, I just dunno what to say to you. Who even are you? I’m such a good egg (only because I mentioned it I had to go watch it again or I’d make you go find it yourselves) that I have provided the video for you below. Prince Wills isn’t so bad, especially after I watched this. For the record, I personally think Hagrid (Rubeus Hagrid for the diehard #HP fans) was the right answer. I mean, no one is as cool as Hagrid.

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PW: “I hope you understand we’re puppets”

PH: “You said we had free will.”

PW: “No, I didn’t.”

Wills telling Harry the real truth. May 2018

Why do I not like Big Lizzy? Several reasons, the main one being CHARLES, idol-worshipping of someone who from where I sit hasn’t really done much and that’s with research, I wish we could vote. I’d totally vote for Harry to take the crown at least the charities he, Wills and their wives get involved in are ones that will really make a difference. People may say she isn’t control of a lot of things as she has left it to the governments in the United Kingdom Let me ask you this then, who does the Wicked Witch of Downing Street, I mean… Teresa May, report to? Uh-huh.

Big Lizzy is also the boss of the HM Forces, yet I don’t think she even cares how much those lads and ladies are actually paid. I ranted about this on Twitter recently when Andrew Trimble, Ulster Rugby player (I think?), said he wasn’t paid enough to “go to battle” every day. Andrew Trimble earns hundreds of thousands of pounds from playing rugby, sponsorships, appearances and so on. When I educated him on how much a Marine is paid before he passes out he shut up immediately and stopped responding to me. I looked for the Tweet for ages and then got fed up, it’s on my Twitter somewhere, good luck finding it!

Now, he’s not the only one. You look at footballers, celebrities and so on, they earn millions. Soldier’s will never make that amount of money, but they fight for our freedom. Anyone else see something wrong with this?

I grew up with military family members, not only that, but I lived on the Shore Road which was smack bang in the middle of North Belfast. Every single day, I would go outside and wait for the PSNI and RIR (Royal Irish Regiment), British Army, possibly the Royal Marine Commandos (RM aka, LADSSS) to drive past my house so I could wave at them and tell them that they were amazing. I was 11 when The Good Friday Agreement came into force, I was a child that grew up in the Troubles. My after school TV had a few kids shows, and a lot of Northern Irish news whilst my dad lived with me. The older I got the less kid/teenage TV the more I watched the news.

5. I’m still on the hunt for three books I read as a teenager over 20 years ago

Photo Credit: Jaredd Craig

You will never know how painful that sentence was to write, 20 years ago!! I still think I’m fucking 20 then I get slapped in the face with the fish of reality and it hurts me to my soul. Anyways, I read three books that to this day I remember like it was yesterday. The thing about it is they weren’t life-changing books at all, all of them were fiction. I’ve tried searching for them by the titles I remember them by, but to no avail. I asked my library, but they changed their system 10 years ago so there is nothing from prior to that, anymore. I have even gone on websites and described the books in detail, but nothing and it’s my biggest pet hate, ever.

My hubby said it just shows when I’m determined to do something I never give up on it. He should know, I was determined to do him 14 years ago, 14 years on and almost 9 years of marriage and it’s still happening, lol!

6. I’m quite smart and have a freakish memory

And Omigod totally modest! Not tooting my own trumpet, but you don’t study Psychology if you haven’t got some brains.

I can’t remember what I did yesterday, but I could probably tell you the worst serial killers ever known, the horror films that have certain aspects of them that are inspired from real historical events (and they aren’t the ones you think), be able to figure out what films Will Ferrell quotes come from (thanks mostly to my husband who is a big fan of Will Ferrell, as am I), what a book I read 20 years ago was about and what I thought of it, song lyrics, full songs, history and shit.

I could also probably tell you something that happened in my childhood in great detail, but if you asked me what I did in work last week, I’d just shrug and be like…. “talking to people and shit”.

7. I’m a massive tomboy and I once got my finger trapped in a grating (drain cover) looking for a tennis ball whilst plotting to murder IT with a tennis racket.

“Eddie discovered one of his childhood’s great truths. Grownups are the real monsters, he thought.” – Stephen King, IT.

Okay, let me explain. I, as I mentioned in a previous post, grew up around lads. I was the eldest granddaughter on my dad’s side and second eldest on my mum’s side. This meant the people I looked up to were all lads, I used to fight with my other female cousin all the time. Which is funny because when we got older we were as close as sisters. It was because I was such a “lad”. I love football, wrestling, playing rugby, kickboxing, getting dirty, gaming and other stereotypical “laddy” things.

I’ve more male friends than I do female, but my three best friends are all female. I’m on good terms with every single one of my exes, bar one. Whilst in the majority of the relationships, I broke it off, I did it in a way that wasn’t dickish and tried to cause the least amount of pain to anyone and everyone involved.

My two best friends, Barrie and Bryan (they’re brothers and we’re still in touch today), we were going through our wanting to be a tennis player phase. This was in between our Power Rangers, Ninja Turtles and Marvel Superhero’s phase. Barrie and I were slamming some serious ball against the wall in my back garden with our tennis rackets.

I can’t remember which one of us it was, but I’m going to blame Barrie because he’s not going to read this to defend himself, but the ball ended up disappearing down the drain. Being the intelligent childer we were, we followed what we thought was the right pipe system, out through the cul-de-sac out of my back to the drain just across the road from Barrie’s house.

We thought this would be the drain it would appear in. I had seen IT by this point, Barrie had not. I wouldn’t call Barrie a pussy, because he actually fights for a living now and would no doubt kick my ass for it, but let’s just say he was a sensitive wee sausage when we were young.

I was determined to find IT and beat him to death with my tennis racket so my thought process, being the kid I was, was that if we lifted the lid he’d either hear it and come to us or already be there. I was determined to protect Barrie at all costs, despite him being a few months older, he and Bryan were like brothers to me and everyone who knows me knows, I’d put anyone who hurts my family in the ground.

Barrie was in charge of holding the grating lid open and I was in charge of retrieving the ball when it came past (and also unbeknownst to Barrie killing IT). I can’t remember whether it was a car, someone yelling at us to get out of the drain (quite possibly this one) or, Barrie just being a fucking eejit and not paying attention, but he dropped the grating lid on my right fingertips.

I don’t know who cried more me or him. I think him, we ran back to my house, my fingers pissing blood and both of us covered in it looking like we’d just sacrificed ourselves to Satan. For some reason, I remember there being quite a few of my dad’s family in the house that day visiting, but it could be my warped memory of my childhood.

Both sets of parents were there that day, course mother dearest went absolutely nuts yelling at me, I, again, protected Barrie despite him clearly giving himself away by crying (because he felt so guilty he had hurt me and that I was bleeding so much, told you he was a sensitive wee sausage). Saying it was my fault and my idea, the truth did come out in the end. My four fingernails were hanging off, the worst being my middle finger.

I don’t remember an A&E visit, but I remember one of my bigger cousins saying I was hardcore as I was only crying because I’d gotten blood on me and was still deadly fearful of my mother beating me back then. He told me my fingers tips were clearly broken as they’d been crushed in the grating.

My dad ended up having to pull the middle fingernail off as it was just hanging there, at least I think it was my dad, it could have been my ma, I don’t remember I thankfully blocked out the actual experience, the rest of them broke off. To this day, my fingernails and fingers are off to one side. See pics for proof, below.

8. I love to learn, a lot!

I’ve said this previously, but for those new here, I used studying as an escape, same with reading, from what I suffered as a kid. I would get lost in history books, books from the library, for hours on end.

I read abnormally fast, often finishing a standard 330-word book in half a day if I am up early, or a day depending on what I’m doing. I bring a book with me everywhere I go, just in case.

Holiday’s are funny as there is usually at least 6 books and a Kindle in my hand luggage, increasing to 8 to 12 books by the time I get on the plane. My hubby just rolls his eyes, now but knows they’ll get read.

To put my learning into perspective I thought the best thing to do would be to create a table which is split into self-taught and qualified/things I hold certificates in. It’s a bit mental to look at, but 100% my proudest achievement after being mentally healthy following a 2 year battle with my PTSD.

Self Taught Academia Criminal Psychology Psychology and soon to be Forensic Psychology Photography Dental nursing Photo Editing History (Irish & UK) Blogging, Writing English & English Lit Criminology Criminology Human Resources Human Resources Counselling Counselling (including CBT, Life Coaching, Career Coaching) Rearing dogs from pups to adults Autism (including all areas of the spectrum) Norse Methodology Health & Social Care Wiccanism Business Administration History of Music & Music Genres Psychology Parapsychology Makeup Artistry, Beautician & Nail Technician Computer programming (hacking, website creation) Viral Marketing Cooking Art & Design Swedish/Danish (written, only) BASIC French (Oral & Written) Basic Italian – Basic/Intermediate at the moment Sewing, crochet Maltese – Intermediate First Aid (Child, Adult & Pet) Book Publishing (with coaching from my sis Christina) Business Auditing UK, NI and Irish Law Sign Language Level 1 UK, NI and Irish Employment Law UK, NI and Irish Employment Law Child Psychology & Counselling (mentoring from NSPCC) Woodworking, carpentry, building smaller homemade objects Mental Health Conditions & Disorders Accounting Different religions and cultures Sociology

This isn’t me showing off, just as an FYI. This, to me, is a list of things I have used as PTSD survival techniques. I’ve posted twice about what happened to me when I was younger.

I also challenge you all to make a list of things you have taught yourself when I say self-taught, I mean not going to a school, college, university online or off at any time. It doesn’t matter if you were taught it by a family member or something like that, it’s anything you’ve taught yourself to do without the help of professionals.

I would be deadly interested to see everyone else’s lists, and probably want them to teach me stuff I don’t know, lol.

9. I’m obsessed with little Asians and want to adopt all the little Asians, but my husband won’t let me.

I don’t know okay? I really don’t know when it started or how it started. My dad (who is not racist, I promise) always calls me cheeky face or, I swear he isn’t racist, he just isn’t very original with nicknames, I’m sorry if this offends, oval eyes. I’ve a round-shaped “pea” head as my dad and husband like to remind me of on a somewhat weekly basis, they’re wee shites like the Chinese people (known for having rounder faces).

I have oval-shaped eyes (doesn’t everyone you say, actually no, no they don’t) which are angled upwards, like a person of Chinese descent. I have my granddaddy’s eyes as you honestly couldn’t tell whether he was squinting or his eyes were wide open. Mine is slightly more open than his, but when I’m tired you can see why my dad has dubbed me what he has.

When we pass anyone of Phillipene, Chinese, Thai or Japanese descent husband calls them my people because I absolutely love them and I really do have myself convinced that, as well, as being Italian/Maltese/Northern Irish/English I have either Native American (hence my fascination with them) or another Asian descent in my heritage. I’d love to do that 123 and Me test, but I don’t have a spare $50. If you’d like to donate that to me then lemme know, lol. what? You don’t ask you don’t get!

My cousin is married to a beautiful (inside and out) woman named Christina who is from the Philippines and they have two gorgeous wee kids. I keep “jokingly” telling my family I’m gonna kidnap them one day and adopt them,.

There have been times my friends and my other half have literally had to pull me away from the kids as I just think they’re so cute and I just want to talk to their parents and play with them. That’s really weird, isn’t it? I shouldn’t have told people this… 🤷‍

10. I can rap, well.

Don’t believe me? Ask my three best friends and my husband. My husband couldn’t believe it the first time my friend Sarah B and I rapped every single lyric to Tupac’s – Hit Em’ Up. It was our song, but it’s the same for any other TuPac, Dr Dre, Xzibit, Ludacris, N.W.A, Eminem, 50 Cent, D12, and many, many more songs in my rap repertoire.

I’m going to challenge some different peeps this time, some of my lovely followers. So…. I challenge the following people to do this and tag me so I can read them:

@MsCreativeKerr – Kerry-Ann

@HappyMentality – Ri

@the_rolling_20s ‏ – Ruth

@comfortinganx ‏- Deanna

@larylarxx – Lauren

Don’t forget to tag me so I can read yours! For everyone else, please follow these gorgeous girls.

10 Unusual Facts About Me (A Re Post) @LaureltonStudio #TheClqRT #bloggingtribe @TheBloggersPost @wetweetblogs @sincerelyessie @UKBloggers1 #bloggingbeesrt @BloggingBabesRT #BloggerLoveShare @LovingBlogs This is a repost from Northern Irish Girl Online which is no longer active. Hello, you beautiful, sexy, people,

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riffrelevant · 6 years

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(By Brian Halsey, Staff Writer, RiffRelevant.com)

Where do I start with THE AGE OF TRUTH and their début full length, ‘Threshold‘? What a goddamned beautiful piece of heavy rock.

The first listen was so moving that I took back half of the bad shit I’ve ever said about Philly, the other ten million complaints are just facts, but alas the city may finally be redeemed. ‘Threshold’ is a masterful display of fuzzy riffage and vocally driven horsepower.

THE AGE OF TRUTH crushes a dreamy brand of blues inspired doom, mixed with a voice that is eerily familiar, in a way that is magically nostalgic. The guitar work is sharp and the recording is clear. This band would not sound out-of-place in a dive bar with 28 drunk dudes, or in front of 100,000 screaming fans in an arena.

It’s a really weird vibe to nail down, because to most underground bands, being called a “radio band” is not necessary a compliment. But they are kinda like what a radio band would sound like, if the radio was good. Get it? Every note and melody sounds carefully constructed. Every song is catchy and memorable. There is an extraordinary quality to the aesthetic of Threshold that makes this album an appealing listen for a wide variety of people.

THE AGE OF TRUTH features Kevin McNamara (Vocals), Mike DiDonato (Guitar), Scott Frassetto (Drums, *current) and William Miller (Bass). These guys are totally self-aware of what’s going on here, this is much more a brotherhood than it is a band. Their sound is fluid and cohesive, you don’t really need time to get into the album. It just rocks. Engineered and mixed by Joseph Boldizar at Retro City Studios in Philadelphia, PA, and was mastered by Carl Saff at Saff Mastering Chicago, IL.

Threshold chugs along and does its thing with style. The album sounds tough on every track without trying too hard. THE AGE OF TRUTH has just enough ruggedness to get lumped in with some really strong doom bands, but overall they’re just dishing out hard rock the way it should be done.

Play it loud, or don’t play it at all:

*Eric Fisher was on drums during the recording sessions for Threshold.

I was (un)lucky enough to catch up with some of the dudes from THE AGE OF TRUTH and put their geographically renowned shit-talking skills to the test. With the Eagles finally putting a competitive squad on the field, I thought I’d ask them some questions about their team, album, and unique brand of culture. I’m happy to report they didn’t let me down.

The Age Of Truth

HALSEY – Congrats on Threshold. The album sounds great, it is both unique and familiar at the same time. Could you try and describe the sound you were going for, and how you feel about the outcome?

BILL MILLER – Thank you Brian! We weren’t really going for anything, we just had songs in us and this is how they came out. The idea was to record it as we sound when we get on stage, so we tracked it live using our tones and kept it as real as possible. We had great help, Joe Boldizar from Retro City Studios in Philly is great to work with, and after all of it he is family now.

He let us do all the things we wanted to do and contributed great ideas, as well as a calming sense of confidence as we worked through it. We really do love Threshold, had a great time making it and are proud of how it turned out. It gets better with every listen, which is insane, because we have been with these songs since the very beginning and still love hearing and playing them.

KEVIN MCNAMARA – Well, we basically wrote everything on the spot? Like literally on the spot (beers and other things included😁) and just kept rolling. I wrote a ton of lyrics while working (F U, work!) and that’s how we kinda did it. I just recently got asked to sing for this band by the way. (Craig) Gibbs from Sasquatch and Bill were drinking and texted me that I now sing for The Age Of Truth. Kinda bad ass when Gibbs texts you, you know?

HALSEY – As a band from Philly, I think it’s important to take note of the Eagles current Super Bowl run. What is your prediction for the game?

BILL MILLER – Prediction? Pain.

KEVIN MCNAMARA – I’ll be drinking whiskey, for sure! Go Birds!

HALSEY – What do you say to the people (aka a vast majority of the country) who call you the worst fans in all of football?

BILL MILLER – Seriously? It brings nothing but joy to our hearts. We love that everyone hates. This is Philadelphia, it’s not a fucking Chuck E. Cheese. Pull out all the old clichés about snowballs and batteries, we wear each and every one of them with honor. It keeps all the pussies out and keeps the smart ones with their heads on a fucking swivel. We are the worst fans in all of football, just ask the Vikings fans or everyone else on Faceplant who’s not from Philly. It’s the latest outrage, if you didn’t know. Animals. Scoundrels. Maniacs. It’s all true. We will come into your homes, fucking eat your household pets and leave with your lady, right after drinking all of your beer and pissing on the rug.

KEVIN MCNAMARA – I think it’s nonsense. Yo… every city has its share of assholes! We are no different! I’ve been in Baltimore and Kansas City and the fans were cool, but you always have that element that doesn’t know when to shut it off. It’s a game!

HALSEY – I just saw THE AGE OF TRUTH get some play on the Doom Charts. Great stuff. What accomplishments are you most proud of at this point in the band?

BILL MILLER – Is being the worst fans in football an acceptable answer? If not, just being able to do this thing with a bunch of dudes who all love each other and want nothing but success for each other. We wake up every day, thankful that we get to play music with each other and pull this weird, heavy shit out of each other every single time we get together. At least once a week on the band text thread, someone will say “I love this band”. I hope that never stops.

Some really cool things have happened to us since the record came out in November, you mentioned Doom Charts, which is absolutely an honor to be on that list. Think about it man, 40 different people rated our album. That that alone happened is cool, and that they rated it highly enough that we even showed up on a list like that astounds us. So many cool things, like this interview, have happened and we welcome more. Our band is young, we will be two years old in March, we have a long list of things we want check marks next to before we end up down in that hole.

KEVIN MCNAMARA – That I got to meet Mike and Bill (and Scott I’ve known forever and always loved him as a drummer). We as a band always say after we talk, or whatever, “I love you bro.” It’s what we believe in. It’s a brotherhood always, and a sisterhood. Love our brothers and sisters so much! But for me as a singer? Meeting these amazing three people who became such a huge part in my life… oh and can I say hi to Gina? (Ha… hi gorgeous!)

(Editor’s note: Can confirm, Gina is gorgeous. – Leanne)

HALSEY – Do you have any shows, tours, or festivals planned in the near future?

BILL MILLER – Always playing as much as possible. We are a live band and that’s what we do. Hell, it’s why we do. We all love the experience of making an experience for an audience. This band isn’t about bringing light shows and fireworks and sharks with laser beams, it’s just sweaty, honest, heavy rock. We have been branching out and getting some states added to our list lately, and we want do the same with our passports, but no tours planned at the moment. The Age Of Truth will be at a few US festivals later this year, but they are under wraps for a few more weeks. Come to them even though we can’t advertise them yet. No bullshit, they are gonna be awesome even though we are sworn to secrecy at this time. We are definitely open to more.

HALSEY – If Foles pulls this thing off for the Eagles, will it prove they are a more complete team than people thought, and not just a product of Wentz’s great year? If Nick-folean Dynamite plays lights out and the Eagles win, do you have a quarterback controversy?

BILL MILLER – They are a complete team and they are brothers, you can see it after the games. Those dudes are fighting for the man next to them, it’s a powerful thing. An unstoppable thing. But a quarterback controversy is not gonna happen. Big Dick Nick, as he is known in the locker room, could go out there Sunday and roast a defensive backfield of Ronny Lott, Neon Deion, Steve Atwater and Jesus, and he is still carrying a clipboard next year in week 4. We will always love him forever and he will never pay for another drink again in his life if he makes it happen. But it’s the kid from North Dakota’s job. He’s magical.

KEVIN MCNAMARA – Noooooo Wentz, did this theory evolve? Because that statement is Foles.

HALSEY – The entire band sounds tight, but a lot of reviews focus on the power of your vocals. When did you realize you had the voice of a golden god? Was that something you had to work on, or did you just sound that awesome since birth?

BILL MILLER – Since we are a completely one dimensional band, a better question would be – “are the rest of the band even allowed in the same room as the almighty, majestic, holiness that is the vocalist for this band?” The answer is: only by papal decree.

KEVIN MCNAMARA – No I am genital blessed… stuff is huge… ask around, but at one point I had a tiny peen and just went with it? Ha, no I’m kidding… I love the classic belters. It takes its toll, but I recover quick from the training (one bottle of whiskey a day… you’re welcome.) Walsh, Dio, Shortino, Bonnet, Morrison, Bowie, Ozzy, Anderson, Turner, Springsteen, and most def Peter Gabriel… all these bad motha fuggas… that’s been my source. I get a lot of ‘Cornell’, but Chris had me at one album, Ultra Mega OK, but he never shaped me. Shit, I was too locked in at that point to be shaped. It was already done.

HALSEY – If each band member had to be assigned a character from ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’, who would they be and why?

BILL MILLER – Oddly enough, since it’s Philadelphia, we are those people. Not exactly, but we do show tendencies. ‘Dennis’ sings, ‘Mac’ plays guitar, ‘Charlie’ is on drums, and the ‘Warthog’ plays bass. ‘Cricket’ is our road manager, and the ‘McPoyles’ are everyone trying to stop us. Fuck the McPoyles.

KEVIN MCNAMARA – I’d be the homeless dude.

HALSEY – What are a few things you’d recommend to do around the city (that don’t include climbing greased light poles or fighting police horses)?

BILL MILLER – Don’t ever fuck with an equine cop, ever. Saw a horse with a badge kick some jackass right in the face once, and I guarantee that dipshit is wearing his terrible decision to this day. Philly actually kicks ass. The beer is amazing, the food is peerless, and the scene is special. At every show, all your favorite weirdos show up and it’s a family reunion. You can go to shows by yourself because you know everyone will be there anyway. Just check it out and live like we do, if you come to Philly. Skip most of the tourist bullshit and find a local spot to hang out in and get in arguments with your newest best friend. It’s like that. Bring an edge, but that’s just how you fit in. You won’t really need it, unless you are a jackass.

KEVIN MCNAMARA – Ha, drink with Kevin! Who the fuck punches a horse by the way? Dickhead!

HALSEY – Thank you for your time, is there anything additional you’d like to say about THE AGE OF TRUTH to your listeners?

BILL MILLER – Absolutely. To everyone who has supported this band, buying our record and merch, coming to our shows, or sharing our songs with their friends, thank you. We love you. It’s real. We appreciate every single one of you who gets what we are doing. We have more, too, and we have a feeling if you like where it started, you are gonna love where it is going.

KEVIN MCNAMARA – Our new drummer, Scott, is a beautiful soul who is one of THEE best drummers I’ve ever in my life played with. And I love my brothers in The Age of Truth. Totally random collision of worlds. Thank the gods… new songs underway.

There you have it, eggheads. I can lead you to lager, but I can’t make you buy. THE AGE OF TRUTH. A brotherhood of hard rocking, Philly assholes. If you’re not sold on this band by now, I don’t know what more I can do to help you in life.

The Age Of Truth:

Web / Facebook / Twitter / Bandcamp / Spotify / iTunes / Instagram

THE AGE OF TRUTH in NY, NY @ Arlene’s Grocery for Ode To Doom, 11/18/2017

Photos by Leanne Ridgeway (click any photo to open gallery)

Interview w/ THE AGE OF TRUTH – ‘Threshold’ Album Review & Stream; Live Photos From Ode To Doom (NYC) 11/2017 (By Brian Halsey, Staff Writer, RiffRelevant.com) Where do I start with THE AGE OF TRUTH…

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lousylvrefiction · 7 years

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Hello readers! To my chagrin, I realize we Authors Speak writers posted not one single post in the month of July. I, for one, didn’t realize I’d missed my day to post until it was long gone. Some of us were more on the ball than that, but just had a crazy calendar and didn’t make it. I hope this month is better, and I’m going to kick off August by posting on time. But… (isn’t there always a but?) because my calendar has gone crazy this month, I’m recycling. Don’t get me wrong! This post is completely right for the day!

Let me explain.

As you may have realized, I like to talk about other authors’ books. A few years ago, on my sylvre.com blog, I did that by featuring “lessons” at Gay Romance University. In 2014, I made a lesson about Anne Barwell’s book, Shadowboxing, the first book in her World War II historical Echoes Rising series. Read on to revisit that day in class!

Why is this the right post to republish today?

Because today, the final book in the series has been launched at DSP Publications! Happy release day, Anne, and congrats on creating a series truly worth the read.

Okay, then! Let’s go to school!

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(Get your textbook, and the rest of the series at this DSP Pubications link.)

here: Please take your seats people, we want to get started…. What’s that? Boxer shorts? Certainly they’re allowed…. Yes, sir, briefs, certainly. Sure, speedos are not only allowed but encouraged. Be comfortable, but do pay attention in class.

Even though Kristopher Lehrer’s last name means ‘teacher,’ as we examine the early pages of our textbook, Anne Barwell’s novel Shadowboxing, it is Kristopher who is most in need of schooling. Oh, he is a learned man, it’s true—a physicist working on an important, possibly world-altering project. Unfortunately Very Important Projects often become the clouds where a scientist’s head is most comfortable. Kristopher’s attitude, as the novel opens, is reminiscent of the fearless forward motion of a horse with blinders.

To illustrate, consider this: Kristopher’s friend—the man that could have been his first true love if Kristopher had been honest—is Jewish, and in World War II Germany the yellow Star of David he must wear means that he is in danger every time he steps out in public. And, though David is a respected physician, he can no longer practice medicine for the same reason. Yet when Kristopher meets him for coffee he has no clue why his friend is upset, or scared. Read along in your text (or look over your neighbor’s shoulder if you haven’t yet picked up your text). We look at what happens when David challenges Kristopher’s naivety, beginning on page eight.

“Have you any idea what kind of people you are working for?” David spoke quietly, as always, but there was an underlying tone of fear in his voice that Kristopher didn’t remember hearing before. David’s emotions were always controlled; it was something that Kristopher had envied. “Have you any idea of their real agenda?”

Kristopher snatched his hand away, trying to ignore how fast his heart was beating. Why had David come to him? Surely he couldn’t have presumed to use the closeness they’d once had to further whatever agenda he had? “I’m a scientist, David, trying to make the world a better place, just as you are. We are working for the advancement of science and for the good of the Fatherland.” The last sentence came out sounding like the mantra it was. Any doubts that Kristopher had were always dealt with efficiently when he repeated those words. While he knew the potential danger of the device they were working on, the chances of anyone considering utilizing the catastrophic component of it were remote.

“You always were naïve, Lehrer.” David raked a hand through his hair and replaced his glasses, adjusting them when they slipped down his nose. “Wake up and take a look at what’s going on around you before it’s too late.” An edge of desperation and fear sharpened his voice as he lowered it to almost a whisper; it sounded as though he was talking about the end of the world.

“Too late? Too late for what?” His earlier fears of being used vanished at David’s tone. Kristopher’s voice rose in pitch, all attempts of hiding his conflicting emotions lost as he tried to desperately work through his rapidly escalating confusion.

David shook his head, unwilling to say more, his eyes darting nervously around the small Kaffeehaus before his gaze settled on the man who had entered several minutes earlier. “I have to go. I’ve said too much already.”

“Wait!” David was already halfway out the door before the word was out of Kristopher’s mouth. He pushed his chair back, ready to follow his friend, then hesitated, suddenly unsure as to what had just happened.

A week later, dining at home with his sister Clara (whom he loves and depends on) and his father (with whom he has a strained relationship), he is shocked to hear that David has disappeared, and clueless as to why such a thing had happened. What’s more, he is just as dumbfounded when Clara says (on page 11)…

“Poor Kristopher.” Clara rolled her eyes. “You’re so involved in your work that you haven’t noticed what’s going on around you.” There was no teasing in her voice now. Whatever this was about, it was something very serious. “It’s because he’s Jewish, of course.”

… as he is when his father says…

“They are Jewish, Kristopher. What other reason is needed? Better that they are rounded up and sent somewhere more suited for their place in the scheme of things. We must not lose sight of the fact that the Jews are nothing more than parasites interested in taking control of the economy for themselves.”

We, the readers can take our first lesson from this, and the downhill spiral of father-son relations that follow. Please take this down in your notebooks. It will be on the test:

The longer you keep your head stuck in the clouds of denial (about anything, really), the more it hurts to pull it out.

Our next unit of study follows Kristopher as he goes about his work the next day. The clouds around his head have been disturbed, but not quite dislodged. Feeling cranky and a little wooly due to a poor night’s sleep, he enters his boss’s office when the boss is out, and rather clumsily knocks a pile of papers on the floor, and reads this sentence on one of them:

Cue ominous music.

We look forward to putting these plans into reality. Such a device will ensure the continued success of the Fatherland during this war against our enemies.

Kristopher’s head falls from the clouds with a mighty thud, which hurts and can’t be ignored even by a dreamy physicist.

Gott im himmel, as my very German mother would have said. Here Kristopher had been, believing he was working on nuclear fission for peaceful purposes, and suddenly he realized he’d been living in a lollipop world.

For a number of minutes, our scientist is unable to think straight. He knows what he saw, but he’s unsure of what he might do about it, or even how to keep from getting in trouble for standing in his boss’s office with his pants down (figuratively of course, because that would be far too weird).

But a guard comes along, Obergefreiter (Sargent) Schmitz, and helps him organize his brain and move his body, thank goodness. Of course, at first, Kristoffer is afraid that Schmitz will actually contribute to his danger, but he soon realizes he was lucky the Obergefrieter came along. He leaves the office that day still waffling about what to do. Like most ordinary Germans of the day, he loves his country and has some significant blind spots about it—a phenomenon not unknown at any age of the world in just about any country, including all of those where readers of this blog might be living today. But you don’t become a leading physicist if you are slow-witted. Once Kristopher’s sight is forcibly cleared, he cannot escape the truth about the leaders of the Nazi regime and what their intentions are.

After much soul-searching, presumably some hand-wringing, and a few horrid nightmares, Kristopher Lehrer confronts his boss… and is told in no uncertain way to mind his own business. The encounter goes from bad to worse. (You can read about this in home study, chapter three of the text.) When he is discovered in the room with his dead boss by the same Obergefreiter Schmitz, he figures his number is up.

Thank heaven for pleasant surprises, large and small. When Schmitz asks Kristopher if, as smart as he is, he can come up with no better plan than to threaten the guard with broken glass, here’s what happens (at the beginning of chapter four).

“My plan? […] I don’t have a plan. […] Do you honestly think I would be standing here waving a piece of broken glass if I had a plan.”

“Good point,” Schmitz admitted.

[Text elided by blogger… er, I mean university professor Lou Sylvre. Kristopher says:]

“Have you come to hand me over to the Nazis?” Whatever happened he didn’t intend to go easily.

The corner of Schmitz’s mouth turned up in a half smile before he shook his head. “I’m here to help you, Herr Dr. Lehrer.”

“You expect me to believe you?” Kristopher wished the desk behind him would disappear into thin air, although it still wouldn’t be of much help as Schmitz was blocking the path to the only door. “I know you’ve followed me for the past week.” He noticed the slight look of surprise on Schmitz’s face with a degree of satisfaction.

“You need to trust me, Dr. Lehrer.”

You may guess that Kristopher isn’t so sure that’s the best course of action, but like people everywhere when they’re in danger and want to trust someone, he looks for a way to do so.

“Give me one good reason.”

“The Nazis will be here in, Schmitz said, consulting his watch, approximately ten minutes. Either you trust me, or you tell them what you’ve just told me. I doubt they will believe your story.”

His voice softened. “I do.”

Now, students, you may have guessed that the Obergefreiter isn’t really the Obergefreiter. His real name is Michel, and he’s not even German. And his interest in Kristopher, like Kristopher’s trust of Michel, soon weaves into a whole new feeling. After negotiating much hell and highwater together, Michel soothes a startled, overwhelmed Kristopher in his own native tongue.

“A l’aise, Kit. Je suis ici… Ssh, tout est bien.”

Yes, Michel is there and all is well for the moment. There’s a whole lot more trouble to face, more evil to evade, more heroes to meet—all kinds, German, foreign, soldiers, everyday people. But Michel does whatever he needs to do to keep Kristopher alive. And since this is Gay Romance University, it isn’t giving away secrets to let you know, that once Michel has seen to the matter of Kristopher’s continued existence, he gets the opportunity to use a little French term of endearment.

“It’s all right, mon cher. I love you. I’m not letting you go.”

That is the end of our lesson, today. If you are interested in learning more on the subject, click the cover image above for a link to the blurb and purchase links. (And while you’re there, check out the continuation of this beautiful story in book two of the Echoes of War series, Winter Duet.

I thank Anne Barwell, Kristopher, and Michel for the privilege of treating the serious story of one of the world’s most painful times with a bit of irreverence. Truthfully, the heroes in this story are a reflection of all the real life heroes on every side of that war and every other, especially the quiet ones not lauded in headlines. They all deserve our gratitude, and I take no such service or sacrifice lightly.

Thanks for reading, everybody! If you’d like to check out or revisit the rest of the GRU posts, just go to

#comes a horseman #dsp publications #echoes rising #Gay romance #historical #shadowboxing #winter duet

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jornalvistolivre-blog · 7 years

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Life’s challenges force us to harden up. Relationships, work, children, family and finances all combine to put us under a lot of pressure and the way we are expected to deal with these is to develop resilience and to some extent indifference. We are required to be tough.

To teach our kids to be tough and with each blow life delivers to knock us down, we need to get up, dust ourselves off and pick up where we left off. The more times we start again, the colder and more jaded we become.

What you truly desire. Imagine what you could

Some people believe that showing tough love is an important way to ensure that their children are able to take care of themselves in the future. If you were the recipient of this approach on a regular basis, you might even believe that this has had a positive impact on your life.

Everyone’s parents criticize from time to time.

Perhaps what’s needed is a shift in attitude. To become stronger and resistant to the tribulations of life, maybe the answer is that we need to become softer not tougher. Maybe what the world needs is more nurture.

If you don’t know much about your subscribers, you could consider running a campaign asking them for more details through a simple preference centre. You may wish to consider offering an incentive or freebie in exchange for this information, which will help boost your response rates.

Do something that pushes your boundaries, something that you wouldn’t ordinarily do. Take a calculated risk and allow yourself to crumble a little.

All parents occasionally pick on their children, but when the so-called jokes become commonplace, this can be a huge problem. You do not need to accept this type of behavior just because your parent has always joked about something such as your height or weight.

A great place to start is with a minimal template and if you’re looking for a quick fix, check out Dynamite – it’s a great example of how an elegant design and the use of whitespace can be highly effective in highlighting what you are promoting.

Tips For Increasing Employee Motivation

Without injuring others or placing your own life in danger, it’s healthy to let go sometimes. You don’t have to be irresponsible to release responsibility and embrace freedom for a change. When life is becoming too burdensome and the weight of obligation and duty seems suffocating, do something that allows you to release yourself from what can feel like a prison.

It’s easy to forget that your subscribers are people with likes and dislikes (not just leads). Firstly, always watch your open, CTR, unsubscribe and complaint rates. That’s the fast way to gauge whether your email was engaging or not. When appropriate, use what personalisation you have at your disposal.

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If you want to take it to the next level and gauge subscriber sentiment, you could generate feedback by adding a simple “Did you find this email useful?” line in your footer that leads subscribers to a survey. Keep it short and concise though; you’re not after War and Peace.

If a survey seems like too much commitment, check out this fun widget. You never know, this feedback may just generate the next idea that takes your email program to the next level.

Most email service providers have inbuilt mobile optimized templates, but if yours doesn’t/you want something custom and have budget to spare, consider hiring an email marketing developer on Envato Studio or Upwork. Just ensure you do you research and ask for previous work examples before you hire.

Credit: Deridder45 on Alphacoders

Did you grow up believing that your parent was physically or emotionally abusive to you because you deserved it? If so, you may still be justifying the terrible behavior of others at your own expense.

Get In Touch With Emotions

Discover how you really feel about things. It’s easier said than done. Instead of maintaining the status quo and keeping the peace.

Instead of following the herd and making the predictable and reliable decisions that you are expected to make, ask yourself.

What you truly desire. Imagine what you could accomplish, if failing wasn’t an option.If there was no fear of being judged and no adverse consequences.

If there was no fear of being judged and no adverse consequences reliable decisions.

Learning to acknowledge and express our emotions freely may seem like weakness in a culture that requires us to be tough, but in actual fact it takes a strength far more valuable and honorable than living in denial.

Use the “Spaced Repetition” technique

Try the “Pinch Yourself” hack

Schedule learning sessions before bedtime

Study the content, not the language

This technique was introduced by Maneesh Sethi, a frequent traveler who mastered four foreign languages as an adult. His approach was based on the fact that negative stimuli massively boost self-improvement.

Soft is the new hard

When you think that a situation requires you to be tough, to stiffen your upper lip and puff out your chest in the face of something difficult or even traumatic, consider if you have another option. Maybe for a change it’s time to wallow in the tragedy of your experience and really feel what it is to be human. Striving for mental toughness may close you off to a world of emotional development and progress that you may otherwise live through if you let yourself open up for a change.

Credit: AcerSense on Alphacoders

How you can use this for language learning?

Get a set of flashcards for memorizing vocabulary or grammar.

Master the hard pinch (it should be quite hard) to activate your body’s threat response.

Review a category of flash cards (such as adjectives or group of words). Don’t pinch yourself at this stage.

Review the same category, now adding the pinch for each vocabulary word. Spend some time studying the card before moving to the next one.

Softening your perspective towards yourself and others; allowing yourself to experience tenderness and nurturing instead may seem counterproductive, but in the long run, may reap more abundant rewards.

Tough is just bravado. Softening up is a new normal you should try.

You may feel sadness more intensely, or anger. Disappointment, fear, grief. The flip side is you may discover joy like you’ve never allowed yourself to feel before. You may laugh harder, feel more inspired, encounter wonder and awe at things you previously took for granted.

Big Uncharted 4 Update Brings Free DLC Life’s challenges force us to harden up. Relationships, work, children, family and finances all combine to put us under a lot of pressure and the way we are expected to deal with these is to develop resilience and to some extent indifference.

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rebeccahpedersen · 7 years

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What Is False Advertising, Anyways?

TorontoRealtyBlog

I’m about to open a can of worms here, but this can needs to be opened.

Then it needs to be examined by all the real estate bodies in existence, and active buyer-agents should have a look inside too in order to prepare themselves for what’s going on out there right now.

We all know that properties in Toronto are usually under-listed at a price that the seller won’t actually accept, with an unofficial auction we call “offer night.”

But what if there was no offer night? What if the property was listed at a price that the seller would never, ever, consider accepting?

For as long as I’ve been in the real estate business, properties have been listed and sold with “offer nights.”

It seems like a completely reasonable way to sell real estate in a hot market.

List a property for sale, and review offers on a given day, at a given time.

It’s smart.

It ensures the property is exposed to the market for a long enough period of time that all the interested parties are able to view it.

Whether you’re a frustrated buyer, a real estate bear, or just have a hate-on for real estate and real estate agents, you simply can’t deny that exposing the property to the market for 6-8 days makes sense.

Now, throw the “under-listing” into the equation, and you have a legitimate beef.

The public doesn’t like it, and I don’t blame them.

But for as long as I’ve been in this business, properties have been under-listed, and along with the set “offer night,” we’ve had a form of blind auction that results in houses selling for way more than the asking price.

The spread between the list price and the sale price has grown in recent years.

I remember the first time I was in multiple offers – it was September of 2004.

A bungalow in Leaside was listed at $429,900, there were 12 offers, we bid $465,000, and the house sold for $480,000.

Imagine if there were 12 offers on any $429,900 listing today? $480,000 would probably be in the middle of the pack.

But I also remember being in multiple offers for a house listed at $459,900, and we were the high bidder at $470,000, with two competing offers.

As the years went by, prices rose, but so too did the number of offers, and the spread between list-and-sale.

And somewhere along the way, list prices became completely detached from reality.

We used to see houses sell for $100,000 over asking, and then in the spring of 2015, that number doubled. I remember a quote I gave to Sue Pigg from the Toronto Star around that time: “Two-hundred-thousand-over is the new one-hundred-thousand-over.”

It was just nuts.

Houses listed at $600,000 were selling for $800,000! We had never seen anything like it!

But the absolute pinnacle of insanity hit in early 2017, when houses were being just stupidly under-listed, and the sale-to-list ratios were eye-popping. It wasn’t uncommon to see a house listed at $699,900, and sell for $1,100,000. 170% of list price – that became a “thing.”

The problem, of course, was that listing agents were under-listing to the point of hysteria. Maybe because nobody knew what anything was worth, and maybe because listing low really did bring in more dummy offers from, well, dummies.

As much as I hate the under-listing, I will say this: nobody really thinks that $699,900 house is going to sell for $699,900.

Why? Because we know via the presence of the text, “Offers Reviewed On Tuesday, May 30th At 7:00pm, Please Register By 5:00pm,” that the property is being auctioned off, and the list price is merely a starting price.

Like I said – hate it if you want, but that’s the way it is, and only the completely uninformed and naive would be caught off guard by this.

Now as I said in the intro, what if a property was listed for sale – under-listed, with no offer date, advertising “offers anytime,” and continued to sit on the market? What would that signal to buyers and other market participants?

Last week, I went to show a property listed for sale in the west end for $978,800.

The property had been listed for sale for 12 days, which is an eternity in this market.

In the Broker’s Remarks of the listing, it read, “Offers Anytime.”

Pretty, simple, right?

In this really strange market right now, we’re seeing a lot of properties listed with a hold-back on offers, and subsequent “offer night,” and then not selling, and being re-listed higher.

But we’re also seeing properties listed with “offers anytime.”

I went to see this property with my client, and we absolutely loved it.

It was detached, fully renovated, and done so very tastefully, and with great workmanship.

There was no parking space, and it was directly across from a school, and only about eight houses in from a main street, but there had to be some drawbacks, considering it was under $1,000,000.

We acted on it quickly – we submitted an offer for just under the $978,800 list price (why not try for a couple thousand, we thought?), and eagerly waited for an answer.

The agent sent me a text message and let me know that there was an offer in sign-back; from the seller to the buyer. Thus we had no option but to wait, cross our fingers, and hope that the buyer didn’t accept the seller’s sign back.

As luck would have it, that’s exactly what happened.

The agent texted me (remember when people used to phone each other?) and let me know that the door was open for us to act.

I gave him a call just to feel him out and told him that we had no issue paying the full list price, or even higher, if the other offer was still in play.

That’s when things got weird.

His response contained a bit of a chuckle, as he said, “Huhyeah, um, well, that isn’t going to do it.”

“What isn’t going to do it?” I asked. You’re at $979K, on the market for almost two weeks, and we’d to go a mill. What am I missing here?” I asked.

“Do you know what market you’re working in?” he asked. That’s something I usually say to people, not the other way around.

“What am I missing? Tell me, please.” I told him.

And that’s when he dropped this bomb on me: “We’re looking for $1.3 Million for this house.”

What the $*%&?

What was I missing?

This house was on the market for 12 days, no offer date, offers any time.

Right?

Is there something new in the market that I’m missing? A new way of selling houses?

Maybe, as I was about to learn…

“I don’t understand,” I told the listing agent. “You’re sitting on the market – you have no offer date, right?”

“No, there’s no offer date,” he told me, “We’re ready to look at offers any time.”

“Then what the hell is with the price?” I asked him.

“Everybody does it,” he told me. “That’s just our starter price,” he explained.

This made absolutely no sense to me. I’ve been working in this market for thirteen years, and I’ve seen everything there is to see. But this was something new, and different, and it made zero sense.

“We need to expose the property to the market as best as we can,” the listing agent told me. “We need bodies through that house; we need eyes on it. We need business cards on the counter, and we need a buyer frenzy.”

“But you haven’t set an offer date,” I told him. “That’s what we do – bring the listing out at an artificially-low price, hold back offers, and have an unofficial auction.”

“That’s not what we’re doing here,” he told me. “We’re looking at offers anytime, but we know what we want, and we want $1.3M. The offer that was in play earlier – we signed that back at the price we wanted.”

I thought long and hard about what I was about to say next, since I’m not a fan of burning bridges, but I couldn’t resist.

“How in the world are you not guilty of false advertising?” I asked him. “You’re listed $300,000 lower than what you’ll accept, and this isn’t a ‘list low, hold an offer night’ strategy. I have no idea what you’re doing. What do the sellers think?”

That’s when things got more interesting, as he told me, “Well, I guess at this point I should probably inform you that I have an interest in the property.”

Now is the time for that?

That’s supposed to be disclosed on MLS! There’s a form for that – “Form 161: Registrant’s Disclosure of Interest in Property.”

That’s supposed to be signed by the registrant (agent) and uploaded to the MLS listing.

And after further investigation, this guy didn’t “have an interest” in the property; I’m pretty sure he owned the whole thing. The name on title was an incorporation, of which he is the sole director.

In any event, his interest in the property wasn’t the issue here – it only exacerbated the situation, which I recapped by asking, “So you’re on the market for $978,800, but you’re looking for $1.3M, you have no offer night, and you’re not telling people that you’re looking for $1.3M, right? You’re just letting agents and buyers waste their time by going through the house, making an offer, and then you’ll sign their offer back for $1.3M, and tell them you own the property?”

Amazingly, he said, “Well if we listed at $1.3M, we wouldn’t get as many showings. We don’t want to scare people away.”

Right.

So instead, you’re just going to lie to them, waste their time, and in the end, make them look like fools.

I was a fool for making an offer on this property at the price I did.

But how the hell was I supposed to know otherwise?

This property has now been on the market for 16 days, unsold, with offers anytime.

It is listed for sale for $978,800.

But the property may not be purchased for any price remotely close to that number.

Ladies and gentlemen, how the HELL is this not false advertising?

That question is rhetorical, since it’s blatant false advertising.

But given that this is going on, and broker-managers are letting their agents do it, maybe the question isn’t rhetorical. Maybe organized real estate is okay with this?

In my mind, it’s false advertising, plain and simple.

If you have an offer date set, you’re telling the market that you expect multiple offers, and essentially admitting that you’re under-listed as a means to an end.

I get that. And so does the buyer pool, even if they don’t like it.

But are we really going to start listing properties for sale for prices that we have no intention of accepting, and simply trying to “trick” people into coming to see it?

Maybe this was a one-off.

I hope to God this was a one-off.

But as is often the case in real estate, when agents see something like this, instead of condemning it and filing a complaint, they wonder, “Can this work for my listing too?”

I’ll be sure to update this post when the property sells. I’m keeping a sharp eye on this one…

The post What Is False Advertising, Anyways? appeared first on Toronto Real Estate Property Sales & Investments | Toronto Realty Blog by David Fleming.

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judithghernandez87 · 7 years

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10 Things You Can Do RIGHT NOW to Improve Your Online Business or Blog

No huge intro needed for this post. Here are ten actionable items that you can do right now to improve your online business or blog.

1. Re-Evaluate Your Goals

On a piece of paper (yes, paper), write down where you want your business or blog to be a year from now. Think about the following when doing so:

Number specific items, such as:

Earnings

Traffic

Sales

Subscribers/followers

Non-number specific items, such as:

Authority

Design

Happiness

Lifestyle

So often we get stuck in the routine of just doing things that we forget exactly why we’re do what we’re doing. Re-evaluating your goals will give you the boost of energy you need to get things done, and possibly even help you realize that you need to do things a little differently to get where you want to go.

2. Visit Your Homepage for the “First Time”

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: first impressions are HUGELY important, especially online. You’ve got less than ten seconds to make a new visitor decide to stick around, or else they’re going to leave.

So, what can we do?

Role play.

Pretend to be a brand new visitor to your site. Go to your homepage and run through the following questionnaire in your head:

What do I notice first?

Can I understand exactly what the site is about without scrolling or clicking anything?

Have I seen other sites like this before?

How easy is the website to navigate?

What seems to be missing?

By quickly answering those five questions, you can easily see what kinds of things need to happen to improve your website. Maybe it’s just as easy as making some fonts larger, or taking away some annoying advertisements or popups.

If you find that any of these changes will take less than five minutes to, do them right now. If it will take you more than five minutes to do something, make sure to write it down or put it on a to-do list so you can complete it later.

3. Check and Correct Crawl Errors

Using Google’s Webmaster Tools, you can see if there are any errors on your website that you can fix right now.

Step 1: Visit Google’s Webmaster Tools.

Step 2: If you haven’t already, setup a Google Account (if you have Gmail, you’re good), and verify your website address. To verify, you’ll have to “add new site,” and either use a meta or html page on your server to verify your website. Google will walk you though it.

Step 3: After you’re all setup, click on your verified website. On the right hand side, you’ll see a section called “Crawl Errors.” The Google bots that crawl through your website keep track of any errors that they find along the way, which may include broken links, or links that people should have access to, but for some reason don’t. You can click on each individual error and find out exactly where it’s happening, and correct the problem right away.

4. Grade Your Website

An even more thorough way to check the health of your website is to get it graded by a site like Website Grader. It’s free (and you don’t even have to enter your email address like most do). It spits out a nice, lengthy but easy to understand report about your website and the things you can do immediately to make it better.

For example, if your meta data or website descriptions are too long, it will tell you (and by how much). It also checks your RSS feed, social media, your image tags, and a whole bunch of other things you should have optimized on your website.

Try it out, it’s free!

5. Ask Someone a Question

No matter what level you’re at with blogging or online business, you’re always going to have questions that you’d like to have answers to. I have questions all of the time, and I’m not shy about going to someone more experienced than me for an answer. More often than not, I will hear back from them.

It’s easy, and you can do it right now. Don’t be shy. When you think about it, what’s the worst that can really happen? You won’t get a response back?

That’s not the end of the world. It happens, and you can keep moving forward.

6. Shoot a Video

That’s right. Turn on the camera that’s connected to your computer and shoot a video of yourself right now.

What are you going to talk about?

Anything related to your blog.

Spend five minutes shooting an unedited video, and upload it to YouTube. After it’s uploaded, make sure you have relevant keywords in the title and in the tags section, and make sure to write out your entire URL in the first line of the video description. Blast it to all of your social media buddies without a thought.

In Tim Ferriss’s The Four Hour Workweek, he likes to give us exercises that we can do that help us step out of our comfort zones. This needs to happen every so often in order to make real progress and take bold actions.

For example, one of his exercises is just to lay flat on the ground in a public place, and look straight into the air. It might sound weird, but if you can do that, just imagine what you can do in front of a crowd when you’re talking about something you love and are passionate about.

Shooting a video on a whim like this will help you learn how to step out of your comfort zone, and it’s good practice for public speaking.

7. Spend 5 Minutes to Thank 5 Of Your Customers, Subscribers, or Readers

Going the extra mile to just say thanks to someone for no particular reason can make someone’s day. Not only will those five people remember who you are just a little bit more, but you’ll never know, one of them may come back and repay you somehow later in the future just for being extra nice.

Like in happy, successful relationships, it’s the little unplanned gestures that make the relationships really special.

8. Test Something

You should always be testing something on your website or blog.

Always.

Using Google Optimizer, split test something important on your page and wait to see the results. Even if you’re not selling anything, you can still test conversion rates for subscribership, email opt-ins, and even click-through rates for various links on your site.

If you don’t know about Google Optimizer or exactly how to use it, you can read more about it here at How to Run Free Split Tests Using Google Optimizer (this was a blog post I wrote in 2008, but it’s still relevant!).

9. Turn Off the Distractions

Distractions are all around us—especially for those of us who blog and work from home—trying to stop us from progressing and getting things done.

First, understand what those distractions are. Secondly, conciously make an effort to turn them off, and only turn them back on once you accomplish something and reach a particular goal or finish something that you meant to finish.

For me, I have to turn off my Twitter notifications, as well as my email notifications, so I don’t get notified of a message in the middle of doing something. Also, I put my phone on silent, and sometimes work in full screen so I’m not tempted to click on certain icons.

In the same sense, I consciously think about what’s helping me progress, and what is not. Sometimes, what I think is helping me isn’t doing much for me at all. I take the 80/20 rule, figure out what that twenty percent is that’s making a difference in my business, and I work on that.

As a great Internet marketer once said, “You gotta starve the horses, and feed the stallions.”

10. Follow Up With Your Audience

Whether you have an online business selling some kind of product, or a blog, you can always benefit by asking your customers or readers what they would like to see improved.

Seriously, if you ask, they will tell you.

Send an email to your previous customers (you’re keeping track of their email addresses, right?), or your email list (you have an email list, right?), or even write a blog post asking for suggestions on how to make their experience a little better. Remember, it’s all about your audience’s experience, not your own.

This is how I finally ended up with a website design for this blog that I love. I went through a previous redesign, asked what people thought, and I got great feedback from you, which is all that really matters.

Not only will this help you figure out what you can do to improve your business or blog, but it will show everything that you care enough about them to ask.

So there you have it. Ten things you can do right now for your online business or blog. If you’d like to help me out, please feel free to leave a comment, or retweet this post on Twitter.

Thanks for your support, and wishing you all the best!

Cheers!

10 Things You Can Do RIGHT NOW to Improve Your Online Business or Blog originally posted at Dave’s Blog

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jornalvistolivre-blog · 7 years

Text

What you truly desire. Imagine what you could

Everyone’s parents criticize from time to time.

Do something that pushes your boundaries, something that you wouldn’t ordinarily do. Take a calculated risk and allow yourself to crumble a little.

Tips For Increasing Employee Motivation

If a survey seems like too much commitment, check out this fun widget. You never know, this feedback may just generate the next idea that takes your email program to the next level.

Credit: Deridder45 on Alphacoders

Get In Touch With Emotions

Discover how you really feel about things. It’s easier said than done. Instead of maintaining the status quo and keeping the peace.

Instead of following the herd and making the predictable and reliable decisions that you are expected to make, ask yourself.

What you truly desire. Imagine what you could accomplish, if failing wasn’t an option.If there was no fear of being judged and no adverse consequences.

If there was no fear of being judged and no adverse consequences reliable decisions.

Use the “Spaced Repetition” technique

Try the “Pinch Yourself” hack

Schedule learning sessions before bedtime

Study the content, not the language

Soft is the new hard

Credit: AcerSense on Alphacoders

How you can use this for language learning?

Get a set of flashcards for memorizing vocabulary or grammar.

Master the hard pinch (it should be quite hard) to activate your body’s threat response.

Review a category of flash cards (such as adjectives or group of words). Don’t pinch yourself at this stage.

Review the same category, now adding the pinch for each vocabulary word. Spend some time studying the card before moving to the next one.

Tough is just bravado. Softening up is a new normal you should try.

Dark Horse And Wargaming Team Up For World Life’s challenges force us to harden up. Relationships, work, children, family and finances all combine to put us under a lot of pressure and the way we are expected to deal with these is to develop resilience and to some extent indifference.

0 notes

jornalvistolivre-blog · 7 years

Text

What you truly desire. Imagine what you could

Everyone’s parents criticize from time to time.

Do something that pushes your boundaries, something that you wouldn’t ordinarily do. Take a calculated risk and allow yourself to crumble a little.

Tips For Increasing Employee Motivation

If a survey seems like too much commitment, check out this fun widget. You never know, this feedback may just generate the next idea that takes your email program to the next level.

Credit: Deridder45 on Alphacoders

Get In Touch With Emotions

Discover how you really feel about things. It’s easier said than done. Instead of maintaining the status quo and keeping the peace.

Instead of following the herd and making the predictable and reliable decisions that you are expected to make, ask yourself.

What you truly desire. Imagine what you could accomplish, if failing wasn’t an option.If there was no fear of being judged and no adverse consequences.

If there was no fear of being judged and no adverse consequences reliable decisions.

Use the “Spaced Repetition” technique

Try the “Pinch Yourself” hack

Schedule learning sessions before bedtime

Study the content, not the language

Soft is the new hard

Credit: AcerSense on Alphacoders

How you can use this for language learning?

Get a set of flashcards for memorizing vocabulary or grammar.

Master the hard pinch (it should be quite hard) to activate your body’s threat response.

Review a category of flash cards (such as adjectives or group of words). Don’t pinch yourself at this stage.

Review the same category, now adding the pinch for each vocabulary word. Spend some time studying the card before moving to the next one.

Tough is just bravado. Softening up is a new normal you should try.

Halo Wars 2 Open Beta Coming During E3 Life’s challenges force us to harden up. Relationships, work, children, family and finances all combine to put us under a lot of pressure and the way we are expected to deal with these is to develop resilience and to some extent indifference.

0 notes