#let's be quirky let's be funky and fresh

[vanpalmr]

YELLOWJACKETS APPRECIATION WEEK 2023 day three: favorite dynamic ➣ SHAUNA x GHOST JACKIE

[colorwithnoregrets]

Colorful Chronicles: Crafting Your Home Tale with Colorful Choices from Color with No Regrets

Hey there, fellow home enthusiasts! Ever felt the thrill of transforming a blank canvas into a vibrant masterpiece? Well, imagine doing the same with your home using the magical touch of Color with No Regrets! In this blog post, we’re taking you on a laid-back journey through the wonderful world of home interior color schemes. Get ready for easy, exciting, and uniquely you choices that will make your home sing with personality!

Choosing Your Palette: Let’s Keep It Simple and Fun

Picking colors for your home shouldn’t be rocket science — it should be more like picking your favorite ice cream flavor. At Color with No Regrets, we’ve made it a breeze! Whether you’re a fan of cozy neutrals, bold vibes, or sleek monochromes, we’ve got a palette that suits your style like a perfectly worn-in pair of jeans.

Neutrals: Your Home’s Comfort Zone

Think of neutrals as the comfy sweatpants of the color world. Whites, beiges, and grays create a timeless base that makes your space feel like a warm hug. Color with No Regrets has a whole range of neutrals — from calming whites for a peaceful vibe to warm beiges that give off a welcoming glow. Your home, your comfort zone.

Vibrant Vibes: Where Personality Takes Center Stage

Feeling a bit adventurous? Our vibrant hues are here to add that extra pop! Dive into a sea of blues, greens, and reds that bring life and energy to any room. Whether it’s a funky accent wall or some quirky furniture, Color with No Regrets lets you express yourself with a burst of personality. Let your space be as lively as your favorite playlist!

Monochromatic Magic: Simplify, Elevate, Captivate

Not a fan of too many choices? Enter the world of monochromatic schemes. Pick a favorite color, and we’ll guide you through various shades of it. It’s like picking a flavor and exploring different variations of it. Imagine a serene blue bedroom or a sophisticated gray living room — simplicity at its best!

Balancing Act: Warm vs. Cool — Why Not Both?

Choosing between warm and cool tones is like deciding between cocoa and lemonade — both have their charm. Color with No Regrets is all about balance. Warm colors bring in coziness, while cool tones add a breath of fresh air. Let’s create a space that feels just right, where your room temperature is always set to “perfect.”

Practical Perfection: Colors Tailored to Every Room

We get it — every room has its own vibe, its own story. Color with No Regrets has the insider scoop on colors that match each room’s personality. Light and inviting for hallways, calming for bedrooms, and vibrant for kitchens where culinary adventures happen — we’ve got a color for every chapter of your home story.

Why Roll with Color with No Regrets?

Now, you might be wondering, “What’s the deal with Color with No Regrets?” Well, we’re not just about colors; we’re about turning your home into a haven. Our paints aren’t just pretty faces; they’re durable, standing tall against the test of time and everyday chaos (because life happens, right?).

Choosing Color with No Regrets is like gaining a partner in your home makeover journey. Our team isn’t here to just sell you paint; we’re here to celebrate your style, guide you through the choices, and make sure you have zero regrets. It’s not just about picking colors; it’s about creating joy, and there’s no room for regrets when your home becomes a canvas of happiness.

Conclusion: Let’s Paint Your Home Tale Together

In the vast universe of home interior color schemes, Color with No Regrets is your trusty spaceship, ready to explore the infinite possibilities of your home. Whether you’re leaning towards cozy neutrals, adventurous vibes, or sleek monochromes, we’ve got your back.

Your home is not just a space; it’s your story. With Color with No Regrets, every color choice is a chapter, and your home becomes the unique masterpiece that tells the tale of you. Say goodbye to color regrets and hello to the joy of living beautifully with Color with No Regrets — because every color should be a high-five to happiness!

[jerrytalbotta]

Get Funky and Fresh with Funky Socks - MADMIA

MADMIA offers funky socks that expression your unique style and personality. From bold patterns to eye-popping colors, their crazy socks let you stand out from the crowd with every step you take. You can dive into a world of wild, colorful, and eccentric sock designs that redefine your sock game. For more details, visit https://www.madmia.com/en-us/collections/crazy-socks .

[greenlivinginthecity]

Upcycling Clothes Ideas: Sustainable Fashion

"In a world full of trends, let's be classic!"

Embroider or sew patches onto old clothes

Introduction

Ever wondered what happens to those jeans that are too tight or that dress that's a tad out of style? Instead of letting them collect dust in the closet or tossing them in the trash, there's a creative and eco-friendly solution: upcycling clothes! 🌱✂️

Table of Contents

Understanding Upcycling: Giving Fashion a Second Chance

Benefits of Upcycling Clothes

Getting Started: Unleash Your Inner Upcycler

Upcycling Techniques and Ideas: Let the Magic Begin

Basic Upcycling Tricks

Fancy Upcycling Feats

The Upcycling Adventure: Your Step-by-Step Guide

Flaunt Your Upcycled Glamour

Challenges: From Sewing Newbies to Upcycling Stars

The Future of Upcycled Fashion: Changing the Style Game

Conclusion: You're the Upcycling Superhero!

Understanding Upcycling: Giving Fashion a Second Chance

So, what's this upcycling thing? It's like magic for your wardrobe – taking old clothes and turning them into new treasures. Unlike recycling, where materials are broken down, upcycling gives your old duds a stylish makeover. Think Cinderella’s ball gown, but with a twist!

Benefits of Upcycling Clothes

Here's the scoop on why upcycling rocks:

Hugging Mother Earth: Upcycling clothes saves the day by cutting down on waste. By giving new life to old garments, we reduce landfill overload and say "adios" to the throwaway culture.

Ding Ding! Cash Register Sounds: Tight on budget? Upcycling is a secret money-saver. Instead of splurging on new outfits, you can create your fashion statement without emptying your wallet.

Dress to Impress – Only You! Ever wished you had an outfit no one else does? Upcycling lets you customize your clothes, making each piece uniquely "you." It’s like wearing your personality!

Getting Started: Unleash Your Inner Upcycler

Before you dive into the upcycling adventure, gather your tools and materials. Think of them as your crafting sidekicks:

Needles and Threads: Your trusty companions for sewing adventures.

Sewing Machine: If you've got one, this can be a game-changer.

Scissors: Give your clothes a snip-snip makeover!

Fabric Scraps: These will be your color palette for patchwork magic.

Buttons, Zippers, and Bling: Transform plain clothes into fashion gems.

Upcycling Techniques and Ideas: Let the Magic Begin

Okay, enough chit-chat! Let's talk techniques:

Basic Upcycling Tricks

Patchwork Play: Take those fabric scraps and create new patterns. Your old jeans can become a funky, patchwork masterpiece!

Colors of the Wind: Dye or bleach old clothes for a fresh look. Transform a boring white tee into a tie-dye dream!

Shape Shifters: Cut and sew to transform shapes. Turn a baggy shirt into a chic crop top or a dress into a stylish skirt.

Sparkle & Shine: Embellish with beads or embroidery. Give your plain blouse a dazzling upgrade!

Fancy Upcycling Feats

Denim Dreams: Turn old jeans into stylish bags or cool jackets. Jeans that didn't fit? They're now a trendy denim skirt!

Shirt-to-Dress Magic: Those oversized shirts? Boom! They're now trendy dresses, perfect for a casual day out.

Sweater Sorcery: Old sweaters can become mittens, scarves, or even cozy pillow covers. Let your knitting needles dance!

The Upcycling Adventure: Your Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to transform your fashion faves? Here’s the plan:

Step 1: Prep and Dream

Give your clothes a good wash.

Imagine your outfit’s new look – will it be a dress, a bag, or a quirky combo?

Step 2: Design the Magic

Sketch your vision on paper.

Plan what needs cutting, sewing, or adding.

Step 3: Let's Create!

Follow your plan. Snip, sew, and stitch!

Keep your scissors and sewing machine handy.

Step 4: The Final Flourish

Press your new piece for a polished look.

Check for any loose threads or wobbly stitches.

Flaunt Your Upcycled Glamour

Time to flaunt your creations! Mix your upcycled pieces with store-bought ones for a unique style statement. Share your masterpiece on social media and inspire others to join the upcycling tribe! 🌟👗

Challenges: From Sewing Newbies to Upcycling Stars

Worried about sewing skills? Fear not! Online tutorials and local workshops are here to rescue you. If you're in a creativity rut, peek at inspiring upcycling success stories – they're like rocket fuel for your imagination!

The Future of Upcycled Fashion: Changing the Style Game

Upcycling isn't just a trend; it's a movement. It's helping Mother Nature breathe a little easier and changing how we view fashion. As more folks embrace upcycling, big brands might hop on the eco-train, making sustainable choices mainstream!

Conclusion: You're the Upcycling Superhero!

Imagine a world where everyone gives their clothes a second chance. With green upcycling ideas, you're not just altering fabrics – you're changing the world, one stitch at a time. So go ahead, dust off that sewing kit, and let your imagination run wild. Your old clothes are waiting to shine like never before! 🌈👚✨

[deartodad]

Kid's Fashion Trends to Watch Out for in 2023

As we dive deeper into the year 2023, it's an exciting time to explore the latest fashion trends for our little ones. Kids' fashion is continuously evolving, with fresh styles, vibrant colors, and innovative designs taking center stage. This blog will highlight some of the top fashion trends to watch out for in 2023, ensuring that your kids stay stylish and trendy throughout the year.

Sustainable Fashion:

In recent years, the global fashion industry has witnessed a growing emphasis on sustainability, and this movement has extended to kids' fashion as well. In 2023, eco-friendly fabrics, organic materials, and ethical manufacturing practices will gain more prominence. Look out for brands that prioritize sustainable fashion, ensuring your child's clothing choices align with their future-focused values.

Gender-Neutral Styles:

The concept of gender-neutral fashion has gained significant traction in recent years, breaking down traditional stereotypes and embracing inclusivity. Expect to see more gender-neutral clothing options for kids in 2023, with a focus on comfortable, versatile, and stylish pieces that can be worn by all children, regardless of their gender.

Bold Colors and Patterns:

Gone are the days of pastel colors dominating kids' wardrobes. 2023 will be all about bold and vibrant hues, bringing a burst of energy to children's fashion. From bright yellows and rich blues to striking neons and vivid prints, these bold colors and patterns will make a statement in kids' clothing, making them stand out in the crowd.

Athleisure Wear:

The athleisure trend, which seamlessly combines comfort and style, is here to stay in 2023. Kids' fashion will feature more sporty and athletic-inspired clothing, such as joggers, hoodies, leggings, and sneakers. This trend offers both practicality and fashion-forward aesthetics, allowing children to play and move freely while looking effortlessly cool.

Retro Revival:

Nostalgia plays a significant role in fashion, and 2023 will see a revival of retro styles for kids. From '80s-inspired neon tracksuits to '90s grunge fashion, vintage looks will dominate the scene. Get ready to see oversized denim jackets, graphic tees, bucket hats, and scrunchies making a comeback, allowing parents to relive their own childhood fashion memories through their kids' wardrobes.

Statement Accessories:

Accessories are an excellent way to elevate any outfit, and in 2023, they will play a significant role in kids' fashion. Look out for oversized bows, colorful headbands, funky sunglasses, and quirky backpacks. These statement accessories will add a fun and playful touch to any ensemble, allowing kids to express their unique personalities through fashion.

Conclusion:

The year 2023 promises an exciting array of fashion trends for kids, blending sustainability, inclusivity, and style. From embracing eco-friendly materials to breaking gender stereotypes, the world of kids' fashion is evolving to reflect our changing times. With bold colors, retro vibes, and attention to accessories, your little ones can step out in confidence and style. So, get ready to update your children's wardrobes and let them shine as trendsetters in the world of fashion.

Shop Now: Kids Wear Online in India

[flufffysocks]

let's talk about andi mack's worldbuilding

sorry this took forever to make! i've been pretty busy with school stuff and i kind of lost my inspiration for a bit, but i ultimately really enjoyed writing it! i wish i could've included more pics (tumblr has a max of 10 per post), and it kinda turned from less of a mini analysis to more of an extremely long rant... but i hope it's still a fun read!

i've been rewatching the show over the past few weeks (thanks again to @disneymack for the link!), and i’ve been noticing a lot that i never did the first time around. this is really the first time i’ve watched the show from start to finish since it aired, and it honestly feels so different this time - probably a combination of the fact that i’m not as focused on plot and can appreciate the show as a whole, and also that the fandom is much, much smaller now, so there’s a lot less noise. so the way i’m consuming this show feels super different than it did the first time, but the show itself doesn’t - it’s just as warm and comforting to me as it was the first time around, if not more so.

i think a lot of that can be attributed to andi mack’s “worldbuilding”. i’m not quite sure that this is the right word in this context, to be honest, because i mostly see it used in reference to fantasy and sci-fi universes, but it just sort of feels right to me for andi mack, because you can really tell how much love and care went into constructing this universe. for clarity, worldbuilding is “the process of creating an imaginary world” in its simplest sense. there’s two main types: hard worldbuilding, which involves inventing entire universes, languages, people, cultures, places, foods, etc. from scratch (think “lord of the rings” or “dune”), and soft worldbuilding, in which the creators don’t explicitly state or explain much about the fictional universe, but rather let it’s nature reveal itself as the story progresses (think studio ghibli films). andi mack to me falls in the soft worldbuilding category. even though it takes place in a realistic fiction universe, there’s a lot of aspects to it that are inexplicably novel in really subtle ways.

so watching the show now, i’ve noticed that the worldbuilding comes primarily from two things - setting and props, and oftentimes the both of them in tandem (because a big part of setting in filmmaking does depend on the props placed in it!).

one of the most obvious examples is the spoon. it really is a sort of quintessential, tropic setting in that it's the main gang's "spot", which automatically gives it a warm and homey feel to it. and its set design only amplifies this:

the choice to make it a very traditional 50s-style diner creates a very nostalgic, retro feel to it, which is something that's really consistent throughout the show, as you'll see. from the round stools at the bar, to the booths, to the staff uniforms, this is very obvious. the thing that i found especially interesting about it though is the choice of color. the typical 50s diner is outfitted with metallic surfaces and red accented furnishings, but the spoon is very distinctly not this.

instead, it's dressed in vibrant teal and orange, giving it a very fresh and modern take on a classic look. so it still maintains that feeling of being funky and retro, but that doesn't retract from the fact that the show is set distinctly in modern times.

of course, this could just be a one-off quirky set piece, but this idea of modernizing and novelizing "retro" things is a really common motif throughout the show. take red rooster records. i mean, it's a record shop - need i say more? it's obviously a very prominent store in shadyside, at least for the main characters, but there's no apparent reason why it is (until season 2 when bowie starts working there, and jonah starts performing there). a lot of the time, though, it functions solely as a record shop. vinyl obviously isn't the most practical or convenient way of listening to music, but it's had its resurgence in pop culture even in the real world, mostly due to its aesthetic value, so it's safe to say that it serves the same purpose in the andi mack universe.

the fringe seems to be nostalgic of a different era, specifically the Y2K/early 2000s period (because it's meant to be bex's territory and symbolic of who she used to be, and its later transformation into cloud 10 is representative of her character arc, but that's beside the point). to be honest, exactly what this store was supposed to be always confused me. it was kind of a combination party store/clothing store/makeup store/beauty parlor? i think that's sort of the point of it though, it's supposed to feel very grunge-y and chaotic (within the confines of a relatively mellow-toned show, of course), and it's supposed to act as a sort of treasure chest of little curios that both make the place interesting and allow the characters to interact with it.

and, of course, there's andi shack. this is really the cherry on top of all of andi mack's sets, just because it's so distinctly andi. it serves such amazing narrative purpose for her (ex. the storyline where cece and ham were going to move - i really loved this because it highlights its place in the andi mack universe so well, and i'm a sucker for the paper cranes shot + i'm still salty that sadie's cranes didn't make it into the finale) and it's the perfect reflection of andi's character development because of how dynamic it is (the crafts and art supplies can get moved around or switched out, and there's always new creations visible).

going back to the nostalgia motif though, the "shack" aspect of it always struck me as very treehouse-like. personally, whenever i think of treehouses, there's this very golden sheen of childhood about it, if that makes sense. i've always seen treehouses in media as a sort of shelter for characters' youthful innocence and idealistic memories. for example, the episode "up a tree" from good luck charlie, the episode "treehouse" from modern family, and "to all the boys 2" all use a treehouse setting as a device to explore the character's desire to hold onto their perfect image of their childhood (side note: this exact theme is actually explored in andi mack in the episode "perfect day 2.0"!). andi shack is no exception to this, but it harnesses this childhood idealism in the same way that it captures the nostalgia of the 50s in the spoon, or the early 2000s in the fringe. it's not some image of a distant past being reflected through that setting; it's very present, and very alive, because it reflects andi as she is in the given moment.

some honorable mentions of more one-off settings include the ferris wheel (from "the snorpion"), the alley art gallery (from "a walker to remember"), SAVA, the color factory (from "it's a dilemna"), and my personal favorite, the cake shop (from "that syncing feeling").

[every time i watch this episode i want to eat those cakes so bad]

these settings have less of a distinctly nostalgic feel (especially the color factory, which is a very late 2010s, instagram era setting), but they all definitely have an aura of perfection about them. andi mack is all about bright, colorful visuals, and these settings really play to that, making the andi mack universe seem really fun and inviting, and frankly very instagrammable (literally so, when it comes to the color factory!).

props, on the other hand, are probably a much less obvious tool of worldbuilding. they definitely take up less space in the frame and are generally not as noticeable (i'm sure i'll have missed a bunch that will be great examples, but i'm kind of coming up with all of this off the top of my head), but they really tie everything together.

for example, bex's box, bex's polaroid, and the old tv at the mack apartment (the tv is usually only visible in the periphery of some shots, so you might not catch it at first glance) all complement that very retro aesthetic established through the settings (especially the polaroid and the tv, because there's really no good reason that the characters would otherwise be using these).

besides this, andi's artistic nature provides the perfect excuse for plenty of colorful, crafty props to amplify the visuals and the tone. obviously, as i discussed before, andi shack is the best example of this because it's filled with interesting props. but you also see bits of andi's (and other people's) crafts popping up throughout the show (ex. the tape on the fridge in the mack apartment, andi's and libby's headbands in "the new girls", walker's shoes, andi's phone case, and of course, the bracelet). not only does doing this really solidify this talent as an essential tenet of andi's character, but it also just makes the entirety of shadyside feel like an extension of andi shack. the whole town is a canvas for her crafts (or art, depending on how you want to look at it. i say it's both), and it immensely adds to shadyside's idealism. because who wouldn't want to live in a world made of andi mack's creations?

and, while it's not exactly a prop, the characters' wardrobe is undoubtedly a major influence on the show's worldbuilding. true to it's nature as a disney channel show, all of the characters are always dressed in exceptionally curated outfits of whatever the current trends are, making the show that much more visually appealing. i won't elaborate too much on this, because i could honestly write a whole other analysis on andi mack's fashion (my favorites are andi's and bex's outfits! and kudos to the costume designer(s) for creating such wonderful and in-character wardrobes!). but, i think it's a really really important aspect of how the show's universe is perceived, so it had to be touched upon.

[^ some of my favorite outfits from the show! i am so obsessed with andi's jacket in the finale, and i aspire to be at bex's level of being a leather jacket bisexual]

and lastly, phones. this is a bit of an interesting case (pun intended), because the way they're used fluctuates a bit throughout the show, but i definitely noticed that at least in the first season terri minsky tried to avoid using them altogether. these efforts at distancing from modern tech really grounds the show in it's idealist, nostalgia-heavy roots, so even when the characters start using their phones more later in the show, they don't alter the viewer's impression of the andi mack universe very much.

so, what does all of this have to do with worldbuilding? in andi mack's case, because it's set in a realistic universe and not a fantasy one, a lot of what sets it apart from the real world comes down to tone. because, as much as this world is based on our own, it really does feel separate from it, like an alternate reality that's just slightly more perfect than ours, which makes all the difference. it's the idealism in color and composition in andi mack's settings that makes it so unmistakably andi mack. even the weather is always sunny and perfect (which is incredibly ironic because the town is called shadyside - yes, i am very proud of that observation).

the andi mack universe resides somewhere in this perfect medium that makes it feel like a small town in the middle of nowhere (almost like hill valley in 1955 from "back to the future"), but at the same time like an enclave within a big city (because of its proximity to so many modern, unique, and honestly very classy looking establishments). it is, essentially, an unattainable dream land that tricks you into believing it is attainable because it's just real enough.

all this to say, andi mack does an amazing job of creating of polished, perfect world for its characters. this is pretty common among disney channel and nickelodeon shows, but because most other shows tend to be filmed in a studio with three-wall sets, andi mack is really set apart from them in that it automatically feels more real and tangible. it has its quintessential recurring locations, but it has far more of them (most disney/nick shows usually only have 3-4 recurring settings), and it has a lot more one-off locations. it's also a lot more considerate when it comes to its props, so rather than the show just looking garish and aggressively trendy, it has a distinctive style that's actually appropriate to the characters and the story. overall this creates the effect of expanding the universe, making shadyside feel like it really is a part of a wider world, rather than an artificial bubble. it's idealism is, first and foremost, grounded in reality, and that provides a basis for its brilliant, creative, and relatable storytelling.

tl;dr: andi mack's sets and props give it a very retro and nostalgic tone which makes its whole universe seem super perfect and i want to live there so bad!!

[drawing-way-outside-the-lines]

Alexander ‘Xander’ D’Angelo *Supporting character

Voice Claim:(Ben Schnetzer) https://youtu.be/h54AZrcGWHE?t=3

Partner(s): In a relationship. Parents: No longer living. Kids: None. Siblings: River, Jackall and Wyatt. Age: 32 (2021) Birthday: 19th of May Height: 174cm (5.7ft) Body type: Slim Eye color: Olive green/almond. About: Charismatic, Patient, Observant, Caring, Adventurous, Balanced, Quirky, Charming, Adaptable, Helpful, Loyal, Forgiving, Intelligent, Supportive, Open-minded, Calm, Fair, Optimistic, Rational, Flexible, Genuine, Playful, Social, Tolerant, Contemplative, Imaginative, Sentimental and Gentle. ~ Studies to become a Psychologist. ~ Sexuality: Straight. ~ Has messy dark blonde hair. ~ Engaged to his girlfriend of 6 years.   ~ Would love to become a father. ~ Never knew his mom, lost his father when he was 20. ~ Did a lot of traveling after his father died, and met his fiance during backpacking through Australia. ~ Grew up not knowing he had more family than his dad and his side of the family, but was contacted at the start of May 2021, by a guy named Wyatt, explaining him that he was Xander’s brother, and that they both had more siblings. ~ Packed up his things and moved to the town of Saint Greer Islands at the end of June 2021, to be closer to his new family. ~ Is very easy to be around, he’s just that type of person who tries to make sure everyone is comfortable. ~ Likes to be different, and doesn’t try to fit in.  ~ Enjoys goofing around, specially when things become too serious. ~ Okay cook. ~ Plays guitar, banjo and cowbell. ~ Does a lot of Yoga in his spare time. ~ Pours olive oil on pretty much any food that isn’t sweet. ~ Very into puzzles and can get lost a whole day in a puzzle if no one interrupts him. ~ Smells like: Fresh basil, pink pepper and olive oil. ~ Drinks a lot of herbal tea. ~ Writes his own lyrics and would love to start a band. ~ Never kills insects, he captures them and lets them out instead. ~ Dislikes arguing/fighting and will much rather settle as fast as possible otherwise he disappears into himself till it blows over. ~ Bakes his own bread. ~ Would love to have his own coop of chickens one day. ~ Had a parrot named Sampson when he was a kid, it died after he fed it gummy bears. He was 7. ~ Hasn’t had a pet since, he simply can’t bare the thought of losing another. ~ Believes everyone deserves a second chance. Everyone, no exception. ~ Would love to learn to play flute. ~ Likes to learn new things. ~ Is a quite curious person in the sense that he likes to figure what makes people tick and how things are made/function. ~ 10/10 the friend that will forget your birthday, but show up with some funky gift a week later, making sure to have a fun celebration with you. ~ 150/10 will swing on a swing if he sees one. ~ Enjoys picnics. ~ Considers himself a bit of a ‘foodie’ and would like to improve his cooking skills. ~ Thinks it could be cool to write his own cook book one day. ~ Always wanted a large family. ~ Borderline Vegetarian. ~ Never goes by his full name, but always tells people his name is Xander. ~ Loves: His girlfriend, cooking, playing music, writing lyrics, recycling, learning new stuff, musli, dried fruit and berries, freeze dried vegetables, nuts, carrot chips, Sakura tea, spearmint tea, apple/cinnamon tea, rose tea, lavender tea, blackberry tea, cherry tea, home made sushi, rye bread, rowing, fennel, snow, Jellyfish, Documentaries about nature, mustard, seals, traveling, Koala bears, hiking, trains, museums and Viking lore. ~ His style is casual, and not something he thinks too much into, he just wears whatever he likes. ~ Only buys clothes from thrift stores.

Xander’s tag Xander’s house/home Xander’s moodboard Handwriting/ask answer pic:

One song to describe him: Aaron Espe - Free Personal Playlist: 1. Tall Heights - Keeps Me Light 2. Look Yonder - Sunriser 3. Apostrophe & Rye - Do You Know 4. Jessie Reid - Wake Up 5. Aeseaes - All in Blue 6. Kris Angelis - Sunset 7. Jenny Kern - Now We Know 8.  Man On An Island - Lavender Skies 9. David Ramirez - I Wanna Live In Your Bedroom 10. Taylor Armstrong - Pack Your Bags 11. Simen Lyngroth - Morning Light 12. Freight Train Foxes - Cardboard Satellites 13. Ari B. Inger - Baby Bird 14. Idiot Wind - Lost in the Light 15. Timo Brandt - In The Darkness 16. Peace, Baby - In My Dream 17. Tiz McNamara - Days Like These 18. Silver Trees - She 19. Rod Coote & Berlyn - Easy To Love 20. Jordan Hart - Only Pieces of the Truth

[oosteven-universe]

Good Luck #5

Good Luck #5 BOOM! Studios 2021 Written by Matthew Erman Illustrated by Stefano Simeone Lettered by Mike Fiorentino    The final battle is here! But what will Luck have to do with it? The team takes on Cassiopeia, the embodiment of Bad Luck, with Joseph's new form unifying them like never before. Will Good Luck prevail... and is that even what the Unfortunates want?    This was a very cute, charming and interesting story.  The takeaway, well that will most assuredly be a personal thing unique to each reader, is one thing but for those who like to say “if it weren’t for bad luck i’d have no luck at all” or anything close to or similar to that well you understand how the characters feel.  It has something of a social commentary about it but it's subtle and doesn’t really hit you over the head letting the reader enjoy it if they wish.  I really like this story, it’s been fun, quirky and a bit self-deprecating from the get-go and it just struck a chord with me.  One of the things that I noticed while reading this was that while the kids weren’t full of good or bad luck they were average, ordinary and not special in any way and I think that sends a message in and of itself.  Doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from you can achieve what you set out to do in life if you believe in yourself.      I’m a fan of the way that this is being told.  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is presented exceptionally well.  The character development that we see through the narration, the dialogue, the character interaction as well as how we see them act and react to the situations and circumstances which they encounter and this does a marvellous job keeping their personalities fresh and inline with who they are.  The pacing is excellent and as it takes us through the pages revealing the story I’m enraptured by it.    I like how we see this being structured and how the layers within the story continue to emerge, grow, evolve and strengthen right up until the very end.  How the layers open up new avenues to be explored while adding so much depth, dimension and complexity to the story is handled exceptionally well.  The way that everything works together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward is impeccably handled.      The interiors here are funky man.  Funky in a good mind you because there is no defining moment to them they just kind of exist and distort what we see and the readers’ mind sees this as good or bad luck manifested through art.  The linework is pretty amazing and how the varying weights are utilised to create the detail work that we see throughout is nicely rendered.  This is a very stylised book, art wise, and while I normally don’t go in for this there really is something about the idea of the story that works so well with it.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a remarkable eye for storytelling.  The various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work shows a superb understanding of how colour works. ​    I’m not entirely sure that this endeavour was supposed to work and certainly not the way that it has.  This I think is one of those instances where the human will, spirit and determination show we can accomplish anything when we put our minds to the task and believe in ourselves.  It has been a very interesting journey watching this group of kids from start to finish and I almost feel a kinship with them.  The writing here has been exemplary with some strong, interesting characterisation wrapped up in these crazy cool interiors.  

[funknrolll]

Dua Lipa~ Future Nostalgia: Discovering a modern masterpiece that sounds like an all time classic

Dua Lipa is finally back with her second studio album Future Nostalgia, and honestly I feel more empowered than ever and even during these difficult times, the artist does not stop making us all dance.

With this album the artist made undeniable her artistic growth and evolution. Future Nostalgia is a revitalization of the 70s/80s disco funk-pop uptempo bops with a touch of Donna Summer, INXS, Gloria Gaynor and 80s and 70s classics, where the artist flexes her music knowledge. The prevalent snappy basslines, the on-point synths, the quirky melodies and rhythms fully and perfectly convey the signature vocals of the talented artist. To complete the masterpiece our “female alpha” added some uplifting lyrics that had us all glued to our record players.

The opening album’s title track is a dry, drum-based song with a Daft-Punk-ian robot, mocking the artist’s words, speaking of which are extremely well thought and delivered. What’s striking about this song is indeed the deliverance especially the lines “No matter what you do, I'm gonna get it without/ I know you ain't used to a female alpha” which are performed with such a strong and irreverent credibility to the point that Dua made us all believe to be our own female alphas. The album’s lead single Don’t Start Now soon became a huge mega hit that has us all dancing since November 2019. This is the kind of break-up song each and everyone of us wished they wrote, and it’s so easy to relate to this whole story. The artist then added to the mix some well-played strings and a funky bass in the verve of Donna Summer. Among all the songs in Future Nostalgia, Cool is perhaps the most tied to today’s pop trends. However, it is still an enjoyable song. The indispensable funk bass mixed with the synths sparkle have us daydreaming of California.

Physical is a darkwave influenced sounding synth -noir in the vein of 80s classics like Sunglasses at Night. In Levitating the snappy bass and the sparkling synths take for a ride to another galaxy. The funk-inflected bass and synths in Hallucinate and the chorus resembling I Feel Love by Donna Summer seem to enter an interstellar dimension.

In Break My Heart, Dua samples INXS hit Need you Tonight and the outcome is totally alluring. The following track Love Again is another sample. Indeed, the prominent trumpet is a sample taken from the U.K. 90s major hit Your Woman by White Town. The song mentioned was taken by a song originally written by Bing Crosby. The bouncy keys in Good in Bed are an evident nod to Lily Allen but the artist adds her personal touch it. Boys Will be Boys is the grandiose and touching closing act of this excellent album. The song is in harmony with the aesthetic of the album while the artist makes her point on the struggle women experience every day with some vivid yet poignant depictions such as “It’s second nature to walk home before the sun goes down/ And put your keys between your knuckles when there's boys around”. The whole theme of the song is even more emphasized by the luscious strings and an all-children choir.

From the release of the first single of the album, I knew it would have been an excellent masterpiece, and I was right. The outcome of Dua Lipa’s efforts is a fresh, authentic, empowering and deancable album where the artist addresses some relevant issues. Since the first day the album was released it was already a classic that had us all daydreaming of being in a corner of the Studio 54 dance floor nodding at Donna Summer, singing Gloria Gaynor’s major hits and smiling at Cher. Thanks to Dua Lipa and this amazing album we can have the illusion of being there and dancing with all those stars. Let’s the party begin and Future Nostalgia play (oh and don’t forget to stay home)!!

Hope you music lovers enjoy this album as much as I did and I hope you like this review✨ remember to stay home, safe and healthy.✨

Thank you for your attention. G✨

[beldaroot]

our boy staniel the maniel!

how i feel about this character: i love my man stan the man!! a funky fresh lil dude. i relate a lot to stan because i’m particular about things and i usually rule with logic vs being emotional.  

all the people i ship romantically with this character: patty! they are actual college sweethearts, true pure soulmates, they deserve the world! i also love stanlon because i think mike and stan are an incredibly soft couple - the nature boyos :)

my non-romantic OTP for this character: ok i keep saying eddie for these but it’s just because eddie genuinely has a really great relationship with stan and i want more of it! stan is like the big brother eddie really needed who makes fun of him but also protects him. and eddie thinking stan is an angel will forever be an iconic moment. stozier and stanverly friendships are really great too!

my unpopular opinion about this character: that neither movies did justice to him? the first movie he barely had any form of development and was greatly reduced to jewish stereotypes. and for the second movie… i really don’t like how muschietti romanticized stan’s suicide by making him some type of martyr/sacrificial slaughter to save the others. stan’s suicide in the book was deeply rooted in trauma and that was just not translated on screen imo. also, fanon stan is way too mean. sure, the boy is sarcastic and has strange humor that sometimes ribs on the losers but he isn’t cruel… canon stan is the definition of weird and quirky and protective! he’s also really personable as an adult! let’s spread that version of him more pls! 

one thing i wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon: that he fucking lived!! sk really let him die in chapter three smh i absolutely hate it. he deserved to live and see the other losers as an adult. also he deserved to have his little jenny or andy that he and patty wished they had!! 

[daturanerium]

i’m finally all caught up with @thepenumbrapodcast​ ‘s juno steel stories! here are my discordant thoughts on the story and the characters.

(i did this with the magnus archives season one, too! check it out here.)

SPOILERS FOR JUNO STEEL from s1e1 to s3ep2

general plot stuff:

this show. THIS SHOW. is written so well. the characterization is top-notch. the characters are fleshed out and interesting and engaging and they all grow and change and are affected by people and environments and time and events. they’re not static in the slightest.

i haven’t come across a story that deals with depression and suicidal idealization so well. i’m thoroughly impressed with how the writers both portrayed them and how well they have (so far) portrayed the healing process. wowowow.

THE LGBT REPRESENTATION IS OFF THE CHARTS. QUEERS LISTEN TO THIS SHOW. they have a nonbinary politician?? mlm romance and kiss in the first episode???? main character is nb with he/him pronouns??? SO MANY BADASS SAPPHIC SPY/MAFIA COUPLES.....IT TUGS AT MY HEART. the big strong guy is asexual??? i could go on for days but spoilers! just know that genuinely, you will not be disappointed.

this show has two main focuses/themes: trust and the future. it’s been so fantastic to see how juno and the other characters view both themes and how they changed themselves and/or others while encountering those themes in their everyday life.

ramses o’flaherty and the entire plotline that came with him was absolutely top-notch. it blew me away. ramses is a true complicated character, a grey area that makes you question everything you believe in. the storyline tackles politics, morals, and values while keeping it exciting and entertaining. it’s definitely one of my favorite storylines ever.

the writers are truly incredible. i’m really in awe. they inspire me!  i wish i had the energy right now to give them the praise essay that they deserve but i’m really tired and i want to get this posted. someday!

the worldbuilding is the perfect balance between two extremes that a lot of scifi authors really struggle with. juno explains how a (sort of) functioning mars city works in a way that feels natural and easy to understand, and the world he describes is both familiar and fascinating. although the environment is different, the audience is all too familiar with corruption and capitalism and classism. they keep the world relatable while giving it some really new and funky details (do i want a cat with six eyes and a stinger? of course! do i want to step outside for more than five hours and get radiation poisoning? that’s up for interpretation). they also chose a great route in making this story take place in the aftermath of (what seems to be) a galactic war instead of taking the traditional Save The World, End The War scifi route. it’s refreshing, and again, relatable (especially to me: i was born after 9/11 and have lived through the entirety of the war in afghanistan so the underlining feeling that hyperion city has that Something is Going To Go Wrong....i feel that).

there is so much more i want to say but this has been sitting in my drafts for weeks and i want to get it posted!

tl;dr: juno steel is really a fantastic work of art. it’s engaging and relatable and teaches valuable lessons about healing, trusting, and moving on in ways i have never seen another piece of media do so successfully. please give it a listen if you have a chance!

some character/character arc thoughts under the cut :)

juno:

god so dumb. just so fucking stupid. i love him.

i’m going to be honest. s1 and the beginning of s2 Juno was really hard for me to listen to. the way he treated others obviously was, to put it lightly, not the best (the monitor incident with rita comes to mind; i really hated that). it almost got repetitive, and since i’m already not a big fan of the depressed-asshole trope i was kind of hanging by a thread by the time ramses came around.

god am i glad i stuck around. his character growth and maturity within the second half of season two and the beginning of season three has been so satisfying! it hasn’t been perfect, but that’s part of the reason why it’s so good--it’s realistic and believable. he’s realized where his faults lie and is making a physical and mental effort to better himself. he’s even doing it verbally, explaining to people he trusts (rita) that he’s trying to be better and then actually acting on it. too often we see the depressed-asshole say the “i’m trying to be better!” line but don’t see any actions following it that signify that effort--that was my fear going into this. but that’s really, truly not the case here, and it’s such a breath of fresh air. plus, in-canon-wise, i’m so happy for juno he’s come so far!

okay nonbinary king i see you

GET THIS LADY A CAT PLEASE.

that moment during the end of s2 when he found that baby rabbit in the sewers.....god.

juno appreciate rita challenge (accepted!)

his voice......is so soothing. except when he yells but he’s better now we’ve established that

i LOVE how as soon as he figures out that he likes you he sticks to you like glue. that’s super funny and cute and also fits him perfectly

miss dahlia rose if you’re out there.....

his complicated relationship with ramses was so fascinating and important. i loved listening to that storyline.

juno: “there’s no way in hell i’m doing this, fuck off” juno, five minutes later: [is doing it]

that’s pretty much the beginning plot of every episode lol ur so valid juno we love u

he’s ability to make the dumbest decisions continues to astound me. he likes to talk about how mick is always getting himself in trouble but god juno you’re really not one to talk

the fact that, in a world that literally runs on tech, he has no idea how a coms works. that’s so fucking funny. if you ignore the backstory that comes behind it.

did juno ever tell alessandra that he made it out of the desert alive or is she just out there in hyperion city somewhere mourning him with her wife?

i already sort of wrote on juno’s backstory but it’s so good. so good.

he’s so fucking soft. he loves so much!!!! and that scares him!!!! but he’s working on it!!!!!

rita:

is she the love of my life or do i just relate heavily to her? who knows

actually no we’re gonna talk about this

rita penumbrapodcast, queen of adhd. queen of oversharing. queen of tangents. queen of love. queen of excitement. queen of caring for her friends more than herself. queen of incredible intelligence shown in an unconventional way. queen of being underappreciated.

s1 and the beginning of s2 really stung me because i’ve been in rita’s positon--used as a punching bag by someone i care deeply about because it’s better me than someone else, because i’m willing to sacrifice my own health and safety for the sake of giving them an outlet. we put it under the guise of “helping”, but we don’t realize until later that it’s really not; we’re just letting them get away with hurting themselves and hurting us. the monitor incident comes to mind again. i actually had to pause and take a step away after hearing juno yell and the glass break--although my abusive friendships thankfully never got violent, that kind of unbridled anger was all too familiar and i was begging out loud for her to leave. she handles it like a champ, and i honestly can’t say whether or not that’s a good or bad thing: good because she knows he doesn’t mean it or bad because she’s used to it? because it’s later revealed that juno’s treated her poorly from the first day they met. i was really worried that their relationship was going to end up being static, “depressed-asshole bullies quirky female sidekick and she never fights back because she loves him” trope. but, thankfully, they’re not!

towards the end of s2 and the beginning of s3 we didn’t just see growth in juno, we saw growth in rita. she confronts juno through a thetabot down in the sewers, calling him out on his self-destructive tendencies and his habit of doing important things without anyone else’s help (in this case, disappearing for weeks without telling her where he was). she points out that maybe the only way for him to appreciate her is for her to do the same thing--disappear for weeks, forcing him to realize just how much he needs her. thankfully, this is after juno’s Big Realization, and he sincerely apologizes for his treatment of her and assures her that he’s trying to be better. (and, side note, but that apology was a good one. a really good one. he verbally acknowledges his many mistakes, including the one rita specifically mentioned, acknowledges that he does not deserve her forgiveness, tells her what he’s trying to do to be better, and then apologizes and asks for her help. that’s good. take notes, people.) later that season, she takes initiative for what seems to be the first time, coming up with a solid, well-thought-out plan, enacting it on her own, and saving both an entire city and her boss. you could probably hear my cheers from wherever you are on earth, because they were there and they were loud! rita saving the day mixed with juno breaking through the mind control with his overwhelming love and appreciation for her.....god. good stuff.

rita buying juno’s office as a surprise for him.......i Will cry

literally she’s just so wonderful i love her so much

every time she talks i’m like [one billion heart emojis mixed with like forty crying emojis]

RITA SPINOFF WHEN. i come from the critical role community so yall know for a fact i’ll back it on kickstarter

once her and juno’s relationship reaches a healthy balance (and they’re already well on their way which i’m so happy about!) they’re going to be so good together. so powerful. the Ultimate cheery vs broody relationship (although juno is less broody at this point and more....gentle asshole. we love growth). they were unstoppable before, but now? god help the galaxy lol

the fact that rita can just casually hack into literally any system in the galaxy is so.......impressive? hot? yeah.

please get this woman a girlfriend and a cat

rita x franny xoxo

RITA BACKSTORY WHEN. PLEASE KEVIN AND SOPHIE PLEASE AS A RITA STAN I AM POLITELY BEGGING YOU.

rita is now in space, which is an interesting development. i just.....”rita in space” is not something i would have ever guessed at a week ago

wait oh my god.

i was sitting here thinking rita has some sort of trust fund/is secretly rich and that’s how she bought juno’s office and kept it afloat, but with the most recent episode’s developments it’s probably equally if not more likely that she either hacked into the nearest bank to give herself the creds needed or hacked the person she was buying it from to make it seem like she had made the payments. i literally adore her whoops

the little rita episodes make me so happy and i hope we get more of them!

tldr: i love her and she deserves the world and more, i’m glad her relationship with juno has changed into something a lot healthier with juno’s Realization mid-season-two, i hope she realizes the hero she already is in season three

peter:

.........oh how the turntables.

peter, season one: juno come with me so we can be together forever and travel the galaxy! i think i love you! juno: aw babe i wish i could but i’m sad and the city needs me :( peter, season three, when handed the opportunity to travel with a healing juno through the galaxy on a silver platter: actually fuck this lol i have One Job and it is to Only Think About My Current Assignment. this is smart and healthy.

this man.....this man right here officer. stole my fucking heart.

i don’t really have an essay for him because we haven’t seen enough of him to really gauge his character development beyond an obsession with debts and his aging. i’m guessing that will change this season though

the debts....what are they

can rita hack in and pay them off

god wouldn’t that be so funny. he spends his entire life trying to pay off these impossible debts and it’s stressing him out to the point where he feels he can’t focus on anything else. and one day he comes to the fam and explains everything and rita’s like “oh shit that’s easy i’ll take care of that right now!!! why didn’t you say something sooner” and hes like “what” and she’s like “yeah!” and he’s like “holy shit” and then he gets married to juno and they live happily ever after the end.

no but real talk

these debts. there’s a lot about them and the way he talks about them that really worries me. i feel like having them be simple money debt would be too easy, so maybe it’s something medical? that would explain both his obsession with his aging and his uncharacteristically excited reaction to the healing mother prime (i think that’s what it was whoops).

he also mentioned someone else before juno, someone that had some pretty strong romantic undertones. maybe they’re sick? but peter doesn’t seem like the type to throw away a relationship like that so quickly, so it doesn’t really match up that he would have someone sick and waiting for him but he’d still go after juno in season one. hmmm.

this one’s a real mystery lads. you think you have something figured out about peter nureyev but it just gives you more questions.

peter is the one mystery juno can’t solve. god, that’s good.

his voice is so good. i don’t remember who his voice actor is but they’re doing a fantastic job thank you!!!!

i actually don’t picture peter like how he’s portrayed in the official art and fanart? i wish i was an artist so i could draw him the way i see him but alas. (i still really like his official design tho!)

listen. you give me a mysterious thief that doesn’t exist and i am Forced to love him. i have a type.

thankfully peter seemed to come around during the most recent episode (s3e2 the man in glass) so i don’t think we’re going to get a repeat of season one. these debts, whatever they are, are definitely going to cause problems. i can’t wait to see what the writers do with this.

(my only fear is that it will end up fitting the “gay character has a sickness parallel to aids and it is incurable” trope. although the writers have so far done a fantastic job of writing queer characters and worlds as well as turning tropes on their heads, so even if it may seem like that’s the case in the beginning, i’ll most likely stick through it to see where they take it. i trust them).

peter i know you’ve never had a family in your life but. im gonna tell you a secret here. found family is cool and good and you’ll like it if you give it a chance.

i love him and as soon as i cut my hair short i’m gonna cosplay him. fashion king

peter nureyev makes me want to fall in love

watching (listening) to juno grow and mature was already fantastic, but to see it through the eyes of someone who respects him, cares for him, and loves him deeply? good lord.

the way peter talks about juno.....yeah.

and peter as an individual....WOW. master thief, yes wow impressive! but his growth is already focusing so much on trust and it’s been written so well. i can’t wait to see how much he continues to grow and learn to trust this season!!!

i would love to see him continue to narrate s3. i think it’s a really strong change of pace and it also puts some extra emphasis on juno’s growth while focusing on peter’s motivations and inner thoughts. i’m genuinely fine either way tho!

tl;dr: i love u emo boy i love u i love u

[taste-in-music]

Music Monday (5-6-19)

The first Music Monday of May! We’ve got a bunch of new music to talk about. So let’s talk about a bunch of new music, I guess?

New Releases

Exhale by Sabrina Carpenter: I’ve been waiting for this single after Sabrina performed it as the encore at her concert. It’s a bit of a different direction for her recent material, being a quieter ballad accented with simple strings and guitar. The lyrics are also more personal, focusing on Carpenter’s struggles with anxiety. After hearing this, I’m excited to see how Singular, Act 2 pans out. 

Win Win by Diplo ft. Tove Lo: I’ve been so starved for Tove Lo content that I had to include this song on the list. But that doesn’t mean that this song doesn’t have other merits. Diplo’s production is funky fresh on this track, including lots of thumping basses and glossy synths for a classic party-jam sound. I can see this being a big bop this summer. 

Dress Up by The Regrettes: So in other news The Regrettes continue to kick ass, I’m sure all of you are very surprised. This single is charged with rock energy, tons of attitude, and a sick, sick guitar line. We’ve got a total banger here, folks. 

Married in a Gold Rush by Vampire Weekend ft. Danielle Haim: Every time I listen to Vampire Weekend, this deeply nostalgic feeling stirs inside me and I don’t know why. It’s not like I’ve been listening to them since I was little or anything, I’m not even that dedicated of a fan. I think it just has to do with how classic their sound feels. And this song, combining their indie-pop roots with some folk elements, quirky details, and Danielle Haim’s 70s-steeped aesthetic makes for a really interesting listen. 

Alligator by Of Monsters and Men: It’s been a while since Little Talks, and I saw this song in Spotify’s New Music Friday, decided to click, and holy hell, I think I’ve been really sleeping on Of Monsters and Men. This song managed to simultaneously remind me of Florence + The Machine, Dream Wife, and Alice Merton all at the same time. Give this track a listen if you enjoy any of those artists, it kicks a lot of ass, with grinding guitars, ethereal feel, and a powerful vocal delivery. 

I Lost a Friend by FINNEAS: It’s time for this man to get the recognition he deserves. This song is painfully earnest not only in its lyrical content, (it’s so sharply written,) but also in its vocal delivery. The production is amazing too in how it utilizes subtlety. The main line of the song is constant, but elements are added in as the song goes on, including breathy flutes, heavier bass and drums, and vocal distortion. 10/10 sad and good as hell. 

Some Place Else by MorMor: I am so hecking happy that I stumbled across MorMor in a magazine article, because I fear that if I never had I never would have known about the wonderful music he makes. He’s gearing up to be one of my favorite personal indie-pop discoveries of the year. For this song, MorMor’s wistful delivery and tone is backed up by a solid drum and bass line, which keeps the airiness of this song grounded to Earth. Beware, if you listen you may feel obligated to float up into the clouds and bask in the sunshine. 

Other Favorites

Apple Cider by beabadoobee: This could be technically counted as a new release I guess because the Loveworm EP only dropped a handful of weeks ago, but I’m a mess and forgot to cover it when it first dropped so now let’s talk about this song already. This song sees beabadoobee, who usually gravitates towards guitar-driven acoustic tracks, veering in an indie-rock direction, which I am totally here for. The more intense instrumental matches beabadoobee’s sweeter vocal delivery and lyrics perfectly. 

Plateau by R E L: I was surfing through playlists for inspiration while putting together my recent indie-pop playlist I WONDER and as soon as I heard the first measure of this song I knew I would love it. This atmosphere of this song is so breezy and light, it makes me want to kick back and hang out with friends while drinking watermelon juice. 

Water Fountain by Alec Benjamin: Another song from the I WONDER playlist here, (I’m really proud of that playlist btw, it’s got a lot of good songs on it.) I’d heard of Alec Benjamin in passing, but when I saw he had 16 million listeners on Spotify I figured I had to be missing out on something because holy shit, that’s a lot of listeners for a guy with only one album. This song is super sweet, charmingly youthful, and the reverb and layering on the vocals give it this dreamy quality that makes it feel otherworldly. 

Check out last week’s Music Monday or my personal Spotify playlist for more new releases and other great songs.

[blauregen]

fav ♀-releases in 2018 (in no particular order)

so, since i started this list like this last year too, here we go: i know little to nothing about music, i have weird (may i say b a d) taste and my reasonings are - as expected from a subjective list - Super personal ,, also i dont follow every female k-artists so there are definitely blind spots for me too! that said ... LETS GET GAY! LETS GO LESBIANS!

Wind (바람 ) - Heize

suprise surprise, its Heize again. i was rarely this excited about a comeback this year as i was about Wind ... i adore this mini. i really love Heize’s voice, especially now that she is playing around with rapping And singing more than ever, its just ,, i hear her voice and i just, immediately calm down and feel a warm glow in me rising and --- this is getting really cheesy, isn’t it.

my fav tracks have to be Sorry and wish you well (feat. DAVII), however i can listen to this whole album without a problem - of course Jenga as the title was amazing as well, Dahye’s voice works really well with Gaeko’s as well. additionally i loved the ~design for this album, the photoshoot is stunning and the whole aesthetic is very much up my alley.

AND SINCE WE R ALREADY TALKING ABOUT DAHYE:

+ First Sight (첫눈에) - Heize

as expected, i love her winter single release as well. again, a Lovely mixture of her singing and a solid very groovy amazing rapping part. i did like her mini a lot more lyricwise (lots of it is really sad but Sorry has such smart lyrics!!!), however as a “”simple”” winter release that is meant to fit this season, this is amazing.

...... also have i mentioned how Beautiful she is, jfc.

Deine - Ha:tfelt

Oh Boy. Here we go.

this is hands-down my Favorite Release of this whole year. i don’t know if its clear, but i adore yeeun. i adore her as the person park yeeun, who is an activist and very outspoken about her position of a woman in the industry, her experiences in one of the most successful girlgroups Ever, her views on feminism and sexism, the fact that she collabed with a drag organizer for her exhibition, etc etc etc. however, i also love yeeun as Ha:tfelt and adore her music. Pluhmm is such a sensual, fun and soft and yet strong song about her Own Desires and a woman that Wants to flirt and be in love and have fun and Be sensual and its so so so lovely and warm and playful and confident? i died a little at the MV because Ha:tfelt is a Woman and is portrayed as such, she is sensual and sexy and its portrayed by yeeun dancing around a flat in the sexiest dress and feeling herself and. its just Wonderful. so wonderful. i love her. Cigar is super touching too, very smooth and slick and polished and yet it has a vulnerable touch to it and is just ,, such a good song ....... thank u yenny.

Warning - Sunmi

ANOTHER AMAZING WOMAN. if i had to choose a soloist that is more active and actively promotes and performs on music and award shows etc, i’d definitely go for Sunmi. first of all: sunmi is outstandingly hardworking, talented, tough, brave, but also so so so kind and sweet and self-aware (seriously her twitter account is my social media highlight of this year, she is beyond ADORABLE and wonderful and funny) and of course she is fucking beautiful. this album is AMAZING - i can listen to the whole tracklist without skipping a single song. i adore Siren (aesthetically its my favorite title track of hers, though i do think Gashina is a little more catchy, esp together with that choreo - but i Love Siren’s horror-esque MV with the, well, siren-mermaid-imagery, so good!) but personally my favorite SONGS are ADDICT and Black Pearl - both sound very different actually, one being completely in English, but it just shows how well Sunmi can pull of different styles. god ... have u seen her on stage? shes a m a z i n g.

KHAN - I’m Your Girl ?

I started following Euna and Minju already before they debuted ... but what really made me fall in love with both their voices, be it singing or rapping (cause both are quite good at both ,,) was their DNA cover! generally the fact that they keep posting really cool covers on their youtube channel is beyond lovely and these two really managed to make me like a version of DNA ... (probably my least favorite BTS title track, lmao ,,)

their actual debut was just lovely. the song is great, soothing and super smooth and groovy and easy to listen to, their voices are stunning in it, the MV is VERY GAY, the choreo is fun and their outfits for promotion stages were such a lovely fresh wind and i really enjoyed seeing them perform a LOT. i just really like that KHAN already is quite unique and m so so so looking forward to future comebacks!

BBIBBI - IU

no highlight list without Jieun. the lyrics to this track were solely written by her and it shows - IU is an outstanding songwriter, i adore her hard work and experience and talent. the sound of the track itself is fun and bubbly and groovy and Very catchy, but my highlight is how this conflicts so beautifully with the lyrics that are quite ... critical and rough and basically show a very very sweet lovely middle finger to the rumour-netizen-culture around her ,, i am super excited for future full releases from jieun, though i still listen to Palette a lot and think she should take all the time she needs!

Bad Boy - Red Velvet

sadly, i didnt not really enjoy Red Velvets later release this year and neither did i really dig their summer release, but what i do adore to the moon and back is their The Perfect Red Velvet - The 2nd Album Repackage, though thats a lil bit of cheating since i already mentioned their Perfect Velvet album last year ,,

Bad Boy is my favorite title track of theirs this year, the styling is OUTSTANDINGLY GOOD MY GOD and the sound is just, smooth and cool and sexy and just ... damn.

also, Red Velvet definitely has some of my favorite jacket photoshoots of this year, the quality and beauty of their photos is amazing, i could spend hours just looking at those ......... and maybe i did.

What Is Love? - TWICE

the nations girl group powered through this year and released so many catchy awesome songs that i had a hard time choosing one ,, but What Is Love is definitely my MV highlight of the year and also the song itself is so so fun and lovely and cheerful and just makes me feel happy ... thank u for making me happy, TWICE!

You And I - Dreamcatcher

i have to admit: Dreamcatcher is not really my sound. their tracks remind me a little too much of Very Loud Stressful Anime Openings, so i accept that its just not my music taste ,, HOWEVER i actually really really like You and I. the song is very catchy and has this one part right before the chorus that i really love, its a very cool mysterious “dark” awesome track. moreover though i love the Whole Package that is Dreamcatcher (again, this horror-esque style of theirs is Really Up My Alley) - their styling and choreos are so clever and SEXY and goth-y and different, its just so fucking fun to watch them perform, especially the Choreo to You and I is so so so so so cool!

(also they r somewhat of a lesbian cult and m Very Appreciative of that, my god.)

LOOΠΔ - just, the whole thing.

SO - it took me until this year to really get into Loona. i knew them beforehand and was intrigued by the unique pre-debut “schedule” that their company was doing and checked out some songs but never got into them deeper. however, this year i truly listened to the Broad Amazing Variety that Loona offers and i just Have to include them here. all the girls and the subunits are super interesting and diverse and i love how especially the solo songs all sound different and lots of things were tried out and the AESTHETICS ARE OFF THE CHARTS. their full group debut was a little too ... they played it too ~safe for my taste, however i still adore lots of LOONA songs and can only recommend them!

(my favs are So Boring, i love Egoist and Heart Attack and Singing in the Rain and New and ... i’ll get back to this once i develop an actual Interesting opinion lmao)

i Can’t possibly end this list without some honorable mentions, because girls are amazing:

- (G)I-DLE are amazing rookies and performers and just such an awesome new girlgroup. Soyeon’s stage presence is just ,, wow, she is such a good rapper and performer, but the other girls are also so amazing and m so glad they are so successful and loved so far. favorite track of this year is def HANN (Alone), though all their songs are mighty good.

- Oh My Girl. maybe i dont listen to their songs as much but m in deep love with their visuals and stages and man ... call me, Yooa, please, m free almost every night.

- fromis_9 had such a cute quirky hyper Love Bomb comeback, i loved it!

- Momoland similarly had such catchy fun songs, i gotta mention them too!

- Hyuna - i love Hyuna and i wish her all the best and happiness and love and success and i hope to see her on stage again soon! (i especially loved her in Triple H, since i was actually quite a fan of that trio and the retro funky sound they went for ...... big sigh @ cube)

- Yubin ... again, not really my sound, but man. kill me Yubin, just do it, cmon.

- EXID is back to OT5! m so happy!!! I Love You was really fun, but I definitely enjoyed DDD last year more ,, but i still wanted to mention them, such a fun, diverse, different girlgroup that offers lots of different sounds and visuals and stands out to me a lot, so so good!

- Chungha ... m still in the process of falling in love with Chungha but oh god .... have u seen her? her dancing skills are out of this world, her beauty is stunning, she is so so sweet and kind and tough and her songs m so eager to properly discover and also a rly niche point but: I LOVE HER ALBUM DESIGNS SO SO SO MUCH.

- Minseo is another new amazing soloist ,, i discovered her at first through my fav photographers instagram (@ mu_gung) who took just. outstanding pics of Minseo but i also Adore her voice and she has done Amazing covers as well, her Why So Lonely is my absolute favorite and id dare to say i like it just as much as the original ... check her out, her MV visuals and concepts are Super interesting and beautiful and fun as well!

and many many many many more that i missed or forgot!

just know: girls are the best.

[unproduciblesmackdown]

@thecicadasong yeah i havent actually had like, Anons trying to get fresh w/ me about what i Should be drawing (i think ive gotten anon hate like, twice? once for passing along a tweet abt respecting homeless people, another time i have No idea why they were trying to roast me but they were also...weirdly bad at it) but the very rare occasions someone’s tried to tell me i should be drawing different stuff for whatever reason Stick With Me b/c i’m often still steamed abt shit that mightve happened years back but it was THAT annoying lmfao & i reaaally hate when ppl get patronizing &/or when i can tell they’re acting like whatever angle they’re taking is going over my head or they think i’m clueless & i can’t even tell they see me that way lol and i’m like, oh my god i mean it doesn’t make me concerned if i Only Appreciate Boys b/c they’re mostly who i draw b/c yknow......my drawing corner is some rando over here just entertaining myself & Xpressing myself. and a real limited amt of my Interests = the ones im able/interested enough in to draw, & then i tend to wanna draw them a million times lmao....it’s not necessarily the One Unfiltered Reflection of all my interests and all the characters i like, cuz it’s not the only way i think abt shit and express things, & if somebody thinks that my Portfolio not being >50% Girls means that it’s b/c i’ve totally hated girls all along.....that’d be their prerogative i guess. also good lord but that’d be a bad litmus test anyways like.......alllll the misogynist dude artists who draw plenty of ~female characters~ like Yikes City ahhhhh god thats such a fucking cursed realm like. the people so sexist they should be banned from depicting girls and women in any medium. and banned in general God Anyways And Yeah like. the terrible relationships thing too.........like really, this is what you think is appealing???? its too clear sometimes when some man writing this kind of stuff has NO real idea how to think of a woman as an actual person and if they’re trying to write from that perspective it’s like “oh, let’s throw in a ‘smh boys are so stupid and sexist’ thought to realistically depict what it must be like to experience misogyny” and “something about a bra idk” and then call it a day, and if they’re trying to write Romance it’s just like....this Incredible Love that’s truly out of nowhere and they never bother explaining what sustains this, or they decide that the reason bitches liked pride & prejudice is totally because she thought he was a jerk and they fought but then it was like wait nvm we’re in love, right?? and they make that into like, some dude being able to be a total asshole and a really detrimental force in some girl’s life and somehow this Intensity can just be translated into Romantic Intensity no problem, it’s fine that like, they’re not even friends and who knows how to believe they can just get along in regular life and the guy is probably super disrespectful and diminishes her but whatever its fine All Of This And More.....there are so many terrible and annoying ways they do m/f relationships and it’s Really easy to just make it decently written!!! i mean of course sometimes there’s m/f ships that i think are tolerably written and i don’t hate it but also don’t particularly care one way or another but a small / hetero-leaning fandom will like Never Shut Up About It and it’s like ok please shut up about it......i mean really i definitely don’t ever go into any new piece of media expecting to give a shit about any Guy Girl couple. it was a pleasant but total surprise that i really like jeremy/christine (which is not me disavowing the nb lesbian jeremy hc by any means lol) and it was NOT complicated why!!! really in fact a couple of the biggest reasons i found it Especially Good is like, ten seconds in total lmao and it’s “jeremy and christine cracking up by squawking at each other on the couch” and “jeremy doing that Ecstatic Stimming Twirl after kissing christine for 0.003 seconds” lmao.....like!!!! consider showing that the characters can actually have genuine fun interacting with each other for longer than five seconds!!!! give us a single reason why they’d be drawn to each other As People!!! it’s notttt thaaaat harrrrrd aaaaaaaaaA THE WEIRD CHARACTERS yeah i love a true Quirky character and not in the like.....bad clichéd quirky way but like. just someone who’s weird!! the nerdy awkward guys who manifest this by like....maybe being a tiny bit socially clumsy are like, boring and whatever a dime a dozen. but when people are funky and in a sort of fun way and it’s genuinely part of how they interact with others....it’s real relatable lmao i don’t have any very Weird Persona at this point but back in the day i did a bit moreso b/c like, firstly interacting w ppl tended to make me Nervous so it’s like ah hell i’ll do a bit. and then also there’s the classic “well i have this Weirdness abt me that i can’t turn off that ppl seem to dislike, so i’ll put on this extra layer of weirdness that i can try to be vaguely entertaining with.” and then you aren’t popular at all still lol but at least you’ve got your niche amongst whoever does actually like you.....Weird Quirky Guys characters are fun and like, it’s funny that nato of the black suits is Like That in terms of being a lil weirdo who just kind of does his thing in his corner and might Say Something About Anything Apropos Of Nothing as his conversational style and he’s apparently that superlative student type but doesnt seem to actually give a shit and just has his specific interest and depression.......it’s like oh jeez!!! relatable lmao!!! everyone who has a kind of Veneer of communicating a bit erratically and maybe just always throwing out random shit when interacting with others to hope something sticks......but also the strangeness doesn’t even have to be at all performative b/c it’s rarer but super fun when there’s characters who do have that kind of more inherent weirdness that they can’t turn off that really puts people off despite like....them not really doing anything lol....now THAT’S what i call A Timeless Mood it’s funny lmao like i totally have clear Character Types and i always go for those ppl on the same general wavelength as me but it can be a bit Unpredictable and nuanced which ones will actually be adopted into the faves category......like naturally i go for the un-cool passionate excitable types but if someone’s real like, mad energetic or demanding/loud im like oops you lost me. i like people who like to / want to Socialize / have relationships but sometimes if they’re too outgoing / have that natural success at it all / are obv free of anxiety im like, again, you’ve lost me. you truly never know!! only the Most relatable can survive!! one that might seem like they should be a fave on paper might super annoy me lol or just generate Zero interest.......it’s nice to be surprised by which characters really strike a chord lol

[senjuicy-gun-hell]

Can you tell us more about Love1 and Like2 :o

Hello, thank you for dropping by.

Both L1 and L2 are British Standard military rifles from the S80 series and are still used today. L2 (L86A1) has a longer barrel than L1 (L85A1) and other modifications, letting him have better aim among several other benefits, which is the basis of L1 praising and complimenting L2 so often. Still, L86A1 was built on basis of L85A1, which is why they are deemed brothers, similar to Charles and Spring, Enfield and Snider.

L1 is well known to jam a lot. For some reason the bullets’ shells get stuck during shooting. This is the inspiration of L1 just randomly getting nosebleeds after firing a special attack. He claims it’s because he’s getting all worked up during battles. This jamming is said to have been somewhat fixed (still jamming) with the A2 upgrade, but since our L1 is still jamming, he is probably the original model without upgrades.

The fact that both of them, espcially L2 seem so rich might stem from the fact that S80 rifles are to this date one of the most expensive guns that are issued as service rifles.

Now to their personalities.

Love One can be described as a very funky guy. The way he talks is fresh and funky. His clothes are funky. If you shoot him, he shouts funky things. Still, if you were to divide all modern guns into “Musketeers who get shit done“ and “Musketeers who don’t“, Love One falls into the category of “Musketeers who get shit done“. Despite his seemingly carefree attitude he’s actually smart and will undertake measurements when someone is turning their back on the empire. There is quite a gap between how he talks and what morbid things he might actually say, which does create a rather scary atmosphere in his second character episode.Love One is really fond of his little brother. From one small interaction in the past event it seems like he is actually not good with workouts, which is why you will find depictions of him being weak.

Like Two is the polar opposite to Love One. His stage was called “stoic soldier“, and as such, Like Two isn’t very outgoing and rather quiet and serious. He gets along with Love One and carries tissues around to wipe off any nosebleed. He is actually slightly annoyed by Love One’s nosebleeds, but he puts up with them. Like Two likes training his muscles and engaging in things that make you look rich (one of our admins likes to call him vain barbie gun because of that). He says in his introduction that he doesn’t like ugly and poor people. He doesn’t talk as flamboyantly as Love One, but does get a bit… more rude? It’s comparable to how Snider talks much bolder than Enfield but it’s not ~delinquent rude~ if you understand. It’s just being done and annoyed with people.The past event showed that Like Two does have some kind of attachment towards his master, making him break his stoic character after Ali Pasha tells him the Empire’s Era will end one day.

All in all, Twitter has pointed out L1L2 are like Enfield and Snider in a lot of aspects, British military guns, produced at Enfield Lock, outgoing older brother, badmouthed and stronger little brother, similar colour schemes.

EPISODE 12 EDIT:So, Episode 12 just came out without warning and everyone died yesterday because Like Two is so amazing. Here is a bullet list of what he is like:- Muscles- Likes shopping, cute things, pretty things- Likes the living style the Empire offers- Does his best at work but also wants to go home fast- Muscles.- Tsundere, as claimed by his brother- Despite his looks, really manly (see: muscles)- Effective worker - Love One Exclusive Tissue ★ (as claimed by L1)- Big brother is junk, but he’ll still repair this gun for himAnd so on.

L1 really does seem to start jamming when he is in a good mood and starting to enjoy himself during fights, it annoys L2. While he keeps telling L1 to get it together, L1 still praises his little brother for being really cool. Their dynamic is very fun and quirky. Indeed, the hottest Combo ★

One more parallel with Snider and Enfield is L2 contemplating to send L1 back to the factory becuse he’s such a piece of junk. We admins are celebrating the fact, that he is indeed very much enjoying being among the rich upperclass and living a very extravagant life, yet still delivering excellent work as a soldier and being fond of being one. It’s also notable that Snider has never called Enfield unfunctional, only ‘unused potential’ (not a quote), while L2 straight up goes ‘my brother is junk but oh well’.

[thedeaditeslayer]

Josh Becker interview: Thriving, surviving and doing it his way.

Here’s yet another interview from 1428 Elm except with Josh Becker. You can support the Evil Dead/Michigan Mafia alumni by giving his latest film Morning, Noon & Night a look. You can read the interview at the link above or attached below.

Josh Becker is a talented writer and director whose film school was the Super 8 shorts that he made with pals, Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell and Scott Spiegel while growing up in Detroit. Known for quirky films like Lunatics: A Love Story and his ode to Hitchcock and film noir, Running Time, he is a maverick with a unique voice in a cookie cutter Hollywood.

Josh Becker is an independent filmmaker who honed his craft writing and directing majority of the Super 8 shorts featuring Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, Rob Tapert and Scott Spiegel. Known for his candor and his innovative approach to moviemaking, he is a modern-day storyteller.

Currently, in post-production on his western, Warpath, (which coincidentally sparked a murder investigation but more on that later) we were fortunate enough that the director was able to take some time out of his busy schedule to chat with us.

So, without further ado, here is our interview.

The Interview

Birth of a Maverick

1428 Elm: When you were growing up in Detroit, did you always want to be a director? Was that what you originally set out to do?

Josh Becker:  When I was a young kid, I first wanted to be an actor.  Then, when I came to realize there was such a thing as a director, perhaps when I was 9 or 10, I switched goals.

1428 Elm: Everyone knows how Sam and Bruce met initially. How did you become a part of the group?

JB:  My family moved to Franklin in 1968 and the Raimi family moved in around the block from us a few months later.  I immediately became best friends with Ivan Raimi, Sam’s older brother, then soon became friends with the whole family.  At that point I was in 4th grade and Sam was in 3rd grade. Then, when I started junior high (now called middle school), the lockers were alphabetical and about five lockers down from me was Bruce Campbell.  We became buddies and were both in the drama club and in a play together. That’s where we met Scott Spiegel.  Then, the next year, Sam started junior high and became friends with Scott and Bruce and that’s when we all started making Super-8 movies together.

1428 Elm: You cut your teeth as a director on the Super 8 shorts. What was your most memorable shoot?

JB:  The many various slapstick comedies, like: “The Blind Waiter” and “Cleveland Smith Bounty Hunter” were all fun to make, but my epic was “Stryker’s War,” which I spent $5,000 making.  That was my biggest, and most memorable Super-8.

The Lunatic Is on the Grass

1428 Elm:  Umbrella Entertainment recently released Lunatics: A Love Story. I feel this is one of your underrated gems. Very trippy. What was the inspiration for this movie? How did Bruce become involved as a producer?

JB:  The inspiration was my desperate need to make another movie and make some money.  I got the idea from listening to Pink Floyd, and when they sang, “The lunatic is on the grass,” I thought, “Hey, no one has yet used “lunatic” as a title. I then dreamed up a story to go with it and pitched it to Sam and Rob. They liked it and optioned it.  After a year of development (meaning 14 rewrites), they hired Bruce to produce the film.

1428 Elm:  Running Time is another terrific film of yours. Everyone knows about the “single take” like Hitchcock’s Rope. Tell us something that isn’t common knowledge about the film.

JB:  It’s nearly ready to come out on Blu-Ray from Synapse Films. I wrote an essay about it that’s in my book “Rushes” that explains everything.  It was shot on film so there’s a hidden cut every five minutes.  I think it turned out pretty well and I know Bruce likes it a lot.

1428 Elm: For those of us that like the 50’s style B-movie sci-fi thrillers, Alien Apocalypse is a great deal of fun. Do you remember your pitch to the SyFy Channel?

JB:  I didn’t pitch it to SyFy.  Bruce and I were working with a now long-defunct company who pitched SyFy on making any movies with Bruce, and they said “send us some scripts.”  I dug out “Alien Apocalypse” (which was 14 years old) and Bruce dug out “The Man with the Screaming Brain” (which was 16 years old) then at some point not too long later we were in Bulgaria making both films.  I never talked to SyFy at all about it.

“Everybody’s Gotta Choose Their Own Poison”

1428 Elm:  Morning, Noon & Night is getting a special showing in Royal Oak, MI on June 6. This is a darkly comedic take on addictions which relies on actually telling a story which isn’t something filmmakers do anymore. Can you see Hollywood ever getting back to doing that and where can our readers view this film?

JB:  “Morning, Noon & Night” is available right now on Amazon — and will soon be on many other platforms, too. I can’t see the future, but I can’t imagine Hollywood correcting itself any time soon.  It’s a thousand times easier to do sequels and remakes then to come up with a good story that everybody agrees on.  I think the entire Hollywood system is broken.

1428 Elm:  Let’s talk about your latest production, Warpath. Something unusual happened when you were doing pick-ups. Gerry Kissell told me about it. Can you tell our readers the story because it sounds like an incident that would be on the ID Channel?

JB:  Well, “Warpath,” which will probably be fully done by July, just had its final pick-up shoot a few days ago where we got the few missing shots we still needed.  As we were shooting in the woods not far from my house, folks in the cast and the crew kept mentioning a funky odor. Finally, someone pushed back a pile of branches and underneath was a decomposed human body. Suddenly, my set became a crime scene.  The police showed up and we all had to fill out witness reports.  Then me and the co-producer quickly found a new location, hustled everybody and everything over there and got all of the remaining shots.

1428 Elm: Wow. That’s crazy!

JB: That pile of branches is in the foreground and background of a couple of shots, so it will be in the film.

**An interesting footnote to add regarding this unfortunate turn of events, one of the cast members, Joaquin Guerrero is an active duty K-9 officer. He stepped in and took charge of the situation before local law enforcement arrived. According to the actor/officer:

“My main concern was preserving the scene and the well-being of the crew, because of the traumatic effect it may have on them afterwards.”

Riding Off into the Sunset

1428 Elm:  You have an impressive cast, horror vets Thom Matthews and Ted Raimi. The film synopsis sounds like a fresh take on The Searchers. Are you a fan of Westerns? This feels like a new subject for you to tackle.

JB:  I’ve always been a fan of westerns.  I was the film critic for True West Magazine just a few years ago. “Warpath” certainly owes something to “The Searchers,” although in this case it’s a wife out looking for her husband, with the aid of a tough bounty hunter played by Thom. I’ve always wanted to make a western and now I have.  I think it turned well, and the lead, Sasha Higgins, is terrific. Thom has aged into the perfect Marlboro man and plays it wonderfully.

1428 Elm: Do you have any upcoming projects in the pipeline? Anything you can talk about?

JB: As for the future, me and my cohorts at Panoramic Pictures — one of whom is Gary Jones, maker of such cult classics as “Mosquito” and “Spiders” — are gearing up to make my JFK script that was previously called “Head Shot” but has been retitled to “I Killed Kennedy.” It’s the account of how the assassination really came down and the professional hit men who were brought in from France by the mafia who actually did the shooting, as well as how Oswald got set up, then murdered. Th-th-that’s all, folks.

Thanks so much to Josh Becker for speaking with us. We look forward to seeing Warpath.