#not a real college but the name of a boarding school in the UK

[saltygilmores]

WHY did you DROP out of THORNTON?!

[w1ldthoughts]

A Duck’s Dynasty

A/n: Anon requested!

This is a work of fiction so bear with me on the royal family details! Happy reading!

You didn’t grow up the way most kids do. Some people’s parents are married and raise their family in a happy home where there’s laughter and warmth and…love. Your parents were in love, but they weren’t married when you came along, quite the opposite actually. Your father had just been caught up in a messy affair with your mother, his longtime “friend.” Then he divorced his wife, the people’s princess, who passed away mere months before you were born. It was not the most ideal time for Prince Charles to give the world another reason to despise him. So you were hidden away, raised by your mother’s favorite lady-in-waiting, Georgie and her husband Oliver. They couldn’t have children of their own so they loved you with every fiber of their being, cherishing your firsts like they were miracles sent straight from heaven. But there was always a reminder that you weren’t truly theirs, you had gifts sent from your parents, every holiday without fail, extravagant toys and clothes that were painful moments of reality, just as real as the royal blood pulsing through your veins.

The queen had always known of your existence and insisted that even though you were hidden from the public eye, you would live as one of her grandchildren. You attended the finest boarding schools in the UK and became fluent in three languages by the time you had hit the third grade. Everything was falling into place to introduce you to the world as the daughter of Prince Charles of Edinburg and Camila, the Duchess of Cornwall on your 18th birthday. At age 16, your roommate Violet, who was from Seattle, Washington in the United States, introduced you to the vast world of college applications. College sounded so much better than an uncomfortable dress and shaking hands with people who had dedicated their lives to hiding your existence. You spent the next two weeks before your break gathering information to present your argument.

“What if we just postpone my introduction to society until after I graduate? If I remember correctly, you both have always said you want me to experience the wonders of the world. What better way to do that than to actually explore and see what’s out there?” You practically begged.

“I even have the perfect major picked out, journalism. I want to use my media training for good, to study the ins and outs of everything that is out there in order to be prepared for when my name is trending on Google worldwide.”

A year later, you were all moved in to begin your freshman year at the University of Oregon. College was probably the single most fun time you’d ever had in your life, the parties were legendary and you’d really built a family with your roommates. And your job on campus, going over stats and highlights, recapping Duck football games was honestly pretty fulfilling.

“Hey y/n, I know it’s short notice but I need you to cover for Bradley this afternoon. He’s got an interview with Justin Herbert but he just found out has strep so we need you to step in. We’ve got the notes and all the questions ready, you just need to ask them. Can you do that?” Your boss asked, pleading for your help.

You had to admit the opportunity was exciting. Everyone on campus wanted to talk to the starting quarterback and pick his brain so you figured, why not give it a shot. Media coverage in the PAC-12 was an institution of its own, you barely got your two questions in and the rest of the time was spent recording and taking notes in order not to miss anything. Of course when you were walking back to the office, you dropped your phone.

As you bent down to pick it up, someone swooped in and grabbed it before you had the chance.

“You might need this.” Justin says with a smile, holding out the device that looked much smaller in his hands.

“Thank you, I’m not used to carrying all this stuff. My plans kind of changed today when Tyler asked me to cover for Bradley. Got to interview the starting quarterback today, he’s kind of a big deal around here you know?”

He rolls his eyes and grabs some of the notes out of your hands. “Careful, you might make your boyfriend jealous of this quarterback guy.”

“You know…come to think of it, you kinda look like him.”

“Do I?” He asked with a smirk on his face. You loved to see the little dimple peak out.

You tilt your head, grabbing his chin to turn his face from side to side. “Yeah, you look…exactly like Justin Herbert. It’s crazy.” You let out a laugh, looking around to make sure the two of you are still alone.

He nods his head slowly, stepping forward and closing the distance between you. Softly pressing his lips against yours, he smiles into the kiss, quickly losing himself in it. He didn’t have to be anything for anyone when he was with you, he could just…be. A sense of peace washed over him as he relaxed and pursed his lips, resting his forehead against yours to catch his breath. “I um—I have to ask you something.”

“Sure, what’s up?”

“Well my parents are on this ‘final countdown’ thing before I leave and they’ve been hearing about you and want to meet you for dinner later this week. If you’re up for it?”

His face dropped when you didn’t answer. “Justin um, I think we need to talk.”

“Oh great. Just the words every guy wants to hear after telling his girlfriend that—”

You could tell where his mind was going, the plummeting confidence that he had in your relationship that very few people were aware of, especially not your “parents.”

“No it’s not about us! I would love to meet your mum and dad, but—can we just talk about this somewhere else? I really need to tell you this before we bring any more people into this.”

“Okay yeah, let’s go upstairs to the quarterback room, no one will find us there.” He digs in his pockets for the keys as you press the button on the elevator. The two of you rode in silence and you could practically hear the gears in his brain turning.

He led you over to his favorite chair, one that he’d spent countless nights with you watching film as you did your homework. This was home…and you were about to ruin this little fairy tail you’d created with your very own Prince Charming.

The tight lipped look on your face made him nervous. He knew from your accent that you were going to be heading back to the UK eventually, maybe sooner than he’d hoped and you wanted to rip the bandaid off before things got too messy and feelings were involved. Little did you know, it was way too late for him.

“Justin I—am different. I told you I’m from London, which I am technically, but it’s a bit more complicated than that. Oh bloody hell this is a lot harder than I thought. Um basically…I’m a princess. My parents had a very public affair years ago and then when Princess Diana was gone they didn’t want to bring more drama into a grieving country so I didn’t grow up with my half brothers. I was raised—”

“Wait.” He mutters out. “Your family is…the royal family? The actual royal family?”

You let out a humorless laugh, anxiously waiting for his shock to settle. “The very one. I know it’s a lot but I didn’t want to meet your family without telling you the truth. I only came here to study media and understand the ins and outs of gossip sites versus real journalism and I would never want to put you in a compromising position. I mean, you don’t even have an Instagram.”

His laugh calms you both a bit, the tension that you felt brewing was slowly melting away. Justin had always had this special ability to make the chaos seem so calm. “Thank you for telling me, but this isn’t going to scare me away, I like you a little too much to just let you go.” He held your face in his hands, peppering soft kisses anywhere he could.

“I like you too, a lot. So much that I don’t want to ruin your life by destroying your privacy. You have so much to look forward to, I don’t want your accomplishments to be overshadowed by—”

He shakes his head with a chuckle, “we’ll cross that bridge when we get there, don’t worry about it. For right now we just need to make sure that you’re ready for a Herbert family dinner. My mom will be pulling out the baby pictures, no doubt.”

“Oh I cannot wait for that,” you pinch his cheek, releasing a breath you hadn’t even noticed you were holding, “thank you for being so understanding. I know it’s a lot to take in.” Justin gave you a simple nod and welcomed you into his arms for a comforting hug.

Present day…

You always knew this day would come. The car was waiting for you outside, a life filled with countless demands, photo ops and so many decisions that would involve none of your input. Justin insisted on saying goodbye the night before, there were tearful promises not to forget the last four years and blatant lies that breaking up would be for the best. It was like you’d just lost a piece of your soul and you were signing your life away to the devil. Nothing would ever be the same.

Were you ready for this? Did you really want to give up your life in LA for your “familial duty” and “loyalty to your country?” What did that even mean? Was any of this actually worth giving up your happiness?

“I’m so sorry, can you make a quick stop before we head to the airport, please?”

The driver nods and puts in the address you provide, sending an array of butterflies in your stomach.

When he opened the door, your heart skipped a beat. It felt like you were seeing him for the first time…all over again.

“Y/n? What—what are you doing here?”

You closed the door behind you, suddenly feeling like you’re out of breath. “I have felt more joy in the last few years with you than I have in my entire life. I always felt like I wasn’t enough and had to hide but with you? There’s so much to look forward to and if you think I’m going to let some stupid little crown get in the way then you’re sadly mistaken. The only title I want is to be yours, until the wheels fall off.”

“Justin, I am not a fucking princess. I’m just me…so here I am, telling you that I love you and I’m not going anywhere. My life is here.”

“I fucking love you,” he whispers onto your lips after kissing you softly. Your hand finds it’s way into his hair as you lean in again, basking in the glow of being home. This time you knew it’s be full of laughter, warmth and so much love.

[lgbtqmanga]

New Releases Dec. 12, 2023

The Black Cat & the Vampire vol. 2 by Nikke Taino

Studious Yuki Hasegawa found himself pursued by the unbearably popular Jean Michele and embroiled in a potentially deadly search for a monster hiding among the students of Blanc College boarding school. When Jean accidentally bites Yuki after their school dance, Yuki is forced to come to terms with the idea that vampires are real and Blanc College is full of them. When Jean explains the cruel power of a human's love, Yuki wonders if the only way to keep vampires from feeling that cursed urge to drink blood if for humans not love them. Will Yuki be able to stop his budding feelings for Jean now that he knows what fate awaits them...?

Bofuri: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, So I'll Max Out My Defense (novel) vol. 11 by Yuumikan and Koin

A bunch of talented new guilds are ready to give Maple Tree a run for their money. But Maple’s not too worried. The thought of chances for more PvP has her fired up! Between scouting out other guilds for info on their rivals and looking for new skills to make themselves even deadlier, Maple Tree has plenty of work to do as the Ninth Event kicks off!

Hirano and Kagiura vol. 4 by Shou Harusono

Ten seconds a day. That’s how long Hirano agreed to let Kagiura do the touchy-feely thing he insisted on. Hirano’s not sure it’s really doing anything, but whatever floats his boat, right? In any case, between all of Kagiura’s grumbling and Hirano’s friends’ reactions, Hirano is left pondering—what exactly counts as doting on his roommate...?

I Married My Female Friend vol. 1 by Shio Usui

Kurumi and Ruriko made a deal: if they were both single in five years, they would marry each other. Five years later, neither woman is attached, so it’s time for a wedding! Marriage is full of firsts, especially for two friends, so they have a lot to learn about each other in their newly shared home. But will they continue this arrangement like two especially close roommates…or will a different kind of love bloom between them?

MADK vol. 3 by Ryo Suzuri

FINAL VOLUME!

Makoto has long been ostracized because of his odd hobbies and a sexual kink others see as disgusting. After summoning a demon from hell called Archduke J, Makoto sells his soul to him and is reborn himself as a demon in hell. As he learns and grows in his new role, his infatuation with J turns into an obsession - an obsession to surpass the very demon who birthed him!

Magic Knight Rayearth vol. 1 by CLAMP

Contains updated translation and lettering created for the 25th-anniversary release.

Three girls who couldn't be more different meet on a school trip to Tokyo Tower--and find themselves beamed into a parallel world called Cefiro, where the mysterious Pillar has recruited them to avert a calamity! With the help of a motley troop of rogues and wizards, they will unlock the power of three transforming giant dragons known as Rune Gods and rush to the Pillar's aid...but there's more going on at the heart of Cefiro than they know!

My Mate is a Feline Gentleman: UK Arc Over by Arata Asanae

Toushirou, an omega, and Alex, his Nyartigian alpha mate, are now living together in bliss. But one day, Alex is called for a short-term assignment in the UK…and included is a special note that his mate can accompany him. Though Alex hesitates because of the dangers, Toushirou’s desire to visit a foreign country wins out, and the two set off on a journey to a new land…

Pink Heart Jam vol. 1 by Shikke

For college student Haiga, starting school in the big city is a chance to make new friends and try new things. On the first day of classes, he spots an impossibly gorgeous upperclassman named Kanae strumming a guitar and decides to join the school’s rock band. But later, when a drunken dare gives Haiga the opportunity to visit a male brothel, he finds his crush employed there as a sex worker!

Haiga lets Kanae introduce him to gay sex, and afterward his innocent crush on Kanae is replaced with a whole new type of attraction. Even as their bond outside the brothel strengthens, Kanae will only be intimate inside its confines—and only in certain ways. What will it take for the two to go beyond experimentation and forge a real relationship?

The Witches' Marriage vol. 2 by studio HEADLINE

Melissa only entered into a "Witches' Marriage" with Tanya as a means to opening the Door of Truth. But as she gets to know her pure-hearted wife, they grow closer, and Melissa's feelings start to change. Will joining a class for witch couples cement their bond, or undo all their progress?

[quill-of-thoth]

Letters from Watson, catching up

The Gloria Scott Published: April 1993 Set: July 1874 [Baring-Gould] or (according to my estimation of the timeline), no earlier than 1875, no later than 1878, MOST LIKELY 1875 or 1876. Timeline Note that Baring-Gould puts Holmes’ birth date as 1954, which, while not impossible, seems to only have been chosen to give him wiggle room for his fan theories about what Holmes was getting up to prior to a Study in Scarlet. This won’t be the last time I look at Baring-Gould’s timeline and ask, respectfully, what the hell. The other thing about timelines is that this is a college adventure that Holmes told Watson about, sometime between 1880 and 1892 (Between when they met and several months before publication.) So it’s interesting to ask: when did Holmes tell Watson about the case that lost him his first friend at school? An entire collection of Holmes’ cases had been published by 1892. A second would be coming out in 1894, so it could be that Watson needed some material. It could equally have happened in the early days with Holmes attempting to entertain his new friend, who, as we covered last time, was not up to much at first.  Another consideration: I strongly believe that the majority of Watson’s writings fictionalized Holmes’ cases as well as sensationalizing them. Names were changed to protect the innocent and the guilty, details of the timeline were fudged beyond mere absent-mindedness, specific addresses were changed slightly, occasionally a murder weapon would be so memorable that Watson had to invent a milk drinking snake to replace it. As one does when one is on a deadline. The Baring-Gould chronology is based on weather patterns and the occasional real name of a ship or other current event, which he actually probably had better access to than me while living 1913 to 1967, as well as on his obsession with giving Holmes an heir and an affair. (Some of us are interested in neither, mr. Baring-Gould. Ask me how I know.)  Preliminary Evidence: Holmes’ student days. - Holmes says he was at college two years. This is probably misleading to a modern (and american) audience, because college did not mean an institution granting a degree attended when you were of age to choose your career. A college referred to the place where a boy was prepared to be a gentleman, finishing his general studies before moving (or not) to his professional ones. The UK still seems to have a different idea of what a “college” versus a university is, while people speaking US english use them more or less interchangeably. In the modern day, school is only compulsory in the UK until age 16, and “college” is the years between 16 and 18 where you prepare to enter university.

-Think of a prep school, or, more broadly, considering that public (paid by your parents, the exact opposite of what public school means in the US) schools that took children from ten to their late teens were sometimes called “something college” think of any middle and high school boarding school you’ve encountered in fiction.

 - That said, if Holmes is only attending for two years prior to university and he’s spending school holidays with his friends, he’s probably in his late teens. He mentions his course of study being unusual, so there’s definitely some leeway to choose his coursework, and I doubt he tested OUT of any subjects he choses to ignore... say, astronomy. - So my guess is that he’s attending some sort of prep school designed to give students an advantage in their chosen university courses, and is somewhere between sixteen and nineteen. (There’s no point in that course of study if he’s not approaching the right age to go to University.) Working back from the presumption that he’s 22 to 23 during the events of Study in Scarlet, we can assume that it happened three to five years before the winter of 1880 to 1881. 

- Baring-Gould’s timeline both assumes that Holmes is twenty (Which gives me some pause regarding my historical research into colleges: BG was both English and born closer to the time of writing so he may have had personal experience with the educational timeline of a British gentleman. Not much pause given how much his timeline is molded to his fan theories though) and that this happened six years before he and Watson met. 

[scientiaskills]

Criteria you need to be a good pharmacy technician

How to be a good pharmacy Technician? What are the criteria to become a good pharmacy technician?

 1. Prospective pharmacy technicians gain their work experience as a community pharmacy assistant or as a hospital volunteer before entering the real world. Candidates with experience in drug inventory management, pill counting, dosimetry and computer use as well as proficiency in most office jobs is definitely an added advantage.

2. To quickly learn and grasp the knowledge of a pharmacy technician, training in chemistry, English, biology, chemistry and health education of any kind is beneficial.

3. Obtain certificates and other qualifications. The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board and the Pharmacy Technician Certification Institute run national certification exams. To be eligible for either exam, an applicant must have a high school diploma or GED, no felony convictions of any kind within 3-5 years of application, and have no prior drug or drug-related criminal record. Employers, often pharmacists, know that those who pass the exam have a standardized set of knowledge and skills.

4. A person must obtain recertification every 2 years with 20 hours of continuous study during the 2 years of certification and at least 1 hour must be in accordance with pharmacy law. Continuous hours of study can come from a variety of sources, including colleges, pharmacy associations, and pharmacy technician training programs.

5. Strong customer service and teamwork skills are required as pharmacy technicians interact with patients, colleagues, and healthcare professionals 98% of the time

6. A person must have good skills and a strong background in math, spelling and reading comprehension as a prerequisite to becoming a good pharmacy technician. Successful pharmacy technicians are alert, observant, organized, dedicated, and responsible. They must be willing and able to follow instructions, but be able to work independently without constant supervision or guidance.

7. A person who knows medical terminology and is familiar with all the drugs, pills, injectable liquids available in a pharmacy in their scientific terms as well as many other names.

8. Good communication skills to deal with many people in a group. He should be a team player and get along with the rest of his teammates.

9. He must be someone who can adapt to multi-tasking. He must be able to handle all kinds of pharmacist instructions at any time. He must also be computer literate to make the best use of the computer to complete his tasks accurately and in the shortest time possible.

10. Pharmacy technicians must be precise when handling drugs and dosages required for different patients, which will cure or kill the person who has taken them; so the details are sometimes a matter of life and death. Therefore, the responsibilities of pharmacy technicians are as important as they handle medications.

11. Candidates interested in becoming a Pharmacy Technician must not have a history of drug or substance abuse.

12. A good pharmacy technician deserves career advancement. In large pharmacies and health systems or even public hospitals, pharmacy technicians with considerable training, experience, and certification can be promoted to supervisory, advisory and train less experienced pharmacy technicians. Some may even advance to specialized positions such as chemotherapy technicians and nuclear pharmacy technicians.

For more information about UK pharmacy technician course and pharmacy technician certification, visit Scientiaskills.co.uk

Source & Reference: https://sites.google.com/view/scientiaskills/criteria-you-need-to-be-a-good-pharmacy-technician

[theofficialdramallama]

1 to 5 for the interesting asks 🥰

Some Interesting Asks

Thanks so much @goodboybadrep-ooc for asking!

What tv show that you watched as a child gives you the most nostalgia?

It's definitely a tie between House of Anubis and Lizzie McGuire! Lizzie and Gordo were one of my first OTPs (still salty over the revival show being cancelled!), and watching episodes on Disney now always reminds me of catching reruns on Disney Channel after school when I was younger~ House of Anubis was the first teen show that I had watched that had continuous storylines - it was almost like a soap in that way, and boy, was I hooked! They even had an omnibus during the weekend (like soaps do) and I used to rush home to catch the next episode during the week, or binge through the eps during the omnibus xD English boarding schools, teen comedy/drama, so many ships, and an Egyptian mystery that single-handedly set off my lifelong love of escape rooms xD Honourable mentions (only because this is getting super long xD): Zoey 101 (Zoey and Chase are everything, and it's such a great show overall), and Foreign Exchange, a show that no one remembers except for the fact that it has a young Robert Sheehan in it xD It was a Irish/Australian co-production about Brett (from Sydney) and Hannah (from Galway) who discover a portal between Brett's house and Hannah's boarding school... and shenanigans ensue xD A brilliant ship that was teased but went nowhere due to the show being cancelled~

2. What is your favorite episode of your current favorite tv show?

Major spoilers for Dramaworld and Dramaworld 2 incoming...

So, I love k-dramas. Dramaworld came out on the streaming service Viki in 2016 - a 10 episode webseries about Claire (played by Liv Hewson) an American girl who loves k-dramas, and ends up being transported into her favourite k-drama while watching an episode on her phone by magic xD It's a playful homage to the k-drama genre, with parody, comedy, lots of romance, tropes, and the odd cameo or two. It also introduced me to Claire and Joon, a ship between Claire and the male lead actor of her favourite k-dramas, Joon Park (played by Sean Dulake). I love these two dorks, I really do xD Claire has to keep the story of the fictional show running while she is stuck in Dramaworld, and that leads her to get to know Joon, they end up falling in love, everyone gets their happily ever after... but do they? Seth (played by Justin Chon) originally tries to be Claire's guide on how the fragile ecosystem of Dramaworld works, but even he ends up turning bad and tries to force his own narrative... but he's stopped by Claire and Joon and Season 1 ends with Claire returning to the real world... that is until we get a cliffhanger of Joon bursting into the family sandwich shop in a tuxedo desperately searching for Claire!

That was all we heard from Dramaworld for years... Until Season 2 (named Dramaworld 2) of 10 episodes (or 13 in some listings... it's complicated) began to air on TV in Asia in 2021, with it now able to stream through Freevee on Amazon Prime (in the US, so yay for VPNs), and rumoured to be included in ITVX in the UK (it's also scattered across the internet if you look hard enough xD). High profile actors were added to the cast, the budget was so much bigger, and the overall storyline was so much more ambitious. Claire, now in college with Evan (played by Brett Gray), both get summoned back to Dramaworld where things are going horribly wrong - Seth is back, and threatening to destroy the world from within it! Episode 10/13 is the series finale, and spoiler alert... everything turns to crap. Seth has manipulated Joon so much that he turns to the dark side, dumps Claire in the cruellest way possible, joins Seth's almost-cult, and Dramaworld is falling apart, partly due to Evan turning out to be a traitor working for Seth since the start of the season (even getting Claire to fall in love with him in the classic love-triangle storyline). Season 2 is so much more nuanced, and layered, and the final cliffhanger of Claire in an utterly hopeless situation with no way out, and no resolution of the storylines works perfectly - Dramaworld (the ecosystem) is broken, so the story is broken. Nothing's going to plan, and the unresolved ending to Season 2 reflects that~ The series of scenes where Joon breaks up with Claire are so effective with the writing, the cinematography, the lighting... I could gush about it all day xD

Here's the episode in question, if you're interested BTW~

3. What fandom (or three) are you currently the most invested in?

Coronation Street, for sure - @beautywithin16 and I are practically running the Spider and Toyah ship resurgence online - originally from the late 90s, and now back in the show in 2022 xD Also, cheeky plug for my fanvid here~ and my very ambitious fic, Utopia, whereby Toyah gets lured into a cult (based on a similar idea from the show itself in the 90s) here~

4. Who are your top three favorite characters right now?

Spider Nugent in Coronation Street

Ethan Hardy in Casualty (obviously xD)

Jamie Mitchell in Classic Eastenders (I could write an essay on that boy's arc during the time on the show and long-standing legacy to this day - super underrated)

5. If you could marry a fictional character, who would it be?

That's tough! Probably Peter from Ballykissangel? I mean, the guy's adorable, and he'd treat you well~! xD

[academyguide]

Hello, my dear friends today we talk about Kelly Osbourne. Her real name is Kali Michelle Leo Osbourne. She was born s on 27 October 1984. She is an English singer, actress, fashion designer, model and television personality. Her parents are Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne. She is also known for her manifestations on the reality television show, The Osbournes (2002-2005) with her family, for which they won a 2002 Emmy Award for an outstanding reality program, as well as on El’s Fashion Police, where she was a presenter from 2010 to 2015. In 2009, she seemed in dancing with the stars, in Kelly and her dance partner Louis Van Amstell took third place. In an energetic series the 7D in (2014-2016), Osbourne played the voice of Hildy Gloom. She has also been a judge on Project Runway Junior (2015-present) and Australia’s Got Talent (2016). In 2019, she occurred on the second season of “The Masked” singer as “Ladybug”. Kelly Osbourne quick bio Born27 October 1984, Westminster,London, EnglandAge37 yrsOccupation Singer, Actress, Fashion Designer, Model, Television Personality Television The Osbournes Fashion PoliceParentsOzzy Osbourne Sharon Osbourne RelativsAimee Osbourne (sister)Jack Osbourne (brother)Don Arden (maternal grandfather)kelly Osbourne Musical Carrer Kelly Osbourne Early Life Osbourne was born in Westminster London. She had an elder sister, Aimee and a younger brother, Jack. From Ozzy’s first marriage, she also had 2 half-siblings, named Jessica Hoobs and Louis John Osbourne. She had an unofficially acquired brother, Robert Marcato, whom Sharon and Ozzy took in after Marcato’s mother died. Kelly grew up with her father and live in more than 20 homes, mostly in the US as adequately as in the UK. Her maternal grandfather was Don Arden (Hary Levy), an English music manager. Her mother is of Iris and Jewish descent. Osbourne visited private schools in England encompassing the girl’s school Piper Corners School. Kelly Osbourne Personal Life In September 2006, she dated a musician Matty Derman of fields. In 2008, she dated a model Luke Worrall. They were committed in 2009 but insulated in 2010. In 2018, she mourned from misophonia a sound phobia related to mouth disturbances that cause anger. On May 12, 2022, see currently dating Slipknot DJ, Sid Wilson. Osbourne declared via an Instagram page that she was pregnant with her first child. Where is kelly Osbourne from ? She is from Westminster, London, England. She had an elder sister, Aimee and a younger brother, Jack. Why is Kelly Osbourne famous ? She is become famous after seeming on MTV’s reality show. Since then, she has risen to fame and become known as more than just the daughter of Ozzy and Sharon. Did Kelly Osbourne attend college ? She attends Pipers Corner school a dominant day school for girls in great Kingshill, Buckinghamshire, England. In the school, there are 571 students aged from 4 to 18 years. The school is an Educational Charitable Trust administrated by a board of governors. Its recent headmistress is Helen Ness-Gifford. Does Kelly Osbourne have children ? She has declared her pregnancy on Instagram. Reality TV star Kelly has announced that she is pregnant with her first child. Kelly Osbourne husband Kelly and her Slipknot rocker boyfriend declared they are exempting a baby together on Thursday. From pals to lovers, Kelly and Wilson are taking the next step. Kelly Osbourne married She had married her boyfriend Slipknot, recently she declared openly they are freeing a baby together. Kelly Osbourne Net worth She has been able to accumulate a large net worth that is estimated at 16 million, according to celebrity Net worth. FAQs of Kelly Osbourne Q.1 Kelly Osbourne Husband name ? Q.2 Kelly Osbourne Net worth ? Q.3 Kelly Osbourne Instagram official account ? [ Source link

[rashibha]

STEM vs STEAM: The importance of A:

In recent years, there has been a big focus on the disciplines of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), and the addition of the Arts to the mix has been notable in what’s now referred to as STEAM education. Schools, teachers, education boards and after-school providers alike are all abuzz with courses encompassing these subjects. It’s a pretty hot topic in Hong Kong right now. But what do they mean, exactly?

Lets just give you a brief first, STEM is an amalgamation of four subjects, science, technology, engineering and math, into one cohesive curriculum. The ethos of STEM is problem solving. The original goal of implementing this cross-disciplinary content was to give students a strong foundation in hard skills and create the next generation of problem solvers. 

STEAM is a variant of STEM that also includes the arts (A) to emphasize a more creative, artistic approach to problem solving that encourages communication and collaboration. 

What is STEM?

STEM education encompasses Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. STEM is a teaching philosophy that integrates all four disciplines together into a single, cross-disciplinary programme which offers instruction in real-world applications (as opposed to purely academic) and teaching methods.

The acronym STEM was first brought into use in 2001 by Rita Colwell, the first female director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), but the term was used even before that by a variety of educators. The USA and Europe have been promoting STEM education for years as a way to meet the future demands of jobs in these fields. Now, many countries around the world have joined the push for introducing these topics formally into the curriculum from kindergarten through high school. Even outside of school, there is now a huge number of opportunities to get children engaged in STEM/STEAM courses.

What is STEAM?

Simply, STEAM education is STEM with arts added. The addition of the arts to create STEAM was done for a very good reason. Independent studies demonstrate that students with a strong foundation in arts perform better academically, finding that, “on average, students who study the arts for 4 years in high school score 98 points higher on the SATs compared to those who study the same for half a year or less.” The SAT is what’s known as a Scholastic Aptitude Test, a standardised test typically taken towards the end of high school/secondary school used to measure the college readiness of students. The test is used in the US for university submissions.

In places like the UK and Australia, adding the arts was easy because educators viewed some topics as more creative design rather than a linear or rigid set of topics. Many schools these days aim to encourage more creative thinking and prefer STEAM while some remain steadfast in their desire to keep STEM separate since it’s still a relatively new concept. Globally, the availability of technology has increased, and this gives more students the chance to incorporate STEM activities into their learning.

Why Add the “A”?

When you think of Apple, which Steve do you think of? Probably Steve Jobs, although Steve Wozniak is an equal cofounder. A brilliant engineer and problem solver, Wozniak is responsible for a large part of the initial technological innovations that put Apple on the map. So why is Jobs the name we always associate with Apple?

While both Jobs and Wozniak are talented at the hard skills associated with engineering, Jobs was also a master at communication and marketing. This allowed Apple to reach a broader audience and eventually become the industry’s leading innovator. 

The Art of “A”

Solving a problem is not inherently innovating. The innovation comes from the inclusion of the arts, or the “A.” 

But what does the “A” really represent? 

It represents art in all its forms—

The art of self expression.

The art of design.

The art of communication.

The art of understanding.

The art of collaboration.

The art of beauty.

The art of integration.

The art of flexibility and openness. 

It involves considering oneself and the user.

Building Innovators

The addition of the arts also allows for the development of a variety of soft skills often neglected in traditional STEM education: critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity. Having the ability to communicate the solution to a problem is just as important as solving the problem. An exemplary problem-solver can be crippled by a lack of ability to work with other people or communicate their ideas to their peers. 

The Benefits of STEM/ STEAM Education

One of the most important benefits of STEM/STEAM learning is that it develops problem solving skills. Children are encouraged to seek out solutions for real-world challenges. Through this process, they are encouraged to use critical thinking, collaborate with other students, employ creative ideas, use their imaginations and actively participate. They may face failure in some of their solutions, but this teaches resilience. On the other hand, when they have a win, that translates to immense self-confidence and empowerment. Whichever is on offer – STEM or STEAM – dive in. It’s a wonderful way for children to learn and will only serve to enrich their school lives and their lives later on in life.

STEAM provides opportunities for students to explore problems more deeply, make stronger connections and a broader knowledge base. Such a powerful learning experience requires the learners to engage in inquiry, collaboration and creativity. A STEAM education encourages students to think outside the box with hands-on learning

What are the advantages of a STEAM education? What skills does it develop? 

Whereas a more traditional curriculum breaks up learning into various disciplines, such as Science or Maths, a STEAM education adds an interdisciplinary dimension to teaching and learning. When a student’s learning experience across these subjects is coordinated around shared themes and issues, it gives context to learning and makes it relatable to real-life. Students develop important skills for the future, such as their ability to collaborate, think critically, problem solve and be creative.

What is the importance of the Arts in STEAM education? 

Science and Maths are usually concerned with exploring and understanding a problem. Engineering and Technology are traditionally concerned with the invention of solutions. Art and design, on the other hand, convert these inventions into meaningful human experiences. The importance of Art is that it helps generate the human connection around a solution. As a result, students can often express their ideas and creations through the Arts, bring them to life, and make them meaningful to others.

Final words, STEAM, when done properly, will enable children to transform themselves into 21st-century learners and doers. With TinkRworks, students’ projects not only solve a problem, but reflect their being and their personality as well. Students become open to new ideas and collaboration. They gain the skills all educators hope their students will gain— becoming not only problem solvers, but innovators

[bxffysxmmers]

real gods require blood

first thing's first: everyone in this ad should be between the ages of 25 and 30 with the exception of persephone who should be 23 - 26 and demeter who should be 27 - 30. genderbending is okay with me as long as you run it by me first because i don't want to have a million girls, i want it to be fairly balanced. everything said below should be taken with a grain of salt meaning if you put your own spin on it that is totally fine, the inspo is what matters.

additionally, only one or two characters should be from hogwarts, because the group is a group of people who are imports to the uk and the life they have here so please look towards the other wizarding schools for these. on site, i did link to some cool pinterest boards with some inspo for all of the different schools as well as a modern take on all of the different gods if you want to look at those when we open but i am not going to take up even more space here to do that and besides, it's just for inspiration, please please please make every single one of these guys your own.

now, for the actual ad, basically these guys are something of a found family. through their jobs, parties, socializing, exes, currents, whatever they all met and it was almost instant, that connection, that 'feels like i've known you my whole life' thing that came over them. and so they stuck together, even if it was just a group owl or once a year dinner party, they've all stayed in touch ever since despite distance, work, time constraints, and anything else that came between them.

the first pair that met and really started it all were aphrodite and hephaestus. they were on again off again, always a problem with time and where their lives were at, but the love is there. they've been friends since their time in school together and it never let up, that care. the rest of the group swear one day aphrodite will find a way to settle down and be with hephaestus but for now hephaestus deals with the on again off again because sometimes is better than never. and then aphrodite found god here, and another one, and their interconnections grew the group and now here they are, family without being blood, with ties running through them, cutting and caressing them all the same.

from there, feel free to just get with me and we can make it work. i'm going to be making a ship developer for them (including a timeline because it seems necessary so that we have some idea on who, what, when, and how) but the basis is a found family plot with interconnections that made this many people come to mean so much to one another. from there? go wild, get with me on any questions, and please have fun with it. some suggestions for interconnections are below in the applicable boxes but if you don't want to use them just talk to me.

something else i'd like to suggest but not require? more creatures! aphrodite is half-veela and having some other creatures in the group, even if they're 1/16th giant or something simple like that would be amazing. thanks guys!

ZEUS. OPEN. zeus drinks himself half to death at a bar. he no longer cares for mortals. he has long stopped trying to make this world turn. suggestions: brother to poseidon and hades. married to hera. affected greatly by the war. enters polyship with hera and hestia after cheating scandal. himbo energy.

HERA. OPEN. hera no longer praises marriage. instead she talks to the women. she tells them that men always lie, tells them to run. she wishes she could take her own advice. suggestions: married to zeus. enters polyship with zeus and hestia after cheating scandal. better than you.

POSEIDON. OPEN. poseidon still loves the sea but he could not hate mortals more. he feels the pollution of his domain like a phantom pain, raging that he could not protect his oceans from mortals. suggestions: brother to zeus and hades. affected greatly by the war. has a crush on demeter. moods like the sea.

DEMETER. OPEN. demeter isn't peaceful. she feels the dying of the earth and with it goes her happiness. she curses the mortals who caused this. suggestions: older sister of persephone. doesn't approve of hades. has a crush on poseidon. the mom friend.

ATHENA. OPEN. athena chainsmokes in an alleyway, and glares at ares as bloody knuckles and booted feet connect with battered bodies between them. the fight clubs are their temples now. suggestions: business partners with ares (wlw/mlm solidarity, y'all). just doing her best. definitely sapphic. possibly once had a thing with aphrodite.

APOLLO. OPEN. you find apollo in a nightclub on 55th and 3rd, his prophets writhing in intermittent darkness, bassline pounding in their ears, liqour coursing in their veins, smoke and strobe lights clouding their eyes. suggestions: twin brother of artemis. pansexual and everyone knows it. always chasing the next high, running from the lows.

ARTEMIS. OPEN. artemis spends the night in a jail cell, blood on her knuckles and on her shirt and in her mouth, the smell of metal lingering in the air. suggestions: twin sister of apollo. sapphic pls. the protector meets the vodka aunt. possibly once had a thing with aphrodite.

ARES. OPEN. you watch as ares starts a fight in a dive bar, takes a knife from his pocket and uses it without flinching, smiles as he wipes his blade on his thigh, smashes a bottle on the floor and lights a match. suggestions: business partners with athena (wlw/mlm solidarity, y'all). possibly once had a thing with aphrodite. just a boy, made of rage and the inability to express his emotions. looks like he'll kick your ass, will pull athena and artemis off of you in a fight, exhausted that he has to yet again.

APHRODITE. TAKEN BY ATHENA. aphrodite drinks your worship straight from your lips and chases it with a scotch, crashes a cigarette, flicks the ash on the floor and leaves without so much as a thank you. suggestions: on again off again with hephaestus. in love with hephaestus. most likely to have slept with everyone in the group, twice. intimacy issues? i do know her. i know her so well. someone help.

HEPHAESTUS. OPEN. you find hephaestus on college campuses, amongst engineering students. in times like this he is more relevant than ever, growing whilst other gods die. it seems that aphrodite is more keen on accepting his gifts now more than ever. suggestions: on again off again with aphrodite. in love with aphrodite. patience is a virtue. stubborn pride is a gift.

HERMES. OPEN. hermes is in the hustle and bustle of rush hour and the rush of the subway. he is perched atop skyscrapers, surveying the beautiful chaos of it all and lo, it is good. suggestions: brother to hestia. in a secret relationship with dionysus. lost family in the war. running to and for, never from. chaotic good gremlin energy. do not feed after midnight.

HESTIA. OPEN. hestia mourns broken homes, she waits for her family. she waits in the doorway, arms outstretched and a smile like forgiveness waiting to embrace the siblings whom she know will never return. suggestions: sister to hermes. doesn't approve of dionysus. lost family in the war. enters polyship with zeus and hera after cheating scandal. the mediator. why can't we all just get along?

DIONYSUS. OPEN. dionysus shoots up in a basement in the seedy side of town. he wants to forget the suffering that has filled his immortal life. suggestions: in a secret relationship with hermes. "gotta stay high, all the time, to keep you off my mind". heart of gold but no one ever seems to believe it. here for a fun time, not a long time, but thinking about that too much hurts.

PERSEPHONE. OPEN. persephone grins when people tremble. she is vengeful and wears flowers in her hair and she will make damn sure that the world will never forget her name. suggestions: younger sister of demeter. in love with hades. she's beauty, she's grace. she'll punch you in the face.

HADES. RESERVED FOR LIV. hades stalks the streets, hazy in the fog of the streetlamps, and he smiles, because people will always believe in death and worship riches. suggestions: brother to zeus and poseidon. in love with persephone. affected greatly by the war. secretly the most well rounded and good hearted of them all. how are you so pure, bro? who sent you?

[bestprepschoolsinuk]

Girls Boarding School Can Be the Leading Option For Several Girls.

Girls' boarding colleges have actually come a long way from their origins as "completing schools," where young ladies were instructed to conduct themselves properly. According to research, with dual jobs and also busy routines, today's parents have little free time to invest with their kids. To assist their daughters in developing into intelligent, accountable young women, lots of parents send their little girl(s) to all girls boarding school institution.

Most of women' boarding colleges provide the very same kinds of neighborhood involvement, social enrichment, and academic chances as co-ed boarding institutions, other than that they are exclusively concentrated on the requirements of the women pupils. Having a class filled with just as capable as well as concentrated girls urges students to take part even more actively, volunteer information, as well as show their mastery of the subject. When there are no young boys neighboring or in a boarding school setup, girls rule the roost. Studies have actually shown that this sense of empowerment follows them with college as well as right into their specialist lives.

During teenage years, girls go through a range of social and also cultural pressures. At this point, the primary focus changes from school grades to an all-consuming attraction for the contrary sex, with institution grades becoming the last thing on lots of girls minds. Subsequently, their qualities suffer at a critical juncture in their instructional professions. In addition to public opinions, male dominance in details fields such as mathematics or scientific research, and also sexual harassment in public colleges, various other variables that contribute to women' trouble adjusting are: Some ladies are reluctant as well as quickly embarrassed, particularly when it involves young boys, as well as this is especially real for some girls. This leads to reducing their natural abilities, making it more difficult to catch up as well as recuperate. All-girls boarding colleges are an excellent choice for girls experiencing any of the concerns detailed above.

Boarding colleges give women with a location to call their very own away from their family members. They come to comprehend what relationship is everything about, despite their faiths, geographical area, or language. In this training course, they will learn to make decisions and also approve duty for their choices and actions. Compared to their day school counterparts, women that graduated from boarding colleges were extra independent, certain, regimented, concentrated, as well as growing. They learn to cohabit as an area, aiding each other as if they were bros and sisters. Women' boarding institutions strive to create their trainees in all areas of life, including academics, sporting activities, art, and other extracurricular activities, to name a few points. Trainees can learn different abilities such as swimming, sports, music, theater, cooking, and much more since everything is easily located under one roofing system. They additionally don't have any kind of male counterparts to interfere with their growth daily.

There are also unique boarding school uk for troubled young women readily available. These girls may have originated from distressed family members or dealing with drug abuse, alcohol addiction, maternity, as well as various other issues. Boarding institutions offer these young women with yet another opportunity to enhance their lives and make smart as well as responsible choices that will certainly profit them in the future, as they do at home. Some girls' boarding institutions accommodate discovering specials needs such as attention deficit disorder (ADHD). These institutions give restorative programs to help these girls in leading day-to-day as well as productive lives after they leave institution.

[tetrakys]

Forbidden - Act 1 and 2

So you guys might have seen one of my previous posts where I said I was going to play this game this weekend, and I did. I have been waiting for it for a while because I love @saku-chann​‘s art and I’d seen a few posts on the official tumblr page @forbiddenvn​ so I was super excited and, I have to say, it didn’t disappoint. The game is not perfect, there are a few problems here and there, but I think this is essentially a demo so the authors can easily make improvements, and there are also lots of very good things. But let’s talk about everything in order, starting with the main plot.

The plot

Forbidden is a romance mystery visual novel, the premise is simple: MC’s parents are rich, very rich, but too caught up in their own problems to deal with their rebelling daughter, so they send her to what is essentially a reformatory disguised as a fancy all-girls college. There we meet three charming teachers, the geek nephew of the director and a few classmates secondary characters. MC is also in contact with her childhood friend who didn’t show up yet but he should be another LI, I am curious about how the story is going to evolve to include him as he is a guy and he is back home (MC is Irish but I think the setting is England). The first two acts serve as an introduction to setting and characters, it’s very much dialogue heavy with little plot except for the last scene in act 2 which was a real shock and sets the tone of the whole game.

Cons

Now, you know I’m always very balanced with my reviews, giving pros and cons. This time I’m going to talk first about what I think doesn’t work because I have lots of trust in this project and I don’t want to focus too much on the negatives. I think the main problems are essentially three:

1. First of all, the game needs a beta, more than one actually, and they have to be english mother tongue. There are typos and grammar mistakes in almost every line and it’s a real shame because it takes away from fully diving into the story. I know that the two authors are french (I think) so it’s really amazing that they made a game in english and I congratulate them for that, they just need help, a few pairs of fresh eyes. I know very well that when you read and look at something a thousand times at some point you stop seeing any mistakes. And not only in the writing, there are some issues and small bugs here and there, like some scenes being cut abruptly at the beginning, some characters called with the wrong name, the wrong answers to some dialogues etc (if the authors want to contact me in private I can point to whatever I remember, it’s not the goal of this review to make a list.)

2. The second point, and this is probably very personal, is that I don’t like much the secondary characters because I find them very stereotyped. Basically the chubby girl only talks about food, drinks and lazying around

and also there is the usual clique of mean girls. I hate games that put women against each other, especially when there is no particular reason. In this case more than ever, these girls had basically said nothing yet and MC reacted in a pretty spiteful way. 

(I don’t trust women? Seriously??)

Granted, I do like that we have a strong-minded MC that doesn’t let anyone mistreat her, but she acted as the mean girl first. The one character I liked was Claire 

hehe funny... but well... 

I hope the game will give these characters more depth as the story moves forward and we won’t have too many cat-fights.

3. The final point, and probably the main one, is that I don’t buy the premise. MC is sent to this jail/school to complete her thesis, she is 23 and has to go along with whatever her parents want because she financially depends on them. I have to say, this doesn’t work with a 23 years old MC. I understand that she grew up rich and is not used to provide for herself, but the MC has to also represent the player a bit, this is too far fetched to believe. Also, everything in the setting looks like a high school, from the fact that MC has to study different subjects that have nothing to do with her thesis, the students having to wear a uniform, the all-girls boarding school environment... also the duration of the studies doesn’t make sense, in UK university lasts 3 years, then students can do a one year master. By the time they are 23 they are done unless they have lost one or more years, which I don’t think it’s MC’s case. My impression is that the game was aiming for a rich boarding high school atmosphere but that, since the romance part of the game involves teachers, the authors decided to make it the less controversial they could and upped MC’s age as much as possible. I understand that having a minor MC romancing a teacher could have been problematic for them, but to make the story work it would be enough to say that this is MC’s last year of college, she is 20-21, it would also explain her having to get some credits in other subjects and it’s enough to believe her acting out like a rebellious teenager.

So, these are my cons, as you can see they are all very easy to solve if they wish so, I think it would be great if they did because they would make the game perfect as the pros really really good.

Pros

1. Let’s start with the easiest: the art. This is in fact the reason I was interested in the game in the first place. I love the art style and how expressive all the characters are, how everything is very detailed and the backgrounds are soooo beautiful too.

And the CGs! I’m only going to post a couple without context just to illustrate how beautiful they are

2. The setting. I said that I don’t believe in the premise in relation to MC’s age and if this has to pass as a university, but other than that the setting is really intriguing, I’m a sucker for boarding-school based stories, especially when there is more than meets the eyes

Also the school has a sort of house-system, I didn’t fully understand how it works but I think that it is based on the year of study, MC is a stag which is the last one.

3. I really liked that we could chose the subject of our thesis among history, literature and math. Usually in these games the MC always studies art because this is what the creators know and it’s smart to stick to your guns, but I really appreciated so much that math was a choice and I didn’t have to suffer through the usual stereotype of “math is hard, I hate math, it’s just numbers blah blah blah”, this is personal but it made me very happy.

(Honestly a good chunk of my excitement is now working on our thesis 🤭)

4. The romance. So... I came into this game completely blind, I knew nothing about the plot except for one thing: we are going to romance sexy teachers 👀 I had seen the guys’ sprites and, while all three are good-looking

there was only one guy who had immediately got my attention, the one in the middle. How lucky it is that it turns out he is Mr Alexander Holmes the math teacher?? And how lucky it is that it turns out he is the cold asshole of the group? (i.e. my type?)

Do I hear wedding bells already?

(talking to the class)

Be still my beating heart! 😻

(and you know babe I would take you more seriously if it weren’t for the fact that the math you wrote on the blackboard is complete nonsense, thankfully you’re pretty and brooding)

The other guys are nice and apparently sweet but they haven’t seduced me yet. Only the geek a bit because I have a weakness for geeks

(look at that background! saku you have so much talent!)

5. I find the writing style quite intriguing. MC describes everything first person present tense, but then at some point there are some philosophical monologues from MC from the future narrating in the past tense. While this could be unnerving, I think it adds to the mysterious and intriguing atmosphere of the game. (My only suggestion is to use a different font when these come up to make the reading easier.)

6. The mystery. This is probably the most important factor, this isn’t just a romantic visual novel, it’s a murder mystery! And they hint at something supernatural going on because a girl was killed a while ago and they say her spirit is still around. But this isn’t the only crime, apparently there is someone going around killing people and I’m all in for this, love me a good murder mystery.

So, this is it from me, let me know if you end up playing, you’ll find the link to download the game on the official tumblr @forbiddenvn​ (it’s itch.io so it’s free and you can pay only if you want, whatever you want). I really hope there’s going to be more soon, but I can see it may take some time, it’s clear that a humongous amount of work went into this demo for just two people, but I’m looking forward to see what comes next!

[sparky-sparky-boom-man]

So obviously jk Rowling’s interpretation of magical society in America is absolutely shit. It’s fucking awful, no way around it, she did the least amount of research she could, she absolutely didn’t care about the casual racism of how she treated Native Americans and it shows. But, ignoring all that for a second, I really fucking hate Ilvermorny. I do. I really do.

So first off, instead of devising some sort of cool, ancient magic school or system of learning that belonged to indigenous tribes, she just fucking slapped another pasty Irish lady with the task of making another hogwarts in America and bringing wands and introducing “proper” magic to America(which has an uncomfortably colonizing vibe to it).

Second, it’s in a castle. A castle. An ancient castle. In America. So I get that they have magic but not only is that stupid as fuck considering it was early America and ye old lady Isolde or whatever the fuck definitely had better things to do than building a fucking castle, where in the goddamn world would she have gotten time to build it? In the midst of fighting off dysentery because this uncivilized land has no magic cures and she never went to school? Did she get hell from her good Puritan neighbor Jeremiah with the 12 kids and pneumonia who’s constantly on the hunt for witches to burn?

Third, jk originally meant for it to be another boarding school, and only changed in on Pottermore after everyone pointed out how fucking stupid it was when America has no boarding school culture.

And lastly why the fuck is it the only magic school in America???? That doesn’t even make the slightest sense. Not only is America fucking ginormous compared to the UK and it’s very doubtful that parents would just let their kids travel across the fucking country twice a day, if you calculate the population of all the magical, school-age children in America(I’m including the territories because fuck you) you wil almost always get a number upwards of 25,000. 25,000 is the size of a small city, not the ideal population of a single school. Continuing on that, ilvermorny apparently accepts students from all over North America. So that number gets infinitely bigger once you include students from Canada, Greenland, and Iceland. Which means you end up with a single school housing tens of thousands of teenagers everyday.

No matter how you try to reason it, maybe it’s like a college, maybe they have giant classrooms, maybe they have thousands of teachers, this is just the most horribly designed school ever. And it was really fucking dumb of jkr to assume that A) the only school that would work in America is a second hogwarts. B) that we wanted a second hogwarts instead of something unique to us. C) that any part of hogwarts could be ported over to America and just work. And D) that she thought she could get away with this.

So, in defiance of the endless problems and mindless stupidity that Ilvermorny presents, I have a headcanon that helps me survive its presence in canon. It doesn’t exist.

No, I’m not pretending that it literally doesn’t exist like we all do to the disgrace that I the Cursed Child. I mean it’s like a continent-wide inside joke. So maybe a young witch had a conversation like this one day.

British wizard: Yeah mate, everyone goes the Hogwarts, where else would we go? What’s your school called?

American witch: my... school? Are you asking for my school name or all the names? Because I don’t know all of them

BW: Doesn’t everyone in North America go to the same school?

AW: *narrows eyes, thinks about the fundamental differences between Britain and the Americas and wonders how someone could come up with that conclusion* no, we all go to local schools

BW: *flabbergasted* you mean you don’t go and live at your school with everyone else?

AW: buddy, we don’t have the same culture, a single school for all America is the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard

BW: this is ridiculous! That’s what we do at Hogwarts and Hogwarts is the best wizarding school in the world!

AW: *annoyed sigh*

Maybe this conversation happens a few times with varying people, AW meets others who’ve also had conversations like this with British people, eventually this happens

Different British Wizard: Yeah so I went to Hogwarts like everyone else back home, does everyone in America go to the same school?

AW: ...... yes

BW: What’s it called?

AW: uh... uh... illllvermoorny. Yeah, that’s it, Ilvermorny. Best real school ever. Love it.

BW: Cool! Does it have houses?

AW: ahhhh.... yes? *searches head for American creatures that this asshole can’t call her bullshit on* there’s four... the uh... thunderbird... the... pudwudgie..... uh, the horned serpent, and the uh, uh.. wampus. Yep, those four.

It just snowballed from there with this poor American witch lying out of her ass and she made up a whole creation story that, if you look close enough, was definitely not well thought through. But it seemed to get the guy off her back and so she spread the word, told all her friends that ‘hey if anybody not from North America asks us about our school system tell them this’ and her friends told their friends and so on and so forth until every magical person in North America knew it.

They keep up the pretense to this day, everybody just bullshits about Ilvermorny to every European person they meet. Europe is the only place that still believes Ilvermorny is real, everywhere else has at least something similar, their own version of multiple schools, there’s just too many people to only have. Except in Europe.

Every now and then some honest fellow tries to tell the truth, about the hundreds of schools, the focus on ancient Magics that the native tribes used, their history program that tells the stories of witches and wizards in slavery and internment camps, and how the wars the English had with the goblins were so very inconsequential when it came to the underground factions and resistance against slavery and native ethnic genocide. They laugh, they say that doesn’t make sense, it couldn’t possibly be true. They say that there was no way wizard and muggle society could be that intertwined, don’t try to get one over on me you silly yank. So the Americans tell the Europeans what they want to hear, after all they won’t listen to anything else, everyone’s tried.

Tldr: Ilvermorny is a fake school that Americans pretend is real so they don’t have to try and explain the differences in schooling to Europeans

[hms-chill]

RWRB Study Guide: Chapter 2

Hi y’all! I’m going through Casey McQuiston’s Red, White & Royal Blue and defining/explaining references! Feel free to follow along, or block the tag #rwrbStudyGuide if you’re not interested!

Cakegate (21): Reference to Watergate, a political controversy from the 1970s; the Watergate Scandal still holds quite a bit of prevalence in American culture. (More) 

Situation Room (22): the John F. Kennedy Conference Room, AKA “the Situation Room”, is a secure conference room in the basement of the West Wing. (More) 

The Sun (22): A British tabloid.

Deputy Chief of Staff (Zahra’s position, 23): The Deputy Chief of Staff is the top aide to the president’s top aide, and is responsible for ensuring that everything runs smoothly within the bureaucracy of the White House. 

Howard (24): Howard University is a historically Black university just outside of Washington DC. It opened in 1867, just after the end of the American Civil War and is known for its STEM programs and law school. (More)

Equerry (24): A personal attendant to a member of the royal family (historically, someone who was in charge of their horses).

ITV This Morning (26): A British daytime cable show

SNL (26): Saturday Night Live, an American sketch comedy TV show that brings in a new celebrity host every week. 

People (27): An American magazine that covers celebrity gossip.

Clintons (27): Bill Clinton has one child, Chelsea Clinton, and her parents worked to shield her from the press during his presidency.

Sasha and Malia (27): President Obama’s daughters, who were pre-teens and teenagers during his White House years and have faced rather invasive press coverage since. 

Patsy Cline (28): An American singer from the 1950s, considered one of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century and one of the firsts artists to cross from country music to pop, (Listen here and here)

Op-Ed (28): “Opposite the Editorial”; a one-page piece of writing for a magazine or other news piece that is not associated with the views of the publication.

Essential Oils, Cabin in the Vermont Wilderness, LLB Vests, Patchouli (29): These are all markers that Nora’s parents are outdoorsy, maybe to the extent of being a bit detached from the “real world”. 

Essential Oils: These are oils that can help people relax or create a positive atmosphere, but have little to no health benefits beyond that. Many people believe they can help cure serious or chronic illnesses.

Cabin in the Vermont Wilderness: Vermont’s wooded areas would be a very nice place for a cabin

LLBean vests: LLBean is a brand that sells high-end outdoors clothes

Patchouli: A type of essential oil

Mutton Pie (30): A small, double-crust meat pie native to Scotland but common throughout the UK

Oxford (30):  Oxford University is the oldest university in the English-speaking world, and with a 17% acceptance rate in 2017, it is an incredibly difficult school to get into. For American applicants, they require a 3.7 GPA (based on a 4.0 system) and a 32/36 on the ACT. (More)

Eton (31): A posh boarding school for boys 13-18, founded in 1440. It is one of the most prestigious schools in the world.

Great Expectations (31): a 1860-61 novel by Charles Dickens, where a young boy rises above a lowly birth to be “worthy of” a rich girl he falls in love with, (More)

Khakis vs. Chinos (32): Chinos are tighter than khakis and tend to be a bit more dressy. (More)

Gap vs. J. Crew (32): Gap is a relatively inexpensive brand; J. Crew is a more expensive alternative.

SeaWorld San Antonio (32): SeaWorld is a theme park/aquarium known in the past ten years or so for inhumane treatment of its animals.

Walrus Mustache (32): A thick, bushy mustache that falls over the wearer’s mouth. (More)

Land Rover (33): A British brand of car that offers only premium and luxury sport vehicles.

Shaan (33): Hindi name meaning “Pride”.

Aston Martin (33): A sports car favored by James Bond.

Kensington Palace (33): A relatively modest palace surrounded by Kensington Gardens, the traditional home of royal children.

Millionaire who wants to hunt you... (35): A reference to the short story “The Most Dangerous Game”, in which a rich man lures the protagonist to his private island and hunts him for sport.

Texas Panhandle (35): A rural area of northern Texas.

Waterboarded (36): Tortured; this is a reference to America’s history of torturing people in Guantanamo Bay.

Helados (37): Fruit-flavored ice cream bars from Mexico.

Nate Silver (38): American statistician and writer who created an algorithm to predict baseball players’ future success. He has more recently switched to highly accurate political predictions.

GW (38): George Washington University, a college in Washington DC where Alex goes to school.

Data Czar (39): A position in a company where the person who holds it manages that company’s data and reports directly to its top management.

PPOs (39): Private Patrol Officers or bodyguards

Cornettos (39): A British ice cream cone with nuts and chocolate, similar to an American drumstick.

Signet ring (40): A ring with the king’s seal; traditionally that seal would be pressed into wax and would serve as a substitute for the king’s signature. It signifies royal power

Beans and white toast (41): This is... a genuine British breakfast. Just plain beans and white toast. Beans are a staple in both Mexican and Texan/Tex-Mex foods, but they are typically heavily seasoned.

Yellow pill (41): From what I could find, this could be a pill used to deal with anxiety/symptoms of anxiety, such as Clonazepam.

Jolly old England (41): A very English way to refer to England.

Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust (44): A specialist cancer treatment hospital in London.

Alliance Starbird (44): The symbol of the Rebel Alliance in the Star Wars movies.

Caipirinhas (50): Brazil’s national cocktail; it is made in large batches and contains a sugar-based hard liquor, sugar, and lime. 

Pancreatic cancer (51): A type of cancer that is typically not caught until it has progressed to the point of being incurable. (More)

-------

If there’s anything I missed or that you’d like more on, please let me know! And if you’d like to/are able, please consider buying me a ko-fi? I know not everyone can, and that’s fine, but these things take a lot of time/work and I’d really appreciate it!

Chapter 1 // Chapter 3

[purplesurveys]

961

What was the most unsettling film you’ve seen? Unsettling films are my jam, man. To name a few, there’s Eraserhead, Room, Midsommar, Eyes Wide Shut, Misery, and most recently, I’m Thinking of Ending Things. Eraserhead takes the cake though. That movie always makes me queasy...

What unethical experiment would have the biggest positive impact on society as a whole? I’m a firm believer in nothing good ever comes out of unethical practices. I’ll never forget reading about an experiment where a group of newborn babies were given basic needs like food and being bathed, but weren’t shown any affection whatsoever and it was meant to see if humans can survive with just the most basic physiological needs. By the end of the experiment period half of the babies were dead. The results were honestly a lot bleaker than how I’ve put it, but I don’t wanna be a downer lol. Suffice it to say that experiment haunted me for days after reading it.

When was the last time you were snooping, and found something you wish you hadn’t? It was around a week or so ago, I’m pretty sure.

Which celebrity or band has the worst fan base? My sister is into K-pop and I hear insights from her all the time, but her one constant is that BTS breeds the most annoying, toxic fans. I’d have to agree. Ariana Grande’s fandom was also annoying at one point, but I haven’t heard much from them making a mess these days.

What are you interested in that most people aren’t? Autobiographies.

If you were given a PhD degree, but had no more knowledge of the subject of the degree besides what you have now, what degree would you want to be given to you? Why would I deserve a PhD on something I’m clearly not qualified for...I’m not sure I’m following this question right, but I don’t feel like thinking too hard about it.

What smartphone feature would you actually be excited for a company to implement? I’m happy with the features that are widespread now, but I wish companies adhere more to countries other than the common ones like US, UK, Australia, etc. I always see ads about phones being able to tell you how much movie tickets cost or track boarding passes, but those are all irrelevant here. It makes a lot of Apple’s basic apps useless on this side of the world haha.

What’s something people don’t worry about but really should? Long-term effects of poor habits like not getting enough sleep or drinking too many cups of coffee. I know because I’m guilty of this.

What movie quotes do you use on a regular basis? “I won’t think about that now, I’ll think about it tomorrow,” but I usually say it to myself, especially when I feel stressed.

Do you think that children born today will have better or worse lives than their parents? Better, but idk if that’s just me being biased because my generation will be the next parents lol. I just think that a lot of Gen X parents still have a lot of dated prejudices and mindsets that my generation was able to learn better from. For example my mom doesn’t like using people’s preferred names, especially if they’ve transitioned -_____- and I know I’d never want to set such an example for my kids.

What’s the funniest joke you know by heart? I know I’ve come across hilarious ones but I always fail to come up with one when asked on the spot.

When was the last time you felt you had a new lease on life? LOL RIGHT NOW

What’s the funniest actual name you’ve heard of someone having? It’s more stupid than funny and I know I’ve already mentioned this before, but Covid Bryant as a first and second name still takes the cake for me. My sister went to school with a girl whose name is just her surname backwards, and for a time I was really weirded out by it. But in the times I’ve seen her she really owns her name and never looks bothered by it, so I quickly stopped caring.

Which charity or charitable cause is most deserving of money? For me it would have to be organizations for animal welfare.

What TV show character would it be the most fun to change places with for a week? Post-El Camino Jesse Pinkman. I wouldn’t want to live through his chaotic shit  from Breaking Bad, but his fate after El Camino is something I’m super envious of.

What was cool when you were young but isn’t cool now? Flip phones, Blackberry phones, Roshes, Frappuccinos.

If you were moving to another country, but could only pack one carry-on sized bag, what would you pack? Phone, laptop, their chargers, important IDs, some of my favorite tops and jeans, underwear, essential toiletries, wallet, a family photo, a journal and pen, earphones, certain knickknacks to remember Gab and my dogs by. Minus the clothes, all of these are pretty tiny so I think these would all fit in the bag just fine.

What’s the most ironic thing you’ve seen happen? I don’t know. I’m not really a fan of rating the most/worst this and that stuff in my life, either. I feel like I unnecessarily rack my brain too hard for them when I take surveys to have a chill time.

If magic was real, what spell would you try to learn first? Probably something that’d keep my dogs from dying.

If you were a ghost and could possess people, what would you make them do? No thanks. I’d be the chillest ghost tbh, I’d like to just sneak up on people’s business and hang out but never interfere in them.

What goal do you think humanity is not focused enough on achieving? Climate change, global warming, alleviation of poverty. Corporations and the few people who actually have the power and money to change things only ever come up with short-term shit like donations and never look at the big picture. What problem are you currently grappling with? So many personal ones. But just like the recurring theme of my surveys so far, “I don’t want to get into it.”

What character in a movie could have been great, but the actor they cast didn’t fit the role? As much as I love Kristen Stewart, I heard she was cast as Princess Diana for an upcoming film and I’m not really feeling that decision. They could’ve gone with a British actress for starters?????? The movie is still in production but it is pretty annoying to think about lmao.

What game have you spent the most hours playing? Probably GTA: San Andreas as a kid.

What’s the most comfortable bed or chair you’ve ever been in? Luxury hotel beds are always so fluffy and comfortable.

What’s the craziest conversation you’ve overheard? Omg one time at a coffee shop Gabie and I sat beside this older couple that obviously was going through some heavy SHIT. There was a lot of animosity and tension between them and I caught the lady silently break into tears a few times. I never overheard anything but then again they sat in silence for hours until the lady finally walked out on him. Never knew what it was about but I’ve always guessed that the man did something crappy, like cheat, and was discovered. It was a really sad sight and a crazy situation to witness and I think I felt even more sorry because they were obviously in their 50s or 60s. I hope the woman is in a better place now as she looked rough as fuck that evening.

What’s the hardest you’ve ever worked? I wore a lot of hats when I was in my college org, and that was on top of balancing my acads as well.

What movie, picture, or video always makes you laugh no matter how often you watch it? That scene from Friends where Ross plays the keyboard for Chandler, Phoebe, Monica, and Rachel.

What artist or band do you always recommend when someone asks for a music recommendation? It depends on what music they’re into and if I have actually have a recommendation in mind for them. I obviously can’t suggest Paramore to someone who mainly listens to metal.

If you could have an all-expenses paid trip to see any famous world monument, which monument would you choose? I’m down for any monuments that are super ancient like Stonehenge or the Pyramids of Giza.

If animals could talk, which animal would be the most annoying? I’d go with frogs, but only because they get annoyingly loud in the evening.

What’s the most addicted to a game you’ve ever been? Playing The Sims, Mario Kart, Rock Band, or games in the Burnout franchise.

What’s the coldest you’ve ever been? Japan was so fucking cold when I was there. Didn’t do my research and ended up being dressed poorly, and I was so cold I could barely talk to my parents or fully enjoy my time. Sagada was also nearly unbearable in the early morning.

Which protagonist from a book or movie would make the worst roommate? Not from a book or movie, but BoJack Horseman. Diane can also be in the running as I always found her too whiny. I get that she had her personal shit to deal with, but I don’t think living with her would be good for my own sanity and mental health.

Do you eat food that’s past its expiration date if it still smells and looks fine? It annoys my chef dad to death that I don’t lol. No matter how great it looks, I’d bounce. I once ate expired Kit Kats that tasted like cardboard and that scared me off of expired food forever.

What’s the most ridiculous thing you have bought? I once bought a stupid novelty soap that to this day I’ve never even opened. It’s in one of my drawers, and I plan to just throw it out at some point.

What’s the funniest comedy skit you’ve seen? Not a fan of these but one that got to me is Dear Sister from SNL.

What’s the most depressing meal you’ve eaten? A few years ago there was a local breakfast place that offered red velvet pancakes for a limited time and I was all over that crap, so I went and ordered. The actual pancakes ended up not being any bigger than my palm, and I remember not being able to hide my disappointment once the server placed the dish on my table haha. I felt so scammed. I had to order something else to feel full, because those pancakes were stupidly small.

What tips or tricks have you picked up from your job/jobs? One of my superiors, when she was presenting a pitch to our director yesterday, kept asking questions and picking at the director’s brain so that she can get suggestions and answers straight from the director herself and so that she didn’t have to do any brainstorming anymore. I thought that was a pretty nifty and clever hack.

What outdoor activity haven’t you tried, but would like to? Hiking a mountain!

What songs hit you with a wave of nostalgia every time you hear them? Umbrella by Rihanna feat. Jay-Z.

What’s the worst backhanded compliment you could give someone? Idk, anything can be the worst depending on the context. I’m not a fan of giving those, though.

What’s the most interesting documentary you’ve ever watched? Unsolved Mysteries’ Dupont de Ligonnès episode was a lot of fun to watch.

What was the last song you sang along to? I think it was Thinking of You by Katy Perry? but I’m not entirely sure. I haven’t sung along to anything in a while.

What app can you not believe someone hasn’t made yet? I don’t really download and use a lot of apps other than the basic ones, so I don’t care too much.

When was the last time you face palmed? Last night.

If you were given five million dollars to open a small museum, what kind of museum would you create? I’d give it away to the Martial Law museum currently being made near my university so that it can do more to show the atrocities of the Marcoses. And so that I can piss off my pro-Marcos relatives.

Which of your vices or bad habits would be the hardest to give up? Uh hating myself, if that counts.

What really needs to be modernized? Public transportation systems in this country.

[aion-rsa]

Best Horror Movies on Netflix: Scariest Films to Stream

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Editor’s Note: This post is updated monthly. Bookmark this page to see what the best horror movies on Netflix are at your convenience.

Is it Halloween when you’re reading this? If not we’re still close enough with fall here and the month of October almost upon us! It’s the time of year where we like our drinks spiced with pumpkin or apple, our flannel light, and the movies we consume scary. And lucky for you there are more than a handful of worthwhile scary movies on Netflix.

There is nothing quite as fun as embracing the spooky, the creepy, the scary, and things that go bump in the night. Thankfully we have horror movies to help us down these paths. If you ever find yourself in need of a thrill or a chill, check out some of the best horror movies on Netflix, we’ve gathered here.

Enjoy your tricks and treats.

Looking for the best horror movies on Netflix UK? Click here!

As Above, So Below

We know what you might be thinking: a found footage horror movie? Yes, this was one of the later adherents to a genre craze that got run into the ground during the 2000s and early 2010s. However, As Above, So Below is the rare thing: effectively creepy. With a crackerjack premise about the real Catacombs of Paris being a secret gateway to Hell, the film casts an energetic Perdita Weeks as a modern day Indiana Jones in a Go-Pro helmet. She and her colleagues make the unwise choice to go off the tourist-guided path in the catacombs, which is home to the remains of more than 6 million people who died between the early middle ages and 18th century.

But once deep below the City of Lights, the film’s dwindling protagonists find themselves crawling beneath a wall with the words “Abandon all Hope Ye Who Enter.” And things just get bleak from there. This is a ghoulish good-time for those who are willing to indulge in the gimmick storytelling.

Apostle

Apostle comes from acclaimed The Raid director Gareth Evans and is his take on the horror genre. Spoiler alert: it’s a good one.

Dan Stevens stars as Thomas Richardson, a British man in the early 1900s who must rescue his sister, Jennifer, from the clutches of a murderous cult. Thomas successfully infiltrates the cult led by the charismatic Malcom Howe (Michael Sheen) and begins to ingratiate himself with the strange folks obsessed with bloodletting. Thomas soon comes to find that the object of the cult’s religious fervor may be more real than he’d prefer.

The Blackcoat’s Daughter

Some kids dream about being left overnight or even a week at certain locations to play, like say a mall or a Chuck E. Cheese. One place that no one wants to be left alone in, however, is a Catholic boarding school.

That’s the situation that Rose (Lucy Boynton) and Kat (Kiernan Shipka) find themselves in in the atmospheric and creepy The Blackcoat’s Daughter. When Rose and Kat’s parents are unable to pick them up for winter break, the two are forced to spend the week at their dingy Catholic boarding school. If that weren’t bad enough, Rose fears that she may be pregnant…oh, and the nuns might all be Satanists.

The Blackcoat’s Daughter is an excellent debut directorial outing from Oz Perkins and another step on the right horror path for scream queens Shipka and Emma Roberts.

The Evil Dead

1981’s The Evil Dead is nothing less than one of the biggest success stories in horror movie history.

Written and directed on a shoestring budget by Sam Raimi, The Evil Dead uses traditional horror tropes to its great advantage, creating a scary, funny, and almost inconceivably bloody story about five college students who encounter some trouble in a cabin in the middle of the woods. That trouble includes the unwitting release of a legion of demons upon the world.

The Evil Dead rightfully made stars of its creator and lead Bruce Campbell. It was also the jumping off point for a successful franchise that includes two sequels, a remake, a TV show, and more.

Gerald’s Game

We are living in a renaissance for Stephen King adaptations. But while there have been many killer clowns and hat-wearing fiends getting major attention at the multiplexes, the best King movie in perhaps decades is Mike Flanagan’s underrated Gerald’s Game. Cleverly adapted from what has been described as one of King’s worst stories, Gerald’s Game improves on its source material when it imagines a middle-aged woman (Carla Gugino) placed in a terrifying survival situation after her husband (Bruce Greenwood) dies of a heart attack during a sex game.

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Movies

15 Best Stephen King Movies

By John Saavedra

Movies

The Shining: 5 Things Jack Torrance Taught Us About Social Distancing and Quarantine

By David Crow

Handcuffed to a bed in their remote cabin in the woods, Gugino’s Jessie must face the fact no one is coming to save her in the next week… more than enough time to die of dehydration or the wolf prowling about. Thus the specter of death hovers over the whole movie, seemingly literally with a monstrous shade emerging from the shadows to bedevil Jessie each night. A trenchant character study that frees Gugino to show a wide range of terror, determination, and finally horrifying desperation, the movie delves into the shadows of a woman haunted by trauma and demons almost as scary as her current situation. Almost.

The Gift

Who knew Joel Edgerton had it in him?

The Gift is the Australian actor’s writing and directing debut and it doesn’t disappoint. Edgerton stars as Gordon “Gordo” Mosely. He’s a nice enough middle-aged man if a little “off.” One day while shopping he runs into an old high school classmate Simon (Jason Bateman) and his wife Robyn (Rebecca Hall). After their brief encounter, Gordo takes it upon himself to start dropping off little gifts to Simon and Robyn’s home. Robyn sees no problem with it at first. But Simon becomes disturbed, perhaps because of the unique past Simon and Gordo share.

Many horror movies understand there must be a twist of some sort or at the very least an unexpected third act. Even still The Gift‘s third act switch up is particularly devastating because it’s so mundane and logical. The Gift ends up being an emotional drama disguised as horror.

The Girl with All the Gifts

Just when you thought there was nothing left to be done with the zombie genre, in comes a shocking and original idea… one that has sadly grown only more scary in 2020 with regards to The Girl with All the Gifts. A brilliant little indie from Colm McCarthy, this underrated gem imagines a zombie apocalypse as something closer to a viral pandemic that lasts for generations…. and one where a vaccine is always just out of reach.

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Movies

Evil Dead Movies: The Most Soul Sucking Moments

By David Crow

Movies

Zombie Comedies Ranked

By David Crow

Thus enters the class of Helen Justineau (Gemma Arterton). Years after a fungal infection ravaged the planet, turning the infected into “hungries” (breathing zombies), their offspring have shown a creepy ability to retain the ability to think, learn, and love… even as they crave living flesh.

Hence the students in Helen’s class, including her favorite Melanie (Sennia Nanua). The child is special… too much so when it’s believed her biology could create a vaccine that would spare anymore humans turning “hungry.” But to harvest her body, the military will drag Helen and Melanie through an urban hellscape which has reduced London to an abandoned refuge for Hungries and feral children who likewise hunt uninfected humans for food.

The Golem

The Golem is such an awesome monster from Jewish mythology that it’s hard to believe they don’t make more movies about him. Well now they have. The Golem isn’t a straight-up remake of the 1915 movie of the same name so much as it is the next step in the evolution of this grim mythological beast.

During the outbreak of a plague, Hanna (Hani Furstenberg) will do whatever it takes to defend her community from outside invaders. Unfortunately, and in true fairy tale fashion, the creature she conjures up to defend her community quickly develops a murderous mind of its own.

Green Room

Green Room is a shockingly conventional horror movie despite not having all of the elements we traditionally associate with them. You won’t find any monsters or the presence of the supernatural in Green Room.

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Movies

31 Best Horror Movies to Stream

By Alec Bojalad and 1 other

Movies

The 13 Best Horror Movie Themes

By David Crow

Instead all monsters are replaced by vengeful neo-Nazis and the haunted house is replaced by a skinhead punk music club in the middle of nowhere in the Oregon woods. The band, The Aint Rights, led by bassist Pat (Anton Yelchin) are locked in the green room of a club after witnessing a murder and must fight their way out.

Horns

A horror vintage for a distinctly acquired taste, Alexandre Aja’s Horns is a bizarre fairy tale for adults. As much a revenge fable as a typical chiller, this movie which put “Harry Potter in Devil Horns” is actually something of a grim love story based on a novel by Joe Hill.

Daniel Radcliffe plays Ig Perrish, an outcast in his local community who wants nothing more than to forever be by the side of his lifelong love Merrin (Juno Temple). After her brutal unsolved murder prevents that, Ig swears he’d sell his soul to get revenge.

Funny thing is the day after he makes such a proclamation, horns begin growing from his forehead. The greater they grow, the easier it is to get sinners around him to confess their most hidden shames, and indulge in others. But with the clock ticking before he becomes a full-fledged demon, and his soul is presumably claimed by Beelzebub, there is only a narrow window before he can get revenge while raising a little hell.

Hush

In his follow-up to the cult classic Oculus, Mike Flanagan makes one of the more clever horror movies on this list. Hush is a thrilling game of cat-and-mouse within the typical nightmare of a home invasion, yet it also turns conventions of that familiar terror on its head.

For instance, the savvy angle about this movie is Kate Siegel (who co-wrote the movie with Flanagan) plays Maddie, a deaf and mute woman living in the woods alone. Like Audrey Hepburn’s blind woman from the progenitor of home invasion stories, Wait Until Dark (1967), Maddie is completely isolated when she is marked for death by a menacing monster in human flesh.

Like the masked villains of so many more generic home invasion movies (I’m looking square at you, Strangers), John Gallagher Jr.’s “Man” wears a mask as he sneaks into her house. However, the functions of this story are laid bare since we actually keep an eye on what the “Man” is doing at all times, and how he is getting or not getting into the house in any given scene. He isn’t aided by filmmakers who’ve given him faux-supernatural and omnipotent abilities like other versions of these stories, and he’s not an “Other;” he’s a man who does take his mask off, and his lust for murder is not so much fetishized as shown for the repulsive behavior that it is. And still, Maddie proves to be both resourceful and painfully ill-equipped to take him on in this tense battle of wills.

Insidious

Insidious is the start of a multi-film horror franchise and a pretty good one at that. Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne star as a married couple who move into a new home with their three kids. Shortly after they move in, their son Dalton is drawn to a shadow in the attic and then falls into a mysterious coma from which they can’t wake him.

It’s at this point that the Lamberts do what horror fans always yell at characters to do: they move out of the damn house! Little do they know, however, that some hauntings go beyond mere domiciles.

The Invitation

Seeing your ex is always uncomfortable, but imagine if your ex-wife invited you to a dinner party with her new husband? That is just about the least creepy thing in this taut thriller nestled in the Hollywood Hills.

Indeed, in The Invitation Logan Marshall-Green’s Will is invited by his estranged wife (Tammy Blanchard) for dinner with her new hubby David (Michael Huisman of Game of Thrones). David apparently wanted to extend the bread-breaking offer personally since he has something he wants to invite both Will and all his other guests into joining. And it isn’t a game of Scrabble…

It Comes at Night

Surviving the apocalypse comes with a certain amount of questions. For starters, what do you do after you survive a global pandemic thanks to your secluded cabin in the woods…and then someone comes knocking? That’s the situation that the family consisting of Paul (Joel Edgerton), Sarah (Carmen Ejogo), and Travis (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) find themselves in in It Comes at Night.

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TV

Best Horror TV Shows on Netflix

By Alec Bojalad

TV

Best Horror TV Shows on Hulu

By Alec Bojalad

When Paul and his family come across another family in the woods seeking shelter and water, they hesitantly welcome them in. But this soon proves to be a dangerous decision. Having guests in the real world is annoying enough to deal with and it only becomes harder when you suspect that any one of them could be sick with a highly-contagious, utterly fatal illness.

Paranormal Activity

Ignore the sequels. Yes, you know they’re bad and we know they’re bad. But long before “the Ghost Dimension” (whatever the hell that means), there was this eerie surprise hit that started it all. A movie which was estimated to be the most profitable movie of all time in its day–earning $193.4 million worldwide on a budget of $15,000–Paranormal Activity put Blumhouse Productions on the map and is still a supremely affecting piece of atmosphere.

Presented as the true story of a young, and not wholly likable, couple (Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat), the film follows the pair as they attempt to document the bumps they’re hearing in the house at night–only to discover a demonic presence and some repressed memories for one party. A still brilliant exercise in sound design, tension, and the uncanny ability to trick audiences into believing what they’re seeing is actually happening, this remains the best found footage horror movie ever made.

Poltergeist

Before there was Insidious, The Conjuring, or a myriad of other “suburban family vs. haunted house” movies, there was Poltergeist. Taking ghost stories out of the Gothic setting of ancient castles or decrepit mansions and hotels, Poltergeist moved the spirits into the middle class American heartland of the 1980s. With a smart screenplay by no less than Steven Spielberg (and, according to some, his ghost direction), Poltergeist finds the Freeling family privy to a disquieting fact about their new home: It’s built on top of a cemetery!

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TV

The Best Haunted House Movies and TV Shows of All Time

By Sarah Dobbs

Movies

How Annabelle Comes Home Fits into The Conjuring Universe

By Don Kaye

You probably know the story, and if you don’t you can guess it after decades of copycats that followed, but this special effects-laden spectacle still holds up, especially as a thriller that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Fair warning though, if your kids have a tree outside their window or a clown doll under their bed, we don’t take responsibility for the years of therapy bills this may inflict!

Red Dragon

The often overlooked other child of the Hannibal Lecter movie family, Red Dragon is no The Silence of the Lambs, no matter how much it wishes it was. Nor is it as visually evocative or luscious as Ridley Scott’s decadent Hannibal. Nevertheless, we find this prequel to both films to be at least worthy of association with the former, and ultimately more satisfying than the latter. A definite attempt to reshape Thomas Harris’ first novel to feature the Lecter character into a Silence of the Lambs clone, Red Dragon still has quite a bit to enjoy.

At the top of the list is of course Sir Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal for the third and final time. Definitely his hammiest iteration of the character, even a campy Hopkins is impossible to resist given the not-so-good doctor’s droll wit or distinct taste palate. Director Brett Ratner’s framing around Lecter is competent enough, and he wisely gets a superb supporting cast who can overwhelm any shortcomings.

Edward Norton is a compelling lead FBI detective; Philip Seymour Hoffman is delightfully repellent as a tabloid journalist who suffers a terrifying fate; and Ralph Fiennes roars as the serial killer who inflicts that fate on Hoffman. It may be no Manhunter–Michael Mann’s first adaptation of the source novel–but Red Dragon‘s the one on Netflix. So love the one you’re with!

The Silence of the Lambs

If you are only going to watch one Hannibal Lecter movie, this is the all-time masterpiece which remains the sole horror movie to win an Oscar for Best Picture. An absolutely gripping thriller even 30 years later, Jonathan Demme’s movie is an all-time great because of stellar performances and a sharp screenplay told by an even sharper eye.

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Movies

The Silence of the Lambs: A Thinking Person’s Monster Movie

By Ryan Lambie

Movies

Best Horror Movies on Hulu

By Alec Bojalad and 1 other

Here is the movie that kicked off the serial killer craze in Hollywood during the ’90s. Yet more than the gory details, what lingers in the mind are little things like an opening sequence that introduces Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) as the lone woman on an elevator full of FBI ubermensches, or the way Anthony Hopkins breaks his unrelenting stare to mispronounce “Chianti” with dripping disdain for the Yokel sent to interview him. Every facet of this movie works, and thus it hasn’t aged a day. We do recommend watching it with a side of fava beans, though.

Sinister

One of the better Blumhouse chillers to come out of the 2010s, Sinister is the case of a brilliant elevator pitch meeting a superior pair of talents in director Scott Derrickson and star Ethan Hawke to bring it to life.

The setup of the movie is simple: There is a pagan demon god who will consume the soul of any nearby children whenever someone sees him. And not just him, but recreations of his image on walls. And wouldn’t you know it, true crime journalist Ellison (Hawke) just moved into a house with an attic full of home movies stuffed to the gills with Bughuul. And Ellison’s daughter is right downstairs. Uh oh.

Sleepy Hollow

As much a comedy as a horror film, Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow should always be on the table when discussing October viewing options. After all, this demented reimagining of Washington Irving’s classic short story, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” never forgets the selling point is to have them rolling in the aisles. And more than a few heads do just that.

As a film with the most varied and imaginative uses of decapitation, Sleepy Hollow cuts a bloody path across Upstate New York. In fact, despite its American setting, we might as well confess what Sleepy Hollow really is: a modern version of a Hammer horror movie.

Burton incorporates all of his favorite tropes here: The intentionally stuffy faux-British acting (even though all the characters are of Dutch descent); the exaggerated and formal clothing; more than a few heaving bosoms; and lots and lots of gore. This film is so perfectly macabre and gleefully grotesque that you might even be forgiven for not noticing at first glance how dryly funny and deadpan a place this Sleepy Hollow tends to be.

Splice

What if Dr. Frankenstein banged his monster? That is just one of several creepy elements to Splice, a weird psychosexual sci-fi/horror hybrid. Directed by Vincenzo Natali and starring Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley as the world’s worst scientists, Splice follows two not-so-smart doctors who attempt to play God by creating an entire new species of creature they name Dren (Delphine Chanéac).

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At first a computer-generated child with alien eyes and a roping tail, Dren soon grows from girl to young woman, seducer to… well, something even more unexpected. Weird, unpleasant, and ultimately unshakable like that one bad dream, Splice plays with ideas of identity, gender, and parenthood.

Sweetheart

Don’t let the name fool you, Sweetheart is very much a horror movie. What kind of horror movie, you ask? Well, after a boat sinks during a storm, young Jennifer Remming (Kiersey Clemons) is the only survivor. She washes ashore a small island and gets to work burying her friends, creating shelter, and foraging for food. You know: deserted island stuff.

Soon, however, Jenn will come to find that the island is not as deserted as she previously thought. There’s something out there – something big, dangerous, and hungry. Sweetheart is like Castaway meets Predator and it’s another indie horror hit for Blumhouse.

Tucker and Dale vs. Evil

Tucker and Dale vs. Evil is a fantastic little satire on the horror genre that, in a similar fashion to Scream, is packed with laughs, gore, and a bit of a message. When a group of preppy college students head out to the backwoods for a camping trip, they stumble upon two good-natured good ol’ boys that they mistake for homicidal hillbillies.

Their quick, off-the-mark judgment of Tucker and Dale lead to these snobs getting themselves into sticky, often bloody, and hilariously over-the-top situations. Tucker and Dale vs. Evil rides a one-joke premise to successful heights and teaches audiences to not judge a book by its cover.

Under the Shadow

This 2016 effort could not possibly be more timely as it sympathizes, and terrorizes, an Iranian single mother and child in 1980s Tehran. Like a draconian travel ban, Shideh (Narges Rashidi) and her son Dorsa (Avin Manshadi) are malevolently targeted by a force of supreme evil.

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This occurs after Dorsa’s father, a doctor, is called away to serve the Iranian army in post-revolution and war-torn Iran. In his absence evil seeps in… as does a quality horror movie with heightened emotional weight.

Underworld

No one is going to mistake Underworld for high art. That obvious fact makes the lofty pretensions of these movies all the more endearing. With a cast of high-minded British theatrical actors, many trained in the Royal Shakespeare Company, at least the early movies in this Gothic horror/action mash-up series were overflowing with histrionic self-importance and grandiosity.

Take the first and best in the series. In the margins you have Bill Nighy and Michael Sheen portraying the patriarchs of warring factions of vampires and werewolves, and a love story caught between their violence that’ shamelessly modeled on Romeo and Juliet. It’s ridiculous, especially with Scott Speedman playing one party. But when the other is the oft-underrated Kate Beckinsale it doesn’t matter.

The movie’s bombast becomes the movie’s first virtue, and Len Wiseman’s penchant for glossy slick visuals, which would look at home in the sexiest Eurotrash graphic novel at the bookstore, is its other. Combined they make this a guilty good time. Though we recommend not venturing past the second or third movie.

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