#something something about oct 19 2009...

[viktorpartner]

Currently working on a Dan and Phil ✨LORE✨ powerpoint

[freckliedan]

im so close to being sold on your anniversary theory, but one small thing, isnt there a screenshot of either a dailybooth or formspring from after oct 19th where dan says something along the lines of him not knowing concretely his relationship status? or do you think that oct 19 became their anniversary for them like retroactively, so AFTER they started dating they identified that as their first date & the "start" of the relationship?

(anniversary theory, related posts)

i'm looking thru the 2009 timeline about this so thank you for the excuse to go down memory lane 💛

i think you're talking about this november 5th dailybooth?

where dan says his relationship status is "?"—that's not really a surprise to me? we know they didn't exactly start their relationship by going "are we dating?" "yes!" "cool! we are boyfriends now."

like, i think it's not uncommon for people to figure out their anniversary in retrospect, rather than knowing from the outset?

the earliest i think they might have labeled their relationship was the uma thurman week/when they made plans for dan to spend the run-up to christmas with the lesters in 2009, but i would also believe it if they didn't start labeling their relationship until like 2014.

(not in a sense of their relationship was platonic until 2014 but more in the sense of them going 'holy shit, we've been together 5 years, why haven't we called this dating yet? it's literally our five year anniversary'. @freckliephil & @phulge may be better able to put this 2014 idea into words than me, we were workshopping it when roper was here).

but none of this changes the fact that functionally, their first vacation together was absolutely timed for 6 months since they first met in person? which makes it an anniversary trip, and makes the rest of my theory hold up too.

thanks for the chance to dive back into a research mindset & re-test my theory! i'm still rocking with it & i hope you could be too.

[manysmallhands]

FearOfMu21c #5

Lady Gaga - Bad Romance

Released - Oct 19 2009

Highest Chart Position - #1

Spotify streams to date - 1,031,224,746

Lady Gaga’s big era was completely swallowed up by illness for me so I can’t say for sure if I’d have liked her or not first time around, but I picked up The Fame Monster for a pound last year and since then I’ve been consistently drawn back to it. I think what struck me first about Bad Romance was the sheer violence with which it’s perpetrated. If you listen to it thru tinny headphones on an mp3 player (and as a 2009 release this is surely where it belongs), it is a punishing experience, much like being hit solidly around the head with a club for well over 4 minutes. But while some might think that’s a bad thing, they would in fact be wrong, because that unmitigated beating is actually central to its appeal (to me at least). 

Gaga sings about being “caught in a bad romance” but it’s clear from the start that she’s desperate to ensnare herself, going beyond desire into something wholly deranged. It is, I guess, a kind of emotional (and less off-putting) corollary to “I Like It Rough”, where the pain and the drama, rather than being an unpleasant byproduct, become the goal of the relationship itself. As she dementedly wails at the high point of the song, she really doesn’t want to be friends. 

And while to some degree it’s being played for laughs - the sheer scale with which she’s hamming it up is pretty obvious - the darkness of it all is the thing that powers everything along. You hear it in the relentlessness of those beats, the distorted EDM hooks, the sense of sleaze that runs thru its veins. But like all the best Gaga songs, it channels that spirit into something much more like a celebration than it should ever be able to. If there’s a record that truly captures the feeling of really enjoying being torn to pieces, then surely it is Bad Romance.

[pinkaislepodcast]

Part One: Behind the Barbie - the Ruth Handler Story

This is part one of three of our retrospective mini-series examining the life and legacy of Barbie's creator, Ruth Handler. In this section, we explore Handler's early life as Henry explains to Emma the different challenges she and her husband faced before creating the doll we all know and love, including scandalous marriages, antisemitism, a changing manufacturing industry, and something called a Uke-a-Doodle. What does all of this have to do with Barbie? Listen and find out!

Listen on Itunes | Listen on Google Play | Listen on Spotify

Sources below the cut.

Like what you heard? Be sure to rate us on your podcast platform of choice, and follow us at @pinkaislepodcast on Tumblr or  @PinkAislePod on Twitter. You can also reach out to us personally at pinkaislepod@gmail.com

Works Cited

“Barbie Doll Vintage Clothes Identified 1959.” Doll Reference, 2004, dollreference.com/barbie_clothes1959.html. Accessed 23 June 2023.

Gerber, Robin. Barbie and Ruth: The Story of the World's Most Famous Doll and the Woman Who Created Her. United States, HarperCollins, 2009.

Kershaw, Sarah. “Ruth Handler, Whose Barbie Gave Dolls Curves, Dies at 85.” The New York Times, 29 Apr. 2002, nytimes.com/2002/04/29/arts/ruth-handler-whose-barbie-gave-dolls-curves-dies-at-85.html.

Lepore, Jill. “When Barbie Went to War with Bratz.” The New Yorker, Condé Nast, Advance Publications, 15 Jan. 2018, newyorker.com/magazine/2018/01/22/when-barbie-went-to-war-with-bratz.

Lindsey, Robert. “A Million‐Dollar Business from a Mastectomy.” The New York Times, 19 June 1977, nytimes.com/1977/06/19/archives/a-milliondollar-business-from-a-mastectomy.html. Accessed 23 June 2023.

“MISS SAIGON" 1996 GERMANY CONVENTION BARBIE by ROBERT WEININGER | #497781847.” Worthpoint, WorthPoint Corporation , worthpoint.com/worthopedia/miss-saigon-1996-germany-convention-497781847. Accessed 23 June 2023.

Moore, Andrew. “Hedonism.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Stanford University, 17 Oct. 2013, plato.stanford.edu/entries/hedonism.

Rainey, Clint. “A Horrific Environmental Disaster Is Happening in Ohio, and You May Not Even Have Heard about It.” Fast Company, Mansueto Ventures, LLC, 10 Feb. 2023, fastcompany.com/90848025/ohio-train-derailment-toxic-chemicals-pvc-spill-fire-disaster.

Slater, Lee. Barbie Developer: Ruth Handler. United States, Abdo Publishing, 2016.

Touvila, Alicia. “Bill-And-Hold Basis.” Investopedia, Dotdash Meredith , 18 Mar. 2023, investopedia.com/terms/b/buy_and_hold_basis.asp.

Turner, Christopher. “The Hidden Persuader.” Cabinet, vol. 1, no. 44, 2011. Reading Design, readingdesign.org/hidden-persuader. Accessed 23 June 2023.

“Vinyl Chloride - Cancer-Causing Substances - National Cancer Institute.” cancer.gov, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 20 Mar. 2015, cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/vinyl-chloride#:~:text=Which cancers are associated with.

Wong, Mia, and Robert Evans. Part One: The Slavery Loving Fascist Who Built Modern Japan. Coolzone Media, 21 Sept. 2021, iheart.com/podcast/105-behind-the-bastards-29236323/episode/part-one-the-slavery-loving-fascist-87145628, disc 1/3. Podcast.

[heavyarethecrowns]

Kate Middleton: Prince William’s Decade-Long Mistake - Oct 2010

Who is Kate Middleton? After nearly 10 years of seeing Kate’s recorded behavior, this is my impression: Kate Middleton doesn’t care about any causes, charities or anything outside of living for pleasure. I doubt her ability to handle royal responsibilities – beyond dealing with privileges and paparazzi – because in the ten years the world has watched her, she hasn’t demonstrated she can take on anything but a royal c*ck and a jolly good time. While true, she isn’t married to William and isn’t in fact a royal (and may never be, for all we know), her perseverance implies she’s in it for the long haul and plans to become the Princess of Wales. As such, she should have taken these years to demonstrate to the world that, although she’s a common-bred, middle-class girl, she’s an exceptional lady who rises above the rest. But Kate has failed profoundly in that respect. The last thing the women of the public should be thinking when they see William’s marital choice is, “What on earth makes her so special? I could have done that/been in her place – and done it better! -Maybe I should have gone to St. Andrews!” But that’s what women, including myself, are lead to think of her. Coming from her background, as a common, everyday girl, it shows her complete lack of humility, and is borderline arrogant, for her to assume she can live like a spoiled brat who doesn’t need to prove herself. She enjoys a privileged life that she wasn’t born into – and for the life of many, we can’t understand why. Why was she chosen? Why not someone else? Why not a woman the vast majority can respect and admire? Let’s be honest here: William can have nearly anyone he wants – and he’s settling for this average circus monkey?

At first glance, Kate seemed like a well kept, nicely mannered woman – and well-suited for a royal position. In the first few years of her royal relationship, she shone as an attractive, educated, beautifully fashioned, friendly, and conservatively-behaved young lady. But that was then. Now, upon looking back at Kate’s near-decade as an unofficial princess-in-waiting, her behavior reveals her as a underwhelming choice for the monarchy. She’s demonstrated that she’s far from exceptional, and that aside from her pursuit of a crown, she’s a disappointing, arrogant underachiever of little substance.

Ambitious In All The Wrong Ways:

Those who know Kate often describe her as ambitious; and in the beginning, that’s the side of her the public got to see. Kate worked hard on her academics so she could attend the prestigious St. Andrews University, where William was also set to attend. While there, she met William and completed the same degree as him, in Art History.  Following their graduations, William began the demanding military career he still pursues today. However, surprisingly, the once ambitious-seeming Kate did nothing: She remained jobless for nearly two years, living off of her parents (and William, I’m sure). Kate finally got a part-time job as an accessories buyer at the fashion chain, Jigsaw, but quit after only 11 months. Notably, rumors suggest Kate only got the job to passify Her Majesty, The Queen, who took notice that her grandson’s significant-other was a lazy freeloader. After that, she worked for her parent’s internet business, Party Pieces (which to many read like an unemployment cover-up). Apparently, Kate made updates to their website and took photos for it. That sounds pathetic and hardly full-time. Not to mention, Kate’s monthly getaways to exotic locations with William attest that her parents gave her an overwhelming amount of time off whenever she wanted it. That’s hardly a real job. And if that’s not disappointing enough, Kate quit the job all together in October of 2009 and has officially been doing nothing but shacking up with William while he pursues his career ever since. I’m sorry Katie dear, but for any 28 year old – especially a potential Queen of England – that’s absolutely not good enough.

There are several obvious problems with the reality of Kate’s ambitions (or lack thereof). She was ambitious about her education, but clearly didn’t want or need it for a career – So, what was she even at St. Andrews for, and why was she ambitious about getting there? She graduated from a top notch university, only to settle for unemployment and a job her parents provided? Logically, it’s mismatching for someone to aggressively pursue a top-tier education only to fall flat as a lazy, career-underachiever immediately and permanently thereafter. The fact that Kate did just that leads me, and countless others to believe she was only academically driven so she could put herself in William’s way and try to form a relationship with him. Also telling are the numerous reports by those close to Kate’s mother that Mrs. Middleton pushed her daughter’s attendance to St. Andrews in hopes of her becoming royalty.

Kate: The Attention-Loving Wild Child

When Kate’s not working – and that’s most of the time – she goes shopping, attends leisurely sporting and social events, and parties ’till her heart’s content in Britain’s most luxurious night spots (Paris Hilton style – ick). The photos of her nightlife are less than flattering – actually, they’re flat out embarrassing – especially for the potential next Princess and Queen of Wales. She often looks extremely intoxicated, and her attire and car-exiting-techniques have granted the paparazzi dozens of “crotch shots”.

[picapp align=”none” wrap=”false” link=”term=kate+middleton&iid=756945″ src=”http://view3.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/756945/kate-middleton-birthday/kate-middleton-birthday.jpg?size=500&imageId=756945″ width=”234″ height=”151″ /] Kate characteristically grinning as she’s hounded by the paparazzi

Any other 28 year old woman would be focused on a career or starting a family – or both; But Kate just parties like she’s some rich 19 year old without any responsibilities. In fact, she’s only too happy to show that side of herself to the paparazzi – and the world. Her parents and William (taxpayer dollars) have financially supported her throughout her twenties – extravagant vacations included – and Kate’s habitual ear-to-ear smile indicates she’s loved every minute of it. As long as she’s attached to William, she doesn’t have a care in the world that other (common) women like her have – aside from her image, and she’s let that fall to the wayside. From the bright red coat she wore to William’s military graduation to the never-failing smile she wears for the paparazzi, Kate’s self-presentation says she loves being a celebrity and all eyes being on her. Unfortunately, Britain needs a princess who naturally exudes a respectable image when she provokes the world to look.

William’s Mistake – William’s Responsibility

I understand William’s need to pick a lady who’ll roll with the punches, deal well with the crazy, public lifestyle (privacy invasion, etc.), and conform to suit the monarchy’s needs. Nevertheless, it’s his mistake in assuming those are the only criteria a future princess must meet. If there was a checklist for the “Qualities of the Most Ideal Future Princess of Wales”, Kate would scantily fulfill 20% of them:

Intelligence and Wit

Humility

Career ambition/self sufficiency

Physical beauty – (C’mon, princesses are supposed to be pretty! -Especially when the prince is popular enough to take his pick. Kate’s…just…okay…)

Noble/Aristocratic blood (if not this, then a woman who stands far above the crowd of other commoners)

Grace and Conservative femininity (that goes out the window when you’ve been banging the prince for a decade without a commitment – Oh, and the rumored accidental pregnancies (abortion fanatic if they’re true! *cough* TMI *cough*))

Charity and service for those in need (I volunteered like crazy in college, and I’m not anywhere near royal… Why didn’t Kate?! – And why hasn’t she since??)

Respectable and responsible image (yeah, umm, no)

Takes on royal responsibilities to earn royal privileges (Kate’s only got the acceptance of privileges part down…)

Aaaand the list goes on…

Of course, there’s the possibility that Kate’s the girl who’s a match for William’s heart. But I doubt it. Kate’s the girl with everything to lose if the relationship fails, and everything to gain if it succeeds – her greatest skill is that she’s willing/desperate enough to jump through all and any hoops, including waiting 10+ years for a proposal – and William knows it.

It may have been 10 years, but it’s not too late for William to turn around and make a better decision. Kate hasn’t been cheated – contrary to some’s beliefs. She’s lived a decade of fantasy and wonder beyond her wildest dreams, and has continually been treated to luxuries she doesn’t deserve. William owes it to himself, and his country to make a responsible choice about the future Princess of Wales. Yes, he needs to choose a woman he loves, but his privileges require sacrifices on his part, and that means choosing a bride that will be an honorable partner for the people’s sake too. If William was going to wait ’till his late 20s/early 30s to wed, he could have waited to meet a woman who’s getting a PhD, or who runs a charitable non-profit organization, for example. But no : Instead, he’s burdening his country with wishy-washy, Waity Katie.

It’s not about choosing a girl who loves being photographed or relishes living her fantasy of being a fashion icon – or even a real, live princess. It’s about choosing a self-sufficient woman who has something amazing to offer the country and the world: A role model, a charitable, caring person who views joining the monarchy as a responsibility, and an opportunity to serve the people – not just an entitlement to luxurious privileges. Right now, the latter is Kate Middleton; And I don’t foresee her entire irresponsible, pleasure-loving personality changing just because wedding vows are exchanged. What we’ve seen is what we’re going to get as Lady Di’s shoe-filler – if William decides to go through with it. One can only hope that won’t be the case.

[cloudyobsession]

THE GREAT MIKU CONCERT WATCH PARTY 2020-2021

Hey there Vocaloid fans! Are you as bummed about the cancelation of Miku Expo 2020 USA & Canada as I am? Maybe you’re looking to build up your excitement ahead of Magical Mirai at the end of the year? Or maybe you just want to take a look back at a decade of live Miku music~

Starting tomorrow (October 10th, 2020) and for the next 20 WEEKENDS, Every Saturday at 4 PM (Chicago time) I will be hosting watch parties for concert movies and footage of Crypton’s official Hatsune Miku live shows. We’re gonna take a look back at a decade’s worth of Hatsune Miku concerts, watch them evolve over the years, compare the shows across different regions, and just have fun gushing over fun music, lights, and sets. I know an awful lot about these concerts, so I’ll be adding in a lot of history, behind-the-scenes info, trivia, and commentary as we watch. Most weekends I’ve planned two concerts per stream, with a few exceptions. Also, since this will overlap with ExtraLife a bit, these will be charity streams as well!

If that sounds like something you might be into, give me a follow over at twitch.tv/CloudyObsession and read below the page break for the schedule and more information!

An important note: because it would be illegal for me to stream these concerts to my Twitch channel directly, I will be providing a YouTube* link in the panels below my stream where viewers can find the video we are watching, and on-screen I will have a thumbnail-sized window of the video with no audio, as well as large timer displaying the video’s playtime so that you can be sure to sync your video up with mine (otherwise my stream will mostly just be my webcam and mic audio).  Unfortunately, this means you will have to open the video in a separate window while keeping the stream open, I’m sorry for the inconvenience but it’s the only way I can make it work

*I have made sure each of the concerts on the schedule are available for viewers to watch, I tried to keep it exclusively to videos on YouTube, but there were a few important shows (in my opinion, anyway) that are not available on YT, but are available on BiliBili. Bilibili is a Chinese video hosting site similar to Nico Nico Douga. Unfortunately, the site is entirely in Chinese and may be a little hard to navigate for the unfamiliar, on top of requiring an account for HD streaming (although no account is needed for SD streams). Only 3 of the 40+ concerts I plan I have scheduled will be on Bilibili, and I will denote which those are on the schedule. It’s also worth noting that while I have verified that these videos are not blocked in the US, I can’t guarantee their availability in other regions, so if you are outside the US you may need a VPN to watch some of the concerts.

Here is a quick look at the schedule! You can also click each week for a brief explanation of the theme and a more in-depth look at the concerts we’ll be watching (only the first few are available, this is a work in progress).

Week 1 - Oct 10 @ 4pm CDT (GMT -5) My Favorite Concerts: Magical Mirai 2018 and Snow Miku 2019

Week 2 - Oct 17 @ 4pm CDT (GMT -5) Miku Concert Beginnings: 39s Giving Day 2010 and MikuPa (Miku Live Party) Sapporo 2011

Week 3 - Oct 24 @ 4pm CDT (GMT -5) 2012’s Legendary Double-Concert: MikuPa Tokyo 2012 and 39s Giving Day 2012

Week 4 - Oct 31 @ 4pm CDT (GMT-5) Hatsune Appearance - Smaller-Scale & Pre-Recorded: Hatsune Appearance 2012, Hatsune Appearance 2013

Please note that the following times are after the US Daylight Savings Time ends, and the timezone changes from Central Daylight Time (GMT -5) to Central Standard Time (GMT -6)

(Also I took the weekend of the 7th off for Extra Life game day weekend)

Week 5 - Nov 14 @ 4pm CST (GMT -6) A 3-Hour Concert?!  The Final MikuPA! Also some PJD mini-concerts: MikuPa Kansai 2013, Natsu no Owari no 39 Matsuri 2012, Matsuri Da Diva 2014

Week 6 - Nov 21 @ 4pm CST (GMT -6) The Very First Magical Mirai and Miku Expo Concerts Ever!: Magical Mirai 2013 and Miku Expo in Indonesia 2014

Week 7 - Nov 28 @ 4pm CST (GMT -6) Comparing the First Two US Concerts, Three Years Apart!: Mikunopolis in Los Angeles 2011 and Miku Expo in NY/LA 2014

Week 8 - Dec 5 @ 4pm CST (GMT -6) Magical Mirai Goes Annual~: Magical Mirai 2014 and 2015

Week 9 - Dec 12 @ 4pm CST (GMT -6) Miku Expo visits China: Miku Expo Shanghai 2015, Miku Expo China 2016

Week 10 - Dec 19 @ 4pm CST (GMT -6) Back to Japan for 2016: Magical Mirai 2016, Miku Expo Japan 2016 (Bilibili video)

Week 11 - Dec 26 @ 4pm CST (GMT -6) 2017: Ten Years of Miku! 10th Anniversary concerts: Magical Mirai 2017, Miku With You 2017

Week 12 - Jan 2 @ 4pm CST (GMT -6) Miku Symphony - Prepare To Cry: Miku Symphony 2017, Miku Symphony 2018-2019

Week 13 - Jan 9 @ 4pm CST (GMT -6) Miku x Kodo - A Miku Concert with Taiko Drums: Miku x Kodo 2017, Miku x Kodo 2018

Week 14 - Jan 16 @ 4pm CST (GMT -6) Snow Miku! <3: Snow Miku 2018 (Bilibili video), Snow Miku 2019

Week 15 - Jan 23 @ 4pm CST (GMT -6) Magical Mirai Gets Better and Better: Magical Mirai 2018, Magical Mirai 2019

Week 16 - Jan 30 @ 4pm CST (GMT -6) Miku Expo Keeps On Growing: Miku Expo Malaysia 2017, Miku Expo Europe 2018

Week 17 - Feb 6 @ 4pm CST (GMT -6) Miku in China - Two More Years of Miku With You: Miku With You 2018, Miku With You 2019

Week 18 - Feb 13 @ 4pm CST (GMT -6) The Miku Concert With No Audience (and a look at Miku Expo Europe 2020): Untitled 0 Live, Miku Expo London 2019

Week 19 - Feb 20 @ 4pm CST (GMT -6) Before the Beginning: Miku Fes’ 2009 (and a quick look at other notable concerts): Miku Fes’09, MikuPa Tokyo 2011, MikuPa Singapore 2011, MikuPa Taiwain & Hong Kong 2012, Symphony Ihatov, MikuPa Sapporo 2013, Snow Miku 2015)

Week 20 - Feb 27 @ 4pm CST (GMT -6) Hatsune Miku VR Future Live & Project Diva X Concert Editor

IF I AM UNABLE TO STREAM AT THE SCHEDULED TIME FOR ANY REASON, THE STREAM WILL BE MOVED TO THE NEXT DAY (SUNDAY) AT THE SAME TIME.

Stay tuned for more info! I’ll be making a series of 20 follow-up posts, one for each week, to briefly explain the theme and take a more in-depth look the concerts we’ll be watching that Saturday <3

[purelyforschool]

Critical Analysis on BTS’ Spine Breaker

Spine Breaker is a song by BTS with the central message that kids should not demand for expensive items from their parents to stay on trend. Although the lyrics does a good job at effectively communicating the message, the way the music video is presented and the image of K-pop idols does not effectively convey it.

The title “Spine Breaker” refers to someone who will hound their parents to buy them expensive, trendy items in order to make themselves look wealthy. Therefore, breaking the financial backbone of their parents and, quite literally, breaking their parents’ backs in the act of having them labor over expensive items.

The song was released in 2014 under BTS’ second album “Skool Luv Affair”. It was primarily produced and written by Pdogg and OwO; BTS members RM, Suga, and J-Hope also helped in the writing of Spine Breaker. Later in 2017, BTS self-produced their own music video for this song as a special thank you for the fans.

Spine Breaker was greatly influenced by the North Face padded jacket trend in the early 2010s where expensive padded North Face jackets become symbols of class division amongst teenagers. "It was common for kids to beg their parents” for these North Face padded jackets and “many parents have complained that the fad had crimped household budgets” (“In South Korea”). By 2012, the padded jackets has become the objects of “robbery and bullying” even causing “half a dozen students [to commit] suicide” (“In South Korea”).

What happened?  Are you falling behind on the trend? You whined so hard to have it given to you.  Did I hit a nerve? Just like the padding, it’s filling up with greed Even watching your parents bent backs, you’re unrelenting You’re whining because your friends all have it,  So they have to buy it for you (Ayo baby) Stop being so childish You’re not going to freeze, just because you’re not wearing that padded jacket Before you fill the jacket with goose down,  Fill your head with some common decency, before it’s too late.

Lyrics like these directly reference the expensive North Face padded jackets. Criticizing the act of whining and begging your parents for expensive clothing. The song later refers to these as dirty clothes which is ironic since expensive clothing are supposed to symbol cleanliness and high class.

The lyrics are very well written making it great for making teenagers reflect and think more deeply on the issue. However, if someone does not speak Korean, it may be harder to understand the message. I for one has been a fan of this song for years because of the catchy lyrics and style of the music, but I never understood what the message behind the song was before actively looking and researching the lyrics. Since Spine Breaker does contain a lot of fast rapping, it may even be hard for Korean speakers to clearly interpret the message.

There is also issue with cultural context. For example, the song start with:

The last line mentions education and students going to the “mountains”. This is based on a Korean saying that basically means the Korean education system has no direction; it it going nowhere. If someone was not familiar with all the cultural context such as the North Face trend or the Korean saying, they will have a hard time understanding the full message. Therefore they will not understand what exactly the song is trying to say. For example, for someone who don’t know the Korean saying and like hiking in the mountains, “education is going to the mountains” can have a positive connotation rather than a negative one and misinterpret the meaning of these lyrics. 

For the music video, BTS uses a sarcastic and lighthearted approach. Members worn expensive jackets with pearl on them and fancy glasses with dollar signs special effects to display trendy and expensive clothes. They also choreographed simple dance moves that correspond with the chorus of “You’re the spine breaker, Your parents’ spine breaker”.

The song touches upon relating issues like social status with visuals of members with and without shoes.

Peer Pressure with lyrics in the view of kids who buy the padded jackets saying they will be ostracized if they do not.

That’s right, my padded jacket is terribly expensive and terribly ugly (But I say) But I really wanted it, what can I say? Even the kids who are poorer than me all have it. (And I say) If I don’t want to be ostracized, I have to buy it. It’s often like this at this age, don’t you think?

And others like consumerism, greed, and willful ignorance.

The way BTS produced the music video can effectively bring light to the issue while providing criticism in a less negative way. However, this can also give some teens the wrong idea. According to conditional media effects, “Individuals have the tendency, at least to a certain extent, to seek out content that does not deviate too much from their needs, goals, and beliefs” (Valkenburg 19). Therefore, “people’s opinions on a given issue influence how they respond to media messages and characters” (Valkenburg 19). Thus, teens who only cares about staying on trend may seek out the fact that BTS are wearing expensive jackets and fancy sunglasses in their music video, so they want to copy them and ask their parents to buy them these items.

BTS is a great medium to spread this message because their fanbase is mostly composed of teenagers. Their widespread popularity allows them to get to get the message across to more audiences. However, being in the entertainment industry where looks and wealth are very glorified may contradict with their message. 

Growing up, it can be so easy to look to media and be attracted to materialistic things like expensive clothes, jewelry, and cars because all the celebrities have it. These desire for expensive items can then burden parents. Studies have shown that “involvement with celebrities can mediate media influence and lead adolescents to yearn for celebrities’ glamour and wealth. We found that adolescents who reported higher levels of intense-personal feelings with celebrities were more likely to value or to desire monetary and material possessions,”(Chia 34). I and friends around me have definitely been subjected to this at times. 

For example, there was a period of time where MCM bags(cost: 800-1000 dollars) were extremely popular amongst all the K-pop idols and you would always see pictures of them rocking these bags in airports. I along with many other K-pop fans would unconsciously want to get these bags either to match our idol, to make us look good like it did with idols, or want it because of mindsets like “if all the Korean celebrities have one, why I can’t I?” As a result, fans are more likely to ask their parents for these kind of expensive items. 

Although the message of this song does not go against consumerism, only sharing the value of if you want something, you should buy it with your own money rather than depending on your parents, higher desire for monetary and material possessions can potentially lead to increased likelihood of becoming a Spine Breaker.

Overall, I feel that BTS’ Spine Breaker did a pretty good job of conveying their message to people who speak Korean and is familiar with Korean culture. Their popularity also help spread the message to a wider audience. However, to foreigners, the message may be missed or misinterpreted unless they do further research. Their identity as celebrities can also conflict with their message since wealth is very glorified within the entertainment industry especially when it come to fashion, so fans are more likely to have desire for expensive items.

                                                      Works Cited

Chia, Stella C., and Yip Ling Poo. “Media, Celebrities, and Fans: An Examination of Adolescents' Media Usage and Involvement with Entertainment Celebrities.” Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, vol. 86, no. 1, 2009, pp. 23–44., doi:10.1177/107769900908600103.

“BTS - SPINE BREAKER ENG SUB 720p (170516)” YouTube, uploaded by w btsomethin, 16 May 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klDj_wqaNO8

“In South Korea, North Face Jackets Tied to Wave of Bullying, Theft.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2012, 4:00, latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2012/01/south-korea-teenagers-north-face-fashion-fad-bullying.html.

Valkenburg, Patti and Oliver, and Mary. “Media Effects Theories: An Overview.” Oct. 2020, pp. 16–35.

[shortscircuits]

Okay. I did some detective work (I searched “taylor swift hotdog”) and found something interesting. Jonas Brothers fans, I need your help for this one!

At first, all I could find of TS with hotdogs were these three pics:

because people were tweeting them out for national hotdog day in 2017. I reverse image searched the first two photos, and got a bunch of defunct links to news sites from 2010, and from 2014. The hotdog photo seemed to be a random pic people were using when they talked about TS. still no sign as to where the photos actually came from....until I reverse image searched for that one photo of TS looking at the hotdog. THAT’S when I found this photo set on getty images!!!

so...it appears that TS was set to be a cameo in a Jonas Brothers music video that never got released??? a video where Joe was a cop, Kevin was a hotdog vendor, and Nick was a carriage driver in NYC.

What song could this video have been for?! Why wasn’t the video ever released?? or, was it released and I’m just not recognizing it because I’m not a jonas brothers fan?????

Songs this could have been a video for:

- Lovebug, mv released Oct 19, 2008

(seems unlikely. if the shoot was aug 2008, that’s a quick turnaround, no?)

- Tonight, mv released Jan 19, 2009

(i almost thought it was this one because the video they DID put out is just concert footage edited together...as if they had a different plan for this video but ultimately scrapped that plan and just put out the concert video)

- Paranoid, mv released May 23, 2009

- Fly With Me, mv released June 7, 2009

(these last two seem more likely, since kevin’s apron in the video has the same logo that appears on the album artwork for these songs)

[homodnp]

creator tag

rules: It’s time to love yourselves! choose your 5 favourite works you created in the past year (fics, art, edits, etc.) and link them below to reflect on the amazing things you brought into the world in 2019. tag as many writers/artists/etc. as you want (fan or original) so we can spread the love and link each other to awesome works!

thank you to the lovely @judearaya @outphan and @alittledizzy for tagging me!!

1. life is but a dream (fic)

an underrated lil baby of a fic, at least in my biased opinion. i’ve always found most comfort in understanding and using natural imagery, so although those lads never go outside i wanted to write a fic about what might happen on such an occasion. at the time it also didn’t help that i’d asked a friend of mine (whom i’ve liked for years) to go rowing together cus it was late summer and why the fuck not. we were making arrangements, but then she just stopped texting at all for two weeks and nothing came of it. it was rough, so i vented my heartbreak by imagining a universe where at least someone else could get the rowing date they wanted.

2. the king (fic)

again, this was a result of my own personal life - you guessed it: heartbreak! i was driving into town, healing over someone who had recently rejected me, listening to this fic’s song, and then i realised “this is like how i imagine phil felt in 2009 before oct 19.” because pining for someone who is sending mixed signals, pining for someone who seems confused even though in your eye there is no clearer answer? that is some relatable shit. writing this was largely therapeutic and helped me come to terms with my own situation, through exploring fic!phil’s feelings. because this fic was more than just surface pining: it is about all the insecurities, all the anger, all the panicking which comes with it. the key to it was that anyone reading it knows that things do turn out for the better and dan does choose phil, even if neither can see it now. so for myself, it was reassurance that when life hits rock bottom there’s only one way up, that the present does not reflect the future. but at the same time, even if things are destined to improve, it is beyond your knowledge and your feelings now are still valid. you are allowed your anger and your sadness, but do not take it as the end.

3. ‘talk abt dnp love languages and the way they express them pleasee’ (meta)

back in days of old when i got anons, sometimes i did a bunch of interpretation/analysis stuff, and this was probably my favourite to write. i don’t have much to say about it here other than that it’s something i’ve seen people discuss at length and i hopped on the opportunity to give my two cents on it lol

4. ‘you are the drum!’ (gifset)

my first ever gifs, the day i got photoshop completely legally *cough*. are they good quality, rich in technique? fuck no! was i, and am i still, pleased with them? fuck yes! especially because if every phannie were to have a ‘niche’ in what phandom stuff they like to indulge in, phil being a fond guy is definitely mine. :’)

5. first impressions (gifset)

for what is probably one of my favourite gaming vids of theirs ever, my second of two gifsets i’ve done so far - i would have done more but i have legit no idea what i’m doing wrong that makes them so low-definition. each gif was also more saturated than the one before, which i did not intend. oh well, i am not a good gifmaker and i own it! (but send me all your tutorials please, i need ‘em!)

overall?

the reason i only included two fics in this list is because they are my only two so far. i want to do a lot more fic-posting - you will not believe the number of wips i have in my fic GD folder right now. my 2019 has been absolutely chaotic which is why i haven’t posted much, in many ways i’m surprised i’ve got anything done at all lol. but it’s been a good year for me, definitely a brilliant one for the overall phandom. may 2020 be kind to us all. happy new year!

i am so sorry if i miss anyone, it’s just off the top of my head that i am tagging: @karcathy @elisethephangirl @phlanetary @toxicnebulaae-deactivated201912 @imdyingriprip @autumn-in-phandom @calvinahobbes @itsaravetree @throwing-roses-into-the-abyss @owodnp @incognitovampiregoblin

[goldenpinof]

I saw a post about wedding venues and October 19th, is there something special about that date? (I’m p new to the phandom haha)

they met irl on 19 Oct 2009

[dahabiyacruise]

Against Procrastination - Oct 4/19

When I first started planning this trip, several people asked why I didn’t wait until next year when new Grand Egyptian Museum is scheduled to open. It will be the largest museum in the world and will allow the entire Tutankhamen collection of over 5000 items to be displayed at one time (the chariots have already been moved there). There are two reasons I did not wait:

First, it was originally scheduled to open in 2009 and has repeatedly been delayed for everything from political protests to a fire. Taha, my guide, believes it will not fully open until 2022 as major elements of the building’s structure and physical plant are still incomplete. Upon completion, it will then take many months to move the collection to its new home. While I plan to be on the road for a long time, at my age, a missed opportunity to travel somewhere can easily become a permanently lost opportunity.

Second, while the new museum is likely to be amazing, I have found such huge collections to be overwhelming (e.g., Louvre or Vatican museumsI). One can easily end up just ticking boxes on a “must see” or, as Lu-Anne says, trying to see so much that you remember nothing. Besides, missing it provides an excuse to return😊.

This morning, our first stop was the Cairo Citadel atop a high limestone promontory (source of pyramid capstones) overlooking the city. It was built by Salah al-Din (Saladin) in the 12th century to protect from Crusader attacks and to stabilize his rule after conquering the Fatimid Caliphate. It was home to the Mamluk rulers (rebel Ottoman mercenaries) from the 13th to 18th Centuries until they were defeated by Napoleon in 1805 and displaced by Muhammad Ali Pasha (Ottoman Governor) in 1811. He is remembered for building the Mohammed Ali Mosque, the largest in Egypt, with architecture that follows the beautiful dome on dome construction that I first saw in the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.

While visiting the Citadel and Mosque I was subjected to the “Unicorn Syndrome” that Lu-Anne and I discussed in the India blog. I encountered several school tours of children from rural areas where I was the first foreigner that they may ever have seen. Like unicorns, I was viewed as a strange mythological beast that they had read about and seen pictures of, but never expected to encounter in the flesh. In each of the boys groups, one brave soul would approach and ask for a selfie. When I agreed, I would be buried in 10 year olds for 15 or 20 minutes until everyone had a souvenir (one group was finally chased away by an old woman aggressively wielding her broom). Girls were far more reticent and I assume such behaviour was seen as inappropriate. Regrettably, I forgot to take any of my own pictures with my new found admirers.

Our next stop was the Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan. The main courtyard of the Mosque has four teaching areas following the four main schools of Sunni theology. Sunnis are the more conservative branch of Islam adhering very closely to the direct sayings, teachings and prohibitions of the Prophet Mohammed. They are 90% of the Muslims in Egypt and in the world. Shia are also guided by the wisdom of the prophets dependents, particularly his cousin and son-in-law Ali. They are in the majority in Iran and Iraq, with large communities in Turkey and Pakistan. Sadly, this is where The ugly foreign tourist syndrome appeared. Just outside I heard the self appointed leader of a British tour proclaim to his guide in a loud voice: “I think we have all had our fill of these blasted mosques, now we are ready to see something interesting”. Like my mother use to say, “you can dress them up, but you still can’t take them out in polite society”.

Our final stop was the current Egyptian Museum that appears to be the house of a hoarder but with really neat stuff packed to the rafters. The sheer extent of the collection is mind blowing, with only a representative sample of its 120,000 artifacts on display. I spent about an hour with my guide before my capacity for facts overflowed like the Nile in flood. I finally sent him off to Friday prayers and just wandered for a couple of hours trying to absorb all the wondrous sights as if by osmosis. Of course, the greatest crowds surrounded the Tutankhamen collection (photos not permitted in its treasures room). However, equally interesting to me were treasures from the undisturbed tombs of several Libyan Pharaohs of Egypt (9th & 8th centuries BCE) with their solid silver sarcophagi. Elsewhere, every wall and floor space was filled with sculpture or stacked with case upon case of ornate coffins, coffin masks and papyri that were so fresh and colourful they could have been written last week instead of 4,000 years ago. I took over 200 photos (where do you stop?) and choosing 5 for this post (10 max allowed) meant leaving out dozes that were as good or better

Finally returned to the hotel for blog writing and packing as I have a 6 am flight to Luxor (Thebes) and 4 am pickup

[makistar2018]

Taylor Swift Is 3 AMAs Away From Breaking Whitney Houston's Record: See More of Her Major Milestones

by Elyse Dupre Oct. 7, 2018

The 2018 American Music Awards are just around the corner, and Taylor Swift has the chance to make history.

The "Delicate" singer is just three wins away from breaking Whitney Houston's record for most AMAs won by a female artist. The "I Will Always Love You" star earned 21 trophies during her lifetime. Swift currently has 19.

The "Gorgeous" musician is a contender in four categories: Artist of the Year, Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist, Favorite Pop/Rock Album (Reputation) and Tour of the Year (Reputation Stadium Tour). She'll have to win in at least three of the four categories to earn 22 awards and surpass Houston.

While this would certainly be a major milestone, Swift would still be a few wins away from the highest trophy count overall. Michael Jackson earned 24 AMAs during his lifetime—making him the most-awarded winner. However, she could tie with Alabama for second most AMA wins if she sweeps all four categories, bringing her grand total to 23.

Even if Swift doesn't break Houston's record, she'll still hold the title for most wins in the Artist of the Year category. The "Blank Space" singer has received the honor three times and could beat her own record if she takes home the trophy on Tuesday.

Of course, these wouldn't be Swift's only major milestones. Here's a look back at 10 of her record-breaking moments.

1. At 14 years old, Swift signed a music publishing deal with Sony/ATV—making her the youngest artist to do so.

2. In 2009, a 19-year-old Swift became the youngest artist to ever win a Country Music Award for Entertainer of the Year.

3. Just a few months later, a 20-year-old Swift became the youngest Album of the Year Grammy recipient for her solo recording of Fearless.

4. In fact, Swift was the first female artist to win Album of the Year twice for solo recordings. She won the award in 2010 for Fearless and took home the trophy again in 2016 for 1989. She is one of two female artists to achieve this feat. Adele is the other.

5. In 2012, Swift broke the Guinness World Record for fastest-selling digital single after she released "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" and it snagged the top spot on iTunes' singles sales chart in 50 minutes.

6. 2014 was a chart-topping year for the "Bad Blood" singer. According to Billboard, Swift is the only female solo artist to dethrone herself from the top Hot 100 spot. Per the magazine, "Blank Space" replaced "Shake It Off" on Nov. 29 of that year.

7. In 2015, Swift became the youngest winner of the Academy of Country Music's Milestone Award. The moment was truly touching. Swift's mother, Andrea, presented the award shortly after she was diagnosed with cancer. The "Love Story" star had also released her first pop album, 1989, about six months before, and The Washington Post considered her acceptance speech her final farewell to country music.

8. Swift entered the Reputation era with a bang. Her 2017 track "Look What You Made Me Do" broke the Guinness World Record for most streamed track on Spotify in the first 24 hours with 8 million streams. The corresponding music video also shattered the records for most watched video both online and on Vevo in 24 hours with 43.2 million and 39 million, respectively. However, BTS surpassed Swift this summer for most watched video online in 24 hours after the K-pop stars released their music video for "Idol," which garnered 45 million views in just one day.

Swift also set a new bar for most streamed track in one week by a female artist with the aforementioned hit. The song earned a staggering 84.4 million streams during this time frame.

9. On April 24, 2018, Swift broke the record for most subscribers for a female musician on YouTube. At the time, her Vevo channel had more than 28.5 million subscribers. This number continues to grow.

10. While Swift's 1989 World Tour was a smashing success (generating a reported $181.5 million domestically and $250.7 million worldwide), she's since reached a new level with her Reputation Stadium Tour. According to Billboard's August figures, Swift's tour has brought in $191.1 million domestically and an additional $11.1 million in Canada.

Swift will open the award show with a performance of "I Did Something Bad"—the third song on her latest album. To see the performance and other major moments, tune into the 2018 AMAs Tuesday, Oct. 9 starting at 8:00 p.m. on ABC.

E! News

[ts1989fanatic]

Taylor Swift Is 3 AMAs Away From Breaking Whitney Houston's Record: See More of Her Major Milestones

Whitney Houston, Taylor Swift, America Music Awards, AMA's

The 2018 American Music Awards are just around the corner, and Taylor Swift has the chance to make history.

The "Delicate" singer is just three wins away from breaking Whitney Houston's record for most AMAs won by a female artist. The "I Will Always Love You" star earned 21 trophies during her lifetime. Swift currently has 19.

The "Gorgeous" musician is a contender in four categories: Artist of the Year, Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist, Favorite Pop/Rock Album (Reputation) and Tour of the Year (Reputation Stadium Tour). She'll have to win in at least three of the four categories to earn 22 awards and surpass Houston.

While this would certainly be a major milestone, Swift would still be a few wins away from the highest trophy count overall. Michael Jackson earned 24 AMAs during his lifetime—making him the most-awarded winner. However, she could tie with Alabama for second most AMA wins if she sweeps all four categories, bringing her grand total to 23.

Even if Swift doesn't break Houston's record, she'll still hold the title for most wins in the Artist of the Year category. The "Blank Space" singer has received the honor three times and could beat her own record if she takes home the trophy on Tuesday.

Of course, these wouldn't be Swift's only major milestones. Here's a look back at 10 of her record-breaking moments.

Taylor Swift to Open the 2018 American Music Awards

Taylor Swift, Milestones

1. At 14 years old, Swift signed a music publishing deal with Sony/ATV—making her the youngest artist to do so.

2. In 2009, a 19-year-old Swift became the youngest artist to ever win a Country Music Award for Entertainer of the Year.

3. Just a few months later, a 20-year-old Swift became the youngest Album of the Year Grammy recipient for her solo recording of Fearless.

4. In fact, Swift was the first female artist to win Album of the Year twice for solo recordings. She won the award in 2010 for Fearless and took home the trophy again in 2016 for 1989. She is one of two female artists to achieve this feat. Adele is the other.

5. In 2012, Swift broke the Guinness World Record for fastest-selling digital single after she released "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" and it snagged the top spot on iTunes' singles sales chart in 50 minutes.

6. 2014 was a chart-topping year for the "Bad Blood" singer. According to Billboard, Swift is the only female solo artist to dethrone herself from the top Hot 100 spot. Per the magazine, "Blank Space" replaced "Shake It Off" on Nov. 29 of that year.

7. In 2015, Swift became the youngest winner of the Academy of Country Music's Milestone Award. The moment was truly touching. Swift's mother, Andrea, presented the award shortly after she was diagnosed with cancer. The "Love Story" star had also released her first pop album, 1989, about six months before, and The Washington Post considered her acceptance speech her final farewell to country music.

8. Swift entered the Reputation era with a bang. Her 2017 track "Look What You Made Me Do" broke the Guinness World Record for most streamed track on Spotify in the first 24 hours with 8 million streams. The corresponding music video also shattered the records for most watched video both online and on Vevo in 24 hours with 43.2 million and 39 million, respectively. However, BTS surpassed Swift this summer for most watched video online in 24 hours after the K-pop stars released their music video for "Idol," which garnered 45 million views in just one day.

Swift also set a new bar for most streamed track in one week by a female artist with the aforementioned hit. The song earned a staggering 84.4 million streams during this time frame.

9. On April 24, 2018, Swift broke the record for most subscribers for a female musician on YouTube. At the time, her Vevo channel had more than 28.5 million subscribers. This number continues to grow.

10. While Swift's 1989 World Tour was a smashing success (generating a reported $181.5 million domestically and $250.7 million worldwide), she's since reached a new level with her Reputation Stadium Tour. According to Billboard's August figures, Swift's tour has brought in $191.1 million domestically and an additional $11.1 million in Canada.

Swift will open the award show with a performance of "I Did Something Bad"—the third song on her latest album. To see the performance and other major moments, tune into the 2018 AMAs Tuesday, Oct. 9 starting at 8:00 p.m. on ABC.

[annonymousthingss-blog]

Final: Free Speech Movement

Ryu, Timothy

2/22/19

TA: Alvoro Lopez

The Free Speech Movement is a movement that rose from the roots of the Civil Rights movement and gained heavy momentum which ended up making a big impact on Berkeley University. This movement took place in the 1960’s and was led by certain students, one named Mario Savio. This movement fought for a student’s first amendment rights because Berkeley University took parts of that right away from the students. I believe that the Free Speech movement was necessary because of its importance, impact, and beliefs however, it also comes with a price.

In September 1964, the Berkeley administration decided to administer a rule that denied political advertising and soliciting on certain parts of the campus. Students have consistently enjoyed leisurely use of this area for years and it was suddenly decided to be taken from the students. “... few values are more important in education than the free exchange of ideas. The University of California, Berkeley, proud home of the Free Speech Movement, has struggled to find a balance.” (Steinmetz). Universities believe that it is more important for students to receive their perception of “education” which is the one way rule of thinking, it’s the university’s way or the highway. They believe that it is the easiest way for students to benefit from education. However, students learn a lot more from expressing themselves and through the exchange of conversation. As a result, universities during the 1964 era closed out on self expression and limited students to the university’s way of thinking. Some students found it absurd and began to protest the new rule. As the protests continued, more and more students joined the movement blocking police cars which caused a huge ruckus and interruption of daily life. Students passing by became intrigued and added to the numbers. This became something that couldn’t be ignored and the persistence proved that this movement wasn’t just going to “go away” these students were serious.

As citizens we have rights which need to be protected and given. This is not something earned and it is not negotiable. So when the university took away the ability for students to protest on certain areas of the school it was definitely a violation of a citizen’s rights. This goes to show how controlling higher administrations and institutions were, almost like an oligarchy. As human beings we should have the right to think for ourselves and express those opinions to others. We shouldn’t have to follow universities or be told what to do so when students began a protest against the new rule it showed that they won’t take this restriction lightly. “Debates over these abstract questions rocked the nation’s institutions of higher education during the heyday of the culture wars. But in our current age of neoliberalism, when economic utility has displaced all other criteria of education’s worth, Americans are not asked to think about such questions at all.” (Hartman). What pushed education forward was the freedom to express opinions and ideals, people were meant to clash and debate because no one person is the same. Everyone is built to think differently and argue for their differing opinions. Education isn’t meant to be something blindly taken in and followed. As Williams states with ideology,“... ‘No ideas in the world but those of men.” (Williams). All of the ideals in the world, ways of thinking are set by men. Which means no one way is the correct way of thinking in the world, so why should universities dictate that? This is something I appreciated about the movement because it showed others that we shouldn’t swallow everything the university throws at us, we have rights and the right to protect it. It empowered students and showed them that there is more that they can do. After the victory they earned through the sit in, it showed others that if there’s something they want, fight for it.

I do believe that the Free Speech Movement is very beneficial and ultimately good. However there is a price to the point they argued. Consequential speech is something that is highly debated in society. Whether it should be allowed or not in regards to the first amendment. If we argue for freedom of speech this technically means that all speech should be allowed even racial slurs, degrading comments, or negative insults would all technically be allowed in light of “free speech”. Debate and positive opinions can move education forward but consequential speech can move it two steps back. If we allow these things to take place it could have a very negative impact on education which is something to heavily consider about the Free Speech Movement.

All in all, the FSM in its entirety will continue to influence and motivate people throughout the world. It’s crazy how it turned out the way it did because neither side could have expected the outcome that it had. I hope that the ideals would continue to survive and flourish throughout the 21st century.

Works Cited

Hartman, Andrew. “Culture Wars and the Humanities in the Age of Neoliberalism.” Academia.edu, www.academia.edu/33457068/Culture_Wars_and_the_Humanities_in_the_Age_of_Neoliberalism.

Steinmetz, Katy. “Inside the Campus Culture Wars Battling Free Speech.” Time, Time, 12 Oct. 2017, time.com/4979235/the-campus-culture-wars/.

Williams, Raymond. Marxism and Literature. Oxford Univ. Press, 2009.

https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3A673aac2a-984c-42eb-980e-084019668f38

[mini-pretzel]

alright dude yea EVERY NUMBER FOR SWEETHEART ASKS

… what have i signed up for?

//cracks knuckles

grab a juice box, grab a snack.

we’ll be here for a while. what have i gotten myself into

1. Talk about your first love. 

oh jesus. i actually recently found my old journal lol

from way back when. 2009 i think? i was 13 or some shit. jesus. ok. so my first love was actually over the internet.

yeah, i know. nowadays we’re spoiled with tinder n shit, but back in 2009, all we had was myspace and msn and i met this fucker on skype.

i was so ahead of my time.

anyway, it was october 25, 2009.

here’s a snippet from my journal entry:

well i met a guy on skype. he’s a month younger cause my b-day is on oct 14 and his is on nov 18. but i don’t mind it.

yoooo i was into younger guys even at 13, jfc hahhaa //kill me jk hmu

and then on the next page hahahhaa omg

december 2, 2009

well me and ___ are no longer together. well we never began. he broke my heart two times already. going in depression. please don’t bother. first love, ha!

omfg damn, two months. yeah, that lasted long. also old me: ur so dramatic lol

also i was a feisty lil fella, jeez.

2. What’s the most beautiful songs you’ve ever heard in your opinion? 

this one

3. How’s your heart feeling right now?

a lil stressed. im like, hoping i can get through all of these questions without my computer crashing. pray 4 me.

4. What kind of self care is your favorite to do? 

ok, first thing to note, i fucking love self care. like, too much if im honest.

baths with bubbles and nice smelling scents, lotions, a face mask, taking my time with washing my face and hair and putting on the cutest clothes after. also snacks, always snacks.

when im feeling like spending money: massage. full body. best thing ever. i treat myself to it at least once a year for my b-day.

5. What’s your skincare routine? 

ok so i just got a new skincare line. it’s from nature republic. i have a cleanser, a toner and a moisturizer. it’s fairly simple (unlike 9 steps in korean ahhahha, but like i’ll probably get there in time) also i have a peel mask that smells like bananas that i put on twice a week to get rid of dead skin cells. oh and sometimes i do korean face masks, too.

6. How did you get to be so beautiful?

answered that q here

7. Do you have any stuffed animals?

NO! //hides them all away

8. Best trip you’ve ever been on?

thailand. my parents took me w/ them on their honeymoon.

lol idek why either. trust me.

i was just there for the swimming, riding elephants, getting food poisoning and downing two banana splits in one afternoon. good times.

9. Favorite thing about your room? 

i live in a jungle. but also in an art gallery cause my mom buys paintings online and resells them, but it’s become such a habit for her they are literally EVERYWHEREE I CANNOT.

also sorry mom i keep forgetting to water the GAZILLION plants THAT YOU HAVE MOVED INTO MY ROOM FOR SOME REASON. they’ll be dead by the time ur home. srry ilyyyyy.

also tae hmu if u want some paintings. i got way too many.

10. Opinion on love? 

dude. idk. i mean. it’s definitely not something one can describe easily or fully grasp.

im still waiting for my big love to come along, so like, we can talk about that when we get there.

otherwise, i’ll say this quote that i heard in a song:

give your heart, but keep your head.

11. Are you affectionate? 

with certain people. im weird.

with some people im like no, don’t touch me pls. i bite and scratch.

and with others you cannot get them out of my death love grip.

12. Who do you look up to? 

i look up to bts a lot. they’re doing a lot of good and they’re very respectable artists.

but i also look up to a lot of writers on here because i want to create worlds and writings like them. i won’t tag them cause rip them trying to find why i tagged them in this long ass post haha.

13. Favorite poet? 

@psycho-slytherin

lol sorry bae

ur gonna have to scroll to find out why i tagged u. and then go red and yell at me. hahah.

i also like silentium! by Fyodor Tyutchev

also everything by pushkin (esp ‘i loved you’ fuck that one gets me every time). seriously. that man isn’t called the golden poet in our country for nothing.

i actually don’t read a lot of poetry nowadays unless its my own or my friends’

but im open to recommendations

14. Song that makes you happy? How about one that calms you down when you’re in a bad place?

answered here!

15. Do you play an instrument?

lol no. i was almost taught the piano (lol rip me, i wanna kill my younger lazy ass self) and i dabbled into learning the violin. but that’s like a whole story and a half hahahaha.

16. Do you do art? Using what (pencil, watercolor, etc)?

i used to pencil draw, nothing special tho. a lot of naked ppl lol. butts n boobs were my fave. also pecks whoo.

17. Do you dance? What style of dance? 

i don’t! but i want to. i’ve been looking into dancing schools. i might do hip hop n stuff. see if i have the rhythm, i can’t tell from just jumping around my room lol

18. What’s your zodiac sign? Do you believe in astrology? 

im a libra yo. diplomatic and indecisive af.

i kinda do? there’s some sense there, but it’s too vague. i think ppl need to look into their charts to really grasp their character.

and for some it may not be true at all, so like. idk. we’re all just doing our best here.

19. Favorite old film? 

a russian film that i always watch over the new year. my mom would always joke that the new year doesn’t start till we watch it lol

the irony of fate

20. What’s your hairstyle? 

idk

u

tell

me

21. What weather is the most beautiful, in your opinion?

cloudy but warm. so there’s not too much sun but u can enjoy a nice walk outside without getting rained on.

22. What upsets you most about the world? 

i only have two hands but there are so many cats and dogs. i cannot pet all of them.

23. Are you in love right now?

answered ;)

24. Do you have a crush? If so, talk about them!

here u go

25. Do you have pets? Talk about something sweet about them! 

i don’t! but i wish i did i would shower them with my love.

but @the-trth-untold dogs are the cutest and @psycho-slytherin cats make my day. pls spam meeeee. also i love @paristae cat too.

26. Do you have a lucky number? 

yup. 22.

27. Have you ever wished on a star? What about on a fallen eyelash? 

i’ve never seen a fallen star, so no.

but i’ve wished on a fallen eyelash, always.

28. Do you believe emoji spells to work? 

emoji spells??

bruh i’ve never even heard of it till this ask wtf is that shit

bruh i mean if it works for ppl all power to them??? idk i never tried it

29. Do you believe in magic in general? 

i believe in magic tricks. but magic died for me when santa stopped existing.

30. What’s the most beautiful thing in life, In your opinion?

here

31. Opinion on the color pink? What about baby blue? 

gorgeous colors. i quite like mauve pink and deep dark blue tho.

but baby blue looks amazing on some folks. oof.

32. What instrumental sound is your favorite? 

piano. always.

33. Do you like the sound of wind? What about the sound of rain? 

answered :)

34. Who makes you happy? 

bts and all of my mutuals <3

35. What makes you happy? 

sleep, food, music, writing, cuddles. and forehead kisses.

also more listed here

36. Imagine your ideal life, the life you wish to make, what will that look like? 

i live in a nice apartment. doesn’t have to be expensive, just nice and clean with wooden floors and spacious windows.

i have all the necessities that i need and im never lonely.

i have also touched countless hearts by my books and am able to live comfortably just from my works.

haha. you said ideal, right?

also have someone to spend it with. someone i’d write poetry about daily. a bestfriend first and foremost before a lover.

37. Do you wear makeup? If so what’s your favorite type of makeup or specific makeup product? Favorite store to buy makeup?

answered this fella here

38. Do you wear dresses? If so what’s your favorite dress you own? 

i used to have dresses. but not anymore.

i liked the long sleeve sweater black one i had with a low cut. it was gorgeous. i dont have much of boobage but i always felt like i was sexy in it.

39. Ever been heartbroken? How do you deal with it? 

yep. you just kind of take it one day at a time. some days will be better than the last. some days you’ll cry a little harder and some days you move on a little further. it takes time. make sure you have good people around you so you don’t fall into depression.

40. Who’s your closest friend? What do you love about them? 

ah, to be honest i don’t have a closest friend. i’ve always been the kind of person that always had friends around her but never anyone too deep. and i kinda wish i did. i just don’t know who would come to fill that spot. people always leave, so i kind of gave up assigning that spot. i think the people that want to be in that spot will show themselves and tell me. otherwise i will not assume or assign.

41. Introvert or extrovert? 

introvert. but i have my moments. i can be charming and friendly when i want to.

42. Do you like MBTI? What’s your MBTI? 

i had to look it up cause i forgot what it was lol

i took the test a while back: im infp.

there’s not a lot of us, apparently. which is cool. shout out to all infps out there!

43. Would you be a fairy, a mermaid, a vampire, a siren, or an angel? 

hmmm. what kind of fairy tho? lol

maybe vampire? idk i’d be a sexy immortal lady that’d bite innocent boys and girls that just want to have a good time lol

44. What’s the best song a friend has ever introduced to you? 

this oneee

45. Parlez-vous français? 

no~

46. Most beautiful place you’ve been to? 

butchart gardens

47. Where/when do you truly feel at home? 

here

48. Does smiling put you in a better mood? Try it right now, you’re smile is gorgeous! 

kdjfalkfjdlkdsaf //hides

this ask is flirting with me…

well that’s as much action as im going to get this new years eve lol

49. Favorite shoe you own?

my sweet rose gold kicks, yo.

50. Can you walk in stilettos? Do you like them? 

lol no. i cannot. and i do not. im not made for heels. im tall enough as it is.

51. Do you feel loved? 

every time i talk to my mutuals yes //cry

52. How do you express love to those you care about? 

by saying cute words and by clinging to them like a koala.

53. Favorite term(s) of endearment? 

sweetheart, dear, idk im just like anything honestly. love, baby. go crazy.

i also love mean terms like idiot and stuff. or nicknames that hold inside jokes, something between the two of you only.

54. Most romantic thing someone’s ever done for you? 

hasn’t happened yet. so yeah. any takers? lol

55. When is the happiest you’ve ever been? 

reading a good book for the first time. or just experiencing something new that i end up loving for the first time. nothing can replace that first feeling.

56. Are you happy right now? 

happy im almost done hahhahahahaa. ha.

no but srsly i am <3

57. What makes you smile? 

stupid jokes. puns. someone laughing and showing themselves fully.

58. Do you laugh a lot? 

i mean. i think so? i try. i make jokes a lot and laugh at myself if that counts?

59. What’s your favorite kind of aesthetic? 

ughhhh comfy bf aestheticcc

60. Do you want to marry for love or for some other reason (like money)? 

i have a sour view on marriage. so only if i love someone hard enough. but even then i don’t know if i’ll do it. it hurts too much to think about marriage and wedding rings for me.

61. What would your dream wedding look like? Do you want to get married? 

see above.

62. Favorite flower?

orchid.

63. Favorite artist?

claude monet.

64. Favorite music artist?

bts lol

no surprises there.

65. How kind do you think you are? Is kindness important to you? 

its not something for me to decide. i try to be kind to everyone, but how it is interpreted is different for everyone. i’d like to think i’m kind.

and yes, very important. especially being kind to yourself.

66. Ever made a playlist for someone? 

yes i have. i love making playlists for people. i don’t get asked that enough.

67. Do you have anything you do to physically comfort you when your sad? Such as a favorite blanket? Or a relaxing bath? 

music. music always helps. and tea.

ideally i’d love for someone to massage my scalp, but hahah no one’s been able to do it the right way. when it’s done right i melt and forget about everything.

68. Early bird or night owl? 

night owl.

moonchild, lol

69. Morning routine? 

wake up, look in the mirror, look away from the mirror, go back to bed.

70. Night routine? 

SHOWER N NICE SMELLING LOTIONS. AND SKINCAREEEEEE OOOOF.

also fresh sheets.

71. What is the most lovely quality a person could have in your opinion? 

answered here

72. Do you cry often? Does crying help you get the emotions out? Do you feel better after? 

i only cry when i watch or read something. and it does help. i always feel better after. but i tend to keep my emotions hidden away, the negative ones at least.

73. Do you like hugs? 

i love hugs. come hug me, bro.

u must smell nice tho.

74. When was the last time you kissed someone?

august.

75. Are you small or tall? 

tall. 175cm.

76. Do you like wholesome memes? 

answered

77. Favorite thing about the past? 

cd players. chia pet commercials. flip phones. mom jeans.

78. Do you ever wonder about the future? 

all the time. esp mine. i have no idea what the fuck im doing.

79. Have you ever lived in a different country than you currently live in? 

yep. i’ve lived in america and canada before. and traveled a lot.

80. Do you like plane flights? Airports? 

i don’t mind flying. and depends on the airport. some are better than others.

81. Sunrises or sunsets? 

sunrises. every day is a new day~

82. The beach or a forest? 

bitch- i mean beach. :)

83. What time of day do you tend to be in the best mood? 

any time i am eating. or sleeping. or reading.

im so close to being done omg. this is fun tho.

84. Do you push yourself to act together and in a good mood even when you aren’t? 

always. ain’t nobody gonna deal with that baggage lol

85. Favorite kind of tree? 

japanese maple tree

86. Do you care about the health of the Earth? 

i mean i don’t even care about my health that much tbh, i need to work on that.

87. What did you like most about your childhood, if anything? 

that i got to travel and learned english very young.

88. Do you read a lot? What’s your favorite book? 

answered here

89. What are you most nostalgic for at the moment? 

old school disney

90. What’s your favorite personality trait you have? 

answered this bad boi here

91. List at least ONE thing you love about your appearance. 

eyes. have to work on my ass tho. squats baby.

92. When was the last time you truly felt calm, without much of anything to worry about? 

after a massage.

93. Do you worry a lot? 

eh, i worry enough, i suppose. there’s just some stuff you can’t control.

94. The dazzling lights of the city or the relaxing countryside?

dazzling lights of the city. especially in the evening. and in the winter. ahhhhh. someone hold my hand and walk with meeeeee.

95. Ever changed the shoelaces on one of your shoes? For what reason? 

no i haven’t had that pleasure, lol

maybe next year

96. Favorite pastry? 

BUTTER. CROISSANT.

97. Do you like doing little acts of kindness? 

yes. uwu

98. How’s your day/night going? 

well im finally done with this ask holy shit, and i need to resume writing my namjoon fic so… fantastic. i also have noodles. whoooo.

thank you for reading this whole damn mess of an ask.

ily<3

[atlanticcanada]

'Prey-switching' blamed for death of Toronto woman mauled by coyotes 13 years ago

A new and unusual theory has emerged about the coyotes that killed a young Toronto woman on a Nova Scotia hiking trail 13 years ago.

Researchers say that on Oct. 27, 2009, when singer-songwriter Taylor Mitchell set out alone in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, resident coyotes had adapted to a limited food supply by learning how to hunt and kill moose -- a trait believed to be extraordinary among these "generalist carnivores."

Stanley Gehrt, lead author of a paper recently published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, said that with the park's coyotes preying on such a large animal, it stands to reason they would be less inhibited about killing a human.

"When (coyotes grow) used to taking a 700-pound animal, and you have a single woman walking by herself ... it seems perfectly natural to assume that they simply saw her as a novel food item," Gehrt, a professor at Ohio State University, said in an interview.

"Our argument would be that (the coyotes') ability to survive ... is tied to their ability to switch from one food source to another. And those (coyotes) were eating a diet completely of moose."

Coyotes have been known to scavenge from the remains of dead moose, but Gehrt's study found evidence the park's population was actively hunting the animals -- a high-risk strategy for predators that can get stomped on.

"At least one (moose) carcass located during winter coyote tracking showed signs of predation, and on other occasions live, adult moose were observed with fresh wounds consistent with coyote bites, in addition to coyote tracks leading to the moose," says the study, which was supported by Parks Canada and the Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forestry.

Coyotes in the park resorted to "prey-switching" because their typical prey, mainly snowshoe hare and white-tailed deer, were in short supply at the time, the study says. As well, the park's unique ecosystem supports only a small population of rodents, which can otherwise sustain coyotes that have little else to eat.

Gehrt said it's worth noting the park's coyotes are not subjected to hunting or trapping, which means they don't have a natural fear of humans.

Mitchell's violent death was only the second fatal coyote attack recorded in North America. She was 19 years old at the time and about to embark on a solo tour to support a promising musical career.

The mauling attracted international attention and wild speculation about the coyotes' behaviour. But Gehrt said he and his team determined the attack was similar to what would happen if the coyotes were after a deer.

"They had conditioned themselves to go after large prey, and this was something small," he said.

Virtually all recorded coyote attacks are the result of exposure to human food. But that wasn't the case with Mitchell. Of the five coyotes killed after the fatal attack, including the two directly responsible, none showed evidence they had eaten human food beforehand, the study says.

Gehrt stressed that the attack on Mitchell was related to the park's unique ecological characteristics, which have changed over the years. The moose population has been reduced and the snowshoe hare population has rebounded, which means live moose are no longer on the coyotes' menu.

"I don't view the coyotes in Cape Breton as being more dangerous right now than any other coyotes," he said.

As well, park staff are now less tolerant of aggressive animals.

"The Cape Breton system produces some novel types of behaviour, but it's temporary," Gehrt said. "The fact that we haven't had anything like that again puts it into context. It's manageable by increasing people's awareness. We can keep the risk extremely low."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 15, 2022.

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/1KJqL2n