#summer prompt challenge 2019

[arofili]

Tolkien Fandom Event Calendar

Recently I’ve received some asks about events/weeks in the Tolkien fandom, so I thought I’d compile a list of those that I know about. This is not exhaustive, and dates are subject to change by the organizers of these events!

Other blogs you can check out are @tolkieneventsblog and @tolkienfandomevents, though I’m not sure how active those are. The @silmarillionwritersguild Discord also has a channel dedicated to signal boosts for all sorts of Tolkien-related & general fandom happenings, which is another excellent way to keep up with fandom goings-on.

Want to run your own event? Here’s some of my tips!

If your event is not on here and you’d like it to be, let me know and I can add it :) Note: I will only add events that have announced dates!

~

JANUARY Screw Yule My Slashy Valentine @myslashyvalentine — work time Lord of the Rings Secret Santa @lotr-sesa — reveals Thorin’s Spring Forge @thorinsspringforge — signups Second Age Week @secondageweek

FEBRUARY Hidden Paths My Slashy Valentine — reveals Thorin’s Spring Forge — claims Maedhros and Maglor Week @maedhrosmaglorweek

MARCH Back to Middle-earth Month @spring-into-arda Thorin’s Spring Forge — work time Fëanorian Week Fun with Fanon Fest Round 1 @funwithfanon

APRIL Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang @tolkienrsb — signups Silm Remix @tolkienremix — signups & assignments Thorin’s Spring Forge — reveals  Aralas Week @aralas-week Barduil Month @bi-widower-dads All of Arda is Autistic @all-of-arda-is-autistic F3: Focus on Friendship & Family, Phase I @spring-into-arda

MAY Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang — claims Silm Remix — reveals Aspec Arda Week @aspecardaweek Angbang Week @angbangweek Gondolin Week @gondolinweek F3: Focus on Friendship & Family, Phase II

JUNE Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang — work time Scribbles and Drabbles @fall-for-tolkien — signups Tolkien Ekphrasis Week @tolkienekphrasisweek F3: Focus on Friendship & Family, Phase III

JULY Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang — work time Scribbles and Drabbles — claims Tolkien Gen Week @tolkiengenweek LotR Ladies Week @lotrladiessource Tolkien Appreciation Week @tolkienweek Tolkien Latin American & Caribbean Week @tolkienlatamandcaribbeanweek

AUGUST Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang — deadlines Scribbles and Drabbles — art reveals Innumerable Stars Exchange @innumerable-stars — nominations & signups Tolkien of Colour Week @tolkienofcolourweek Silvergifting Week @silvergiftingweek Tolkien OC Week @tolkienocweek

SEPTEMBER Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang — reveals Scribbles and Drabbles — work time Innumerable Stars Exchange — signups & assignments Sindar Week @sindarweek Dor Cúarthol Week @dorcuartholweek Finwëan Ladies Week @finweanladiesweek

OCTOBER Innumerable Stars Exchange — reveals Scribbles and Drabbles — work time Half-elven Week @halfelvenweek

NOVEMBER Tolkien Secret Santa @officialtolkiensecretsanta — signups & assignments Scribbles and Drabbles — fic reveals Nolofinwean Week @nolofinweanweek

DECEMBER Tolkien Secret Santa — advent calendar & reveals My Slashy Valentine @myslashyvalentine — signups & assignments Lord of the Rings Secret Santa — claims Khazad Week @khazadweek

MONTHLY EVENTS: These events have prompts/challenges occurring every month. Teitho Contest Tolkien Short Fanworks Silmarillion Writers’ Guild @silmarillionwritersguild

(this list was last updated 5/4/23)

LEGACY EVENTS: These events used to occur, but have not happened within the last year. Arda Needs More Pride @ardaneedsmorepride (bimonthly; last run 2020) Kiliel Week @kilielweek (timing variable; last run 2021) @oneringnet monthly events (last run 2021) Atani Week @ataniweek (January; last run 2021) Legendarium Ladies April @legendariumladiesapril (April; last run 2020) Gates of Summer Exchange @gatesofsummerexchange (May-June, last run 2022) Tolkien South Asian Week, run by @arwenindomiel (June; last run 2022) Arafinwëan Week @arafinweanweek (July; last run 2019) Fëanturi Week (August; last run 2019; no official blog and the creator has deactivated) Imladrim Week @imladrimweek (November; last run 2019) Doriath Week @doriathweek (November; last run 2020) Tolkien Family Week @tolkienfamilyweek (November; last run 2021)

[autumnslance]

LynMars FFXIV Write 2023 Master Post

This year's challenge completed! Congrats to everyone who wrote anything at all this month, even if just one prompt! Thanks again to @sea-wolf-coast-to-coast for 7 years of this!

Previous Years Master Posts: 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022

Anything wolcred ship-related is marked by an asterisk* as usual. Commentary and stats for anyone interested below the Read More.

01. Envoy: ARR; Aeryn makes her Grand Company choice. 02. Bark: Dark has the wrong pie thief suspect. 03. Free Day! 04. Off the Hook: EW; Lucia & Maxima explore their new HQ. 05. Barbarous: HW; Aeryn's frustrated by the land of her birth. 06. Ring: EW; keepsakes & memories of Aeryn's mother. 07. Noisome: Dark & Iyna contend with ubiquitous seasonal flavors. 08. Shed: EW; Aeryn answers Zenos at the edge of everything. 09. Fair: EW; Azem's brother tries to ensure the future has his aid. 10. Free Day! 11. Once Bitten Twice Shy: ShB Bozja; unwarranted concerns. 12. Dowdy: Backstory; Aeryn's always had Opinions about fashion. 13. Check: Iyna discovers C'oretta's personal business. 14. Clear*: ShB; semi-poetic sweetness of coming together. 15. Portentous: Backstory. Zaine speaks to Tanzel about a decision. 16. Jerk: EW; Aeryn meets an old friend as the Final Days loom. 17. Free Day! 18. Fish Out of Water: Shb: G'raha gets used to his new life. 19. Weal: EW; Vrtra sees to his people and their home. 20. Hamper: In a possible future, Iyna answers academic questions. 21. Grave: Legacy; Zaine Striker returns to his childhood home. 22. Fulsome: C'oretta sorts through her parents' old promos. 23. Suit: ARR; what the Scions wore that most fateful night. 24: Free Day! 25. Call it a Day: Pre-ARR; Iron Summer contemplating his daughter. 26. Last: EW; a final conversation between ancients. 27. Sole*: Post-ShB; Thancred vs the perils of Aeryn's flip-tastic jobs. 28. Blunt: Post-ShB; working with Gaius, like it or not. 29. Contravention: EW; "In from the Cold" violates laws of nature. 30. Amity: EW; Varshahn & Aeryn discuss Thavnair & Garlemald.

Only 2 short shippy prompts all month! All 4 modern girls got a couple spotlights, various family cameos and backstories, a future prompt as is tradition, Zaine had a few posts, a few NPC-only scenes, a LOT of Endwalker, and even Ancient Icarus got a story, tying into 2021's "Destruct" prompt and how/why the siblings' souls have been connected through time and reincarnations.

A few of these are alternate takes on scenes I've touched on before, but it's interesting what a new prompt at a different time can get one to say, how we change as writers in what we focus on and how we say it.

This comes in roughly 300 words shorter than last year, at 18,493. The week of the 18-22 I had off work for my birthday, and that had the most 1k+ prompts, with a word count nearly double the other 3 full weeks. While the longer prompts are good, I'm really happy with how so many of the short ones turned out!

I was again trying to be realistic about my time, energy, not pushing free write days...and also working on an original writing project on the side, so I actually did do more writing over the month, just not FFXIV related!

(Also why some of my responses were in just under the wire...)

But this was a good break and exercise from that other writing, and let me try a few new things.

And comparing to earlier years--especially 2017 and 2018 when I was getting back onto the writing horse and feeling out my OCs--I feel like my growth as a writer, especially to be more succinct yet still evocative when needed, is evident. I've gotten a lot of practice in over time, and this challenge is one of the things that helped me get to where I can write an original story on top of my fanfic!

Breakdowns for funsies: Longest: 21 Grave; 1,652 words Shortest: 14 Clear; 106 words

Between 100-500 words: 1 Envoy; 2 Bark; 4 Off the Hook; 5 Barbarous; 7 Noisome; 8 Shed; 14 Clear; 15 Portentous; 26 Last; 27 Sole. Between 500-1000 words: 6 Ring; 11 Once Bitten, Twice Shy; 13 Check; 16 Jerk; 18 Fish Out of Water; 22 Fulsome; 23 Suit; 25 Call it a Day; 28 Blunt; 29 Contravention; 30 Amity. 1000+ words: 9 Fair; 12 Dowdy; 19 Weal; 20 Hamper; 21 Grave.

I didn't look at the totals until the end; I only checked some of the shorter ones during the challenge to see if they hit my personal "500+ words" cut off for adding a Read More to the posts.

"Grave" honestly could have been a lot shorter; I started the plot too early, and much as I like Zaine making one last visit to his childhood Nana, for the purposes of the challenge, I could have just focused on going to the lichyard to save myself time and energy, and wrote about the visit on my own another time. On the other hand, it's done now!

Not sure which is a favorite; there's a lot I like.

As usual, these will be revised at...some point (some more than others, probably) and added to Ao3, in my various series and threads.

[klaineccfanficlibrary]

OK . . I think I did this right? For the 2023 Klaine Bingo

1.) Debut Fanfic:

Trick or Treat by bitbybit (puttingittogether)

2.)Page-turning Fanfic that made you stay up past your bedtime:

Soulsongs and Seastars by GleefulPoppet

3.)Fanfic that made you reach for a box of tissues:

The Edge of the Light by gemjam

4.)Fanfic where one has an unusual occupation.:

Bicycle Patrol Unit by CoffeeAddict80

5.)Wild Card - any fanfic you wish to highlight.:

Yule Be Mine by scatterthestars

6.) Fanfic set during the summer:

Miles To Go by hundredindecisions

7.) Fanfic is written for a challenge.

Myosotis series by  maanorchidee ( Written for Klaine Advent Challenge 2019)

8.) Fanfic that made you laugh out loud.

Skylight by DivineLady91

9.) Fanfic that you enjoyed using a genre/trope that you don't normally read.

Until My Dying Breath by EmilianaDarling

Thank you Anon - for your contribution to the 2023 Klaine bingo event! ~Jen The Bingo Collection now on Ao3!

1. Debut Fanfic

Trick or Treat by bitbybit (puttingittogether) @bitbybitwrites

Summary: It’s Halloween and Blaine’s favorite time of year. Little does he know that his husband has a bit of a trick and treat waiting for him when he gets home.

Based off of the Klaine Creative Challenge #1/ Halloween/Costume Klaine from the Klaine 40 FB group.

Prompt: where Kurt is in costume and ready to go out, and Blaine walks in and sees him like that. Inspired by Chris Colfer's 2021 Halloween video from Instagram and his outfit.

2. Page-turning Fanfic that made you stay up past your bedtime:

Soulsongs and Seastars by @GleefulPoppet

In a world where Doms and subs depend on the symbiotic relationship their pheromones provide, it can be a matter of life and death to go too long without a claim. When one of the most powerful Doms in New York comes home for some much-needed family time, he stumbles upon a scene that throws his instincts into high alert as he witnesses a sub do something he’s never seen before. Will the bravery of one man change his life forever? Kurt Hummel knows there’s only a one-in-a-million chance of finding his Soulsong, but what are the odds it could happen in a run-down mall in Lima, Ohio?

3. Fanfic that made you reach for a box of tissues:

The Edge of the Light by gemjam

After Kurt calls off their wedding, Blaine spirals into a bad place that he never manages to get out of. He accepts his life, working the streets at night and sleeping his days away, until a chance encounter two years later leads Kurt back into his life, and Blaine has to re-evaluate everything to see if he can really earn a happy ending.

4. Fic where one has an unusual occupation.:

Bicycle Patrol Unit by CoffeeAddict80 @caramelcoffeeaddict

When NYPD bicycle cop, Blaine Anderson, begins to fall for Kurt Hummel - the gorgeous man that he first notices while Kurt is jogging through the park during Blaine’s patrol there - it causes a rift between him and his patrol partner, Sebastian Smythe

5. Wild Card - any fanfic you wish to highlight.:

Yule Be Mine by @scatterthestars

Crashing weddings is nothing new for Kurt. Being caught, however, is. When a handsome stranger comes to his rescue, he has no problem going along with Blaine's plan of pretending to be his boyfriend for the night. But one thing leads to another and Kurt soon finds himself agreeing to spending a week with Blaine and his family for Christmas. What can go wrong? He'll play pretend. Hang ornaments on the tree, decorate some cookies, and have fun in the snow. He won't fall for Blaine's family. And definitely won't fall for the handsome, great guy he's pretending to date. Right?

6. Fanfic set during the summer:

Miles To Go by hundredindecisions

In the wake of Finn’s death, Kurt struggles to keep up with schoolwork at NYADA or engage with his life in general. He finally finds purpose again when he decides to spend the summer venturing west, to scatter Finn’s ashes in the Pacific Ocean. The road trip is long and lonely and challenging, but Kurt’s luck starts to turn around when he meets a handsome man named Blaine, who’s heading to California for his own reasons. After crossing paths in Colorado, they decide to travel together. As they get closer to the west coast they start to let down their walls, learning more about each other and revealing what they’re really seeking on this trip.

7. Fanfic is written for a challenge.

Myosotis series by  maanorchidee ( Written for Klaine Advent Challenge 2019)

Kurt remembers meeting Blaine very vividly. After all, they only just met. Blaine also remembers meeting Kurt very vividly, but to him, it's been years since they met. Now, the two of them have to find ways to (re)connect and see where their relationship goes.

8. Fanfic that made you laugh out loud.

Skylight by DivineLady91

When Blaine's mom calls from the airport to inform her son that she's shown up early for Christmas, he and Kurt are forced to scramble and clean before she arrives. Seeing as they were indulging in morning-long sex-capades, they'll need all the time they have. But their cleaning efforts get called on account of something inappropriate stuck in an unexpected place.

9. Fanfic that you enjoyed using a genre/trope that you don't normally read.

Until My Dying Breath by EmilianaDarling

*Sorry written 2012 - doesn't qualify for this bingo which is 2018-23!

[garebearandnan]

LANGUAGE GUIDE FOR LOVE ISLAND - ISLANDERS VOCABULARY (on Wattpad) https://www.wattpad.com/1276992159-language-guide-for-love-island-islanders?utm_source=web&utm_medium=tumblr&utm_content=share_reading&wp_uname=ArtAngel8&wp_originator=qKm00Ms6fXXWv9Jgo2Jc7umNAe%2FIP0BUkXp32uZypONFS9hDlG1jzf304GOMw0dneD%2BQlA3gqROjtQ24Ef82vFTubk8YVG5r5v0pPz%2Bo84177epuErHonXUFJvz6GoSI 

I hope this DICTIONARY is HELPFUL! I've complied this dictionary from all 9 seasons of Love Island TV show (UK).  I remember watching the first few seasons of UK TV series and like wtf on what the Islanders are saying! Then scouring the internet for the meaning. This basically prompted me to compile as comprehensive list as I could from so so many sources.

If there are any words to add, please don't hesitate to let me know! I am sure I will be adding more words when the 2023 UK summer season ends. Especially the sex lingo. Every summer it seems the Islanders try to come up with their own LINGO.

                         LANGUAGE GUIDE FOR LOVE ISLAND

The Islanders have a very specific language while on Love Island. The words and phrases used by the Islanders have specific meanings within the context of the show. 

                                    ISLANDERS VOCABULARY

AGGY. Contestants will use this word to refer to islanders that are angry, agitated, or aggravated. You could say, "She's so aggy today".

BANTER/BANTZ.  The act of teasing or kidding, ‘Banter,’ is the existence of high-level rapport between two people. Banter is the hottest commodity in the villa on a show like Love Island, where fit birds and geezers are a dime a dozen. Some islanders pride themselves on their bants (jokes). This is especially popular when trying to graft on with someone. 

While banter can be fun, witty chat, the islanders refer to it as the ‘playful and friendly exchange of teasing remarks.’ Islanders either have banter or they don't, and this can be the key difference between whether or not two contestants get flirty with each other and become romantically involved.

BELLEND. A derogatory word.

BELTER. Someone who is really gifted in the looks department.

BEVY/BEV. This new word has been introduced for the 2019 season. Used to describe a hot guy. If he's your boyfriend, he's your bevy, but if he's not your boyfriend, he's a bev.

BIRD. Girls are often called birds.

BISH. BOSH. BASH. Indicating the completion of a task with efficiency.

BODY POPPING: The art of dancing like Drake. 

BOMBSHELL. A contestant who enters Love Island after the initial group.

BREADCRUMBING. This term is used when an Islander is talking about being lured by someone. Leading someone on, or playing mind games.

BRUV. Brother, for short, not referring to a blood relative but a friend. Typically used between male islanders.

BUDGIE-SMUGGLERS. Reference to a man's tight-fitting swimming bottoms or swimsuit.

BUNDA. Means a good bum

BUZZIN’. Happy or excited about something, extremely thrilled. (i.e., "We are completely cracking on and having a great time, and bruv, I’m honestly buzzin’. I’m proper buzzin'.")   

CAPPING. Means lying. If an Islander says "no cap", that means they're not lying.

CASA AMOR. Definition (from Series 3 on): The second villa either the girls or the boys go to about halfway through every series. New people come to both villas, and it's all about whether you stay with your original person.

CHALLENGE. An official setup game the contestants play that almost never has any substantial consequences. Usually a challenge starts with them running to the little challenge area in slow motion.

CHEEKY. It means fun, brash and cute.

CHIRPSE. To flirt or chat someone up.

CHIVED. To be hacked off or peeved.

CONNECTION. A way of saying you like someone romantically in a deep and meaningful way.

COUPLE. The two-person team contestants are in. A couple shares a bed, competes in challenges as a unit, and can be up for elimination together. Love Island is won by a couple.

CRINGE. It is used to describe the peak awkwardness of a person or situation.

CWTSH. To have a cuddle

DAY DOT. Day one.

DEAD. A word used to add emphasis, such as, "That man is dead fit".

DEAD TING. The term islanders use to describe someone who isn’t attractive or good looking. Can also be used to describe something as boring or dull. 

DEFFO. A shortening of the word ‘definitely’.

DICKSAND. Like quicksand, 'dicksand' is what you get caught in when you're totally obsessed with a guy and can't get him out of your head.

DMC. An abbreviation for Deep Meaningful Conversation, often necessary on Love Island whenever one feels insecure, in love, or has fallen into dicksand.

DOGHEAD. A derogatory word for an ugly person.

EXCLUSIVE. When two islanders go 'exclusive' it means that they're only dating each other but still don't have the girlfriend/boyfriend label. It's the stage before going official with each other.

EXTRA. When you take something too far and are overly dramatic about something, over-the-top. (i.e., "Why are you getting so extra about it?")

FANCY. To have a crush or be attracted to someone.

FIT. Good-looking, in ways beyond physical fitness, ‘hot’. (i.e., "That new islander is fit, bruv.")

FLAMES: Very hot.

FISHING. 'Fishing for compliments' when trying to win over your love interest.

FUCKBOY. A male who treats females like garbage. Used in a sentence: “Chris is NOT a fuckboy.”

FUMING. Super angry or really pissed off.

G. Means girlfriend.

GAFF. House (i.e., "My head's all over the gaff.")

GASSED. This means that your excited. According to Urban Dictionary, ‘gassed’ is when one is overwhelmed or cannot hold in the excitement any longer’.

GEEZER. A term of endearment used to refer to a male friend; can also be shortened as ‘geez’.

GIRL CODE. Although girl code is not exclusive to Love Island, it is a term which is regularly used by female contestants. It is used to describe a special female pact/code that should not be broken, even for an attractive man. Hoes before bros, as they say.

GRAFT/GRAFTING. Simply put, grafting means an islander is working hard at getting another islander to like them. If an islander is not putting in the work to find love in the villa, then they won't make it far on Love Island. Grafting, therefore, is essential to the show.

GROWER. In the Love Island villa, a grower refers to someone who can slowly become more confident and outgoing as the series goes on. But it can also refer to a love interest who "grows" on you.

GUTTED. When an islander is gutted, they are emotionally devastated, usually because the person they were seeing has cracked on with someone else.

HIDEAWAY. The room where the contestants are sometimes allowed to go, almost always as a couple, for the purpose of getting away from everyone else. There are still cameras in there. People can do lots of bits.

HUN. Now this one all depends on the tone of voice used when saying it. Although potentially an endearing term of friendship, it can also carry LOTS of sarcasm. After all, ‘I’m not your hun, hun’, went down as one of the best one-liners of the show in 2018 when Eyal hit back at Hayley.

ICK. Simply put, 'the ick' occurs when someone becomes creeped out by the person they're seeing, making it difficult to continue dating them.

INNIT. A word you must often say when you end your sentences, innit.

KNOBHEAD/KNOB. An insult like bellend or dickhead

LIKE. A word used to punctuate sentences. Used in a sentence: “Like, I really am into him, but, like, I’m just not sure if I’m, like, really into him. Like, we get on, but, like, do we really, like, get on? Know what I mean?”

LING. 2022 Social media users reckon it's another way of saying something's 'leng', which is to say, incredibly attractive. Used in a sentence: 'Wow, this villa is ling.'

LIPSING. A new one for 2022. Lipsing is a slang term for kissing. If an Islander says they want to lips someone, it means they want to kiss them.“Have you been lipsing him? Or was there any lipsing?” is a question you'll often hear being asked by the Islanders after dates and each morning.

LIT. A term used to describe when something is amazing.

LOYAL. Describes someone who stays true to their Love Island partnership and friendships. Reassure others that their 'head won't turn' and that they'll stay true to their partner.

MARJ. Marj is slang for mum. 

MATE. How every guy will refer to every other guy in the villa. 

MELT. A person who is soppy and so into someone else that it's an embarrassing flaw.

MINGING/MINGER. An unsightly, unpleasant, or smelly person or thing. It comes from the word "ming," meaning smelly.

MINT. As in ‘mint condition’, a term used to describe a person, place, or things, superb superficial appearance.

MOVING MAD. This is basically when someone starts to move out of character in the villa. 

MUGGY. Like you're trying to play someone or dump them. Go behind their back, or act sneaky, disloyal.

OBVS. A shortening of the word ‘obviously’.

OG. Used to simply mean that something or someone is 'original'—meaning, the first of its kind.

Oi Oi.  A way for a large group of men to greet another person they've never seen before.

PENG SORT.  Very hot. (Synonyms: Fire, flames, proper fit.)

PIED/PIED OFF. The act of being dumped or ditched without warning. Reject someone. Every islander's worst nightmare is to be pied off on national telly in front of everyone from their nan to their boss. If an islander has been pied off, it means they've been unceremoniously dumped.

PRANGY. A term used for feeling anxious, paranoid, or scared—particularly at the prospect of someone new entering the Love Island villa.

PUNCHING. A shortened version of ‘punching up,’ it is the act of dating out of one's league.

RANTIN’. Engaging in a fierce debate with another islander or just having a good moan about something or someone.

RECOUPLE. One of the biggest causes of stress and constant topics of conversation revolves around ‘recoupling’. Recoupling is where the contestants find out if they will be picked by a fellow contestant or if they will be kicked off the show. The viewing public may be asked to vote on their favourite couples.

ROW. An argument or fight

SALTY. To behave unfavourably towards someone. Used it in a sentence, ‘Why are you being so salty with me?’

SALMON. A way to jump into the pool where you shake your body like a fish.

SAUCE. Your personality, character, and what makes you, well, you, or sex appeal.

SHADE. To throw shade is to make a public show of contempt for someone or something, often in a subtle or non-verbal way.

SITUATIONSHIP.  Love Island is full of uncertain romances, where the boundaries are not clearly drawn. ‘Situationship’ is the perfect word to describe this kind of entanglement where there are no labels yet, but it might be assumed to be exclusive.

SLAG. A disgraceful, derogatory term akin to a slut. The Love Island villa is a place of acceptance, forward thinking, and sexual freedom, and thus, slag is one of the worst words one can utter while on the show.

SNAKE/SNAKEY. When someone’s being sneaky, deceitful, or sly behind your back Or right in your face. In the villa, someone is 'snakey' if they make romantic advances towards a coupled up islander.

SNOG. To make out, often with some heavy petting.

SORT. If you’re the right sort, consider yourself lucky. In the land of Love Island, a sort is someone that is considered to be extremely attractive, and therefore, is a compliment of the highest order. (i.e. ‘He’s a right sort’.) If you think someone is a sort they’re probably also your type on paper and you’ll want to graft them after pulling them for a chat and finding out the vibes.

SWIPE RIGHT. Derived from the Tinder function. Refers to the idea that you approve of someone based on their looks.

TING. Someone who you aren't necessarily dating, but someone to have fun with while you are single.

TOSSER. Somehow a little bit more acceptable than wanker, despite the two words having exactly the same meaning.

VIBE. Islanders recount how they're 'vibing with each other' i.e., they're each other's type on paper.

WANKER. An insult. (Synonyms: Dickhead, bellend, or knobhead).

WAVEY. Wavey is just another word to describe someone as good looking. 2019 Casa Amor has new slogans on the walls, including 'wavey', 'catch feelings' and 'buff'.

WEAPON. The use of the word doesn't relate to an illegal firearm, but more of a way of saying someone is the full package. (e.g., "I'm chatting to the new girl in the villa, she's an absolute weapon.")

WIFEY. The term the guys will use to refer to their girlfriend.

                           ISLANDERS CATCH PHRASES

100% MY TYPE ON PAPER. Phrase used to describe someone who possesses qualities that you initially find aesthetically or otherwise pleasing.  Variation: A bit of me. 

A BIT OF ME. Someone you're attracted to. The object of one’s affections. 'A bit of me' is a phrase used by Islanders to indicate interest in a fellow Islander, most often soon after a new contestant has entered the villa. Someone tends to announce "He is a bit of me" or "she's a bit of me".

A SORT. A term to describe someone a person finds physically attractive.

AT THE END OF THE DAY. A phrase meaning ‘ultimately’.

BACK YOURSELF. To ‘back yourself’ is to have self-belief or self-confidence. The boys this year seem to like saying ‘you’ve gotta back yourself’ to one another, which is basically them telling each other to believe in themselves. Cute, really.

BYE FELICIA. The term is used by people who don’t care when someone is leaving. The ‘Bye Felicia’ neon sign is aptly placed by the front door of the villa.

CAN I PULL YOU FOR A CHAT. When an islander wants to speak with someone for a private, often more serious conversation, or simply to try and ‘graft’ someone, they’ll say something like "Can I pull you for a chat?" On Love Island, we hear this phrase a lot. (i.e., "I just wanted to go for a chat and see where your head's at").

CAN’T BE ARSED. A state of uncaring, ‘couldn’t care less’; When islanders say they ‘can't be arsed,’ the truth is that they could very well be arsed.

CATCH FEELINGS. Refers to falling in love when you weren't supposed to or starting to like who you were matched with too soon.

CHEESE TOASTIE. A grilled cheese

COULD BE HAPPIER. The type of happiness that's not big enough to stop you from ending things with who you're with in order to get with someone else.

COUPLE UP. Become (or remain in) a couple with someone during a Love Island recoupling

CRACK ON. For two people to pursue each other romantically. The whole point of the show is to crack on with someone. The most compatible couples on Love Island are usually those who have cracked on really well, meaning they've developed quite a romantic relationship.

DBS AKA DO BITS SOCIETY. The Do Bits Society or DBS as it became known later, was a secret members’ club for islanders who had successfully taken part in sexual activities in the villa.

DEAD IT. Means to end something. This could be used when referring to a romance or an argument. 2023 viewers will have seen Kai recently trying to dead his feud with Olivia, although she's refusing to let drop the issue.

DECLARATIONS OF LOVE. The speeches the final four couples’ say to each other at the Love Island prom.

DEEPING IT. You’ve probably heard one or two of 2023 Islanders say ‘I’m not deeping it”. Think of the phrase ‘it’s not that deep’ and it starts to make sense. If an Islander says they’re ‘not deeping it', then they’re not thinking too deeply about something. Nah, too easy.

DIGGING ME OUT. The act of having a dig at someone. Or, if you're reading what 'digging out' means on Urban Dictionary it is MUCH ruder… Used in a sentence: "Why you digging me out forrrrrrrrrrr?

DOING BITS. To fool around in a sexual manner, more than kissing and less than the full shebang.

DOING MY HEAD IN. Somebody or something is bothering/upsetting you and/or giving you a headache.

DROP ME OUT.  Essex slang for "Oh My God!" - an expression of disbelief or shock.

DUMPED FROM THE ISLAND. Get eliminated.

EARLY DAYS. It is too soon for you to be completely sure about something

EGGS IN ONE BASKET. The term refers to the act of going all-in on something. Within a Love Island context, this is when a contestant decides to give all your attention to just one other Islander.

END OF THE DAY. An expression signalling that the declarative statement that follows will be a total summation of the matter at hand. A phrase meaning 'ultimately' that shouldn't be used nearly as much as it is.

EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON. Islanders are actually bringing back an old classic this year: 'everything happens for a reason'. This one's pretty self-explanatory, right?

FACTOR 50. Really, really, really try to woo a person.

FANNY FLUTTERS. A tingling or aching sensation that women feel when she is aroused or when they get excited. (When someone has turned you on.)

GET THE HUMP. To become annoyed, perhaps unreasonably so, about one’s current state of affairs.

GET TO KNOW. Talk to someone with an intention of sussing out potential romance. (i.e., "Yeah, I'm very interested in getting to know you. Like, very.")

GOOD CHAT. Phrase used to summarise someone's conversational ability, used like banter (i.e., "He's got good chat")

GOOD CONNECTION. A nice romantic vibe and/or dynamic.

HAVE A CUDDLE. To cuddle, usually with one islander as the big spoon and the other as the baby spoon. Since couples sleep in the same bed, islanders will wonder in the morning whether other islanders ‘had a cuddle’.

IS WHAT IT IS. Expression of defeat when something, usually a relationship, does not go the way you’d want it to, so it must be accepted even if it is undesirable. (i.e., “There's nothing you can do about it”, “It is what it is, innit”). Basically, English for ’c’est la vie.’

I’VE GOT A TEXT! What would Love Island be without this! A saying sure to put the fear in the Islanders, whoever’s been unlucky enough to hear the ping of their phone shouts this out. The common reaction to receiving a text message from the producers, shouted when done correctly, instructing them to do something. Most stick with the classic ‘I’ve got a text’ but former Islander Ovie Soko introduced the shorter and quite honestly refreshing shout of ‘message!’.

I’VE LOST MY HEAD. A way to describe how you are feeling. You've lost control of a situation, you could be a little confused and upset. (i.e., "I've lost my head since he dumped me.")

Je ne c’est quoi. Bringing a bit of European flair to the villa's lingo. If you see someone and they’re your type and you click, and they’ve got that je ne sais quoi.

KEEP HIM/HER/THEM ON THEIR TOES. Keep the relationship in a kind of guessing, fun, non-boring vibe?

KEEPING MY OPTIONS OPEN. This phrase is used when the islanders don't want to commit. If they want to see what happens in the series they will 'keep their options open'.

KICK OFF. Get rowdy through clear anger.

LAY IT ON THICK. Try reeeaaalllyyy hard to graft someone. He has no idea you fancy him; you've got to lay it on thick tonight.

MUGGED OFF. Someone who's been disrespected, deceived, or made to look like a fool for being played. (i.e., "Now I look like an absolute mug".) Being mugged off is a rite of passage on Love Island , but being labelled as muggy is deeply frowned upon. On Love Island, this is typically done by selecting a new partner with little regard for their former one. Most islanders feel mugged off when a presumed friend chats up someone they're interested in. This disloyal friend is then deemed muggy, and their reputation is thus tarnished.

MY HEADS GONE. A phrase said by someone who is struggling to think straight after catching the eye of someone else in the villa and being unsure as to which romantic interest they should couple up with.

MY HEAD’S BEEN TURNED. All of your emotional attachment and attention shifts from the person you may have liked to another, usually a newer islander. This phrase is something no happily coupled islander wants to hear.

MY HEAD IS SCRAMBLED. When Islanders say, "My head is scrambled," they mean that they're confused or not sure what to do. This is usually a result of a new bombshell entering the villa and turning their heads.

MY TYPE ON PAPER. A way of describing a person’s type. The kind of person you're usually attracted to physically. But usually followed by a ‘but’…  

NOT BEING FUNNY BUT. A great way to start a sentence when you’re about to be incredibly rude about someone. (i.e., "Not being funny, but… you’re a prick.")

NOT GONNA LIE. A phrase to indicate you're not lying, often filler. (Synonym: If I'm being honest. E.g., “I…not gonna lie, I expected more from this conversation.”)

OH MY DAYS. An exclamation of shock that apparently everyone's agreed to say a lot.

OH MY GOD. A way of showing that a person is excited by something. Used in a sentence: “Oh my god! Can you believe we’re really here?”

ON JOB. 2023. This year’s lot are all about putting in the hours. The boys especially love saying they’re ‘on job’, or telling each other to ‘get on job’; this refers to putting in the hours and grafting to form stronger connections. In other words, they’ve got one job to do – get the girl or boy – so they better get to work.

PRANGING OUT. To behave erratically. (e.g., "I just feel like everyone's pranging out. I'll make some nettle tea.")

PROPER FIT. It’s often used to quantify the level of attractiveness, anger, or horniness. (i.e., "That new islander, is proper fit, bruv.")

PUT IT ON. Flirting. The phrase "put it on" is commonly heard in The Beach Hut confessions or chats between close friends. Typically, an islander will announce they need to put it on as a way of grafting and, ultimately, cracking on with them.

PUT ME IN MY PLACE. Match me in terms of dominance, and give banter back to me equally. 

SHOOT YOUR SHOT. Taking the opportunity to tell someone that you are interested in them. (i.e., "You should shoot your shot with him. What's the worst that could happen?").

SQUASH IT. Similar to 'dead it', 'squash it' is normally used when the Islanders are try to end a feud or argument.

STEP ON TOES. Try to get with someone who someone else is already with or likes.

STICK IT ON. Variations: Put it On, Crack On. To graft or make a move on someone an Islander finds physically attractive, either by flirting or by attempting to kiss. 

SWIPE RIGHT. Derived from the Tinder function. Refers to the idea that you approve of someone based on their looks.

THE MATH IS NOT MATHING. You may have heard the expression "the math is not mathing" being used in the villa. This means that something is not adding up or doesn't make sense.

THIS IS NOT FRIEND ISLAND. Specifically, what Love Island is not. This phrase is Love Island's version of ‘not here to make friends’.

TO BE FAIR. A common phrase meaning, "I'm about to point out something," or, "I just pointed out something."

TRUE TO MYSELF. Often found in the same sentence of ‘shooting your shot’, if you’re staying true to yourself you’re following your feelings. It should be noted that when an Islander says they have to ‘stay true to myself’ and ‘shoot my shot’, then drama is very likely to be on the way.

WAVEY. Another word to describe someone as good looking.

WE GET ON. Shortened way to say we get on together (i.e., "I get on with her/him.")

WHAT HE/SHE BRINGS TO THE VILLA. The ultimate sign of respect from other islanders. It means the other islanders actually like you and recognize that your personality adds something of value to their cohort. In recouplings and other voting scenarios among Islanders, if you ‘bring a lot to the Villa,’ your chances of staying in the Villa are higher. 

WHERE'S YOUR HEAD AT. The go-to phrase for any islanders wanting to know where someone’s romantic interest is at.

WINDING ME UP. To wind someone up is to annoy someone, usually in a joking or teasing manner. It is often used on the show as, "I was just winding you up" or "You're winding me up."

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. To ask if somebody understands what you are talking about. But most of the time, it’s used as a way to end a sentence. 

LAY IT ON THICK. Try really hard to graft someone.

OH MY DAYS. An exclamation of shock. In a moment of exasperation, a much more fun, much more charming way to basically say ‘Oh my god’.

PLAYING THE GAME. Is seen as slimy and as low as it can get. Despite the cash prize and fame at stake, one of the best parts of the show is that the contestants rarely mention the potential windfall.

PRANGING OUT. To behave erratically.

STICK IT ON HIM/HER. To make a move on someone (graft), flirt.

TAKE THE PISS/TAKING THE PISS. To rile, mock, or be a jerk to another person, joking or being serious. Can be used like, "Are you joking?" or "Are you taking the piss?"

WHAT ARE YOU ON ABOUT. You are asking someone, often in a slightly annoyed way, what they mean.

                                 BEDROOM CODE- SEX LINGO

LACING UP MY BOOTS- which could mean that a guy is ready to have sex with his partner. If you hear the guys saying “1-0” it could mean that they’re talking about a sex act performed on one person and not the other.

2018 DBS (AKA DO BITS SOCIETY). The Do Bits Society or DBS as it became known later, was a secret members’ club for islanders who had successfully taken part in sexual activities in the villa.

2018 THE DRY HUMP SOCIETY. Love Island girls created a society for people who don't do bits. The codes are: Level one- ******* and chat. Level two- normal dry hump. Level three- cock-up the leg.

2020 FOOD CODE. Boys. Avocado- giving oral; Avocada - getting oral; Tomato - giving hands stuff / Tomatah - receiving hands stuff; Toast- meant the full monty aka SEX.

2021 FOOTBALL CODE. The Love Island 2021 boys decided to use football terms as a code for sex in the villa. The codes are: One nil- an act performed on only one person; Handball- Hand stuff; Header- oral/head; and Streaker on the pitch- full on nudity. 

2021 NVQ LEVEL. The Love Island 2021 girls decided to use NVQ levels (aka National Vocational Qualification levels) as their code for sex in the villa. The codes are: Entry-level NVQ- a kiss; NVQ1- hand stuff; NVQ2- oral; and NVQ3- Full sex.

2022 BEAUTY SALON. The UK 2022 girls have thought of their very own beauty-themed sex code. This is in a state of opening up for business or closed- if the salon is open, a couple has engaged in sexual acts together. If it’s closed, there has been no under-the-sheets action between them. Beauty salon 2022 code consists of: 

Acrylics- Possibly full-on sex. 

Blow dry- Oral sex.

The phrase 'blow dry' has been used a fair few times when discussing treatments in the, ahem, salon. 

Manicure- A hand-play, hand-job or fingering, depending on which person is giving the manicure. Manicure with mouth- oral.

Pedicure- Possible foot stuff? This may sound outlandish, but considering some islanders (Bobby), apparent propensity for feet it’s entirely possible. 

French tips- Normally we'd only refer to our french tips when we're getting a new set of acrylics, but getting french tips in the villa means some sexy time involving your fingers.

Full set- The Islanders might think they're being subtle with their euphemisms but the meanings aren't too hard to work out. As you can imagine, getting a full set means going all the way. 

Window shopping- You might've heard some of the Islanders talk about 'window shopping' before they open the salon. In other words, they mean checking out the goods and possibly getting a little bit touchy feely before they commit to a full treatment.

The 2022 boys have had their own scientific code as follows: Pipette: Penis. This can be referred to as either full or empty depending on whether certain, um, acts were completed or not. Bunsen burner: Also penis. Flask: Vagina.

2023- Football warm up. For the 2023 winter season it seems the girls have decided to go going for footie references.Tanya kicked things off (see, we can do sporty references as well) when she told the girls there had been a 'football warm-up' between herself and Shaq in January and before their night in the hideaway happened. One of the girls then asked 'are you ready to start the game' to which Tanya replied: 'I'm not ready to start the game... but I'm liking what it's looking from where I am standing - how the pitch is looking where I'm standing.'

[mr-erik-viking]

Blog 3: Tools-Mediums in The Digital Era - A Study of Stålenhag's The Invisible Horror of `The Labyrinth´.

Simon Stålenhag, a Swedish traditional artist, has a unique approach to his craft by physically drawing his art and then scanning it into a digital format. Stålenhag's work, particularly his book 'Labyrinth' (Labyrinten), stands out as a masterpiece, showcasing a blend of traditional and digital art. In 'Labyrinth,' and all of his other books for that matter, each image serves as a piece of a larger narrative puzzle, challenging the reader to piece together a story solely through visuals.

The book begins with a quote that serves as a starting point for the reader's imagination and hints at where to begin piecing the story together. The quote narrates a past event involving two siblings, Matte and Anon, with a snake, offering a glimpse into their shared history. The images in the book depict a world dissimilar to our reality, featuring vast deserts with mechanical anomalies and twisted structures, prompting questions about the nature of the world and the events that transpired.

"One summer when we were young, I caught a small snake. I carried it around in a clear plastic container where I had placed some stones and a few fern leaves. When I opened the container to show Matte the snake, he promptly reached his hand in, grabbed the snake and ran away. But he hadn't gone further than a few meters when he gave a panicked scream. The snake had broken in the middle. The front part which the head disappeared under the house and the back part stayed writhing in a small bloody pool in my big brother's palm. Repulsed he tossed it aside. I later learned that it hadn't been a snake at all but a slowworm, a creature that lacks legs and has the ability to shed its tail. It is a defence mechanism. It is called anatomy. The slowworm couldn't compete with my brother's intelligence or strength but it could save its life by doing something completely unexpected and unthinkable: perform an act of violence against itself and mutilate its own body. That was how I managed to escape" (Anon, p.2)

From this, we can establish that the story of the Labyrinth features and follows two siblings. Matte, the older brother, and Anon, the youngest. In contrast to the images seen in this book, this quote takes place sometime in the distant past, as the two siblings appear to be adults in the present time. They appear to be in an environment dissimilar to our reality. Vast deserts with mechanical anomalies. Twisted mechanical structures piercing an environment no longer suitable for human life. But why? What happened to the world, and what did the youngest sibling mean in his quote?

Stålenhag's storytelling in 'Labyrinth' aligns with the concept of "Gesamtkunstwerk," a German term meaning "Total work of art." This concept, traditionally associated with opera plays, describes the integration of various art forms into a cohesive whole. Stålenhag's work, hand-painted on canvas and digitally scanned, combines traditional and digital art, providing readers with a unique and immersive experience. The deliberate lack of textual guidance in the book forces readers to use their imagination to construct the narrative, enhancing the depth of the storytelling.

The absence of literate writing in the book allows people from diverse cultures to engage with 'Labyrinth,' contributing to its universality. Stålenhag's art goes beyond geographical and cultural boundaries, inviting viewers to create their own interpretations of the narrative. While Stålenhag's work is firmly rooted in traditional artistic practices, it has also influenced the digital era, notably bleeding into the realm of video games. The similarities between Stålenhag's art and the work of Avalanche Studios, particularly 'Generation Zero' (2019), suggest an impact on the digital gaming landscape. The shared features between Stålenhag's work and the concept of 'total work of art' may indicate a mark of quality in artistic expression. The discussion extends to the potential adaptation of 'Labyrinth' into different mediums.

While a 3D adaptation could provide a deeper sense of scale and unease, the drawn 2D format allows for more creative freedom. Stålenhag's choice of a digital medium has undoubtedly shaped his art, and while alternate mediums may offer interesting possibilities, the uniqueness of his 2D works contributes significantly to their impact. Simon Stålenhag's 'Labyrinth' exemplifies a union of traditional and digital art, challenging traditional storytelling norms. The deliberate use of visuals and the absence of explicit textual guidance engage the audience in a process of interpretation, creating a narrative that transcends cultural boundaries. Stålenhag's influence extends beyond traditional art forms, leaving a mark on the digital era and prompting reflections on the adaptability of his work across various mediums.

Despite the book depicting what appears to be Sweden in an alternate reality at some unknown point in time, due to the lack of literate writing, people from virtually any culture can experience the Labyrinth and make up their own story of what is happening. Simon Stålenhag's work, despite repeated denial from Avalanche Studios, the studio behind the work 'Generation Zero' (2019), it can be argued that his work has begun bleeding into the modern digital era of video games. The similarities between Stålenhag's work and that of Avalanche Studios' can in some ways be attributed to the incredibly deep meaning behind his work. If not only because they are both set in Sweden. The shared features of Stålenhag's work and the 'total work of art' are a good thing. Works of art with shared similarities with the methods of the German construct, while not being terrible without them, could be seen as a sign of quality. Similarly to the shared similarities, the choice of a digital medium by Stålenhag has most certainly affected his works of art, however, I think that his work of art is better now as a 2D work instead of being a theatre play, or opera, or even a 3D environment. I am not saying that it is impossible to re-create the same feeling and experience in a different medium, I am just saying that it is improbable.

For example, if The 'Labyrinth' was produced in the style of an Opera, the audience would be forced to one specific version of the story, as Opera are similar to a written book or movie, where they have a set story that they are portraying to the audience, which in this case would be a net-negative as the mysterious aspect of the 'Labyrinth' is one of the major strengths of his work. On the other hand, under the assumption that the 'Labyrinth' would be in the same style in 3D as it was in 2D, the change to 3D would be incredibly interesting, and perhaps present a deeper feeling of unease as the sense of scale and depth is more present. This would contrast with the fact that drawn art can more easily be whatever the artist wants it to be, compared to the incredibly long time it takes to create high-quality 3D objects for a scene.

Sources:

Ascari, S. (2018). Megastructures and nostalgia for the future. A conversation with Simon Stålenhag. Histories of Postwar Architecture, [online] (3), pp.117–130. doi:https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.2611-0075/9124.

Brown, H.M. (2016). The Quest for the Gesamtkunstwerk and Richard Wagner. [online] Google Books. Oxford University Press. Available at: https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Quest_for_the_Gesamtkunstwerk_and_Ri/65M-DQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=gesamtkunstwerk+wagner&pg=PP1&printsec=frontcover [Accessed 23 Dec. 2023].

Cornell University Press. (n.d.). The Total Work of Art in European Modernism by David Roberts | Paperback. [online] Available at: https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9780801450235/the-total-work-of-art-in-european-modernism/#bookTabs=1 [Accessed 11 Oct. 2023]. Generation Zero. (n.d.). Generation Zero | Open-World Action Game. [online] Available at: https://generationzero.com/en/ [Accessed 11 Oct. 2023]. Chakraborty, N. (2018) Generation Zero Early Impressions - What We Liked & What We Didn't. [online]. Available at: https://spieltimes.com/news/generation-zero/

R.L. (2018). Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag is not happy with Generation Zero. PC Gamer. [online] 31 Aug. Available at: https://www.pcgamer.com/swedish-artist-simon-stalenhag-is-not-happy-with-generation-zero/.

Salomonsson Agency. (n.d.). Simon Stålenhag. [online] Available at: https://www.salomonssonagency.se/simon-stalenhag. Stalenhag, S. (2020). The Labyrinth [online] Available at: http://simonstalenhag.se/labyrinth.html [Accessed 11 Oct. 2023].

[eiirisworkshop]

Eiiri’s OC-tober 2023 - Day 10: Mark In a Different Time Period

Read on Ao3 here, original prompt list here. ~

Mark Blanchet was born in the year 2000—one of his dad's pet names for him as a kid was “millennium bug,” which Mark had spent all of his teens thinking was corny and stupid but, by now in his twenties, he was just starting to think was sweet after all.

Now, Mark's best friend, Jack, was born in '98. Jack's other best friend and older-brother-in-all-but-blood, Collin, was born in '88. Arguments abound over who, if any of them, counted as a “nineties kid.” Mark didn't, that much was agreed upon, but….

“I was born in the nineties!” Jack insisted, talking over Collin while Mark laughed. “You weren't!”

“It's not about when you were born, it's when you grew up,” Collin said for at least the forth time, with less patience with each reiteration. “It's about the shit you remember—Blockbuster, dial up internet, being weirdly entranced by those too-short crushed velvet shirts all the girls had cuz they wanted to look like the Spice Girls.”

“I'm not so sure that last one woulda affected me anyway, but I'm a fuckin' farm kid!” Jack gestured emphatically. “We only had dial up out on the ranch 'til I was in high school and you know it!”

“Hang on, hang on,” Mark interjected before Collin could retort. “Did we have a fuckin' Blockbuster in town?”

Jack shook his head. “Nah, we had Uncle Vic's Video with the porn section behind a curtain in the back, and I am still mad it closed before I realized that's what that was.”

Bonus:

Summer of 2019, in part to celebrate Mark finishing high school, he and Jack went on a road trip, no real direction or destination, just go, have fun, be careful, send pictures, call or at least text every day so Mark's mama don't have a heart attack and Jack's mama don't come find you her own damn self, make sure you're okay.

They wound up down in Texas, at some rodeo, sitting near the gate to the arena, halfway watching the barrel racing competition. One girl done up in red and white show gear blew through on a chestnut mare so fast her scarlet hat came off on her way back out the gate—Jack hopped down to grab it before it got trampled by the next racer. The girl reined her horse back over, much slower now, let Jack hand her hat up to her, put it back on with a sunny smile and polite little nod, then rode off again, leaving Jack grinning dopily after her.

It took a second for Jack to notice Mark looking at him, one eyebrow arched, sucking at the ice-packed dregs of his coke.

“What?”

“Jack,” Mark said with teasing slowness.

“What?!”

“I thought you were gay.”

Jack let out a breath and deflated into his seat. “Yeah, me too.”

“But I definitely just saw that happen.”

“Yeah, you did.”

“So!” Mark gestured in the direction the girl in the red hat had gone. “Are you gonna go talk to her?”

“I— Ennis—”

“Has not texted you back in how fuckin' long?” Mark challenged. “By what you've said he's made it damn clear you're not dating him anyway, so go talk to the pretty girl.”

With a huff, Jack grabbed up his own drink again. “If I see her again, maybe.”

[brightbeautifulthings]

Happy New Year, lovelies! These are the best books I read in 2022. (Many of them didn’t actually come out this year, and I don’t count rereads.) I read and fell in love with a lot of graphic novels this year, along with a lot of my usual horror! I participated in two challenges for Forgotten YA Gems (now on Discord!): the Annual Reading Challenge and the Summer Bingo Challenge. I also did a horror challenge for Books in the Freezer and participated in a group readalong of The Pale King by David Foster Wallace at the DFW Discord.

I also kept to my blogging goals of participating in at least one prompt for Tell Me Something Tuesday and posting one Readalike each month! It was a much better blogging year for me than the last, and it's been nice to enjoy reading and reviewing again. For now, I'm not setting my goals any higher in the hopes that it stays fun!

My favorite books of the year, in order of category and then favorite:

YA: Rules for Vanishing by Kate Alice Marshall The Wicker King by K. Ancrum Our Last Echoes by Kate Alice Marshall Even If We Break by Marieke Nijkamp House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland

Adult: What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher A ​Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas The Goblins of Bellwater by Molly Ringle The Shadow Glass by Josh Winning The Whisper Man by Alex North

Graphic Novels: Hawkeye, Volume 1: My Life as a Weapon by Matt Fraction Captain America: Winter Soldier, Ultimate Collection by Ed Brubaker Castaway In Dimension Z, Book One by Rick Remender Runaways, Vol. 1: Find Your Way Home by Rainbow Rowell Runaways, Vol. 2: Best Friends Forever by Rainbow Rowell Winter Soldier: The Complete Collection by Ed Brubaker Hellblazer, Vol. 1: Original Sins by Jamie Delano

Fanfiction: Not Easily Conquered by dropdeaddream & WhatAreFears

Happy reading in 2023!

2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016

[cendrineartist]

From the archives: Reflection

Haiku 5

Reflection (2017) – Photo credit: Cendrine Marrouat Summer reflection— before ripples appear, before flowers go. ©2019 Cendrine Marrouat The above photo is featured in the book 30 Creative Prompts to Take Your Art to the Next Level. Each prompt in the book comes with an image and will challenge artists of all levels and abilities to discover or perfect their voice, and let inspiration flow…

[ivogfan]

Ivo's done an article for iNews!! It should be in tomorrow's print/digital editions!

"I learnt the names and constituencies of all 650 MPs. I’ll never do it again" - Ivo Graham (iNews)

"As a champion procrastinator addicted to trivia and games, I loved it."

Where were you on the night of the last general election, 12 December 2019? Whether you were appalled or somehow delighted by the scale of that night’s landslide, it probably came as more of a surprise than its widely-forecasted reversal this time around.

And I was processing that surprise in the same way I have spent far too much of my adult life: isolating myself from those around me and preparing a quiz.

The ploughing of this frankly baffling furrow had begun in 2017, when, after three cheery but repetitive solo stand-up shows about Mario Kart, Nokia 3210s and the other mainstays of my emotionally repressed boarding school adolescence, I’d decided to launch myself into current affairs with, by the very loosest of definitions, a “political show”.

Of course, 2016 had provided various jumping-off points for this, but while Brexit and Trump had prompted many of my peers to interrogate the big issues more passionately than ever, I, a filibustering coward with an audience still largely made up of family friends, had decided to turn the whole thing into an actual exam. I miss exams! I found them very stressful at the time but I find actual adulthood much more so!

And so I began “work” on Educated Guess (not a bad title TBF), a show where I used my guilt about not knowing enough about politics as a very mealy-mouthed segue to its central “stunt”, that I’d learned all 650 MPs of the UK.

Or, as a popular meme format might have it:

No one:

No one:

No one:

Ivo: OK, so I’ve learned all 650 MPs of the UK.

As a champion procrastinator addicted to trivia and games, I loved learning the 650 MPs of the UK. Finally, an actual project for the long, doomscrolling trains and coaches home from gigs: uploading the full House of Commons onto the Quizlet revision app, and testing myself in every spare moment I could, preparing for the thrilling/baffling denouement of the show in Edinburgh that August, where audiences would be invited to shout out their home constituency and I would bellow back their MP as fast as I could.

This whole exercise, a frenetic mind palace of word-association shortcuts like “James Cleverly – Braintree”, was accurately assessed by multiple reviewers as “not technically comedy”, but my own pathetic adrenaline levels have rarely spiked as high as during those quizzes, or in the bar after the show, where the geographical heckles continued to come thick and fast.

“Glasgow East?”

“Paul Sweeney!”

“No, that’s Glasgow North East!”

“OK, sorry, thanks for coming!”

The “class of 2017” had had to be hastily revised that summer after Theresa May’s majestic squandering of her majority in June, and many of my exhaustively-revised new intake would not see out a full term either, when two and a half years later, in December 2019, 43.6 per cent of British voters shuffled, shivering, to the polls, to give the fridge-dwelling party king a fat mandate for his oven-ready deal.

I witnessed those results from a TV studio in west London, where my unique history of comedy-adjacent data regurgitation had seen me generously, if optimistically, invited to be part of Channel 4’s election coverage. I was set the challenge of learning all the new MPs, as they came in, in time for a heavily caffeinated quiz at 5am.

Unfortunately, the exit polls proved so atmosphere-inhalingly depressing in both the Channel 4 studio and green room that most of the comedy comms, including my own, were abandoned, replaced by extended round-table analysis such as Stanley Johnson riffing about pilots in burqas and Amber Rudd threatening to deport Nish Kumar.

What possible light relief could an Old Etonian comedian, however apologetic, bring to this most gracious of victory parades? So needless to say I was quite colossally relieved not to have to bring my “let’s see if I’ve managed to remember all the new Red Wall Tories!” cul de sac to the table in the wee smalls.

That being said, DOA as it clearly was from the moment Huw Edwards revealed the scores, my bit wasn’t fully and finally confirmed to have been cancelled until 2am, so I was still there in the green room for hours, the loneliest character of the whole enterprise, not even attempting any gallows humour with the rest of the jilted jokers, because I was sat on my own updating my Quizlet Premium, just in case. It was the night I learned the name Jonathan Gullis. It was a truly miserable night.

Today’s election will, we can only hope, begin a political era less dismal than the last. There are going to be a lot of new MPs and they will have a hell of a job on their hands. I am going to take a keen interest in how they get on. But I am not going to learn all of their names.

Ivo will be performing his shows Grand Designs and Carousel at the Edinburgh Fringe from 31 July to 25 August ivograham.com

(Photo: Matthew Stronge)

[nickgerlich]

Striking Up The Ban

I have many fond memories from the Summer of 2019. It was pre-COVID, and we were all blissfully unaware of how much our lives were about to change. It was when my employer, the Engler College of Business, was starting an MBA program in Beijing, and my Dean wanted me to go there to be the face of the program, and teach an introductory class session.

And since my daughters are both adopted from China, he encouraged me to take them along too. No arm twisting was needed on that one! So off we went to Beijing for 10 days, to teach, shake hands, wine and dine, and soak up a ton of culture.

But China is known for its “Chinese Firewall,” a government-imposed crackdown on western media. Turns out it is much more than that, as it also includes western social media, weather, sports…basically, anything American that we take for granted on our phones and computers.

Of course, when I read about this, I took it as a challenge, thinking that in the interests of international diplomacy and all that, the Chinese surely wouldn’t throw a friendly old professor in the slammer. So I downloaded a VPN service, shared it with my daughters, enabling us to post photos all day and night while we were there.

In retrospect, I bet the Chinese government actually wants western tourists to do just that, because we unwittingly became their marketing department, showcasing the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, and many other cultural attractions. They were good with us doing the things their own people can’t.

Which, unfortunately, may very well become a reality for us here in the States. Just this last week a House panel voted unanimously to enforce a nationwide ban on TikTok, an unprecedented action for a nation that prides itself on the First Amendment. The American Firewall may be coming soon to a phone near you.

Now I understand the concerns, which prompted 34 states already to ban it on state-owned devices. TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company some fear is in cahoots with the Chinese government, and therefore the app presents a security threat. It’s the same kind of thinking that concerns some lawmakers about Chinese-made cars being similarly risky for our security. Maybe that’s why BYD is exploring potential sites in Mexico to build cars, because we have no problem allowing Mexican-made vehicles into the US.

But I digress.

The House panel’s recommendation, were it to be passed as national law, would give ByteDance 165 days to completely divest itself of TikTok. If it did not comply, then it would become illegal for app stores to list it.

This is a very late and reflexive response after 170 million people have already downloaded it here. As long as there are not updates to the app, the old one will work just fine. Oh, and never mind the fact that if our government would go so far as to completely block TikTok on the internet and not just app stores, we could just use a VPN to sidestep that thorny matter. Point it at Canada or any other country where TikTok is allowed to be used freely.

I am not sure what kind of information these lawmakers fear that TikTok might be extracting from us at the individual level. It would be no different from what Facebook, CNN, YouTube, et all., might be extracting from Chinese citizens, were they allowed to use our services. I know. The Chinese government more than likely simply does not want its citizens consuming western news, entertainment, and general information, lest it paint an ugly picture of their homeland. But if TikTok could be spying on us, it means we could just as easily be spying on them.

Remember this point. It always pays to put the shoe on the other foot to see if your conclusion fits.

I have grave concerns over the panel’s recommendations. I am not worried in the least what China might learn about me. Heck, the phone I am using—an old iPhone 12—was made in China. My Alexa devices were made in China. Heck, I am surrounded by Chinese made electronic devices, and so are you, and any one of them could be spying on us.

But I doubt it. They would have better luck eavesdropping on our country by sending over weather balloons.

I understand the political expedience of doing something that has bipartisan support. Imagine that…both parties actually agreeing on something. I also understand that tensions are high between the US and China, and fear runneth rampant. Any measure aimed at these fears is seen as a good thing, even if it necessarily limits our rights.

It’s a slippery slope at bare minimum, and I am not in favor of it.

Dr “Think Long And Hard On This” Gerlich

Audio Blog

[bitcoincables]

Are We Reliving the Crypto Hype Cycle Again?

It seems that the interest in cryptocurrency has reignited following the crash of 2022. Bitcoin has reached its highest price since 2021, with the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs by the SEC generating excitement among investors. The total market cap of all cryptocurrency has also surpassed $2 trillion. However, before jumping into the crypto frenzy, it is worth considering whether history is repeating itself.

The previous time the crypto market experienced such hype was in late 2021, when Bitcoin reached an all-time high of $69,000. At that time, there were numerous TV ads featuring celebrities promoting various cryptocurrencies. However, average people who believed it was a good investment ended up facing heartbreak. Signs are now pointing to a potential repetition of this cycle. The crypto "fear and greed index," indicating market sentiment, has reached its highest level of "greed" since November 2021. Additionally, it has been reported that Peter Thiel's Founders Fund invested $200 million in crypto starting last summer, likely entering the market when Bitcoin was around $25,000.

Before deciding to invest, it is crucial to remember that crypto is regarded by many as a Ponzi scheme. While some defend crypto and assert that individuals like Sam Bankman-Fried of collapsed crypto company FTX were exceptions, the truth is that the entire crypto enterprise is considered unstable. Furthermore, the U.S. Treasury Department recently released a report highlighting the popularity of crypto among criminals engaged in illegal activities. Bitcoin, the preferred digital currency for such activities, is also unsuitable as a currency due to its highly volatile nature. The technology itself is questioned, with Bitcoin's limited transaction capacity prompting the emergence of stablecoins. SBF's involvement in FTX's stablecoin FTT ultimately led to the collapse of FTX.

If considering investing in crypto, it is important to exercise caution and only use funds that can be affordably lost. While successful investors like Thiel may capitalize on the market's timing, the general public often ends up buying overpriced assets and selling them in frustration during crashes. Predicting market movements is challenging, and many believe that cryptocurrency is overvalued, even at its previous low price of $5,000 in 2019. While it is possible to make money in the crypto market, it is important to approach it with an understanding of its risks and limitations.

Original Article: https://gizmodo.com/are-we-really-doing-the-crypto-hype-cycle-again-1851256814

Hashtags: #cryptocurrency, #investment, #bitcoin, #cryptohype

[newstfionline]

Saturday, June 3, 2023

Biden isn’t the only politician to fall (Washington Post) President Biden’s onstage tumble at the U.S. Air Force Academy made headlines around the world. But he’s far from the only world leader or political candidate who has taken a highly visible fall. From Chinese leader Xi Jinping (whose 2019 slip commentators dubbed the “great fall of China”) to Gerald Ford (whose fall while disembarking Air Force One in 1975 was the subject of late-night comedy skits) and other politicians around the world, trips and tumbles are fodder for laughs, cringes—and hot takes. When the mighty fall, we just can’t look away. “It breaks the image of infallibility of powerful figures,” Bart Cammaerts, a professor of politics and communication at the London School of Economics told The Washington Post. Projecting the right image is serious business for politicians. In Biden’s case, his critics immediately used it as an opportunity to highlight the oldest U.S. president’s age and fitness for office. But there is also something captivating about politicians appearing more human. “With people in power, there is so much effort to control the public image—body language, speech, facial expressions—that seeing all those things fall away all at once, in a total loss of control, is particularly gripping,” said Dan Stevens, professor of political behavior in the United States and Britain at Exeter University.

Higher beef prices (WSJ) Blame the rising costs on a rapidly shrinking supply of cattle, prompted by years of persistent drought conditions, pandemic disruptions and widespread cost increases for ranchers. The number of cattle in the U.S. is at its lowest level in nearly a decade, and domestic beef production is on track to drop by more than 2 billion pounds in 2024, the biggest annual decline since 1979, according to the USDA. Ground beef prices, up more than 20% since 2020, could hit records this summer, according to agricultural lender Rabobank.

Global fertility has collapsed, with profound economic consequences (Economist) In the roughly 250 years since the Industrial Revolution the world’s population, like its wealth, has exploded. Before the end of this century, however, the number of people on the planet could shrink for the first time since the Black Death. The root cause is not a surge in deaths, but a slump in births. Across much of the world the fertility rate, the average number of births per woman, is collapsing. As the old die and are not fully replaced, populations are likely to shrink. Outside Africa, the world’s population is forecast to peak in the 2050s and end the century smaller than it is today. Even in Africa, the fertility rate is falling fast. Whatever some environmentalists say, a shrinking population creates problems. The world is not close to full and the economic difficulties resulting from fewer young people are many. The obvious one is that it is getting harder to support the world’s pensioners. Also, younger people have more of what psychologists call “fluid intelligence”, the ability to think creatively so as to solve problems in entirely new ways. This youthful dynamism complements the accumulated knowledge of older workers. It also brings change. Will ageing societies still innovate as much as they have?

If you live in California, your power bill will soon depend on your income (Washington Post) Most of the time, what you pay for electricity or water or gas depends on how much you use. Leave the air conditioner and the lights on all night, and your electricity bill will spike. Take long, relaxing bubble baths every day, and your water bill will climb. But California is about to challenge that basic logic. A new state law will require its three investor-owned utilities to charge customers fees for electricity based not only on how much electricity they use, but also on how much money they make. Depending on the proposal the state ultimately adopts, Californians making more than $180,000 a year could end up paying an average of $500 more on their annual electricity bills, while the lowest-income residents would save around $300 per year. The proposed changes are sparking backlash. Ronald Dawson, a retired data manager who lives in Eureka, Calif., said he and his wife have always been careful to save energy: only running the washer during off-peak hours and living without air conditioning. The new fixed charge alone, he said, would be more than his typical monthly electricity bill. “It’s a bait-and-switch,” he said.

Poll shows growing support for German far right (AP) Prominent members of German mainstream parties have expressed alarm at a new poll that shows support for the far-right Alternative for Germany at a record high. The DeutschlandTrend survey, conducted monthly by infratest dimap for public broadcaster ARD, that was released on Thursday puts voter support for Alternative for Germany at 18%, on a par with Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats. In the 2021 election, Scholz’s party received 25.7% of the vote, while Alternative for Germany, or AfD, got 10.3%. Scholz’s three-party coalition with the environmentalist Greens and the libertarian Free Democrats has faced strong headwind recently over high immigration and a plan to replace millions of home heating systems in the country. Germany’s military support for Ukraine’s defense against the Russian invasion is also rejected by a sizeable portion of the populace, though it has majority support.

Protecting Kyiv From Russian Bombardment (NYT) In the month of May alone, Russia bombarded Kyiv 17 times. It has fired hypersonic missiles from MIG-31 fighter jets and attacked with land-based ballistic missiles powerful enough to level an entire apartment block. Russian bombers and ships have fired dozens of long-range cruise missiles, and more than 200 attack drones have featured in blitzes meant to confuse and overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses. It presents a constant struggle for Ukrainian defenders. Russian assaults can be unrelenting. They come mostly at night, but sometimes in daytime hours, as they did on Monday. Even when Ukraine manages to blast missiles from the sky, falling debris can bring death and destruction. Early Thursday, Russia sent a volley of 10 ballistic missiles at Kyiv; Ukrainian officials said they were all shot down but that falling fragments killed three people, including a child, and injured more than a dozen others. Yet overall, very little has penetrated the complex and increasingly sophisticated air defense network around Ukraine’s capital, saving scores of lives. “We have no days off,” said Riabyi, the call sign of the 26-year-old “shooter” who is part of a two-person antiaircraft missile crew responsible for protecting just one patch of sky just outside Kyiv. Ukraine’s air defenses are a stitched-together patchwork of different weapons, many of them newly supplied by the West, protecting millions of civilians in Kyiv and other cities, and guarding critical infrastructure that includes four working nuclear power plants. Tom Karako, the director of the Missile Defense Project at Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies, called it “a sort of a dog’s breakfast” of systems.

India train crash kills over 280, injures 900 (AP) Rescuers waded through piles of debris and wreckage to pull out bodies and free people on Saturday after two passenger trains derailed in India, killing more than 280 people and injuring hundreds as rail cars were flipped over and mangled in one of the country’s deadliest train crashes in decades. The accident, which happened about 220 kilometers (137 miles) southwest of Kolkata on Friday night, led to a chaotic scene as rescuers climbed atop the wrecked trains to break open doors and windows using cutting torches to free survivors. About 900 people were injured in the accident. The cause was under investigation.

Tropical Storm Mawar intensifies rains for Japan, threatens floods and mudslides in some regions (AP) Heavy rains intensified by Tropical Storm Mawar fell on Japan’s main archipelago Friday, halting trains and transit and threatening floods and mudslides in central and western regions, while residents were urged to use caution. Warnings were issued in parts of western and central Japan, with up to 25 centimeters (10 inches) of rain forecast through Saturday evening. Residents in vulnerable areas, including those in Mie, Wakayama, Aichi and Shizuoka prefectures in central Japan, were warned of the potential for flooding and mudslides and advised to go to evacuation centers if possible. Television footage showed swollen rivers in residential areas in Wakayama city, including one where brown water rose as high as the bottom of a bridge over it.

Iranian journalists stand trial (Foreign Policy) Two Iranian journalists whose reporting shed light on the death of Mahsa Amini—and helped galvanize a nationwide movement—are separately standing trial this week. The two female reporters, Elahe Mohammadi and Niloofar Hamedi, face spurious charges, including colluding with hostile governments and conspiring against Iranian national security. They have denied the charges. Mohammadi and Hamedi were detained last September and could face the death penalty if convicted. Their trials are being conducted behind closed doors. On Tuesday, Hamedi’s husband tweeted that the trial “ended in less than two hours while her lawyers did not get a chance to defend her.”

Clashes in Senegal leave at least 9 dead (AP) Clashes between police and supporters of Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko left nine people dead, the government said Friday, with authorities issuing a blanket ban on the use of several social media platforms in the aftermath of the violence. Sonko was convicted Thursday of corrupting youth and sentenced to two years in prison. He didn’t attend his trial in Dakar, and was judged in absentia. Sonko came in third in Senegal’s 2019 presidential election and is popular with the country’s youth. His supporters maintain his legal troubles are part of a government effort to derail his candidacy in the 2024 presidential election. Sonko is considered President Macky Sall’s main competition and has urged Sall to state publicly that he won’t seek a third term in office. Under Senegalese law, his conviction would bar Sonko from running in next year’s election.

Nigeria’s new president vows to deliver economic reboot (CNBC) New Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu faces the tough task of injecting stability into a society and economy in crisis—and reigniting hope in a young population that feels its voice has been ignored for decades. The 71-year-old was sworn in on Monday as the 16th president of Africa’s most populous nation, and its fifth since the end of three decades of military rule in 1999. Tinubu inherits an economy saddled with record debt and inflation at an almost two-decade high of more than 22%, along with shortages of foreign exchange reserves and fuel, a severely weakened naira currency, an ailing power supply and declining oil production. He vowed at his swearing-in ceremony on Monday to expand the Nigerian economy by at least 6% per year, unify the foreign exchange rate and scrap costly fuel subsidies, along with tackling widespread insecurity.

So how could AI cause human extinction? (The Week) A group of industry experts recently warned AI technology could threaten humanity’s very existence. “Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks, such as pandemics and nuclear war,” reads the one-line open letter released by the Center for AI Safety, a nonprofit organization. The message is foreboding, but also vague, failing to provide any details about how an AI apocalypse could come about. One plausible scenario is that AI falls into the hands of “malicious actors” who use it to create “novel bioweapons more lethal than natural pandemics,” Dan Hendrycks, the director of the Center for AI Safety, wrote in an email to CBS MoneyWatch. Or these entities could “intentionally release rogue AI that actively attempt to harm humanity.” If the rogue AI was “intelligent or capable enough,” Hendrycks added, “it may pose significant risk to society as a whole.” Or AI could be used to help hackers. “There are scenarios not today, but reasonably soon, where these systems will be able to find zero-day exploits in cyber issues, or discover new kinds of biology,” former Google CEO Eric Schmidt said. Another worry is that AI could go rogue on its own, interpreting the task for which it was originally designed in a new and nefarious way. For example, AI built to rid the world of cancer could decide to unleash nuclear missiles to eliminate all cancer cells by blowing everyone up. The U.S. government has been “publicly weighing the possibilities and perils of artificial intelligence,” The Associated Press wrote.

[shay-the-writer]

Artwork by Shay

Back in the spring of 2019, I was itching to do some writing, despite an already-growing backlog of fanfics and original works collecting dust on paper and in computer files. So, I found a few books at the library. Along the way, I found an art prompt books called The Sketchbook Challenge. It gave the reader 12 themes: Circles, Dwellings, Elements, Everyday Objects, Messages, Patterns & Grids, Rhythm, Simple Pleasures, Symbols, Treasure, Vistas & Views, and Weathered Beauty. The book offers examples of each theme and for the reader to create whatever they please with each theme.

Starting in June of that year, I set each theme to every week for 12 weeks. I also tried to set myself a writing schedule for each day. The writing thing barely made it a month because it started to feel more like an obligation rather a desire to write anything. There was no creativity coming out of my brain when I tried to write. So, I started to hate it. I then gave up on doing the writing prompts. If I wanted to write something, it would be of my own choosing (whatever my attention span decided to focus on at any given time) and on my own time, no schedule. But I did manage to stick it out with the art. I planned in advance on what I would make for each theme each week. Not everything turned out the way it was pictured in my head, but at least it got done. And, some of the projects I ended up liking.

Below are some of the projects I made. Some are not pictured either because I lost them or I didn’t like them. Please excuse any blurriness. I have a mostly steady hand, though not always. But my phone can’t take a clear picture, no matter what I tried to do.

Since that summer, I haven’t done much art (and very little writing, for that matter). I tried earlier 2022 to do something and be productive. It didn’t work. I even cultivated (over time) and number of arts & crafts prompts (along with those 12 previous themes), as well as many writing prompts. I’m going to try and be productive (not by force) with both art and writing this new year. And, work at my own pace. I may, from time to time, post anything I do finish here.

… I’m also doing this because the pictures have been on my phone and computer for a bit and I’m trying to clear some space on both devices.

Dwellings. The world inside my brain. I like fairy tales and fantasies. One drawback, the sword behind the door should've gone elsewhere (it blends in too much). Notice the Once Upon a Time bits.

Elements. Take 2 because the first idea got ruined by vegetable oil. This was done on very short notice so it looks like a kid's artwork.

Everyday Objects. An HP-inspired wand, because that's totally an everyday object.

Messages. The first Message cube is made of air-dry clay (it's cracking now btw) of various quotes. The second was questionable wood, so the third is a make-up of it after I was able to acquire a decent wood block.

Rhythm. This is one of the ones I liked.

Simple Pleasures. An air-dry Reese's cup (a little thinner than intended), and a Dorito and logo.

Symbols. A rainbow flag.

Treasure. A painted wood treasure chest I gave to my mom.

and Vistas & Views. Space.

[holycommunication]

Music and Arts in the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 shutdown put a stop to a lot of our daily activities. Many of us were concerned with ability to work and see friends and family. For some of us, the work scare could not be simply solved with working from home. Freelance artists, entertainers, and everyone else working in the creative sector were faced with a real challenge: entertain from afar (and somehow make money while doing it). The shutdown led to a lot of sacking and even termination of jobs in the creative and cultural field.

English singer and songwriter Charli XCX had a very interesting response to this dilemma of the arts. In the year leading up to the COVID-19 shutdown, Charli had just released her 2019 album "Charli" and was set to go on tour in the summer of 2020. She was working with South African-Australian artist Troye Sivan, American singer and rapper Lizzo, French singer and songwriter Christine and the Queens, English music producer A. G. Cook, American DJ Diplo, South Korean boy band BTS, American singer Sky Ferreira, American rock band HAIM, hyperpop duo 100 gecs, British indie pop band Kero Kero Bonito, American rapper Rico Nasty, and the list goes on.

Needless to say, Charli never toured her album "Charli." In April of 2020, she announced a new album titled How I'm Feeling Now and an unbelievable plan for how and when she would complete the album. How I'm Feeling Now (HIFN) was to be finished in six weeks during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Using Instagram to communicate with fans during the album's creation, Charli posted different variations of lyrics, single covers, and sound samples. She held votes for the most popular choices and asked her fans for input and ideas. The entertainment that Charli sought to provide was super meta. Fans found entertainment in the final album, no doubt, but were also able to enjoy the album-making process itself.

Charli chronicled the creation of HIFN in a documentary called "Charli XCX: Alone Together." The isolation of the pandemic prompted her to share her mental health struggles, specifically concerning the inability to perform in public spaces; “I don’t think I’m pretty enough, I don’t think I’m smart enough, I don’t think I’m interesting enough to function without my work," Charli said. As the documentary details, fans were able to meet for online "raves" via Zoom to enjoy the singles from HIFN, "Forever," "Claws," and "I Finally Understand," and eventually the album in its entirety.

[sunshinecoastqldnews]

Webber anticipating Gasly to 'flourish' at Alpine

Former F1 driver turned presenter Mark Webber expects Pierre Gasly to flourish as soon as he leaves the Purple Bull set-up on the finish of the season, and strikes to a brand new house at Alpine. An extended-time a part of Purple Bull’s junior driver growth programme, Gasly made his F1 debut with Toro Rosso in 2017 at Malaysia. He was briefly promoted to the senior workforce for 12 races in 2019, however failed to fulfill the workforce’s exacting requirements and was dropped over the summer season break. He returned to Toro Rosso (subsequently rebranded AlphaTauri) and has now began a complete of 104 races, with one win underneath his belt at Monza within the 2020 Italian Grand Prix. Learn additionally: Gasly reveals Tost’s emotional response to AlphaTauri exit information However after initially confirming he would stick with the workforce in 2023, Gasly has now confirmed he’ll exit after this 12 months’s season Abu Dhabi and transfer to Alpine as a part of an all-French line-up with Esteban Ocon. Webber – himself a Purple Bull veteran – thinks the transfer will do the 26-year-old a world of excellent. “I like Pierre, he’s a superb younger lad,” Webber instructed Channel 4 this week. “He’s been at Purple Bull for a very long time – he may flourish in a brand new atmosphere. “Clearly [Alpine] is a French model, and Pierre regionally shall be nice for them, so I feel he may very well be a cracking little signing,” he added. Gasly’s switch got here as a part of a domino impact that adopted Sebastian Vettel’s determination to retire on the finish of the 12 months. Aston Martin snapped up Fernando Alonso to fill the hole of their line-up for 2023. Alpine meant to fill his now-vacant seat with Formulation 2 champion Oscar Piastri, however the Australian was signed up as an alternative by McLaren to exchange Daniel Ricciardo whereas AlphaTauri was persuaded to launch Gasly so as to signal Nyck de Vries. Ricciardo stays the odd man out in his sport of musical chairs. With few seats nonetheless up for grabs for subsequent season it appears there’s little curiosity on both aspect of his taking on a emptiness at backmarkers Williams. “A Merc reserve driver position?” prompt Webber. “Who is aware of how lengthy Lewis [Hamilton] will go on for. So Daniel in fact has bought selections,” Webber stated. “Merc [is] a reasonably useful operation, so it’s one thing he may take into account.” As for Williams, the workforce is reported to be eager to enroll Logan Sargeant to pair up with Alex Albon after dropping Nicholas Latifi – offering the American can get sufficient superlicence factors to make him eligible to race on the high tier. “Typically, I feel he’s the favorite,” stated Webber. “He’s in Formulation 2 this 12 months [so] he may want a little bit of introducing to our followers at house. “Liberty are fairly eager on him,” he defined, referring to the F1 homeowners’ need to have an American on the grid. “However there’s some superlicence challenges round him when it comes to factors – [his] championship place in Abu Dhabi.” Sargeant is presently in third place competing for Carlin within the F2 championship with one spherical left to go at Yas Marina and desires to complete within the high 5 to get the superlicence factors he wants. However he is solely 9 factors forward of a trio of rivals within the championship standings – Jack Doohan, Jehan Daruvala, Enzo Fittipaldi – having failed to attain in two of the final three races, leaving him weak of lacking out. Gallery: The gorgeous wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers Preserve updated with all of the F1 information by way of Fb and Twitter The publish Webber anticipating Gasly to 'flourish' at Alpine appeared first on F1i.com. Originally published at Sunshine Coast QLD News

[irvinenewshq]

United provides new trans-Atlantic flights for summer season 2023 in guess on journey restoration

Boeing 777ER United Airways. Plane to Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport. Massimo Insabato | Mondadori Portfolio | Getty Pictures United Airways is planning one other large schedule improve for trans-Atlantic journey, in a guess that customers will proceed to shell out for worldwide journeys, a few of which they’d delay for years. Subsequent summer season, United says it’ll fly to 37 cities in Europe, Africa, India and the Center East, a complete it mentioned is greater than different U.S. airways mixed. It’s going to additionally convey again locations together with a nonstop flight from its Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport hub in New Jersey and Stockholm on a Boeing 757 on Could 27. It final served that metropolis in 2019. Airline executives have not too long ago reported a robust summer season for European journey particularly. United mentioned demand was up 20% from 2019 in the course of the summer season peak. Ticket gross sales have been sturdy into the autumn, prompting some carriers to take care of extra off-peak flights to chase that income. Regardless of sturdy demand and income from excessive fares, airways have been hamstrung by a sequence of challenges this summer season equivalent to plane supply delays and shortages, and chaos from staffing shortages at main European hubs like these in London and Amsterdam, which prompted airways to curb capability. “It is a schedule we imagine we are able to function,” Patrick Quayle, United’s senior vice chairman of worldwide community planning and alliances, instructed reporters. He mentioned the service is working carefully with airports and different business members to make sure it is not overshooting. Inflation, a slower rebound in enterprise journey and different points nonetheless loom over demand for 2023. London’s Heathrow Airport warned Tuesday that journey demand is “unsure.” When demand was weaker within the pandemic, United experimented with its route map, providing locations equivalent to Palma de Mallorca in Spain and Ponta Delgada in Portugal’s Azores. These flights are returning although service to Bergen, Norway did not make the minimize for 2023. United mentioned Wednesday it’ll begin flights on Could 25 between San Francisco and Rome on a 777-200ER, a part of the service’s large funding in service to Italy. On the identical day, it’ll begin seasonal service to Shannon, Eire from Chicago O’Hare Worldwide Airport on a Boeing 757 and each day flights to Barcelona from Chicago on a 787 Dreamliner. It’s going to additionally supply flights from Washington Dulles Worldwide Airport to Berlin on a Boeing 767, beginning Could 25. The service plans to fly 23 each day flights to London Heathrow subsequent summer season. On March 25, United will begin service between Newark and Dubai on a Boeing 777-200ER, flights it introduced final month beneath a brand new partnership with Emirates. Delta Air Traces can also be ramping up service to Europe for subsequent spring and summer season, rising its trans-Atlantic capability by 8% from 2022. Its additions embrace a nonstop from to Geneva, extra London service and a resumption of each day Berlin flights, all from New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport. Originally published at Irvine News HQ