#who’s ready for new people to watch the show and not listen to the podcast to flood the tags

[euroquision]

No, Iceland is not up to "dirty political tricks" and neither is Bashar Murad

Hey lovely people, spirits, souls, and ghouls of Tumblr! To those of you who don't follow me on TikTok, there's a video I made just yesterday concerning Iceland (the lil Eurovision Country that Could!), Israel, a certain Irish TikTok-er with impressively horrible media literacy, and our dearest friend Bashar Murad. If you're not on TikTok, that's wonderful and dear god you don't need to subject yourself to that app. Instead, I wanted to make a post that explains what's going on, what's being said, and why one (1) Palestinian is not responsible for the aforementioned "dirty" political tricks.

If you're following Eurovision or just Bashar Murad himself, consider giving this a read.

So let's begin! First: who's calling Bashar Murad/Iceland "dirty"? Where am I getting that word from and why is it in quotes? That's because: it IS a quote! Buck wild, I know. This is a quote from the TikTok account AllThingsAdam.ie, run by the Irish Eurovision...fan? Podcast-haver? Idk, I'm not saying "journalist" because if I wanted to have a laugh, I would just watch the Unicorn edit I made a couple months ago. Did I share that here yet? Just in case, here it is:

Never fails to make me smile. Great edit, Me! Anyway, back on topic: Adam McCallig is a person with a TikTok account that has half a million followers, he has a podcast where he's interviewed Eurovision and NF artists, so he's definitely a "known figure" to a certain point. I can't sit here and say he's some random troll, y'know? So, in a TikTok that has since been deleted from his page, he accuses Iceland of being up to "dirty political Eurovision 2024 tricks." I created a TikTok where I briefly show this video, and here's a link to that! You can watch that for my condensed version of everything I'm talking about here, but this Tumblr post is for those who like reading what I have to say in longer form. Here's that video:

Since Adam's video is now "gone," I will do my best and summarize what he stated with whatever journalistic integrity I have. First: you hear him open the video with the word "dirty." So no one can say I'm putting words in his mouth -- no no, these are lifted from the source material, honey. Next, he goes on to claim that Bashar "has no connection to Iceland whatsoever." As much as Adam wants this to be true, it just...isn't?? Like, let's ignore Bashar's longtime collaborations with HATARI. Instead, let's look at him literally performing on the Songvakeppnin stage in the 2020 NF season:

Additionally, the claim "Bashar has no connection to Iceland" rings very hollow not only when we know this claim is false, but it's not one Adam brings up about the many artists trying to represent a country other than their own in the 2024 NF season. Adam says he "knows that countries can let artists from whatever country represent them," but he hasn't made any videos about Marcus & Martinus (Norwegian) competing in Sweden's National Final. Tali (Israeli-born) is representing Luxembourg this year, and MEGARA (Spanish) are representing San Marino. "Foreign" artists representing any country in ESC is FAR from new, and if it were a punishable offense, Celine Dion would just have to settle for being Canadian.

However, as soon as Bashar Murad takes the stage and the colors of the Palestinian flag are visible, Adam is ready to take to TikTok and say "dirty political tricks" are at play -- before deleting it later, like I mentioned. In fact, not only did he delete it! Mere hours before writing this post, I used my second TT account to peep his page and he posted a video saying "One of these four songs should represent Iceland in Eurovision!" and showed snippets of four songs competing in the Icelandic NF Grand Finale, which takes place on Saturday the 2nd of March. However: there aren't four songs competing to win for Iceland. There's five. Which four did he show? The fours songs that AREN'T Bashar Murad. And yet, he's the one being dirty in all this? Adam, sweetie, the dirty call is coming from inside the dirty house.

Now, you might wonder if Adam has kept this kind of energy when talking about Israel's Eurovision participation, which at time of writing is still very much up in the air. But thing is: he doesn't. At least, not really. Adam has posted a video condemning the alleged song that Israel is trying to submit to Eurovision titled "October Rain." I won't go too deep into that -- please follow @/IsraelBreaksRules on Twitter for more details on this!! But basically, what Adam is attempting to do is play some sort of "political centrist" take on Eurovision, while simultaneously trying to say "Keep politics OUT of Eurovision!!" And at the end of his deleted video, Adam claimed that while "what happened in Gaza is terrible," Iceland is just as guilty for playing political tricks as Israel might be, and Bashar Murad's participation is just as bad.

Two things wrong with that statement, Adam. One: It's not what "happened" in Gaza. It's not past tense. It's on-going. It hasn't stopped. That's actually -- believe it or not -- WHY WE'RE STILL HERE. And two: JUST AS BAD?? REALLY??

If you watched my TikTok response that I shared the link to, you'll have seen the evidence I shared. But I wanna share them again just so you all can clearly see how the "political tricks" at play this year are not on the part of Iceland, nor would they be "just as bad." Where do we begin? Maybe we could begin with the fact that "Wild West," Bashar's song, has been spammed with negative reviews by anti-Palestinian ESC fans. This is mathematically observable when you notice "Wild West" has roughly THREE TIMES as many reviews as the other Icelandic NF songs on EurovisionWorld.com. You can check them out here and see the numbers yourself.

But it doesn't stop at bad reviews. Israeli ESC fans have begun a campaign to mass vote against Bashar, specifically for Hera Bjork, one of the four other competitors in Iceland's final on Saturday. This is really funny to me though because if Bashar doesn't win, it should totally be Sigga Ozk, right? GO TIFFANY!!! Anyway, I digress. A link to an article covering this voting campaign can be found here!

Not only is Bashar facing backlash, hate, and organized efforts AGAINST his participation, Israel is funneling money and resources into Facebook ads that look like this, claiming to shape the narrative:

...as well as filming "comedy" "sketches" like this "song" called...

*deep existential sigh* "Jews Pua" Link to that video here, if you can stand three minutes of awful propaganda containing just the right combination of shitty, easy rhymes and enough pinkwashing to put "Cops at Pride!" to shame. All of this should make it VERY clear to anyone observing this situation as a whole that the political tricks at play are NOT being done equally from everyone involved. Dare I boldly say: this shit is INCREDIBLY ONE-SIDED and we need to remind ourselves of the awful reality that is Israel's access to the money, ability, and audience of their "dirty political tricks" more so than Bashar Murad or Iceland ever could.

Lastly, let's just acknowledge the racism-shaped elephant in the room. Now, I as a white American am not here to play "Racism Police." That will never be the case. What I am about to say applies to the greater conversation, and it's not just an "Adam" problem. It's a problem we see happen when one (1) Palestinian decides to exist and write a song, and the way the world has been built around us conditions us to see that and scream "dirty political trickery afoot!!" Truly, ask yourself is this is "equal" in any way shape or form, as Adam posited. Adam and people like him will treat Iceland and Israel as equal, but that doesn't automatically make them "equal."

We are living in a world where Israel is currently being sued for genocide. That is not an exaggeration, it's just something we can all see and talk about. Israel is a country that has the money, platform, and bias of the most powerful countries of the world to not be held to the same standards of responsibility for the horrible things they're doing, nor is my own country being properly held accountable for PAYING for these things they're doing. Race is something used as a tool to identify oppressed peoples not just because it's discriminatory, but it tells people who aren't part of that group that people like Bashar Murad are simply political just by existing. Nowhere does Adam mention that Bashar and his song "Wild West" are about his journey as an artist having to leave his home and travel thousands of miles to the global "west" to even have a chance of representing Iceland (not Palestine, not Gaza, just Iceland) in Eurovision while the country responsible for the death of his people are facing MUCH less scrutiny from the Eurovision powers that be, let alone Irish TikTok accounts with re: shitty media literacy skills.

My final message to you is this: if you're someone paying attention to Eurovision and you maybe feel confused or overwhelmed by Israel, Iceland, Bashar, etc. etc. etc., here's what I want to tell you:

This is not an equal game. Iceland/Bashar are nowhere near on the same level as Israel and the money/access they have to GLOBAL levels of propaganda. Israel, in fact, verbally confirms how they want to use Eurovision to "shape the narrative" which is far dirtier, far more political than just the song "Wild West." Moreover, thinking that treating Eurovision as apolitical or that EVERYONE deserves the SAME level of EQUAL scrutiny only helps Israel at the end of the day. The things they've done, are doing, and hope to do are representative of tens of thousands of people they've killed in the last few months alone. Would you genuinely look at Bashar Murad trying to represent Iceland and say "Yep, these two things are the same"? My hope is that you wouldn't, but people like Adam clearly do.

Don't be like Adam. Don't play this weak-ass centrism card that ultimately helps no one and just makes it easier for people to shift blame, suspicion, or anger towards Bashar Murad. This is not the fight being had right now, and don't let it waste your time. Focus on what and who matters, which is obviously: the country doing genocide and wants us all to be chill with that.

PS. As a personal recommendation, "Wild West" and "Into the Atmosphere" are my two favs to win for Iceland, so def go gives those a stream. And while you're at it, let Bashar himself take you on a visual journey that might help you understand his message a bit better.

Much love you all. Thank you for being here. EuroQuision out.

[r0ttgut]

Protecting you is my biggest priority

Inspired by Selfaware-bungou-stray-dogs (also note im going off their HDs headcanons as well)

(Tecchou x reader X Jouno)

The way you somehow managed to get characters of your beloved media to become self aware, startled you and yet you were so happy. You spent the most time with Tecchou and Jouno in the manga and with fan content. They were your comfort characters then to have them appear in your world, in flesh and blood, made you so happy. While you expected Jouno to tease you and Tecchou to.. To be, well, Tecchou. It was odd at first to see them be protective of you, while later on you really didn't mind it. Tecchou loves to carry you on his shoulders and watch documentaries while Jouno loves to listen to podcasts with you. 

When they first showed up, they knew your personality was true and caring, having felt every genuine emotion you felt for them warmed their hearts. Both feeling the care for their well beings and what they stood for. 

It took a while for you to process that they literally went to your world from theirs because they were concerned and connected to you. They wanted to know more than how you felt about them. Wanting to know what you liked and what you disliked, loved to do, hated to do. You were so excited to show them your drawings, unfortunately for Jouno, he had to have Tecchou describe what they looked like. He was still happy nonetheless. You made a little paper stuffed drawing of tecchou you ended up giving him, he enjoyed squishing it while having stars in his eyes looking at the coloring and linework you put in. 

When you went out to shop or simply get something to eat, you offered Jouno your noise canceling headphones if the world around him was too much. He thought about it but in the end declined, stating he “wouldn't be able to spot and protect you from evil people as easily”.  You clicked your tongue, went to where you needed to go with him on guard and ready to protect you. You were thankful yet had to be careful of this new sudden protection that surrounds you. Jouno was willing to get physical, ready to have his sword pointed at the offending persons. Jouno could easily tell which friend of yours was to be trusted or to be disregarded. He helped you get out of a toxic situation with an ex friend, you were so thankful as he held you close, saying how much he loved you. Any real life people who dared to hurt you be damned because these two will make sure they leave your life with a harsh warning. 

One thing Tecchou learned, he was not allowed to cook at all for you, both you and Jouno disagreed at the thought of it. He was sad but understood why, however he was allowed to make stuff himself as long as he cleaned up. If Jouno couldn't go with you when you went out, he would. Giving sharp glares to whoever he caught looking at you for just a little too long, he simply did not trust them. It's fun to ride on the back of tecchou, be it if he's walking or running. While Jouno got more physical, Tecchou preferred to use his words when a suspicious person wanted something from you. Speaking bluntly and gratingly, his firm eyes getting the message crystal clear. Everytime you two would make eye contact, his eyes told every little affection his words couldn't, every little smile of yours meant so much to him. While you slept before he did, he’d always watch you, making sure there truly isn't a threat before he himself went to sleep.

All three of your favorite hobbies were to be close, snuggling up to you whenever they got the chance. Tecchou’s go to was always to pull you up on his lap and rest his head on your shoulder. You loved to trace his three blossom tattoo near his stunning eyes. He’d always let you, letting out a little gasp when you did it suddenly. Jouno’s go to is obviously your heartbeat but also how your hands felt. You loved to comb his hair despite his complaints, both of you know it's only teasing as you start brushing his hair, ignoring his playful comments. It was wordless agreed upon by you three that you were in a relationship. While you dont mind getting frisky while kissing, consent is always needed before you do. Tecchou will consent but Jouno will always make it difficult at first before letting you have your way. They want to make you feel safe. That is their biggest concern, however they do understand it can be taxing for you. They do give you space when you need it, Jouno always gives Tecchou a nudge to tell him when he feels you need space without saying it. You were genuinely so thankful to whatever allowed this to happen. Your two biggest comfort characters were here with you, loving you so much willing to do anything for you. A few weeks in when they came, you were terrified that they didn't like this or that about you but over the following days, it was easy to see they liked everything about you. It was also entertaining to see them bicker against each other, sometimes even laughing, they would pause faintly blushing before going right back to arguing. Hell they would even ask for your input when they started to squabble. 

“Clearly not!, I'm sure if you brought in a stray rabbit, it would be overwhelmed by everyone in the house!”

“But what if Y/N wants to keep it with me?” They both turned their heads to where you were occupied at the moment, bringing you into their fruitless silly arguments. You peaked your head up once you got brought in, slowly looking down while placing your hand on your chin in thought. It was hard to tell because you wanted to make sure Jouno didn't get too overstimulated by the animal and had enough patience for it. Also taking in how you felt about an animal being in the house with you three. 

“While I think having an animal would be nice, I think it would just make the house a bit more active than it already is. It's difficult to tell and we also have to take into account other things, especially if we agree on a rabbit.”

Tecchou nodded defeatedly while Jouno smirked about you agreeing with him on the subject. When it came to less serious subjects and Tecchou got the receiving end of your approval, Jouno would complain. 

“Why would you agree with him over me about this?!” Jouno’s tone being whiney usually akin to when Tecchou would stab him as a warning about going too far.

“Because they have similar thoughts about this situation that align with mine.” Tecchou gave a dumb smile while Jouno hung his head.

You loved both of them no matter what and they loved you too, that isn't going to change.

[bowtiesnmusicals]

Here is my recap of the Things Get a Little Harry with Harry Shum Jr. Episode of the podcast.

Today they have a very very special guest. Kevin said its a long one so lets get to it.

They have the one, the only, well actually the second because he is Harry Shum Jr but the one and only Mike Chang.

Kevin said get ready for some wisdom. Jenna said he is such a golden nugget of good thoughts. Kevin said what’s it like to smart. Jenna said I’ll never know. They have to combine their brains to make a barely whole brain.

Kevin said as the years have gone by one of the biggest voices of reason amongst all of them is Harry. He is low key about it. He is a calm and steady force. He said maybe as Harry has gotten older he just speaks his mind and is always right. He has always just had really profound, wise thoughts. Harry said for people that are listening he made that scrunch face kind of like what, where are you every single day of life when I am making completely wrong decisions and saying wrong things. He said he doesn’t know what to say to that. He said maybe because they are on a podcast and speaking more and so their ratio is going to be different.

Jenna said I don’t even know where to begin with you because he started with them. They had such a journey. Harry said we had quite a journey on a rocket ship. Jenna mentioned he has been multiple shows as a series regular. She congratulated him on getting on Grey’s Anatomy. She said she is so happy for Harry and he deserves everything. Also Grey’s was one of favorite shows back in the day. Harry said he thought about her when he got on because Jenna would obsess over the show. He said she would say she has to go. She would DVR it but wanted to watch it live. He said he got a lot of what the vibe of the show as from Jenna. She said your welcome. Harry said you did my homework for me. Jenna said she has to go back because she stopped watching a few years ago. She said she always comes back. It’s still so good ever time she comes back and she definitely watch the new class with Harry. She asked if he having a good time on the show. He said he is and it’s amazing that they brought on five new interns and taking good care and putting effort in getting to know them. He said being on a show that is going into its 20 season and still working at a high level and everyone is gracious and still trying to make it the best it can be. He said they have all been on projects where at a certain year it’s like alright lets get it done. Kevin joked what are you talking about. Jenna was laughing really hard at this point. Hurry said he feels very fortunate and it’s a constant reminder that you can constantly refresh yourself. It’s a really cool thing to be a part of.

Kevin said he remembers hanging out with Harry at Amber’s Masked Singer party and talking about how Harry told him that they were giving him actual medal classes. That he would go to USC and talk to real interns. Harry said they got to see surgery and talk to doctors and interns. He said it was incredibly helpful. He said the importance of the medical stuff, advancing it, and questioning it and also trying to look at it from completely different perspectives while also dealing with the relationship issues and why doctors marry other doctors. You don’t have time to look outside of work to find romance. Kevin said it crazy to have a show that after 20 seasons the show is still grounded and have people coming in with the resources like that. Harry said the medical director, Linda Klein, and she has been with the show since the very beginning. He said she is a beast and knows anyone and everyone in the medical field. He said it’s really amazing you can go to her saying you have an issue who should I go see no she will be like go to this person. Jenna said Kevin needs that. He said this has turned into a Grey’s recap podcast and he’s not mad at it. Jenna said that was her full intention was to only talk about Grey’s Anatomy.

Jenna asked how did being on shows like Glee and Shadowhunters helped him for where he is now. Harry said he things every project helps you in some way. He said he looks at the things he doesn’t get right while he is on the show. Failure is just a discovery of something that doesn’t work. He said to him every time you are on a show you are figuring out what wrong things you don’t want to do it again. He said instead of getting it right because when you get it right you don’t know if its right. A director might say yeah but you don’t know if that is the best thing you could have done. He said he has always wanted to be bicoastal and it was his dream. Going to Toronto to work on Shadowhunters but having family in LA, he was like oh this is rough. He understood what it felt like for someone to move from New York to LA and have all their family on the east coast. It’s hard. He said you get put in a different headspace because like in Shadowhunters he is playing a 400 year old warlock. It’s completely different then being on Glee. The biggest conundrum was does he take off the nail polish off or leave it on because he has to come back tomorrow and will have to have it put on all over again. He said he thought is this what women think about like do I take of my mascara, I am told to take it off because it’s gross. Jenna said a lot of people don’t. He said he had moments like why would I. It’s kind of like why take a shower you are just going to have to take it again. Kevin said the things you learn. Jenna said it’s a heavy mental load.

Jenna thought that he and Shelby had their daughter while he was working in Toronto. He said, no, not yet. Jenna said that would have added a whole mother level of madness. He said sometimes he gets two days off and feels like he hasn’t seen her in a week.

Jenna told Harry they were just watching Duets. They just recapped it and Jenna already forgot about the chicken feet. She said she has no memory.

Jenna asks Harry to remind everyone how he was brought into Glee. He said he remembers the day he walked onto set having a letterman’s jacket and not knowing what he was about to embark on. He did the fitting and he knew he was going to work for a week. He remembers walking around set and seeing Cory and Mark standing outside of the choir room. He said he doesn’t think he even got called into rehearsal. He got called on to set when they were about to shoot a scene. He met Cory and Mark and then walked into the room. He greeted Kevin and they kind new each other through Kevin’s NLT days. They had lot of mutual friends. He knew Dianna because she had auditioned with his wife Shelby. He had never met Zach but he knew of him. He said everyone was so nice and happy. Kevin said oh good. Harry said I don’t know what you said behind my back. Kevin said no one has ever said anything bad about Harry ever. Harry also mentioned Heather. He said he remember that it felt like this is special and it would be nice to stay here a little longer but you know how these things could end up where you con’t get asked back but luckily he kept getting asked back over and over.

Kevin mentioned how Heather had talked about her evolution of thinking about the show or herself and the production and how she came from the dancing world where it was like shut up, keep your head down and work really hard as opposed to at some point advocating for yourself in certain situations. He asked if Harry felt like coming from that side of it that where he didn’t know if would come back every week as opposed to the regulars as an actor and that perspective is very different. How does that affect you mentally? Harry said there is a beauty that now he has accepted and enjoys that he doesn’t know what will happen next even though he does have short term goals and even big goals. He said as a 20 year old that is very very hard. He said if you talk to a lot of dancers like Heather that is pretty much how you function. You are job to job unless you go on tour and even that only lasts for a certain amount of time before having to start all over again. He said the idea of putting your head down and having a fear of getting fired. Just don’t get fired, that is the worst thing you could do. He said for him he learned to just quit before you get fired so they don’t fire you so you are dodging the bullet. Kevin said don’t overstay your welcome. Harry said sometimes you are self sabotaging yourself. You just keep digging yourself a hole. He said it was always nice to open a script and see that you have a line. Sometimes there wasn’t and he would be like cool and he would just make up something in the background. He said it was a journey and there is so much technique behind him and luckily he did extra work back in the day and got a little taste of that and this was sort of amplified on Glee. Kevin said it has been nice watching season 2 and each episode Harry had more and more and more. He said the scene in the library where Mike and Tina yell at each other. Not only does Harry get to speak but he gets to yell and show emotion. Unfortunately it’s all dim sum related for episodes which is a whole other thing. Jenna said it is a whole other thing and let’s talk about it.

Jenna said she was curious about Harry’s feelings as he has stepped of the Glee train for many years now like looking back. What were some of his sentiments, if he feels like sharing, about a lot of their comedy being about Asian. She said she knows everyone was getting made fun of their own things but theirs was very race forward. She is curious what his reflections are on that in the time we are in now. Harry said as he has grown older and being more reflective and looking back at a time where it was difficult to talk about those things with people that are writing those things. He said now he has learned to think about it first and then feel is this worthy to take someone’s time to talk about it and most of the time it is and most of the time you can do your own thing to spin it the way that doesn’t feel that way because not everything needs a conversation. It’s given him more confidence to speak on something where its like if you are going to make a joke just make it funny and creative and if it’s not then don’t do it. He said there is a sense of truth and you can appreciate someone that spent a lot of time writing something that is well thought out, understood, and comes from a place of complete understanding as opposed to I am just going to make fun of this thing. He said he tries to look at it from the other side because we sometimes get into our own feelings and being like I am offended by this thing or that thing. He has learned to not do that. He said he hates to say this because it is so cliche but it was a different time where you could only do so much. Either you to choose to do it or you chose to not be a part of it. He says that is a very hard thing. He said he remembers James Hong coming on to the Glee set and he came up to Harry and said hey this show is really popular. He pulled out his card that had his headshot and said hey if you ever need anyone that looks like give me a call or hand it to whoever. Harry said he never got to tell him that story but he did get to hang out with him at the Oscars. Harry said to see what he’s seen and to compare it to what they experienced on the show you can see that progression. Harry saw that progression. They got to do things that weren’t completely about they looked like and he takes that as a victory. He said you look at the generation now and they don’t have to do that anymore. They don’t have to choose between that and if they do they have a lot more power to speak up on. He said he likes to their contributions of sticking in their and doing it, even if it wasn’t what everyone agrees is the best way to do it, they stuck out there and put an example out of what not to do again and to what to do make it better or do better. He said he thinks that is just wonderful. At the time he didn’t feel that way but now he does. He mentioned it was a beautiful thing to see Ke Huy Quan when an Oscar especially after everything he went through in the 80s. He said out of all the shows he has worked on Glee was the hardest and no one will ever understand what they hav been through and what they have done. He said it will go down in history as one of the craziest shows to ever exist. Jenna said you heard it from Harry, the man who continues to work. She’s said it really was such a wild ride.

Kevin said you’ve been a part of so many special and groundbreaking projects. He has worked on Everything Every Where All At Once and Crazy Rich Asian. Kevin those are culture changing projects. Glee was it’s own weird phenomenon. He asked if Harry feels like going through all those things gives him he capacity to be a part of something special. Kevin said he didn’t want to say being something special. Harry said I guess that was a line. Kevin said to watch someone like Harry who is so nice and works so hard and deserves all of that. Each of these things comes with their own unique responsibilities. He asked if Harry had felt that on each project. Harry said he always tries to think how did I get here, what did I do. He said he thinks it has very little do with him. He said the people he has gotten to come in contact with throughout all of these interesting projects is what really influences him taking those different steps. He said he genuinely loves Kevin and Jenna. He said they always made him feel like part of the group. He said he remembers that feeling. He said both of them did that for him but even a lot of people at the studio, it brought the best out of people but there were parts where it brought the worst out of people. He said the best was making him feel like was meant to be be there at events where he felt like he wasn’t supposed to be there, like award shows. He said he tries to remember to give back to those that were like him when he started. He said he believes you attract a certain energy and giving off that certain energy. He said Everything Everywhere felt like the penultimate that comes with age and comes with experience and comes wit going through the fire and know that this is an experience like no other and hoping that others get to experience hat feeling camaraderie and film making at its highest level. You get to do what you want to and not worry what people are going to think. He thinks in a lot of ways Glee did that as well. It took a lot of chances and sometimes it didn’t work but a lot of the time it did. He said he likes going to different spaces and adapting. He said some sets are very rigid and set in their ways. He said he likes seeing what else you put that make it a little more, as Kevin said, special. Jenna said she does think it is the energy he gives and she hates saying it but he was a team player. She said he worked hard and was a voice of reason and tried to find the best and appreciation and gratitude in what they were doing. That sometimes they needed to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. She said she agrees that at times Glee brought out the best of them but also at times brought out the worst as well. She said there are sides of her it brought out that she never wants to see again. She said it was really hard at times and you couldn’t speak up and you couldn’t do things that others got away with. She said having friends and comrades to dig through the trenches with was priceless.

Harry said there were moments they would get off work and hang and talk for hours and hours. Those are the moments he savors. He said he has been taking a lot of hot showers and cold showers. He said it makes him think about the lowest of lows and highest of highs. That spectrum that you see the edge of what you can feel and handle. Anything in between seems easy. He said that is the greatest gift. He said he can just see some people break when they hear they have a two hour rehearsal and Harry is like that is nothing after what he has been through. He said they didn’t know where they were at half the time. They would be bouncing around from shooting scenes, recording songs, rehearsing dance numbers, and doing promo stuff. Harry said it is the bootcamp that couldn’t exist today. Kevin said he remembers thinking that if Harry started to lose it, it was like watching your dad cry for the first time. He was like oh no. He knew if Harry broke or was mad then it was bad. Harry said he remembered watching them because they had more to do. He said it would anger him they weren’t given a space to decompress. He said that is where he broke a couple of times. It was just wrong.

Jenna said Glee prepped her for motherhood because motherhood is the ultimate multitasking. She is like this is nothing compared to Glee. Glee was like wrangling 12 children and personalities at one time. She said Emma has a big personality.

Jenna said they have a lot of Mike and Tina memories. They had to kiss a lot on the show. Eric Stoltz told them had to make out the whole time in the background while Rachel is singing Jar of Hearts. She said she doesn’t know how all the cameras got them no matter where they were. She said Lea did that song so many times, like 8 times. She said she remembers one time their lips wee touching and they were laughing the whole time. She said jokingly I hate you Eric. Harry said he forgot about that. Harry said Eric is an intense dude when it comes to getting shots that he wants. He wore a suit and was old school with no sides on set. Harry was like he has to give an Emmy award winning kiss, eight times for three minutes each. Kevins said we may not have lines but we are going to kiss. Jenna said Eric had them on the roller coaster at six flags and made them kiss on it. Apparently Eric loved it and they were like really Eric, again. Harry said it is really awkward to do it over and over again and then try to make it interesting. Harry and Jenna would eat the worst shit they could think of to make it more interesting.

Jenna pointed out Kevin and Harry got to do some fun stuff. Jenna said Scream is one of the best numbers hands down. Kevin said it was such a fun day. Harry said it was a fun day and Kevin got to get out of the wheelchair and really just tear it up. He said it was really fun to shoot with Alfonso. They couldn’t see him, he just left them to do their own thing. Kevin said they were running back and forth to see what the others were doing. Kevin said they got to pitch what they wanted for the Michael episodes. Harry and Kevin put together a whole presentation. Kevin said to get invited into their writers space was so weird. Kevin said he had been talking with Harry because Teenage Dream had done so well because it was a bit different. They realized the songs that did really well were the ones that were different but they didn’t want to Michael songs to sound like kidz bop So they plotted to get them to let the cast to pitch songs for the Michael songs. Harry and Kevin had a whole plot line. They wanted The Way You Make Me Feel. Harry said he thinks Scream was floating around but they would’ve dare ask for that .Kevin said they would never dream of asking for something with such a big budget. Harry thinks the tempo of the song changed several times. Kevin said that was the most dancing he had ever danced and their was no one to hide behind. He said he felt like he was screwed. Kevin said one of the best things about Harry is that he commits. He said you just watch Harry go full out and were pulled into it. Jenna said you just show up. Kevin said we got to do some crazy things. Jenna said her favorites were the guys numbers when they didn’t know what was going on and hey got to sit back and cheer for them. Jenna said she forgot the storyline that Mike taking on the lead and then his parents wouldn’t let him do it. Harry said it always funny how everything is so fluid but then a song doesn’t get cleared and everything changes.

Jenna asked the question she always does at the end of these episodes. She asked what is the feeling that Glee left you with t hen versus now? Is it the same, has it evolved? Harry turned the question back on Jenna and Kevin. He said the craziest thing was seeing a 12 or 13 saying that Glee was her favorite show. He said he doesn’t know how he feels about that. Kevin said like you weren’t born when the show started. He said at the Oscars some younger actors came up to him and said they loved him Glee and he was like you are eight years old. He said they left a certain stamp on that time period. They contributed to popular culture and music. It’s neat to see that carried over into another generation that can enjoy this thing. He said the show at is core is about expressing joy. He said he feels like that is resonating with younger generation. He feels like its cool to be part of something that he doesn’t know if it will ever exist again. He said he’s definitely gotten people calling him trying to do the same thing. He said the fact that you don’t know what you are doing you are probably going to do things no one else is going to do. He asked if they have had that same kind of experience. Kevin said it’s the exact same. It’s been crazy. It’s strange. It feels nice. It’ not something you think about while doing the show. He said that is part of what incentivized them to do this podcast. He said it nice to feel like they were a part of something that was culturally significant and speaks to people that want to experience joy and see joy in people like themselves on screen. Jenna said it’s the bigger picture. The effect and stamp they left. She said she wishes in hindsight that she was able to see it the way they see now even just a little more because it would given her a bit of perspective. She said she wishes that she could have thought about ht bigger picture more. She said had she known what she knows now she would have handled things differently. Harry said isn’t that always the thing. Kevin said it is so interesting to hear how Harry thought he was such an asshole during Glee. He said we are always in our own heads and have different perspectives. He said sure did Harry have some moments where he was worn out and didn’t handle some things correctly, sure everyone does those things. He said on the whole Harry’s perspective was really good. When you are working 14, 15, 16 hour days no matter how good your perspective is you are going to be worn out. Harry said sometimes you have to think if it is you being an asshole to yourself or other people. Kevin said oh damn. Harry said he was probably an asshole to himself. He said it takes time to repair that. Jenna said that is fair and very profound. Harry joked saying we would be gods if we went back to high school. Kevin said don’t tempt Ryan and then said Harry is unavailable. Jenna said they would make Harry available. She said is nice to look back and go oh yeah it was really great, we did have really good times, and treasure those moments. That is why still stay in touch and love each other. She said the appreciation for it could have been more and they could have led with that but here we are. Harry said it is the intervals that it happens in and you don’t have time to appreciate it because it’s already on to the next. He said that also speaks to society now. Kevin said you have to spend so much mental power to make sure you are present and appreciative in addition to the opportunity. Sometimes you don’t have the capacity to be aware and conscious of that all the time.

Harry said I love you guys. Jenna said it’s so good to see you. She also they could talk for hours. She said it is so good to see your friends succeed. Kevin said you are the best of us. Harry thanked them for always reaching out. He said he wants to see their faces in real life soon. Jenna said to say hi to your awesome wife. They basically set up having dinner together.

Jenna said Harry is deserving of everything. Kevin said it gave him goosebumps. He couldn’t be prouder. He then thanked Harry for joining them.

[disquetlibrary]

A new episode of the disquiet library podcast has been uploaded.

A transcript of the story has been included below the break for those who do not wish to listen but prefer to read.

Good evening friends enemies and unacquainted strangers. I Welcome you to the Disquiet Library. I am the curator and these listless halls house many stories and artworks.

This evening I bring you a story and flier from the collections. Static copies of this evenings artwork have been linked in the description box or description card wherever you found our audio recordings. The flier has no objectionable material however the story depicts death, drug abuse, hallucinations, and immolation so if any of those would cause undue mental strain.please feel free to skip this story and peruse the other works the library has to offer. But with that let's begin.

Dr. Crane Grayham stood at the front of the lecture hall. Elegant curving ribs of bone meeting up overhead to form the vast hall encompassing the lecture stage as well as the few hundred vacant faces of students listening to their lecture.

"Carcosa the sunken city. A marvelous place where treasures and art secrets of the universe existed if only one could find Carcosa. It was a powerful legend that influenced many cultures throughout history." Crane handed a photo printed on stiff translucent cartilage to the projection beast. It's bio-luminescent organs displayed the image of cave pictographs and temple murals in a sickly blue-green glow across the back wall of the lecture hall. The pictures and murals depicted variations of an underground city of shining domes illuminated by two suns. The surface dwellers were depicted as setting up excavations and searching caves to approach Carcosa.

"Many cultures told the story and believed it to be a real place searching for it in the shifting sands." Crane handed the projection beast another card of cartilage. And watched the image shift to ruins of a monastery. "Some people interpreted Carcosa not as a physical location but more as a state of being, and that to find Carcosa was to unlock the truths of the universe within one's self." Crane gestured with their long bone pointer. Towards the crumbling murals that showed a shining city being embedded in the body of a thinking person.

"Modern research has determined that the legend of Carcosa comes from an ancient myth spread by verbal tradition through trade routes and nomadic peoples. We now Know Carcosa to be a lie, but we can still see that even just the people's belief is enough to lend it some substance and have real impacts on the world. The impacts of this are important to understand, but i have run over time enough already and i can pick up next session." Crane tapped on the projection beast which happily spit back up the photos and started hopping off to its den at the side of the podium. The great basins of fireworms above were uncovered from Crane tugging sharply on a signal nerve. Soon the vast tiered hall was illuminated with brilliant red-orange light. "And remember your essays are due this evening. Please get them to my office before I leave today." There was an audible sigh of discomfort from several students as all packed and made ready to go. Crane walked over to the lectern and rested their hand on its cold smooth crown while they took a swig from their water flask. And started packing away the photo slides from the lecture.

"Are you professor Grayham? Have you approved this?" Crane slowly turned around to address the voice. "That is I" The figure was not one of their students. Sunken and hollow Grey skin and a frame so skeletal that it seemed as though the person was held upright by the force of their worn suit binding them together. The figure was holding out a rolled poster. Crane could feel the intense gaze of the figure as they unrolled the soft black vellum rectangle. Crane stole a glance at the figure and could have sworn that the figures eyes were black flames tipped with gold threatening to burn away the figures Grey skin. But in another glance the figure merely had very dark eyes that stared intently at Crane urging Crane to address the poster. The poster was calling for performers for a play with the tagline "Transcend your life become part of the magic." Crane would have scoffed and thrust it back to the figure but their intense unblinking gaze bade crane to take a closer look at the play. The edges of the paper were decorated with elegant gold and red fillagries. There was a strange jackal mask whose eyes burned with the same black flames rimmed with gold. But most curious and concerning of it all was that interested parties were to contact a Professor Crane C. Grayham for auditions. "No this is most certainly not me. It must be someone trying to use my name to drum up hubbub as they know that this is exactly the type of thing i would not endorse.thank you for bringing g this up I will look into it and put a stop to it." Crane made to roll up the poster and tuck it away before they felt a bony clamping hand curl around their arm. The figure gripped onto them with a vicious ferocity as though crane were the last life line tossed to a drowning man. The figure drew crane back around such that Crane had to face the discomfort of looking at the mangled figure. The figures voice resembled Crane's own if crane was trying to speak through a filling throat of blood. "Do not put on the play. You will not win. The only way to win is to stop now, walk away. Do not give it power." As crane subconsciously leaned in and tried to look anywhere but the figures intense unwavering gaze. They noticed the strange features of the figure the jagged cut in the lip right where crane would get theirs after a a few dry weeks. The one tooth that was smaller and off kilter from the others just as crane had in their own mouth. And even the faded blue pocket square that resembled cranes own albeit unraveling with hols around the familiar embroidered initials. The figure choked on their words with blood pouring out of their open mouth and between their teeth. Soon the figure was melting away into more and more blood that was puddling on the floor and seeping into Crane's sleeve. The last remaining portion was the gripping clutching hand whose touch lingered in the mind long after the hand itself liquefied and dripped into the fabric of Cranes coat. Crane stumbled back with their one clean arm desperately propping them up against the enamel of the lectern. Crane stared in stunned silence as the blood dripped off of their sleeve. But before they could get their wits back and call for help. Both their sleeve and the puddle on the floor slowly caught fire with the same black flames tipped with gold as had been in the poster. Brilliant shadows danced around the flames and soon like a horrifying candle of blood and black flame the figure was all gone leaving no trace of their existence beyond the searing tickling pain on cranes arm and the lingering intensity of an emphatic desperate grip. The moments of desperate hollow silence stretched in for an eternity before crane collapsed behind the lectern. Their legs no longer holding them up on the smooth stone floor. When crane was able to move again they fumbled in their coat pocket for a small handful of bioluminiscent blue capsules of glowing liquid that they desperately and shakily swallowed with a swig from their water flask.

Crane leaned heavily on The door to their office. Letting it fly open unexpectedly as they stumbled into the room and collapsed into a large black leather chair behind their desk. The door scurried back into place with some disgruntled chirping as the beastie settled back into its usual grooves and crane made some noncommittal exhausted grunts in response.

After a little bit of sitting slumped in their seat simply letting the large leather chair prop them up off the floor not deigning to move and just trying to get the world to stop. They turned toward the desk by shuffling their feet in an attempt to use as little energy as possible. The stacks of letters and homework on the desk seemed positively insurmountable from their perspective slumped in the chair with an uncomfortable crick in their neck. With great protest and much swearing they heaved themself upright Into their chair. And gazed at the piles of work. Their hands quivered from the effort. Slowly they grabbed an essay from the top of their grading stack and started to read: hunched over the document like a starving man protects his meals, crane read. Every once in a while Crane would make a note, with their pen. A hasty shaky scrawl mentioning the paper's lack of supporting evidence or awkward phrasing. As the tallow candles burned low and the stack of graded but unsatisfactory papers grew. Crane's tremors grew more severe. At times they would shake their entire arm with violent spasms. Crane's heart pounded in their ears. An incessant pounding that pulsed with the haziness and flickers of the light. At some point their head dropped to the desk blowing out the candle, and leaving them in the darkness where the only sound was the subtle scuttling and groaning of the room. Their body took no breaths of sleep and they did not stir again.

That is all I have for now so thank you shadowy wanderers of the night and I hope you have a wonderful evening.

[peony-pearl]

Gargoyles Re-watch - Awakening Pt 1

It’s been a long time since I’ve sat down to rewatch Gargoyles; probably since 2020. This is a show that is absolutely synonymous with my childhood, having premiered when I was 6 years old. Memories of watching it are hazy, but I hope I’ll always remember vibes of watching it at my grandmother’s house with my older sister @cherryfinolahobbes​ and our late uncle. Seeing all of the new content, from the amazing Neca figures, to the new comics (which I still need to purchase and read), to listening to the entertaining and informative Voices from the Eyrie podcast (which indulges my love of hearing from voice casts and behind the scenes trivia; seriously if you’re a fan of the show go sub to this great podcast); it’s been great being a fan of such a lovingly crafted show as of late.

However, I’m awful at not only keeping up with things, but also with rewatching, because my ADHD will try to fill in memory gaps/distract me and I’ll just... not turn things on or put them on pause lmao. BUT I want to share one of my most favorite shows! And seeing a lot of rewatches and analyses of Avatar the Last Airbender from so many of my mutuals (I need to do a series for that show too), I’ve decided to do one for my beloved Gahhguyles. So sit back, Happy New Year, and get ready to hear me gush about voice lines, music cues and magic spells recited in latin that have been rattling in my brain for the better part of 30 years!

Immediately you’re welcomed with a title card, a jagged set of stone letters that read ‘Awakening’, overlayed with snarls and a hint of ominous music. Bitchin.

We then cue in to New York City in present day (well, present day in 1994), where explosions can be heard and seen in the clouds; one of the tallest buildings in the city disappears into these clouds, and after a continuous round of noise begins to catch onlookers’ attention, rubble begins to fall from out of the clouds, nearly killing multiple people.

The police are on the scene, and from a particular red car steps out Detective Elisa Maza, voiced by Salli Richardson-Whitfield. Elisa is no beginner to her field. She’s smart and quick-witted, and when she arrives she’s greeted with respect from her fellow policemen who update her on the situation.

More rubble falls, and Elisa sees a set of marks that takes her off guard.

“What could be strong enough to leave claw marks in solid stone?” Elisa asks. This line, if I recall, was used in almost every piece of advertising for the show. We’re then greeted with the Gargoyles logo, and we go back in time. 1000 years to be exact, and now we’re in Scotland, where a group of Vikings are attacking the castle. They’re led by Hakon, voiced by Clancy Brown, and they seem to be winning against the castle, as their catapult destroys a wall and takes down some archers.

We then get our first glimpse of the Gargoyles, a set of stone statues in the dying light of day.

Quick detour for a moment to talk about the animation. Gargoyles is GORGEOUS. The colors of the sunset at the moment we look up at the tower that the Gargoyles are sleeping on are beautiful. There are some episodes that have infamous animation, but they’re not often, and even then, Gargoyles has some great character animation, as everyone has their own unique personality.

We’re then shown the Captain of the Guard, voiced by the late Ed Gilbert, defending the Castle and shouting to his men, who are uncertain about their fate.

Captain: “Stand fast! We can hold them back!”

Soldier: “Aye, and catch boulders with our teeth while we’re about it!”

Gargoyles has one of the snappiest scripts and we’re not even 3 minutes in.

The Captain mentions that once the sun goes down they’ll ‘see some fun’, but just as he does, another boulder strikes nearby, and we get to properly meet the Vikings as the camera pans in on them while they cheer, and Hakon stands proud in front of his army. However, he has his dissenters.

Viking: *talking to another standing near him* “Attacking a castle full of Gargoyles near nightfall! This is crazy, and Hakon knows it!”

Hakon: No, my friend. That’s not crazy *he grabs the viking to look him square in the face* Questioning my sanity when I’m in earshot, that’s crazy!” *he looks back to the castle* I say these Gargoyles are naught but chiseled stone! And even if they aren’t, it’s worth the risk for the plunder within! ATTACK!”

The Vikings charge over a gorgeous red sky, continuing their assault, even making it through the gates as they climb the tower leading straight up to the Gargoyles.Hakon leads the way, his rope secured to where the largest Gargoyle rests.

The sky is getting darker. Hakon reaches the top just as the sun sets, and he witnesses the stone statue crackle and burst to reveal a mammoth purple beast, who looks at him with more annoyance than fear. He grabs Hakon easily and holds him over the ground, more than capable of dropping him right then and there.

The first words of our main man Goliath, voiced by Keith David, are a growling, matter-of-factly “You are trespassing.”

The rest of Hakon’s men witness the rest of the clan awakening (hehe) from their daily stone slumber, becoming alive at night. Hakon draws his sword and slams it into Goliath’s hand, drawing blood. He then urges his men to fight as ‘they are not invincible’.

The battle ensues, and Hakon manages to escape Goliath.

As we see more warring, we come across three distinct Gargoyles; I want so badly to call them by their names, but they don’t have those names just yet XD so for now we’ll just go by Red, Green and Blue.

Green, voiced by Thom Adcox-Hernandez, is the smallest, but that doesn’t deter his personality. He’s sharp as a tack and sassy, and doesn’t hesitate to berate his brothers when they annoy him.

Red, voiced by Jeff Bennett, is impulsive, but earnest and caring and tends to get put into the ‘badass’ category (... but I mean... come on he is a badass; he was my favorite when I was a kid)

Blue, voiced by Bill Fagerbakke, is the laid back foodie, but there’s more under his exterior than meets the eye.

When we meet the trio, Green is watching intently, while Red’s eyes are darting from place to place, bursting with excitement as Blue just sits back.

Red: “Shall we let all our brothers and sisters have all the fun?”

Red then immediately glides away, leaving Green and Blue as Green smirks at Blue, who seems reluctant to join.

Green: “Not afraid, are you?”

Blue: *offended as he stands to his full height* Afraid? Me? HAH! Why, all of nature trembles at my passing! *he lifts up his gut to his chest... only for it to wobble back down*

Green: *pokes his brother’s pudge* “I can see why”

The two join the brawl, and we witness more fighting just as we’re introduced to the next member of our main cast, a capable, much older Gargoyle, voiced by the late Ed Asner, holding his own until a Viking sneaks up on him just before Goliath can glide down to stop him.

Goliath: “Watch your back, old friend.”

Old Friend: *amused* “Huh! Watch your own.”

The fight rages on, we witness the Captain of the Guard in his element as he and Goliath begin fighting side by side. The Captain mentions the Vikings most likely followed a band of refugees the castle is giving shelter to, and as we pan over, we see Blue make his way to the clearing where said refugees are staying, helping himself to some of their food as he’s watched by a young boy and his mother. The boy is amused as he watches Blue easily dispose of a Viking with a large drumstick.

Hakon is then greeted by a Gargoyle beast, a big blue Best Boy who absolutely destroys a stone wall trying to tackle him. Our man Shakin’ Hakon tries to run off, but is stopped by the haunting visage of our final main Gargoyle, Goliath’s mate and second-in-command, voiced by Marina Sirtis, who is going to be one of the show’s absolute BEST characters, if not one of the most amazingly complex characters I’ve ever witnessed. She scares Hakon off easily, and he’s promptly defeated by her and Goliath, but he proclaims he’ll return as he retreats with his men, who are chased away by the arrows of the archers; but as the archers proclaim victory, we notice the way Red, Green and Blue look at each other, feeling their hard work has been ignored.

It’s just the first taste of how the humans of the castle treat them.

Goliath gets his hand bandaged by his mate as the Captain proclaims how the castle owes them their lives.

Goliath: “As we owe you ours every day.”

All is well.

: )

We then cut to the inside of the castle as some upbeat music plays. A flute, a tambourine and a drum lead a simple, but effective merry jaunt as the soldiers enjoy a feast to celebrate the victory. We get our first glimpse of Princess Katharine, a somber-looking young lady voiced by Kath Soucie, and the Magus, voiced by Jeff Bennett (Jeff is like, half the cast in this show), a sorcerer who is always by Katherine’s side.

As the Captain joins the feast, he overhears some of his men teasing about how he’s more like ‘captain of the gargoyles’. You get a sense that the Captain really truly cares about the Gargoyles. He seems unhappy with the teasing, but doesn’t argue. Anytime we see the Captain with his army, there’s not a lot of camaraderie; but with the Gargoyles, he seems very at home. When he’s greeted by the Princess, who thanks him for the battle well fought, the Captain doesn’t hesitate to also credit the Gargoyles for their assistance - but Katharine doesn’t feel the same. She becomes unhappy hearing about them.

Katharine: *after hearing Goliath’s name* “Please, don’t mention that monster’s name in my presence”.

The doors burst open, the Magus drops his drink when he sees their ‘guests’ are that of none other than Goliath himself and his mate, who are there as the Captain’s guests. But not everyone is happy to see him. Katharine admonishes the Captain, and the Magus as well has some choice words, but when the Gargoyles approach and frighten Katharine, she’s surprised to see Goliath bow to her in respect. But after she insults them once more, Goliath’s mate is ready to strike, but Goliath is quick to diffuse the situation and he promptly leaves.

Goliath, despite his name and stature, has great patience and understanding; he is a great leader, and will later show some really interesting character faults. Keith David’s performance hits the nail of the head in every episode, making Goliath relatable, even when he’s at his most stubborn or at his wisest.

As Goliath, his mate, and the Captain reconvene in the halls, the Captain apologizes for Katharine’s words.

Goliath: “No apologies needed. We are what we are. Her opinion will not change that.”

Mate: “Have you no pride? No sense of justice?! We saved their lives and they repay us with contempt!” (this line has lived in my head rent free for nearly 3 decades it’s acted so amazingly)

Captain: “She is right, Goliath. You deserve better than this.”

Mate: These cliffs were our home ages before they built their stone fortress. They should bow to us!”

Goliath: *takes her hand* “It is the nature of humankind to fear what they do not understand. Their ways are not our ways.”

Going back to Goliath and his design, his words and beliefs can carry so much gentility; however we’ll also see later that a lot of old teachings can often drive wedges between him and loved ones, especially when we meet Angela next season.

However, the Captain is still unhappy with the situation that has unfolded. He cares so much for the Gargoyles, and it’s obvious he wants to change some minds.

Cut to the Magus, perusing in his book, the Grimorum Arcanorum within his study; and at dawn, a mystery figure rides off away from the castle - all the way to Hakon to make a bargain.

At nightfall, Goliath removes the bandages from his injured hand, which is now fully healed; in the meantime, the Captain of the Guard urges for Goliath to take the Gargoyles away from the castle as the Vikings had promised to return. The Captain and the Mate continue to try and convince Goliath of the idea, but he refuses to leave the castle unprotected. He decides to go and ward off the Vikings with his old mentor, and he tells his mate to stay with the castle. He promises to her that they are one, now and forever.

In the meantime, we return to the trio of Red, Green and Blue, playing catch with Best Boy, using a slab of meat. The Mate comes around to watch, smiling as they have fun around the refugees that are still under the castle’s protection. The little boy from the previous night curiously runs over to watch just as Best Boy finally gets his meal. Mate is apprehensive of the boy’s presence, and he introduces himself; his name is Tom and he asks for the trio’s names.

Green: “Except for Goliath we don’t have names.”

Tom: “How do you tell each other apart?”

Green: “We look different.”

Tom: “But what do you call each other?”

Red: “Friend”

But Tom’s mother, Mary, steps in, afraid for her boy, and she tells him to get away from ‘those monsters’. Red insists they wouldn’t hurt him, but Mary chucks a hunk of wood at him, striking him. Goliath’s mate, from up high, is enraged, and she insists Mary is the monster, just before Red and Green agree that if she thinks they’re monsters, maybe they should live up to the name.

But just before they can do anything, Goliath appears. He orders for Red, Green, Blue and Best Boy to go to the Rookery until he returns. Mate insists they weren’t at fault, but Goliath refuses to condone any fighting, and he must find ways to deter it, and he promises he’ll make it up to the boys later.

Goliath and his Mentor leave to find the Vikings, locating some questionable tracks. We then check back in with the trio, sent down to where a clutch of eggs rest in a cave like children sent to their room. Blue, interested in some slime on the wall, decides to have it as a snack and we’re treated to an uncomfortable several seconds of him just chewing on this slime.

The camera cuts to a mystery figure, tampering with the Castle armory just as we return to Goliath and Mentor, who laments sunrise is near just as Goliath finds the Vikings. They attack, but realize they’ve been tricked and were being decoyed the whole time. They try to return, but the sun rises, and Goliath and Mentor turn to stone, unable to make it back home before the Vikings ransack the castle. This time, successfully, as the inside job and betrayal is revealed to have been because of the Captain, and he personally apprehends Princess Katharine in a really great moment as she rushes down the stairs, and he slowly ascends to greet her in shadow.

Katharine: “The Vikings, Captain! We are attacked!”

Captain: *grabs her wrist, looking her in the eyes* “It is worse than that, your highness.”

The following silence as Katharine realizes what’s happening, her expression, this quick moment is SO GOOD. We then watch the castle inhabitants led out in chains as Hakon and Captain talk above the commotion.

Hakon: “Not that I’m ungrateful, but why? Why betray your own kind?”

Captain: *almost in pain* “They’re not my kind.”

But it’s not long until Hakon, mace in hand, decides it’s time to get rid of the Gargoyles as the sun sets. The Captain is horrified, and he tells him to leave them alone.

I wish I could describe how much I love that Gargoyles mostly had it’s actors record together (although some exceptions had to be made); you can often feel the fluidity of the conversations, and while I’m not sure if this particular exchange between Hakon and the Captain were recorded in the same room, it’s one of my absolute favorites.

Hakon: *staring at Captain as he’s prevented from destroying a gargoyle* Are you mad?! In a moment they’ll be flesh again and my men will be their prey!”

Captain: “Once your band is out of sight, they won’t follow! It’s not their nature!”

Hakon: “Ahh, well, in that case-” *he strikes Captain, aiming his mace for his head as he pins him against the wall* “Care to discuss the matter further?”

Captain: “...No.”

Hakon: *releasing him, he looks at one of the stone gargoyles* “I haven’t lived this long by taking foolish chances.”

The swell of music as Hakon lifts his mace, the sound of the stone being smashed as Hakon’s silhouette casts over Captain’s horrified face as he stumbles in agony. Damn; DAMN I love this show.

Night falls, and Goliath and Mentor return to the castle, now in smoke as fire still rages. They find the smashed remains of their clan, and Goliath shakily picks up the pieces of what he believes to be the form of his mate as he speaks to her in anguish, just before releasing a roar of despair; we pan out to another hauntingly gorgeous shot of the smouldering castle with a glowing full moon behind it as the screen fades to black, and we’re greeted with the first of many ‘To Be Continued’ cards.

The first episode of Gargoyles wastes no time in getting right into the action, while also building mysteries that will be revealed in later episodes. Yup, we’re already laying groundwork for later plots!! This show is dense with storylines that weave in and out so well, sometimes you’ll get payoff to a question you never even asked about.

Writing this was a DOOZY; I was not expecting this to take me a good couple of hours lmao, but hopefully I can keep with it! I love this show so much and I don’t think I’ll ever stop recommending it!

[winderlylandchime]

Hello!! I love how we are all hoping that Jordan brings back the podcast, i need those two besties back so badly. I feel like they have so much stuff they could talk about especially now with the strikes, it’d be fun to hear their take on it. I am honestly not ready for him to find out how the filming and the aftermath of the show was on Gale and Randy. I know he’s gonna lose his shit to find out how some people were towards them (especially since his idea of Gale in his head is obviously different and in his mind Gale and Randy are bffs like how he is with his friends.) but also i think he will be shocked to find out they both kind of stepped back from the show and had certain issues with it. He did storm in my room randomly today and went ‘IS THAT WHY THERE WAS LESS SEX STUFF?!’ Which btw it was 10 am when he did that, I barely knew i was awake. Basically he was up almost all night thinking about the finale and the podcast (he is once again that conspiracy meme) and he realized in later seasons there’s less sex scenes and now he is distraught that maybe it’s because Randy was uncomfortable. He was having an entire crisis over it. While I don’t know what all i will show him/what he’ll see on his own (i wanna show him bts content and like obviously anything else i can find) but i will be keeping con videos/posts FAR away from him because some of those are the worst things ive ever seen in my life, no offense to anyone. I will say, If you or anyone has any ideas what else I should show him, let me know because he has been losing his mind begging me to let him listen to more of the podcast.

As for our mom, i swear that woman is actually pretty chaotic herself but unlike my brother she hides it better. Both of our parents are insane but for some reason only he doesn’t even make an effort to hide it. She did get a long email sent to her by my brother because she was ignoring his calls and he wanted to talk about s4 finale. It was titled ‘IMPORTANT! NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SHOW’ and then it was almost a short novel about the show.. He wanted to hear her thoughts since he is still undecided about Justin not saying yes to moving in. And he wrote a little bit about the podcast and he also asked her if she thinks Randy would like him if they met (clearly he is feeling a certain way about this) which caused a different crisis, a much bigger one: would Gale like him if they met. That crisis lasted almost 2 hours btw. Anyway as a reply to the email she just forwarded it to our dad who forwarded it back to me to tell me to ‘change the wifi password.’ And then I immediately got a call from my mom about the podcast asking me if it’s about the show and how he already has enough weird hobbies and why can’t I get him into something normal like a pottery group or painting group or something with normal people around. And then I heard in the background our uncle who went ‘after all the stories about him talking to DOCTORS, you want to unleash him on a person who is not medically trained?’ So he is now being encouraged to stay home and watch tv. Also: he is currently talking to his best friend about the finale, while writing down mind maps and lists of what he thinks season 5 will be. He’s having a bit of issues with it because the LA offer apparently fucked quite a lot of things up for him so his original list no longer makes sense. He is also talking to him at the same time (he’s jumping from topic to topic) about Gale and how shocked he was that Randy didn’t enjoy the qaf fame. I don’t know how this became my life. More importantly I would just like to say: i cannot wait for your new fic! I mean your last fic got us here so I can’t wait to see what happens next. But also bearded Brian>>

The podcast talking about the strikes would be amazing! I was hoping we would get a Barbie movie episode but alas. I really want to hear the besties talk about Greta Gerwig.

I have never seen the con clips and I’m grateful. I have too much secondhand embarrassment to sit through that boundary-crossing behavior and invasive questions.

I LOVE that your parents were like “change the wifi password” and uncle was like “unleash him into the world?” and they responded “jk never mind.”

I personally think Gale and Randy are still friends but we would never know with the one proof of life per year Gale gives us and Randy being tightlipped about his time on the show.

Wait until your brother realizes that one of Randy’s partner’s is named Justin (or is that the kid? either way there’s a Justin!)

I am dreading his reaction to S5 but we all watched it so he must as well…

And, yes, bearded Brian >>>

BUT I saw your request at the top - folks let’s start to pull together a post-S5 education for all necessary BTS for Brother Anon to fully understand QAF! In box me or comment on this post.

[softpine]

i could definitely see that!! i don’t think they would be too interested in the empty nest life, at least not yet. but they would have to wait until asa has been living away from home for a few years before they would start to relax a bit and be ready to open their hearts to more kids 🥺

omg thank you for this idea, i should do a “where are they now” segment!! actually i’m gonna save this message for that so i can take pictures! (also no i am not holding up okay after episode five fjksjds it broke me....)

no but literally i was destroyed... i watched it on my own first and sobbed and then i watched it with my friends and sobbed again and then i listened to the podcast and sobbed and i’m pretty sure i will never be the same... that scene in the game has always made me cry, it has never hit me less hard, but this tv show has given me a new level of sadness... but i’m so thankful that i’ve gotten to watch it because being able to feel such strong emotions from media is so human... and it made me love my brother even more ;-;

lmaoo sorry, nothing in my story can ever be clear cut fluff 😭

mmmmmaybe!! who knows :’)

hey! when i’m looking for specific things i usually go on pinterest and create my own board. if you can find just a couple art pieces that fit the vibe you’re looking for, then you can click the “more ideas” button and pinterest will do all the work of finding similar art! i made this board really quick that you can use as a jumping off point 💖

oh that’s actually really cool!! my favorite part about ts3 was making these wildly complex family trees with maximum chaos, but in ts4 the trees are so lackluster and you can’t even see half the people related to your sim. i hope this pack makes a difference!

[littlethingwithfeathers]

I love these........

I was tagged by @vveissesfleisch! Thank you lovely!

Tag nine (9) people you'd like to know better!

Last song: "Stolen Season” by S. J. Tucker. It’s a beautiful song and I like my voice when I sing it.

Currently watching: I’m... not really watching anything. Other than just like Youtuber stuff? I watch a lot of the content by Loading Ready Run, which is a wonderful and positive sketch comedy group that also streams video games, Magic the Gathering, and board games. If you want some suggestions, I love their show “Road Quest” and their horror game Let’s Play channel called “Let’s Nope” which is fun and high energy, and their show “Watch and Play” where they find super awful games on Steam and play them, and all their fun MtG content. But these days I’m mostly playing video games where I used to watch stuff. I can’t wait for Book of Hours and Baldur’s Gate 3.

Currently listening: Old Gods of Appalachia and Make Me Smart. I’ve become a podcast person. I don’t really listen to music very much anymore. It’s very distracting. Old Gods of Appalachia is a horror podcast similar to Magnus Archives that’s set in alternate early 1900s Appalachia, and there’s something very evil and very old in the mountains besides coal dust and capitalism... but those things are there too. Make Me Smart is an offshoot of the radio show Marketplace. It was originally conceived during COVID as a “Look... COVID is awful but there is other shit happening in the world too so lets talk about that as well.” and now it’s morphed into being a news show that’s basically what got tossed on the cutting room floor from Marketplace, a weekly single topic deep dive with experts on very specific tech and economic topics, and usually a happy thing or three.

Currently reading: I keep trying to start House of Leaves but it’s a cinderblock of a book. And I’m reading the Old Gods of Appalachia TTRPG book. It is also a cinderblock... a coal soot and be-tentacled cinderblock.

Current obsession: I’m about to start oil painting classes in the next month or two. It’s time. It’s been time. I’ve always wanted to learn and in the wake of bailing out of my theatre career, I need something to soak up my creative time.

no pressure tags: anyone who wants to! But particularly @hawthorneox and @kaminaduck

[envihellbender]

MaDe TMA au!!

Characters: Declan Gerritz, Mathias Iversen (OCs)

Verse: The Magnus Archives AU, in this the Magnus Institute is in York, Declan is the Archivist, Mathias is an assistant who has been marked for the Web, the main antagonists are Martin and John. John in Elias’s place and Martin in Peter Lukas’s place.

Content: Spiders, technology malfunctioning, puppets

[CLICK]

DECLAN (THE ARCHIVIST)

Statement of Mathias Iverson, regarding a strange encounter with a television programme. It occurred in his flat in Westfield, York. Statement given 14th of February 2023. Audio recording by Declan Gerritz, Head Archivist of the Magnus Institute. Statement begins. [A PAUSE FOLLOWED BY A SHAKY BREATH FROM DECLAN] When-whenever you’re ready, Mads.

MATHIAS

Oh. Right. Yeah. It happened five days ago, at least, I think it did. I’ve not… been home since. I always wind down after work with a film. Disney film, usually. This time it was Løvernes Konge. I still have the old video tapes from when I was a kid, they still work really well which is good because I don’t like the English titles as much. I also got an old VCR I picked up in a charity shop, it was really cheap. I find it more relaxing to watch them that way, I guess. People keep saying I should just get a Disney Plus account but… anyway, not relevant. I was watching Løvernes Konge and it had just gotten to the bit where Simba is going to the elephant graveyard. I don’t know if this is relevant but just above my television for a while there has been a spider for about a week or so. Not the biggest I’ve ever seen. But not like, small either. It had a web all built and I have been leaving it alone because well spiders keep pests away. Anyway. The screen… Changed. It went to static. At first I didn’t question it, thought maybe it was a problem with the VCR. I mean the thing is fucking old. But when I went over to check the cable or smack it I saw my silhouette in the static. My outline. A black shadow of me. I put my hand up and my shadow self moved too. I turned the television off and took the tape from the VCR, and it was fine I suppose. But I could smell burning. I tried not to think about it. My upstairs neighbours are terrible cooks and my downstairs neighbours get stoned fairly frequently so it’s not too out of the ordinary.

Anyway so I ignored the television for the rest of the night and listened to some true crime podcasts instead. I fell asleep during one. It was about the Cray twins, it was pretty inaccurate and glossed over- well- that doesn’t matter. When I woke up in the middle of a new episode I did not recognise the television was on. It was showing a static screen like before with silhouettes on it. But the silhouettes? They were like. Fanden. They were all spiders. They were just the black shapes of eight legged creatures. Had to be spiders, right? At first I thought they were on the screen but I even put my hand on it and all I could feel was the glass and the slight static hum. But the spiders moved. They cleared space like I spooked them. I tried turning my television off but it didn’t do anything. Eventually I unplugged it and went back to sleep. I tried to ignore it. Maybe it was a technical glitch or maybe it was a supernatural thing that if I left it alone and showed I wasn’t going to interfere maybe it would leave me alone.

Anyway. I went to bed, and I slept pretty well actually. I slept for four hours, and got up around three in the morning. I sort of dismissed what had happened as a dream. I started making my meal prep for the week. I have a specific type of insomnia where I can only sleep for four hours at a time most nights so I try to be productive when I’m awake. I mostly cut up vegetables and cook pasta. I quite like the flat at night, there’s not as much noise from upstairs and downstairs at that time. Anyway. When I went into the living room to sit and maybe watch something on Netflix when… the television. It was- it was already… on. It was on. I’d left it unplugged. I vividly remember pulling the plug from the wall. But no, the plug was… well it was back in obviously. Anyway. On the television, instead of spiders this time it was a strange programme instead, it was these puppets, they looked like… there is this kids show from back ho- back in Denmark named Kaj and Andrea. It’s got these puppets and they are a frog and a bird. But they look. They looked wrong, I can’t explain… the proportions weren’t right and they moved a little too humanly, I think. It was smooth as if they weren’t being controlled and the bird’s wings moved like arms. They were talking in a mix of languages, I caught bits of English and Danish, then maybe German and French. Eventually, I noticed the spiders on the screen, slowly edging from the sides and taking up more and more space. It was then they both turned to the screen and … they were talking in English. Clear English. And they were talking to me. At first I thought I was insane, like no they’re just talking at the camera but- but I don’t know. It started with them saying it’s awfully late, how I shouldn’t be watching television at this time, then they began saying I shouldn’t sit so close to the screen. It was then they got bigger, and they grew teeth. And they said, clear as day:

“Do you think we need more legs, Mathias?”

I tried to turn it off. But the buttons… at some point the television had been covered in web and I’d not noticed. How had I not noticed? I- I went to unplug it but the web went all the way down the wire and attached it to the socket in the wall. I tried to rip it out but it wouldn’t budge. The stupid fucking puppets on the TV laughed and laughed and laughed. They said- they said “don’t you wish to play with us, Mathias?” How fucking creepy and cliche is that?

Anyway. I packed a bag and ran. Hung out in the 24 hour cafe just outside of the city centre until it was time to go to work. And I’ve been secretly living in the Archives ever since. Sorry. Erm. Am I in trouble?

DECLAN (THE ARCHIVIST)

Statement ends. [Sighs.] No, you’re not in trouble. John doesn’t seem to mind. And Martin… I don’t think he’s noticed.

MATHIAS

I have evidence. For the research. I have photos on my phone. Of the TV and of the cartoon. Probably would be better if I had a video…

DECLAN (THE ARCHIVIST)

No, no. That’s great, Mads. Obviously it’s best you don’t investigate personally, since something clearly wants to hurt you. And you can’t go back home. So. Yes. I think- we can set you up a proper bed in the Archives. Have some security watching out for whatever is doing this. Are you… Are you okay, Mads?

MATHIAS

I suppose so. [Breath quickens and there are tears in his voice.] I want my things. I want my things here and I want them not to be covered in web. I want my home back. I want it to be clean. I want-

DECLAN (THE ARCHIVIST)

Hey, hey- [Shuffling due to him moving to hold Mathias.] I know, I know Mads. It’s gonna be okay. We’ll deal with this. And I’ll keep you safe.

MATHIAS

[Sniffs.] Guess I can’t say all the statements we get are bullshit now, huh?

[DECLAN LAUGHS]

[CLICK]

[bengiyo]

I just listened to the podcast (part 1 of the VIIBE awards) you did with @shortpplfedup and I loved it so much!!! Your thoughts were so articulate and had such a depth to them!! It made me want to watch some shows I skipped out on (you really convinced me to watch Gameboys 2, which I have been stalling to do). Your discussion about Seng also made me rewatch a bit of War of Y and he is SO GOOD. I hope to see him in some production, even though I read that he has left Idol Factory... What you said about Kevin and Pluem feeling so queer also resonated with me. I am a lesbian myself, and a lot of pairings in queer shows feel like they are not ready to go full out and actually touch? Which is something that Boy and Tod do really well, although I must say that I think it would have been lovely had Kevin been allowed to be even more proactive, because he toed the line between blushy and very eager.

I also really really agree on the best main ship award for Togawa and Nozue. They just spoke to me so much and I also felt sad we didn't see them much AFTER they got together. The intimacy they could have showcased... Oh well, one can only hope they have a season 2 in the works! I was completely caught off guard that my beautiful man got a movie, so who knows!

I am looking forward to listening to the next episode!! (it took me about three hours to listen to bc i went back and watched about half the scenes you talked about). Thank you so much for recording and making this episode :) (this got a bit long, I hope this makes sense)

Thank you so much for this message! Contrary to popular belief, most critics I met when I wrote for a magazine before COVID actually don't like writing negative reviews or discouraging people from supporting productions. I like sharing what I connected to in the work so that potential viewers might also share in that experience with me. So, a message like this is my favorite: I've convinced a new person to watch one of my favorite shows of the year!

I can assure you that @shortpplfedup and I recorded the second episode already, and have scheduled for the third! Thank you so much for listening to our first efforts!

[skeptical-lynx]

10 Questions

Tagged by: @listening-to-thunder

Rules: answer 10 questions and tag 10 people you want to know better

Relationship status: Single, but ready for a relationship when the right person shows up

Favourite color: Red, Black, White and Golden

Three favorite foods: Phở Bò, Poke, Khinkali

Song stuck in my head: “Just Walk Away” by Celine Dion

Last thing I listened to: Casefile podcast

Last thing I googled: “Skyrim cure vampirism command” lol. I am currently replaying Skyrim

Time: 7:42pm

Dream trip: Anywhere, where I can swim in the sea. I haven’t swum in the sea since 2009, only watched the cold ocean during my last trip. And I just want to swim and watch the sea and collect seashells

Anything I really want: to fall in love with my profession again without being a part of corporate hell

Currently reading: only fan-fiction, can’t find time for anything else at the moment

Last song: “Leave The Door Open” by Anderson .Paak, Bruno Mars, and Silk Sonic

Last movie: Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (rewatch)

Last series: Love, Death and Robots (rewatch)

Sweet, savory, or spicy: Savory

Currently working on: GuardianRedPocket2023 prompt with tiny dragon! yay

Craving: a trip and a good rest

Tea or coffee: Coffee at home mostly (I love nespresso), tea (boba preferably) when I am out

Tagging everyone who wants to take part. And @eirenical @baiyubai @micimicelle @bonbonpich

[keldamuzik-weartamz]

Diva Talk a Hit Podcast! Keldamuzik Keeps the Conversation Flowing

Remember the awesome talks and interviews on Diva Talk Tonite? Well, get ready for a whole new way to hear them! Keldamuzik, the amazing host, is moving her show to the world of podcasts – it’s now called “Diva Talk Podcast.” This switch means the show goes with the flow of how people listen to stuff these days – on their phones, whenever they want, instead of just on TV.

Why Podcasts?

People are watching less TV and listening to more things on their phones. Podcasts are like radio shows you can listen to anytime, anywhere. This makes them perfect for busy lives, and that’s why Keldamuzik decided to move Diva Talk there to reach more people.

Still the Same Great Show

Even though it’s a podcast now, Diva Talk is still all about the same awesome conversations you loved on TV. Keldamuzik is still there, talking about relationships, self-care, big issues, and chasing dreams.

Bigger and Better with Podcasts

Here’s why going to podcasts is a big win for Diva Talk:

Everyone Can Listen: Podcasts aren’t stuck in one place! People all over the world can now hear Diva Talk, not just those who could watch the TV show.

More Cool Guests: Podcasts are more flexible, so Keldamuzik can chat with even more amazing people, both nearby and far away.

Deeper Dives: Podcasts give Keldamuzik more time to talk about important stuff. This means you get to hear more details and interesting ideas on every topic.

The Future Looks Bright!

By moving to podcasts, Keldamuzik keeps Diva Talk fresh and exciting. The show’s fun format, Keldamuzik’s energy, and the awesome interviews guarantee it’ll keep listeners hooked for a long time. So, grab your phone, find Diva Talk, and join the conversation wherever you are!

Article Source: https://keldamuzik.com/

Connect with Keldamuzik's Social -

https://www.facebook.com/keldamuzik/

https://www.instagram.com/keldamuzik/

https://twitter.com/keldamuzik/

https://www.youtube.com/keldamuzikpresents

[foxbox21212]

Someone asked me today, “What if Jesus is actually the devil?” And I think this is a silly question, and I’m about to break this down as short as I possibly can…

To understand if Jesus is God you really need to understand the entirety of the Bible. You need to understand who is Jesus and who is Satan. Who are they and what are their characteristics. People often times more often than not 9/10 times people confuse God with Satan. Because they do not understand the Bible. And not only that, but 9/10 times they ALSO don’t understand what God and Satan appear like in the world, also because of their lack of knowledge.

My friend Mac once told me, “You’re smart like me, you think a lot, but you need more to think” and maybe this is what inspired me to start watching videos and podcasts all the time every single day at work. Idk regardless though, you do need knowledge because “people perish from the lack of knowledge” That being said, you need not only knowledge, but wisdom. We need to live through the Bible which I swear only comes from meditation on the word and understanding the word, which is God. I’ve been through so much in my life. Some people don’t even end up learning about things I know until their life is almost over. Or maybe they never learn. Sometimes I question, “Why did you pick me out of all people to find out about all this God? Why?” God truly knows when we are ready and ready to receive and ready to listen. I had to go through so much so early in my life! Divorced parents, abuse, toxic parents, toxic relationships, being poor, being mentally tormented, doing witchcraft, soo many things I had to go through so much to actually understand the wisdom of the Bible that speaks about these matters. This isn’t always the case with everyone, but in my case, it was because I was made to be a uniquely particular way to reach particular people. I swear you read the Bible and it just gets so true more and more true… Like wow that is how famous people act, that is how unbelievers act, oh that’s why Jesus says not to do that, oh that’s why the weather is changing there, oh that’s why we don’t do witchcraft, oh that’s why I was saved from suicide. I swear I have a question and the Bible just answers it all of it.

It seems very contradictory and confusing this question seems. (Which news flash if you didn’t know, the devil is always confusing and contradictory and lying to you) Why make a book that is half true? Why make a book so meaty? Why save me from suicide? Why save tons of people from suicide? Why heal people? What is the point of God if he is the devil that makes absolutely no sense at all. That’s actually laughable. Because guess what, when I was doing witchcraft demons were trying to kill me because I was officially their threat and I knew too much. Satan is not your “little buddy” you are his basketball. He will do nothing but step on you. And like I said, I had to go through so much, see so much, be exposed to so much, to fully understand this. Like honestly why wouldn’t I love God now? He has done nothing but bring me true joy and peace like no one has ever given to me before. And I truly mean that from the bottom of my heart. I could be stripped in jail and Christianity could be illegal in 15 years and I’ll still be on my knees worshipping God with my whole soul. Like I just don’t care anymore I’ve lived through the Bible. When times were tough, I spent my time with him and I don’t regret it at all because he showed me he was there and eventually answered all my prayers and questions.

Someone once told me “if God is real I win. If God isn’t real I win.” What this means is, if God is real you win the greatest prize known to man. If God isn’t real you had a great morally superior life full of less regret, knowing you did what you can to the fullest extent. You had a great life filled with the fire of love. And you ended up becoming a light to a dark world.

And guess what, you’re either filled with the fire of love, maybe new profoundly maybe he healed you of this, I don’t know, or you’re just burnt out. You are either in the light or the dark. People in the dark live the exact opposite way that the Bible says Christians should live. And I can guarantee you it’s not working for them because they weren’t made to be that way. There is nothing truly enjoyable, truly good, or natural about it. So in conclusion, this isn’t a simple question with a simple answer. You can’t just say “jesus isn’t the devil” you have to truly know why. I think it’s sad when people don’t have the knowledge or wisdom to understand why. We aren’t God, we won’t know everything, but God will give us enough to understand because he is God. And the more we abide in him, he will reward us by answering our hard questions.

[time4hemp]

Stop by often!

Take a 420 brake with us three times a week.

Thank you for taking Time 4 Hemp.

Hello and welcome to our brand new blog dedicated to exploring the wonders of the hemp plant! Here at Time 4 Hemp, we're passionate about all things hemp-related, from its incredible medical benefits to its diverse industrial applications. Join us on this exciting journey as we delve into the world of industrial hemp, hemp farming, hemp fuels, hemp foods, and a plethora of other hemp products.

There are many different ways to say high.

Get ready for a multi-sensory experience! In addition to our informative blog posts, we'll be rolling out new audio podcasts and video content to provide you with even more ways to explore the fascinating world of hemp. Whether you prefer to listen on the go or watch engaging visuals, we've got you covered.

This blog is proudly hosted on the historic Time4Hemp.news platform, a renowned hub for cannabis-related news and information. With a legacy of providing reliable and insightful content, Time4Hemp.news is the perfect home for us to share lots of news with views.

Behind the scenes, you'll find Casper Leitch, the visionary creator of this new blog. With a rich history spanning over three decades in the Hemp Movement, Casper has been a driving force for advocacy and education since 1991. From grassroots activism to pioneering online platforms, his dedication to promoting the potential of hemp knows no bounds. He continues to lead the way using all the new AI tools that now make it possible for Casper and friends to raise the dead....well, ALMOST anyway.

Voices from the grave.

Through this blog, not only will we be releasing new content, we will be releasing OLD content in a new way. AI now makes it possible to quickly comb through the more than 3,000 hours of archived material on this site and locate interviews with information that is still important for today's audience to see and/or hear. We will also use content from several hard working hemp activist who were interviewed for a broadcast and have since passed away and - with the magic of AI - bring them back to life and share their message with a new audience of hemp and cannabis lovers.

An example is the short video at the top of this blog post. It features Chris Conrad who (is still alive) was the very first guest on the very first show to broadcast January 5, 1991. Nothing has been done to it with any type of AI program, it’s just a 2-min clip from the show. If you’re really looking for a brief summery of the many different types of products that can be made from the hemp plant, this short clip is about all you need to see. With all the amazing editing that can be done quickly with AI tools, that video might get seen by more people and open more minds to the importance of the hemp plant: Mother Natures greatest gift to all of humankind.

Playing with new toys.

In the future, we will put a video like that through a handful of AI programs and jazz-up the presentation so as to get more eyes and ears to see and hear it. We will do a blog about Chris Conrad and his work as a hemp activists in a future post. I do encourage you to do a Google search on him and check out some of his books.

We will be experimenting and having a lot of fun with all the different kinds of AI video editing tools and art programs that we can get our hands on. We intend to use them in every and any way we can to raise the voice of the global hemp movement and educate the whole world about how HEMP CAN SAVE THE PLANET.

Please share us with your friends.

Get ready to embark on a journey of discovery and empowerment as we unravel the mysteries of the hemp plant. With new content added three times each week, you won't want to miss out on the latest insights, trends, and stories from the world of hemp. Stay tuned, share us with your friends, and let's explore the limitless possibilities of hemp together!

May your path through Life be filled with love and laughter.

[ear-worthy]

Five Best Sports Podcasts Of 2023

Please don't get upset. I'm trying to prepare you for the news. Are you ready? Are you sitting down? The Bill Simmons podcast is not on my list of the top five sports podcasts. No, I don't have a gripe with Mr. Simmons. His show is a perfectly competent sports podcast. Mr. Simmons has not been without controversy in his career, -- angry white man syndrome -- but is knowledgeable and articulate about sports. 

However, the sports podcasts I've chosen all have something  -- a special ingredient to offer.

First, let me wax angrily about the controversy addicts on sports podcasts who think that blurting out the most outlandish statements at a jet-engine decibel level generates ratings and makes them more visible in a crowded sports broadcasting field. Yes and yes, courting controversy accomplishes both goals, but at some point listeners get tired of your forced rants and fake controversies.

How many times can you flip out on the refs in any sport? Or call some athlete overrated? Or overpaid? Or attack some billionaire sports owner who has the ego of a monster and the self-awareness of a three-year-old?

Think Stephen A.Smith, Skip Bayless, and Colin Cowherd. These three never met an unfiltered opinion they didn't like. But enough about them. Let's talk sports podcast excellence.

  Hang Up And Listen

Slate podcasts are, as a rule, a cut above iHeart, Spotify, and Wondery podcasts. These intelligence-inflected podcasts are often designed to spur thinking, reflection, and self-awareness. That rule applies to the Hang Up And Listen podcast with hosts, Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin, who excel as quieter, more perceptive versions of Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless. 

The show covers the requisite sports topics of the week. The December 18th episode, for example, covered the indefinite suspension of Draymond Green, reports of the Wizards and Caps decamping to Northern Virginia, and college quarterbacks in the transfer portal.

What makes this podcast so remarkable is the show's instinct to make listeners think about the covered topic, instead of telling listeners what the hosts think and demanding that listeners then support the ideological line. 

What the three co-hosts accomplish every episode is to remind listeners that, while sports can be a metaphor for life, it's still an entertainment medium. Even more impressive is the show's resistance to either lionize or demonize athletes in sports. Instead, the show reserves its opprobrium for the self-indulgent, narcissistic owners of team sports and parent organizations of individual sports. 

I recommend the August 7th episode titled, "The USWNT Is Out Edition," covering the Women’s World Cup, conference realignment, and the MLB trade deadline. Plus, a conversation with Wimbledon quarterfinalist Chris Eubanks.

Ross Tucker Football Podcast

Ross Tucker is a former offensive lineman whose career was cut short by a serious neck injury in 2007. He's a Princeton graduate and has done multiple jobs in football journalism since his retirement. 

His show -- Ross Tucker Football Podcast -- broadcasts throughout the year with reviews of the NFL draft by position, forecasts about the upcoming season, and guest interviews that sparkle.

Tucker doesn't offer his listeners the typical screaming retired football player with random opinions that are shouted and announced as fact. Instead, Tucker interviews people with more thoughtful, nuanced positions, such as journalist Gary Myers, math wizard Steve Fezzik, and insightful interviews with current players. 

However, Tucker's ace in the hole is ESPN's NFL Matchup producer and analyst Greg Cosell. Unlike some analysts, Cosell is not loud, controversial and is often quite bland. But his devotion to watching game films and explaining the intricacies of the game to listeners makes him a unique repository of knowledge for those who really want to understand how NFL football is played.

What to know about which teams use "12" personnel and why? Cosell will tell you on this podcast. (12 personnel means that there is one running back, two tight ends, and two receivers on the field.) When Cosell explains the two deep safety shell (The two deep safeties divide the field in half and work over the top of the five underneath players.) you'll understand why some quarterbacks have a hard time exploiting that defense. Cosell is ideal for the fan who wants to know why his team is winning or losing, and not for the fan who wants to blame the referees for everything.

The Rich Eisen Show

The Rich Eisen Show provides a mix of sports news, interviews with athletes and celebrities, and lively discussions on current events in the sports world. Eisen brings his extensive knowledge and experience to the show, engaging with guests and offering insightful analysis. The show covers a wide range of sports topics, including football, basketball, baseball, and more. 

The show has a similar format to most sports podcasts, but it's Eisen that stands out. He's smart, and can be smart-alecky but with a restraint that tells listeners he's a thinking man, not a drinking man. Eisen handles interviews with ease, and always inserts reflective musing, attentive skepticism, and that awareness that he's discussing sports, not life or death conundrums.

Finally, Eisen may have the only spouse who is always an incredible sports podcaster, Suzy Shuster. (What The Football with Amy Trask).

30 For 30 ESPN Podcasts

It may be that ESPN's 30 for 30 Podcasts has set the bar so high for audio sports documentaries that no one will catch up. 

 The podcast is a highly acclaimed audio series that extends the storytelling of ESPN’s renowned 30 for 30 documentary films. Each episode of the podcast focuses on a captivating sports story, delving deep into the narratives that shape the sports world. 

With a combination of powerful interviews, archival recordings, and expert analysis, 30 for 30 Podcasts brings these stories to life in an audio format. The podcast covers a wide range of topics, including iconic athletes, historic moments, and controversial events, providing a thought-provoking and immersive experience for sports enthusiasts. 

30 for 30 is known for its high production value and compelling storytelling, which is why it has earned a dedicated following and continues to captivate audiences with its unique blend of sports and narrative journalism.

Attaching an asterisk to this podcast, I can't leave ESPN without mentioning Bomani Jones, who has always been a natural fit for the podcasting format. While it sucked to lose High Noon (the show he hosted with Pablo Torre), Jones cuts deep on everything from sports and culture to music and social issues.

Jones is one of the smartest people in sports media, and anyone looking for a debate is going to get their money's worth—and that's why he's always such a great listen, no matter what the platform. 

 Real Science Of Sport Podcast

 World-renowned sports scientist Professor Ross Tucker and veteran sports journalist Mike Finch break down the myths, practices and controversies from the world of sport on the Real Science Of Sport Podcast. 

From athletics to rugby, soccer, cycling and more, the two delve into the most recent research, unearth lessons from the pros and host exclusive interviews with some of the world's leading sporting experts.

Recent episodes include Rugby's high-tech mouth guards, cold water therapy for recovery, the science of carb loading for endurance athletes, and the effectiveness of high-altitude training.

Finally, science people have a voice in sports.

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Finally, a good sports podcast should not recreate the sports bar or locker room in language, attitude or intelligence level. A sports podcast should not approximate jock talk in the locker room and devolve into audio "high-fives” or “belching and boobs” jokes. 

While some men still can't accept this fact, more and more women are listening to sports podcasts. 

A good sports podcast shouldn't be designed for the frat boy follies. Sure, sports podcasts do not have to sound like the Harvard Business Review podcast, but also not appeal to those who spend time on new "knock-knock" jokes and deciding on their latest whoopee cushion purchase.

These sports podcasts I've highlighted can fill your craving for sports talk by offering you a healthy dose of lively, spirited yet intelligent sports news and commentary. 

By contrast, I heard a fan call in to a sports radio show after the Eagles lost to the 49ers a few weeks ago and tried to recruit people to fly to San Francisco and start fights at the next 49ers home game for revenge. 

Get a life. It's only a game.