leon and connor drafted all of matthews friends… you should do some mcmattdrai stuff!! ur art is SCRUMPTIOUS btw

i hadn't even realized that! i was voting so fervently for matthew and was sad to see he didn't make it, but.. there's always a silver lining somewhere 💫

here's some good ol' cheesy mcmattdrai!

this one is gonna be short but let’s call this the insta edition! my notes on chapter 22:

1. chan about chanbin

all i can think about is the fact that cb had to buy that woody doll and after halloween?? what is finna do with that after huh??? 😐

but looks really cute 10/10 i wanna kith him 💞💘💓

thing that chan didn’t have to do:

that

chan that caption was anything but necessary everyone (me) is always on hjs ass for being too much but what the HELL is this hunny

2. minho about jisung

HELP THE CAPTIONSHSJ€£\¥\%)

WHAT POSSESSED HIM TO DO THAT

honestly i hadn’t put together that he was a witch bcs i wasn’t wearing glasses and didn’t notice his hat so i just thought he was being hot & accepted that 😌

still 10/10 tho cause he owns my heart <33

3. changbin about felix

HIS USERNAME IS AMAZING 🤩

why are they all so HORNY jesus

felix looks so pretty 10/10 🥺

the way stands reminds me of the fuck it up kenneth vine IM SORRY

4. hyunjin about chan

NO BECAUSE U KNEW WHAT U WERE DOING WITH THIS DUO SIMMY 😡 ‼️

chan looks really good tho I WANT THOSE SHOES he’s on the rob list now too

he wore black clothes and a cape and called it a day and i respect that king LOVE the make up tho so 10/10

i’m not even surprised with the captions anymore at this point 😔

5. jisung about jeongin

his ass did not watch the movie huh 😐

joker is right ig because sir is a whole ass clown

ignoring that how DARE he???

NO ITS FINE JUST LOOK LIKE THAT AND MAKE ME CRY THATS FINE 😐‼️10/10

this look is amazing and he owns all of us

6. felix about seungmin

is he gonna hit me with that cane or is he gonna tell me to have nice day no one knows

HE LOOKS SO MF CUTE 😡😡😡I JUST WANNA SQUISH HIS CHEEKS AND TELL HIM HES PRETTY 10/10

his facial expression is really funny lmao what happened while taking that picture bae 🥴🤲

the corny ass caption but for some UNKNOWN reason it’s cute def not cuz he’s felix and everything he does is cute

7. seungmin about hyunjin

r u tryna kill me with this combination????

the caption 😐 he sat on that one for a while like he gave himself a thumbs up on that one (how did u even come up with that omg 😳)

he looks so tinY u don’t expect him to be king of the fboys when you see that 🥺🥺

10/10 love the way he’s not facing the camera -3-

8. jeongin about y/n

i’ve waiting for dis one TURN IT UP🕺‼️

i’m considering simpin for myself at this point

she looks so fine i don’t blame everyone being whipped for her 😳

27289252727290167738190110 out of 10

i liked the caption 👉👈 😌

9. y/n about minho

u feeding dem y/n x minho stans huh ‼️ good for them (am i one of them or not not even i know at this point)

minho really BODIED that look 👀 10/10

he’s so fine omg 😔✊

the caption tho 👁👁

idk tbh i saw the movie i just don’t remember anything :)

10. the tweets

why am i not surprised it’s felix 😐

no he’s not felix 😐

homeboy got so scared he changed outfits

chan asking the real questions

homeboy does wanna do a car wash but drama students is where he draws the line 😐

JEONGIN vs everyone pt. 162782

Down atrocious.

turns out it wasn’t short 👉👈 i finally caught up yay! it was so great and funny the nurse came in my room to ask why i was laughing lmao, i love making this lists because it makes me feel like i appreciate your writing more lol 🤧

anyway here’s the daily emoji meme, inspirit of the captions:

1. I’M JUST IMAGINING CHANGBIN WITH A WOODY DOLL ON HIS BED 💀

2. the whores of the group are really rubbing off on him 😭

3. NOOO NOT FUCK IT UP KENNETH 🥴 (tbh I got more ‘you know I had to do it to em’ vibes)

4. YES I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT I WAS DOING WITH THAT DUO 😈

5. FR HE LOOKED SO GOOD AS HARLEY QUINN 😳

6. he’s so adorable but he also did not want to be there like he looks so done 😭

7. honestly bestie it took me an AGE to do this part bc it was so hard to come up with the captions 🥴

8. she’s crazy fine, I’m a simp for y/n only ‼️����

9. I gotta feed all of y’all bc the bliss is gonna be over soon 😈

10. ‘homeboy got so scared he changed outfits’ LMAOOOOOOOO 💀💀💀

I’m glad it could make you laugh bestie, and I love your lists so much!! thank you for putting so much effort into them 🥺💕

Getting to Know Abby Debeaupre

This week, I interviewed another great Outlander fanfic writer, @abbydebeaupreposts!

Abby was born on the East Coast of U.S and grew up in and around New York City. She is 50% Greek and 50% Mutt, but can only (barely, she says) speak her native tongue of English. Without exactly revealing her age, she did admit that she has a playlist stuck in the 80s. She only started writing Outlander fanfics a little over a year ago. In school, she studied Political Science and Economics. Currently, she does mostly transaction work, focusing mainly on contingency planning and a lot of technical writing. For fun, Abby enjoys hiking, biking, playing tennis, reading, cooking, and watching documentaries. As a unique talent, she revealed that she can tie a cherry stem with her tongue! If she could travel through the stones, she would like to relive her life as a baby boomer or possibly go to Paris in the 1920s. She was adamant that she would not be all that adaptable to the 1740s, as she has a healthy respect for deodorant, tampons and indoor plumbing.

Keep reading to see the full Q & A.

What inspired you to start writing Outlander fanfiction?

The long droughtlander between 1 and 2. I started writing fanfic probably like everyone else --because there were some things I wanted to read that weren’t written yet. Also one of my children had a serious medical issue and needed surgery (he’s doing really well. If any parents out there need to figure out how to go about finding a peds neurosurgeon feel free to DM me). It was a hugely challenging thing to go through. I had a lot of time waiting and pacing in doctor’s offices and hospital corridors. The thing is you are still processing later on-- months later...it echoes across a lot of your life even after and there was upheaval for awhile. Anyway, I stumbled on Outlander fanfic -- perfect small snippets -- the fandom platform is a kind of shorthand that cuts through the expositional crap-- we know who the the characters are and mostly where they are going. Fics usually have regular updates so you stay interested, etc. A handful of writers in particular gave me something to look forward to, a nice escape and lovely food for thought about something other than the things happening IRL. That made a difference to me and I -- corny as this sounds--hope maybe I’ve been able to return the favor/pay it forward.

What are some of your favourite quotes that you have written?

This is a great excuse to reflect on what I have been doing so thank you for that. Let me preface this by saying that I love writing but readers make it fun, special and interesting. So I just wanted to say how enjoyable readers have made this experience. In the process of reviewing everything to try and pick out some quotes has made me realize that I did accomplish my starting goal-- I wrote some things that I wanted to read that remained unwritten and I am kind of happy with how things turned out. Here we go:   

“He kissed her as if she was the essence life itself and she kissed him as if by doing so she could bring him into the light.” --An Outlander Affair to Remember

“If my lips touch yours, Sassenach, I might no’ be able to stop. I’ve been holding heaven in my arms while you slept.” --An Outlander Affair to Remember

“Kiss me quick, all’s quiet, no one is coming.” Claire huffed as she dropped into his lap. “Aye? Well, if it ‘twas you coming, Sassenach, it certainly wouldna be quiet for long!” -- An Outlander Affair to Remember 

“I could have been content, you know...Everything changed when you came into Faith’s life.” Jamie could not remain silent. “Sassenach, I came into your life, too.” “I know. That’s it, exactly.” Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes, as if the truth of the statement made her heart break. -- This is Us

“Dearest LJ, If the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach; Your best chance is with a scalpel, not a spatula!” -- This is Us

“Sassenach, if ye think that kiss’ll help me focus on something other than how much I look forward to doing it again, I must tell ye I am no’ of the same mind as you. Come here, lass,” he said as he moved in for the kill. -- Queen’s Gambit

What is your writing process when writing your fanfics? 

I very specifically choose a quote or a scene or a theme from the source material and then challenge myself to drop it on its head and slide it from the OL-verse into my fic in a way that changes its meaning, reconstructs it or reinterprets it. This is true of all my stories except perhaps the Abby After Dark Collection-- which is a little less….literary in nature. This Is Us in particular uses many influences from the book-verse (and TV show too actually) and it has resonated with readers despite the fact that I know about half of the readers haven’t read all the books. I love the fact that it appeals to both kinds of readers.

Do you write during a specific time of day? 

I work looooong hours, I have a fairly busy life with my family and friends and so I try and attend to writing a little bit every day but some days more than others.

Do you ask for input from peers? 

Not in the way you mean--I don’t have a beta and I know it shows! But my peers are beyond supportive of me. We do discuss story arcs and character development, funny plot bunnies, etc. Especially when you get the odd mean anon. They are so great in those low moments. I have been blessed with cheerleaders in the fandom from day one. A lot of people ask how can they get traction for their work and on their blogs-- here is my best advice: team up with someone or several someones--There are artists out there, GIF makers, book analysis bloggers, script nerds, BTS photo blogs, photoshop wizards- find them team up-- @smoakingwaffles started really getting traction with @annalisedemoodboards and the Polaroid series. @futurelounging was just flat out funny and caught @bonnie-wee-swordsman‘s attention. I started on AO3 and @pissedoffsoka13 found me as did @thistlekat777 and really encouraged me to come to Tumblr and then @outlanderedandoverhere drew an amazing This Is Us the fic that is my blog banner and @cantrixgrisea started much as I did posting (but fanart on AO3)-- incredible stuff--and she is so adorable and funny. These are just a few of the ways people give input-- I learn everyday from what they are up to. 

Do you edit while you write or do you use a more stream-of-consciousness approach?

I am the worst proofreader in the world-- but I edit constantly, it’s why it takes a long time between posts. 

What is your favourite genre to write and why?

I don’t have one. I write more modern AUs. I am too much of a nerd about wanting to fact check things and it’s just easier to do that with a modern world setting. The only genre I don’t think I could do are the kinds of fics written by @futurelounging and @diversemediums and @kalendraashtar-- these fantasy/futuristic/past complexities that are fantastically unique.

What has been your favourite season of the show so far and why?

Season One 1-8 because a more perfect glorious season there never was. That is not to say that I haven’t been blown away by several episodes in all three seasons-- they have their strengths and weaknesses. 

Have you read any of Diana’s books? 

All of them and many side ones as well.    

Do you have a favourite book?

ABOSAA.    

Do you read/write fanfics for any other fandom?

Until a few years ago I hadn’t heard the phrase fandom let alone… so no.

What is one random fact about you that you have never revealed on Tumblr before?

I play Texas Hold ‘Em and a mean game of Oh Hell.   

And that’s Abby. Even though I haven’t added her stories to my archive YET, you can check out her fanfiction master list on her blog.

The best songs of the 2010s: #75-51

#75: “The Only Thing” by Sufjan Stevens (2015)

It was tough to pick a single song from Sufjan Stevens’ masterpiece, Carrie and Lowell, for this list. The album, about his dead mother, is consistently beautiful and tragic throughout.

But “The Only Thing” has the most devastating line of the whole album, and possibly the whole decade, delivered in a wobbly falsetto: “Should I tear my eyes out now?/Everything I see returns to you somehow.” Case closed. Now please excuse me while I cry for the rest of the day.

#74: “Best Song Ever” by One Direction (2013)

If you can’t appreciate this slice of pop-rock perfection that shamelessly rips off The Who, I’m not sure we can be friends.

“Best Song Ever” still sounds as the pinnacle of One Direction’s career, with its fizzy arena-rock chorus and adorable lyrics about that one special night with a mysterious woman, never to be seen again. The Millennial Whoops are plentiful, and they are irresistible.

Yes, “Best Song Ever” is a corny boy band song. But A) it’s the best possible version of a corny boy band song. And B) boy bands are wonderful. Just embrace the cheese.

(Also, One Direction was the greatest boy band of all time. Don’t fight me on this.)

#73: “Pray For Rain” by Pure Bathing Culture (2015)

Portland shoegaze duo Pure Bathing Culture delivered the closest approximation to a prime Cocteau Twins single since the early ‘90s.

It’s got the icy synths and shoegaze guitars to throw any listener into a hypnotic groove. The secret ingredient that makes “Pray For Rain” stand out, however, is the thumping, snare-heavy beat that invokes both military drum lines and trip-hop. It adds a propulsion to the otherwise dreamy track, creating a dissonant yet incredible experience.

#72: “Not” by Big Thief (2019)

Unlike the hushed folksy whispers of Big Thief’s first 2019 album, “Not” is a furious, noisy firebomb of an indie rock jam. Lead singer Adrianne Lenker’s warble is pushed to its limits, as her vocals crack and strain while the song’s tension (and noise level) slowly ratchets up in the song’s first half. 

Then, the pent-up energy is finally released for an explosive, discordant two-and-a-half minute guitar solo. It’s pure chaos and anger distilled into one instrument, and the greatest moment so far of Big Thief’s promising career.

#71: “Dog Years” by Maggie Rogers (2016)

The strength of Maryland indie-pop prodigy Maggie Rogers’ first few singles is how in tune with nature she sounded. I’ve dubbed it “REI-pop.”

And none of her songs are more reminiscent of a high-end outdoors store than “Dog Years” — and yes, that’s a compliment. “Dog Years” incorporates noises like wind chimes and owl hoots to its soulful synthpop production for a unique flavor. Rogers delivers on the vocal end with a stunning performance reminiscent of blue-eyed soul greats like Daryl Hall.

It’s a bummer that mainstream indie pop nowadays is going to mostly sound like Jeep ads. But “Dog Years” proves great art can still be created in that avenue.

#70: “The House That Heaven Built” by Japandroids (2012)

With “The House That Heaven Built,” Vancouver, BC indie rockers Japandroids made a perfect road trip anthem. The chugging guitars shoot to the sky, the drumming is furious, and the fist-pumping “OH OH OHs” are plentiful.

“House” is like a Bruce Springsteen collaboration with The Replacements: righteous fury backed by raucous, bar-friendly punk-rock. When lead singer/guitarist Brian King informs the listener that if “Anything try to slow you down/Tell em all to go to hell,” it’s something anyone can feel in their bones.

#69: “Adorn” by Miguel (2012)

“Adorn” is dangerously smooth. The chillwave-meets-80s-R&B production gets you halfway there, but Miguel’s buttery vocals are the main attraction here. From his endearing ad-libs (“whoap!”) to his effortless vocal runs on the gorgeous melody, he sounds like a seasoned pro.

I’m going to give y’all a hot take — “Adorn” is the Millennial “Sexual Healing.” It strikes that same nocturnal, sexy flair, and Miguel is working it just as hard as Marvin Gaye did. It’s too bad Miguel never was quite able to make something quite as impressive as “Adorn” again, but that single (and its accompanying, phenomenal Kaleidoscope Dream record) will cement him as a ‘10s R&B icon.

#68: “The World’s Best American Band” by White Reaper (2017)

White Reaper never claimed to be the world’s best band. Nope — they want to be the world’s best American band. So it’s only fitting that Louisville’s finest dirtbags cooked up a warm slice of some of the greasiest, sleaziest and most proudly stupid capital-R RAWK in years.

This is the kind of music Van Halen would’ve made if they were a low-rent Millennial indie band. This is the kind of music Gardner Minshew probably listens to. And it’s glorious.

#67: “I Just Had Sex” by The Lonely Island feat. Akon (2010)

This list isn’t really trying to measure importance or anything like that. It’s basically just the songs that made me the happiest this decade. And there are few songs that make me smile as much as The Lonely Island’s pathetically hilarious “I Just Had Sex.”

There’s so many golden moments here, from “I called my parents right after I was done!” to “The best 30 seconds of my life!” and “I think she might have been a racist?” The comedy trio was really on their A-game.

But what makes “I Just Had Sex” more than just a goof is that it’s also catchy as hell. That Akon chorus is legitimately one of the best pop hooks of the decade. What made The Lonely Island so brilliant in their turn-of-the-decade peak is their ability to make songs that often surpassed the actual pop hits they emulated, while not sacrificing hilarious lyrics.

(Also, shoutout to “Jack Sparrow” and the legitimately impressive baseball-themed “Let’s Bash,” both of which could’ve also snuck onto this list.)

#66: “Oh My Darling Don’t Cry” by Run The Jewels (2014)

Sometimes, you turn to hip-hop for inspiring messages and thoughtful, provocative lyrics (something Run The Jewels has certainly delivered on with tracks like “Early”).

But sometimes you just want an aggro banger that makes you want to smash through a brick wall like the Kool-Aid Man. That’s what “Oh My Darling Don’t Cry” brings to the table, thanks to its heavy helping of fuck-everyone defiance and El-P’s trademark apocalyptic, frantic production.

#65: “Your Best American Girl” by Mitski (2016)

In her signature song, “Your Best American Girl,” Mitski took the thrashing ‘90s guitars and epic chorus of Smashing Pumpkins’ “Today” and turned it into a conversation about race, insecurity and love.

Mitski, who is Japanese-American, vividly describes the angst of trying to fit the lily-white image of the “American Girl” for a boy. The song begins with insecurity — “Your mother wouldn’t approve of how my mother raised me/But I do, I think I do” — and then flips that statement into a proud stand for her roots: “But I do, I finally do.” It’s a powerful declaration, fitting of one of the decade’s most powerful rock anthems.

#64: “A Real Hero” by College and Electric Youth (2010)

Consider this spot a placeholder for all the best songs from the 2010′s best soundtrack: “Drive.”

Out of that soundtrack’s three stand-out singles, “A Real Hero” is the best by a hair. College’s slick, pulsing production is a perfect contrast to Bronwyn Griffin’s whispered, ghostly vocals. It’s the perfect love theme for an aggressively hipster-y movie where Ryan Gosling plays a dude in a gold satin jacket, drives around L.A. silently, and crushes a guy’s head in an elevator.

But shout out to the other two classics on Drive, “Nightcall” and “Under Your Spell,” which are also musts while driving around at night feeling moody.

#63: “Birthday Song” by 2 Chainz feat. Kanye West (2012)

“Birthday Song” is gloriously stupid. It’s the kind of song you laugh at the first time you hear it, but after a few more listens, you’re rapping along with 2 Chainz and Kanye.

And it’s hard not to rap along when there’s this many quotable lines: “SHE GOT A BIG BOOTY SO I CALL HER BIG BOOTY.” “I’M IN THE KITCHEN. YAMS EVERYWHERE!!” “Last birthday, she got you a new sweater/Put it on, give her a kiss, and tell her, ‘DO BETTER.’” And of course, the most iconic line of them all: “All I want for my birthday is a big booty hoe.”

“Birthday Song” is so ridiculous that it’s only a couple jokes removed from a Lonely Island single. And that’s what makes it so fun.

#62: “Every Day’s the Weekend” by Alex Lahey (2017)

Aussie indie rocker Alex Lahey made the best Blink-182 song of the decade with “Every Day’s the Weekend.” It’s got a soaring chorus with the all-important “WHOA OHs,” a chugging guitar riff, and it’s catchy as hell.

Just toss in a lackadaisical attitude and a “I Gotta Feeling”-style days-of-the-week chant and you’ve got a pop-punk classic.

#61: “Take a Walk” by Passion Pit (2012)

While MGMT burned their cultural capital by making zoinked-out psych rock (which was pretty solid!), their peers Passion Pit doubled down on their signature synthpop sound in the early ‘10s. Their 2012 album, Gossamer, is one of the all-time great albums with a happy, bouncy sound but crushingly dark lyrics. So naturally, its first single is a perky pop tune about financial struggles!

“Take a Walk” is so catchy and uplifting musically — just try getting that iconic synth riff out of your head — that Michael Angelakos’ lyrics about the Great Recession seem out of place at first. But it gels anyways. The uplifting music just emphasizes the dire situation Angelakos and his then-wife found themselves in, and it makes the soaring synth riff read as more melancholy than optimistic.

#60: “Gretel” by (Sandy) Alex G (2019)

"Gretel” is like an indie-folk song that went to the Upside Down. All the requisite parts are there — gently strummed guitar, lyrics with a man-of-the-people feel, humbly Middle American vocals — but it feels warped and twisted.

The easiest way to describe it is like if a typical folk-pop song CD was left in the sun for a solid week or so, allowing it to melt. And then you tried listening to it. It would sound positively spooky. Yet through the oddball production and eerie vibe, Alex G’s defiant chorus still shines through. A statement like “Good people gotta fight to exist” somehow sounds more powerful in a bizzaro song like this.

#59: “Downtown” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Eric Nally, Grandmaster Kaz, Melle Mel and Kool Moe Dee (2015)

Macklemore might have been the 2010′s most unfairly hated artist. Yes, he’s corny. Yes, Kendrick should’ve won those Grammys instead. But the dude was fun, inventive and a unique voice in hip-hop at the time.

“Downtown” is a prime example of Mack’s talent. Or at least, his knack for assembling a fantastic supporting crew. Old-school rappers Grandmaster Kaz, Melle Mel and Kool Moe Dee deliver some forceful interludes, and Eric Nally and his wildman vocals give “Downtown” a killer, Queen-esque chorus. And of course, producer Ryan Lewis helps sell the song, with a constantly-switching beat that ranges from ‘70s funk to bombastic arena rock. Even Seattle legend Ken Griffey Jr. makes a cameo in the Spokane-filmed video!

In a late-’10s hip-hop scene filled with mopey sad white boys like Post Malone and NF, Macklemore’s goofy vibe and dad jokes are sorely missed.

#58: “Flesh Without Blood” by Grimes (2015)

In a decade filled with wonderful alt-pop weirdos, Grimes might have been the weirdest. One of her standout songs, “Kill v. Maim,” is about Michael Corleone from The Godfather Pt. II, but if he was a time-traveling, gender-switching vampire (yes, really).

“Flesh Without Blood” is comparatively normcore, but it’s still Grimes’ best slice of bonkers pop magic. Written from the perspective of a fan angry that she sold out, the track rides a surf-rock guitar groove into the oblivion. Grimes’ squeaky vocals are almost taunting in tone, but the hooks are so massive and the production is so fresh that I doubt listeners mind.

#57: “Slide” by Calvin Harris feat. Frank Ocean and Migos (2017)

Arguably the biggest name in cheeseball EDM took a shockingly sharp pivot into silky-smooth funk with “Slide.” And it worked! It worked weirdly well!

Of course, it helps that Calvin Harris has always had impeccable taste in guest vocalists, from Florence Welch to Haim. And by snagging once-in-a-generation talent Frank Ocean (and the fun, if not legendary, Migos) for “Slide,” he possibly pulled his greatest coup yet.

...well actually, no. His best song will always be the gloriously trashy and very British “Dance Wiv Me” with grime legend Dizzee Rascal. But the slick tropical grooves of “Slide” are a worthy contender.

#56: “I Belong in Your Arms” by Chairlift (2012)

I could’ve sworn this was in an old John Hughes movie. The wintry synths and retro-chic vibe of “I Belong in Your Arms” certainly would’ve fit snugly into the Pretty In Pink soundtrack, but no — Chairlift’s best single came out this decade.

“I Belong in Your Arms” is stunning in its atmospheric beauty. Singer Caroline Polachek’s vocals are almost Elizabeth Fraser-esque, drifting over the waves of keyboards while still packing a heavy punch on the chorus. And the song’s burst of energy doesn’t feel like a temporary sugar rush — it feels like the real thing.

#55: “Make Me Feel” by Janelle Monaé (2018)

“Make Me Feel” is unabashedly a Prince homage. And if anyone in modern music could successfully replicate the Purple One, it’s Janelle Monaé.

The genre-blurring, impossibly funky “Make Me Feel” immediately grabbed me upon release, with its sharp guitar edges, soft-loud-soft production and sticky hook. But Monaé’s vocal performance is what truly makes the track pop. She clearly had the time of her life here, switching on a dime from smooth and sultry to giddy yelps. If there’s a perfect Janelle Monaé song cooked up in a lab somewhere, it’s probably nearly identical to this.

#54: “Some Nights” by fun. (2012)

Jack Antonoff has always excelled as the second-fiddle. Whether that’s in being the less-famous person in his former relationship with Lena Dunham or being the behind-the-scenes production wizard for megastars like Taylor Swift and Lorde, he works best in the shadows (despite his solo side band, Bleachers, being pretty damn good).

And of course, the project that first brought Antonoff into the mainstream was his band fun., in which he was the lead guitarist and a songwriter. At the time when the band hit their brief apex in 2012, it seemed like frontman Nate Ruess, with his vocal acrobatics and theatrical style, would be most primed for solo fame, but that fizzled.

Eight years later, “Some Nights” stands as a testament that Antonoff (and the other two guys in fun.) can write an incredible arena rock anthem just as easily as a synthpop banger. The song turns a quarter-life crisis into a soaring epic that sounds like a glorious U2-Queen hybrid, with a drumline added on top. Despite cribbing its chorus from Simon and Garfunkel, “Some Nights” still holds its power.

#53: “The Less I Know The Better” by Tame Impala (2015)

There’s one thing that instantly hooks you into Tame Impala’s Instagram-filtered indie pop masterpiece: that bassline. It carries the whole song on its back.

Not to say the rest of “The Less I Know The Better” isn’t good — Kevin Parker’s jealousy-tinged lyrics are fairly relatable, the twinkling synths are nice, the melody is appropriately yearning. But that slap bass ropes all those elements together into a legitimately funky rock tune. If Tame Impala’s mediocre new singles had that bass, maybe they’d be less forgettable.

#52: “Shake It Out” by Florence + The Machine (2011)

Florence Welch might be the decade’s most underrated vocalist. Her voice has the power of a Mack truck, yet she can still convey subtlety when needed.

“Shake It Out” is not one of those subtle moments. It is arena-pop filtered through gospel; a song that sounds like it was meant for a cathedral. Welch describes battling her personal demons like they were literal demons. Couple her wailing with layers upon layers of organs and massive drums imported from the “In The Air Tonight” solo, and you’ve got a song too big to fail.

#51: “Young Blood” by The Naked and Famous (2010)

I really, really wanted to include more tunes from the golden era of radio-friendly indie pop, circa 2008-2012. But a lot of the best stuff — MGMT, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Phoenix — fell in the previous decade. And others are more nostalgic faves for me than actually great songs (sorry, Grouplove and Matt & Kim).

But The Naked and Famous absolutely still hold up. “Young Blood” still has the insanely high-pitched vocals and twinkly synths of that era, but the New Zealanders throw some distorted ‘90s guitars to create a unique sound. It’s like the Weezer writing a Passion Pit song (but way better than that would imply). Lead singer Alisa Xayalith’s piercing voice is an instrument all of its own, soaring across the synthesizers and guitars like a bolt of neon light.

“Young Blood” might be an early ‘10s time-capsule, but it has hooks for days and a somehow-still-fresh groove.

my thoughts on the bullshit (marvel vs capcom: infinite)

its so fuckin wack. when they announced 2v2 i was hoping it was gonna be like tatsunoko (which is the best vs series imo) and its not Awful but it feels a lot slower and kinda clunkier? idk the parts i did like was that tagging feels more dynamic and i like the idea of the gems being like the grooves in cvs2 but that’s it? im not a fan of the autocombos and the down down motions shouldn’t be in a capcom game with all the other quarter circles and charges etc. i definitely do need to spend more time with it and hearing about how creative you can be with the mechanics from the pros that are playing it at e3 is a good sign but idk first impressions from me aren’t good.

but ok enough about gameplay i wanna talk about the real shit. that being capcom and disney and the fgc because i think that’s the real reason why this game is gonna be so blah

im a huge marvel head bc it was the first fighting game i really got into once i discovered the fgc (and you know its fun as hell and the first friends i made in college were the kids down the hall i played umvc3 with every weekend). part of the reason why its so fun is because its so God Damn HYPE like look at this shit and tell me you dont get fired up watching this vid and wanna play:

and this brings me into the main reason why i think this game is gonna be bad and flop again and its marvel and disney. we already know about capcoms money, lack of talent, and planning issues with their fighting game department and mvci is set to repeat all the same mistakes they did with sfv (lacking content, corny ass story mode, small roster, LOTS OF DLC) but that’s just one part of it.

the whole game to me just wreaks of a cash grab from disney/marvel to both 1. get that sweet sweet injustice money 2. sell more mcu stuff to nerds and 3. get more people invested in the fighting game market to benefit capcom. yes i understand games are made to make money. the point i’m trying to make here is that this is the result when you get game and media companies who don’t understand why fans love something and try to make something as a response to it.

the modern marvel owned by disney and the pieces of media they put out are carefully constructed and sanitized to show you what they want to see, which is what makes them the most money and what gets you looking away from the other studios that control the rest of their characters, notably xmen. i guarantee you someone at disney was shown the above video about mvc hype and was like “oh we dont want this kind of crowd at our game. this is gonna scare away people.” this coupled with the whole simplification aspect of the game (which i’ll get to in a bit) shows that disney doesn’t really know how the fgc works or how people get excited about these games which is big moments, nostalgia and generally fun shit! not the cheesy ass story mode they’re making which based on the demo is mcu and capcom characters doing nothing but saying each other’s names and having cheeky banter with the lads then punching some robots. the whole game itself feels very MCU oriented from the looks to the sounds and it makes for one really uncompelling package that’s a lot less hype than previous games in the series.

im all for making fighting games more accessible and helping the scene grow but the simplification of the controls and inputs feels really half baked and it seems like capcom doesn’t really know how to draw newbies in. replacing shoryuken inputs but leaving in charges and reverting back to the more complex mvc2 style buttons (lp, lk, hk, hp) as opposed to a friendlier l m h s from mvc3 seems weird and the down down input they added doesn’t fit in with the vibe of the other move inputs as well. as injustice has shown us making a Good ass game with a lot of single player content will get people interested in fighting games enough to buy em and some of those new players will eventually learn enough to get good and start competing. for whatever reason capcom cannot learn these lessons and i feel like the choices they made to simplify the game might turn off current players and thus make the game less popular, leading to a loss loss situation between fg pros and newcomers.

idk this is a wicked messy post but marvel is the game that got me really into FGs and i’ve made so many friends through it and to see what was my favorite fighting game become the lifeless husk we have now is so depressing but i hope capcom learns something from this (they prob wont). we’ll see how it turns out i guess. lmk what you think of all this too

Great Series: My Hero Academia

Characters of Note:

Tsuyu Asui, aka Sue, aka “Froppy”

Katsuki Bakugo, aka Kacchan, aka “King/Lord Explosion Murder”

Toshinori Yagi, aka “All Might”

Chizome Akaguro, aka “Hero Killer Stain”

Here’s a series that’s going places. And you’re going to underestimate it. Trust me. How do I know? I sure as hell underestimated it. I saw the covers, then read a chapter and then dismissed it completely. Every so-called “Quirk” seemed either useless or just boring. From that brief glance the series came off as generic, bland, corny, cheesy, and ultimately unimpressive. Boy do I feel foolish.

From the very first chapter this series proved itself a cut above the rest; offering a clear sense of direction & purpose, interesting character development, excellent action, and a timeless and well-executed moral about being a hero. Definitely one of the strongest pilots I’ve read. Shame that couldn’t have been the chapter I first found of it so I could have given this series the attention it deserved a year ago. The chapter I actually read was in the first volume, but lacked the momentum and background established in the chapters before it, making it come off as very weak.

(It was the Quirk-Enhanced Standard Fitness Exam)

We live in an age of superheroes. Movies, television, books, clothing, amusement parks, video games; they’re friggin’ everywhere. Where do we trace this New Age of Heroes back to? 5 years ago for The Avengers? 10 years to Iron Man and The Dark Knight? 18 years to X-Men and Spiderman? 20+ years ago to the Batman and Superman Animated Series? Hell, this is just my timeline for my age, it keeps going for others. I guess the point that needs to be made is superheroes haven’t just been popular recently, this has been going on for decades. New heroes, new stories, new genres, new breakthroughs; so much has been explored and continues to be explored. How does a series stand out in an ocean of similar products all vying for reader attention? Quality.

So many hero stories put the cart before the horse; the superpowers before the heroes. We judge heroes by how powerful they are, paying much less attention to the person behind the power. What makes each of the characters below great is not their Quirks, but their character. Yes, that sounds redundant. Bear with me.

A fantastic model for not judging a book by its cover, Tsuyu Asui comes off as a trivial, even silly character. Her Quirk is “Frog Girl”; akin to Spiderman, The Lizard, or Squirrel Girl. She can do basically whatever a frog can. Stick to surfaces, stretch out her tongue, leap great distances, move quickly underwater, and regurgitate her stomach. Sounds comical, menial, and in one case unnecessarily gross. Keep laughing, she’s one of the top students in her class and more likely than many to go pro as a hero. She’s level-headed, quick to react, perceptive, and takes initiative. This applies to everything from sudden disasters in real time to smacking perverted classmates in the classroom. Split-second decision making and the ability to flexibly adapt to every situation that presents itself, no matter how unexpected, has revealed her to be a young heroine of great promise. What’s more, being constantly underestimated and disregarded by friend & foe alike provides her with a never-ending supply of openings to act. That adorable froggy face is the last one you’d expect to kick your ass or get the better of you. You see a comic relief hero, a fun idea but not a character you’d ever take seriously without a more standard ability like super strength. The reality of hero situations is that there’s much more to it than power vs power. Outside influences, environmental factors, tactical oversights, motive or lack thereof, state of mind, power scale; any one of these factors can be the difference between victory and defeat. Only the foolish try to settle everything with overwhelming power.

....Which brings us to our next hero, Katsuki Bakugo, better known as Kacchan. A great take on the antihero rival, Kacchan is one of the most explosive personalities you’ll ever meet, to good effect. He starts out as a bully with a particularly powerful and intimidating Quirk (quite fittingly, “Explosions”), but by the end of the pilot had already begun transforming into the conflicting and unstable young man we know and love. Kacchan shoulders the responsibilities of the Rival, the Genius, the Antihero, the Rebel, and the Angry Comic Relief; all in one package. The result is a hot-headed teenager who gets on a lot of people’s nerves with his confidence and attitude, but earns his title of “genius”. His solution to almost everything is battle; same time, he actually has a good head for resolving all of his problems this way. As a student he performs well, albeit with a cocky attitude towards everyone else, and as a hero he can think up new strategies and inventive uses of his Quirk on the fly. No matter what test or challenge they throw at him, he acts decisively and without hesitation. To be honest, he’s found very few challenges that cannot be resolved with some variation on a handful of exploding pain, but he’s definitely someone who belongs in the superhero industry. Even so, his powers are only an extension of his natural combat ability, which allows him to outthink and outmaneuver almost every foe, and turns his exploding blows into a strong argument for the opponent to stay down and accept the loss. His biggest weakness, not surprisingly, is his temper, which has only three settings:

1. Casual Death Threats

2. Focused Anger

3. DIE!!!!

Kacchan is so used to winning and beating anyone who opposes him that he reacts very poorly to people that continue getting up. He disregards strategy and goes straight for the kill, or overkill. And if he gets fooled or cheated by any opponent, he becomes absolutely livid. Which is also hilarious. Gotta love a guy who threatens to set you on fire if you don’t move.

Then there’s the Big Guy. The Symbol of Peace in our time, the #1 Hero in the world, All Might. A big part of my staying away from this series was this guy. He just looks so goofy and unbearably cheesy, a big, smiling mix-up of Thor, Superman, and Captain Falcon. God he seems so stupid. FOOL! What instantly won me over in this series was actually meeting All Might in the pilot. When his facade fades away and you see the man underneath the blustering model of super-manliness, something immediately clicked. From the model of almighty (oh.... that’s where the name comes from), he becomes the epitome of weakness. This guy probably couldn’t take Billy Bat in a schoolyard fight. The truth behind All Might is that he’s barely hanging on. A debilitating wound from an enemy 5 years prior to the series nearly destroyed his respiratory system and necessitated his stomach being removed. Every day he can hold his hero form a little less, every time he pushes himself he shortens his life, and soon he may not be able to transform at all. It’s feeling the weight of how far an injury can take you that really adds depth to All Might. In his normal form, he’s practically a skeleton, prone to coughing up blood every time he laughs or opens his mouth. We judge most heroes by the battles at the peak of their strength, but All Might’s greatest battle is just surviving with his gaunt, emaciated body. It’s devastating to think that someone so iconic of power and durability, with nothing else besides them, could die on a hospital bed a shriveled-up thing. We don’t want Superman to die of cancer, we want him to die in battle giving his all against the greatest foe of his superhero career. Preferably a god or something.

Last but not least we have the Hero Killer Stain. Imagine Slade Wilson with more conviction but less stability. Before he was caught, Stain had murdered 17 heroes and seriously injured dozens more. His Quirk allows him to temporarily paralyze anyone once he’s tasted their blood. A Quirk that only has tactical application if you can get in close, wound your opponent, and lick them. What’s that mean for Stain? Means he’s a tough-ass motherf***er. Since his Quirk can only be used as an endgame, he’s taking on all these professional heroes with nothing but skill and stamina. The guy is a blur of blades and unpredictable movements, setting up multiple attacks with every move he makes while dodging and avoiding his enemies attacks. Unlike others, there’s no hint that he plans out his attacks beforehand, no studying or researching his targets, no strategy besides find ‘em, cut ‘em, and kill ‘em. If such a frightening level of combat skill weren’t enough, his dedication and resolve have shaken many heroes and even villains. Stain was a former hero who dropped out after perceiving what he saw as a perversion of true heroism. Heroes in it for attention, status, wealth, or glory; heroes in it for themselves, not for doing good. He preached this for some time, then decided words alone weren’t enough. Thus began his purge. If anything could be more terrifying for a hero than dying to a crazy villain, it would be dying to a crazy villain who sees you more clearly than you see yourself. That’s the last stone in the temple of Stain, that conviction that lets him clearly see some for heroes worth respecting and others for posers only deserving death. Seeing him escape custody to kill a monster and save a teenage hero who helped bring him down, then stand, broken ribs, punctured lung, burned head, and broken weapons, against pros and amateur heroes alike, ready to take them all on. Seeing him refuse to go down except to a true hero. As his moniker applies, Stain has left a mark on heroes and villains everywhere.

all the text symbols... [ yes, i want them all fite me. i mean love me. ]

the T E X T message meme! ( accepting. )

Send “✆” for a MORNING text. 

( ✉ → my piano man ) where’d you run off to? come back to bed.( ✉ → my piano man ) the van beek will survive without your routinely glares, i promise.( ✉ → my piano man ) much to your dismay.

Send “” for a text that WASN’T SENT. 

( ✉ → sebastian ) you were right about the jazz scene in paris. you’d love it… always reminding me of you… to message you… something i should have done weeks ago… the thing is, i’m never sure anymore, i know you’re busy doing your own thing, which of course i support. i just miss you sometimes… how crazy would it be if i asked you to come here?                        [ DELETED ]

Send “☎” for a RUSHED text. 

( ✉ → don’t text him ) so… i hope you found the seat i saved you.( ✉ → don’t text him ) curtain’s in 2 minutes and i’m nervous as hell.( ✉ → don’t text him ) i shouldn’t even be texting you, for all i know you’re not even here.( ✉ → don’t text him ) even if there was still time for you to come backstage for just a second, i know exactly what you’d say.( ✉ → don’t text him ) fuck ‘em.

Send “⁇” for a DRUNK text.

( ✉ → star of the keytar 🎹 ) this punch wzas nto jsut pnuch.( ✉ → star of the keytar 🎹 ) alexis stays it waws SPECIAL punch( ✉ → star of the keytar 🎹 ) it doesn'rt taste special, but my head feels specialer.( ✉ → star of the keytar 🎹 ) eyou’re special. doin’t let ait get oto your head.

Send “✿” for a SUGGESTIVE text. 

( ✉ → my piano man ) are you dave brubeck?( ✉ → my piano man ) because i think that we need to take 5. 😉( ✉ → my piano man ) really, i’m in the back hallway. don’t ask questions.( ✉ → my piano man ) just come kiss me.

Send “ø” for a LATE NIGHT text.

( ✉ → my piano man ) what’s it like out there in… where are you guys tonight? vegas?( ✉ → my piano man ) i’m losing track. things have been crazy trying to get everything together for the show – which i still can’t believe i’m doing.( ✉ → my piano man ) i miss you like crazy, incase that wasn’t obvious.( ✉ → my piano man ) this bed is way too big without you here. i didn’t realize how quiet things were without your half asleep mumblings. which i’m gonna record next time you’re here so you can’t keep saying they don’t happen!( ✉ → my piano man ) it’s like i can’t fall asleep without hearing them…

Send “✘” for a HATEFUL text.

( ✉ → waste ) what hurts the most isn’t even the fact that the show was a disaster.( ✉ → waste ) it was the fact that you didn’t show up. that i actually let myself hope that no matter how shitty things were tonight, i’d look up at the end of it all and see you there.( ✉ → waste ) i guess this answers any questions i had about us. i’m such a fucking fool.( ✉ → waste ) this time i mean it when i say i’m done. you’re nothing to me anymore.( ✉ → waste ) could be less than nothing.( ✉ → waste ) lose this number. bye, sebastian.

Send “#” for a RANDOM text.

( ✉ → star of the keytar 🎹 ) you don’t think they had surveillance cameras at the observatory, do you?( ✉ → star of the keytar 🎹 ) i mean, it’s not like we did anything wrong, other than breaking and entering.( ✉ → star of the keytar 🎹 ) is feigned paranoia a good reason to text someone before the three day rule’s up? you’re gonna rib me about this.

Send “@” for a SCARED text.

( ✉ → my piano man ) more and more i keep wishing you were home.( ✉ → my piano man ) i’m worrying for nothing, i’m sure, but the more we’re apart anymore, the more i start thinking and coming up with these stupid scenarios.( ✉ → my piano man ) where you meet someone else, where you get tired of having to fly back here to see me.( ✉ → my piano man ) i don’t wanna lose you.

Send “&” for a LOVING text.

( ✉ → my piano man ) i’ll be right there in the crowd tonight, my eyes on you.( ✉ → my piano man ) only you – i mean, keith is “the worst,” not that it’d make a difference. i’d still only be watching you. your bass guy’s alright, but he’s no you.( ✉ → my piano man ) it’s like our dreams are finally coming true, and on top of everything there’s us. i’m being corny right now, but just accept it, so i can picture you sporting that goofy grin back stage. and now i’m smiling, because that’s all it takes.( ✉ → my piano man ) i love you.

Send “%” for a CURIOUS text.

( ✉ → sebastian ) i couldn’t help but notice, it’s not the van beek 🤔( ✉ → sebastian ) and i just realized i have no idea if this is still your number or not. if that made no sense to you, wrong number!

Send “ツ” for an EXCITED text.

( ✉ → seb ) YOU WERE RIGHT!( ✉ → seb ) man, i hate admitting that, but I GOT IT! I GOT THE CALL BACK!( ✉ → seb ) not even a call back, they said they knew for sure, I GOT THE PART!( ✉ → seb ) i guess i’d better start looking for my passport, huh?

Send “$” for an ACCIDENTAL text.

( ✉ → tracy [ INTERCEPTED BY ] star of the keytar 🎹 ) i completely ditched! you should have seen their faces, but it was like this moment… it just made sense. he’s not always in a cover band, alright? stop judging!

Send “♀” for a HEARTBREAKING text. 

( ✉ → sebastian ) it was great to see you tonight. it’s been what? 5 years? glad to see you didn’t go with chicken on a stick. i always told you seb’s has the better ring.( ✉ → sebastian ) i’m really happy for you, i want you to know that. seeing you with everything you wanted sort of reaffirms things, that moving on was for the best. if you love something you let it go, right? that’s what the cliché says at least.( ✉ → sebastian ) i used to wonder what would happen if i’d picked up the phone, if things would be different. which is probably silly to say now because that’s all in the past.

bonus: ( ✉ → waste  ) wrong number.

( @purexjazz )           -- (ง'̀-‘́)ง

Too Short to Ride (Haikyuu fanfic: Asahi and Noya)

      Today was gonna be the greatest day of my existence! Daichi-San and Suga-San are taking me and Asahi-san to Funland!!! I'm so excited to go, I've never been in my entire life. Daichi said it was really corny and doesn't even come close to living up to its name. He's full of pessimistic thoughts about the place. Of course he has been here multiple times already, so maybe he was right? Whatever. Suga told me that it was more for kids. Then Asahi teased me by saying that it would be the perfect place for me.        I sat there, pouting as Daichi drove us to our thrilling destination. We had spent an two hours in this miserable piece of junk. Now we were finally in Tokyo, about five minutes away from Funland. "Eee I can't wait to ride the wooden roller coaster!!" I shouted. "Ah I heard some people died on that ride," Asahi shrunk back in his seat and his eyes widened. "Oh wow Asahi, are you really scared of that old thing?" Suga chuckled, from the passenger seat. "Nooooo," Asahi trailed off. "Yeah you are, you big, wimpy, dope," I jabbed him in his side. "Ouch! I'm going to kill you Noya!" Asahi threatened and ruffled my hair roughly, "you shouldn't be messing with giants when you're a dwarf." "Why you little-         The car threw us forward as it came to a dead stop. "We're here! Are you two going to behave? Or do we have to seperate and chaperone you two?" Daichi asked. "No sir!" We chimed obediently.   "Alright," he sighed and opened the door. "I don't trust them one bit," Suga added.      They laughed at his remark and smiled from ear to ear. Asahi rolled his eyes and approached the two boys. I followed my tall friend and glared at the three with jealousy. They were all so tall, and I was a tiny pest. I envied how cool it appeared go be above others. It must be pretty satisfying.          Daichi gave us our tickets and we entered the park. Security eyed the intimidating brunette, Asahi, who smiled awkwardly. If they only knew how wimpy he really was. It's was very ironic that such a scary looking person acted so meek and wimpy.          Excitement pulsed through my veins as rides surrounded us. Asahi grinned at me with joy and smacked me on the back. "We're going on every one," he declared boldly. "Hell yeah!" I yelled out.      Daichi and Suga whipped around to scold us in publice, for being so "obnoxious". I shrugged and made my way to the "Road Rager" ride, unaware of what it might be. "Noya!" Asahi whimpered as Daichi got flustered. "Come on dude, don't  be such a wuss," I teased.      Asahi's face drooped and he beamed at em through dull eyes. He glanced back at Suga, who shook his head in disapproval and back at me. I implored him with my pleading expression, the one he couldn't resist. In an instant, he bolted over to meet me. Suga and Daichi scoffed from behind us as we made our way to the line.     Fortunately,  it wasn't a lengthy wait. The ride was in sight and I could smell the putrid scent of vomit. I saw Asahi shiver in disgust. The ride was these seperate trucks that had a wheel in the middle of them. The trucks would spin if you turned your wheel, while they sat on a rotating platform. Kids squealed with joy while their parents forced themselves not to hurl. I turned to gaze up at Asahi. "This looks so bad ass!" I exclaimed. "It kind of looks nauseating," he quivered.     I slapped hid arm and cackled outrageously as he winced. "Man you are a hoot!" I told him. "Next!" The operator announced and opened the gate to the ride. "Yes!" I whispered.       Asahi followed me into the green truck and sat down. His knees were taller than the wheel in the center. I held my laughter in as he struggled to clip his seat belt, which was extended to its maximum length. He barely clipped it over his waist. I however, fit perfectly. Of course, I disregarded the seat belt, seat belts are lame. I gripped the wheel tightly, waiting for our ride to begin. The operator stepped over to us and checked Asahi's seat belt, smirking as it gripped his waist.          "Aren't you a little big for these rides?" The female operator asked. "Yeah but he wanted to ride so I had to go with him," Asahi lied. "Hmm. Can you tell your kid to buckle his seat belt?" She directed her attention to me. "KID? I'M NO K- "Right. Buckle up son," Asahi smiled slyly at me.      Ignoring his taunts, I reluctantly buckled my seat belt and tightened it so it fit snug around my waist. Asahi began to flirt with the surprisingly beautiful operator. This made me grow impatient so I decided to interrupt. "Hey we don't have all day here," I rudely interrupted. "Well then," the lady huffed and left us.      Asahi turned to me and pouted because I ruined his chance. Then again she looked like the slut type, so technically I saved him. Of course he wouldn't believe that. "Here we go!" I shouted excitedly as the platform began to rotate. "Great," Asahi grumbled sarcastically.    I spun the wheel excitedly, making the car whirl. Asahi gripped his stomach and began to grow sick. After 3 everlasting minutes of joy, the ride came to a slow stop. I unbuckled quickly and got out of the cart, rushing to Asahi's side. He bent over and clenched his stomach. Pity stabbed me as I heard him hurl. Maybe next time I won't force him to go with me? "No more spinning rides for you," I laughed awkwardly.     Asahi coughed and started to get up as the operator came over. Her face fell sour as the stench of vomit filled the air. "Well someone got too excited," she muttered, holding her nose. "S-sorry ma'am," Asahi apologized frantically as we departed the ride.      Suga and Daichi were nowhere to be seen when we walked out. We sat down for a few, before going onto other rides.     By the end of the day, we had been on all of the rides and here we sat eating ice cream with Suga and Daichi. Rides whirled past us blowing our hair around. Lucky Asahi , his hair was in a bun but that was because his hair was extremely long and beautiful. You didn't hear that last part. "Have you guys been on the Chopper?" Daichi asked us. "No! Where is it? I wanna go on it!" I blurted out through a mouthful of ice cream. "Don't talk with food in your mouth," Daichi snapped and then answered, "plus it's righr in front of you doofus." "Yes sir-REALLY?" I squealed, "I've got to ride it! Come on Asahi!"     I nearly jumped and touched the sky when I saw how awesome the Chopper was. The blue and black ride towered over us and it's carts whizzed above us, twisting upside down. Asahi almost dropped his ice cream at the sight. "Uh-uh," he shook his head "no." "Fine you big wuss, I'll go by myself," I stomped off, hoping he'd follow. "Ah no! You'll die!!!" Asahi wailed.     The line was incredibly long, how was I ever going to ride this before the park closes? I groaned as snotty kids cried and screamed. Wasn't this an adult ride? Ughhhh. Where were Daichi and Suga when you needed them? They would scold these Satan spawns until their pants dampened. It felt like hours of a wait but eventually I found myself at the gate. Confidently I strode to the ride, but was stopped by the operator's outstretched arm. "Hold it there kid, you're not tall enough," He laughed, "you can't ride unless you have an adult with you." "WHAT?!! BUT I JUST STOOD IN LINE FOR 2 FLIPPING HOURS!!!" I protested loudly. "Too bad, you're holding up the line," he snapped and shoved me back.         Kids and parents laughed as I stomped off. One of them said "That's one angry midget." I'll show em angry midget! I need an adult, that is so ridiculous! Wait, I have a plan. I came out to see Asahi bawling while Suga and Daichi patted him on the back. "What's the matter you big dope?" I asked as I approached them.     Asahi jerked up and flung his arms around me. "I thought you weren't going to make it Noya," he sniffled as he began to suffocate me in his tight embrace. "I might not make it because of you," I managed to grunt. "Oh stop it you two. Noya, how was the ride?" Suga wondered. "THEY SAID I WAS TOO SHORT GOD DAMN IT!" I shouted furiously. "Well that's not fair," Asahi pointed out. "They said I couldn't go without an adult and I was thinking y- "Absolutely not, don't put Asahi through that. You know he's afraid of heights," Daichi warned. "Daichi and I are going, so maybe you can come along?" Suga offered while  Daichi shook his head 'no'. "PLEASEEEE!!!" I begged him imploringly. "Fine," he sighed, getting a concerned glance from Daichi. "Sure, I'd love to," I didn't hesitate. "Oh fine I'll go," Asahi sighed.   "You sure?" Suga pressed. "I'm sure," he grinned nervously. "Let's go!" I declared and dashed to the line.     They followed up and we stalled in line as it stayed put. Daichi and Suga eyed us disapprovingly as I teased the children in front of us and Asahi began to become an apologetic mess. The parents glared and shuffled their kids forward, away from us. "Next!" The grouchy guy yelled at us, after an hour of waiting. "FINALLY!" I cheered. "Yeah, yeah kid. You better go on before I tell your dad on you," he scowled, "You're a real sn-     He trailed off at the sight of Asahi looming over the conductor, appearing unintentionally terrorizing. The conductor nodded grimly and let us pass. My hands shook in utter excitement as I saw the wicked ride in front of us. Asahi began to quiver as we sat in the two-seater ride. Our legs dangled from where we sat. The guy came and tightened our restraints. "You ready?" I squealed. "Not entirely," Asahi croaked.   "It's not too late to back out," Suga called from his car with Daichi. "Come on Asahi! Don't leave me," I whined, kicking my legs. "Noya," he groaned, "Okay fine." "Alright folks, the ride is now in motion," the voice boomed from the intercom as the ride jerked forward.       The Chopper began to lift us off the ground, aiming our gazes above us to see the back of the cart that Daichi and Suga. My stomach lurched as it felt like my insides were sliding into my throat. Asahi grunted in discomfort. The ride then came to a dead stop as we hovered above the whole park. It felt as if our toes could touch the clouds. Oh no.    With an ear-splitting screech, our cart was dropped backward like a pendulum swinging in a clock, back and forth. The motion was non-stop and I heard Asahi puking out his insides. I screamed with half-thrill and half-fear, fear of falling. Daichi and Suga yelled while laughing insanely as our bodies were thrown back and forth. Someone stop this thing! Everything was a blur and I thought it couldn't be any worse but I was wrong. Suddenly the cart twisted and spun around as we swung back and forth. What the hell? How was this possible? I strained to see Asahi passed out as I clung to the ride. Uh-oh. Daichi and Suga were now facing us, their faces full of joy. How could they be so happy? This was scary!   After a few agonizing minutes, the ride slurred and slowed it's pace. Our carts stopped spinning and I jabbed Asahi roughly. His head jerked up and his huge, chocolate eyes opened in an instant. Thank the Lord. "Wow Asahi you really took the blow!" Suga joked after their restraints had been lifted. "What?" Asahi grunted in confusion and stared at us blankly. "Haha wow, he doesn't remember," I laughed nervously. "Oh yeah! I'm never doing that again," he told me with a serious tone. "Sure you w- "Wow you actually rode on this?! That's super brave!" A girl approached us as we walked out.    Oh great, I thought sarcastically. Asahi then disregarded her and turned to me. "Ready to go son?" He grabbed my hand tightly. "Sure daddy!" I smirked and gladly accepted his gesture.     We strode off and left her in the dust. What a good day? I'm never too short to ride, especially with this gentle giant by my side!

http://blog.hair-terminator.com/uncategorized/

Wardrobe-Changing Accessories

#http://blog.hair-terminator.com This Is Sponsored Content For The Five Essential Accessories Every Man Should Own March 20, 2017 Share Tweet The $tyleJacker is the Robin Hood of the style world. He steals ideas from the fashion elite and brings them to you every week. He’s no

#http://blog.hair-terminator.com

This Is Sponsored Content For

The Five Essential Accessories Every Man Should Own

March 20, 2017

Share

Tweet

The $tyleJacker is the Robin Hood of the style world. He steals ideas from the fashion elite and brings them to you every week. He’s no stylist, but he loves to flex. He robs unsuspecting celebrities of their best looks and makes sure you can recreate their outfits without spending a fortune or looking ridiculous. This lo-life talks in slang, but don’t mistake his casual tone for a lack of knowledge — you"ll quickly discover he is on top of trends and fashion industry news. Send the $tyleJacker your requests [email protected] or ask a question on Instagram with the #stylejacker hashtag. 

Okay, clothes make the man.   But accessories make the clothes.   Some are just little fine-tuned adjustments, like jewelry or phone cases. But some accessories, like glasses, can completely change how your face looks.   So it’s important to take care of the small things.   An outfit is only as good as its worst detail. That’s why your accessory game always needs to be on point. The perfect accessory is the difference between a decent look and a straight up banger, and an imperfect accessory is a game-ruiner.   That’s why we are gathered here today to make sure that your accoutrements stay flexing.   I’d hate to see an otherwise perfect fit get ruined because you didn’t know how to accessorize.   So without further ado… let’s get it.

1. Sunglasses

Arguably the most important of all accessories, glasses can complement your face or make you look totally messed up and weird.   The shape is important. But so is the material and the color of the lens.   Heavy acetate? Delicate titanium? Blue lens? These are all factors to consider.   If you don’t know what shape to get for your face, a safe bet is always gonna be a rounded lenses. It complements pretty much any face, from oval to heart-shaped. Plus, it’s on-trend.   If you don’t wanna go Full Quavo with some Versace stunners, that’s fine. I understand. You’re scared to make a statement. I get it.   We’ll tone it down a little bit for ya.

  High life: Carrera 126/S 49mm Sunglasses

These Carrera joints have a round 49mm lens with a smoky gray tint. There’s also a matte black option with kind of a purple-y lens, but I’d stick with the grey ones here — way more versatile.

$159.00 at Nordstrom.com

My life: Polaroid "1013S" 50mm Polarized Sunglasses

Did you know Polaroid made glasses? I guess it makes sense, since they’re in the optics business. This classic tortoiseshell frame goes with anything, and the lens is a tiny bit bigger than the Carrera at 50mm.

$65.00 at Nordstrom.com

2. Watches

Watches are slick as hell. The right watch is an easy way to take any semi-formal (or formal) fit to the next level.   It may seem like a small thing, but that’s what accessories are all about — a tiny detail that pushes your outfit over the edge.   I know, I know — watches are basically useless in this day and age. Even when I have a watch on, I just check the time on my phone out of habit.   But they look good, guys. They LOOK GOOD. And that’s why we’re here. Not for function. Not for practicality. Not for any real-life reason.   We’re here to look dope all the time. And to do that, you need a watch. Look at  our man Sabir M. Peele from Men"s Style Pro up there. Without the watch, he’d look like a regular gym rat on his way to Crossfit. With the watch he looks like he on his way to negotiate a global sponsorship and then hit up an all-star game afterparty.   You don’t have to spend your life savings on a watch, but don’t get a $10 Timex either.

  High life: Movado S.E. Pilot Chronograph

Movado, not to be confused with Mavado, makes luxury watches with Swiss quartz movement, but for about ?" the price of a Rolex or less. This thing is clean as hell, and the 42mm case will sit nicely on your wrist, complementing almost any outfit from casual to formal.

$1,695.00 at Nordstrom.com   My life: BREDA Belmont Slim Leather Strap Watch

I love the gray strap here. It’s super understated and would be mad easy to wear. The 40mm case will be a little more subtle than the Movado above. It’s got a quartz movement, too, and it’s about 1/20th the price of the Movado.

$70.00 at Nordstrom.com

3. Bags

What do y’all carry your stuff in?   I was a backpack guy for the longest time. They’re comfy, easy to wear and can fit a ton of stuff.   But there are certain occasions where wearing a schoolbag will make you look like a 5-year-old waiting for dad to pick him up after soccer practice.   So yes, there are circumstances where a backpack is inappropriate, unfortunately.   The upside is that there are a million other kinds of bags out there — you just gotta choose the one that works for you.

High life: Frye "Logan""Leather Briefcase

Frye is one of the first luxury brands I ever got into. I found a pair of Frye boots at the thrift store when I was a teenager and it was my introduction to well-made clothing. Those things are still kicking after like four resoles and this handsome-ass bag will last a lifetime too.

$578.00 at Nordstrom.com

  My life: United By Blue Sequoia Organic Cotton Briefcase

Look at the colors on this one. Those creamy tones. The rich cognac leather straps. The deep navy lining. Really amazing color story overall. Canvas bags are a great alternative when you don’t wanna drop leather-bag-money. 

$128.00 at Nordstrom.com

4. Tech

A good phone case shows attention to detail. It’s the tiniest thing, that doesn’t even serve a real purpose, but that’s exactly what’s important about it.   If you show that you care about the smallest of detail, like what’s on the back of your phone, you’re showing that you place value on a cohesive look.   And cohesion is the name of the game, my dudes. It’s all about how everything works together.   This is up there with matching your belt to your shoes: it’s inconsequential, a lot of won’t notice and it won’t actually change how your day is going.   But those who DO notice will be like, “Damn. He pays attention.”   Show ‘em you care:

High life: Gucci Tiger iPhone 6 Case

Gucci has been absolutely destroying the game the past few years. Of course, I always had love for Gucci, but the past couple of seasons have been really next-level. This is how you can get your hands on some Gooch without taking out a second mortgage.

$270.00 at Nordstrom.com   My life: HEX Focus Leather iPhone 6 Case

Simple. Nice colors. Great texture on the leather. Minimal branding. What more can I say? This thing is perfect.

$29.90 at Nordstrom.com

5. Jewelry

A lot of insecure losers say stuff like, “jewelry is only for women” or “jewelry isn’t manly.”   That’s the kind of attitude that holds you back from truly enjoying yourself.   First of all, no, jewelry is not just for women. Second of all, even if it was, and you choose to let society tell you what to wear or not, then you’re already losing.   Third of all, jewelry is dope and it’s the ultimate way to flex. It’s the best way to say, “I’m wearing this just because it looks sick, and not for any practical purpose.” And spending tons of cash on something that, at the end of the day, is completely useless, is ballin’ as hell.   HOWEVER.   There is so much corny jewelry out there that it pays to be careful. Avoid the heavy, oxidized silver rings, a.k.a. the Sons of Anarchy look. Avoid the beaded Lenny Kravitz-lookin’ bracelets. DEFINITELY avoid anything made of wood.   When it comes to jewels, you’ve got two options: silver and gold. That’s it. Nothing less. No costume jewelry. No brass. No plating. Solid silver or solid gold.   Precious metals are worth spending a little bit more on. They’ll last longer, look better, tarnish less, and will actually hold some value down the road.   And honestly, silver isn’t really all that expensive at the end of the day.

High life: David Yurman Pavé Tag

Wow. Flex. This is like a dogtag but absolutely flooded with jewels. This is your option if you want to straight-up blind everybody that looks at you in the club. 

$2,915.00 at Nordstrom.com

My life: Miansai Dove Pendant Necklace

If you don’t care about branding or showing off, and you just want a clean, simple silver necklace, shoot for something like this. The quality is great, the design is actually super interesting, and it’s very affordable. 

$145.00 at Nordstrom.com

All the valentine's day asks

Hells yeaaaahhhhh

1: Do you have a crush at the moment? - Nope. Maybe on some girls at work, but like, I’m too much of a coward to actually talk to them.

2: Have you ever been deeply in love? - Once.

3: Longest relationship you’ve ever been in? - Around six months.

4: Have you ever changed for someone? - Yes.

5: How is your relationship with your ex? - We don’t talk anymore, which sucks ‘cause she was super cool and I hurt her really badly ‘cause I’m a terrible person.

6: Have you ever been cheated on? - Nope, thank christ, ‘cause then I’d be even more terrified of women than I already am.

7: Have you ever cheated? - Nope, nor will I ever, ‘cause cheating is for bastard coated bastards with bastard fillings.

8: Would you date someone who’s well known for cheating? - Nooooooooooooooooooowhyisthisevenaquestion

9: What’s the most important part of a relationship? - Communication.

10: Do you like to be in serious relationships or just flings? - Serious relationships plz

11: When you are dating someone do you believe in going on “breaks”? - I feel like it depends on the situation. I’ve never been in a situation that warranted a ‘break’ before, but I have known people who have broken up and then gotten back together before, if that constitutes as a break.

12: How many people have you ever hooked up with? - El zilcho

13: What’s one thing you regret saying/doing in a previous relationship? - Not gonna spill all my dirty laundry on here thank you very much~

14: What age do you think is appropriate for kids to start having sex? - I would say high school, as long as they learn about consent during that time. ‘Cause consent is SUPER IMPORTANT. KIDS, PLEASE LEARN ABOUT CONSENT.

15: Do you believe in the phrase “age is just a number”? - Nope.

16: Do you believe in “love at first sight”? - Ehhhhh. I feel like there’s an attraction at first sight, but absolutely one hundred percent possible love from two people who see each other for the first time? That’s like, a one in a zillion million chance of happening at least imo.

17: Do you believe it’s possible to fall in love on the internet? - Yes. Just don’t get catfished. ‘Cause that shit’s creepy.

18: What do you consider a deal breaker? - Kids. I don’t want ‘em. Mostly ‘cause I don’t want them to be as fucked up as I am.

19: How do you know it’s time to end a relationship? - I’m not really sure. I’m probably not the best person to answer this question.

20: Are you currently in a relationship? - I am not.

21: Do you think people who have dated can stay friends? - Yeah, I think so. You just have to remember all the things that didn’t work out in your relationship so they won’t ruin your friendship.

22: Do you think people should date their friends? - I’ve heard the term ‘I’m dating/married to my best friend before’ so I feel like friendship most definitely has to be a part of your relationship as well.

23: How many relationships have you had? - Three.

24: Do you think love can last forever? - I’d like to believe so, yeah.

25: Do you believe love can conquer all things? - I’d also like to believe this as well.

26: Would you break up with someone your parents didn’t approve of? - Psssshhhh, no. Unless my parents gave me specific evidence of her being like… a murderer or something. Then yes.

27: If you could go back in time and give yourself one piece of advice about dating what would it be? - Stop being such a little bitch and just TALK TO GIRLS

28: Do you think long distance relationships can work? - If enough work is put into it, yeah.

29: What do you notice first about another person? - 

30: Are you straight, bi, gay or pansexual? - I’m straight.

31: Would it bother you if your partner suffered from any mental illness? - Not at all, as I suffer from depression and anxiety myself.

32: Have you ever been in an abusive relationship? - No.

33: Do you want to get married one day? - Please see Mike Birbiglia’s ‘My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend’. (Short answer, yes…? I think? Marriage is confusing and weird…??????!!!!!)

34: What do you think about getting your partner’s name tattooed? - That’s so fucking corny, haha.

35: Could you be in a relationship without sex? - Probably.

36: Are you still a virgin? - Yes.

37: What’s more important: Looks or personality? - I just want someone who likes me tbh.

38: Do you enjoy love films? - It depends on which movie we’re talking about. If it’s one of those dime-a-dozen movies that Hollywood pumps out every year then nah. If it’s something with actual story and character development that doesn’t follow the ‘they meet-they fall in love-conflict-redemption’ pattern, than yeah.

39: Have you ever given anyone/received roses? - Nope. I’ve given gifts to a girl before, though, but not roses.

40: Have you ever had a valentine? - Yes.

41: What’s your imagination of a “perfect date”? - I don’t know. Maybe something like, going to a show in the city and then going to the very top of a parking garage and looking at the stars and the city lights. That’d be really cool.

42: Have you ever read “Romeo & Juliet”? - No, but I know how the story goes.

43: What’s more important: Your partner or your friends? - I mean, both are pretty important tbh.

44: Would you consider yourself “romantic”? - I’d like to think I am, but I’m also terrible with women soooooo

45: Could you imagine to date one of your current friends? - I don’t have any women friends, so nah.

46: Have you ever been “friendzoned”? - I mean, I’ve been rejected before, but I wouldn’t call it being ‘friendzoned.’ Also, friendzoned is a stupid term. No girl owes me anything.

47: Which “famous couple” is your favorite? - None…?

48: What’s your favorite love song? - I don’t really listen to love songs.

49: Have you ever broken someone’s heart? - Yes.

50: If you’re single, why do you think you are? - Because I’m too scared to talk to girls.

51: Would you rather date someone who’s rich but a douchebag or someone who’s poor but a nice guy? - Poor but nice.

52: Are you good at giving other people advices regarding dating/ relationships? - Nope.

53: Are you jealous of couples when you’re single? - Not really.

54: How important is it to make a relationship official (p.e. on Facebook)? - Not at all.

55: Would you consider yourself “clingy”, “overly attached” or “jealous”? - I have a tendency to be jealous sometimes. I’m still working on it.

56: Have you ever “destroyed” a relationship? - Yes.

57: Do you think it’s silly to consider suicide because of a broken heart? - I mean, broken heart syndrome is a real thing…

58: Are you the “dominant” or the “submissive” part in a relationship? - Neither????

59: Have you ever forgotten important dates like your partner’s birthday or your anniversary? - No.

60: What’s your opinion on open relationships? - Ehhhh, do what you want, I guess, just as long as it isn’t hurting the other person… like, you’d have to make sure ALL THE TIME that what you’re doing isn’t hurting your partner if you’re in an open relationship.

61: Who’s more important: Your partner or your family? - Once again, both are pretty important, it’s kind of silly to choose.

62: How do you define “cheating”? - Having sex with another person tends to be the most common definition, but I’m sure there’s other ways to define it as well.

63: Is watching porn while being in a relationship inappropriate? - It depends. I know there are couples who watch it together and make a thing out of it. I know there are couples who watch it individually. Just as long as it isn’t hurting your partner. That’s something you should talk about.

64: Do you think Valentine’s Day is overrated? - If I was in a relationship and February 14th rolled around I’m sure I’d make some kind of a deal about it.

65: Would you consider yourself a “cuddler”? - I’ll cuddle all day every day, you don’t even know about my cuddling abilities.