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eurovision-del · 3 months

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And with that, all the national finals have been completed! Tonight has been good for me, with both results going my way! I couldn’t watch Melodifestivalen live, but I was happy to find out Marcus & Martinus will be representing Sweden, they were my pick to win! I think they’ll be a great host entry – even though the lads are technically Norweigian, Unforgettable as a song is very standard for Sweden, it’s a great slice of Swedish pop and I do enjoy it. The staging is a big part of it, I watched the winners reprise and it’s definitely weaker without the full staging, but I do think the song has merit, and in the end it’s the whole package that matters. They’ll put on a solid show in Malmö, and I think they’re a host entry that Sweden should be proud of.

Following Sweden, Portugal have also decided and iolanda will represent them with Grito! I’m thrilled with this result – she was just as good in the final as in the semi to my ears, and the song is really something special. I was very happy also to see João Borsch get recognition from the public with him winning their vote, and I’d love to see him back in a future year, but personally I’m glad it was iolanda who won in the end. On the surface it might fill a similar niche to Serbia and maybe even Ukraine’s entries which are competing in the same semi, but I think there’s more than enough space for all of them in the final. I really want to see Portugal do well at Eurovision with this song!

#eurovision #esc2024 #nf winner #sweden #portugal #it's been a good national final season honestly #lots of good new songs that I've discovered to add to my playlist #a few national finals didn't do it for me but many more than delivered #and while I had a fair number of songs I ranked last win #I also had a lot of my number ones or personal picks win!#doesn't feel like we've had any super controversial or surpising results despite the odds not getting it right so often early in the season #it's been exciting but never too stressful #and while I've had a little disappointment at times I've definitely enjoyed it all #... I am undecided as to how I'm going to actually approach Eurovision this year after the annoucement that a certain country will be there #I'll probably still do my ranking in April because I want to acknowlege all the other songs competing #and I enjoy a lot of them #but yeah it really sours the whole thing

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x--daughters-of-darkness--x · 9 months

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DORO PESCH And ROB HALFORD Have Recorded A Cover Of 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart': 'It Sounds Really, Really Special'

During an appearance on yesterday's (Tuesday, September 12) episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", German metal queen Doro Pesch revealed that her upcoming studio album, "Conqueress - Forever Strong And Proud", will include two separate duets with JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford: the recently released cover of the PRIEST classic "Living After Midnight" and a version of the 1983 global smash hit "Total Eclipse Of The Heart", written by Jim Steinman and originally performed by the Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler.

"The record has 20 songs on it, and I think they all sound killer," Doro said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "And it has three duets on it, and two duets with my favorite, with Rob Halford of JUDAS PRIEST, and I can't believe it. It's so awesome to me. I was a big, big PRIEST fan, and it was my very first big tour in 1986. And [Rob and I] met [again] last year in France at Hellfest, a great festival. And then we were talking, hanging out. And then we said, 'Hey, let's do something together.' So we did two duets. And the first one is 'Living After Midnight'. That was my choice, because I loved singing it. It was always a feel-good song. And then Rob Halford said, 'I have the song I always wanted to do with you. It's 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart'.' And that came out so great. When you hear it, you can tell Rob loves the song and I'm so happy. Even two duets, man. That's more than I can ask for. I'm a lucky baby, I tell you."

Asked if "Total Eclipse Of The Heart", will be a bonus track on the album, since it didn't appear in the LP's original track listing, Doro said: "It is on the record, but it just got finished a couple of weeks ago. Actually, I delivered the record and the vinyl is already done. And then I got an e-mail. Rob Halford said, 'Hey, what about the second song?' And I thought, 'Oh, man. That's too good to be true.' And then we did the second song. And it just got done a couple of weeks ago. We will do a video for that song, and it will come out — the video and the single will come out the day the record will be released, so on the 27th of October. But it came out so awesome. And oh, man, that was just the icing on the cake. I thought I was done with record. And [PRIEST producer] Andy Sneap, he worked on it, and my guys worked on it, and it was a great teamwork. And Rob Halford sounds so great on it. It's, like, wow. It's definitely one of my absolute favorite songs of this album, and it sounds really, really special. You have to check it out. But yeah, it's brand new — just got done; mastering just got done. And video we are doing in a few weeks."

Pressed by host Eddie Trunk whether her version of "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" is "heavy", Doro said: "Yes, yes, it is heavy, and it's, like, wow. It's very heavy, but it sounds great, I think, yeah. I think it's a killer version. I always get goosebumps when I hear it. And I think other people who heard it, they thought, 'Wow.'

"I think all my dreams came true working with all these great people, all my heroes, all people who inspired me so much," Doro added. "And [PRIEST] was my very first tour in Europe in '86 when metal was so huge. And it was such a great tour. So [Rob and I] finally did something together. And we always stayed friends. So I think that makes this album even more special to me, and I think many fans will love it."

"Conqueress - Forever Strong And Proud" is described in a press release as "the result of intensive hard work that took the incomparable singer and songwriter back to studios in Miami, New York and Hamburg, amongst others. The album presents Doro at the height of her creative powers."

#doro #doro pesch #2023 interviews #2023 news #rob halford #judas priest

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delphiis · 1 year

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✨My opinion on the ESC songs this year ✨

(before rehearsals and stuff)

Albania: I've seen many people ranking it low but I actually like it. By far not my fav but it's still good imo.

Armenia: I really like this one, added it to my playlist. And her live vocals are good, so that's nice.

Australia: Not my cup of tea tbh.

Austria: This song absolutely slaps, I love it. One of my favs this year

Azerbaijan: Also not my cup of tea but I still think it's a good song.

Belgium: At first, I wasn't a big fan but after listening to it from time to time I like it better.

Croatia: This one I really love. It's peak ESC. I wouldn't listen to it in my free time, but for esc it's perfect.

Cyprus: I kinda forget about that song most of the time. I mean it's good and stuff, but easy to forget, for me at least haha.

Czechia: Also one of my favs this year! Been listening to it since they won national selection. Sadly their staging and live vocals weren't that good at the pre parties but I'm hoping they'll improve.

Denmark: Not a fan of this style of song to be honest.

Estonia: It's a good song but not something I would listen to after ESC.

Finland: That is my favourite this year! I love this song so much and Käärijä is also such a sweetheart. It's crazy, it's party.

France: Probably an unpopular opinion but I liked their entry last year more. Song still slays.

Georgia: The lyrics don't really make sense but she can sing live, so that's a plus!

Germany: What can I say? I don't have to be ashamed of our song this year. Finally. I really hope they'll do good with the televote to show the old boring German boomers they were the right decision.

Greece: Even more forgettable than Cyprus for me.

Iceland: She should have stuck with the Icelandic version imo. Would have liked that a lot more.

Ireland: Boring, I'm sorry.

Isreal: I don't really get the hype? There is so much going on, idk.

Italy: I'm a sucker for the Italian language and the Italian entries the last few years so I'm a fan.

Latvia: A really good song. I hope they'll do well.

Lithuania: No, not a fan, although I like the ending.

Malta: I don't know what to think of it. Sometimes I like it, sometimes I absolutely can't stand it haha.

Moldova: I love Pasha and I love this song. Moldova absolutely delivered and I hope he does well.

Netherlands: You can hear the influence Duncan had on it. It's okay.

Norway: I liked Jone a lot more but I think Alessandra was the best pick for Norway to get high in the rankings. The song is very catchy. Personally I've heard the song too much on TikTok already.

Poland: No.

Portugal: At first, I didn't really care for it but with each listen I like it more.

Romania: Now that's a really unpopular opinion but I absolutely love this song. Theodor has an amazing voice for a 18 year old. Pls listen to his ESC medley, it's so good. I agree that the staging is bad but I heard he'll change it for the Semi, so I'm hoping people will see his potential.

San Marino: It's kinda catchy idk haha.

Serbia: The lyrics are very relatable lol. I'm not the biggest fan tho, still hope he does good, I love these kind of entries.

Slovenia: This one is sooo good. I was very sad when Slovenia didn't qualify last year for the final, so I'm hoping they'll do this year.

Spain: From what I've seen people either hate or love it, no in between. I love it.

Sweden: Sorry to all the Loreen stans but I have a problem with her: I don't understand what she's singing. It got better with Tattoo since Euphoria, but it's still so muffled to me .

Switzerland: Nah, don't like it.

Ukraine: I really like this one, especially the revamp with the Ukrainian parts in it.

UK: Too generic for me. But it did get stuck in my head so it did it's job haha.

Very excited for the upcoming weeks and how my view on some of the songs will change 👀

#esc ranking #esc23 #eurovision 2023 #I wanted to do this since forever but I was simply too lazy #Instagram

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themosleyreview · 5 months

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The Mosley Review: Best Films of 2023

Well! 2023 has come to an end and what a tumultuous year it has been for the entertainment industry. There were some shake ups on release dates and some films were shifted to 2024 for a number of reasons. Whether it was because of the massive SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes or because the films were rushed, it didn't stop a crop of good films from coming out in 2023. This years' list may not be as long as others, but it is still my pick for the very best Hollywood had to offer. As always, if you want a more detailed review of all the films on my list, just click the title of each film. Now, without further ado, here's my list of the best films of 2023!

John Wick 4: There are very few films that start out as a small, simple, and almost as an underdog. The original film came out of nowhere with minimal promotion and it grew into becoming one of the greatest action film franchises of all time. From beginning to end, this film was a finale that incorporated any and every from of martial arts, gunfoo and even paid homage to classic samurai sword fighting. It was thrilling all the way through and a surprisingly emotional end to something that only happens once in a lifetime. Keanu Reeves is now one of the greatest action stars of all time and I hope this franchise stays gone on this high note and never revisit it.

When Evil Lurks: As a horror fan, you get many recommendations a year and a healthy helping of so many films. Alot of them stick to a familiar formula, but end up being nothing you haven't seen before by the finale. I'm always looking for a horror film to keep me on the edge of my seat with anxiety, wonder, nausea from the imagery and above all, terror. This film Argentinian film did that in spades. The thought of giving the possession genre a more biohazard twist and sticking to the rules that were set was refreshing and loved every second of it. This film ripped the safety net out from under you as it plunges you deeper into the dark and grotesque nightmare. What a magnificent horror film.

Oppenheimer: Lets face it. We all wanted to see the great Christopher Nolan tackle the subject of an atomic bomb and to see it detonate through his specific IMAX lens. We got that, but what we also got was a truly haunting and sometimes disturbing examination of man that became one of the most genius and destructive minds in human history. The fact that we delve into the titular characters’ life, the events preceding, during and following the effects of his creation was truly mesmerizing. We got to see the emotional and psychological toll it took on the brilliant scientist and all the others that wanted to be apart of that historical moment. The court drama that ensued was fascinating and gave a face to true villain and an outstanding supporting performance from Robert Downey Jr. This was truly one of the best dramas of the year and one that I'm glad to have experienced in its full 3 hour IMAX glory.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse: With the surprise the first film was, you would be hard pressed to deliver something on the same scale or better than the awesome and stylish origin story for a character that really wasn't embraced in the beginning. The story may have taken some familiar turns with Miles Morales in the beginning, but to open with Gwen Stacey / Spider-Gwen and to go through the emotional journey between her and her father was amazing. The team behind the ground breaking animation has done it yet again and mixed in the use of water colors, inks and other forms of animation from different nations. It was a sight truly to behold and nothing short of an art gallery in every frame. The intensity of the story going from a kid trying to find his place in the universe to defying all by doing his own thing was great and frustrating at the same time. This film has one of the best cliffhangers in cinema history and I can't wait to see how this story comes to a close.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3: Few storytellers get the honor of finishing their stories unhindered by outside influences. Even fewer get the chance to end a trilogy the way they intended and with a through line that keeps paying off the more you revisit each entry before the conclusion. The Guardians films started off as the outcast heroes that nobody knew anything about and as we fell in love with this ragtag team, we got to see them become a real family. The emotional origin story of Rocket Raccoon was in the seams of Vol. 1 and 2 and it now comes full circle with one of the best performances of Bradley Cooper's career. The High Evolutionary made for an excellent villain that is also a brilliant commentary on the state of a certain company that is seeking to execute the same plans of reconstruction in its many cinematic properties. You can look deeper into James Gunn's brilliant writing and directing and his message was clear. The Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy ends on such a sweet and powerful note that many have not reached in so long and I am so glad the actors, production team and many others fought for James Gunn to complete his vision. Definitely one of the best films Marvel Studios has released in years!

Evil Dead Rise: There truly is something magical happening with this series of films. It seems that everytime we get a new entry to this franchise, somehow they keep getting better and better. The 2013 remake was gnarly and stayed true to the franchise roots and this film does the same by staying small and personal. The story was simple, but the creative scares and intense violence was top notch. The tension was so great and the choice to make it about a family is always a welcomed touch. Just the possession process of the mother alone was horrific and sad. The film progressed and I was very impressed with the practical gore effects and stunt work. Alyssa Sutherland gives an impressive and devilishly gleeful performance as Ellie and definitely is up there for me as one of the best Deadites ever. Sam Raimi's franchise legacy is in very good hands.

And now we've come to the moment you've all been waiting for. For me, this choice was a no brainer and truly broke all the boundaries many films wouldn't pass. The best film of 2023 is.......

Poor Things: Right from the beginning, this film set its own path and delivered its own take on the coming age story. The unconventional take on the story element of woman birthed of scientists' experiment was something that could've gone horribly in the wrong hands. It’s handled with care and it was truly breathtaking to experience the mental growth of a child in full grown woman's body. Emma Stone was challenged to colour outside the lines by creating a character that discovers her own path recklessly, analytically and with an open mind that was not afraid to challenge societal norms and ideals. She had the best dialogue to make a meal out of and I was never not hungry for more as I was anticipating her reactions. Mark Ruffalo was on another level of joyous vanity and comedy all mixed into one. This is the most energetic, uncompromising and pompous character I've ever seen him portray and he makes you actually care about him by the end of the film. The vocal dance between both Bella and Duncan was the most interesting part of the film and their chemistry was volcanic. The dance sequence was one of my favorite scenes. This was truly the best film of the year for me and I highly recommend this metaphorical dark comedy to any and all that want to see a showstopping cast at their very best.

Alright folks! That was my list of the best films of 2023! It was an interesting year for the horror genre and to end on a such a high note with one of the most unconventional coming of age stories was a treat. Do you agree with my list? Let me know what you think or tell me what your picks of the best films of 2023 are in the comments below. Thanks for reading and here's to 2024!

#best films of 2023 #keanu reeves #when evil lurks #florence pugh #robert downey jr #oppenheimer #hailee steinfeld #across the spiderverse #christ pratt #alyssa sutherland #evil dead rise #emma stone #mark ruffalo #poor things

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silvokrent · 4 years

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So since Tyrian's arrest screen didn't list everything he was wanted for, what else do you think he did? My brother thinks arson, I think more along the lines of torture.

It’d probably be easier to ask, “What crimes didn’t he commit?”

I think you’re both right. Arson and torture seem like equally valid possibilities, but they’d have to be the result of context and circumstance. On one hand, Tyrian always struck me as someone that’s adaptive, flexible, and capable of improvisation, which is why I doubt he’d be averse to either. On the other hand, Tyrian appears to have a modus operandi—speed and stealth. Like most Faunus, seeing in the dark (presumably with tapeta lucida, the eyeshine a lot of nocturnal and crepuscular animals have) affords him an advantage many of his victims lack. That, coupled with his stinger, sets him up by default for a very specific tactic: hit-and-run assassinations. Catch your target off-guard, deliver the killing blow, then melt back into the shadows before anyone’s the wiser. Fire lacks discretion, and torture involves prolonged interaction with the victim (which increases the odds of him getting caught, as time/duration would be proportionate to the risk of being discovered).

If a situation called for it (like setting a car on fire in order to distract pursuers), or he was contracted to complete a specific job (like torturing someone for information), then I could definitely see him committing arson and torture. But if he’s recreationally killing, then I think it’s more likely that he’d indulge in his preferred repertoire, envenomation and stabbing.

The nice thing about his criminal record being truncated (with a “see attachment for more details” appended to the file) with multiple redacted sections is that it leaves a lot of room for speculation. Bear in mind that much of this is either conjectural with little supporting evidence, or my personal headcanons.

One of the things that I found interesting about Tyrian’s character was his reverence of Salem. “Goddess” isn’t just an affectionate title or a term of endearment—he literally apotheosizes her. Compare that to how his teammates interact with her. While they treat her with respect, none of them use the same venerating language as Tyrian (“Your Grace,” “my lady,” “our divine savior,” “our goddess”). This tells us that his worship of her isn’t the norm amongst her followers, which also means that he has a reason for doing it.

Personally, I’ve never been a fan of labelling people who commit heinous crimes as crazy or insane—not only because it implicates nonviolent mentally ill and neurodivergent people, and scapegoats them for the actions of others—but because in this instance, it robs Tyrian of the complexity that comes with rationalizing one’s choices. Tyrian’s decision to deify Salem shouldn’t stem from some sort of psychopathology, but rather a logical, personal, or historical precedent.

Let’s reverse-engineer this thought process:

Tyrian worships Salem.

Salem (in Tyrian’s eyes) is the extreme embodiment, manifestation, or expression of cathartic violence.

Tyrian worships this form of violence.

And what else in RWBY’s universe embodies those traits?

The Creatures of Grimm.

So, with that in mind, let’s talk about all the illegal things Tyrian’s done over the course of his life, and more specifically, why.

Archotherolatry: This is a term I coined for my RWBY worldbuilding blog. If you break down the etymology, archotherian (Greek - ruling beast, the scientific term for Grimm) + -latry (Late Latin - worship of), it translates to “the worship of Grimm.” The practice was outlawed by the King of Vale (King Ozark) after the Great War. While the decision was rooted in common sense—like, you really don’t want people to see the Grimm as gods for fairly obvious reasons—Ozark had ulterior motives for outlawing it. You see, Ozark was one of Ozma’s incarnations, and the immediate predecessor of Ozpin. While archotherolatry had been falling out of favor over the last few centuries, it was still a religion with a presence in certain corners of Remnant. Salem used to recruit these cultists directly into her ranks. By making the practice illegal, Ozma was hoping to cut off a potential source of followers.

Prior to meeting Salem, Tyrian was one of the surviving few practitioners of the faith. Not only that, but he had a particular mania about it. Grimm worship in Remnant changed depending on where in the world you went, but one of the recurring practices involved human sacrifice. Now, while Tyrian didn’t subscribe to any specific holy doctrine and wasn’t a member of any secret groups, he did adhere to certain rites and ceremonies. He savored the taking of lives, but even more than that, he enjoyed offering up his victims to the Grimm. During the months that Pickerel spent hunting him down, his trails would often lead him to secluded areas outside cities or towns. There he’d often find a large ornately-detailed circle on the ground painted with blood, with the tattered corpse of the victim lying in the center. The surrounding trees and rocks would sport eye-like patterns drawn in blood, similar to the patterns seen on the bony white protrusions on a Grimm’s body.

When selecting potential victims, Tyrian didn’t discriminate. Gender, age, nationality, race, economic background—they all bleed red, so it didn’t matter. Not technically, anyway. That wasn’t to say he didn’t enjoy abducting business owners that were prejudiced against Faunus, or that he didn’t find ironic humor in sacrificing Huntsmen to the Grimm. He just wasn’t particularly choosy about who he sacrificed.

In a similar vein, I think this is how Salem first learned about Tyrian’s existence. Whenever her scouts or sentries returned to Evernight and reported in, they’d inform her about a man that would drag people into the woods and invite the Grimm to feast upon them. This possibility excited Salem for several reasons: not only was he predisposed to loyalty to her, but the fact that he’d clearly been doing these sacrifices for some time meant he was talented. It took a lot of skill to kill so many people without being caught by the authorities. She needed an assassin, and he would do perfectly.

When Tyrian wasn’t feeding people to the Grimm, he probably murdered for sport. He thrilled in the hunt, in the dizzying slick of blood beneath his fingers, the intoxicating coppery smell, the beautiful song of his victims as they cried, begged, and screamed. Acts of violence honor the Grimm, but in addition to that, he simply relished in the joy of killing. And he was good at it.

Of course, sacrificial manslaughter doesn’t pay the bills, so Tyrian had a day job. Well, I say “day job,” but it was more along the lines of contract killer/thief/kidnapper/smuggler. Tyrian operated largely out of Mistral’s criminal underworld, particularly in the capital (though depending on the work he was doing, he’d travel to Wind Path or Kuchinashi). Potential clients sought him out and hired him for any number of jobs: collect the debt that this person owes me and kill them if they refuse to pay; abduct the member of this rival syndicate and bring them to these coordinates; assassinate someone for me, and bring back proof that they’re dead; transport this contraband (weapons, drugs, Dust) and ensure the shipment arrives safely; kill these people and destroy the evidence; capture this person and extract information from them by whatever means necessary; follow this person without being detected, and collect information about their routine. Although Tyrian preferred jobs that involved bloodshed, he’d still accept contracts for more mundane work (even if he found it somewhat boring). Tyrian didn’t have a ton of dealbreakers in terms of jobs, though he refused to do anything that involved sexual assault. (Even serial killers have standards.)

Destruction of public and private property was likely an unintended or indirect consequence of his work. As much as Tyrian enjoyed wanton carnage, he prided himself on being stealthy and thus had to exercise some level of restraint, so as to not leave behind damning evidence in the form of collateral damage. Breaking a window or kicking in a door is a liability. Accidentally setting off a Dust explosion is a good way for the authorities to track you. That being said, there were a few memorable occasions where Tyrian absolutely wrecked shit up. Perhaps the most noteworthy of these was the day that he was finally captured by Atlesian and Mistrali law enforcement. On the day of his arrest, Tyrian caused nearly 50,000 lien’s worth of property damage, including the destruction of three Paladins.

Tyrian’s name, while spoken among the criminal element, was unknown to the public. Even so, he garnered a reputation as Anima’s most infamous serial killer. People often referred to him by his title: The Ghost in the Mist. (Years later, a documentary by the same name was released. It was an hour-long production that detailed his activity in Mistral, all of his victims, an analysis of his signature, and other relevant or interesting trivia. It even featured an interview with Pickerel, prior to his death. Tyrian absolutely loves this documentary and has re-watched it several times.)

I’m sure there’s more that he’s done that I can’t think of presently, but hopefully this gives you a general idea of all the criminal activity I think he’s committed.

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arreisstorm · 4 years

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Ok don't even get me started on these speeches, every single one of them made me feel a different type of emotion, yet it still felt like I was receiving a hug from all of them together. Many of the words hit home for me, as everyone all addressed feelings of uncertainty and doubt towards the future in one way or another, but then, in true Bangtan fashion, they also made sure to remind us that we are strong and to not give up just because the situation seems impossible. At this point I was definitely crying. Here's a few of the statements that stuck out to me, but I highly recommend watching the entire video.

Kookie:

“So here I stand today with my members, with faith in myself, my members and the world. I hope you do the same for yourself and move forward.”

Jin:

“if any of you feels lost in the face of doubt or uncertainty, or the pressure of starting anew, don’t rush. take a deep breath you may find that any moment can be turned into an opportunity. allow yourself to take it easy. take it one step at a time”

Yoongi:

"Please, don’t be afraid, don’t worry yourself. The end and beginning, beginning and end are connected.”

“Take your hands off of what you can’t control and get your hands on what you can change”

Jimin:

"Remember there is a person here in Korea, in the city of Seoul, who understands you."

"We are all in different parts of the world, in different environments and circumstances. But in this moment, I hope we can all give each other a warm pat on the back and say: “It’s okay.”

Hobi:

“The next attempt might not be perfect but the second is better than the first and the third is even better than the second and that is the moment i decide. I’m glad i chose not to give up”

"There will be times in your life when you question your own decisions, whether it be about your major or your profession, whether you have the right choice, whether you are doing well or walking the path of failure. And when you do, remember: You are the leader of your own life. And chant it over and over again."

Tae:

"If there is anyone out there who cannot see where they should go from here forth, I urge you to listen to your heart"

"Things may feel a little difficult right now, but somewhere out there, luck and opportunity is waiting for you. I believe that."

Joon:

"The fear of an obscure future as our daily lives turned upside down, is a moment of realization of the self, the realization of what makes me a true me, myself."

"In our music and in our hearts and in the time we break out of ourselves, we’re alone but also together."

“We may be seeing each other through just a camera and this small screen, but I know your future will bloom into something much bigger and magnificent.”

As I said already, these words which were spoken so eloquently and straight from the heart are ones that not only relate to graduates, but for all who find themselves at a crossroad and questioning what that next step is. Myself, being one who fits the latter, felt motivated, reassured, and comforted throughout these speeches, as well as proud to see my boys having been given the opportunity to impart their knowledge and life lessons and share their love and messages of hope for a generation who has been surrounded by mass amounts of pure evil and devastation. These are words that everyone could use right now.

Now moving on to the performance, to say I was emotional is an understatement.

So we were told ahead of time that the boys would be performing Boy With Luv, and in Korea's National Museum no less, so of course I was already beaming with pride! Anyways, so CNCO finished their performance and then it's the boys' turn. They did Boy With Luv as promised and then once it ended the screen fades to black, so naturally I thought it was over, show's finished, a beautiful finale, but then PSYCH! The picture returns, the boys are sitting in an acoustic style set-up, the familiar bg synth sound plays and we all know the queen herself has returned, our beloved anthem Spring Day is here!

AHHHH HOW CAN THEY JUST SPRING "SPRING DAY" ON US LIKE THAT THOUGH??!?!?!

So here I am crying and trying to recover from the surprising transition and then, THEN, once it ends these legends go straight into Mikrokosmos!

How can you emotionally prepare for this?!

That seriously messed me up! Things definitely ended with a bang as I predicted they would, I just didn't know my heart was going to be the target! 😵😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Needless to say these 7 had me on a emotional rollercoaster from their first appearance on screen, to the last ending seconds of the show! They always know the perfect words for every situation and that goes for song choice too, BTS knew Spring Day and Mikrokosmos were two comforting tracks we needed the most for 2020 and they delivered that love and understanding like they always do.

So I just want to address each individual member as both incredible human beings, as well as the global, groundbreaking, talented, and phenomenal musicians there are. Thank you Kim Namjoon, Min Yoongi, Kim Seokjin, Jung Hoseok, Park Jimin, Kim Taehyung, Jeon Jungkook for gifting us with your inspiring words of comfort and assurance, and thank you BTS for this beautiful and touching performance. I love you all more than words could ever say! 💜

You can do yourself a favor and check out their history-making performance here, and then join me in crying your own personal swimming pool of tears afterwards

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

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newssplashy · 6 years

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Opinion: Charged with murder, but the pastor didn't pull the trigger

DOTHAN, Ala. — A Google search will show that Pastor Kenneth Glasgow first made news in 2001 as the former crack addict and prison inmate who was fretted over by his older half brother, the Rev. Al Sharpton Jr.

The local media in Dothan, a small, unprepossessing city in Alabama’s Wiregrass region, have long followed his story of reinvention from felon to do-gooder who hand-delivered meals, organized unity marches and — in a place where few were willing to speak out — crusaded against brutality and racism.

During the Senate race between Roy Moore and Doug Jones last year, Glasgow gained attention with his effort to register as voters thousands of people with felony records, a campaign that thrilled left-wing groups while outraging Breitbart News.

Nowadays, though, one thing tops the search results: a mug shot, his eyes hooded, his white goatee jutting out at a defiant angle.

In March, Glasgow was charged with capital murder.

The day before the fatal shooting took place, he spoke at the local March for Our Lives for gun control. To an East Coast journalist who has been visiting Dothan for a decade, the idea that this man could be facing death row seemed, if not Shakespearean (tragic and predestined), then perhaps Faulknerian (grotesque and confounding).

First, there were so many people in Dothan who would revel in his downfall. In a place known for the excesses of its criminal justice system, Glasgow has been the critic-in-chief of police, prosecutors and jailers.

And then there is the fact that he did not actually kill anyone.

The police say that a passenger in a car that Glasgow was driving got out and fatally shot another motorist. Under Alabama’s complicity law, also known as the “aiding and abetting” statute, an accomplice to a crime is just as guilty as the main actor. To make their case against Glasgow, prosecutors must prove that he knew, or reasonably should have known, that violence was going to occur. He says he had no idea.

“I don’t do violence,” he said when I went down to Dothan to hear the story firsthand. “To know that I’m the cause, or involved in, a black woman’s death? It’s like the death of me, really.”

I had arrived at the office of his defense lawyer, Derek Yarbrough, to find a surprise guest: Rickey Stokes, a bail bondsman, news blogger, private investigator, 911 board chairman and assistant coroner.

Stokes and Glasgow have a history that is Dothanesque. They have been adversaries — Glasgow, who is black, once protested when Stokes, who is white, chained two African-American bail-bond clients to the courthouse doors. Stokes was convicted of misdemeanor unlawful imprisonment, and complained that Glasgow had unduly made a racial issue out of it.

But it all turned out to be nothing personal: Glasgow has now requested Stokes’ investigative services on his very bizarre case.

Here’s what happened: On Sunday, March 25, Glasgow was in the Bottom, the poor neighborhood where he does much of his work, with a friend known as Little John. A young man, Jamie Townes, who Glasgow says was an acquaintance, approached and reported that his car was missing. Glasgow believed he had seen the car, a Monte Carlo, a few blocks away.

Townes, a woman named Choyce Bush, Little John and Glasgow got into the car Glasgow was driving that day, a borrowed brand-new Toyota Camry, to go look for it.

The Monte Carlo had gone on a wild ride, careening through church grounds, fields and ditches, knocking over a street sign and ramming into a tree in someone’s front yard. Finally, with its hood popped open, blocking the driver’s view, it plowed into the front of the Camry on the driver’s side.

“We didn’t find the car,” Glasgow said. “The car found us.”

After the collision, Townes got out of the back seat of the Camry and, the police say, began firing at the driver of the Monte Carlo, who everyone assumed was a man.

It turned out to be Breunia Jennings, a young woman with a long history of mental illness, who in the preceding hours had cut her hair short, fled from a motel barefoot and barely dressed, donned men’s clothing and, apparently, found Townes’ car with the motor running. The police now believe that she was driving so erratically because she was being chased.

There’s more to the story. Glasgow says that not only did the Monte Carlo hit the Camry from the front, but another vehicle hit the Camry from behind. (Bush also told the police about a rear-end collision, and Townes said he was “punch drunk” from “multiple collisions,” according to police testimony.) The Camry did suffer some rear damage, but no third vehicle was ever found.

Thinking there was some sort of ambush in progress, Glasgow says, he ducked, and did not see the shooting. Nor, he says, was he aware that Townes had gotten out of the car.

Dothan is a city where judgment is swift and punishment can be harsh. It is the seat of Houston County, which ranks among the top 10 in the nation for death row convictions. It has a relatively new district attorney; the previous one was known for striking African-Americans from juries.

But at Glasgow’s preliminary hearing, where he appeared in handcuffs and an orange jumpsuit, Judge Benjamin Lewis seemed dubious that criminal charges were warranted.

“What is it he did, other than pick him up and give him a ride, really?” he asked.

Lewis took the rare step in a capital murder case of allowing Glasgow to post bond. A grand jury will decide whether to indict him.

While he waits, the police, some local news coverage and the Dothan rumor mill have portrayed him as callous and indifferent. Much has been made of the fact that he did not call the police to report the Monte Carlo missing, nor did he call 911 after the accident.

To the first point, Glasgow says, he and his passengers believed the car had been taken by a friend. To the second, the police arrived at the scene moments after the shooting, so he says there was no need to call them.

There has been surprisingly little controversy over what may be the most unflattering part of the episode: Glasgow spent the minutes after the accident trying to commit insurance fraud. The Camry’s owner was concerned that her insurance would not cover the accident, so she hurried to the scene in order to stand in as the driver.

At the time, Glasgow says, he did not know that anyone had died. When Glasgow learned, hours later at the police station, that the situation was far more serious than just a car wreck, he says he promptly confessed to having been the driver.

Glasgow, 53, says he did not know that Townes, 27, had a gun. Even so, prosecutors may try to argue that it was reasonable to expect that Townes, who police say is a drug dealer, would commit violence. Townes had previous state charges for theft and drug possession, but not for violent offenses.

Townes’ lawyer, James Parkman III, says his client fired in self-defense, pointing to a Facebook post in which Jennings said she was going to “stab and shoot” and “catch a murder case.”

In the eyes of the police, Glasgow’s association with Townes is suspicious. But helping people with unsavory pasts is Glasgow’s calling. It was some two decades ago, during Glasgow’s most recent of several stints in prison, that he and a friend conceived of a ministry focused on addiction, poverty and life after incarceration. They called it The Ordinary People Society.

Glasgow’s operation, housed in a run-down old shopping plaza and cluttered with the unruly archives of Mama Tina, Glasgow’s mother and co-missionary, can seem picayune. But Glasgow’s reach becomes apparent when he walks down the street: Every pedestrian and car stops to greet him. And over the years he has scored some improbable legal and political victories.

“The real story of what happens in America happens in these small towns, and in these small towns there are people whose rights have been completely upended,” said Asha Bandele, until recently a senior director at the Drug Policy Alliance, which helped finance Glasgow’s work for years.

Dothan’s population is about one-third African-American, but the city has an entrenched white power structure: It has never had a black mayor, police chief, circuit judge, county sheriff or school superintendent. It is the type of place where, if you call the police chief or the district attorney with a complaint, he may offer to pray with you right there on the line. In part through the common ground of Christianity, Glasgow has been able to forge some relationships with white businessmen who help pay for his work.

But where some see an advocate, many others — particularly white people in town — see a charlatan. The murder charge complicated matters. Though his hearing was packed with supporters, some African-American residents have turned against Glasgow as well.

The city was teeming with unfounded rumors: That Townes was actually Glasgow’s son. That they were in cahoots as drug kingpins. That Glasgow and Townes had terrorized and raped Jennings, then hunted her down. I heard that one from Jennings’ mother, Lakesia Reeves, who said she heard it from an anonymous caller.

In that environment, it is perhaps not surprising that Glasgow, too, would believe he is being deliberately targeted. For his opponents, he says, restoring voting rights to felons was bad enough — but the victory of Jones, a Democrat, in the Senate race was the final straw. “They want me dead,” he insisted.

Accustomed to being an activist for others, Glasgow now finds himself without a champion of his own. But as he awaits the grand jury’s decision, he has found a new crusade: changing the accomplice law.

“I did my time for what I did,” he said, speaking of previous armed robbery and drug convictions. “I’m not going to do it for something I didn’t do.”

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

source https://www.newssplashy.com/2018/07/opinion-charged-with-murder-but-pastor.html

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x--daughters-of-darkness--x · 7 months

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ROB HALFORD Joins DORO For Cover Of 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart'; Official Music Video Released

"Conqueress – Forever Strong And Proud", the new album from German metal queen Doro Pesch, includes two separate duets with JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford: the recently released cover of the PRIEST classic "Living After Midnight" and a version of the 1983 global smash hit "Total Eclipse Of The Heart", written by Jim Steinman and originally performed by the Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler.

The official Mirko Witzki-directed music video for Doro's version of "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" can be seen below.

During an appearance on the September 12 episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Doro stated about "Conqueress – Forever Strong And Proud": "The record has 20 songs on it, and I think they all sound killer. And it has three duets on it, and two duets with my favorite, with Rob Halford of JUDAS PRIEST, and I can't believe it. It's so awesome to me. I was a big, big PRIEST fan, and it was my very first big tour in 1986. And [Rob and I] met [again] last year in France at Hellfest, a great festival. And then we were talking, hanging out. And then we said, 'Hey, let's do something together.' So we did two duets. And the first one is 'Living After Midnight'. That was my choice, because I loved singing it. It was always a feel-good song. And then Rob Halford said, 'I have the song I always wanted to do with you. It's 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart'.' And that came out so great. When you hear it, you can tell Rob loves the song and I'm so happy. Even two duets, man. That's more than I can ask for. I'm a lucky baby, I tell you."

Asked if "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" is a bonus track on the album, since it didn't appear in the LP's original track listing, Doro said: "It is on the record, but it just got finished a couple of weeks ago. Actually, I delivered the record and the vinyl is already done. And then I got an e-mail. Rob Halford said, 'Hey, what about the second song?' And I thought, 'Oh, man. That's too good to be true.' And then we did the second song. And it just got done a couple of weeks ago. We will do a video for that song, and it will come out — the video and the single will come out the day the record will be released, so on the 27th of October. But it came out so awesome. And oh, man, that was just the icing on the cake. I thought I was done with record. And [PRIEST producer] Andy Sneap, he worked on it, and my guys worked on it, and it was a great teamwork. And Rob Halford sounds so great on it. It's, like, wow. It's definitely one of my absolute favorite songs of this album, and it sounds really, really special. You have to check it out. But yeah, it's brand new — just got done; mastering just got done. And video we are doing in a few weeks."

"Conqueress – Forever Strong And Proud" is described in a press release as "the result of intensive hard work that took the incomparable singer and songwriter back to studios in Miami, New York and Hamburg, amongst others. The album presents Doro at the height of her creative powers."

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#doro #doro pesch #dod collaborations #rob halford #Total Eclipse Of The Heart #cover #Youtube

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