#when it's a career for people that obviously comes with a new set of responsibilities

[vimbry]

doing streams is honestly Such a good way to develop your confidence in public speaking within the comfort and privacy of your own home. also no matter what you set up and test out beforehand, something Will screw up because technology senses fear, leaving you with no choice but to chill and roll with it and realise how pointless getting embarrassed over minor things is bc you'll solve it somehow. you get to record your memories and experiences of things, and you get to socialise.

#I weirdly enjoy doing these even tho I Hate the idea of any kind of public thing idk these feel different #probably because you can't really see that anyone's watching you. tho if enough/new people are in chat I Do get stagefright lmao #but I do these for myself for fun and wherever anyone's messaged me afterwards saying they enjoyed it #I'm genuinely :)!! about that #when it's a career for people that obviously comes with a new set of responsibilities #but doing something as an amateur with nothing to lose? perfect #it's kind of sad it's inherently considered a monetisable concept now #like every other hobby #and not just random people doing let's plays in their spare time

[inkskinned]

you found out today that a phrase you have used before was coined by an abusive man. this felt like getting your teeth taken out. it made you sick and sad and tired, but not surprised.

bad people tell you to be careful when you talk badly of bad men, that it could "ruin" a life. you had your life ruined by a bad man, not that it ever matters to them. your real life having real consequences is not valued as highly as the potential of his future.

this has always been a frustrating little mathematics problem for you. you've missed school and had to call out sick at work and had panic attacks that lasted for weeks. it stole sleep and food and friends from you. you cried in public, fucked your relationships up. and the whole time: your present has never mattered so much as the great what if! of his future. like - one life (your life) is already ruined, should we really ruin two?

so you live with the consequences and he doesn't, and that's just like, something you need therapy for. you once discussed this with one of your friends over coffee. she chewed the wooden stirrer, looked off into the distance. "once i became a victim, everything that happens to me afterward is automatically less interesting in the eyes of the general public. it is always about him. he changed my identity. to survivor. to statistic. meanwhile this whole time - i am a person."

you learned in college that three out of five of your favorite artists and authors were actually abusive assholes. these days, you are no longer surprised. oh, is that what was happening behind closed doors? of course it was, he was a "genius," and she was just a girl. you are talking about him in art history, so obviously his career was absolutely ruined, for eternity. that's what happens, right? they strike your name from the record and refuse to remember you? nobody really knows her name, but hey. that's what you get for being close to celebrity.

you got into an argument about it, which was a bad argument, because it made you cry. he said what, you want us to just ignore all the things this man did because he made a few women uncomfortable? and you'd balled your fists up and choked on it. later, in bed, you agonized over the response you'd been trying to articulate but never found the right moment to deploy: you are ignoring what any person could do if they weren't being fucking abused. maybe her talents far exceeded his and she was just never allowed to fucking use them. maybe we only see genius in white men because they purposefully fucking squash and silence any other people with talent.

but you'd cried about it instead of saying that, because you are the cost. you are the talent and potential that he took. you used to be brave and smart and clever and unafraid. like a lich, he stole years of your life.

quiet on set made you sad and sick and tired, but not surprised. unfortunately, one of the things he said was true: an entire network of people allowed it to continue. this is not news to you, because you have seen entire networks of people make the same fucking excuses when the same thing or-worse happened to you. and your particular story isn't even in hollywood. it was just a guy. it was still difficult getting people to stand up for you.

you and your friend wait in line for your coffee. like a standup joke, one man turns to the other and says "can't wait for every bitch to come crawling out of the woodwork complaining about harassment. it's another metoo." and you think - oh, that's the network. your boss tucks her hair back and whispers that while your skirt is cute, you're giving the boys the wrong idea. that's the network. when you'd told your "friend" about what happened, she'd said oh you must have misunderstood, that would never happen. and that's the network.

you woke up this morning panting, because years later you still have panic attacks. oh, it's not a network, actually, it's a web. and you, little moth: are you still surprised you're caught in it?

#warm up #spilled ink #writeblr

[seosracha]

OUR SUMMER (PREVIEW) - jake sim x reader

PUBLISHED HERE! - link

SYNOPSIS- after 4 long years, this was the end. This was the last summer before everyone went off to university, and to fully honor it, you decide to make a bucket list, completing every point through the entirety of summer while also discovering feelings that were hidden for so long.

PAIRING- jake sim x fem!reader

GENRE- friends to lovers, summer romance, fluff, highschool/college students au, oneshot

WARNINGS- sexual jokes, alcohol use + more tba!

TAGLIST- open for anyone who's interested ! send me and ask to be added!

[...]

Heeseung chose a college in town, deciding to do pedagogics on the side while he still pursued his soccer career. Jay and Sunghoon also chose a college nearby, only one town away, that meaning the three of them would be around most of the time.

Jake on the other side had some sick ambitions. When he set his mind on UCLA, he did everything in his power to get in. And so he did. There was nothing wrong in that, but how could he leave them? How could he leave you?

"Let's make a bucket list" Jay said as all of you, plus your best friend, Yunjin, hogged the living room couch in Jake's house.

Another reason you didn't want Jake to leave. That damn couch. Everything in the 4 years of your friendship probably happened or started on that couch.

"We make one every summer" Heeseung said shoving some popcorn into his mouth "And always end up freestyling it" he added unclearly, hence all the food in his mouth.

"You're disgusting" Yunjin inquired, pointing out Heeseung's disgusting habit.

He just mumbled a 'fuck you' in response and shoved another handful into his mouth.

"But this summers different" Jay said, reminding you and everyone else once again that this was the last truly youthful summer your friend group would share.

You knew very well that everything would change when they go away to college. Obviously, they could come home for summer, but new friends, a buzzing, new, shiny social life were only a couple of reasons for them to not visit so often when summer comes around next year. The adult life they were about to step into was only gonna allow them to finally party all night long, go on roadtrips across the country and meet people who would show them the other side of life.

So Jay was right, this summer was different, cause it was the last one.

"I'm down" Jake said, grabbing a pen and paper from the drawer. He passed it to Jay, who wrote a big, and definitely sloppy, 'OUR SUMMER'.

"Skydiving" Sunghoon said excitedly, pitching in the first idea.

"You know damn well" Yunjin said "Let's make it a tiny bit more realistic" Sunghoon just furrowed his eyebrows and continued to put on his thinking face.

"Let's do a sleepover. You know, like the one's we'd do in our childhood. Blanket fort and all" you said, turning your face to Jay, as he was the designated leader for this bucket list making.

"I like that" Jake said, giving you a cheeky smile.

You'd rather he be rude towards you than give you all these weird signals. None of the guys would be as nice to you as he was. What man would agree with you on everything, bring you anything you wanted at any time, give you rides at the latest hours, handpick flowers for you on a random Wednesday and buy you things just because they reminded him of you if he didn't like you like that? Yet still, you were too slow to catch on.

"Sleepover. Blanket fort and all" Jay mumbled as he wrote down the first point to your list. "How about we drive down to that lake, get some beer, talk and shit?" he asked after he finished writing.

"With your wackass, dodgy looking fake ID, I'm guessing" Yunjin said, laughing.

"Give me some credit, it works every fucking time" Jay answered, pulling it out from his pocket.

"Okay James Blunderbuss, write it down" Heeseung, said examining the ID "Anton really did you dirty with that last name"

TO BE CONTINUED.........

#blessed☝️ #OUR SUMMER -mail ☀️ #jake sim #jake sim x reader #jake x reader #jake #enhypen x reader #enhypen #enhypen imagines #enhypen fluff

[formula-juanmanuel]

Chapter 1

pairing: female!driver oc x mick schumacher

word count: 2.7k words

warnings: explicit language, drinking, motorsport accidents, mentions of sex, mature themes, mentions of mental illness and side effects of this, mentions of prescribed medication, mentions of death

Hey everyone, welcome to my new story. I have never written before but I am so excited to start. Please let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions I am so happy to take them on board. Hope you enjoy and love you all :)

If you would like to be added to my taglist, let me know in the comments :)

“We are finally getting to see the first female Formula 1 driver in just over 30 years hit the grid in 2026 and we couldn’t be more excited about it! The woman in question, Lori Hoffmann, 2025 F2 Champion and the newest driver for Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team. Welcome to the podcast, Lori!”

“Thank you for having me, TC! Wow, when you say it like that it all feels very real. Far out!”

“It is an incredible achievement and anyone who has been watching you rise through the junior categories knows that you are a force to be reckoned with. You set a record within F2, winning the championship with the biggest points margin we have ever seen, a feat that not even your 2026 grid mates, Charles Leclerc, George Russell, Nyck De Vries, Mick Schumacher, Oscar Piastri or Felipe Drugovich managed to achieve.”

“Yeah, this year in F2 was absolutely insane, from the very start I felt like I was absolutely on fire. I had the best team behind me as well and I cannot thank them enough for their support this year. I had a lot of criticism coming into this season that I had never really had in years before and I think it was because I was starting to look like a real championship threat. But I live for the pressure and I love to prove people wrong and that’s what I did. I was also lucky to have some amazing supporters and mentors this year and I couldn’t have done it without their love and hard work too”

“That leads me to a question I have been meaning to ask you. Daniel Ricciardo? What is the relationship between you both? We have seen him in your box a fair bit this year and from what I have heard, he is coaching you, is that correct?”

“Hahaha, I was waiting for this question. Yes, Daniel Ricciardo! Since the start of this year, Daniel has been my advisor and mentor, I guess you could say but he really just is the circus leader to my hectic racing weekends. He actually reached out to me at the end of 2024 after his World Driver’s Championship win and his retirement from Formula 1 and asked if he could be of assistance to my career. I was obviously shocked and honoured that he would even be interested in helping me. I mean, being an Australian racing driver, he was always someone I looked up to. I, of course, said yes right away and he has been helping me this year with an increase in press and media responsibilities, F1 team offers, improving my mindset and just really helping me to keep myself calm and focused during the season. That has obviously been an issue in the past for me and he has been a massive help.”

“I am glad that you mentioned that, I know you are very open about your struggles but it can be a hard topic to bridge. Do you mind explaining for the people listening who may not know the full story, why you have had to focus so heavily on staying mentally healthy this year?”

“Yeah of course! It is not something that I am ashamed of and I think it is incredibly important to talk about, especially in a sport that can be so focused on ‘manning up’. I took a break from my F3 career in 2020 following the death of my close friend Anthoine Hubert. I have always been incredibly tough but this accident rattled me and I made the decision to take 2020 off to focus on getting back into a space where I loved racing and wasn’t scared to be on track anymore. I was still around F3, F2 and F1, supporting my friends from the pits but I was traumatised having watched my friend lose their life doing what they loved. It was the worst moment of my life. I know a few people were quite critical of this decision but it was the safest for myself and my fellow grid mates and I came back and won F3 in 2021. I am doing better now, but I am still always conscious of my mental state.”

“That was a tragic accident and a reminder of the risk that all the drivers take each time they hop into the car. I am truly sorry for your loss. You mentioned your support for your friends during this year off and I think this is truly one of your best qualities as a racer. You are so fiercely competitive on track, earning yourself the nickname ‘Black Widow’, which I must say fits you so well. You are small and unassuming, unique and bright in appearance but you strike quickly and without mistake. However off track we have seen almost a complete 180 of that. You are known for your amazing friendships, pranks and protective instincts.”

“Yes hahaha! On track I am not to be messed with and like all racers it can be hard to not hold grudges away from the track but my friends mean the world to me. Growing up as an only child I always wished for a brother, I guess because all the boys at school played with and talked about cars so I wanted to have someone to talk about cars with at home who wasn’t my dad. Getting into karting and rising through the junior categories has really given me my biggest wish. I think for me my relationship with Clem, my Trident team mate of 3 years, is the closest thing I will ever have to getting a brother. He is only a year younger than me but I am incredibly protective of him and he is one of the reasons for my spot in F1, having him as a teammate meant I had constant reassurance and advice. He has been racing longer than I have, I only started karting when I was 15, so he always has tips and tricks for me. As a friend, travelling the world and racing with him means laughs, tears and memories I will never forget. I am so happy to be moving to F1 with him next year. I am also so lucky to call so many of my 2026 grid mates my closest friends. Lando, Alex, Felipe, Lance, Esteban, Charles and George have all been supporting me since my start in F3 in 2018. I am very lucky for sure.”

“Getting to have your teammate be one of your best friends must feel like a dream come true. Do you worry that being in a competitive team with George will place a strain on your relationship?”

“Not at all, I really do feel like we have the experience and maturity to separate the track from life and place it in its box. Don’t get me wrong, we are both so competitive, to the point of having run each other off the track during our yearly karting races a few times”

“Fantastic! It is good to see some healthy competition. Now Lori, before I dive into some quick this or that questions, I just wanted to ask about how you got into racing in the first place. I believe your father played a big role in this?”

“Yeah Dad was my biggest supporter in motorsport for sure. I grew up around cars with him working as the consignment manager for Dutton Garage, which is a car dealership in Melbourne which specialises in rare, luxury and classic cars and as such I spent a lot of time there when I was growing up. I am sure I have some pictures of me sitting in a Jaguar E-Type or a ‘69 Miura at the age of 5, biggest smile on my face. I used to sit in the foyer area and read books about all the cars which in turn got me reading about and watching Formula 1. From there Dad eventually, when he realised this wasn’t just another childhood phase, got me a kart and the rest is history. I was an apprentice mechanic from 16 as well, working in the garage there until I left to race in Europe in 2018 and that has helped me fall even more in love with cars and racing.”

“Very impressive! So you know your way around a car? What would be your favourite car of all time if you had to pick?”

“Absolutely I do! I have three project cars sitting in my warehouse back in Australia so I know a manifold from a cylinder head, for sure. Favourite car is an easy pick actually! A 1979 Chevrolet Corvette. It was the first car I ever drove, I was 13 and one of the regular customers at Dutton came in to collect it and when he saw me looking over it in awe, he let me drive it down the garage to the front for him. It was only about 20m in a straight line but I was terrified that I would break it. I was hooked though after that and this customer actually helped to sponsor me in F3. That is also the reason I am racing with number 79 next year too. Same year as that beautiful car which holds so many memories for me.”

“It is so nice to hear how passionate you are, not just about racing but about cars and the history and science behind them! Alright, are you ready for some quick fire questions?”

“Absolutely! Fire away”

“Alright! Weights or cardio?”

“Without fail it would have to be weights, although I do love a good run”

“Understeer or oversteer?”

“Oversteer, you know what Jeremy Clarkson said, at least you won’t have to see the object you are crashing into with oversteer! Hahaha”

“Hahaha, oh gosh! Wet race or dry race?”

“Wet race, growing up in rainy Melbourne, I got a lot of experience”

“Night race or day race?”

“Day race actually”

“Be a scientist or an artist?”

“Scientist, I love science”

“Ok, last question, Senna or Schumacher?”

“Oh god, ok ummmm, how do you even pick? They are both incredible drivers. I am half German so I was raised on Schumacher and Vettel. So, Schumacher, lock it in”

“Fantastic Lori! Well it was an absolute pleasure chatting to you today and I cannot wait to see the rookie year you have in 2026. All the best and we will talk soon”

“Thank you so much! I will see you around I am sure”

Stepping into my new home in Brackley, I set my keys down onto the kitchen counter and dropped my duffel bag to the floor. A huge smile crossing my face as I walked into the living room and looked out the bay window framing the flower filled garden beyond. I knew I wasn’t going to be here much, the farmhouse only being my home during factory trips and simulator tests, but none the less, I was already in love. It was every bit as cosy and warm as I could have hoped, a sheer contrast to the sterility and coldness of the hotels I would be staying in across the 2026 season. 

As I sat down on the bay window seat I allowed myself to finally take in the last few weeks, a breathy laugh leaving me as a few tears of happiness slipped down my face.

“Lori, I know I am meant to be professional and talk about this contract with you… but holy fuck!” was all I heard down the line as I answered my phone much to the annoyance of my trainer, Evan.

“Avery slow down! What is happening? I am mid training session and you have already lost me” I mumbled through the phone to my manager and best friend of 4 years.

Avery and I had met at the end of 2021 after my F3 championship, both of us on holiday in Athens. I recognised the Australian accent while exploring the Acropolis and realised she was by herself on this trip, as was I. I went over and introduced myself and the rest was history. Her degree in communications and her understanding of my wants and needs from years of friendship made her the perfect manager for me as I came into my 2024 F2 season.

“I just got off the phone with a team about 2026!” she said loudly, although this time it was thankfully not a scream.

“Avi, I don’t understand, we have had heaps of team offers.” It was true, not to sound too cocky but I had already been contacted by Williams, Alfa Romeo and McLaren. None of Avery’s phone calls to me about the offers had been like this though.

“You absolute dumbass! Take the hint! This was THE CALL” she said dramatically and within half a second, it clicked. I put my hand back to check the workout bench was still behind me and lowered myself slowly to sit down in shock.

“No… please don’t joke with me. I know I have pranked you so many times this year and I am sorry for that but this is so cruel” She had to be joking.

“God, I would never do that to you Lori. But you need to pack as you are needed in Brackley in 3 days.” I could tell she was smirking, knowing that mentioning that little town in the United Kingdom would confirm what I was trying so hard not to believe.

“Holy fucking shit” was all I could get out as my hand smacked over my mouth. Evan had been trying not to eavesdrop but at my words his head whipped around from where he was stretching on the floor, trying to decide if I had just gotten good or bad news.

“Mercedes, they want me?” Evan’s eyes were wide in shock now, huge grin from ear to ear.

“Hell yes they do. I am booking us tickets now and will send you all the information after this call but I will see you tonight for dinner anyway and we can go over it all then”

“Ok amazing, wow! Ok sounds good, let me know. I will get back to my training, guess I may need it even more now”

“Yes, good girl and say hi to Evan for me” she said giggling like a school girl down the line for me. I rolled my eyes.

“Hey Evan! Avery says hi” I yelled out to him while still on the line. I could see him blush and say a small hi. These two had been after each other for months with no confidence to commit.

“OMG! NO! SHUT UP! FAR OUT! OK BYE LOSER” and with that she hung up.

“Guess we better get you training to deal with all that porpoising” was all Evan said as he came over and gave me a massive hug and slap on the back.

“Oh fuck off you!” I was smiling so much it hurt though.

All of that had lead me to a few hours before, sitting in the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 headquarters across from Toto Wolff, putting my signature on a billion pieces of paper, joking away with my new team principal.

I had put my phone on silent, Mercedes had made a few posts for the official announcement and now my phone could barely keep up with the tweets, instagram messages and tags and texts from family and friends who didn’t already know.

My head was swirling but all I knew was that I had 4 weeks until I was in Bahrain for testing and a million things to organise before then. While I hadn’t let it cross my mind until now, it was also 4 weeks until I had to deal with a massive pain in my ass again and I was not looking forward to being forced to be civil with him. I knew for a fact that he would be out to make my rookie season a living hell. Too bad for him he would be doing that from a Williams.

#formula 1 fic #mick schumacher #daniel ricciardo #clement novalak #lando norris #george russell #mercedes amg petronas #charles leclerc #nyck de vries #alexander albon #driver!reader #driver x reader #formula 1 #f1 fanfic #mick schumacher x reader

[tiikerikani]

"I feel that it is time for me to pursue another opportunity that is more aligned with my career goals and values"

I’m 100% quitting my job if they require us to use Gen AI

They did, so I quit. I gave my one months' notice today and will start New Job near the end of next month. Of course I have to credit random Recruiter Guy for showing up in my life at exactly the right time; I wouldn't have left without an exit plan.

I try to be a principled person and there aren't always opportunities to safely stay true to those principles.

-----

When Recruiter Guy messaged me on LI last month, I was intrigued that it actually seemed like he'd read my profile (unlike the spammy messages I usually get). I've never worked with a recruiter before, so it was interesting having a sort of agent pitching you to the company and liaising with them instead of having to be persuasive and do all the arrangements on your own.

Since the technical writer role is a new position in this company, I figured that it would mean they would be open to ideas on how to do things and wouldn't be forcing me to use AI things.

When Recruiter Guy asked for my salary expectations, I gave him a number in the middle of the range that was in the job description. The entire salary range is a significant increase over what I'm earning now[1], so I had literally nothing to lose and everything to gain trying for this. He said he'd ask for a bit more than my figure. (And that's what I'll be getting.)

The role would be a massive step up in responsibility for me and I know it's going to be a challenge; as the in-house writer I'd be responsible for maintaining the entire documentation library[2]. In-house writer is actually the role that many technical writers aspire to. You get to work closely with and really know the products you write about, and you can give feedback during the product development process.

I would have asked about it anyway, but the interviewer wanted my thoughts about using AI, and I said something along the lines of "I know people who do, but I do not because I trust my writing skills and good writing that gets taken seriously needs to have a touch that only a human writer can provide." She agreed that AI text sounds really obviously fake, so I took this as a good sign.

There was a small sample task that I had to do on my own time (given a list of specs, write a brief product description). Not a huge fan of copywriting but a product description is still very factual and not usually trying to sell stuff to people who don't want it. I returned the assignment along with a thank you note for the interview.

The interviewer wanted to speak with one of my references, so I directed her to talk to my master's thesis supervisor. He made such a good impression that she wanted to read my thesis (which IS, in the end, the only formal writing sample I can provide because I can't divulge who I've done work for) and had Recruiter Guy set up a chat for me with their HR person. Whom I spoke to on Good Friday because it wasn't a public holiday in their country and I didn't have big plans for the Easter weekend anyway and I just really wanted to move the process forward as quickly as possible. They were also extremely impressed and went back to Recruiter Guy right away, who then called me that afternoon. I'm sure he would not have done this if he wasn't optimistic about my application since he was very well aware that it was a public holiday for me.

So yeah, I got the offer email just as I was about to leave for the concert last Thursday, and I wrote back immediately to accept it. Recruiter Guy called me as I was getting out of the metro and I really hate talking on the phone in public, but THIS WAS IMPORTANT ENOUGH for an exception. We discussed the start date and agreed that I could have a gap week in between to just...catch my breath and rest a bit.

New Job is a hybrid workplace and they expect people to come to the office at least a couple of times a week, so I hope some social life and networking can actually happen??? Their products include hardware devices so it also makes sense that I need to physically be there to examine the things to document them properly.

__________

[1] With the amount of experience I have now, with a job that requires a university degree and specialized language skills, and living in the Helsinki area, I should NOT be earning BELOW the national median wage (across all industries)!!!

[2] A recurring theme in my art and what I try to do with it is wanting to be seen, so it would mean a lot to me to be able to point to my work and say "I did this," rather than writing anonymously as a contractor.

#work #moral of the story is that some linkedin headhunters are legit #I can't guarantee it'll be a dream job before I start #but it's OUT OF GENERATIVE AI HELL

[brazilnt]

I’m new and trying to catch up. If it’s not too much trouble could you do a quick recap of the neybappe drama? I’m so lost! They seemed so close

a very quick and short summary is that when ky came to psg he quickly got on well with ney. ney had only just transferred there from barca himself (causing the biggest heartache of my whole life) and he’d basically taken ky under his wing. ky looked up to ney they had great chemistry and had such a cute lil bro big bro relationship and this continued for years. idk i personally expected a neymessi type relationship between the two, esp bc they had similar age gaps and were all on top of their games etc. like it was set up so perfect. some may say their relationship started to fall apart bc ky got a big head or wanted ney’s position or had even outgrown him but personally i think it’s because they are both cut from the same cloth, there can be issues when you’re too alike yk?. like they’re literally the same person and have the same responsibilities but whereas for ney it’s coming towards the final curve of his career so he obviously wants to do everything that’ll solidify him as a legend, whereas ky is at the beginning and wants to prove himself. they’re both super competitive and can be childish and immature at times but and the end of the day they just both wanna win. now bringing messi into the fold did add another layer of drama bc neymessi are really close and have like 10+ years history so naturally they’d gravitate together and the same happened when achraf came, he and kylian became besties with quickness. they just clicked, like they’re the same age with the same interests etc. this might be a controversial take but personally i think ky works well with hakimi bc he doesn’t question his authority. not saying that he’s looking for a yes man or something but neymar or messi wouldn’t fill that role for him like they’re too talented and they’re too grown. hakimi just looks up to him and i think he likes that about him. not that there’s anything wrong with that, i believe their friendship is real and i adore kykimi down! 

notable mentions in the drama: ney liking tweets shading ky. him not wanting to talk about him at an after match interview. ky basically having to be begged to stay at psg and his new “executive decision maker” contract. another thing that people love to use as drama fodder within MNM is that kyks lovesssssss ronaldo. like idk why messi would care but the people seem to care.

just realised this isn’t quick nor short so im sorry. this is all that i can think of from the top of my head. but don’t worry these two are always hot and cold and their drama has never reached a point where it’s horrifically effected their teamwork or ability on the field. they’ll be alright dw. i also think the fans and media in general take things wayyy too far. like on one hand you have every media outlet reporting that ky is big headed and thinks he’s important to the team and trying to frame it like it’s a bad thing but it’s the honest truth. he really is indispensable. if you have the president of the mfing country basically begging you to stay in paris and not move to rm you’re a pretty big deal. (also don’t get me started on macron the fucking wasteman)

anyway if you have any more questions feel free to ask!

#ask #anon

[persephoneflouwers]

What things not conventionally accepted in the fandom do you believe about bg? We all have our own beliefs and I think that's totally OK. I like hearing things outside the box

I don’t think I’ve ever talked about this and quite honestly I haven’t read it anywhere. I think people too often divide Harry and Louis solo careers because they think they are on different stages, but with them I always apply the same logic. To me they go in tandem, like yoghurt packs alright? Like cherries. It’s the two of them or nothing (hypothetically either if they are together or not). It’s not a case I have a tag for them and it’s polar opposites lol I know people say they are their own people and I agree to a limited extent. They do what they have to for their careers and obviously they do what they can individually, but babygate is something else. It’s not a simple stunt. It’s not a stunt like the others. That shit is not something you just go through by yourself. I wouldn’t be afraid to say babygate is never one single individual call, never is Louis’ individually.

I want to take a few steps back to 2015. One direction is still at it, but rumours of the hiatus are on fire. You have 1 of them who’s been courted by the best in the business and your influential son since ages. You have a project for him. You have a plan. A vision. You take the frontman and you need him to be successful. You are going to invest so much money on this guy you’ll make him the new Elvis or something. You know you can. You’re rich enough for that! What 1D team did with his image was incredible. They gave him the most intriguing brand for an upcoming solo artist. They gave him the rockstar aurea, the heartthrob agenda, the golden boy super talented curriculum. They failed with one thing: the rumours on his sexuality. Not the ambiguity, you like the ambiguity. You can even use that ambiguity for his own good. You will (they did). Their failure was one and only: the rumours on your relationship status with your bandmate. You can’t have that. How’s it possible that the mortal enemies pipeline didn’t work? How can you break that? You can’t give your golden goose a serious relationship, a long lasting one… that’s going to ruin the brand. You need to think about something else.

So what if..? What if you rebrand his counterpart, who was in a 5 years long relationship instead and give HIM an even more long lasting stunt? That’s supposedly going to last forever? Like a baby*. That would settle it. How would you do it? How would you convince them to agree with this? You take 4 boys who know no better, who have been indoctrinated and manoeuvred since they were illegal of age, who are going to not be in a band anymore, who feel probably a bit uncertain about their future… and sell them a dream. Add some guilt and strong recommendations, maybe a few threats and lies. And there you have it. The perfect stunt that will serve two purposes: 1. put one of them in the heaviest of the closets (plus he was always a pain in the ass for you so you are even more okay with it), 2. set the other one free from those rumours. (Flashforward: they didn’t stop, but it worked well enough for them anyway).

I know what you are wondering. Why did Louis agreed to this? My two coins are he knew there wasn’t an alternative because in abusive places of work you are proposed with an option, but that’s the only option, which makes you question if that’s an option at all or just an obligation. Plus he saw a way to help their way out after the band and took it. If what he says about the hiatus is true (I have many doubts and questions but still), he was fucking terrified of it so when they come at you with a promise to make it go “better than”… he always felt responsible for the band, so he says anyway. I agree with you, reader! That’s manipulative, toxic, blindsiding, naive. Very naive. But the real thing is I don’t know the reasons behind and this is just me trying to look for a new perspective, because I dont 100% agree with the ones I’ve read through the years.

What pushed me into loophole was the timing of the babygate return. I know 2020 is a weird year because of the pandemic, but we literally started having babygate content in more or less July 2021 — does anyone remember what happened on Harry’s side in July 2021? Does yachtgate 2.0 ring any bell?. Anyway since then we had bg constantly. Remember the arcade date with the kid? That was August 2021! I have a timeline for it but I quitted with keeping up with it because it was too much at some point and now that we’ve seen it was literally made for the documentary it feels even more useless lol.

Isn’t it too coincidental it happened along with the holivia mess and the rampant success Harry has gained throughout 2021 and 2022? When babygate is around, there’s sony around. You cant simply distinguish the two things imo. And isn’t it too coincidental that the first time babygate happened was when they were going solo and the second time it happened huge as ever was when the above mentioned solo careers became insanely grand? Oooh the way we got the release of bg in the doc the same weekend of the Tokyo kiss performance!

What confuses me, though, is who is gaining from this? I mean Sony is for sure in a contorted way. I can see what team Harry is gaining from his stunts too. I say it often but his team always play to win, so if they agree to something they are going to get something. That’s their strategy. I don’t understand what Louis is getting yet. I see he is doing his own shit to be proud of: the tour, the new music, the festival, apparently even the doc. But my question is wouldn’t it be possible without babygate too? And we can’t know yet. I think Louis is cocky and stubborn and sometimes he has to hit his head against the proverbial wall before understanding what’s good and what’s not. But to this stage, it’s too soon to say. I want to see where babygate is going in the next year or so. It’s possible he has chosen to go with babygate instead of continuing with his beard, but then again it’s too soon to say. It’s possible he has chosen to go with babygate instead of agreeing with a revolutionary marriage. It’s possible he has seen twarries drooling over the kid and decided to feed that narrative. I don’t know where this is going yet.

All I know is this revolves around the two of them and it’s possibly one of the few things nowadays that make me believe they still are together. If they weren’t, we wouldn’t see this shit unfold again in front of your salads in the year of our lord 2023.

*not with his actual girlfriend of 5 years but with an American ONS. With no DNA test because you are sure your specimen is so very strong, you take it one for the bros and even if you’re worthy 60millions you don’t need to know if she is actually trying to take advantage of your fame. You are kind at heart like that. A gentleman 💪

Edit after tokyo kissing show.

#anyway this is what I was thinking #i dont hold the truth and I don’t think we ever will know the truth lol #let’s just stimulate discourse in a civil thoughtful way #casella di posta numero 32

[voiceofsword]

NIKI'S NEW FS IS SO CUTEE!!?!?! not at all what i was expecting it to be, he looks like he's about to go on a little adventure i love it 🥰 what are your thoughts? Any insights 👀👀

YESS oh my god ok. i wrote a little analysis after the fact even tho we cant really see a lot of his outfit properly? so a lot of this might just be straight up Wrong when the card actually drops — i apologize in advance if it just sounds like im waxing poetic!!!!!

putting it here for ease of viewing!!

ok, here’s some of my thoughts on niki fs2 and how up until now, it’s been theorized that fs2 is how the characters perceive themselves, rather than how the audience perceives them.

niki himself seems like he would choose the safe option. he’s someone that wants nothing more than a peaceful life but his development has shown that he’s becoming more welcoming to the idea of getting outside of that comfort zone, of allowing himself more luxuries, of allowing himself to want rather than just what he needs. i think the obvious direct comparison that can be drawn is where he’s standing — in fs1, he’s standing indoors, in a kitchen, which also suits him, obviously, that’s his home. but in fs2 he’s outside, presumably in a greenhouse of sorts?

there’s not really any way of knowing until the full card illust comes out, but i think the point to be made here lies in the freedom this implies: kitchen is comfortable, niki’s safe space, one where he knows he’s good, and doesn’t pose a burden to other people. being outside, in a greenhouse, suggests two things: one being that if he’s breaking out of the one space where he feels most at peace, it’s on his own terms. that he’s more adventurous, that he’s okay with feeling vulnerable, that he’s no longer scared but excited to face the world. 

two is a bit more complicated and takes a bit of looking at his outfit and the props around him.

there’s a bottle of cumin on the right side, and presumably allspice falling in front of him — both native from outside of japan (west asia/middle east and central america/caribbean respectively).

niki’s backstory reveals that his parents left him following a series of scandals (ive talked about this extensively and if you follow me atp im assuming you know), and to this day it’s assumed that they’re still traveling around the world discovering new ingredients. and we also know for a fact that niki himself has taken up that mantle as part of his idol career, traveling around for cooking variety shows — im not going to say this is some grand overarching gesture resembling niki forgiving his parents because i dont think there’s ever been any point where niki has held outstanding contempt for their choices. however i do think it symbolizes something for the idol world and how niki once again manages to be a sort of ‘glue’ that holds these two worlds together, similarly to his role in crazyb: while there was a period where the idol industry and culinary industry crashed in entertainment, niki is responsible for patching those relations up, not through any over-calculating strategy, but rather, through being himself, through his passion for cooking, and newfound love for being an idol — it was never about any grudges with him, only growth!!

he doesnt want to become his parents, but not out of hatred, because he’s someone different! he wants to explore the world and spread his love for food, not out of fear of staying somewhere that might hurt him, but because he has the strength to! because he has people to support him on his journey, not a lack thereof! 

and then moving on to the bulk of his outfit, most of it being revealing with very baggy bits hanging off, i’ve seen some people mention it looks kind of..messy? which isnt entirely incorrect but i think it’s nice, bc it almost feels like the baggier clothes are hanging off of him, being “peeled off” and revealing more of himself. inhibitions are being set aside, he no longer wishes to make himself smaller, no longer wishes to hide who he is in fear of inconveniencing others, and i think the more haphazard state of his outfit represents that awkward stage fairly well — transitioning from that insecure kid left behind by his parents to someone who is full of love for what he does and wants to share it with his newfound friends, family, and fans. also the little bottom part of the waistwrap has yummy written on it. please note his eager, happy expression and raised hand like he’s ready to take on the world !! i already mentioned in another post how i think it looks like an rpg outfit and i really mean it ^_^

AND COMPLETELY UNRELATED TO ANY SYMBOLISM..HIS HAIR'S LONGER? or it looks longer.. maybe he'll get his ponytail pushed back rather than on his shoulder? how could you get more gorgeous.. oh my god. please. save me

 niki shiina i love you

#mimthinks

[straightfromthetorturedpoetsdept]

What's wild to me is how each new article that comes out just completely contradicts the one before it, yet everyone seems to believe it and say that "it makes so much sense." Like??? No the fuck it doesn't. And even if it was true (which it definitely isn't), who is leaking all this information? Because it sure as hell isn't Tree. Taylor would never want so many details to come out about her personal life, especially not while she's on the biggest tour of her life.

this is my thing, like people are so fucking desperate to believe Taylor just cannot make it work with anyone that they rush to legitimize articles that are obviously filled with factually incorrect statements.

when an article explicitly distances themselves from a celebrity team or brand, it is because they KNOW this article could get them in trouble and they want to be legally protected. as long as they state the source is "close to" a celebrity, thats enough verification they need to make to run anything.

people is not a reliable source of information, I don't know why people are acting like it makes total sense for taylor to release news of her break-up during her off week but that is actually the WORST move she could do because it overshadowed the tour (very obviously) and people are making the tour about the supposed break-up already.

people are claiming things like the 1 surprise song wasnt just a response to you losers complaining about it being on the set list or that any of the visuals on tour are related to a break-up in any way shape or form. like, her crying over the crowd during Champagne Problems is now evidence that shes sad over a break up but she gets through lover just fine???????

its such strange behavior when none of these articles are consistent with one another nor is it consistent with taylor's career or relationship trajectory. like, we dont know much about their relationship but what we do know is joe is perfectly fine being the ken to taylor's barbie?????? why would it be a problem NOW and not during rep/lover era?????

isnt it much more likely that a high profile tour would break a couple within their first 2 years of dating (i.e. rep tour) than their almost SEVEN YEARS of dating?????? taylor and joe arent children, they were able to work it out in 2017/18 but not now?????? that makes zero sense!!!!

idk nothing about this makes any sense to me except in the "people has no idea what the fuck they're talking about" way tbqh.

#taylor swift #jaylor #media literacy #swifties

[goldenmusicmoments]

Taylor Swift Here We Go Again......

Taylor Swift once again finds herself mixed in controversy and drama. All of which on most part is unnecessary, however when people find something to use against someone they don’t particularly like they’ll obviously use it and turn it into a trend. It always seems to occur when she’s at a career high, as her latest album ‘Midnights’ broke records and her current tour performing really well. It all kicked off near the start of the Eras tour when people were questions Taylor for not speaking up or showing some sort of solidarity with the LGBT community during any of her shows. They started comparing her to Lizzo who waved the flag that represents the community and Beyoncé who’s show revolves around queer culture. Though their concern for the lack of activism didn’t necessarily stem from genuine desire for her to use her platform, it was more of an attempt to turn activism into a competition. A way for them to say that such and such are better than her.  It was also a thing for those that dislike her to use as a reason to propagate their distaste, without real care for the issue itself. 

Then Matty Healy the frontman of the band The 1975 suddenly found his way into Taylor’s life, though they’ve supposedly been friends for a long time. She’d not to long ago appeared at one of the bands shows and then Matty showed up to her tour. Which then led to many assuming the two were now in a relationship. The two were then spotted out and about, holding hands and from that people took it as confirmation that they were now together. With Jack Antonoff being the one that set the two up, he also happened to be with them at the time. This then led to a new wave of people targeting Taylor, to a point where it became a trend on TikTok that everyone wanted a part of. Especially seeing as it was drawing a lot of content engagement. On most part it was an opportunity taken by those that hate her to use against her. That somehow she was responsible for his past doings. Where was this outrage, prior to the two dating. Hardly anyone was speaking up to try and cancel Matty for his shortcomings. However Taylor should be cancelled as she’s dating him. Even then it was all about holding Taylor accountable, and never a mention of wanting the same for Matty. Yes of course people have the right to be hurt by the stuff that he has said, but was that truly the case for the majority coming out in full swing against Taylor. Do we ever truly know the intent of someone, who knows maybe she felt that he’d changed. Are we not giving people the benefit of the doubt anymore, that maybe they could have grown from the people they once were. On top of that you’d expect most of those upset about Taylor associating with him, being her fans. Which wasn’t the case, and the fans were actually being guilt tripped into agreeing with the stance of her critics. 

Matty had partaken in a podcast where he laughed at the hosts comments about Ice Spice. Which was another thing that was being mentioned now that he was attached to Taylor (prior to that the moment didn’t create much of a conversation at the time of its occurrence). Soon after it was announced that Taylor was releasing a remix of her song ‘Karma’ and that it would be featuring Ice Spice. This was taken by those that were having a go at her as damage control. A PR stunt to somehow cover up all that was happening. Later on it was revealed that it was in the works long before and people still found it difficult to accept, because they so desperately wanted to believe that it was what they thought it was. Soon after it was reported that the two had broken up and that they were never truly a couple, but just hanging out. Which then led to many believing that they were the ones that pushed Taylor into cutting things off with Matty Healy, as though their words hold weight enough to do such a thing. There are many examples of others who are associated with partners or spouse who have controversial pasts, yet that hasn’t resulted in this magnitude of a response. 

Rina Sawayama during a recent live performance called Matty Healy out, and part of that included her mentioning that he had a percentage ownership over her masters. To no surprise the usual suspects came running to use that as an excuse to point their fingers at Taylor. Rina’s and Taylor’s situations are very different, if those that are always so loud bother to do their due diligence they’d notice that. However the desperate pursuit of the downfall of someone they don’t like, hinders their ability to comprehend and apply logical analysis to what they are speaking on. They’ll continue to twist and exaggerate things in regards to her in order to try and make her a villain. Then it was revealed that Taylor had turned down Meghan Markle’s invite to appear on her podcast. Another thing for them to throw at her, as though she hasn’t been extremely busy and thus didn’t have the time to do much outside of her current commitments.

This all reignited the entire conversation in regards to Taylor’s use of her platform when it comes to activism. That she hardly ever speaks up and when she does it is only when it benefits herself. Yes she’s not been someone who’s made social media posts to address political issues, though she’s been vocal when it comes to elections. Of course we’d love to see people who have a big reach to use their voices to speak up for those who don’t have the ability to or require support. However that should be up to them, that they shouldn’t be coerced into doing so or do so just for the sake of pleasing people. Her documentary become part of the conversation where people were claiming that it was all about speaking up and using her platform, when that was only a small part of the film. This exaggerated claim was in order to push their agenda and heighten the moment. If they’d paid attention, her team weren’t exactly happy with her wanting to do so and they most definitely still play a role in preventing her from doing so.

She then during one of her shows gave a short speech in which she said that her shows were a safe space for everyone in particular the LGBT community. She prompted people to take an active role in voting during elections and to research candidates in order to see who best to vote for. As expected many were still not happy and complained that she didn’t say enough or that she wasn’t as direct as she should have been. They seemed to want her to spoon feed them on who exactly to vote for. At the end of the day she can’t please everyone and it isn’t her job to do so either. 

Her fans often come under attack during these times, as the haters seem to think that the fans should flock in agreement of their critique. Then it turns into the usual of labelling all her fans as ‘white’, ‘republicans’, ‘racists’ and ‘nazis’. With people making it a competition to see who can spot a person of colour in the audience, as though POCs are props. Yes she may have fans that are republicans, and they should know that those they support have fans from that group as well. She started out as a country artist and that genre is one that has a huge following that consists of republicans. Are her fans ‘racists’, sadly there is a bunch of them who are and need educating. That in moments where they are defending her, they resort to racist remarks towards those they are responding to. Though she has fans consisting of various backgrounds and races, her fanbase in the USA is predominantly white. However its odd that people use that as a dig at Taylor, when it isn’t what they see it as. Oft times people of colour are shamed for liking her, and thus you seem to find many not publicly showcasing their liking for her or her music. 

It all on most part points to the fact that many feel threatened by her success that they are so desperate to see her fall. There were many in the comments under videos that were calling for Taylor to be cancelled saying how the outpour of people speaking against her brought them joy. That this was a moment they were longing for. It is rather sad that people find joy in someones downfall, that they root for those they dislike to fail. As though she’s done something bad to them. They also used the situations to call Taylor ‘mediocre’ and ‘talentless’. A recent trend seems to be the labelling of her music as ‘white people music’, all of which seems like an attempt at downplaying her talent. Which isn’t the diss they think it is. Her music is universal and one that resonates with everyone, as her focal points are oft those that we all experience. Then again they’ve never actually listened to her discography and make fleeting statements in regards to it. Which we’ve always heard from those that don’t like her. Its okay for you to not be a fan of someones or not like the music they make. However its unfair to wrongly discredit someones talent.

If people spent the same amount of energy they did on trying to ‘call her out’ on issues that are real and need discussing, we’d likely see positive change. However people waste it on things that are pointless and of no value. The level of outrage and desire for change online is never reflected in times when taking a stand is necessary, such as turning up to vote. A lot of talk, but very little action. It makes you wonder how many people are genuine in their claim of activism. 

#Taylor Swift #Beyoncé #Lizzo #Matty Healy #The 1975 #Ice Spice #Jack Antonoff #Swifties #TikTok #Controversy #Haters #Politcis #Music #The Eras Tour #Tour #Midnights

[marniedixon]

“I'VE BEEN ON A ROLL, WHERE'VE YOU BEEN?”

INTRODUCING…

NAME: Marnie “Knockout” Penelope Dixon

GENDER & PREFERRED PRONOUNS: Cis Woman (She/Her)

AGE: 34

BIRTHDAY: May 20, 1989

ZODIAC: Taurus Sun, Aries Rising, Gemini Moon

SEXUALITY & ROMANCE: Bisexual / Biromantic

FACE CLAIM: Lindsey Morgan

OCCUPATION: Personal Trainer / Professional Boxer

HOMETOWN: Chicago, IL

CURRENT RESIDENCE: Washington Park District in Denver, CO

CHARACTER PLAYLIST: HERE.

UP NEXT: “MONOPOLY” BY VICTORIA MONET & ARIANA GRANDE

BIOGRAPHY

With a mother who beat her brothers into running the family pizzeria in Brooklyn, and a father who broke records in the boxing world - it made sense that Marnie was able to roll herself over, lift her head and attempt crawling at just three days old in the hospital’s nursery. Between the new member of the family obviously being a handful, and the strains of the pizzeria along with the extensive work of a boxer, it was a quick decision that led the Dixon family to Chicago; uprooting Marnie’s mom’s family in Brooklyn and flying them out to be with her father’s side.

Even with the extra set of hands, Marnie was uberly self-efficient. She didn’t mean to be, but the attitude that came from here when others attempt to assert themselves or give her the solution, was a natural response to people underestimating her. By age four, she was attempting to help her mom at the pizzeria. Though her mom shooed her so that she could be a kid, Marnie just wound up being pushed to her father’s workouts.

Marnie’s fascination with boxing began so young, that she could never pinpoint when it genuinely moved her to the point of her wanting to become a professional boxer. All she remembers is watching matches at home or even at the pizzeria, training alongside her dad, and attending his matches. It was her mother who was a bit more hesitant with allowing Marnie to get so caught up in a male-dominating atmosphere. Though, everyone was sure to find out that nothing was going to stop her; not when she had her mind made up.

Whilst in high school, Marnie was a crowd favorite, mainly due to her father’s shadow. This was even though she paved her own way as a golden girl amongst her peers for years; her gym teachers and coaches always managing to bring her father’s name up in conversation. It only really died down during her Junior year, when her father retired and in the same breath teased Marnie’s efforts to be just as good - if not better - than him. Her father became her own personal trainer, supporter, and manager all rolled into one. She was lucky, seeing as though others in the sports realm aren’t as fortunate to be able to say their manager genuinely cared for their best interest.

Her father and mother are like night and day; where her mother pushed her to attend a university, her father threw his hands up and claimed it was all Marnie’s decision. She made it work, attending NYU for sports medicine and physiology whilst moving up the ranks in the boxing world. Just like her father, she was breaking records. She managed to obtain the nickname “Knockout” due to the speed in which she could knock an opponent out cold. It was the highs such as being known as “Knockout” and the record breaking, that made her question why she even bothered with obtaining a degree in the first place. That was until an injury sustained from one of her last matches landed her with a serious concussion. It was doctor’s orders that benched Marnie and made her come back to Chicago full-time; she hadn’t announced retirement against her father’s wishes, and is trying to prove she can get back out there whilst getting into the swing of her personal trainer career to pass the time until then.

EXTRA-EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT HER!

Marnie is a firecracker; always the life of the party, though she’s aware there’s a time and a place for everything. Her off times are usually spent at the bar, partaking in karaoke night or trivia with a group of friends. She’s good at reading others’ body language, which is something that stems from her boxing career and having to size up opponents. This actually makes it easy and quick for her to build connections with others. Also probably the reason why she branches off from her friends at events and winds up making more just in line for the bathroom. Marnie is highly aware of sport stats, and loves to attend games of varying types. Though she tends to find herself being the center of attention, she actually doesn’t crave it? Marnie is more fixated on enjoying moments and making the most of them. She may come off as a little rough-around-the-edges, but is one of the sweetest people you will ever come across; the woman always going out of her way to make others feel comfortable and making sure they are also having a good time. Because of this, Marnie is the one in the friend group who everyone tends to gravitate towards in a ‘if you’re not going - then I’m not going’ sort of way. She is also blatant and will voice when she’s not having a great time; even will point out who you’re talking to is a scum bag (oops?). Fiercely loyal to a default, the woman is known for being everyone’s bravest soldier out there on the front lines of their battles. This is even done sometimes to an excessive degree, if Marnie deems them as one of her people. She also just doesn’t know when to give up on people - even when they don’t deserve her help. Though, at the end of the day, her loyalty is one of the reasons she’s such a great friend to have in your court. She tends to bite off more than she can chew, which is a common occurrence all throughout her life, but she loves to solve her own dilemmas and others’ as well because of it; just don’t attempt to solve her problems for her. She can crack jokes and chillax, or be dancing ontop of a table - never any inbetween with her.

PERSONALITY:

+ Dauntless, Loyal, and Affable

- Willful, Overbearing, and Short-Tempered

COMPARE TO:

Malia Tate (Teen Wolf), Pam Beesly (The Office), Kate (Bridgerton), Cece Parekh (New Girl), Georgia Miller (Ginny & Georgia), Nina Rivera (Malibu Rising), Cora Hale (Teen Wolf), Velma Dinkley (Scooby-Doo), Elizabeth Swann (Pirates of the Caribbean), Ramona Flowers (Scott Pilgrim vs. The World), Mary-Jane Watson (Spider-Man), Selina Kyle (Batman), Terra (Teen Titans).

#chq;intro #FINALLY #tw accident

[moltolavoro]

@pluresque | five times kissed | phillip & benoit 

i.  there’s something to facing life imprisonment that makes a man reassess his priorities. what matters, as it were. which doesn’t necessarily indicate a change of career - phillip’s very good at what he does, and considering his arrest had been rather misguided, he has no desire to change the things he was doing in the first place. no, it’s more -- more the things in front of him. the things around him. the people, rather. phillip isn’t entirely sure why benoit is there to meet him, when he leaves the prison, but he is. phillip still looks halfway towards a wreck - unshaven and slightly thinner than he tends to be, but he feels more put together in his own clothes, coat slung over his arm. there’s an easy silence to the car ride ; benoit drives him home, and phillip has no qualms about the man knowing where he lives. it’s not as though he wouldn’t have found out anyway. he turns in the car, squeaking against the seat which makes him flush, and laugh. that’s what does it, he thinks. benoit’s smile, the damned bastard. before he knows it, phillip has closed the distance between them to kiss him. for a moment, in the aftermath, the quiet is deafening. the response is slower, sweeter.  phillip climbs out of the car flushed and smiling, with his number written very clearly across benoit’s palm. strange, really. how these things happen.

ii. ❛ have you seen my tie? ❜ ❛ why on earth would i have seen your tie? ❜ ❛ you take care of the washing - ❜ ❛ i’m hardly your housemaid! ❜ ❛ now did i say that? ❜ ❛ you didn’t have to! ❜ ❛ oh stop it. come here. i’ll make it up to you. ❜

iii. he isn’t anxious. he has no need to be. benoit is more than capable in most things. not in choosing music, obviously, but in most things. still, it’s the longest he’s ever been away on a case, and phillip has paced an absolutely outrageous path through their flat. the newspapers haven’t been particularly enlightening, besides highlighting the danger, and the misdirects, and the fact that whoever was doing all this seemed to have his sights quite particularly set on benoit. the door opens, and phillip is across the flat in a shot. he has enough awareness to push the door closed again before he crowds benoit up against it, kissing him like a man possessed. it’s frantic, and searching, his fingers finding purchase in benoit’s jacket, in his shirt, loosening and grasping again, as though trying to convince himself that benoit is real. when he finally pulls away they’re both breathless, and phillip rests his forehead against benoit’s, breathes in carefully, and says ❛ new rule. next time you’re on one of these fucking jobs, you call me every other day. every other day, no matter what. christ, benny. ❜

iv. it isn’t a particularly lavish wedding. it wouldn’t suit either of them. they wear coordinating suits, phillip’s pocket square the same material as benoit’s tie, and vice versa. elegant, beautiful. only benoit’s mother in attendance, phillip’s family, a handful of friends. it’s something phillip had hardly imagined would ever happen for him, let alone with benoit. he works it into his vows, speaks about meeting in the most unlikely of circumstances, about owing himself to benoit.  the kiss is formal, performative, and something close to perfect. it’s later when it matters, when they’re pressed close, swaying to ‘ the power of love ‘ because they’d had to let someone else take care of the music choices. that’s when they kiss again, when it counts. under terribly coloured lights, a disco ball, and phillip feels as close to heaven as he thinks he’s ever likely to get.

v.  there’s a routine to these things. phillip showers while benoit brushes his teeth. phillip brushes his teeth while benoit locks the doors, sets the security system. benoit climbs into bed while phillip double checks the alarms. phillip reads, benoit solves as many sudoku puzzles or crosswords as he can stand. if it’s poetry that phillip’s reading, he always manages to find a few lines to read to benoit. if it’s fiction, he’ll finish after a chapter, close the book, and tell benoit everything he’s read. some nights there is passion and hands, desperate to touch. some nights there is quiet, turned backs as exhaustion takes precedence.

but always, there is this ; there is peace. there is a quiet kiss, a brush of fingers through hair, a teasing what is that, grey? and there is love. at the centre of it all, above all other things, there is love.

#pluresque #c ;; phillip

[milanvishevsky]

Social Media Questions

In my words, I would define social media as any medium in which you can communicate with other people. The way of communicating doesn't have to be tied down to one method, but rather any way that you can get a message out onto the internet. Most social media platforms cover all of the bases when it comes to sharing things, such as image and video sharing, as well as messages and private messages.

When it comes to myself as a social media user, I tend to only heavily use it when seeing other peoples posts, or talking with friends. I rarely post videos or pictures of myself, but rather I talk in direct messages with people I know. The only people I usually interact with are either friends, or celebrities on the off chance they notice a comment I leave and either like it or leave a response. I do use social media quite often, with Instagram and Discord being my most heavily used social media platforms. X, formerly known as Twitter, is one that I frequent often. The main difference between X and the other social media platforms that I us is X is primarily used for scrolling through and reading, rather than communicating and posting.

I would say that some strengths I have in the understanding of social media is to not be too caught up in the newest trends, or care too much in what other people think or post. Social media is available to everyone, so obviously there are bound to be people who share different and harmful opinions. If people can post something, they probably will. I don't let this get to me, because they are a drop in the sea of whatever platform they are on. In addition, it is quite easy for me to spot when someone is trying to scam or pull some shady business on me. Anyone posting links in direct messages or responding to a random comment I left sets off red flags, and I almost always immediately block those involved. Some challenges I share regarding social media is getting fitted in once joining a new platform. It takes me a while to get used to the new format of everything and how it works, although I usually am not pressed with this issue, considering I stick with a few platforms and none others. Another challenge related to the previous one is that I am unwilling to join a new social media platform if it doesn't immediately interest me, or if none of my friends are on it.

With this class, I wish to not only gain the necessary credit for my major, but also gain a new understanding of the landscape of social media, and how it works. It has always been an interesting topic to me, and being able to learn the ins and outs has always interested me. Being able to see and know how the world of social media works and functions can be very useful for future careers I wish to pursue, as well as for personal gain.

#social media #CCRI

[nashvillehq]

name: Elijah Ford gender & pronouns: Cis Man | He/him age & date of birth: 31 years old | December 10th, 1990 neighborhood: Berry Hill time living in nashville: 12 years occupation: Independent Producer, Song/Music writer

BACKGROUND.

The first born son of the Ford family, Elijah always felt like that title came with a certain level of responsibility. Cliche, sure, but it was a feeling that stayed resonated deep in his bones and it only got stronger the older he became. A constant pressure to be on top of things, to know better, to do more, and that there was always room for improvement. Especially when it came to their father, who he never saw eye to eye with. Maybe it was his protective nature, always sticking up for his mother when their father would start arguments. Perhaps he saw through the man’s words to who the liar he really was. Once it was revealed that his father was unfaithful to his mother, it was not as big of a surprise as it probably should have been. When they divorced it was easy to choose to stay with his mother and sister.

Music was always a passion, from the first song he heard on the radio to creating riffs with his sister at any given moment. To help quell his musical needs, he started piano lessons at a young age. Little did his parents know, it would set him on the path to his future career. As he got older it became more apparent that he had a keen ear for sounds, pitches, and matching words to bring a song to life. It started with Ryan, who was obviously a talent waiting to be discovered. He could help fill in blanks and they worked together to bring musical visions to life. Eventually that turned to local bands and online artists looking for help. Late at night he would be learning how to mix beats, loop voices together, and piece together songs instead of studying. Over the years he taught himself how to use equipment and software through trial and error and online tutorials. He used his money from his minimum wage high school job to buy more and more equipment to mess around with.

After he graduated, he stuck around home - working and saving to move to Nashville someday. Besides, he couldn’t imagine living far away from his family. Most of all, he couldn’t imagine going to Nashville without Ryan. Sure, she was his little sister, but in a lot of ways she was one of his best friends. There was no one in the world he believed in more than her and when she was finally discovered all he could say was it took them long enough. He moved to Music City, and while she began her career recording her first album - he started his by beginning to make a name for himself with up and coming artists. It took some work, but eventually his name started to hold recognition and it only elevated more when he helped produce Ryan’s second album. Soon he had regular work and began writing songs and music on the side to sell.

At some point along the way, he met Salem and they became a force in his life that he never wanted to leave. They worked together well, and with both of them working long hours they always seemed to find time to make sure they could spend quality time together (a love language they shared). Eventually they moved in together and made a home together. It’s still new but so far it’s been one of the best choices he ever made. Someday he hopes to pop the question, but after seeing not only his parents' marriage fail but Ryan’s as well, he is hesitant to rush into anything. Presently, he’s living in Berry Hill in a nice sized house with Salem and (recently) his sister after the end of her marriage. His schedule is kept busy where he works long periods of times with artists and has off periods where he can work on his side projects. At some point he started a dorky little band that he records nerdy, silly songs and covers with then posts them on the internet for fun with no consistency. He’s just trying to live his life, be successful, and take care of the people he loves in anyway he can.

#a. #m. #b. #bill skarsgård #elijah ford

[webflowdesignagency]

6 Tips for a Great Phone Interview

Did you produce a resume and cover letter that stands out? If so, you might have called your potential employer for a phone interview. You should be ready to discuss a variety of topics during this phase of the game, including the information on your resume, yourself and your experience, and what you hope to accomplish in your new position.

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Here are six techniques to ace your telephone interview.

Treat it like a sit-down interview. 

Although conducting an interview over the phone is less stressful than doing so in person, you shouldn't treat it any less seriously. 

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According to Barbara, "We evaluate a candidate the same way we would if they were sitting in our office. People who appear well-prepared and respond with care and clarity stand out from the crowd. 

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Visit the company website six tips for great phone interview to find out more about its goals, offerings, and staff. Interviewers want to know that you are enthusiastic about the position. Knowing something about the business will show that you have "done your homework," which will put you ahead of other applicants. 

Have your resume ready. 

Interviewers and hiring managers are interested in learning how your prior work experience has prepared you for your upcoming position. It will be simpler to do that if you have a detailed list of your employment history. 

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Barbara says, "We'll go over the duties and responsibilities of the open position. The candidate is then expected to cite a pertinent task, project, or accomplishment when asked to describe their prior work. 

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You can easily identify a time in your career when you overcame a challenge by using your resume as a point of reference. 

Get comfortable. 

It may seem obvious, but be sure you are available to take the call if you have a phone interview scheduled. 

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Put yourself in a peaceful, comfortable area where you won't be bothered. Say "Hello, this is..." and then your name when you answer the phone so the interviewer can recognize you right away and pronounce your name with assurance. 

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Do not ignore the call if you are surprised by it; perhaps you forgot or got caught up in an unexpected circumstance. "It's frustrating when scheduled candidates don't answer the phone," Barbara said. I make an effort to be considerate of my candidates' time, and I sincerely hope that they reciprocate. Candidates who don't return calls come across as uninterested in the position. 

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Always keep in mind that your interviewer wants the call to go well. If they've scheduled a phone interview, they obviously think well of you and are willing to reschedule the call. Just keep it from happening again; a third chance is more difficult to come by than a second. 

Sell yourself. 

Some people feel awkward praising themselves in public. In some circumstances, that might be admirable, but not in an interview. One of the best ways to get ready for your interview is to practice—by yourself, with a friend, or with a member of your family. Getting better at interviewing will help you keep your answers succinct, which will increase your chances of landing the job. Your interviewer will typically have a predetermined list of questions to cover. You must be aware of the length of your statements and be able to provide concise, clear answers to questions. 

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The focus of the phone interview should be on you, your skill set, and your interest in the job. You can accomplish that without coming off as conceited. Have a prepared list of the abilities, successes, and instances that you want to emphasize. During the interview, it is simple to become anxious and forget these things. 

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According to Barbara, "We like when candidates can speak about a time when they worked well or collaboratively with others to accomplish a goal." The phrase "I'm a team player" is much less effective than "Celebrating shared success while highlighting an individual contribution tells us you're a team player. We need illustrations. 

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Come with questions. 

Asking thoughtful questions demonstrates to us your level of interest in the job, according to Barbara. 

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When candidates inquire about their potential team and the company's values, it's always a good sign. As we hope our corporate values align with the candidate's, we are constantly seeking individuals whose values are similar to our own. Both ways are involved. 

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A job interview is both about what the employer is looking for and about what you're looking for. Consider framing your inquiries in light of your interests or objectives as well as any company observations you may have. Here are some pointers for asking questions: 

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● Mention a social media post from the business and relate it to a question about the job you're applying for or a company value. 

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● Find out how the departments are divided. Who is the department's head? With whom will you collaborate most closely? What kind of project management methodology is used? 

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● Find out from the hiring manager what they enjoy most about working there. 

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● Be truthful. It's acceptable to admit when you don't know the answer, but you should then explain how you would go about finding it. Recognize the reasons why a job or assignment doesn't sound right for you. Don't try to mould yourself into the part. You'll come to regret it. 

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● To help you prepare, find out what comes next and when the interview will take place. 

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Send a thank you note. 

Whether you believe you nailed the phone interview or believe you sucked is irrelevant. Thank the interviewer via email for their time. 

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You should explain that you're either A) excited for the next step of the process or B) that you wish to excuse yourself from the process but are grateful for the opportunity, depending on how you feel about the job. 

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Barbara claims, "It's the little things that make a difference." The best course of action is to send a short thank you email or note. Be careful not to overdo it! Keep it straightforward and succinct.

[my-poor-little-heart]

From Zero to Hero Alom

I hold the opinion that it is not ethical to play a character just for fame. There are trolls online who decide to set fire to the online platform by pretending to believe in controversial opinions and then pretending to take offense at their audience when they receive backlash. Some people truly do profit off of public outrage. However, we believe that Hero Alom is innocent in his intent with showcasing his talents to the world. We should reciprocate to Hero Alom in kind as he has practiced some digital responsibility in maintaining fairness and genuineness in the entertainment industry. He has the public perception of being a “joke,” but he has still garnered much empathy from us Hero Alom fans; Hero Alom is truly passionate about what he does - it’s the primary way he evokes the pathos of us fans. Let’s look at an example of how he does so-

From the video above, we will learn from the Hero himself how to From the video above, we learn from the Hero himself how to rescue a damsel in distress while she is being eve-teased. We observe through this film that Hero Alom has quite embraced being the joke of the films, and he does it with style throughout the film, from sipping from two coconuts (like the chad he is) to removing his pant-suit to reveal the lungi he wore underneath it and using the pants as a weapon in a gunfight. Of course, “Alom Bhai,” as recognized by the heroine, saves her day and she spends time with Hero Alom at a cafe as he sits there nonchalantly, as though winning fights against armed people who are larger than him is a breeze.

We know what you’re thinking. And you’re correct. We are indeed delving into an analysis of this particular star from the Indian subcontinent, a “joke”, and a self-proclaimed hero - Hero Alom. Now, we do criticize him for his involvement in the entertainment industry, as well as the political space. However, we’re overlooking that our emotional reactions, whether positive or negative, are precisely what is fueling his fame. Pathos heavily comes into play with our selected digital citizen of choice - Hero Alom, with how he rose to influencer fame.

It’s true that bad news travels faster than good ones, however, I don’t think Hero Alom is a bad role model to have (I worry if my obvious bias shows through my blog title) on how to become an influencer. He has literally “Bruh”-ed all his naysayers by telling them they don’t have to listen to him if they dislike his singing. And yet, Hero Alom has more fame than people like me; he knows better than most about triggering enough emotional responses from people to make them watch his content. And at the beginning, he did so unintentionally, meaning, he’s not using some strategy of trolling with a fake, clownish personality to gain fame. Mr. Alom truly does believe he has the charisma and star-quality to be famous – and didn’t he succeed? We need to wise up and admit that…this man is pretty cool.

Briefly looking into his upbringing, Hero Alom emerged from poverty as a tokai. When his family was able to afford cable, he decided he too would be like the heroes he sees on TV. He didn’t fail his dreams. This is where we will tackle one of the primary aspects of digital citizenship – access and self-autonomy to gain the skills to thrive in the virtual platform. Had he not earned enough money to have access to online platforms, he would most likely be living the same way he’d have through a life of hardship. As digital citizens, we have a responsibility to give people a chance to develop themselves and not try to unfairly barricade them on their path to success if they have practiced proper digital etiquette.

When we consider the socio-political side of his career, it’s still questionable whether he has been fairly treated through the eyes of the media; I obviously defy what has happened to my hero. But it’s not just because of pathos. I can explain it away through some ethos too - Government officials in charge of maintaining our physical safety are now surveilling our entertainment choices to keep our psychological states free from the (very awesome) influence that Hero Alom possesses over us - “keeping us safe from ostensibly badly sung songs by those we hold in high regard…what does it mean to have the police come down on a single content producer simply because it grates on hegemonic middle-class sensibilities?” (Shaanta Murshid, 2022). Although these types of drama are good for influencers to gain fame, it’s still a question of whether, as digital citizens, we are properly fact-checking if what Hero Alom is doing is inciting hateful speech/violence or if he is mainly providing some distractions to relax to. This is an example of the misuse of our pathos; we move away from logic in search of emotional gratification with whatever is easy to pay attention to, ignoring the harder tasks of bringing focus and clarity to what may be right or not.

As digital citizens, we need to have a critical understanding of why certain content goes viral (pssst. the answer is often “pathos”). Beyond that, we need to understand that as much as influencers have some responsibilities to uphold in respect of the general public, we as public consumers, too, have a shared responsibility to allow them the space to do whatever is ethical. Hero Alom, in my view, has grown quite well as an influencer in understanding what the public expects from him, and he has embraced it to give them what they want. However, at the same time, the maxim “The customer is always right” can prove to be detrimental to what is the right thing to do.

References:

Shaanta Murshid, N. (2022). The drama around Hero Alom exposes our culture of classism. Retrieved 12 September 2022, from https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/views/news/the-drama-around-hero-alom-exposes-our-culture-classism-3082706

#education #hero alom #communication #digital citizen #Youtube #humor #comedy #bangladesh #dhallywood