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ajcgames · 30 days

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Pipes

This evening it was time to start writing the foundational work for the new pipes subsytem. I managed to get something pretty decent put together in just a couple of hours, which I was quite happy about. All in all, the code came in at just under 500 lines.

A veritable smörgåsbord of pipes!

So there were a couple of interesting challenges to overcome with this. I wanted to achieve two goals - a freeform, non directional pipe laying system that automatically respected neighbouring connections, and a method to fill the network with fluid that wasn't frame-rate bound and performant at any scale.

The video probably does a better job showing how it all works than I can describe, but I was chuffed to have this running at hundreds of frames per second, and consuming less than 2ms of peak CPU time.

Some technical stuff

So, this will probably only really be interesting to anybody thinking about implementing their own system like this, but this is how it works:

Input pipes

The map can have any number of input pipes. This is where the fluid flows from. These are always considered 'fluid filled' - much like Minecraft's water source blocks. It's also where the algorithm that looks for connected pipes start from (a new search is done at every input pipe).

Pipe map

The entire surface of the map is represented by a 2-dimensional array of true/false flags. If a square is true, it has a pipe, and none if false.

To create the correct pipe shapes, I simply loop over all of the squares, and look at each square's 8 neighbours. There are only so many combinations of neighbours a square can have (16 in total), so it's just a case of telling the code which pipe shape needs to go in each space depending on these combinations.

When you lay or remove a pipe segment, I mark the entire pipe network as invalid, meaning it needs reprocessing again to determine what's filled and what's not. Marking it as invalid is just a process of marking all pipes as empty, ready for processing.

There's no guarantee that any piece of pipe is actually connected to a pipe source input, however, but that's where the next element comes in to play.

Flood fill

In order to fill the available, connected pipe network with actual fluid, I need to make sure everything that has a direct connection to the source is detected.

Starting at each input source, I traverse through every conncted neighbouring pipe segment and mark it as needing to be filled. I don't actually 'fill' anything at this stage - just add it to a list of 'things to fill'. This is important for speed reasons.

Network validation

If the pipe network needs validating (filling), I run through a loop about 50 times per logic frame (this is a number I can easily tweak). Each time I run the loop, I check the bottom item in my 'pipes to fill' list. For each of these, I mark it as filled, and again check the neighbouring squares for connected pipes - which get added to the end of my 'pipes to fill' list.

Eventually, over the course of several logic cycles (for large networks), the entire network is validated, and I can mark it as such. I can also do things like draw icons along the way for additional visual feedback if necessary (like in the example video, helping to show what's connected and what's not).

Why does this matter?

Doing this work in isolation from the main game allows me to check performance without having other parts of the game affect my results. I can also tweak and improve other aspects.

For instance - from the outset, I made sure that pipes could support different liquids. The basic mechanics of flood filling is exactly the same, but owing to the nature of how the algorithm works, connecting two separate fluids together in the same network will ultimately lead to one fluid occupying one part of the network, and all others losing out.

There are are ways to combat this - doing it as a flood-fill allows me to keep track of the network size and radius from the source, giving me a way to restrict fluid from propagating beyond a certain distance, which could help. It could also be gamified owing to it needing 'pumps' to be including in the network to make the fluid go further. That's not really something that fits with this game though, since the map sizes aren't Factorio-like :D

Either way, making sure performance is solid is a key aspect for me in this project. If it ever becomes a polished, releasable thing, I want to make sure I've done some due diligence in making it perform as best as I can make it, and things like this are important steps to that goal.

That's all for now!

Anyway, that's about it for the moment. Thank you if you made it this far, hopefully there was something interesting in here for you to read. Otherwise, I hope you have a great evening, and I'll hopefully see you in the next one! 👋

#indie games #game development #game dev blog #gamedev #automation #factory game

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fairrryprose · 1 year

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[BOOK TOUR] THE HERO INTERVIEWS (THE HERO DIARIES #1) // ANDI EWINGTON

It's my pleasure to be hosting a stop on the book tour for THE HERO INTERVIEWS by ANDI EWINGTON today with ESCAPIST TOURS!!! This is a fantasy comedy following Elburn Barr, a Loremaster who once dreamed of being an adventurer, following in the footsteps of his parents and chasing down his missing brother who had left to become a Hero, as he sets off on a quest of his own to interview and chronicle heroes, villains, and everyone in between - everyone who contributes to the adventuring scene. Read below to find out more and check out my review for this book!

My review:

5/5 stars

This (mis?)adventure is riotously funny, fully fantastical, with a writing style that keeps you turning pages and chuckling and a whole assortment of interesting characters being interviewed, with some endearing recurring ones like a talking dead-adventurer skull and a skinny unassuming-looking 'Barbarian' whom you wouldn't think could do much smiting and smashing but manages to make a name for himself, as well as many references harkening back to all the ones we've already met and encountered and foreshadowing future encounters, threading them all together. I had such a fun time reading this!

While at first glance you may think the interviews are disparate, there's an underlying, some-may-say sinister, plot/conspiracy that Elburn stumbles into and slowly (unintentionally) uncovers throughout the interviews that we get to piece together.

It's written, of course, in the style of an interview, peppered with (short) footnotes that add to the humor as Elburn gives his observations and shares his private thoughts and opinions, giving us an insight into his character - personality, family, motivations - as well as contributing to the worldbuilding - little tidbits of factoids - that don't distract from the story but serve to enhance it )and, for the discerning reader, injects funny satirical references to our modern world and pop culture... like Blue Ticks....) I, for one, really enjoyed these footnotes!

The ending was a nice and heartwarming surprise, and was laid out quite well with scattered clues. This book may contain subtle political commentary that, while maaaybe bleak, we eventually learn that what makes one a Hero isn't just going off on countless quests and adventures and exploring dungeons and vanquishing evildoers (or clearing out rat-infested cellars!) and washing it all down with a pint of ale in a tavern, that it's not just conquests and exploits and chasing fame and fortune, as is oft portrayed in adventure stories/media. A true hero lies in the everyday.

And of course, I'd be so excited for the next book, to see where Devlin Stormwind's Elburn's adventures take him next!!!

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About the Book:

The Hero Interviews by Andi Ewington

Series: The Hero Diaries

Genre: Fantasy Comedy

Intended Age Group: 15+

Pages: 925

Published: December 1, 2022

Publisher: Forty-Five Limited (Self Published)

///

Book Blurb:

Heroes… you can't swing a cat without hitting one. You can't even hatch a nefarious plan without some adventuring party invading your dungeon to thwart you. So, it stands to reason they're a force for good—right?

Well—yes and no…

Elburn Barr is a Loremaster who has turned his back on his family's tradition of adventuring and stepped out into the realm of heroes to interview a whole smörgåsbord board of fantastical characters from stoic, swear-shy Paladins through to invisible sword-carrying Mime Warriors.

Through his transcribed journal, he'll take a cheeky peek at the truth lurking behind the hero myth—and everything associated with them. Across his many encounters, he hopes to uncover his brother's fate—a brother who has been missing for ten summers after brazenly setting out to forge a heroic name for himself.

Will Elburn discover what really happened to his brother, or will he fail in his quest and become another casualty of the adventuring trade?

The Hero Interviews is a departure from the usual swords and sorcery yarn—it's a sometimes gritty, sometimes amusing, but completely bonkers look at the realm of heroes.

See Also:

(This is our attempt at a bit of fun. We ask our authors to come up with a few short, clever, possibly pop culture laden, descriptions of their books just to give a little taste of what’s to come for readers.)

Goodness Gracious, Great Balls of Fire! • You Talkin’ to Me? • So, Mr. du Lac, How Long Have You Been Dead?

///

Book Links:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Hero-Interviews-Andi-Ewington-ebook/dp/B0BFMBQXLR/

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hero-Interviews-Andi-Ewington-ebook/dp/B0BFMBQXLR/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62951981-the-hero-interviews

///

Content/Trigger Warnings:

Shown on Page (things clearly told to the reader):

Mention of an Orc Suicide-Watch

Toilet humor (poo jokes, etc)

that Barbarians punch Camels (in reference to Conan the Barbarian

Cats eating Mice (A Wild-Shaped Druid)

Self-satisfying Treants

Some slapstick violence

Drug references

Ale references

Alluded to (things only mentioned in passing or hinted at):

Toilet humor

Sexual encounters

How a blind monk "sees" (using an herb)

Herbal use (drugs)

Drinking (ale)

///

Author Bio & Information:

Andi Ewington is a writer who has written numerous comic titles including Forty-Five45, Campaigns & Companions, S6X, Sunflower, Red Dog, Dark Souls II, Just Cause 3, Freeway Fighter, and Vikings. Andi lives in Surrey, England with a plethora of childhood RPGs and ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ gamebooks he refuses to part with. He’s usually found on Twitter as @AndiEwington.

///

Check out other stops on the tour for this fantastic book below!

#book tour #the hero interviews #andi ewington #escapistbooktours #book tours #fantasy books #fantasy comedy #book reviews #book recs #book recommendations

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winterrose527 · 11 months

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it's the annual Pics That Remind Me of Anna's Writing Smörgåsbord!!! in which we run through my Nice PicsTM folder and spam anna with pics that make me think of her writing.

PART UNO!!!!

omg these are a VIBE

#stop these are gorgeous

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writer59january13 · 1 year

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Gluttonous connoisseur of ethnic culinary cuisines

Yours truly would never be confused for a gourmand, nevertheless I could enjoy experiencing taste testing select food samples if offered an opportunity of attending a fancy feast viz smörgåsbord, whereby oral indulgence would arouse, excite, inflict outstanding pleasure upon every taste bud on mine tongue.

Asia generic gastronomy guy, I know how one can wolf down gourmet foods witnessing expanding girth; a destructive transformation clearly beyond any excessive enthusiasm. The necessity to feed and clothe this corporeal essence christened Cookie Muenster revels more so within the medium of writing.

Aspirations toward fame nor fortune less significant than the mere pleasure to concoct a visually savory appetizing epistle. Food for thought more than to fill the void, where growling heard across the world wide web, thus, no anterior, interior or ulterior motive asper begging for money underlies this exercise. yet...if perchance a voluntary choice arises to dole out a smidgen of legal tender a name and address indeed willingly linkedin to this faux popinjay person, who tries to convey decency, humility, levity...qualities that wield zest.

Food glorious food I savor across the gamut of tastes,

not more than one over another

does yours truly favor.

Though anonymous hungry for fame

well fed writer wannabe and hardly

a substantially sized married baby boomer,

which dual disadvantages partly explains

lack of ubiquity among claque of cooks, yet cautiously optimistic if I plug away and craft this, that or another poem yours truly would be in seventh heaven if tinkering with words could bring me bread and butter.

Many popular rotund

corpulent gourmands tame

their hungry beasthood easily put me to shame

vis a vis consuming in their one meal,

what yours truly eats in a lifetime,

none of those celery buddies,

whom this non-television watcher can name

seen on any selective cable channel

portly chaps exuding, inviting,

and offering odysseys

to appease palate uttering l'chaim,

I still revel in writing while on the hunt

(during Red October) for a meme

poetry and prose, and decided absent clear and present danger

to introduce myself quite lame

with a NON-GMO marginal uptick

in any sudden fortune or fame,

yet twould be pleasantly syrup prized

if desire and interest to enjoy a repast

from potential buxom waitress didst exclaim

enthusiastically ideally after subtly trying get her attention said hypothetical well-fed dame, and if perchance such just desserts

came via the kitchen maiden kitty,

versus kit chin middens

no boastful claim

would be uttered by me, verboten fruits denied me mine lack of politesse I would blame

her intellectual company satisfactory aim.

First and foremost on the agenda,

would be to locate an affordable,

casual and favorable eatery

tubby agreeable to our wallet and taste

indubitable choice without

(absent any formal dress code),

lettuce go further haste.

Strait away to the great weigh

(or if vegetarian – whey)

station of delectable food

where the exquisite, expertise, and exotic

high steak king claim on:

Peterson's Field Guide, Michelin Guide,

Gayot Guide/Gault Millau, American

Automobile Association, Forbes

Travel Guide reputation good.

Testimony to legendary praise

explaining why patrons travel

for countless days

transforming him/her

into a steady state,

where he/she shuffles along

in a dishabille quotidian famished daze

far and wide culinary craze

out of this world wide web,

the wispy Uber Lyft

wafts trace steamy filament up braise

through nostrils of our noses,

whereat heads nod affirmation i.e. ayes.

Even before making a glad entrance

(into Restaurant) complete

a host of fresh, enticing,

and delicious aromas serve as a treat.

Delicate, foreign, hefty indescribable

ole factory stimulants delight infiltrating thru swinging kitchen doors

holding us smell bound,

though thin filaments invisibly light.

Thus upon a strategic seat, we hoped for,

or politely sought from the manager of the house

ah, our luck to be situated in close proximity,

where impossibility to stave off gaming hunger,

though neither myself nor honorable guest grouse.

Now decision time to select one delicacy equally

as appealing as the next on expansive menu list,

the resultant penultimate

decision method resorted to twist

then flick (with eyes closed) the wrist.

This once difficult task complete

twas now the responsibility of the maitre'd

to store within his/her memory,

which tummy appeared like an amazing

sumptuous (promising scrumptious) feat

Minutes ticked away

as our stomachs growled louder

patiently awaiting the grateful moment

to dine starting with clam chowder

hello poetrysoup compiled

within me taste testing router.

Next in line from smörgåsbord feast

hors-d'oeuvres ample enough to satiate thine palate

to whet from deep-fried delicacies greased

and self-restraint practiced

so the main course diminished least.

We fell upon butterfly jumbo shrimp

and marinated mushrooms when brought

an atavistic motion that memory wrought.

The Matzo ball soup with Jewish rye bread

went to the gullet with a dollop of butter thinly spread.

A vegetable, venerable, veritable, and spinach pie

herbivorous delight, the apple of my eye.

Parmigiana, pasta, and poultry

(albeit free-ranging

NON-GMO and gluten-free) dishes galore

kept off the figurative lid (no matter stuffed to gills

ready to be mounted) to eat more

quite aware that mine waist

bulged whereby beltway buckle tore.

Last (but not least)

at the FINIS of this well-stocked meal

comprises the selection of dessert,

which samples visible

from a glass-enclosed wheel

tickling that reserved “off limits” hot pocket

hashtagged for just such a sugary treat

thus summoning forth

within an engorged abdomen,

nonetheless, an audible zeal.

That reserved allotted sweet

baked, fried, or whipped parfait

or countless other grandiose

mouthwatering delicacy.

Ah...juiced enough wiggle room

for one decadent byte, perchance small

enough to roll around in the mouth,

like a Chocolate Mousse, or a honey ball.

Despite feeling ready to explode hence yours truly uttering oy vey

simply eyeing a food tray

no longer in an ala mode vis a vis

clamoring for consumption

well aware of the morrow or sooner

this bloated dirigible fulfilled human,

would dearly caloric wise despite going Dutch heavily pay

witness by need pointing all the way to highest number

showing us how much we weigh penny wise pound foolish yay!

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garbagevanfleet · 3 years

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I was wondering if you knew any small writers I should give a look? Or specific fics?

There are so so so many. I'm not sure what you consider small writers to be, so I'm going to list everyone that I can think of and you can decide from there.

@jakekiszska has a smörgåsbord of amazing porn for you, as well as very cute little fluffs and enthralling chaptered fics. her ideas are always fun and new

@alwayzthere's work is always so fun and imaginative. I'm a big fan and wish she'd run away with me <3

@godlygreta knows how to write some hot shit. Like, leave you sweating kinda smut

@safari-shlong is the monarch of setting up scenery imho, and god damn, I anxiously await more.

@satans-helper is the OG gvf writer, with such perennial faves as the groundbreaking Danny/Sam/Reader threesome

@amourleger paints a fucking picture with her words. It's truly something to behold.

@greta-van-fics are two amazing girls that work so freaking well together - truly like a well-oiled machine. they have a nice, thick masterlist of tasty morsels for you

@dharma-divine is such a wordsmith. she has a fantastic talent for telling a story, and has such fun, unique ideas. some of her upcoming projects make my heart race with anticipation

@fosterkidwiththebrokenjaw wrote a fic that I keep going back to read because it's such a comfy fic. like, it's such a sweet, sexy thing, and I'm so excited for more from her!

@tripthelight-fanfic has built up a nice, weighty masterlist that I highly recommend sifting through. their smut is great, but their fluff is truly special, if you ask me

@tlexx has a masterlist that I've been hoarding away like a dragon. I've been meaning to read through it, but I've been sick and busy, but I'll get to it, damn it!!

(there was literally no way for me to remember everyone, so if I missed you, I promise it's not on purpose. please please please, reply to this ask if you want to add yourself or someone else to this list!!)

#we just got a letter 💌#fic rec

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barkilphedros-hat · 2 years

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tell me about your blorbos

Aha I have many Blorbos! A veritable smörgåsbord of Blorbos!

My top 3 Blorbos at the moment are:

1: Any character Steve Pemberton has played, ever, but ESPECIALLY Hugo from Inside No. 9’s episode Once Removed

Absolute travesty, look at him go.

2: The Dying Victorian Bastard from Arcane

BRB gonna write a 20k enemies-to-lovers fic of him and A Good Night’s Sleep

3: Any character Reece Shearsmith has played, ever. I even got a tattoo of The Sad Mushroom Blorbo. 🥰

#special mention to Headless Humphrey from BBC’s Ghosts I love him #bbc ghosts #inside no 9 #reece shearsmith #steve pemberton #a field in england #arcane #arcane viktor #blorbo from my shows

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fiadhaisteach · 2 years

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WIP Wednesday

Smörgåsbord!

I wasn't tagged this week, but that's okay... I've a few things to share. 😝

How I store my air dry clay. (I've been working through this, originally 2#, block for more than 3 years; so it may be overkill, but it works. 😉)

and I'll tag @noire-pandora, @batsy22-me, @little-lightning-lavellan, @bearlytolerant, @jessitasquirrel, @beaubashley, @in-arlathan, @roguelioness, @shift-shaping, @salesart, @queenaeducan-writes, @crackinglamb, & @thevikingwoman

#wip wednesday #paint & resin #hot glue as art medium #air-dry clay #living a creative life #aisteach posts

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author-morgan · 4 years

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So.. I've been feeling depressed a lot lately and your Eivor fics have really brought up my mood (even if temporary) so I was wondering if you could write something with home comforting reader when they are sad.. it doesn't have to be a full drabble or anything.. maybe just some headcannons if you're able

Hi nonny, sorry this took so long to get around to. ran into some issues with my laptop. @jaegers-and-kaijus is who came up with this fluffy plot bunny. hope you enjoy it and that it can lift your spirits.

m!Eivor x fem!Reader

“WHERE ARE WE going?” You ask, laughing as you trail behind Eivor through the thick forest underbrush. He doesn’t answer. This is supposed to be a surprise and if he told you then it wouldn’t be —all his efforts would be for nothing.

He looks over his shoulder, smiling. “We’re almost there,” he says. Overhead you hear the cry of the raven, Sýnin, and pick out the dark shadow passing through the canopy of leaves. You must be getting close to wherever he is taking you.

You come to a halt at a glade wrought with wildflowers of all colors. There’s a coarse wool blanket laid out in the very center, held down in the early autumn breeze by a skin of drink and a woven basket filled with bread, soft cheese and fruits. Eivor’s warm gaze is focused wholly on you, gauging your reaction. His heart fills with warmth upon seeing you face light up with a smile. “What’s all this about?” You ask. The day you wedded had not yet come to pass, nor had either of your namedays.

“Do I have to have a reason other than wanting to spend time with you?” He challenges, knowing you’d been feeling down as of late worrying with the harvest and your sickly mother. Shaking your head, you reach for his hand and tug him into the clearing. You’re always grateful for the time the gods give you with Eivor, even if it is hard to come by. He settles in next to you and lays out the small smörgåsbord, filling two small wooden cups with spiced mead.

You and he talk about the coming winter and harvest over the meal and reminiscence of times long passed. He thinks back to the day you’d been bound in the eyes of the gods. It’d been a spring afternoon —you’d worn a crown of wildflowers and a pale blue dress. Freya herself could not have looked any more beautiful. He’d been the happiest man on Midgard.

For ages, Eivor was certain he could live away from the world, and he had until the gods led him to you. Now it’s impossible to imagine a life where he didn’t get to fall asleep every night with you in his arms.

Eivor tugs at one of the beads in his hair until it pulls free. Glancing down at the bronze bead pressed with a protective rune, he then passes it to you and takes up a lock of hair by your left ear. His thick fingers are surprisingly deft when it comes to plaiting hair. He finishes the braid and slips the bead into place, making sure it’s secured. “Now you’ll always have a piece of me with you,” he explains.

The simple gesture makes your heart flutter —even after five years of marriage, Eivor still finds ways to surprise you. Ways to make you blush like a young girl. Leaning into him, you find his lips for a quick kiss, but Eivor is not eager to relinquish the moment. He wraps his arm around your waist, drawing you closer. His lips taste of sweet mead and yellowberries.

He sighs as you part. “You’re tired,” you note. He’d worked into the night to help bring in the last of the crops in the field before the first true cold of the year set in. You pat your thigh and Eivor reclines, using your lap as a pillow. His eyes are bluer than the sky above and filled with adoration. You card your fingers through his golden hair, humming a lullaby your mother would sing. He watches your brows furrow in concentration as you add another braid into his hair.

It’s not long before Eivor has drifted off, his faint snores filling the calm air. Sýnin even settles in next to Eivor. Careful not to wake him, you lean to the side, plucking a bundle of wildflowers. Humming again, you start weaving the stems together and forming a circle until it is large enough to be tied off and serve as a crown. You make another flower crown, though this one is smaller —more apt to fit you without becoming a necklace. With the few flowers left over, you craft a circlet just large enough for Sýnin.

Birds sing their songs, and the warm afternoon sun shines down into the glade. Unable to stifle a yawn, you shift —laying back where Eivor’s head rests on your stomach.

When you wake, it is dark. Eivor is carrying you through the trees, the moonlight filtering through the canopy reveals the flower crown situated atop his head. Sýnin is perched on his shoulder, proudly wearing the circlet you’d crafted atop his proud head. My two perfect boys, you think with a content sigh. “I’m not lame, you know,” you mumble into Eivor’s chest. The glade had been a good way from your small farmhouse.

“But it gives me an excuse to hold you,” he replies, and you feel the deep rumble of laughter in his chest before hearing it. Sýnin goes to his roost when you and Eivor return for the night. You help each other out of your heavier day clothes and then he’s tugging you back into the bed. Warm, thick arms wrapped around your middle. Eivor dips his head forward, pressing a sweet kiss against your lips. You smile, carding your fingers through his beard. If only every day could be so perfect.

[tagging Eivor lovers @nemo-my-name-forevermore @ananriel @britishhotassassin if you want to be tagged in my Eivor drabbles just let me know!]

#Eivor #Eivor Wolfsmal #Eivor x Reader #m!Eivor #m!Eivor x Reader #male Eivor #male Eivor x Reader #Eivor Imagine #Eivor Fanfiction #Assassin's Creed Valhalla #Assassin's Creed #my writing #requested #Anonymous

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doomedandstoned · 3 years

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Pale Keeper Deliver a Smörgåsbord of Doom

~By Willem Verhappen~

Artwork by Denis Chelnoko

One would think that with the Doomed & Stoned in Russia compilation just being released, one would be up to speed with what's up and coming regarding the doomy goodness coming from the world's largest country. Well, think again, because here comes PALE KEEPER. Formed in 2019 and hailing from Moscow, the trio released their self-titled debut EP a mere week after the release of what is arguably our most crushing compilation to date.

Pale Keeper managed to grab my attention right away with vocalist Mark Davydov's old school guitar sound and ditto riff. After a while the rest of the band, drummer Denis Sulimkin, who's also responsible for the synths on the record, and Denis Chelnokov on bass, join in to give the doom riff some extra oomph. It doesn't take long though, before the track takes a turn to a more progressive sound, reminiscent to the likes of Pallbearer. It's clear that these guys know how to write a dynamic doom track. If there's one way to introduce your band, "Tower Lord" is the way to go.

On the second track, "Sylvan," the band takes a turn towards a Pink Floydian ambient soundscape. It's a well executed piece of music, transporting me towards the tundras in seconds, but it's also a harsh break from the thing they started on "Tower Lord" and continue on the following "Getting High."

This track immediately found it's way into my (quite extensive) list of great doom tracks because of the absolutely neck-breaking intro. The over the top guitar solo is just icing on the cake. It also makes me more forgiving towards the "demon voices" throughout the track. These take some of the focus away from the musical skills which are portrayed here.

Pale Keeper by Pale Keeper

"Emerald Grave" is the darkest track on this EP, emitting some of that Windhandian sense of melodic dread. The band finishes things off with another instrumental track, "Placid," which feels like a peaceful, almost optimistic finish of a dark and dreary debut.

The only comment I have on this record is that it's a collection of songs that doesn't feel like a coherent whole. Then again, EPs rarely do so. What the EP does do is showing us what a talented pack Pale Keeper is. They show that they know what makes a good song and have the skills to hit it home by combining elements without blatantly copying them. I hope they will continue down this path. I foresee great success for these guys if they flesh out their sound a bit more. Make sure to keep an eye out for them!

Follow The Band.

Get Their Music.

#D&S Reviews #Pale Keeper #Moscow #Russia #doom #metal #doom metal #funeral doom #Willem Verhappen #Doomed and Stoned

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youzicha · 5 years

Text

It's usually best to not use diacritics. If you stick to the standard spelling your text will be easy to understand, and all English words can be written using just the 26 basic letters. So why add weird dots and dashes to the letters? It's confusing. Keep it simple, stupid.

But one cannot be too draconian. Sometimes, using an accent mark is the only way to convey an important distinction, say between rose flowers and rosé wine, or between the verb expose and the noun exposé. Sometimes, spelling a word without diacritics would mislead the reader about the intended pronunciation, like writing saké or Pokémon without the accent. And sometimes, the spelling of a word using diacritics is so established that not using it would draw unwanted attention. Writing a text requires judgement, and we would be naïve to think that a rule as simple as “don't use diacritics” would always maximize clarity.

And moreover, why should we be slaves to clarity? Great art is challenging! Rather than accommodating a blasé reader with an “easy” text, like a simpering salesman (remember Antonín Dvořák's advice that “art, as such, does not ‘pay’”), sometimes we must preëmpt the clichés and shock him into attention. So althô diacritical embellishments often just add a soupçon of style, their rôle can also be to pull the reader off balance—like an aikidō move. Writing should be supple and flexible: spelling should not be table d'hôte, but à la carte, or even a smörgåsbord of delectable options.

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fae-fucker · 5 years

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Review: The Songbird’s Refrain

by Jillian Maria

When a mysterious show arrives in town, seventeen-year-old Elizabeth Brighton is both intrigued and unsettled. But none of the acts capture her attention quite like the blue-eyed woman. Locked in a birdcage and covered in feathers, the anguish in her voice sounds just a little too real to be an act—because it isn’t. The show’s owner, a sadistic witch known only as the Mistress, is holding her captive. And she’s chosen Elizabeth as her next victim. After watching the blue-eyed woman die, Elizabeth is placed under the same curse. She clings to what little hope she can find in the words of a fortune teller and in her own strange dreams. The more she learns, the more she suspects that the Mistress isn’t as invulnerable as she appears. But time is against her, and every feather that sprouts brings her closer to meeting the blue-eyed woman’s fate. Can Elizabeth unlock the secret to flying free, or will the Mistress’s curse kill her and cage its next victim?

Full disclosure without the fancy wording: Jillian straight up gave me a free copy of this book, and I’ve followed the development of this novel since pretty early on because it sounded like it was My Jam. Spoilers: it was, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be honest with my opinions! With that said: Jillian, don’t read this. And also, holy shit congrats on writing a book, we stan!! <3 But seriously, don’t.

This review contains vague character spoilers to serve as examples. No names are mentioned.

The Writing

Having read a couple of early versions of the first chapters of this book, I can’t express enough how amazing it is to read it in its final form, how far it has come from the days when an early draft was posted on a tumblr page which the author coded herself. That’s not to say the early versions of it were bad, but I don’t want to undermine and deny how far it has come and how polished it is.

As you all know, I’m not a huge fan of overly flowery prose because it often takes me out of the experience, and luckily, I can’t remember a single time I thought something was overwritten or took me out of the story.

The writing is evocative without being flashy and Elizabeth has a clear, wonderful voice that feels fresh and easy and intimate at once. The dialogue feels natural and I’m honestly impressed with how characters rarely swear despite being in terrible situations, and how it never felt like a copout or like the author was censoring herself for the YA age range.

Probably a weird thing to point out, but my characters swear constantly and I have no idea how to stop them from doing that without making it very silly, so props to the author for succeeding where I would definitely fail.

The Characters

Oh my what a smörgåsbord of fun people! I won’t dwell too much on this section because the mystery is very much tied deeply into the characters themselves, and I don’t want to spoil things before the book is even out.

Elizabeth is a bean. She’s self-aware and relatable without losing her own individuality in the process. I hated seeing her suffer but loved watching her grow stronger through it. She has standards and opinions yet she doubts herself on nearly every step and all I wanted to do was to reach through the pages and give her a slap and go GIRL, YOU A STAR. She’s what a YA protagonist should be, in my humble onion. My only complaint would probably be that she’s a bit too self-aware for a reglier teenager, but it makes sense for the story and the premise and the growth she goes through, so I don’t think it’s something that ruins her in any capacity. Maybe she’s just way more clever than I was at 17, lmao.

The Mistress. What can I say without saying too much? Man, what a villain! Like, damn! Yes! Gurl! Yes! Terrifying! I hate her absolute guts! Every time she was in a scene I wanted to crawl under a blanket and bring Elizabeth with me to protecc her. This woman’s aesthetic and evil-ness rivals a Disney villain, and like, not in a bad way, but in the best way. The panache with which she does all her evil shit is just *chef kiss* I wanted to do violence to this woman but I knew if I’d existed in this story she’d absolutely destroy me if I looked at her wrong, and I think that’s what my ideal villain archetype is. The Mistress is deliciously, stylishly evil. You read the book half because you want Elizabeth to win, and half because you want, nay, NEED to see the Mistress lose. Some might say they need a villain to be more complex or whatever, but I’m firmly in the “evil people exist and evil antagonists are fun to write if you do it properly” camp, and here it’s done properly, IMHO. The Mistress doesn’t need a sad backstory or a complex motivation to be an effective, intimidating, and interesting antagonist.

I also really liked Madame Selene. At first I found her to be kind of cliché as a mystical fortune teller, but there’s actually a very interesting spin on that trope in her character, and I found her to be endlessly interesting as a result of it. I can’t say much more without further spoilers, but let’s just say there’s a reason she’s all cryptic and weird and refuses to speak plainly. My biggest gripe is that she didn’t get as much screentime as I wanted. I just need more of Madame Selene.

I honestly can’t say I found any of the other side characters to be lacking (even Bridget, whomst I need to strangle, was fun to hate), but I will say that my favorites were definitely one of the couples. The older one especially.

I will also repeat that I love Elizabeth. Very much. I love Elizabeth twice. Ahem.

Anyway, special mention should be made that the cast is quite diverse despite being fairly small. I didn’t expect anything less from Jillian, of course, but I just wanted to point it out for those who had doubts.

The Negatives and the Mehgatives

Because oh yes, it ain’t a review by Eff if they don’t complain about shit.

Now, some of these are things that aren’t necessarily bad, but others did feel like they were in the way of making this book as good as it could be. I usually split my reviews further up into “worldbuilding” and “plot”, but since I don’t feel like I have enough to say about those to justify their own sections, I’ve decided to just throw them in here.

The worldbuilding is sparse, and that’s fine for this genre and this specific story. It plays out (mostly) in the reglier world with sort of reglier people, so I wasn’t expecting Tolkien levels of depth going in (in fact I find Tolkien levels of depth to not be necessary more than half the time but that’s another discussion). I got glimpses of some very interesting things that I’d very much like to see more of, but it feels more like stuff that would fit an “extended universe” sort of series and the lack of more supernatural/unique elements felt fine and didn’t really bother me.

Now to the less than good stuff. As much as I enjoyed the progression of the plot and Elizabeth’s character, and the steady flow of hints and developments felt elegant, I did feel like the mystery was a little bit predictable, and the foreshadowing a bit on the nose, especially in the very beginning. (Elizabeth’s shoulder scar was mentioned probably half a dozen times more than necessary.)

For example (mild spoilers, skip to next paragraph if you want to avoid), there’s a section where a character is taken away and Elizabeth hears them scream. After that, she keeps mentioning how that character is definitely, 100% dead, there’s no way they survived, they’re totally a corpse now, someone dig a hole and find a coffin. I thought it made sense for Elizabeth to feel fear and grief and assume the worst, so I’m not as bothered by it as I would’ve been in a worse book, but it did feel a bit like she was trying to convince the reader more than like she was mourning.

The foreshadowing being on the nose and the mystery being predictable are sort of intertwined, and I think it’s probably the book’s biggest flaw? That said, if you don’t consider yourself super savvy with writing and storytelling techniques, you might not pick up on this stuff at all. I also liked the plot despite finding it predictable, so if you’re not really interested in a super complex mystery but are interested in a good story, you’ll probably find this intriguing enough.

The second biggest flaw of the book is the ending, in my opinion. It felt a bit rushed, and I would’ve liked to see side characters tied up as neatly as the plot itself. Not ... in a sexy way, yikes. I mean their arcs and stuff. There’s one in particular I felt was lacking, where I would’ve wanted to see more of a reaction and conclusion to something terrible that happened before. The character in question was pretty important during the whole middle of the book, and in the end they’re just sort of glossed over and exit the narrative, literally. The ending is supposed to be sort of open, I think, so I can respect that, but it could’ve been open while still feeling complete, ya know?

And the romance ... Well, let’s move on to the next bit, shall we?

The Gay

Full disclosure: I’m straight. Well, that’s the word I use, and some might disagree with it because I’m nonbinary and say my attraction to men would make me “queer”. But that’s the word I use for my general thing, not my sexuality specifically.

ANYWAY. This is all fluff that I’m using to ease you into the real point: I’m, like, not into reading wlw romance. Or mlm romance. At all? I’m not against it by any means, go wild my dudes, and I hate 90% of all “straight” romances because straight people largely can’t write love for shit.

I’m saying this because I think there’s a lot of fellow straighties out there thinking they’ll be made “uncomfortable” by the gays or that it’ll make them question their sexuality and stuff. And 1) lmao cowards 2) I get it, it feels “”””weird”””” and you don’t relate but like 3) stop being a lil bitch and open your mind.

If you’re a straighty and you’re curious about this book but think that the lady-kissing is spookie, I’m here to inform you that yeah, romantic love between women is heavily, and I mean heavily, tied into the main plot. But it’s not really a book about homosexuality or homophobia. It feels natural, and normal, and is never made out to be a Thing, except when Elizabeth speculates about her parents’ reactions to her coming out. It’s not a book about TEH GAYS specifically, it’s a book about love, that just happens to be between women. If you can accept that and go into it with an open mind, like I did because I am Very Woke, I think you’ll find a new appreciation and perspective for romances that aren’t straight.

Now, back to the actual book. The romance in TSR is frustrating to me because one of them is amazing, so amazing that even I, a filthy man-lover, found it melting my heart. It’s lovely, it’s beautifully written, it’s got a gorgeous aesthetic and an excellent pairing with plenty of warm and fluffy chemistry without shying away from their sexuality. I loved this relationship and I wish there was a book just about these two ladies. It’s honestly #romancegoals.

The second one is ... not that. It felt sort of rushed and like it was constantly trying to justify itself. It wasn’t instalove, but it also sort of was? I can’t explain it without spoiling so you’ll have to read it for yourself. It could have something to do with the fact that the other couple are teenagers and the previous one are adults so their relationship felt more mature and established, but both get roughly the same amount of screen time and I’m quite frankly baffled by how differently they’re handled.

Given how dark and honest and real most of this book was (despite the magic stuff), it felt really jarring to have the second romance be so empty.

To its credit, I was very much rooting for the teen couple. I even imagined how they’d meet up and fight the villain together. If their ending had been just a little bit more open (as opposed to the general ending, which I wanted to be less open lol) and their romance not quite as definitively sealed, I think I would’ve loved it too, because it would’ve fit better with the tone of the rest of the storytelling.

As it stands, I think the different romantic relationships shown in this book are interesting and show off different dynamics and are a good starting point for important conversations baby wlw (and other romantically inclided peeps tbh) might want to have. Yes, even -- and possibly especially -- the abusive ones.

This story has a lot to say about love and I think it’s important stuff people need to hear nowadays, especially YA audiences.

The Conclusion

If you’re looking for a paranormal YA mystery with a bit of gore thrown in, complete with a lesbian protag and a diverse cast, self-contained and tasty like a very small hamburger, The Songbird’s Refrain is well worth your time.

It’s got a great romance, an excellent protagonist, an unsettling atmosphere, a fun villain, and a genuinely touching story dealing with important subjects like healthy love, abusive relationships, and self-worth.

If you’re not a fan of one aspect of this book but the rest seems appealing, I think you should go for it and maybe realize as you’re reading that it doesn’t matter that much because the rest of the package deal is excellent.

#book review #book recs #the songbird's refrain

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timeagainreviews · 5 years

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CRAB PEOPLE! CRAB PEOPLE!

Giant monster movies are a trend as old as 1933's “King Kong.” Reaching a fever pitch in the 1950's, they had died down considerably by the time "The Macra Terror," had aired in 1967. While the genre continued on in Japan, the closest the UK had seen was 1961's "Gorgo," which was shot around Dublin and in a studio in England. Leave it to Doctor Who then to revive old trends with its smörgåsbord of genre-tripping. And in Doctor Who fashion, it both paid homage, while being something entirely unique.

Sadly, as with many BBC programs from that era, "The Macra Terror," no longer exists in their vaults. But thanks to the advances in digital animation, many of these missing stories have found a second life through animated reconstructions using existing soundtracks from the classic episodes. After having watched these newly released animations, a friend of mine asked me whether or not it made a case for its own existence. Does animation add a dimension that the reconstructions of still images failed to convey? She mentioned to me that "The Enemy of the World," was a somewhat reviled story until the episodes were rediscovered. Being able to see the subtle nuances in Patrick Troughton's performances as two separate characters, added something still images were unable to convey.

Now, I will admit some bias here, but I would be happy for any episode to be animated. But, even I had to agree that at the time it was announced, "The Macra Terror," seemed an odd choice over something like "The Evil of the Daleks." This was their biggest effort yet, having given the production crew a greater budget than any project before. Because of this, they were able to hand animate specific moments, as compared to keyframing everything like some earlier efforts. So why this story?

To look at it, "The Macra Terror," doesn't have a whole lot to offer by way of story. The Doctor and his companions, Ben, Polly, and Jamie, find themselves in an isolated future colony of humans. Living in a sort of sterile habitat full of benign activities and health spas, the people seem happy enough. Mind-numbing muzak fills the air as parades of smiling attractive people fill the corridors. Though the giant unmoving face of "The Controller," that comes onscreen every so often to dictate orders, gives an air of Orwellian totalitarianism. When an escaped prisoner, Medok, warns everyone of a more sinister element, the Doctor's suspicions take him down a line of inquiry that leads him to a grim discovery- the colony is secretly being run by giant crabs known as the Macra! Most of the story is a give and go between the Doctor and the police chief Ola, and the charismatic "Pilot," the highest authority below the Controller himself. The Doctor wants to investigate, and they want to stop him. It goes on like this for quite some time.

If I were to wager a guess, I would say the best reason to give "The Macra Terror," such a treatment would be Patrick Troughton, himself. One of the saddest consequences of the missing episodes is the lack of Troughton's brilliant performance as the Doctor. Ironically, some of his best moments have been lost to the sands of time. Despite the rather mundane elements of the story, his Doctor really shines in these episodes. His character seems to congeal here in ways that would establish the tone of the show for future generations. Having a higher budget is a great opportunity to capture one of his better performances in the role. Scriptwriter Ian Stuart Black gives him a lot of great dialogue to work with, and his jokes are very much in line with the tone. But who am I kidding? Giant crabs!

Rare for classic Doctor Who, and even modern Doctor Who sometimes, most everyone in the sizeable cast has a function. The companions, while sleeping, receive hypnotic instructions along with a perfumed chemical cocktail emitted from the walls. But Jamie, being far too Scottish for that shit, resists the programming. Sneaking into their chambers after curfew, the Doctor disables the hypnosis machines and manages to shake Polly out of it. Ben, unfortunately, has gone full Kool-Aid and is now a rabid fanatic for the colony. Noticing the Doctor's handiwork of destruction, Ben alerts the guards causing the Doctor and Jamie to get arrested. Jamie, ever slow on the uptake, now sees Ben as a traitor. While Ben has always been a bit of a conservative companion, he's loyal if nothing else. It makes the most sense that he would react to the hypnosis like this, and in my mind, is pretty decent writing. On a side note, I'm not sure if it was seeing him animated, but Ben's personality really reminds me of Hank Venture from "The Venture Bros." They both possess the same wannabe tough guy persona that I find oddly enduring.

Angry with Ben, Polly runs away causing him to chase after her. During their scuffle, they're confronted by the Macra and flee back to the colony. Now in the custody of the Pilot, Polly reveals their horrifying discovery. However, upon being questioned about the Macra, Ben's programming doesn't allow him to admit they exist, much to Polly's horror. The Doctor, having seen the Macra with Medok earlier, demands answers, but the Pilot himself has a similar brainwashing machine in his office, proving him to be yet another victim of the mind control. This causes the Doctor to question the existence of the Controller, which makes the Controller appear onscreen in his still image form. The Doctor and Jamie demand to see the actual Controller, who as it turns out, is a frail old man. This revelation is far from satisfying and is compounded by the fact that he is then dragged off camera by what looks like a giant crab. However, the Pilot is instructed to forget what he has seen, and the Doctor and his friends are sentenced to work the rest of their lives in the mines below the colony.

Medok, now seen as a lost cause by the Pilot, has also been sentenced to hard labour. Thinking quickly, he demands they have a supervisor before going into the mines. In a moment that had me thinking of "Kerblam!", the Doctor is given the task of working in the control room, as opposed to the physical labour of the mines. We're given a rather humorous moment where the Doctor doesn't realise that between him, Polly, and Jamie, he might be the best equipped for a more supervisory role. This places the Doctor in a unique position to find some answers to his questions. Medok warns Polly and Jamie that the gases in the mines are deadly, and takes on most of the dirty work himself to spare the two of them. The work seems never-ending as they search for more and more of this mysterious gas.

Troughton, yet again, gets another moment to shine as the Doctor as he works an equation out on a wall. The Pilot finds his equation and accuses him of having read top secret files, but it's just the Doctor being the Doctor. Quite chuffed with his accuracy, the Doctor gives himself a ten out of ten. The Pilot is less amused and demands he erase the equation before anyone else sees it. The Officia, a man in charge of the mines, oversees the work underground. During this time, Jamie and Polly discover a door. During the chaos of a ruptured valve, Jamie steals the Offica's keys and escapes through the door, causing Medok to follow after him. However, while searching for Jamie, Medok is confronted by a Macra.

Now back up top, the Officia realises his keys have gone missing, but Ben covers for Jamie, suggesting maybe he dropped them. The Doctor suggests to Ben that he lied because the conditioning is wearing off, but not enough it seems, as Ben alerts the Pilot. The Pilot refuses to let anyone into the shaft, not even the guards. As Jamie is searching the tunnels, he stumbles upon the remains of Medok and finds himself surrounded by Macra. The Controller demands they pipe the gas into the tunnels which animates the Macra into a more active state, leading the Doctor to realise that perhaps the Macra feed off of the gas. This is all great and good, but Jamie is still down there, coughing his lungs out and being lunged at by giant crabs. The Doctor manages to trick the Officia into telling him how to reverse the controls, allowing Jamie to escape. With Ola and his guards now distracted by their manhunt, the Doctor and Polly manage to find their way into the shaft where they discover a control room full of Macra.

Jamie's escape lands him in a room of shining happy people practising a rallying chant for the good of the people. He tries to sneak by in plain sight, and somehow gets noticed. Luckily for him, they figure he's one of the dancers for the event they're planning. In a moment that had me cursing the lack of surviving footage, they ask him to show the dance number he has planned. Jamie begins to leap gracefully to the side, claiming the dance is called "The Highland Fling," named as such because, at the end, you fling yourself out the door! However, his moment is short-lived as Ola and his men are awaiting him outside the door. In what I imagine is a scene specific only to the animated version, the doors continue to swing open and shut, humorously revealing Ola and his men in increments. It's a cheesy little moment of comedy that is not at all unwelcome. It's one more drop into the ocean of reasons I love Jamie as a companion. Ben, on the other hand, is failing as a companion, having tipped the guards off, and leaving Jamie with even more desire to clean his clock.

The Doctor and Polly return. Leading the Pilot toward the pithead and the Macra. Upon discovering them, the Pilot is horrified, leaving the Macra to demand, in the guise of the Controller, that the Doctor and the Pilot be taken into custody as enemies of the colony. They begin a countdown which starts pumping the gas into the colony, choking out its residents. However, it's Ben and his redemption arc that save the day. Within the safety of the pithead, Ben is instructed by the Doctor on how to reverse the flow of gas. Setting off a chain reaction, a rather impressively animated explosion violently rips through the Macra control room, blowing them to smithereens! Now back to normal, the colony celebrates their freedom and their new controller- the Pilot. As the celebration swells, Ben informs the Doctor that he may want to consider leaving soon, as he's heard a rumour that the colony plans on turning the Doctor into their next Pilot. The Doctor looks suitably shaken by the prospect and the camera pulls back, revealing the colony from a distance.

Like I said, it's not an incredibly complex storyline. Most of the enjoyment comes from either the Doctor or Jamie. While I said most characters have something to do, sadly Polly's main function is to scream and get captured, which, for Doctor Who, is par for the course. The Macra themselves have been made more terrifying by the animators, which is a definite improvement. The original production had only a single Macra, which through trick photography they had to make look like several Macra. Not an easy job when you consider no shots of more than one of the crabs was possible. The limited mobility of the puppet didn't help either.

That's not to say, however, that the animated version was without its faults. In some ways, it was almost to its benefit that it doesn't look so good that it failed to capture a lot of the same charm as the old show. I often found myself wondering if this wasn't slightly intentional on occasion. That being said, it was actually rather nice to see they weren't afraid to take some artistic liberties. The version I watched was in colour and widescreen, both things the original version lacked. Other changes such as Medok's body being replaced by a green goo, or the Doctor's writing equations on a see-through chalkboard were a bit confusing at times. I suppose replacing the body may have been a thing of censorship, as this felt like an effort to get the younger generation into classic Doctor Who. I was impressed by the likenesses of the Doctor and Jamie, but was less impressed by Ben and especially Polly, who looked nothing like herself. But regardless of any flaws, this is easily the best-animated reconstruction they've ever done. Some of the lighting effects and the landscapes were flat-out beautiful. The hand-drawn sequences were utilised very well. Most of the gripes I have with the animation are things easily fixed.

You may not know this, but for a short amount of time, I studied animation before moving onto film. One of the most common tools in animation is embellished movement. A character doesn't simply reach for an object. Due to the nature of animation, animators found it more satisfying to watch if a character, while reaching for an object, extends just past the object a little before grasping. This overextension allows for a brief pause before the action. Animation is, much like film editing, a series of beats. The better an animator can hit those beats, the better things flow. This gives the audience more time to look at what they are seeing; to take in the information. The problem with this is that it doesn't look as real. It's part of why an audience's initial reaction to a cartoon is laughter, even if the subject matter is serious. We run into this issue with these reconstructions. What we're viewing is an almost retro-rotoscope in effect. Animators are trying to recapture what they imagine the movement of the actors may very well have been. In this, we have to consider these animations as their own animal, separate from the original material. Though completely complimentary.

Bearing this in mind, I do still believe there are a few things they could do to make the cartoon look more like the source material, and these things are dead easy to employ. Mike Judge, the creator of "Beavis and Butt-Head," once pointed out something about animation that I've never been able to unsee. Cartoonists tend to position one arm of their characters in the air, elbows crooked and hand open, while the other arm hangs to the side, slightly crooked, maybe resting the hand on their hip. (See the diagram below) He had a problem with his animators drawing Beavis and Butt-Head this way in the earlier cartoons. He actually had to retrain them to draw the duo with their hands at their sides. "Why was this a problem?" you might ask. Well, it's not so much a problem, people talk with their hands a lot, but in cartoons, that embellishment comes in. This may work for Bugs Bunny, but if you want to make people seem more realistic, their arms should hang naturally. While I admired the hand animations of the Pilot suggesting spa treatments, some of the other postures reeked of this cartoonishness that many an artist pick up from the cartoons they watched as children. Animating is a form of performance. Giving more thought into what the arms might actually be doing would only add to the experience.

Seeing how much artistic license is taken with the story, I’m surprised there seems to be one sacred cow which they seem the most afraid to alter, and that’s the sound. I understand why they may not want to mess with it too much. It being the one element of the missing episodes still completely intact, it’s the only part that is truly as intended. I imagine there is a bit of remastering involved. But when you consider the anachronistic synth work at the beginning of the episode on top of the newly added sequence aboard the TARDIS from “The Moonbase,” I don’t understand why they would stop there. I imagine some foley may have been added to the end explosion, but I couldn’t say for certain. Either way, some creepy crawly sounds for the Macra would have added something to their menace.

Another issue is the camerawork. While the wide shots were a marked improvement, I couldn't for the life of me understand why every shot employed was static. Sure, we may get a pan from left to right, but it's the steadiest pan in the world. It's a little extra effort but making some of the shots appear handheld would have increased the immersion considerably. When "South Park: Bigger Longer and Uncut," came out, making the animation look like it was shot on a handheld was cutting edge technology. Nowadays, it's a program filter. Just a little jitter or bob here and there would have been appreciated. That said, the pulling of focus gave great depth to scenes that could have otherwise looked flat. They employed camera, lighting, and colour in ways that have pushed these reconstructions further than ever. And while some of the colours come off as oversaturated, they're a definite improvement over "Shada," which often times looked garish and without texture. Believe it or not, but sometimes the best way to utilise colour is to tone it down a little. Speaking of toned down colour, was anyone else disappointed by the lack of colour in the opening scene? I know they were doing a sort of "Wizard of Oz," thing with exiting a black and white world into a world of Technicolor, but the promotional image of that shot was in colour, and very beautiful.

The packaging itself was very nice. I opted for the steelbook, because what's two quid? I was happy the little "booklet" inside had the cover art from the regular DVD/Blu-Ray release as I liked the art. I say booklet, but it's really more like a pamphlet. The art on the outside and inside of the steelbook are moody and atmospheric. The extra disc containing Gridlock is a nice little addition. The ten minute short from "The Wheel in Space," left me wanting more in a good way. I've yet to watch the black and white version, but I'm looking forward to it. I almost considered watching that one first, but I figured they wanted me to see it in colour, so I'm going to watch it in colour. And that's really the best attitude to take toward these animations. They're not perfect replacements, they've been reimagined. Keep an open mind, and remember what watching reconstructions usually feels like! I'll take watching a keyframed animation over still images with sound and scrolling text any day. I can't wait for more of these!

Well friends, that’s it for now! I’ve got some ideas on the backburner at the moment! I’m thinking of possibly an article on the Eighth Doctor soon. I don’t know if I will be doing it about his movie, or about him in general. We’ll see. What did you think of the Macra Terror? Did you enjoy the animation? Was it everything you wanted, or did you want more? Let me know!

#Doctor Who #patrick troughton #second doctor #bbc #the macra terror #animation #reconstruction #missing episodes #jamie mccrimmon #ben jackson #polly wright #Anneke Wills #michael craze #tardis #macra #review #Time and Time Again

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borisbubbles · 6 years

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16. SERBIA

Balkanika - “Nova Deca” 19th place

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Out of all the positive morphs I experienced this year, Serbia was the one that I suspected the least. I never hated them the way others did, but eh, I didn’t think highly of them either. Especially when the backstage clips showed them enterting the stage dressed up like members of some inauspicious fertility cult. “Oh.” I thought. “Another Genealogy. Except it won’t make the final. Whatever, NEXT”

How wrong I was though, because it did qualify and caused me to re-evaluate all I knew about life and come to the fucking conclusion that... this is really fucking good??? HOW is an exaggerated mess that has accurately been described as “Balkan Megamix Volume 3″ this great?

I actually don’t have a clear answer for this as i’m writing this down (we haven’t reached the songs I would spam the replay button on yet), but the core of it is that Balkanika tried REALLY hard to condense 900+ years worth of Balkanic musical tradition in a mere three minutes and fucking pulled it off by... striking battle poses like some Ethno-Power Rangers

GO GO BALKAN RANGERS!!!

The choreography as a whole is just so extra and beautifully overacted. The entire way through, the members of Balkanika strike poses as if in Madonna’s “Vogue”, guided on by the beguiling tunes conjured by Ljubomir’s magic whistle-wand [ed.: here’s the best gif i could make of Old Rasflutin’s background flailing, but it’s way funnier if you pay attention to his presence as you watch “Nova Deca” unfold, so SCROLL UP AND REWATCH RIGHT NAO!!!]:

Such a beautiful presence we’re not worthy of, y’all. All while the rest of Balkanika are either serving some epic 90 Percussion realness:

or chanelling some Project: Waters of Life sillyness

This could have so easily turned into a San Marinese goopy mess (which I don’t think too highly of, as you know), and briefly it looked like this would be the case; Instead, we found something better.

The plain answer however, lies in that Balkanika didn’t try to be funny and that makes a massive difference. Every piece of overacting, from Mladen’s creepy stares to Ra-Ra-Rasflutin (Serbia’s greatest love machine) prodding the action on from the background, is the product of intense belief and dedication, which... makes it hysterical, but in an endearing sort of way. Balkanika really just can’t help themselves. <3

However, as I have to take things into account other than just act, I can’t really drag Balkanika much higher than this. Their song, while cool in concept, is kinda a bit too overloaded with quirks, which are largely lost to me because you know, show-stopping staging. (lol I just realized this is such a reverse “O jardim”, how neat they will now be forever ranked next to one another in this ranking). “Nova Deca” also suffers from the fact that I already had a large slew of other faves before I started to love them. As a whole, I think they have the least to offer of those left in the ranking. Oh well, at least we’ll forever have this:

RANKING SO FAR:

16. Serbia (Balkanika - “Nova Deca”)

17. Portugal (Cláudia Pascoal - “O jardim”)

18. The Netherlands (Waylon - “Outlaw in ‘em”)

19. Ukraine (MÉLOVIN - “Under the ladder”)

20. Macedonia (Eye Cue - “Lost and Found”)

21. San Marino (Jessika ft. Jenifer Brening - “Who We Are”)

22. Sweden (Benjamin Ingrosso - “Dance You Off”)

23. Austria (Cesár Sampson - “Nobody but you”)

24. Latvia (Laura Rizzotto - “Funny girl”)

25. Azerbaijan (AISEL - “X my heart”)

26. Israel (Netta - “Toy”)

27. Norway (Alexander Rybak - “That’s how you write a song”)

28. Montenegro (Vanja Radovanovic - “Inje”)

29. Armenia (Sevak Khanagyan - “Qami”)

30. Poland (Gromee ft. Lukas Meijer - “Light me up”)

31. Greece (Yianna Terzi - “Oniro mou”)

32. Georgia (Iriao - “For you”)

33. Belgium (Sennek - “A matter of time”)

34. Italy (Ermal Meta & Fabrizio Moro - “Non mi avete fatto niente)

35. Romania (The Humans - “Goodbye”)

36. Ireland (Ryan O'Shaughnessy - “Together”)

37. Croatia (Franka - “Crazy”)

38. Belarus (ALEKSEEV - “Forever”)

39. Russia (Julia Samoylova - “I Won’t Break”)

40. Spain (Amaia & Alfred - “Tu canción”)

41. Iceland (Ari Ólafsson - “Our choice”)

42. Australia (Jessica Mauboy - “We Got Love”)

43. Czech Republic (Mikolas Josef - “Lie to me”)

FOOTNOTES (optional)

1) I decided not to credit Sanja Ilic simply because he wasn’t on the stage and I feel it’s kinda unfair to credit him just based on his merit as a composer, while Isaura composed AND performed second fiddle to Cláudia, without a letter of on-screen credit.

2) Re: Intentional vs Unintentional humour: The reason why intentional humour rarely works for me is that it comes with the built-in pressure to laugh, which... makes me less inclined to find something funny because it kinda takes away the choice element of it. Like, I think I have a fairly okay sense of humour, I can decide for myself what I find funny, you know? This is why intentional humour rarely works for me, while unintentional humour nearly always does. For reference, dial back to where I ranked Israel and Norway and Czechia and San Marino (or “Yodel it” and “Space” from last year), all acts that piggybacked on scripted humour

3) DoReDos are one of the few instances this year where intentional humour totally worked for me, although I also realize they’ve largely been hit-or-miss. But we won’t be discussing that soon.

4) Me being a history nerd, I also think the idea of “weaving a song out of literally every Serbian musical quirk ever” is a really cool song concept. It really comes close to an earnest, Balkanic version of “Swedish Smörgåsbord” <3 5) “Nova Deca” is a way more accurate representation of what actual balkan music sounds like (as opposed to the tiresome, tedious, boring Balkan Ballad). The Folk music channels in Bulgaria, for instance play “Nova Deca”-esque songs all day. 6) A funny argument between my mom and I occured during this song. My mom, who is Bulgarian, argued that Balkanika plagiarized their song from Bulgarian Polyphonic Singing. When I pointed out the song was based on the Byzantine musical traditions, she claimed that the Byzantines stole them from the Bulgarians, which is historically implausible (see note 8). This is one of many reasons I think little of ethnocentrism and nationalism, especially from the Slavs and Greeks. Everyone accuses one another of cultural appropriation (see again: Macedoniagate), when in fact, their geographical proximity exposed them to similar cultural ideas and their geopolitics (warmongering) turned it into a mutually unintelligible wash.

7) Besides, the entire point of the Balkans is that they support each other due to their cultural similarities in spite of wishing horrific, painful deaths on one another. <3

8) HISTORY LESSONS WITH BORIS #1: Polyphonic Singing. Polyphonic singing evolved as a Byzantine response to Roman Catholic liturgical chanting (instituted by Charlemagne, who as Holy Roman Emperor, took measures in making the religion more accessible to the common folk. How do we make the Bible popular? By teaching rich people how to read! What a genius. <3 ). Thus, polyphony spread as Byzantine Christianity spread, which would later become Eastern Orthodoxy after the East-West Schism in the 11th century AD. (hence why polyphony is such a big cultural benchmark all Eastern Orthodox nations, including Russia and Georgia, but not Armenia until their annexation by the Russian Empire in the 19th Century AD (since Armenian Christianity is a cadet branch of Oriental Orthodoxy, which split from Catholicism in the 4th century AD). Anyway, Bulgaria historically played a massive role in spreading Christianity and its liturgical chanting to their pagan Balkan neighbours, after the Bulgarian Knyaz (a fancy way of saying “Khan”) Boris I converted under the pressure of Byzantine Emperor Michael III. Boris (whom, as you might have guessed, I was named after) used Christianity to pacify the squabbling lords of his realm (which included both pagans and Catholics) and oversaw the creation of the Glagolitic (liturgical) and Cyrrilic scripts to speed up the spread, paving the way for Bulgaria’s Golden Age under his son Simeon. During that Golden Age, btw, much of what is now Serbia came under Bulgarian control, including Belgrade. So while the Serbs probably did learn polyphony from the Bulgarians, the Bulgarians absolutely, totally, learned it from the Byzantines, who invented the damn’ thing, in their own spin on Charlemagne’s popular church choirs. Mum, you’re WRONG. O:-)

#Eurovision #Eurovision Song Contest #Eurovision 2018 #Serbia #Balkanika #Sanja Ilic #Nova Deca

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aretherelesbians · 6 years

Text

Are There Lesbians? Yes

What Happens? After a man returns from what was assumed to be a suicide mission, a team of female scientists are sent into an Area known as The Shimmer to find out more about it.

The Verdict: I have been wanting to read Annihilation for quite some time now, so I was very excited to discover it was being made into a movie. I've discovered that my preference is to watch a movie without knowing much about the plot - it means I have very little expectation and everything is new and exciting. With book to movie adaptations, this also means that I'm not constantly comparing the two and detracting from my enjoyment of the movie.

Slow and methodical, there is nothing in Annihilation that isn't there for a reason. There is no final moment of complete catharsis, rather there is an unsatisfying decrescendo that leaves the view with more questions that answers. It isn't a loud film and sounds like gunfire are slightly muted. Likewise the little music that plays throughout the film is contemplative and often only made up of a few repeated chords. Combined with the refracted lighting, this lends an underwater or dreamlike quality to the film that enhances rather than hinders the use of CGI. I kept thinking that the landscapes would be fantastic to explore in a game and the mutated creatures encountered in The Shimmer would be amazing, if terrifying to deal with up close. Annihilation is explicitly beautiful. It presents a world where nature is running its course, and changing the world before it. I have a strong love of films and games like this where plants have taken back what humans built. The contrast between natural and constructed materials is deeply satisfying to my sense of aesthetic.

The cast is small and made up almost entirely of women, which, naturally I loved. Natalie Portman makes up the majority of the screentime which is something I'm certainly not complaining about, and there are great swathes of the film where men are neither talking nor present. It was quite wonderful. It is such a wonderfully woman-centric film, with both a latina and black woman in leading roles. Annihilation is also a bisexual smörgåsbord. The lead is played by Natalie Portman, with her husband played by Oscar Isaac. I'm unsure if Anya (Gina Rodriguez) is supposed to be a lesbian or bi or what, as she hits on Natalie Portman but is also described as hitting on everyone before entering The Shimmer. She has a certain butch swagger about her however, which had me mentally casting her as a lesbian before she even opened her mouth, and I will now die by this theory because I love her. I can already see myself writing future essays that prove my point. I feel that with a cast full of women, Annihilation is set apart from so many similar adventure/action movies that have come before it. Unlike a film such as Predator, Annihilation isn't about the explosions or man vs beast monster hunting. It is about what defines us, and what we will do when faced with the unknown.

There is definitely a horror element to the film, particularly body horror, as Annihilation deals with the concept of mutation in all its forms. This leaves room for both extremely beautiful landscape shots on which the camera lingers, and some genuinely terrifying creatures - both physically and conceptually. A certain scene with a bear mutation actually had me shaking a little bit, it was so tense! I don't think I've ever been that genuinely horrified by a movie before. There is a level of comfort to knowing from the beginning that Natalie Portman survives, but of course the real question here is whether or not she is the same person she once was.

Ultimately, the film asks who we are as people and asks us what sets us apart from other people. It is an existential nightmare wrapped up in a visually and musically beautiful package, and I can't wait to read the novel and then watch it again.

#Annihilation #here be lesbians #jeff vandermeer #movie #adaptation #review #badass ladies #Natalie Portman #Oscar Isaac #gina rodriguez

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