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alatismeni-theitsa · 3 years

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(1/2) I know this is some controversial topic and that you sometimes cover US politics, but what do you think the american left needs to improve to reach to more people and be taken more seriously?; It's unbelievable that in the very 2021, apolitical folk are still fallin into the whole "the leftist are a bunch of crazies" narrative, we may do some pushback the last three years against conservative politics.

(2/2) But it's still not enough; on your personal opinion, what fundamental core value needs to be changed to engage to these apolitical people and that leftist want politics to improve the quality of life of the population without being labeled as a "petulant, whiney children" There's some greek-flavored advice that we can apply to our discourse? Thanks in advance :)

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Ooooo… Great question! And by “great” I mean “Do you want me to go down in flames and get cut a thousand times with pitchforks??” xD But it’s very interesting so I will answer it! And you will be subjected to an essay of 3.200 words 😘💅 (I want to be meticulous, don’t come at me)

Please assume the tone is light and conversational. I am not in a very serious or dramatic mood, and I don’t want to estrange any group by assuming the role of an all knowing tutor or someone who always has the high moral ground. This is just 1am blabbering.

I am not against leftists. On the contrary, I know their side so well that I think I have a solid opinion on its flaws. (I have friends who are left- okay I’ll stop xD) Needless to say, the right side also has flaws and the two sides often share flaws. But right now, we are only talking about the leftists. And of course, #notallleftists xD I recognize that leftists are ordinary and diverse people with empathy and capability of critical thinking and problem-solving (Did I mention I have friends who ar--) Jokes aside, I think my following is quite left leaning and I am not bashing them here. I am criticizing the movement as a whole and trying to see where it can be improved.

***** Anyways, I will generalize the bad traits for the sake of everyone’s time, it’s what I am saying! So, when I say “they” I will probably mean “some” or “the bad apples” etc. *****

To begin, US leftists don’t want to, but they are accidentally imperialist xD Unfortunately, they don't know much about other countries, and they don’t usually have knowledge of countries they are talking about if they don’t have an immediate connection to them. Not knowing things is fine, but when people on this site are like “ugh Americans” this points to an ignorance and a sort of entitlement that doesn’t occur this often in other countries. My internet cycle is overwhelmingly leftist and yet I continue seeing willingness for ignorance all around - and when I check it’s not by conservatives.

Leftists think their (social and not) politics apply to every country and culture, that people in different countries classify themselves as they do in the US. And when people from those countries talk about their problems, there is always an American that wants to give input based on American politics, and without knowing the situation in this other country they want to talk about. Ironically, the last one is a behavior of conservative politicians. Conservative politicians and citizens sometimes think it’s fine to intervene in other countries for “the greater good”. Well, leftists do the same but on the internet. It stalls conversation and makes it messy and force foreigners to apply to American standards.

Because leftists don't understand social differences between countries, they project their own politics, and that can make them seem obsessed with skin color and blind to cultural diversity. They act like only Americans or certain countries have every lived through colonialism and suffered slaughter and slavery. (Because they don’t feel the need to study and learn further.) To an American that might not be the case, but when Americans converse with foreigners about foreign issues, they seem to have a blind spot.

They act as if only white, cis, straight people can be perpetrators of imperialism. Booyyy I have news xD Yes, of course white, cis, straight people can be perpetrators of imperialism, but the attitude that they are the first to blame, always, it’s faulted. I have many experiences, but let’s start with a very simple one, of an Indian American young woman who thought only a lota can clean you with water in the toilet, and that Europeans haven’t heard of bidets or any other means of cleanliness (or that they have the bathtub RIGHT THERE xD) One of the highlights was a Black woman insisting “Medusa was Black because my grandma told me” despite what Greeks were telling her.

Another thing that stuck with me was the case of a Greek who wanted to write about the people who happen to be a minority in the US (you would call them poc I guess). Many people from those countries were enthusiastic about the project and aided the writer as much as they could, sharing culture and realizing how many things in common they had. But it was from same populations in the US that the writer found people who blamed them for daring to write something outside of their culture. (To explain, most US Americans were fine, but only in the US were some who were hostile). Or, I have seen Chinese Americans being offended by a certain thing (I think it was something about fashion) saying “this is an offense to Chinese culture” meanwhile Chinese people from everywhere else in the world (99% of Chinese, I’d say) said “I don’t understand… this is fine!”

Many US American poc categorize all light skinned Caucasians of the world as White Americans and the rest are the “cultured” Black or Brown people. US Americans are now learning that Slavic cultures exist and it’s… something else to watch leftists realizing light skinned people can have great embroidery and they are not actually stealing Mexican traditional clothing xD (reference to an obscure “calling out” comment on tik tok).

I don’t specifically target US poc here, I am just mentioning that everyone conveniently forgets them as if they are untouchable and never said anything ignorant, while they are as active on social media causes as other Americans. In fact, if most poc are aligned to a side, that would be the Left. They are a very big part of the progressive movement – and that’s why I am giving so much space here for them – but then it seems they can’t have a share of the “bad” things of the leftist movement, only the good. Which is humanly impossible, to be always correct.

That’s one of the problems of leftism, that in a way pardons certain minorities and by doing that it not only lets the problematic bubbles grow but also infantilizes those minorities because it passes the message that “they can never do anything wrong”. While background matters when having an opinion, I see that skin-color goes ridiculously above opinion on these matters, which is not very egalitarian. When I argue with a person, the last thing I see is the person’s skin color. When someone says “ancient Greeks were actually a Black nation ad then they became White” I don’t care how this person looks like. No matter your skin color, you must take responsibility for the misinformation you are spreading. I won’t assume that because someone is a poc that they can’t study and learn more about the matter of discussion.

So… the “issue” doesn’t come from being white, cis, straight etc but from being raised as a US American. I don’t imply by any means that being a US American is bad. The last thing I want to do here is enforce guilt. (If you are feeling guilty already I must be mistaken in my wording so I am sorry for that). I am talking about certain beliefs that come with raised as a US American. Similarly, many beliefs a Greek can have are because of their environment. Everyone is affected by their background in one way or another.

American leftists believe that even the piss poor British farmers benefited from colonialism – and still benefit perhaps on a systemic scale. So, with the same logic, even the lowest layers of the US American society benefit from imperialism and war crimes overseas. (Truth is the quality of living in the US is great and extremely progressive compared to most of the world, because of the US’ politics. I had analyzed this in a previous post). But American leftists never mention that when it comes to THEIR case, because it doesn’t give them an advantage.

To tie it up with how American leftists see the world, there is youtuber I like, who is a US American woc and one time she said “My country is bombing Brown people” in an annoyed tone and it just sounded so offensive I closed the video. It’s obvious the youtuber doesn’t support the bombing, but it was just the phrasing which left a bitter taste in my mouth the whole day. It was the fact that 1) she could make a statement in an annoyed/joking tone 2) people in those countries don’t identify as “Brown” outside the US (and you are talking about them now) 3) your country is indeed bombing them so maybe at least categorize them as they wish?? They have a certain ethnicity, so mention that and stop categorizing them like dog breeds! They already have the bombs, do you want them to hear Americans categorize them like that?

Moreover, many US leftists think they care about other countries while, in actuality, they don’t. They just want to make other countries have the exact progressive US politics - because that’s the only “correct” political system they know. That shows even in kind of superficial matters. In a movie about Greek mythology, they will make sure there is an American Arab, an American Black person, an American East Asian person etc (which would be a cast that would reflect American diversity, not Mediterranean) and are hesitant to cast Greeks or ask Greeks how the portrayal of the story and figures could be better and respecting.

Another thing, they take everything too personally. They think success and failure of a movement is highly dependent on them as an individual. It’s difficult for them to approach a harsh past or present situation in a levelheaded manner because they don’t realize this situation has been universal. So, they feel a special kind of guilt and that makes them over apologetic but also overzealous (like a righteous self-flogging zealot) and that is what drives people away. They combine that behavior with ignorance about the rest of the world, and you can see why a non-US American might want to keep their distance.

I had some Americans apologizing to me because their ancestors did something to Greeks and just… don’t. I know you have the best intentions, but it makes everyone – even me – feel bad. There is no need for apologizing because 1) you and your family did nothing wrong 2) it was centuries ago 3) this bad shit happens/happened literally everywhere. You might as well apologize for your people knowing how to cook. It’s FINE, really, it’s FINE. For instance, do you think I have a grudge on YOUR people running a slave trade six centuries ago while there was dozen active slavetrades in the area, and while Greeks of the Byzantine empire probably bought slaves some decades before they were sold to slavery themselves? Do you see what a mess this is? Not only it doesn’t fix anything, but you also put unnecessary weight on yourself, as an individual. It’s fine to be aware and trying to fix past mistakes - if it’s possible - but there is a certain delicate process that must be followed. Not… whatever this is.

To continue on the extreme individualism, leftists think it's the end of the world if they have done or said something controversial (and that's also because they have cultivated a culture where any small transgression is a potential danger to the whole society :p aka "the left eats itself"). Around them people feel they must tread on eggshells just in case they phrase a thing wrong or post something that could be linked to a person the Left doesn't like.

The left is also on the extremes, so I have to put 1000 disclaimers every time I say something. (I guarantee that the example with the Chinese people will be translated by some Americans like “Theitsa promotes Asian hate!!”) Do you know who doesn't annoy me if I don't put 1000 disclaimers? Certainly not Conservatives. I had more harassment from leftists than I had from actual nazis, even though my blog is not conservative or (god forbid!!) supportive of nazism or any type of supremacy. Even nazis completely understand my beliefs before they send hate. (It might be odd but I never had one not understanding my point xD) But the leftists who sent hate misinterpret stuff, or they don’t bother reading actual posts. The funny thing is that I usually agree with these progressives in 99% of issues but they don’t care asking or learning, they just decide our morals are opposite. I mean they don’t have to like me, but many leftists don’t even read the basics.

On top of that, leftists rarely want to have a conversation with a conservative. I don't say go and AGREE with a conservative, I say just talk. (see? I feel the need to clarify here because many leftists might say “Theitsa wants us to go and AGREE with conservatives! Does Theitsa want us to become nazis and homophobes???”) How does one feel they have to be sooo righteous and then cauterize every member of society who disagrees with them? Why do leftists rarely want to have a conversation? Some people were ready to attack me for referencing a meme which referenced Steven Crowder, as if that shows I am his supporter 😩 (Guilty by association is strong on the leftist side and it’s very reminiscent of authoritarian tactics, another thing that needs to be improved, to my opinion.)

I don’t support Crowder (I know Crowder has done awful stuff) but I shouldn’t be scared to admit I like the “change my mind” episodes. (Flash news, leftists, you might like a part from a person’s work and not 100% support that person!) I like the episodes because both sides are heard, the conversation is civil (for the most part xD) and I can see the thought process of the two speakers as they explain their worries and what solutions are out there.

Most of all, in those episodes I see how BOTH sides CARE about the SAME problems, it’s just the perspectives that differ. And those conversations highlight the issues the left hasn’t studied very well, so it helps the leftists understand what they need to learn in order to better society. But where the “immaturity“ of the leftist side can show is in the unwillingness to approach the “opponent“ as a human just like them.

(They might instead prefer to call Mexicans white supremacists and claim that “whiteness” has no color because quite a few poc voted Republican, as some leftist news sources have stated)

What is more, is it just my idea or conservatives understand leftists better than leftists understand conservatives? Of course both sides jokes about the other one but I am talking about the serious talks. Leftists just describe conservatives as horrible people who want all minorities to perish and we must not talk to them while, surprisingly, the conservatives are the ones who stereotype less the opposite side. (I am talking about the normal, moderate people). From what I have seen, most simple people who are conservatives DON’T want the US’ ethnic and sexual minorities to perish. They are worried about problems they don’t have a good understanding about. And the only way to make them understand it’s to… talk to them, show them what good the left to offer.

Some leftists think conversation is “emotional labor” but 1) that applies to actual labor as in… jobs, so stop invalidating doctors, nurses, teachers etc, 2) yeah, sorry, sometimes things get difficult and you have to explain your side. (As non US-Americans endlessly have to do for US-Americans). That was, is and will be life until the sun swallows us all. You can’t be THAT militant on social media with 100 posts per day and remembering 50 different campaigns about social issues but the moment someone genuinely asks you for directions on your side you shut them off with “why do you demand labor from me? Do your own research” (hint: most likely they have done their research, but they are stuck, and you don’t help them like this).

If you are very tired and don’t want to explain (as it is your right) you can be polite about it and not blame the individual about their circumstances when they are trying to learn. If you DO want to explain but you get tired, be more organized. Have posts and F.A.Q.s ready, or send them to someone else (a friend, a blog, a youtube channel, an article, whatever). Instead of leftists arguing their positions, sometimes they are like “Do more research and realize I am right.” Yyyeah the other person is not gonna do that – especially because you haven’t pointed them anywhere or supported your position with arguments. Moreover, leftists can have the attitude of “I stand for PROGRESS, how can I ever be wrong??” Weeell things are not black and white and me, you, everyone has the potential to not have a not that beneficial to society position at some issues no matter where we stand on the political compass.

For the “petty whiny children” thing, I believe a lot of people might think that because the youth is usually making noise about progressive issues on social media. It’s true that oftentimes in social media discussions their emotions get the best of them (it’s happened to everyone) but combined with the lack of life experience they may have about the world, the argument sounds silly. (I heard one leftist university student say that the US shouldn’t have borders because borders are bad but then they realized they don’t want people to come and go as they please in the US, so she said there should be SNIPERS in the borders to shot everyone who tries to get in…….)

And, as I mentioned, the leftists are very quick to cancel and attack for the slightest transgression so people prefer to deal with the conservatives who can, at least, take a slight misstep, than meddling with people who are going to cancel them for doing or not doing a small, insignificant, but not ‘woke enough’ thing. Leftists are constantly checking each other to see if they are doing better and better (even in silly issues) and that can be intimidating to someone who is new to politics.

Some leftists get REALLY turned on by righteousness (Frollo villain style) and instead of trying to unite the society, they aim to divide it further. They don’t want to create bridges but burn them and find themselves on the “right side“ of morals.

And, last but not least, they don’t realize leftist propaganda is a thing. Malicious people are EVERYWHERE and they don’t just magically avoid the left. Leftists are not automatically super virtuous people. There are some manipulators and bullies around, so one has to be cautious even with leftist sources. (Cross-examine stuff, always. You might have the best intentions but accidentally share something nonfactual because you trusted a source).

Ok that was all, I think. To anyone who comments, PLEASE keep the tones down, have a conversation, take it slow, remember it doesn’t help us being hateful towards each other. (And causing serious friction wasn’t the purpose of this post). Oh, and if you need a clarification on something I said, before gossiping with your friends about how awful I am, do me the courtesy of first asking me what I meant xD

#answered #leftism #leftist #us politics #progressivism #progressive #long post

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princess-havok · 6 years

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Pop Kids Read-Through: Chapters 6-10

This section of the book covers pages 35-58.

What happens?

Mike & Sarah hook up in the projection booth at the theatre where he works. Mike is not engaged in the moment, worrying about his clothes getting dirty and the prospect of detailing this encounter to Zach later. In short, he’s concerned for his image and anticipating reaction from his peers. That’s important for his ultimate goal of being famous for being famous -- everything becomes staged, everything becomes material for a story or a social media post later and social capital becomes more important than real human connection. Reading this section reminded me of this interview because I think it’s the same point being made. Mike is not living in the moment.

After this, Sarah leaves with his shirt (because hers has cum on it) and he starts clicking his lighter again. That habit is tied to Sarah, and possibly to sex.

Later, Sarah won’t return his texts and it’s clearly causing him anxiety. This is the first time we see him think “I have to clean” (pg 43) in relation to his arson. Earlier, though, when he and Zach are exploring the hotel for the first time, he says it’s in need of a cleaning, which in the moment is easy to write off as a literal statement since it’s filthy down there, but might actually be foreshadowing.

Mike and Zach start planning the party in earnest, which seems to involve copious online shopping. Again, Mike doesn’t think twice about using Zach’s family’s money for this and even tries to sneak in a pair of $500 sunglasses for himself. It’s Zach who has to talk him out of it, but they still spend untold amounts on inflatable mattresses, throw pillows and faux fur throw rugs.

At home, with Sarah still not responding to him, he and Gina talk briefly about another church burning down. This is the day after his activities in the projection both with Sarah, after which he needed to clean, but even in his inner monologue he seems entirely divorced from the burned down church and makes a casual comment about it to Gina. It almost comes across like he doesn’t remember it, or doesn’t connect himself to that.

Mike and Zach are skateboarding outside Zach’s house when The Twins, whom we finally learn are named Drew and Michelle, walk by with Becca. The entire scene serves so little purpose and literally just seems to be a reason for the twins to tell the guys that Jamie and Sarah, respectively, are into them. Like, the twins serve zero other purpose here. Becca only seems to be there for Mike to fantasize over -- she’s wearing another band shirt he likes and he can see her side boob.

The best part about the whole scene is that we meet Dustin, Zach’s little brother, who is so good and so pure and does not deserve any of this narrative. He’s introduced as he’s jumping out a window and immediately plays along with Mike’s joke about being his boyfriend. To be honest, that entire exchange actually seems like the most natural flow of dialogue so far in this book. Mike’s description of Dustin is “People think he’s coked out, but I know that he’s actually just really stoked” (47), and later as everyone else is caught up in their own stuff, he’s skating on his own and cheering himself on: “Punishing the ramp, defying gravity, he vocally approves of his own tricks, mid-air. ‘Sick! Whatttt? No Way! He’s so handsome--” (48) and it is so, so endearing. Dustin, too, has a girl -- a grown-ass woman named Star, who is a surfer in her twenties -- essentially grooming him, and no one seems concerned by this. I’m so charmed by Dustin already that I want somebody to care, he’s 15, and deserves better.

Mike and Zach enlist the help of The Boys - Hector and David - to haul all their purchases over to the hotel to set up for the party. The Boys are... very stereotypically Mexican. They call Mike “Miguellito” and say “dios mio” and generally just seem like your basic ‘Latinx characters as written by a white dude’ tropes. They’re also a couple, though, and it seems like Mike can only fathom that in terms of their sex life. But Mike can’t really process anything except in terms of sex.

Zach & Mike set up for the party and develop their screennames -- so far, Mike has no objection at all to Scorsese like he claimed in the prologue, maybe because it hasn’t been shortened yet.

Mike goes home and designs the invitations. And looks at porn. There is a lot of care and description put into what he does and how he designs them, what he writes, everything. That is something that, as I recall, lessens as the parties continue.

Throughout all the planning of the Premiere, Mike is less fixated on the fact that Sarah hasn’t returned his texts. He notices when he finishes the invite that she has actually texted him, and that’s where the section ends.

There are a few other things to talk about in this section of the book:

Moths

Mike sees a moth float around Becca for the first time on page 49. This happens after she hints at visiting him at work and he takes it as a suggestion that she’ll fuck him there like Sarah did.

Bad Euphemisms

We’re introduced to the phrase “oral joy” used for blow jobs in this section. I forgot to point out, back in chapter 1 is the first instance of Mike calling his dick his Producer. The Bad Euphemisms are definitely a Thing, but I’m going to put a pin in those because I don’t quite know what to make of them all yet.

Women

Women so far in this book are a huge red flag for me. The girls are almost literally just sex objects with nothing to their characters outside of that, except what Mike projects onto Becca based on her clothing and employment, but even she may have done some nude modeling. Zach’s mom has only made one appearance and it’s been to bicker with her husband and ask him to come on vacation with her. It appears she doesn’t work. Mike’s mom is pretty much a 50s housewife. At least two girls over the age of 20 (Mike’s former babysitter and Star) have been shown to act inappropriately towards underage boys. Every other female who isn’t a car who’s written about in passing is a socialite/”hairdresser”/party girl/porn star. There is not one female character so far with any sort of depth, let alone a “strong female character.” It bothers me.

Cats

-Mike spots the gray Manx again as they’re pulling into the parking lot to drop off the party supplies

-Eddie makes another appearance, pawing at Mike’s neck when he wakes up.

So that’s two cats here, although both have appeared before. The cumulative cat count remains at 4.

#pop kids #davey havok #pop kids readthrough

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momzoneonline · 4 years

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MOVING TO CANADA IS A JOKE...The Economic, Military, and Social Integration of North America

Eh? I can think of scores of reasons to move to Canada (or opt for the Mexican Riviera) . . . any place but Babylon the Great: The USA. The War in Iraq . . . or better yet: The entire Military-Industrial Complex sucking the life-blood out of Americana for starters. Or, how about the whole hedonistic culture of greed, avaricious appetites, and super sizing all things godly and ungodly--from Hollywood to Mega Churches; indeed, ours is a "city set on a hill which cannot be hid" but the closer you get to this glittering jewel, the more it resembles the "Little Shop of Horrors," you know, that flesh-eating plant crying out: Feed me, Seymour! Conspicuous consumption of a nation which spends $1.8 Billion more each day than the whole earth combined and finds herself some $14 Trillion in debt (National Debt + Balance of Payment/Trade Debts) is a bit too much, wouldn't you say?--after all, she represents but 5% of the world's population.

Come on, half the eagle is in a declared state of emergency and the overt identification by Big Brother of all things human is prepared and/or is itching to pounce upon American liberties once thought sacrosanct by both the ACLU and the NRA by euphemistic legislation called Patriotic Acts, and finally, a cashless society where all of us are implanted with chips awaiting true identity and debit through scanning devices at your local Safeway.

The clock is ticking. Peak oil, where American's "zero sum game" is played out--for you to gain I must loose--refuses to share her bounty with the Asian tigers of China and India; and, of course, they are more than pleased with our indulgence. Like Rome, our legions amongst the world's "provinces," are stretched thin--and the draft can't be all that far off if we're to maintain our economic edge and SUV-lifestyle (latest stats for the past two years show that 58% of all vehicles purchased in the USA are SUVs, pickups, or plain old gas guzzlers). And, as if these outrageous consequences weren't enough to abandon ship--toss in the worst natural disaster ever to afflict the homeland: Katrina; man, wait till we finance that one!

So . . . isn't it about time to flee to Canada or head for the Mexican Riviera? Eh? Canada's a safe haven for pot-people and same-sex marriage is the rage. Crime's relatively low compared to the lower 48 and the death penalty's been outlawed for nearly thirty years. Finally, most of the 125,000 Viet-Nam Era draft dodgers who fled to Canada stuck around and now constitute the leading edge of all the above progressive life-style. Wow, we're talkin' about socialized medicine for all--a veritable paradise compared to the inflictions of them patriots down under. Cheap drugs (includes tons of cannabis), affordable housing, tiny military budget, etc., etc.--a little cold, but you'll get used to it.

Finally, if Hollywood's collective apoplexy over President Bush's election can be believed--we're outta here . . . a few of these righteous indignations (unfulfilled) are duly noted, if for nothing else, their entertainment value. Notwithstanding the Hollywood stars and directors who claimed exodus was their only option under Bush--Barbra Streisand, Alec Baldwin, Michael Moore, Robert Altman, Lynn Redgrave, Pierre Salinger (now deceased), and Cher--all found the allure of Babylon on the Hudson irresistible; so much for leftist vibratos. Misquoted or just plain fluff--they all abide within the walls of the crystal palace celebrating the party atmosphere, as they star in a movie sequel to the "Left Behind Series" entitled: Talk is Cheap, Follow Us falling in love with a single mom quotes.

ECONOMIC INTEGRATION VIA NAFTA, CAFTA, FTAA--Enter the "Three Amigos"

Patriots would exclaim we're selling off and out America; globalists would see dollars galore; socialists would see an on-going rip off; and a whole bunch of people in the middle could care less (a.k.a. "victims anonymous").

Meanwhile Deanna Spingola in "Building a North American Community" (July 15, 2005) keeps telling it like it is:

"While our sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, mothers and fathers having been spilling their blood in the sands of Iraq under the guise of restoring the country to the Iraqi citizens, our president is in the process of giving our country to the elite One World Order insiders. While our president is requiring protected borders in Iraq, he is obliterating, not only our southern, but our northern borders." Actually, Deanna (and you've got to read her entire article) is referring to the Bush/Fox/Martin meeting (USA/Mexico/Canada) held at Baylor University in Waco, Texas on 23 March 2005, where they were busy about establishing the "Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America" - to wit, the SPPNA's troika:

"We, the elected leaders of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, have met in Texas to announce the establishment of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America.

"Over the past decade, our three nations have taken important steps to expand economic opportunity for our people and to create the most vibrant and dynamic trade relationship in the world (i.e., NAFTA; my insert). Since September 11 2001, we have also taken significant new steps to address the threat of terrorism and to enhance the security of our people. "But much still remains to be done. In a rapidly changing world, we must develop new avenues of cooperation that will make our open societies safer and more secure, our businesses more competitive, and our economies more resilient.

"Our Partnership will accomplish these objectives through a trilateral effort to increase the security, prosperity, and quality of life of our citizens. This work will be based on the principle that our security and prosperity are mutually dependent and complementary, and will reflect our shared belief in freedom, economic opportunity, and strong democratic values and institutions. It will also help consolidate our efforts within a North American framework, to meet security and economic challenges, and promote the full potential of our people, by reducing regional disparities and increasing opportunities for all."

COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS--They're at it again!

Now don't go conspiratorial on me . . . hee-hee . . . don't need to . . . let the truth speak for itself:

It was on May 17, 2005 the CFR formalized its "Independent Task Force" to review at length the parameters of such a three-pact agreement among the USA, Canada, and Mexico. This 31-member force de jure was chaired by John F. Manley, Pedro Aspe, and William F. Weld and vice-chaired by: Robert A. Pastor, Thomas P. d'Aquino, Andrés Rozental. Cooperating with the CFR's efforts were the Canadian Council of Chief Executives and the Consejo Mexicano de Asuntos Internacionales.

Indeed, the composite document released by the aforementioned is the very title of Spingola's article . . .

No wonder that Spingola and other American patriots view this as the "Great American Give-a-way!"

Take a gander at their timid prognostications and guess why moving to Canada's a joke . . .for what NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) and CAFTA (Central American Free Trade Agreement) could not destroy, FTAA (Free Trade Area/Agreement of the Americas . . . a.k.a. "Building a North American Community") fully intends:

"We are asking the leaders of the United States, Mexico, and Canada to be bold and adopt a vision of the future that is bigger than, and beyond, the immediate problems of the present . . . they could be the architects of a new community of North America, not mere custodians of the status quo." (Canadian co-chair, John P. Manley, Former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance). CHRISTIANS ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE

Now, listen to Spingola's assessment of all this--and, don't think she's some brainless Libertarian gone amok down in Texas somewhere . . .

"This basically means that Americans must give up their freedoms and hard won sovereignty along with all resources for the greater good of the 'New Community.' It is a socialistic equalization designed to make slaves of everyone in all three countries. This will occur as a result of the secret, subversive activities of our ruling elitist who have never sacrificed anything except their integrity. When it comes time to sell this socialistic venture, Bush will adopt his multipurpose 'Christian' stance and use every possible guilt maneuver to encourage this good hearted Christian country to open our hearts to the less fortunate. This is a ploy to make all of us less fortunate. There will be many who will fall for this scam under the pretext of Christianity. If we think Christians are media maligned now, just wait! We will be the most hated inmates in the camp!" Wow! Powerful projections here, right? I'm sure we'll somehow meet up with Spingola one day--if not in glory, then in some gulag cell contemplating how all of this got out of hand . . . I mean, if Shirley McClain went out on a limb, Spingola's going out on a twig:

"All of this is done under the facade of protecting us - from terrorists? The worse terrorists we face are those who serve in our government. Another day that shall live in infamy, 9/11, has done much to serve the purposes of those whose main goal is to establish the One World Order. What an opportunistic event! It couldn't have worked any better if they had planned it!" O CANADA - VIVA MEXICO - Life is good!

Of course most Americans, Canadians, and Mexicans can't stomach all of this unification at once; thus, the GREAT TRANSITION awaits us all:

Unified military command? Listen to what the CFR plans for your future:

1. Establish a common security perimeter by 2010. 2. Develop a North American Border Pass with biometric identifiers. 3. Develop a unified border action plan and expand border customs facilities. The CFR web site is effusive in its sacrifice of sovereignty:

4. Create a single economic space: 5. Adopt a common external tariff. 6. Allow for the seamless movement of goods within North America. 7. Move to full labor mobility between Canada and the U.S. 8. Develop a North American energy strategy that gives greater emphasis to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases - a regional alternative to Kyoto. Hey, and let's shoot the gap - listen, we're talkin' INTEGRATION BIG TIME . . . and we're not whistling Di

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jestbee · 7 years

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Ships that pass in the night (Chapter Eleven)

Title: Ships that pass in the night (Chapter Eleven) Tags: Alternate Timeline, AU, Slow burn, strangers to friends, friends to lovers Words: 4480 Summary: Dan and Phil are YouTubers. The catch? They’ve never met, and Phil doesn’t want them to.

Author’s Note: After a short break, this is back! Thanks for sticking with me, I’ve really missed this :D

[AO3 Link]

[Chapter One] [Chapter Two] [Chapter Three] [Chapter Four] [Chapter Five] [Chapter Six] [Chapter Seven] [Chapter Eight] [Chapter Nine] [Chapter Ten]

The videos come out over the next four weeks. Dan visits often. When one is uploaded they’ve developed a sort of ritual of waiting for each other to watch them and Dan will text Phil sometime in the evening, or he won’t, either way he’ll show up. Phil ends up giving him the code for the downstairs door because it’s easier to just let him in when he knocks than it is to buzz him up since he knows he’s coming anyway.

There are a few times, after the video has finished and they are plunged into the quiet darkness of Phil’s flat, that they move on to other videos, or a DVD, or video games. Prolonging the moment when Dan has to leave as though neither wants it to come. Dan sleeps on his couch a few times, and he’s always there in the morning.

It’s cosy and warm and Phil is getting to used to it, which is dangerous, especially when he knows it has a shelf life. Their video will be uploaded soon, and then there’s the wrap party for the whole group, and then they will have run out of excuses and Phil will have to deal with these feelings he has once and for all. To get over them, or to burn away with them, he hasn’t really decided.

PJ, at least, is the same as he always is. He drops round too, complaining he hasn’t seen Phil in ages and carting with him some weird card game that Phil can’t really get his head around but is trying his best at.

He’s just lost another hand, sat cross-legged on his living room carpet opposite PJ at the coffee table when there is that ever-familiar knock at his door. Phil gets up immediately.

“Expecting company?” PJ asks, his face surprised at how unsurprised Phil’s is.

“It’ll be Dan,” Phil explains with a shrug

“Dan?” PJ repeats. “Dan Howell?”

“Yeah.” Phil forgets that this is strange and unusual behaviour for Phil Lester.

“Since when does Dan Howell drop by your flat?”

“Um… since… you know, we worked together on the project. It’s just for that community thing, we watch the videos together when they’re uploaded. He’s probably here to watch tonight’s I forgot to tell him you were over. Should I have asked him to cancel?”

“No,” PJ smiles, his eyes twinkling with something that might be pride, but Phil has no idea what he has to be proud of, “the more the merrier.”

With a short nod, more to himself than to PJ, Phil goes to answer the door.

Dan doesn’t wait for an invitation inside, simply barrels in, chatting non-stop as he drops off a carrier bag in the kitchen.

“I think you’re rubbing off on me,” he says, disappearing around the doorframe and out of Phil’s view.

Phil has no choice but to follow, just to keep up with whatever the heck it is Dan is going on about.

“Some guy on the tube on the way over here was quacking. Actually quacking, like a duck. I thought it was just you that attracted strange people but honestly…”

He keeps it up, the constant drivel of commentary, drifting from the kitchen once he’s deposited his bag, and heading to the living room.

“Is it catching do you think? The attracting strange people thing– oh. Hi. You’re PJ.”

Dan is in the doorway and turns his head back over his shoulder to look at Phil.

“Wow. I'm… such a dick. I totally didn’t know you had company. Because I just presumed didn’t I? Wow. Sorry. I'll… leave you to it.” He takes a few steps backwards but Phil moves up behind him and places a hand on his shoulder.

“Don’t be silly,” he insists, “We were just playing this weird game, you should join us.”

“That okay with you?” Dan asks PJ.

“Sure mate, the more the merrier,” PJ repeats, looking around Dan at Phil with an amused expression.

Dan gives Phil a last look of apology and then crosses the room to sit down opposite PJ on the carpet.

“What are we playing?”

Phil smiles at the two, they make a good picture, like a dream sequence of what his life might be like if he socialised more. Friends gathered and comfortable in his flat. But it’s like he’s watching it from the outside, too stuck in his own head to really immerse himself in it.

PJ begins to explain the rules of the game and while Dan’s brow furrows slightly, he nods as if he understands. Phil hesitates only briefly before taking a seat next to Dan, crossing his legs so that their knees brush, even though there is really no need for them to. PJ crooks and eyebrow over Dan’s head as looks down at the cards, Phil pretends he doesn’t see.

They play a few hands and Phil still doesn’t really understand the game, but he has an excuse for not really paying attention this time. PJ and Dan get along famously, laughing and fondly chiding each other in a free and easy way Phil envies with every fibre of his being. They haven’t socialised much before tonight, Phil knows, but he thinks they’ll leave as friends. It warms something in him to think of the two closest people to him getting along. Which says something about him if he includes Dan stand-in-friend-for-the-sake-of-the-internet Howell as one of the people closest to him.

“I brought beer,” Dan says suddenly, as if just remembering, which is a new development, because he doesn’t usually.

Were they meant to drink it alone? Did Dan bring beer for him and Phil to drink while watching the latest youtube community video? It wouldn’t be entirely strange, he supposes, but still, it’s a novelty and for some reason it sends Phil’s mind wandering to imaginative places. So much so that he doesn’t catch himself as he watches Dan leave the room, a small sigh escaping him as he disappears.

“Phil,” PJ says, knocking him from his trance.

“Um, yeah? Sorry, what?”

“Phil…” PJ looks kind of mad, the space between his brows shrunk into a dipped line, harsh and judgemental, “I said you should make friends with him not fall for the guy.”

“Wha-what?” Phil stammers, “What the hell are you… talking about?”

It’s a token protest at best, because PJ doesn’t look like he’s believing it and Phil isn’t putting much emotion behind it.

“Oh god,” he says instead, dropping his forehead into his hand. Their voices are low, dipped so that Dan can’t hear them.

“On the one hand,” PJ is saying, “I mean… it’s great that you're… you know, getting out there. But… Phil, come on, is it wise? After everything that–”

“No, no, no” Phil says, his hands waving wildly in front of PJ’s face as if trying to push the words back into his mouth, “No no no. We’re not… He doesn't…. No.”

“Okay,” PJ says finally, patting ineffectually at Phil’s hands to get them to stop, “Like I said, I’m glad you’re getting out there. You know, not that long ago you wouldn’t have been able to… you found it difficult. But… I mean Phil, another YouTuber? Really?”

“I know,” Phil says, shaking his head and dipping his eyes, not even wanting to see how pathetic he is reflected in PJ’s expression. “I’m dealing with it. It’s all over soon anyway and then it won’t matter. Like you said, maybe it’s just the start of me like getting out there a little bit… yeah. After this… I can… you know… move on to something… better.”

PJ only gets as far as nodding in reply before Dan is back in the room carrying three glass bottles of beer. It isn’t the horrible kind that Phil usually hates, the ones he gets stuck holding at parties, it’s the light Mexican kind, laced with tequila or similar. He’s jammed a wedge of lime into the rim of the bottle and Phil knows the sour will mix with the taste of the beer and tequila and end up tasting quite nice.

They play a few more hands of the game while they sip, and Dan fills the awkward silence with his large, brash personality and Phil is thankful for it because he has no idea what he would say to either of them right now. His head is full of PJ’s disapproval, because of course this is all a stupid idea, given his history, and he’d honestly turn it off if he could but one look at Dan, sweeping the fringe from his eyes with the back of his index finger while staring down at his cards and Phil knows it’s hopeless. Just the sweet curve of his mouth twisted into a slight frown at a bad hand is enough to flip Phil’s stomach over.

PJ leaves soon after, needing to get home to Sophie, and Phil walks him to the door.

“He’s a cool guy,” PJ is saying, “Just… be careful.”

“You know I always am,” Phil sighs, “Too careful. Isn’t that my problem? You’re always saying that is my problem.”

PJ nods, “I know. Maybe some of that caution has rubbed off on me. Mostly I just don’t really understand because … well, Dan is very out-there isn’t it? Social media wise. I thought that’d be the last thing you wanted.”

“It is,” Phil insists, “I don’t actually… look, I’m not going to do anything. It’s an infatuation, he’s cute or whatever and I’m dipping my toe in.”

“If you say so Phil, looks a little more than a physical crush to me though mate, you’re fairly gone on him.” “I can’t be,” Phil shrugs, “can I? Another Youtuber? Please… there are so so many reasons why that is the most insane thing I could possibly do. And anyway, Dan would never… it’s not like that.”

“I’m not arguing with you on any but that last point,” PJ says, “He’d be a fool not to. Just…”

“Be careful,” Phil repeats, “I know.”

PJ nods, hugs him very very briefly, staying out of Phil’s space in a way he appreciates when he’s feeling this prickly, like his skin might erupt into flame, and then he leaves.

He returns to the living room and to Dan who immediately begins expounding on how much fun the game had been and how good it was to get to know PJ a little more and–

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, yes I’m fine.”

“…okay.” Dan says, his eyes narrowing briefly, “If you say so. You want to watch the community video now?”

“Yes.”

They watch the video, and then a few more. Dan slides closer to him on the couch, their legs pressed together from hip to knee even though there is more than enough room for them to sit with space between them.

Eventually they end up with animal videos and autoplay taking over their choosing of them and Dan is wavering between awake and asleep and Phil silently pulls the blanket from the back of the couch like he always does.

“I should go,” Dan whispers into the darkness that has fallen over Phil’s living room.

“If you want to,” Phil replies, moving to put the blanket back again.

“I said I should” Dan clarifies, “not that I wanted to. I’m not good at making wise decisions when I want something. I’m trying to get better at that.”

Phil doesn’t try to make sense out of Dan’s tired babbling, instead just passes the blanket to him and Dan does nothing but hug it to his chest. He can make out Dan’s profile in the light of the laptop, the curve of his nose, the dip of his dimple thrown into stark relief in the harsh glow.

“Me too.” Phil says finally. Knowing that Dan is not a wise decision, but he keeps making it, over and over.

“You’re always careful,” Dan insists, sleepily.

“Maybe I’m trying not to be,” Phil breathes, the words only barely there on his exhale. “Or I’m not as good at is as I used to be.”

There is a beat of silence, thick, heavy and loaded with suggestion. Dan turns his head to look Pil square in the face, his eyes soft, and Phil thinks if there was ever a moment that something could happen it would be now. Something rises in his chest, dangerous and reckless, like the pull to the edge of a building, making him want to tip forward just to try something for once, to put himself out there. But it passes, and he tries not to feel too disappointed when Dan lays backwards, stretches out on his couch, kicking out at him lightly.

“Go on then, get out. Let me sleep.”

Phil laughs, letting the lightness of it ease the dull throb of pain in his heart and stands. He closes the laptop lid, tucking it under his arm and leaves Dan to sleep. PJ is right, he needs to be more careful, this is starting to get out of hand.

–

He’s more restrained after that. Heeding PJ’s advice and his own nagging conscience telling him how stupid he’s being and he begins to school himself back into the realms of AmazingPhil. Perhaps, he argues with himself, if he can just be the person he’s supposed to be, the one that Dan likes from the internet, the one that can give him all the things he wants, the follow count and the recognition, Dan might stay.

He’s aware how crazy that sounds, how close it is to falling into a repeat of behaviours that have gotten him in trouble before, and how he’s prolonging the thud thud thud of painful longing in his chest by wishing Dan will stay close by, but that pain is the only reminder he has that he’s still capable of feelings at all. He’s scared that without it he’ll go back to how he was before, friendless and isolated, and now he’s had a taste of what it could be, easy and carefree, he wants more of it.

It’s easy to slip into the persona and if Dan notices, it is only in the small glance of a frown every now and again when Phil makes a particularly off-kilter comment more suited to his channel than how they’ve been recently. He doesn’t offer comment though, simply gazes at him or else flicks his eyes to the side to avoid it. Phil watches it happen but doesn’t do anything to correct himself because at least Dan is staying, for now.

Phil is tweeting, too. Giving little glimpses into their times hanging out and Dan replies regularly. The fans are going crazy over the ‘domestic’ nature of them and speculation is rife. It’s pretty accepted in their corner of the internet that the 'surprise’ video at the end of the month is going to be theirs, so by the time the day arrives the hype online is intense.

“This is going to change things for us,” Dan is saying excitedly.

He’s in Phil’s flat again, on the side of the couch that is slowly becoming his and Phil has even bothered to buy snacks his time, something Dan had teased him about because as far as hosting goes Phil hasn’t been great up to this point.

They’re not on the laptop this time, instead Phil has hooked up YouTube on his TV for the occasion, wanting to bring a little bit of something special to the proceedings seeing how he’s convinced this is the last time Dan is going to be in his flat, the project is over, they don’t need to hang out anymore.

“You think one collab is going to have that much of an effect?” he asks, fishing a Dorito from the bowl on the table and crunching on it happily.

“I think the amazing video you made is going to showcase your talent and increase your subscriber count, yeah.”

He says it so casually, as if bestowing the praise is easy for him, effusing from his being like water, drenching over Phil, cooling him.

“The video we made,” Phil corrects, shaking his head, trying not to allow the compliment to take root there, “the concept was your idea, really.”

“But I couldn’t have done it without your amazing filming and editing skills, Phil. You’re truly talented, you could direct big movies one day.”

Phil feels his face colour and he shoves at Dan’s arm to distract himself, “Shut up.”

“I’m serious,” Dan insists, laughing so that his whole face lights up and Phil wants to take it in his hands and swallow it down.

“But your story telling was what made it great, you have a real knack for the way you put words together… maybe you should write the movie script. Or star in it. You’re great at acting. I’d let you have creative input on the cinematography too.”

“Cheers,” Dan says, eyes dancing through the sarcasm. “I’ll just do all the work and you tell them where to point the camera? Seems like a fair split!”

Phil imagines then what it might be like to work with Dan on something bigger, a larger project that combines their talents into something their audiences could enjoy. He thinks about how that would mean getting more of Dan’s attention, more of his time, more of those smiles aimed directly at him, so wonderful and bright he could go blind from it.

He tries to remind himself not to get too attached to them, because this is ending tonight. This is the last time.

They refresh the page once more and the video is there, their phones chiming in perfect sync as they each receive a notification.

“Here we go,” Dan says.

Phil just nods and clicks play.

Watching the video in this space is strange. They’ve seen it before, countless times, played back on Phil’s computer while they edit, but this is different. They aren’t perched on separate chairs for one, but are as close together on his couch as they always are. And they can’t make changes, if they see anything they don’t like this time, it’s out there for the world to see.

“I’m glad we didn’t change anything,” Dan says in a hushed tone, doing that thing where he reads Phil’s mind a little bit. “I’m glad you talked me down from my crazy neuroses about it.”

Phil huffs a laugh, because the thought that he can help anyone with their issues is astounding, because he can’t sort his own out so he’s no idea how to do it for anyone else.

“The video is great,” Phil assures him again, doing the impossible and reaching out to pat at Dan, meaning to go for his arm but finding his hand drop on his knee. Dan doesn’t visibly react so he probably gets away with it.

The story on screen is once again tugging at him. He watches as Dan’s character is lit solely by the glow of a laptop screen, head surrounded by a duvet. It’s the perfect depiction of a lonely teen watching YouTube for solace. It will resonate with the viewers in a great way, but Phil too understands that longing to be apart of something.

His own character going about the business of making videos, scrolling through twitter and then, yes, noticing the lonely teen finally. Then a montage, a series of Tweets, Skype Calls, Text Messages before finally… a bustling train platform, Phil stationery by the stairs and Dan making his way across, slow at first and then at a run, almost colliding with him.

“You’re real,” Dan had said, which hadn’t been in the script but had been a better line than the one that they’d planned. Phil grins, wide and happy and they turn, heading off for whatever adventures await them.

There’s a final shot, a video Dan’s character has made finally being uploaded, Phil looking on supportively, so the cycle can start again. This doubles out to screen after screen, thumbnail after thumbnail, depicting the growth of the community if everyone encourages each other, reaches out, works together. It doubles and doubles until the screen is impossibly covered in screencaps, Dan’s lost amongst the crowd, the colours of them forming the YouTube logo which sits for a second before the screen fades to black.

“God,” Dan says when it ends, Phil reaching to stop the next video from playing.

��Yeah.”

“I sort of wish…” Dan starts before trailing off.

Phil pokes at him, a pointed finger sinking into the flesh of his upper arm. “What? You seeing editing mistakes?”

“No,” Dan clarifies, turning his full body, hitching one leg up onto the couch so that he is leaned in towards Phil. “I just sort of wish that something like that had actually happened sometimes. Like, I was that guy, watching YouTube by myself in my room. It would have been nice to meet someone back then, a good friend.”

Phil nods, because at the time Dan is talking about he could probably have done with a good friend too. Something a little more honest, innocent, something not tearing him up from the inside.

“I do too,” he agrees, “I wish things were different. But hey, you got into YouTube anyway!”

“I did,” Dan nods, “I procrastinated the hell out of it, and I probably could have done with something as encouraging as that but… I got there eventually.”

“I’m glad,” Phil says, honestly. “Twitter time?”

Dan nods and pulls out his phone.

They spend some time replying to fans on Twitter who have seen the video, answering questions about it and saying that no, short films isn’t something they’ve done before but yes they’d enjoyed it. Someone asks if they’d ever work together again and Dan is diplomatic in his answer that he loves collaborating and is always open to people with great ideas. It doesn’t really answer whether he’d work with Phil again specifically, but Phil doesn’t press the issue because Dan is a master at saying only exactly what he wants to on social media, and nothing more.

They give up after about forty five minutes because they can’t possible answer everyone, as much as phil would like to, and it’s beginning to descend into the 'phan’ side of things and Phil knows those interactions are best left well alone. They don’t even need to discuss it.

When they’re done Phil reaches for the remote to put something else on, it’s the same gesture he’s done a bunch of times so he’s mildly surprised when Dan begins to stand.

“I should go,” Dan says.

“Should?” Phil asks, bravely, “Or are?

Dan’s face relaxes into a kind of smile, it is one for all intents and purposes but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes in the way that Phil is used to. Instead, they look flat and sad.

"I am.”

“O-Okay.” Phil says, standing as well, “I'll… show you out.” Which is stupid because Dan knows where the door is, he knows all the corners of Phil’s tiny flat by now, he’s spent time here enough.

The walk to the door is like a funeral march, a slow plod to the end of all of this, there are no statements of 'see you tomorrow’ and no promises of anything else nestled between them. It’s done, and as much as Phil might have longed for this moment a month or so ago he finds that it’s sitting heavy on him, like a stone.

“This is it,” Dan says, redundant because Phil knows what his own front door looks like.

“This is it.” Phil repeats.

Dan shrugs into the jacket over his arm, running a hand distractedly through his hair, shuffling and fidgeting, doing everything not to meet Phil’s gaze until finally, he takes a breath, looks like he’s decided, and looks up.

“Thanks for… everything,” he says, “I had a really good time on this project.”

“Yeah…” Phil hates the sound of his voice, it’s wispy and pathetic, all tangled around those pesky feelings churning in his chest so that it can’t come out the way he intends, “me too.”

There is still no suggestion of anything more, and Phil wants to say 'let’s do it again’ or even something as flimsy and intangible as 'see you soon’, he wants to say these because he can’t say 'stay’ or 'don’t go’.

Instead he says nothing more, because on top of the thin way his voice is stretched, he can’t trust what words would come out were he to attempt anything at all.

Dan slips into the silence, leans forward, arms extended. They wrap around Phil’s shoulders unexpectedly and pull him close. He doesn’t keep himself bent away this time, presses against Phil’s body tightly, toes nudging at the tips of Phil’s own and Phil can hear the rush of breath escaping him in his ear.

He doesn’t know what to do, simply goes with his instinct, with his want, and curls his arms around Dan’s waist, holding him tighter, trying to communicate something, anything at all, just with the touch.

“Take care,” Dan says as they part, and this is worse than goodbye. Goodbye could mean 'later’ it could have anything bundled into it. 'Take care’ is final, and it stabs into Phil’s chest, the warmth of Dan’s body long gone, and takes root.

“You too.”

Phil feels himself drift as Dan takes hold of the door handle, sparing him another little glance as he slips into the hallway and then a small, casual wave, as if nothing is wrong even though it feels like Phil’s world is crumbling away.

He watches as Dan rounds the corner at the end of the hall, memorising the soft curve of his shoulders, the broad expanse of his back. He lets the image sit for a while, closing the door to his flat and wandering back to his living room to gaze at the space Dan has left on his couch, wondering how long it will take before he stops thinking of it as belonging to him, before he stops expecting him to show up of an evening.

It’s done, he tells himself, it was great while it lasted but it’s time to start the business of getting over it. Like PJ said, it was just a way for him to get out there a little bit, he’s proved he can do it, it’s time to move on to something a little wiser, something that doesn’t scare him beyond belief… something that doesn’t make his heart beat wildly and his palms sweaty and his head float. Something that doesn’t make him as happy as Dan might have. It’s time to just let it go.

#myfics #fanfic #phanfic au #phanfic #phanfiction #fanfiction #phan #dnp #dan and phil #au #phanfic fluff #ao3 update #fic update

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idolisnotdead · 7 years

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Seiko Oomori - kitixxxgaia - Review

If you’ve read this blog before, you probably have a pretty good idea of my completely unbiased admiration for Seiko Oomori and everything she does. “Unbiased”.

So let’s just get to it. Less than a year, by about two weeks maybe to be precise, Seiko Oomori follows up her critically acclaimed major sophomore album (fourth overall) TOKYO BLACK HOLE with something even bigger, even more political, even more honest, and even more ambitious. I’m going to start off by changing my previous opinion. TOKYO BLACK HOLE is like an 8.5 now. Stay with me, here now and buckle up; we’re going for a ride, my friends.

The same week the United States got unleashed with the marvel of Drake’s More Life – a notably emotional return to form that also doesn’t shy away too far from the newer territory Toronto’s first celebratory hero has been invading – Japan was hit with something similarly parallel. Seiko Oomori gave us her fifth album kitixxxgaia on March 15th. Just like Drizzy, Seiko has given us an equally emotional experience, that still covers her recent sounds while almost giving us a slight return to her punk roots save for the general lack of an obvious acoustic guitar in most of the mixes (though it’s worth noting that it’s still there, just buried in the mix; I’ll get to why such a jam-packed mix actually works in a minute).

It’s amazing to see that the west and the east were both delivered promising projects by two of their biggest masters of music and emotion. It’s amazing to see just how far some shitty kid from Koenji has come in just five years since her official debut PINK in 2012. It’s amazing to think that that’s six albums if you count PINK, seven if you count the mostly self-covering Pink Tokarev album of 2015, which was otherwise an off-year for everyone’s favorite singer to imitate.

The only word I can describe how kitixxxgaia sounds with is “big”. And several other adjectives. Maybe “gigantic”. Maybe “colossal”. It’s a fucking huge album, pardon my French. This is potentially Seiko’s first Ringo Sheena-level album (let’s just forget that SUNNY happened for a minute). There’s a lot of religious imagery and a heavy aesthetic. I’d highly suggest on your first listen, you watch the music videos for every song that has one. So start with the “Dogma Magma” video, then the “Hikokuminteki Hero” video, listen to “IDOL SONG” normally, then when “Gutto Kuru Summer” comes along, watch that video too. And so on.

kitixxxgaia is heavy in its use of a very specific aesthetic, which takes influence from Christianity (and a hint of Mexican-style Christianity at that), weddings, quite a bit of Dadaism, and it’s all absolutely drenched in shades of pink and lighter blues. It’s the kind of album that’s best to be experienced both by listening and watching, as I said before. There are heaps of promotional images that came along with the album and the original “holy trinity” singles that lead up to its release, and I’d suggest maybe even just looking through those around Twitter and wherever else you can find them (maybe I’ll compile what I can find and make a post later this week) while you listen to the songs that aren’t accompanied by music videos. It’s the kind of multi-media work that could induce a sensory-overload in someone with synesthesia, like myself.

Now before I even get into the music of it, I want to point out the name of the album itself. Just the name kitixxxgaia (say it in English how you want, I generally say “Kitty Gaia”), much like her lyrics, takes some wordplay. In Japanese, the word “kichigai” - short for “[anta no] ki ga chigaimasu”, though nobody would ever say it that formally - is essentially the closest the Japanese language can get to the level of offense that words like (cover your children’s eyes) “fuck” or “cunt”. It doesn’t mean the same thing, but it’s that sort of level of offense, though deeper seeing as Japan is culturally much more introverted than we are over here.

Kichigai could loosely be translated to “you’re fucking crazy, man; you’re out of your goddamn mind.” Not in like a “woah dude that’s a fucking siiiick tattoo of a wolf” kind of way, though. It’s an insult, not a term of endearment. Adding the “a” to the end, Seiko turns it into “kichigaia” (キチガイア). After a day or two, she officially changed the name to romaji, now calling it “kitixxxgaia”, censoring it (possibly for management, cultural, and radio airplay reasons, but we don’t know specifically) by making it English and with three x’s in the middle. This name, to me, holds two simultaneous meanings, again, much like her signature style of lyricism.

The “kiti” could be interpreted as “kitschy”, a word referring to style in poor taste, much like our girl Seiko’s aesthetic. The word “gaia” is the personification of our planet Earth in ancient Greek texts. So it’s a “Kitschy World”.

“kitixxxgaia” in its original meaning, “Crazy Fucking World”.

Now to the music: Seiko has never let us down with a strong opener, and this might be the most in-your-face, unexpected opener, titled “Dogma Magma”. “Come on up to the emotional stage!” she blurts out before a gong bangs in your face; the remainder of the measure in silence before another hits with a choir on top, just underneath a piano playing downward arpeggios, and below that, some intricate string work, each instrument holding its breath. After the four bar intro, we crescendo up to the main song. Enter a not-quite shibuya-kei type beat – syncopated and staccato-like drums underneath a jittery, major piano progression. Behind it all is Seiko’s voice distorted, seemingly having a conversation with God.

As the filter cuts off, Seiko enters with some of her most provoking, forward lyrics ever written: (rough translation by yours truly): "Once upon a time there was something other than [just] male and female. Once upon a time there was something other than [just] white, black, and yellow [people]. Once upon a time there was something other than [just] yes and no. These things had always always existed, but it was then instead decided that they didn’t [exist].” she sings, touching on the recently hot topics of gender, race, and consent.

She continues “When I opened my eyes I was Japanese. I’m a goddess but I’m too uncomfortable in this inconvenient body to go outside without makeup on.”, a clear reference to body positivity clashing with self-esteem issues, and likely even cultural pressure in Japanese society. “Dogma Magma” has cuts into a more punk style chorus, reminiscent of “Magic Mirror”. “What will you do during the revolution? Just one heart? Fuck you, fuck [you] all, because this is war!” There she is. That’s the Seiko we know and love.

Track three is of note because it sort of takes me back to when she used to advertise herself as an idol during the Zettai Shoujo era for extra shock value. A clever parody on idol music and culture, “IDOL SONG” could almost pass off as a generic denpa song à la Band Ja Naimon!.

“JI・MO・TO no Kao Kawaii Tomodachi” (roughly “JI・MO・TO’s Cute-Faced Friend”) is certainly one of her most out-there songs, with a catchy, sugary hook, an almost rap verse not too different from what she did with “Zettai Kanojo”. It’s light, it’s bouncy, and it’s really good. This whole album is really good. Good. Good. Good. Good. It’s good music (Cruel Winter, when? I need answers, Kanye!).

Speaking of rapping, two songs later, Seiko gives us the ultimate collab for this generation of J-pop. Much like Ringo Sheena and Utada Hikaru’s “Nijikan Dake no Vacation” (roughly “A Vacation For Just The Two Of Us”), “Chikyuu Saigo no Futari” (roughly: “The Last Two People on Earth”) opens up eerily, with a huge texture and an oozing sub bass that launches into this groovy, dark, rhythmic masterpiece. Seiko begins “Dora-chan, warmest welcome to the 21st century, where mass production has made humans more like robots. Justice is brought by violence, the death penalty is given immediately unless you’re cute.” Seiko is soon interrupted: “I’m being forced to be stupid, these frames in front of me are out of my league. Fuck you, guidance! In my head, I’m punk.” Is that voice DAOKO? You bet your ass it is, and she is spitting that truth all over this track.

God there’s so much more to cover for this album but I really don’t want to ruin too much of it by blabbing on. Up next, continuing with the album’s religious themes “Pink Methuselah” brings a familiar sound with a twist – once it kicks in, it’s very clearly Kenta Sakurai (ex. Izukoneko, current Maison Book Girl, TOKYO BLACK HOLE’s “SHINPIN” producer) behind the producer’s chair on this one, but unlike “SHINPIN” from Seiko’s previous album, it’s not just another Sakurai song. It’s very clear how much Seiko added on top of what he did, and it’s like the perfect blend of both of their signature styles.

The album also features a menacing, full-piano self-cover of °C-ute’s “Mugen Climax”, a song that Seiko wrote for the extremely popular Hello! Project group. Now, she’ll never avoid Ringo Sheena comparisons – after all, Oomori’s debut album Mahou Ga…’s artwork pays direct tribute to Sheena’s legendary 2000 album Shouso Strip’s artwork - but what hearing this self-cover (which makes °C-ute’s version almost unlistenable) makes me want is a self-cover album from Seiko once she garners enough writing credits, much like Ringo Sheena’s Utaite Myouri.

The thing here about kitixxxgaia is that the album finishes off differently depending on the version you have. There are three versions: Dogma, Karma, and Gaia. Every version comes with a second “disc” that’s a DVD/Blu Ray; Dogma comes with a live Blu Ray of ZEPP Tokyo stop of the Tokyo Black Hole Tour, Gaia comes with live audio of that same show as well as a DVD of all of the album’s music videos, and Karma comes with a live DVD of a few different shows from last year. Each version also has a key difference to the main album – the final track is different.

As my personal recommendation, Dogma is the ideal version. Karma and Gaia finish off with new songs, but Dogma closes out with an acoustic re-recording of the Zettai Shoujo single “Kimi to Eiga” (literally: “Movie With You”). Since the closest thing we get to ‘acoustic’ on kitixxxgaia is “Mugen Climax” and “Orion Za”, this is a necessity to the album’s closure and really puts into perspective just how far Seiko has come since her humble beginnings.

The Karma song is called “Ramen no Hanashi” (literally “Ramen Conversation”) and the Gaia song is called “M”. “M” is another piano song, cutting in at just over 6 minutes. “Ramen no Hanashi” also does a similar job to “Kimi to Eiga”, being a full-acoustic track, and it’s a bonus that it’s a new song as well, so if you’re looking for a fully new experience or you’re not familiar with the Zettai Shoujo classic, maybe the Karma version is more for you. Either way, it’s a really nice way to end the album with some retrospect.

IDOL iS NOT DEAD gives kitixxxgaia a perfect 10/10. 11/10. Screw it. Whatever. It’s so goddamn good, just stop reading and go listen oh my god

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almost-random-stuff · 7 years

Text

translation of “Il Volo” on Radio2 Social Club on February 15th, 2017

Translation of the interview to Il Volo, on Radio2 Social Club, on February 15th, 2017. With Luca Barbarossa and Andrea Perroni. The program name is “Social Club”

Link for listen it all: http://www.radio2socialclub.rai.it/dl/portaleRadio/media/ContentItem-99a4d441-4992-4f40-a3fa-1995c46d0071.html#

After the last interview (on RTL102.5), here's another! the boys do not come immediately, but after a while… short while (after second photo if you want to jump)! It was a good interview, and the boys seem to have a lot of fun, as we had listening to them. They sang good songs (link at the bottom), and improvised some other ones. They talked a bit about the Album, relationships, and food. Then they joked a little about the criticism that are sometimes made to them.

Some info before you start:

Luca Barbarossa is an Italian singer/songwriter and radio host, who wrote songs like "Il Canto" sung by Pavarotti before of Il Volo, and "Portami a ballare" of which Piero makes an impromptu cover here accompanied by Gian, Ignazio and the other. Andrea Perroni is an Italian actor, comedian and imitator.

In this program there is a band playing live, that accompanies the various guests. The Social Band consists of: Stefano Cenci (Musical Director, Piano, Keyboards); Meki Marturano (Drums, Percussion); Claudio Trippa (Electric Guitar)

Let’s start!!! (sorry for the mistakes)

LB: Here we are at Radio 2 Social club, live from the C room of Via Asiago in Rome, with our audience for great occasions, because today is a great occasion, then I will tell you why. Here with us, exceptionally, almost awake Andrea Perroni! AP: Thank you, huh, almost awake, it’s true. It’s 14:35 …I spent a great S. Valentine- LB: You? But you are single! AP: -What? LB: You are single. What have you done? Invited yourself to dinner? AP: No, I invited a friend of mine ... a meeting ... LB: Ah! (to the audience) Did you understand?! AP: I make a gift- LB: a gift? AP: a little something LB: Ah, what did you buy? AP: Well, you know these shops where they sell these particular things... LB: Oh, I see... AP: No! What did you understand ?! Lingerie LB: Ah, I thought a sex shop ... So an outfit for the night... AP: Yes. I have to say that the Romans are brilliant, because coming out of the store with the envelopes in hand... there was a gentleman leaning against the wall, you know those- LB: Those who watch. AP: That's right! In Rome they take confidence, you know. I went out with the envelopes with the brand of the store- LB: So one could guess what you bought. AP: Yes, the man connected store and S. Valentine day, and told me ''ah, Peró- [“Peró” short with Roman accent for Perroni]

LB: he had also recognized you? AP: Yes. "ah Peró, first you put them on, than you put them off… You could have saved the money! " LB: Ahahahah! What you call privacy! AP: But the concept is very nice ... to save money. LB: Things that can happen only in Rome. Theme song!

Radio2SocialClub theme song AP: However, I want to clarify, it was a total failure. I’ve not put them on, nor I put them off. It was a total failure because she has not even get to dinner Laughter in studio LB: Now we do not want to go into details ... we are not like the gentleman that stopped you. AP: But now I’ve lingerie complete, size 38, and I do not wear them. LB: How much? (money for buy it) AP: I paid 25, and give it for 10. It’s cute, it has little zebra and camels on it. LB: To get me going little zebra are not enough. There is a beautiful thing that happened in a wine bar/restaurant in Padova: the owner has done a discount on dinner bill for "polite child". Because it was a table with 5-6 adults and some more children between 4-8 years old, and he was pleased that children not only had no phones tablet and stuff, they were so well mannered that, at the end, he did not know how to express his pleasure, how to thank them, and so he made the discount " polite children." Now it will be full of parents, out there, who give slaps to their children " shut up!" AP: imagine the looks on the fathers faces at dinner now. LB: Today we will have as guests, at Radio2 Social Club, some singers who have assets in their career even a victory at the Sanremo Festival. When they passed in Italy won the festival, then they recur to go around the world. And (now a song of) another friend of ours, who was a protagonist of this festival, very well in both the cover-evening and the evenings for the new songs, our friend Paola Turci with “fatti bella per te” [really nice song title more or less “make you beautiful for yourself”] Song “fatti bella per te”

LB: Paola Turci! We wait her here in the studio! AP: come when you want! LB: I do not know how many singers in history can boast a calendar like this (dates and locations of the Il Volo tour), today they come from Berlin... to make you understand who they are… I only say that they didn’t go to Trump, but here to me, President of the Nazionale Cantanti [the “national singers” football team that in Italy play for beneficence] they are coming! applause AP: Il Volo! LB: Here they are, welcome back! GG: Hello everyone! PB: Goodmorning President! GG: but do you really want to put on the same level a nice football game and that? [the political event] L B: Are we kidding? GG: And we love Mexicans too. LB: you are for the overthrow of the walls IB: For par condicio I have the mustache AP: like Zorro LB: Yes, Ignazio has mustache like Zorro. Guys, today you come from Berlin, what have you done there? IB: eh, we knocked down the last piece of wall LB: laughs GG: We are promoting the new CD. Which is a rock'n'roll CD, more than ever. It is a tribute to the three tenors. AP: laughs LB: Notte Magica, a tribute to the Three Tenors. I have lived through that period because is the period when I wrote for Pavarotti “Il Canto”, that you have sung fantastically with Placido Domingo. Things return home. I had written, only the text because the music is written by Maestro Musumarra, and it was for Domingo at the beginning, then the project went to Pavarotti and now you've brought it home- PB: But tell me one thing, Do you got the money for it? AP: But what do you care? Laughter in the studio AP: Looks how he’s cynical, materialist… LB: I have to ask my wife about it, because money don’t ever pass from me… PB: great loud laugh LB: Love (to his wife, that is in studio) what have you done-? AP: to the money from Il Canto laughter

LB: So, Notte Magica is dedicated to the Three Tenors. Why, young tenors like you [poor Gian LOL], did a tribute to three tenors of this level? Are you not afraid of confrontation? PB: (uncertain) yes- IB: Afraid of confrontation, No. Because we don’t want to compare with them, but from the beginning it was conceived as a way to remember these great of international music. We've grown a bit with them, watching videos of the three tenors, and we said “we're young-”… for good or for bad the repertoire was almost equal, to 70% of Neapolitan and Italian classics, missing just a few opera aria… and we said “why don’t we do it? Why don’t we remember those who have been our idols?” And we decided to do this project. GG: Then, vintage always comes back... for example, also, I have very much appreciated “De Gregori canta Bob Dylan”… is beautiful. Italian artists do a lot of tribute. LB: surely GG: I think it is beautiful to sing not only your own songs, but also do tribute to great artists AP: In this case is perfectly right. Who, if not them, could do it? Even among Italians actors there is this fashion, perhaps because when one stands still- LB: when one does not work for a while AP: when one does not work for a while FB: recycled AP: like “how are you?” “I'm doing a tribute” FB: to whom? AP: Do not know... Gaber LB: you're talking about Neri Marcorè, I get it! AP: Neri Marcorè does just tributes, everything rather than staying at home! [he’s an Italian actor who is doing now a show in which he tribute Gaber, among other.] LB: Stop it! GG: You said Gaber! Stacchetto! (Start singing and the audience begins to clap and the band to play) “io non mi sento italiano ma per fortuna o purtroppo lo sono” [an Italian song by Gaber that says “I do not feel Italian, but fortunately or un fortunately I am”]

The band and audience go on but Gian stops

GG: … just that.

laughter LB: ... just that! Improvised! I want to hear these three magical voices sings “Libiamo”, but we are also going to listen to absolutely unusual things, live, by Il Volo. song “Libiamo” from Notte Magica LB: We must say that they surely have voices! The guys of the playlist -studio are pointing the rifle on us (because the piece is not very radio) AP: they’re pointing I to us. LB: we are also live on Facebook now! Radio2 Social Club, with Il Volo. As we said before, dear Ignazio, now you make us this gift, to make us listen a little things that are beyond your [of the group] musical repertoire. IB: Yes, because all three of us have passions, idols, for different musical genres. One of my biggest idols was Pino Daniele... about who will also coming soon a movie, I can not wait... we will be in America, but I will find a way to see it sooner or later ... PB: also my idol was Pino: Pino granita IB: ... come on, really… LB: Who is he? IB: At his home there is one who is called Pino and that makes granite... never mind. So I decided to sing a few pieces of my great idol... he (pointing Piero) still thinks of granita. LB: Live, Ignazio, "Annarè" and “'O Scarrafone”, on Social Club. Ignazio sings So energetic! Great acute, as always. Applause at the end.

GG: (fan-boy mood) Have you heard his clear voice? The high notes! I can’t get there even if- IB: If you squeeze certain things you can do it [talking about testicles] GG: wrists! IB: wrists! sure. AP: (with a tablet in his hands) Here they greet us even from Miami! We are getting good visibility from this... LB: (in English) Thanks guys! GG: (in English) Thank you so much for following us! AP: What did you say? LB: Gianluca, it was your birthday recently, among other things. GG: I turned 22 three days ago! LB: (to the audience) Got it? These twenty years old are already touring the world. AP: (joking) a shameful thing. LB: There are many who are writing us, because you can hear and watch us live, on web, they are writing to us from around the world. How many followers do you have? Gianluca greets in Spanish some fans following from Argentina and Mexico etc. AP: here you have to speak Italian! LB: He is gone! [“lo abbiamo perso” way for saying “we lost him”] AP: What did you say? Who you greeted? IB: (joking but with a serious tone) Here if you want there is Piero who can speak Chinese. LB: Come on Piero let us hear it. PB: no, I can’t do it on radio [because he used to imitate Chinese’s eyes to complete the imitation. Before haters start, it's not something offensive: it's like putting glasses to mimic Piero...or putting a broom on your hair to mimic me…. Even if: Piero there was the live video on FB!!] LB: Don’t say “involtini primavera” cause everyone know it! Laughs AP: here they write "great, beautiful, talented, please," this is a prayer “stay simple" LB: “stay simple"... Why? What did they do? AP: People are afraid that they might get big-head. GG: (speaking of followers) there is a video that has made many views on my personal facebook, usually they have not so many views because it is a personal thing. That video has made so many because in China I made a Chinese girl speaks Abruzzese. I said, “Gnà ‘sti?” and she said (imitating girl’s voice) “Stìnghe bbon' ” [“come stai? -How are you?” and “sto bene.- I’m good.”] Laughter and congratulations. AP: Here someone is writing also from Costa Rica, Angelica… Angelica, I must come soon to Costa Rica, if you could be my guest it would be great! LB: Sometimes, usually when someone get successful so young, the concern of everyone is "will they get big-head?" "Will they be able to stay down to earth?" Apart from the fact that there are Michele Torpedine, Danilo Ciotti, true professionals behind you- Applause

LB: -I believe that you have behind you, all of you, very strong families and very affectionate too, and every time I see you I always find you in great shape, with the humility of all time before and with the same passion for music. PB: But you say so- Andrea interrupted him with one hand AP: sorry but there is a request "Gian, sing Can’t stop the feeling" IB: I’m with you .... Are you ready? GG: Wait! (to the audience) …Because I love Justin Timberlake! and then I do a little imitation- IB: (drawing his attention to) Give me the rhythm! GG: ... but the tone- IB: What does it matter?! Give me the rhythm!! Laughs GG: (Insecure)... ... ... ... Do I go? All: GO!

Laughs

Gianluca sings and Ignazio does the beatbox! Very funny, as always... at some point:

GG: (still on rhythm with music) I do not remember the words... LB: in Abruzzese! GG: (still on rhythm with music) Nun te preoccupà! Choir that get a tone higher every time: Nun te preoccupà! Nun te preoccupà! Nun te preoccupàÀÀÀÀÀÀÀ! [means “don’t worry” in dialect] Gian continues with the song while Ignazio laughs his shit off. Applause at the end LB: Il Volo, with Justin Timberlake! GG: I'm sorry, I did not remember the words! I'm sorry! LB: It was fantastic, especially the part in Abruzzese. We are going to air it every day! AP: Nun te preoccupà! LB: Now commercial break and then we’ll come back. AP: (to the boys) Greet! Ignzio goes to the camera to say hello, the camera runs on Piero (which is almost always shot out for reasons of space) and he sends a kiss.

commercial break

a song by Ermal Meta

LB: Ermal Meta which was hosted by us yesterday and who finished 3th in Sanremo. We are in studio with Il Volo, we are discovering sides of Il Volo we didn’t know. GG: We followed Sanremo this year and I cheered for Ermal Meta. Among other things is a friend and I have supported him on socials [we noticed!] and I’m happy for the result because it came out greatly. I am very happy for Ermal… Ciao Ermal! I love you! You are great! Applause PB: Who will be tomorrow's guest here? LB: Eros Ramazzotti PB: (making fun of Gianluca's fan-boy behavior) So I must say that in this Sanremo festival I cheered so much for Ramazzotti- AP: He was not there LB: there wasn’t Eros. PB: Oh really? (Joking of course) LB: but also that tomorrow there will be Ramazzotti here it’s not true! Laughter (Piero's laugh is unmistakable) LB: listening you singing Justin Timberlake I have to say that gone are the days when the tenors did not know how to go in time with music. Because many tenors, old school’s ones, had a tendency to dilate, and the orchestra had to adapt to the singer-timing PB: Let's say, in the French way, “andavano per I cazzi loro” [a vulgar way for saying “for they own way” and we use to say, ironically, "francesismo" when we use a dirty word because French is considered an elegant language, so… for jokes. But in an interview Piero said that the first time they sing together “’O sole mio” he told the Orchestra to stop at his point, let him sing, and follow him…he was 16 LOL ] Laughs with strumental "applause" from the band behind LB: Exact... French definitely often use this expression hahaha Laughs LB: Listen Gianluca, but I know you've also liked Fiorella Mannoia, that in the evening dedicated to cover chose a stratospheric song of Francesco De Gregori. GG: Yes I loved her too [we understand this too from your tweets] I’m also a fan of her, in particular one of her songs, called “In Viaggio”, in the 2014 disc, which is beautiful. Then thanks to my father I grew up listening to De Andrè, De Gregori... Gaber. (joking) Il Volo can be radical chic sometimes... [in reference to the criticism of being radical chic that they received] laughs GG: It is not just pizza and mandolino. Not so. AP: why pizza and mandolin? [Is what some haters write] LB: and why radical chic excuse me? singing De Gregori became radical chic? GG: ... no no ... in fact. LB: you have refined tastes, Stevie Wonder and Pino Daniele, for Ignazio. And now we listen, in a new guise for us, Gianluca in "Sempre e per sempre", live with the Social Band, Francesco de Gregori. Applause Song "Sempre e per sempre"

Applause

LB: the version of Gianluca of Il Volo, "Sempre e per sempre”, beautiful voice. …Beautiful voice, charming indeed, but have you seen... there Sebastianello [the cameraman] is shooting... have you seen how Gianluca looks at the camera? Huh? AP: acchiappesco. [it’s a word that does not exist but sounds like “That Catch” in a funny way] LB: Watch Sebastianello’s belly…. He’s pregnant! Laughs GG is laughing in the background for the word "acchiappesco" AP: he remained pregnant for acchiappesco look. But who is the lover of the three of you? LB: eh come on! Here the cleanest has the mange! [literally. It’s a way of saying that who’s better is still bad. In this case to say that who pick up less girls still pick up a lot.] AP: but who pick up more? LB: if anything, who is the fastest? Because sooner or later they all pick up. IB: He! Laughs LB: he has indicated them both! IB: I’m neutral LB: but there is one of three that maybe is a little more romantic? who falls in love, that would like- PB: in the middle! LB: Ignazio! IB: Yes, it's true LB: the one that says "no, let’s not leave, let’s stay here. I found the woman of my life…" AP: romance is Calabrian IB: (grumpy) you are Calabrian LB: he is Sicilian! AP: yes, ok, but is not an offense! we greet the Calabrian! IB: no, but there you eat nduja and we eat the cannoli, it is different. LB: here [in the messages], are loudly asking Gianluca to do an imitation of Tiziano Ferro GG: (surprised) really? IB: (acute and desperate voice) but why ?! Why, I ask you? LB: (to Gianluca) you steal the job to Perroni. Music starts GG: ... but what song is this? LB: "La differenza tra me e te", do you know it? Gianluca sing, sometimes with Andrea IB: (in the middle of the song) Go Calabria!!! LB: why?? Ignazio long laugh long funny suffered final note LB: possessed! Laughs AP: because he [Tiziano Ferro] on the end calls the gulls, generally. IB: seemed more Roby Facchinetti PB: (imitating him) Thanks! LB: The nice thing about these guys is that they play, joke, but then they sing “Nessun Dorma” and kill you.

AP: Exactly IB: but for the voices or for the breath? Laughter musical applause from the band LB: a little for both GG: This was funny! [Ignazio’s joke] LB: So Piero, we know that he eats granite, I understood, from his friend Pino- PB: (quietly and sadly) the nutritionist has forbidden me everything. LB: everything? PB: everything. LB: But why? You're in good shape! AP: but granita is water! LB: yes! Then Ignazio instead goes from pasta to sushi, I understand ... IB: I'm like this ... I alternate periods of diets to... LB: you ate everything, an omnivore. IB: Yes, however, I eat only healthy foods: an healthy whole baking sheet of pasta, a healthy whole rabbit... Laughs IB: it's all healthy LB: You don’t do portion IB: no no no LB: you eat the whole baking sheet IB: the nutritionist told me to eat healthy. LB: and you, Gianluca? What do you eat? Italians have this problem, when around the world, for a few days we'll get it on well, eating foreign food, but then there is nostalgia for the Italian one [this is Piero, in fact, he said it on the interview to Rolling Stone Italy] GG: but Can I say it?... I don’t want doing commercial to Ferrero…. Nutella! Can I tell it, right? LB: Yes, cause Nutella did not need advertise GG: I ate so much Nutella, an excess of Nutella, that I became lactose intolerant! Think of it. Because the fans around the world, give me big jars of Nutella and in two months of touring in America we brought home 40 jars of Nutella! IB: (joking) a Montepagano opened a Nutella Store. Laughs AP: Gianluca no longer grow hair, grow oil palm leaves. Laughs GG: Unfortunately, they told me that I became lactose intolerant ... do you realize it? I am suffering! LB: But there are some imitation brands that I can not mention, who do the simil-nutella lactose free. I know. GG: I know. LB: I know because I eat a lot of it GG: Me too. IB: Lately when fans brought him Nutella he said "No, no! I’m intolerant, give me something else…" Laughs GG: ... I did not understand this... Laughs AP: (laughter) What a bastard! Laughs LB: I think the fans bring Nutella to spread it on him and massage him! Now, we will listen to another star of this festival which we liked very much AP: When will she comes here to see us? LB: Are you in love? Elodie, "Tutta colpa mia" [“all my fault”, beautiful voice!] Song "Tutta colpa mia"

In studio we hear Piero singing Elodie’s song (greatly! The song fits his voice well!) LB: It was me! I was singing like this! This is my voice! ....No, it is not true: it was Piero who sang with the harmonization of his friends. IB: At last we tried to. GG: We should greet Elodie too, and she is not just a good singer ... [is also a beautiful girl] AP: But stop it! LB: ammazza! [literally “kill” an exclamation used like “Oh my God!”] GG: -and she wore a beautiful Armani white dress... oh my God! Sorry! I am saying a bit of brands name! AP: Do not worry. LB: It was stitched together by Armani and Nutella. Laughs PB: (making fun of Gian’s habit of saying brand name) she also wore Victoria's secret underwear. Laughs LB: Do you want to say some other brand? Laughs LB: Do you want to greet the FIAT? IB: No, he says it just because it does it as a sponsor LB: Piero, testimonial of Vistoria's secret! Laughs LB: Piero: a tenor with thong. Piero’s laughter LB: Listen, when you are around the world what is that you miss most about home? PB: Everything. We’re Italians in the blood and can’t wait to return to Italy from the tour... we haven’t said the dates ... LB: We’ll say it at the end. PB: I know them all, because, you have to know, I’m the PR of the group. In fact, my name is Piero. IB: These are his consonants. LB: Now we have the meteo, and then we’ll come back with Il Volo that will tell us also the stages of their world tour.

Jingle of the program sung by Gianni Morandi LB: Morandi’s voice brings us together! Yesterday he made on Social a dedication to his wife, Anna, and has become viral. For Valentine he was singing "Senza te", of Baglioni, and you saw all the photos, marriage etc. Now, Il Volo with Placido Domingo, Notte Magica. In how many song Domingo was director, in this album? PB: We allowed ourselves to do this tribute because, somehow, there was the participation of all three. Placido Domingo, as you saw, was on stage with us, he has directed seven songs and sung "Non ti scordar di me" with us. We received the "good luck" by José Carreras, but mostly we had the cooperation and support of Fondazione Pavarotti- IB: Nicoletta Mantovani [the widow of Luciano] Applause LB: What kind of person is Domingo? PB: Placido is a character... last year we were in Taormina, we were in the pool, getting tan- GG: Listen how he tells all the details "we were in the pool… relaxing" PB: laughs -we were in the pool, Michele comes with a suggestion, how about doing a tribute to the three tenors? Our first thought was to call Domingo and see what he thought of this project. He said (in Spanish) "is a wonderful idea, and I want to be on stage with you!" So I was just like "Michele, let’s start working". Just like that. Laughs. LB: Just like that. You see, while they are in the pool how many things happen... but many other good things will happen because you have three magical voices- AP: for me at the pool came the police instead LB: …Did you made an abusive pool!? AP: no is that I had not paid the entrance

LB: ah, not in your garden ?! AP: no no. LB: Piero, out of the three, you are the most... classic, the most- IB: laughs LB: Ignazio why are you laughing? No, seriously. I ask because it seems to me so. PB: I have always studied and are more inclined to opera, classical music, that is my greatest passion. You never stop learning, to achieve the objectives, and of setting goals in life- AP: But you've pointed out: "I have always studied” like saying that instead the others two... Laughs GG: But it's true. For example, I have always listen Bocelli, but the more pop side of him, then as a child I listened to Alex Baroni... And actually (voice that says he doesn’t like it), when I am called Baritone…it’s not..

LB: You don’t find yourself in it. GG: I like to be called a singer, not a tenor or a baritone. Of the three, probably, I’m who feel less classical. IB: yes GG: Then, I'm wrong because I do not study. And this is a big mistake. I'm not proud of it, I should not say it, but I want to be honest with you, I don’t study a lot, especially lirica. IB: Only honest with you and a few million that are listening. Laughs IB: Is a reserved thing. Laughs LB: (to Gianluca) but it seems to me that you aren’t lacking in something. But now, Piero, with your classic setting, we do an experiment never attempted. Here on Radio2 Social Club, Piero will do a cover, with Maestro Cenci at the piano, of a great song of Riccardo Cocciante, of which there is also a famous version of Rino Gaetano, that everyone knows. The song is "A mano a mano", Piero, Il Volo, live here. Song "A mano a mano"

Applause

LB: "A mano a mano" by Piero. The audience here is listening a real unreleased concert because the boys of Il Volo are venturing in an unusual repertoire compared to the classics. Compliments. -Here Andrea Perroni does the imitation of a very unfriendly critic (not Sgarbi, another one, because sadly we have a lot of that) named Cruciani. He immediately starts with vulgar criticism and a series of insults that are usually said to Il Volo by some critics and haters. The boys joke with him a little when AP/Cruciani asks:

AP: why do you not answer me? IB: Because we are waiting some help from uncle Luca (Luca Barbarossa, who is not really their uncle) who knows you more and knows how to talk with you... AP/Cruciani goes on with criticism PB: But who the fuck are you? AP: Oh, I like that, I like it! GG (joking softly): ah, you have to be friendly with him… Some other rant, and then: AP: Sanremo is the tomb of a singer’s career. Hear what wikipedia says about you three "a trio composed of three twenty-somethings who seem your grandfather" What hobbies do you have? Bowls? GG: yours sister’s ones [“Bocce” means bowls, a stuff sometimes considered for old people, but is also a slang used to say tits] Laughs AP: oh, I like it! I like battles! Who said it? GG: Me… Gianluca ... if you dare speak like that I can answer… can’t I? AP: Yes! I like confrontation! Some other rant, and then: AP: How did it go this story with Trump? IB: So the tour...uhm… AP: It was all a fake! PB: you talk just for envy, because you wanted to go there, but because his wife is beautiful! Laughs AP: There’s Torpedine? Then listen to what he said of these three "they are a big mistake, that can’t sing karaoke to school party! In two years I’ll send them to fuck off! I already spotted an eight year old who sings like Callasi" he said so. [Below you understand why instead of Callas he says Callasi] IB: (joking) It was Torpedine or Sgarbi? MT: (Michele enter) Must have been that comedian who do imitations of Sgarbi and Cruciani… Jingle of Radio2 Social Club Song by Marco Masini "spostato di un secondo" LB: Marco Masini at Radio 2 social club, with Il Volo. Now advertising, then we will be back.

Jingle of Radio2 Social Club LB: Radio 2 Social Club, with Il Volo! AP: (who is now not doing imitation, just himself) With two-thirds of Il Volo, because sometimes Gianluca disappears... I don’t know where he goes, sometimes he get lost in the corridors of Radio2 LB: He go getting phone numbers from girls GG (from distance): No, it is not true! LB: I've seen it, I see it all... and one of them was my wife. laughter LB: I suffered in silence... because I understand- AP: Well, he gives much of himself [idk how translate it. “si dà molto” is literally “he gives much of himself” and it’s used to say that someone is really warm-hearted and loving] LB: -a younger singer who already has more success- GG (now again near the microphone): I'm just- LB: -how can I don’t understand it? But, you know, you should take 3 children, the dogs, the cat and the Romanian nanny [if he steals his wife] GG: I'm just very loving. Just that. LB: OK… This comforts me! Before we didn’t say the Italian dates. Who want to say them? IB: Piero tells them, he is the PR LB: Piero you tell them… Do you know them by heart? PB: (tells the dates and the band start playing suspense music, like TV program where you have to guess the answer... he skips a few dates) IB: (in Sicilian) and all those in between? AP: laughs –Can you repeat? IB: those in between! PB: (goes on) GG: (adds some forgotten) LB: and if you want to go to London (-dates) IB: and by the way in London there will be a friend of our. PB: Tall GG: with glasses and beard IB: tall but short [like for the RTL102.5 interview…idk how translate it: “basso” in Italian is used for both “short” and “deep”, like “alto” is used for both “tall” and “high”. He is tall but with deep voice] GG: bald PB: (to AP) You guess who, Cruciani!

laughter GG: we summarize. Tall, bald, beard, glasses. IB: Has six children- PB: seven IB: -no television at home AP: Mario Biondi! LB: Ciao to Mario Biondi! Who also made a beautiful cover of "portami a ballare" [lit. “take me to dance”, by Barbarossa] .... When will you three make a cover of "portami a ballare" for me? PB: Do you know that I listen it while I shower? At home I did the sound system and it is in my playlist… The band start playing PB: I do not remember the text though (start singing "portami a ballare", confusing some word) LB suggests the text to Piero so he can sing GG and IB join singing doing some background music. Ignazio is doing a sound similar to a trumpet. LB: Ignazio is doing the trumpet... he is destroying it hahaha [actually was “me la sta uccidendo” which is used when someone is killing/destroying something yours] Piero sings. There is a choir, and in background Ignazio start joking screaming random stuff They get on tune with each other but with Ignazio that every time the song says "ciao Mamma" he says "ciao" to some Italian cities, like “ciao Milano” or “ciao Roma”.

Result: Well singed and funny af. At the end PB don’t remember how to finish and just said "ahhmahah" IB: (joking) the last sentence was really beautiful! LB: (laughing) No, it was very good, apart from that scoundrel Ignazio! GG: he did Fabrizio Bosso [Italian trumpeter] LB: You have to do a cover! I am convinced that with three voices would be a splendid job! PB: Do you know why he says it? For SIAE rights! [kind of copyright that would give the author some money] Laughs LB: Sure, what else? AP: that’s why he asks it to everybody. LB: Now Jax Jones "you do not know me" Song "you do not know me" At the end of the song you can hear "The callasi" mixed in, with Andrea’s voice when he imitated Cruciani LB: (laughing) I want an applause! Because there are people, not here, that when read “Callas!” read it like “Callasi”, reading the “!” like an “I” AP: The Callasi Applause IB: I defend it because it sound like a Sicilian thing AP: thanks Ignazio! LB: Do not defend this clown, take the distances, remember that is who did imitation of Cruciani AP: a joke is a joke, is something else! LB: let’s end it reminding the dates (dates of the tour) And now we wish you good luck for this tour. When will you get a break? PB: In August. I want to say that the repertoire of this tour will be the one of this album, a tribute to the three tenors [I hope they are ready, it is a difficult one to sing so often!] GG: I can, if you allow me, greet my beloved land, Abruzzo, which has not passed a delightful time in this last month. Applause LB: and you were also particularly attached to the structure in Rigopiano GG: yes .. LB: It was a wound for the whole country. And with the Nazionale Cantanti we are organizing initiatives. The other night, in Sanremo, we met for dinner with the Mayor of Amatrice [one of the Italian towns destroyed by the earthquake] for initiatives that we will do all together, and I invite you already if you are available- IB: we always are PB: ok President! LB: the Partita del Cuore [lit. “Game of heart”] this year will be in late May at the Juventus Stadium, a portion of the profits will be donated to scientific research and another for earthquake victims. GG: we too are organizing an event, still in early stage… let's see what we can do for my land. LB: The boys are, among other things, also good football players, what do you want more? [well, Piero not so much LOL but he’s good with tennis!] IB: Before leaving, however, we want to say thank you- GG: (joking) only to you but not to Andrea [because Piero said “tu” -second person singular- and not “voi” -second person plural. In English both “you”] IB: to you both, because you feel like home. Before we were talking... seriously, a friend, but not only that. More than that. GG: (joking) you're not like a father, you are like a grandfather! PB: (joking) And you Andrea, really, you're more than a man IB: you're not even a woman[the joke is a bit lost on the translation because we say like “you are not even a-” to say “you are more than-”, so it sound like “you are not even a man, nor even a woman”] Laughs LB: we end with “Nessun Dorma” by Il Volo GG: "Nessun dorma" get up! [again: “nessun dorma” lit. means “nobody sleep” like an order] IB and PB: bye! song “Nessun dorma”

End

What do you think?

Link!!!

Ignazio singing Pino Daniele: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPL450ZCsFQ

Piero singing “A mano a mano”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zl-C2nv_VWo

Gian singing “Sempre e per sempre”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PWii0Vb_a4

Link with translation of “Sempre e per sempre”: http://tiretochooseanotherusername.tumblr.com/post/157605094258/sempre-e-per-sempre-di-francesco-de-gregori

Gian teaching a Chinese girl to speak abruzzese: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7u2czxcGwo

If you want to listen to Ignazio singing random stuff on “Portami a ballare”: http://ignaziobosco.tumblr.com/post/157276585272/look-what-ignazio-is-doing-when-he-doesnt-know

#il volo #translation #interview #il volo interview #il volo translation #piero barone #ignazio boschetto #gianluca ginoble #radio2 #luca barbarossa #andrea perroni #social club

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fishphibian · 7 years

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On Keeping Ambystoma Yesterday

Yesterday, I kept axolotls, today, I do not. My second axolotl passed away this morning/last night, and while sad I am much more at peace due to my ability to make sure its last moments were peaceful.

I found it floating on its side, barely moving, in clearly a dying state; so I immediately went into fish/animal hospital mode, and put it into cooler, 3/4 fresh water. It was fading fast, but I tried to get it breathing again. Although it seemed like I was doing nothing, with some gill stimulation and sportfishing style revival techniques, I saw it start to breath again, fairly normally despite still being weak and seemingly unable to move its legs. It started to attempt to gasp at air, and did several times, but it was clearly getting weaker and weaker until it simply stopped. It's breathing slowed more and more, and I stayed with it, trying to prevent it from floating on its side which was clearly a source of discomfort. Eventually basically at its deathbed and helping both its water and air breathing when it wanted it, I managed to get it into a position where it was right-side up, and not floating. As close to an axolotl sleeping position as possible. By late last night before I slept, it was clear it has slipped away, so I placed it in the aquarium; for if it had any consciousness left at all in its body, I felt being surrounded by where it had spent its life would be better than a light blue hospital. I can't remember when axolotls became one of my favourite animals. It might have actually happened at the same time as the Pokemon Wooper (Upa) came into being. I had found a toy of Wooper months, if not a year before Pokemon Gold and Silver would be released in North America, and picked up it and Quagsire right away when I saw them at the import place of the flea market. They instantly became some of my favourite characters/species in the series, based on an obscure neotenous salamander, and what I would later learn a very popular pet, and vaguely popular food in Japan and the rest of Asia. Not to mention its amazing medical applications due to regeneration. Being neotenous, the axolotl became somewhat of a totem for me, as someone who was entering adulthood, but realizing that my love of things like Pokemon, and animation and dinosaurs and cute colourful things wasn't fading with age. Although I was becoming more mature, I wasn't losing many of my childhood interests as I saw happen to some others, and what I knew was expected based on general media. I had always wanted a pet axolotl, before even they had become more important to me. I had kept newts and frogs and lizards of all kinds, but in my salamander books they would always recommend axolotls. I had a larval tiger salamander (also from the same genus) for a while, but it of course grew up into an admittedly very pretty and powerful adult salamander. It just didn't have the appeal of those feathery gills that basically made it look like a fairy or dragon. Ontario stores simply didn't carry axolotls. When I came back from Japan, having seen axolotls in crane games/UFO catchers of all places; I noticed a local reptile show had a vendor seemingly specializing in axolotls. That weekend I bought a tank, and brought my two axolotls home, soon casually naming them Joven and Conetl, slight mutations of Mexican and Spanish words for young and child. They had different personalities despite being simple creatures. They had silly moments, mood shifts, and despite being solitary animals, seemed to like each other's company aside from during feeding time. After a year and a half or so they fully outgrew their cave which they both loved half-curling up in, and I provided them both live, and plastic plants for shelter and climbing. I learned a lot about modern small aquarium filtration, and a lot about axolotl behaviour. But mostly, I learned that I gain so much by having some animals to care for and look to. They helped me through some challenging times, and it was always easy to project smiling faces onto them weather they were "happy" or not. I was also very lucky that their gills remained feathery and expressive throughout their lives, allowing me to easily check and change conditions if they seemed unwell. Sadly it seemed as though whatever happened to end their lives was not water based and something internal or neurological. I don't know if I'm going to try and obtain another axolotl or two any time soon. Despite disappointment in myself andthe random chances of nature; I would like to own the species again, just maybe not super soon. As I stare at the now empty, still aquarium void of life I'm a little sad, as it was always something I could look to basically since I got back from Japan. Although they are majestic, my dart frogs are tiny, even without the sun glare blocking my view, chances of seeing and making even a one way connection with them is often difficult. I'll miss having axolotls, but I know the species and I will meet again one day. So I'll wait. Wait for a time where I'll always know someone who can take care of them should I go on a trip longer than a weekend, wait until I know I'm once again ready, and wait until I'm hypnotized by their tiny hands and feet again one day at a reptile show, and I decide again I want to see an animal that never fully matures, grow to its full potential. I think that's okay.

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kmalexander · 3 years

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Trip Report – Santa Fe

The decision was made immediately after Kari-Lise and I got our first dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine back in May. TRAVEL. Travel was calling. Call it a spontaneous trip or revenge travel, we were hungry for the world. Like everyone else, we’d spent last year social distancing and sticking close to home, doing our part to stop the spread. Now, on our way to being fully inoculated and assured we wouldn’t unknowingly spread the virus to others, we craved a change of scenery—something opposite from the verdant mountains of Western Washington. We plotted our vaccine schedule, figured out the timeline, and booked a trip.

It’s been a decade since we visited Santa Fe, and it’s no surprise the city called to us once again. It’s an easy trip in non-pandemic times and was a place we both wanted to revisit. In May we weren’t sure how everything would play out, but we decided to roll the dice and plan for a trip of a few days exploring the town and the surrounding landscape. It was well worth it. Like any instance of travel, I came away feeling invigorated and creatively inspired. After a year at home, it was good to get away, breathe the thin desert air, and visit a place so unlike my daily experience. As the pandemic recedes in here America, everyone is still feeling out public behavior. But even with the mild awkwardness, the results were a trip comprised of fantastic food, incredible art, and surprising exploration.

The Food

It’s not going to be possible to share this trip without hitting on the copious amounts of delicious food we devoured. New Mexico is the land of the chile, and red and green varieties show up in every menu across the state, no matter what cuisine. When ordering, one is often asked if you want red or green chile—you can also opt for both by ordering your meal “Christmas.” (Yeah, it sounded corny the first time I said it as well. But the place is called Santa Fe. *rimshot*) Neither are particularly spicy despite the many warnings for tourists, but both are complex and flavorful. Trying different combos is worth the effort there’s no wrong choice here. Choose what works for you and enjoy.

Standout meals include the tacos from El Chile Toreado (arguably some of the best tacos I’ve ever had). The Short Rib Birria from Paloma, probably the fanciest dining we experienced on the trip. Solid enchiladas from The Shed (a return visit). And a strange little chile dog from the Taos Ale House; a mess to eat but incredibly delicious.

The Art

The third-largest art market in the United States is an artery running through the heart of Santa Fe along a street known as Canyon Road. (At this point it has spread well beyond Canyon Road, but posterity likes a metaphor.) The narrow lane is lined with over a hundred art galleries and studio spaces full of a variety of art. Everything from contemporary to traditional art, sculpture to jewelry, couture clothing to leather goods is offered somewhere along the route, and it’s easy to lose yourself for half a day or more.

These wind sculptures were quite relaxing.

Much had changed in the decade since our last visit, as one would suspect. Couple that with a receding pandemic and Canyon Road felt like a place awakening from a long slumber. In some spots, masks were optional for the fully vaccinated. Others were still being cautious and requiring masks and social distancing for all guests. We were happy to oblige and spent many hours wandering through the galleries discussing art and finding new favorites.

The standout for me was discovering the work of Grant Hayunga at his own recently opened gallery. His work varies but what stood out were his mixed media pieces that sat somewhere between paintings and relief sculpture. Made of various materials, calcium carbonate, crushed marble, beeswax, Hayunga creates fascinating pieces that explore humanity and our relationship with nature. My favorite from this series is fur trapper a recent piece from this year. He also creates these stunning neo-traditional landscapes, one of which—2016’s Asleep—enthralled both Kari-Lise and me. It’s all beautiful work, easily my favorite of the whole Canyon Road experience. You all need to buy more books from me so I can get one of his pieces.

“fur trapper” 2021, hanging in the Grant Hayunga Gallery

Meow Wolf

Canyon Road wasn’t the only artistic experience of the trip. When we last visited Santa Fe, the art collective known as Meow Wolf was still in its infancy. In the decade since our visit, they have experienced significant growth. Their permanent home in Santa Fe is a former-bowling alley funded by some local guy named George R. R. Martin. It sits near the southwestern edge of the city as is home to their first large-scale interactive art experience House of Eternal Return. It’s amazing. The whole thing plays out like an interactive X-Files episode.

I can write a thousand words on what is inside, but it’ll never do it justice. Even photos don’t really capture the magic. You begin outside a modest home oddly enclosed in a warehouse (the reason why is eventually explained). After you pass through the front door (it’s open), you’ll soon discover a rich story told through journals, newspaper articles, videos, and photo albums, pictures on the wall, toys in the bedroom, and much much more. It all ties the family that resided there and their experiences to the surreal worlds you’ll interact with as you move beyond the House itself. I don’t want to go into too much detail on the experience since the House gives back what you bring, and spoilers remove that sense of wonder. (I even consider not sharing pics.)

I came away feeling inspired by the whole thing and thought it’d be great to someday recreate a corner of Lovat for readers to explore in person. Will it ever happen? I don’t know. My “Old Haunts” project is a small attempt at capturing some of that, and while I love them, being able to do it in person would be so rich and satisfying. Imagine standing outside Russel & Sons with rain dropping down around you, muffled jazz blaring from somewhere above, and the smell of spicy noodles cooking from a push cart down the street. Rad idea, right?

House of Eternal Return isn’t Meow Wolf’s only project. They have another installation that went live this year, and more experiences are planned for the future (Denver and eventually Washington D.C.). We’re already looking at a trip to Las Vegas for one reason: visit Omega Mart. Think cosmic horror as a grocery store chain, and you’d be on track. (Check out some of their ads.) It all sounds as creepy and weird and wonderful as I’d hope. I am excited to explore its aisles in the future.

New Mexico Highlands

On a whim, we decided to leave Santa Fe behind and head out into the country. We did this a decade ago, heading northwest toward Abiquiú and the Ghost Ranch. This time we headed northeast toward Taos. Early-summer storms were sweeping across the land, and you could watch enormous dark clouds trailing tails of rain and shadow for miles. For some reason, I expected more of the high desert environment like what I saw ten years previous. But the land toward the northeast was very different to that of the west, it rose suddenly. As we left the desert behind, we found ourselves in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Range of the Southern Rocky Mountains. I’ve grown up among the Rocky’s most of my life. But driving north along highway 68 and looking across the vast Taos plateau and seeing the gorge carved by the Rio Grande was utterly breathtaking. I’ve seen deep valleys before, but never one carved in such flat and open land and from such a height. I still find myself reflecting on that view. Seeing the ground opened up that way was like staring into the vastness of time.

The Río Grande Gorge from the Taos Overlook, off State Road 68 near the “horseshoe.” Photo from the Taos News.

Instead of continuing East across the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, we decided to loop up into the mountains. We found ourselves in Carson National Forest, taking the High Road to Taos scenic byway back to Santa Fe. This is proper mountain country, think tall trees, deep valleys, tiny communities tucked away into hollows, and vast untouched stretches of forest for miles and miles. It all felt closer to home. Beautiful, but not at all what I anticipated.

So Much More

Santa Fe and the surrounding land can be a bit surreal at times. Modern art and interactive art experiences exist alongside deep history. The Palace of the Governors, erected in 1610, is the oldest public building in continuous use in America. Just down the street is the San Miguel Mission, the oldest church in the United States. Outside of Taos is the Taos Pueblo, the oldest continuously inhabited community in the United States, originating sometime between 1000–1450 A.D. and not discovered by Europeans until the sixteenth century. And that only scratches the surface of what you can find in this small section of the state. This doesn’t even begin to cover other places in New Mexico we were unable to visit, locations like White Sands, Roswell, Carlsbad Caverns, Shiprock, Trinity, the burning of Zozobra, Los Alamos, and so much more. There is a density of wonder here and New Mexico doesn’t hold back and is very much worth your attention.

Advice & Tips

You’re going to want to rent a car, this is big country. That said when in town, be willing to walk. There’s so much to see in Santa Fe, and unexpected places are often found on foot.

Eat everything. Try new dishes. Explore New Mexican cuisine. Fear no chile. Don’t be put off by location. Sometimes the smallest trucks tucked into the quietest corners can have the best tacos.

Scenic byways are your friend in Western States and New Mexico is full of them (High Road to Taos, Turquoise Trail, Santa Fe Trail, among many many others). While slower than major freeways, these routes will give travelers glimpses into a New Mexico easily missed by tourists. The extra time is worth it.

This was my fourth trip into New Mexico, my second to Santa Fe, and easily my favorite of the bunch. Each time I visit, the trips get a little longer, and each time I return I wish I had stayed a few more days. The name “Land of Enchantment” is a fitting one. The terrain there is haunting, rich in history and legend, and it calls to the traveler to take time and explore its wonders.

I’m not going to lie, it’s weird to travel right now, even fully vaccinated. People are rightly nervous, business hours are funky, and what we thought of as “normal” has changed significantly. Traveling at the end of a pandemic requires a lot of patience and copious amounts of kindness and empathy. We’re in a transitional period, and those can be both interesting and weird to navigate. However, it’s still worth it to get away for a time, and allow oneself to experience the world again. It was good to return to New Mexico, and a shame to have waited so long to return. Here’s hoping our next visit comes sooner rather than later.

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kuwaiti-kid · 4 years

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Exclusive: Ian Guerin Talks R&B and Dream Dinner Guests

Singer-Songwriter Ian Guerin is making a name for himself in R&B.

Mexican R&B/Pop rising superstar, Ian Guerin, is a force to be reckoned in the industry. Guerin has been writing and performing since he was nine-years-old and he burst into the music charts with his first pop album MADSEXY in 2012 before transitioning into R&B with his new album Irreplaceable which was released in 2019.

Since 2014, Guerin has won 9 BEAT 100 Awards in the United Kingdom and an Akademia Award for Best R&B Soul Song in the United States for his single “Cry”. He’s topped the BEAT 100 United Kingdom World Chart three times with his singles “Pop This Jam,” “Free Time,” and “Roll the Dice”.

Ian Guerin recently discussed his musical career with Your Money Geek’s own Maggie Lovitt.

Maggie Lovitt (ML): You have been writing and performing since you were nine. What first inspired you?

Ian Guerin (IG): The need to vent. I’ve always been very sensitive so I hurt harder than average. I found a way to quiet those voices in my head through singing very early on and then came writing.

I remember penning my first song and feeling immediately lighter. Then, when I sang it, I felt a sense of healing—like everything was going to get better, even though nothing had really changed.

ML: Your debut album “MADSEXY” was a pop album, what inspired you to create an R&B album?

IG: R&B has always been the genre I’ve felt myself with. After I made “MADSEXY” I was satisfied with the overall result, but something felt off—I knew I needed to be and sound authentic to really thrive, so when I made “IRREPLACEABLE” I aimed to be 100% genuine. No trend-following, commercial considerations, or outside inputs about what was “best for me,” my career, or my sound. I wanted raw truths and timeless music.

I wanted to do an album I was proud of in every regard. I grew up listening to artists that had total control over their work, and who wasn’t afraid to defy the odds. We’ve all been through the downfalls of love I talk about on “IRREPLACEABLE,” but most importantly I’m proud of it all as a body of work. People feel the words and the music because they’re free of false pretenses. “IRREPLACEABLE” is exactly the album I wanted to make since high school.

ML: What was the creative inspiration behind your music videos “Roll the Dice” and “Free Time”? Did you come up with the concepts?

My sister, who is a filmmaker, is the one who’s written and directed all my videos so far.

The idea behind “Free Time” was she wanted me to walk through iconic LA streets that featured notorious murals while reminiscing on the love I’d lost. She wanted it to feel as if I was wondering and walking with no apparent direction in search of answers—when she suddenly appears to put all I’m saying in the lyrics to the test.

IG: On “Roll the Dice” the idea was that I was friends with the model and I told her the story I tell in the lyrics about being in a failed relationship and being aware she had one too. Then, in the end, we come together to talk about our situations and fall in love because of that, which isn’t exactly how the song plays out, but people have to listen to it to hear the real story.

ML: Do you feel like R&B is your niche? Do you have plans to explore other genres with your next album?

IG: It’s definitely the genre I enjoy most and the niche I’ve been more embraced by fans. I’m totally me within’ R&B; however, I don’t feel my music has ever been constrained by genres. You hear multiple styles on “IRREPLACEABLE,” because I have multiple influences. Therefore, the new music I’m readying will feature a mixture of genres like 70’s Disco, Lounge & Soul. I truly have no fear of trying new things or of crossing over as many times as I need to, as long as that doesn’t compromise my essence. Because that’s what people have become attached to.

ML: A lot of your music was clearly written about people in your life. Do you feel like love and heartbreak are easy emotions to tap into? Is that where your inspiration comes from?

IG: They are most definitely where my inspiration comes from. However, I don’t know if they are easy emotions to tap into or if it’s just that I’ve grown accustomed to tapping into them to create and release them through song. Maybe it’s hard for people who aren’t used to diving into them, but I’m very introspective so it comes naturally for me.

ML: When you get an idea for a song, are you a pen and paper writer, or do you use an app on your phone?

IG: I’m definitely a phone person. I use my voice notes app to record melodies, harmonies, or lines yet my creative process is intricate.

My demos have to sound exactly like the final recording because my producer uses them as a reference for post-production and mix. I record everything twice in full. First during the demo stage and then during the final session.

What I do is I finish the demo and then play it back till I learn it by heart. I then go to the studio and lay it down with the flow and freedom only a song you know off pat has.

I don’t read off the paper during the final session—reading distracts you from feeling. You have to have everything encrypted in your mind so you can feel it in your heart, that’s what sets the greats aside from the average. They don’t focus on doing it right, they focus(ed) on expressing it naturally.

ML: How did you react when you got your first #1? Who was the first person you called?

IG: I literally jumped and did a celebration dance. I didn’t call anybody, because it was 4 AM. I remember posting the chart on Facebook so my fans were the first to know; I told my mom and dad first thing the next morning.

ML: In recent years the music industry has really been evolving, especially when it comes to musicians owning their own music. How important is it for you to have control over what you create?

IG: It is pivotal. In fact, I have a lot of reservations about releasing music I don’t own 100%.

I know master ownership is a make or break; thus, I only take on projects I don’t control when I’m really invested in them. Plus total control over your work guarantees the preservation of your quality standards. I don’t imagine a world in which someone tells me the kind of artist, musician, or songwriter I have to be to succeed. I know who I am and where I’m going; hence, I like to have the final word on everything that’s released in my name to get there. Again, that’s how the greats did and continue doing it. I think it’s the only way to create a legacy.

ML: Do you have any advice for aspiring performers? Is there anything you wish you had known when you first broke into the industry?

IG: I wish I’d known how long and how hard it would be to make it to those first relevant steps of the staircase. Therefore, my advice to them is: don’t waste time on wishful thinking, get to work. Listen only to the advice of people you respect. Don’t listen to people who tell you you need a backup plan. Stick to your artistic essence. Don’t try to be anybody but yourself. Everybody else is taken. There can only be one you so know yourself and your music well and take a leap.

ML: With COVID-19 turning everyone to social media, do you have any plans to do a live concert on your Instagram or special jam sessions?

IG: I did a jam session for fans in Australia with incredible performers from down under and the U.K.—I’m doing a second date on May 9th. I’m also planning a show on Instagram and another on Facebook in association with other performers. Plus I got word about the possibility of performing in support of gay homeless kids of America so I’m absolutely looking forward to that. Whatever I can do to help I’m open to doing.

ML: How have you been handling quarantine? Have you been working on new music?

IG: I’ve kept myself pretty busy. I’ve had a lot of interviews and meetings about different projects and collaborations. I’ve got over 6 collaborations pending or in the works and I’ve also been working on my new single which will be out the minute this is over.

I’ve been fortunate because a busy mind is a healthy mind and days have gone fast for me. There’s this one collaboration I was invited to do that’s got my mind blown and I think fans are really going to enjoy it—I don’t think they’ve heard me like this before.

ML: Are there any artists you would love to collaborate with?

IG: Yes, in the independent arena I’d love to work with Emma Gale. Her debut single is perfection. I’d love to sing a song of hers and this is a first for me. I usually sing my own material or offer to co-write, but when I heard her single I knew I had to keep my hands off of it and let her write it.

Mainstream-wise it’s got to be Tony Bennett, Ariana Grande, Mariah, or Will. i. am. I’d love to sing a standard with Tony and I’ve written songs I’d love to have Ari, MC, and Will on—they’re four different projects.

ML: Do you have any big dreams you’re trying to manifest into reality?

IG: Yes, I always do. I totally believe we are energy, and that we can hold in our hands whatever we see in our minds. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t like to discuss them, because I don’t want energy to dilute, as my mother puts it. I can tell you this: my heart is open for business and I’m ready to take the world by storm. I need these dreams to materialize so I can have a voice that can really make a change.

ML: You’re having dinner, who are the five people you’re inviting. They can be dead, alive, or fictional.

IG: Ariana Grande, Jack Nicholson, Charlie Chaplin, Judy Garland, and Bojack Horseman. I can totally imagine myself walking into the room holding hands with Ariana and Bojack third-wheeling while he gets angry at Charlie, we all agree with Jack and are mesmerized by his charm and Judy and Charlie tell amazing stories about the glamourous olden days when legends were active. God that would be out of control.

ML: What’s next?

IG: First and foremost, surviving the pandemic and helping others survive it too. Then my new single, my new video and hopefully press and concert tours. I can’t wait to meet my fans in person.

Follow Ian Guerin’s Career:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IanGuerinVEVO Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamianguerin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IamIanGuerin/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamIaNGuerin Website: http://ianguerinmusic.com/

Check out Your Money Geek’s Interview with Paul Guerra.

The post Exclusive: Ian Guerin Talks R&B and Dream Dinner Guests appeared first on Your Money Geek.

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newstechreviews · 4 years

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Scott Warren, a geographer and humanitarian aid worker based in southern Arizona, has been found not guilty on two counts of harboring unauthorized migrants in a case that has gained international attention and called into question the role of humanitarian aid during a time of contentious crackdown on immigration by the federal government.

The 37-year-old had been facing up to ten years in prison. “The government failed in its attempt to criminalize basic human kindness,” Warren told a crowd gathered outside the courthouse in Tucson, Ariz. after the announcement of the verdict. “Everyone here did diligent, detailed and amazing work… I love you all.”

He was arrested on Jan. 17, 2018 by Border Patrol agents who had been surveilling a base used by humanitarian aid groups in Ajo, Ariz. that leave out water and food for migrants who make the deadly, and unauthorized, trek across the Sonoran Desert. The desert has claimed the lives of at least 7,000 migrants who have tried to cross it since the 1990s. Warren first started volunteering six years ago with the group No More Deaths.

“Yet again, No More Deaths has withstood the government’s attempts to criminalize basic human compassion,” wrote No More Deaths in a tweet. “We will continue to provide food, water, and medical aid to all those who need it, until the day that no one dies or disappears while crossing the deserts and oceans of the world.”

BREAKING: Dr. Scott Warren found NOT GUILTY on all charges for providing food, water, shelter, and medical care to two undocumented men. Yet again, No More Deaths has withstood the government’s attempts to criminalize basic human compassion.

— No More Deaths (@NoMoreDeaths) November 20, 2019

On the day of his arrest, Border Patrol agents found Warren with two migrants from Central America. Warren said that he gave them shelter, food and first aid. However, the Border Patrol agents claimed Warren was helping the migrants evade custody and prosecutors charged Warren with two counts of harboring undocumented immigrants and one count of conspiracy to harbor and transport. After facing trial in June, a jury failed to reach a verdict and the government sought a retrial that dropped the conspiracy charge. After a 6-day retrial in Tucson, Ariz., that began Nov. 12 — during which Judge Raner Collins prohibited the mention of President Donald Trump or the Administration’s policies — a 16-member jury found Warren not guilty after about two hours of deliberation.

Warren also faced two misdemeanor charges, including abandonment of property for leaving water in the desert and for operating a motor vehicle on a wilderness refuge. Judge Collins has reportedly acquitted Warren of the abandonment charge, but he might still face legal consequences for the charge of operating a vehicle.

Warren faced 20 years in prison during the previous 9-day trial for his felony charges that ended in a hung jury. The federal government immediately requested a retrial and reduced the penalty to 10 years.

Warren, who sat down with TIME for an interview in September, says he has only acted out of empathy, motivated by his religious beliefs.

“You have blisters, you’re dehydrated, you’re cold, you’re hot, you’re tired — of course I’m going to provide that care, provide that relief,” Warren said. “It’s a little different than like going and protesting the wall being built.”

But prosecutors argued Warren knowingly assisted the migrants in hiding from Border Patrol. In sworn testimony during both trials, the two agents who arrested Warren said they saw him talking to the migrants and gesturing toward areas of the desert where they are less likely to be arrested by Border Patrol. Warren denied that claim, saying he was helping to orient the men to ensure they didn’t wander into more dangerous and deadly terrain.

The case has ramifications that go beyond Warren’s verdict.

“The government certainly wants to send a strong message to people who are providing aid to migrants,” Katherine Franke, professor of law at Columbia University and faculty director of the school’s Law, Rights and Religion Project, tells TIME.

What are the implications of this case?

Since the start of the Trump Administration, there has been an uptick in prosecution and harassment against humanitarian aid workers and lawyers who assist migrants along the southern border with Mexico. Several cases have been documented by organizations including the United Nations and Amnesty International. Since 2017, eight other No More Deaths volunteers have faced misdemeanor charges in connection with their volunteer work. Lawyers and journalists who cover the southern border have also been surveilled, searched and detained by government officials, according to a study by Amnesty International.

But the case against Warren has been the most severe of all charges faced by humanitarian aid workers by far.

Warren told TIME ahead of the retrial that he worried a guilty verdict could similarly mean the targeting of volunteers and aid workers who do not have as many resources as he has had, and that people in families with mixed immigration statuses could be at risk.

“You’re buying food for your uncle who is undocumented, so now we’re going to go prosecute you for harboring. You drive your kids or your family to the park for a picnic or something — is the government going to arrest you and say that you’re smuggling or you’re transporting?” he said in September. “That’s the other fear that I have, that they will try to keep using these laws in new ways to target more people.”

Bijal Shah, an associate professor of law at Arizona State University, says Warren’s case fits into a larger violation of international law by the U.S. government that is implementing policies aimed at keeping refugees and asylum-seekers from entering the country.

“Charging Scott Warren in this context is part of a broader framework of governmental interest in dissuading people from supporting non-citizens” she says. “By discouraging people from assisting non-citizens we are discouraging people from maintaining the United State’s humanitarian commitments.”

But the jury’s decision to acquit Warren sends a message to prosecutors, Franke says. She believes Warren’s faith-based actions convinced the juries in his first trial and the retrial that criminal prosecution is not necessary and inappropriate. “I think it sends a kind of message of a kind of humanity, of showing up for people in a desperate, really deadly situation, and that something is needed there but criminal law is certainly not it,” she says.

Zaachila Orozco, a No More Deaths volunteer, says no policy or prosecution can deter humanitarians from doing their work. She was one of the eight volunteers previously charged with misdemeanors related to their humanitarian aid work in Ajo. “I did what I did because I believe that everybody deserves the right to survive in this world,” she tells TIME ahead of the trial. “Frankly, our government is making it so much harder than necessary.”

People will follow their own moral and ethical code when it comes to saving another person’s life, Orozco adds, no matter the consequence.

But Shah adds that, despite the not guilty verdict, the fact that a prosecution occurred in the first place might be enough discourage future humanitarian assistance. “The fact that this was brought to the floor, the fact that it’s been so highly publicized in and of itself strikes fear in the hearts of people who might be involved in humanitarian efforts,” she says. “The general sense is ‘hey, this guy was trying to help non-citizens and look what happened to him, if I try to give them water or try to make sure that they’re safe, the same thing might happen to me.'”

What’s been the response to the verdict?

Activists and aid organizations across the country have expressed support for Warren and are celebrating the verdict on social media. Some spent days gathered in front of the court house in Tucson hosting prayers and demonstrations in support of Warren

Amnesty International released a statement celebrating the not-guilty verdict Wednesday evening. “Sense has prevailed today with the jury exonerating Dr. Scott Warren for a simple reason: humanitarian aid is never a crime,” said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty International’s Americas director. “The Trump administration is wrong to try to prosecute people who are only trying to save lives. By threatening Dr. Warren with a decade in prison, the U.S. government sought to criminalize compassion and weaponize the deadly desert against people who make the perilous journey to the United States in search of safety.”

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus also chimed in, saying “Human compassion shouldn’t be illegal. Providing food & water to those in need should not be illegal. We must stand by our values & help immigrants in need, just as Scott did,” in a tweet.

Some good news – Scott Warren has been found not guilty after providing migrants in need with aid.

Human compassion shouldn’t be illegal. Providing food & water to those in need should not be illegal.

We must stand by our values & help immigrants in need, just as Scott did. https://t.co/k4YxHG6iwb

— Hispanic Caucus (@HispanicCaucus) November 20, 2019

Customs and Border Protection, the agency that oversees Border Patrol, did not immediately respond to TIME’s request for comment.

Who is Scott Warren?

It was Warren’s pursuit of a PhD in Geography at Arizona State University that first brought him to Ajo in 2009. By 2013, Warren was living in Ajo, dividing his time between lecturing at ASU and volunteering for groups like No More Deaths and Ajo Samaritans.

His long-held faith compelled him to begin volunteering in the desert after seeing first-hand the mass casualties that result from dehydration, hypothermia and exposure. His first experience encountering human remains in the desert happened shortly after he began volunteering in Ajo. The discovery, he says, embodied the gravity of deaths at the border.

“I remember this sense of being like, ‘oh wow, this is really big.’ All the connections and all the ways that in that tragedy there’s also a really enormous cycle,” Warren told TIME.

He’s encountered dozens of remains on at least 100 water drops and search and rescue operations he’s participated in.

Since his arrest in January 2018, Warren continued to volunteer for humanitarian aid groups in Ajo despite the charges against him.

#Blogger

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itsfinancethings · 4 years

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— No More Deaths (@NoMoreDeaths) November 20, 2019

Warren, who sat down with TIME for an interview in September, says he has only acted out of empathy, motivated by his religious beliefs.

The case has ramifications that go beyond Warren’s verdict.

What are the implications of this case?

But the case against Warren has been the most severe of all charges faced by humanitarian aid workers by far.

People will follow their own moral and ethical code when it comes to saving another person’s life, Orozco adds, no matter the consequence.

What’s been the response to the verdict?

Some good news – Scott Warren has been found not guilty after providing migrants in need with aid.

Human compassion shouldn’t be illegal. Providing food & water to those in need should not be illegal.

We must stand by our values & help immigrants in need, just as Scott did. https://t.co/k4YxHG6iwb

— Hispanic Caucus (@HispanicCaucus) November 20, 2019

Customs and Border Protection, the agency that oversees Border Patrol, did not immediately respond to TIME’s request for comment.

Who is Scott Warren?

“I remember this sense of being like, ‘oh wow, this is really big.’ All the connections and all the ways that in that tragedy there’s also a really enormous cycle,” Warren told TIME.

He’s encountered dozens of remains on at least 100 water drops and search and rescue operations he’s participated in.

Since his arrest in January 2018, Warren continued to volunteer for humanitarian aid groups in Ajo despite the charges against him.

#IFTTT #Blogger

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viralnewstime · 4 years

Link

— No More Deaths (@NoMoreDeaths) November 20, 2019

Warren, who sat down with TIME for an interview in September, says he has only acted out of empathy, motivated by his religious beliefs.

The case has ramifications that go beyond Warren’s verdict.

What are the implications of this case?

But the case against Warren has been the most severe of all charges faced by humanitarian aid workers by far.

People will follow their own moral and ethical code when it comes to saving another person’s life, Orozco adds, no matter the consequence.

What’s been the response to the verdict?

Some good news – Scott Warren has been found not guilty after providing migrants in need with aid.

Human compassion shouldn’t be illegal. Providing food & water to those in need should not be illegal.

We must stand by our values & help immigrants in need, just as Scott did. https://t.co/k4YxHG6iwb

— Hispanic Caucus (@HispanicCaucus) November 20, 2019

Customs and Border Protection, the agency that oversees Border Patrol, did not immediately respond to TIME’s request for comment.

Who is Scott Warren?

“I remember this sense of being like, ‘oh wow, this is really big.’ All the connections and all the ways that in that tragedy there’s also a really enormous cycle,” Warren told TIME.

He’s encountered dozens of remains on at least 100 water drops and search and rescue operations he’s participated in.

Since his arrest in January 2018, Warren continued to volunteer for humanitarian aid groups in Ajo despite the charges against him.

#Blogger

0 notes

ossyuche · 5 years

Text

Do Men Have It Easier? Ask a Transgender Man

In the never-ending gender wars that take place in the media (and on blogs), I think it’s important to continue to gather more information and listen to different voices.

As a reader, your perspective is largely limited by your own gender and experience.

As a dating coach, I listen to both perspectives each day and can perhaps see a broader and more balanced view, yet I’m certain I have blind spots as well.

Which is why I found this Washington Post article so fascinating. It references interviews with four transgender men who used to be women. All of us who try to guess or project what it’s like to understand the opposite sex can’t hold a candle to these folks who have actually experienced what it’s like to be a member of both genders.

So, without further ado, here are some of the surprising takeaways:

Alex, a 26-year-old Asian: “People now assume I have logic, advice and seniority. They look at me and assume I know the answer, even when I don’t. I’ve been in meetings where everyone else in the room was a woman and more senior, yet I still got asked, “Alex, what do you think? We thought you would know.” I was at an all-team meeting with 40 people, and I was recognized by name for my team’s accomplishments. Whereas next to me, there was another successful team led by a woman, but she was never mentioned by name. I went up to her afterward and said, “Wow, that was not cool; your team actually did more than my team.” The stark difference made me feel uncomfortable and brought back feelings of when I had been in the same boat and not been given credit for my work.

When people thought I was a woman, they often gave me vague or roundabout answers when I asked a question. I’ve even had someone tell me, “If you just Googled it, you would know.” But now that I’m read as a man, I’ve found people give me direct and clear answers, even if it means they have to do some research on their own before getting back to me.”

Trystan, a 50-year old African-American: “There are also ways in which men deal with sexism and gender oppression that I was not aware of when I was walking around in a female body. A couple of years after my transition, I had a grad student I’d been mentoring. She started coming on to me, stalking me, sending me emails and texts. My adviser and the dean – both women – laughed it off. It went on for the better part of a year, and that was the year that I was going up for tenure. It was a very scary time. I felt very worried that if the student felt I was not returning her attention, she would claim that I had assaulted her. I felt like as a guy, I was not taken seriously. I had experienced harassment as a female person at another university and they had reacted immediately, sending a police escort with me to and from campus. I felt like if I had still been in my old body I would have gotten a lot more support.”

“Being a black man has changed the way I move in the world. I used to walk quickly or run to catch a bus. Now I walk at a slower pace, and if I’m late I don’t dare rush. I am hyper-aware of making sudden or abrupt movements, especially in airports, train stations and other public places. I avoid engaging with unfamiliar white folks, especially white women. If they catch my eye, white women usually clutch their purses and cross the street. While I love urban aesthetics, I stopped wearing hoodies and traded my baggy jeans, oversized jerseys and colorful skullcaps for closefitting jeans, khakis and sweaters. These changes blunt assumptions that I’m going to snatch purses or merchandise, or jump the subway turnstile. The less visible I am, the better my chances of surviving.”

The hormones made me more impatient. I had lots of female friends and one of the qualities they loved about me was that I was a great listener.

Chris, a 49-year-old Caucasian: “The hormones made me more impatient. I had lots of female friends and one of the qualities they loved about me was that I was a great listener. After being on testosterone, they informed me that my listening skills weren’t what they used to be. Here’s an example: I’m driving with one of my best friends, Beth, and I ask her “Is your sister meeting us for dinner?” Ten minutes later she’s still talking and I still have no idea if her sister is coming. So finally, I couldn’t take it anymore, and I snapped and said, “IS SHE COMING OR NOT?” And Beth was like, “You know, you used to like hearing all the backstory and how I’d get around to the answer. A lot of us have noticed you’ve become very impatient lately and we think it’s that damn testosterone!” It’s definitely true that some male behavior is governed by hormones. Instead of listening to a woman’s problem and being empathetic and nodding along, I would do the stereotypical guy thing – interrupt and provide a solution to cut the conversation short and move on. I’m trying to be better about this.”

Zander, a 52-year-old Caucasian: “Prior to my transition, I was an outspoken radical feminist. I spoke up often, loudly and with confidence. I was encouraged to speak up. I was given awards for my efforts, literally – it was like, “Oh, yeah, speak up, speak out.” When I speak up now, I am often given the direct or indirect message that I am “mansplaining,” “taking up too much space” or “asserting my white male heterosexual privilege.” Never mind that I am a first-generation Mexican American, a transsexual man, and married to the same woman I was with prior to my transition.

I find the assertion that I am now unable to speak out on issues I find important offensive and I refuse to allow anyone to silence me. My ability to empathize has grown exponentially because I now factor men into my thinking and feeling about situations. Prior to my transition, I rarely considered how men experienced life or what they thought, wanted or liked about their lives. I have learned so much about the lives of men through my friendships with men, reading books and articles by and for men and through the men I serve as a licensed clinical social worker.”

“I do notice that some women do expect me to acquiesce or concede to them more now: Let them speak first, let them board the bus first, let them sit down first, and so on. I also notice that in public spaces men are more collegial with me, which they express through verbal and nonverbal messages: head lifting when passing me on the sidewalk and using terms like “brother” and “boss man” to acknowledge me. As a former lesbian feminist, I was put off by the way that some women want to be treated by me, now that I am a man, because it violates a foundational belief I carry, which is that women are fully capable human beings who do not need men to acquiesce or concede to them…”

“What continues to strike me is the significant reduction in friendliness and kindness now extended to me in public spaces. It now feels as though I am on my own: No one, outside of family and close friends, is paying any attention to my well-being.”

Out of all of that, which were the most powerful insights for you? Your thoughts, as always, are appreciated.

The post Do Men Have It Easier? Ask a Transgender Man appeared first on Dating Coach – Evan Marc Katz | Understand Men. Find Love..

I’m a Transgender Woman Who is Saving Herself For Marriage. Why Aren’t Men Interested?

Again, Men and Women Are Biologically Different

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Original source: https://www.evanmarckatz.com/blog/understanding-men/do-men-have-it-easier-ask-a-transgender-man

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lewepstein · 7 years

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The War on Empathy

In Harper Lee’s iconic novel, “To Kill A Mockingbird,” Atticus Finch counsels his daughter Scout on the values of compassion and forgiveness. He says to her, “You never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them.” His words are at the heart of the golden rule, “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you,” the central tenet of most religions and the basis of our civil society.

Compassion is the quality that moves us to treat others kindly. It is closely connected to empathy, that uniquely human ability to imagine what it would be like to stand in the shoes of others - to understand their plight and feel their pain. It is the force within that impels us to treat family, friends, colleagues and even strangers in the manner that we would want to be treated ourselves. It is also the quality most under assault during the tenure of Trump.

As a therapist, I see empathy as rooted in our earliest relationships - in the ways that we learned to love our caregivers and to internalize the values that they taught us by their words and deeds. To love thy neighbor as thyself pre-supposes an open-heartedness that extends to the rest of humanity, a quality that also allows us to be kind and respectful toward our fellow citizens. It doesn’t mean that we will never have conflicts or be called upon to make tough decisions about policies and people. It does mean that whether in the corporate boardroom or the oval office we are aware of the impact that our actions have on the lives of others.

On the other side of the compassion and empathy spectrum there is pathological narcissism. In this disordered personality the self is the province of grandiose, exaggerated preoccupation. There is a grasping for unlimited success, power and “ specialness,” and especially admiration. And there is a sense of entitlement so great, that there should be automatic compliance with one’s expectations.

The behavior of the pathologically narcissistic individual is often exploitative of others. He will take advantage of others to achieve his ends. At the core there is a lack of empathy, an unwillingness to recognize or identify with the feelings or needs of others. The narcissist is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him. He shows arrogant and haughty behaviors and attitudes and he will often experience criticism as an emotional injury.

It has probably become obvious by now that the psychological profile I have just laid out is that of our current president. What should still come as a shock is that the words in the last two paragraphs describing this pathology come directly from the Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association. They are the criteria used for diagnosing an individual with a “Narcissistic Personality Disorder.” Any five of the characteristics listed would qualify an individual for such a diagnosis. Donald Trump exhibits all nine.

Our president’s narcissistically driven lack of empathy has been highlighted in his recent comments to the family of an army sergeant who died in an ambush in Niger, in the line of duty. Instead of offering comforting words, Trump is reported to have said, “Well I guess he knew what he was signing up for.” But anyone who has followed Trump’s rise as a media personality has witnessed this type of callous disregard for human pain and suffering in the dramas enacted on “The Apprentice.”

Naomi Klein, social activist and author, in her call to action, “No Is Not Enough,” describes how The Apprentice delivered Trump’s “brand” as well as his central sales pitch:

Trump was saying to viewers that by unleashing your most selfish and ruthless side, you are creating jobs and fueling growth. Don’t be nice, be a killer. In later seasons, the underlying cruelty of the show grew even more sadistic. The winning team lived in a luxurious mansion - drinking champagne in inflatable pool lounges, zipping off in limos to meet celebrities. The losing team was deported to tents in the backyard nicknamed “Trump Trailer Park.” The tent-dwellers, whom Trump gleefully deemed the “have-nots,” didn’t have electricity, ate off paper plates and slept to the sounds of howling dogs. They would peek through a gap in the hedge to see what decadent wonders the “haves” were enjoying.

Trump took the ever-widening income and equality gap and turned it into a spectator sport. In essence, the message was step over the losers and become a winner like him.

Historians looking back at this era may forever speculate about what combination of fear, outrage, prejudice and alienation allowed people to vote for an emotionally disturbed man in such numbers - to mistake grandiosity for caring and cruelty for authenticity. But the war on empathy did not begin with Donald Trump. He is simply the latest politician to do battle against the forces of unity, compassion and love.

Demagogues and right-wing politicians always mobilize their followers against a scapegoat, usually a marginalized and powerless group such as immigrants or an ethnic minority that is easy to demonize. The end result of this type of rhetoric can be lynchings, policies of ethnic cleansing and genocide. Instead of promoting empathy, an image is projected onto the group that fosters fear, envy and hatred.

Trump’s characterization of Mexicans immigrants as rapists and murderers is just the latest manifestation of this cynical tactic. Reagan’s damning portrayal of African- American women as “Welfare Queens” who were ripping off the system or George H.W. Bush’s profiling of formerly incarcerated black men as “Willie Hortons,” who would be freed by liberals to kill again also played into the racial stereotype of African-Americans as marginal citizens and criminals to be hated and feared. Mitt Romney’s statement during a fundraiser, secretly caught on someone’s cell phone about the “makers and the takers,” revealed his underlying contempt for those in our society who owned little and were less fortunate and less ruthless than he had been.

Many of the party bosses of the modern Democratic party are no less cynical than their Republican counterparts. While wrapping themselves in the mantle of empathy and compassion and portraying themselves as the representatives of the disenfranchised - African- Americans, the LBGTQ community, women and Latinos - their actual policy positions when in power belie their soaring rhetoric. Working people have learned in the last fifty years that most Democrats are a tepid ally at best and will almost always abandon their interests in favor of the party’s wealthier, urban, corporate elites.

There was a reason beyond racism and sexism why Trump had such an appeal to rural and small town, white, working class Americans. After generations of neglect and policy positions that ignored the needs of small town and rural working class whites, it was difficult for Hillary Clinton and other Democrats to make the argument that they felt their pain or had their backs.

Even greater than the undercurrent of racism, xenophobia and classism in the current war on empathy is the backlash against the gains that women have made since the modern feminist movement began in the 1960s. It is not insignificant that empathy and compassion are traits that distinctly fall on the feminine side of our traditional gender roles. Terry Real, the author of numerous books on patriarchy and gender stated the following in a recent article:

So here’s a sobering thought: suppose Trump was elected not despite his offensive, misogynous behaviors but, at least in part because of them….What we are witnessing is a reassertion of masculinity’s most difficult and harmful traits,aggression, narcissism, sexual assaultiveness, grandiosity and contempt. Real quotes the 2016 Presidential Gender Watch Report which summarizes several surveys this way: “Trump supporters are much more likely than Clinton voters to say that men and women should ‘stick to the roles for which they are naturally suited,’ that society has become too soft and feminine, and that society seems to ‘punish’ men just for acting like men.’” Real goes onto say,” I want men to hold fast to those elements that are good and right about the traditional male role - courage, loyalty, competence - but men also deserve to have access to emotion, particularly the vulnerable emotions that connect us to one another.”

On the feminine side of the empathy quagmire, it is crucial for women to finally get it that it is not their job to protect men from their disowned fragility. I have read a number of quotes from women who voted for Trump in which they excused his boasts about pussy-grabbing and other assaultive behaviors by rationalizing that “he’s really a good, caring man underneath.” This to me is the same misplaced empathy that I have witnessed in my office by wives who have brainwashed themselves into believing that their abusive husbands really loved them, when the evidence they were presenting should have convinced them to get out of that relationship immediately.

Right- wing pundits and media personalities such as Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity have also fanned the flames of a resurgent patriarchy by characterizing women fighting for their rights as “feminazis,” once again demonizing a vulnerable group and promoting hatred in place of the understanding and compassion that should be our guiding light.

In our nation’s history, empathy has not always been under attack as it is today. The fact that the economic crisis of the 1930s had a title: “The Great Depression,” provided a bulwark against the perception that poverty was a personal failure. There was no moral condemnation when a family was left homeless or a breadwinner was selling apples on the street because he had lost his job - no Trump Trailer Park as a dumping place where the “haves” could direct their derision toward the shamed “have-nots.” As with the World War that arose in the following decade, there was some shared understanding that we were all in this together - at least if you weren’t dark-skinned or a Japanese American - and that making sacrifices for one’s fellow citizens was a virtue to be extolled.

If the political leaders who we elect represent some aspect of who we are as a people then we should probably label Donald Trump our “Narcissist in Chief.” His singularly selfish ethic of “looking out for number one” to the exclusion of compassionately looking out for others is the hallmark of his leadership. It also reflects back to what is deeply flawed about our society.

What was once something called the “common good”- appointments and funding that empowered government departments like the Environmental Protective Agency to safeguard our drinking water from toxic and carcinogenic substances has been sold off to the highest corporate bidder. But there is also a large segment of our working class population that is unwilling to give up what they see as their right to purchase and sell weapons of mass destruction - in essence their adult toys called assault weapons - even at the cost of the on-going slaughter of school children and other fellow citizens. The leader sets the standard by placing his personal economic needs and self-aggrandizing political image ahead of the common good, and this, in turn, validates and promotes a culture of narcissism and self-indulgence in the society at large.

In the long view of history regimes come and go and societies periodically regress into the dark ages of nationalism and authoritarian rule. But no empire, nation or leader has been able to withstand the forces of progress for long. Disenfranchised social classes will continue to struggle to bring about a more equitable redistribution of our planet’s wealth and fossil fuels will inevitably be replaced by cleaner forms of energy - hopefully before we create more environmental disasters.

What is less clear to me is the answer to the question: What will be the outcome of the war on empathy? Will the forces of patriarchy, racism, and narrow self-interest continue to degrade our relationships with one another? Will the reflexively fear-based parts of us continue to be exploited by leaders so that we as a society periodically lose our moral center? If so, we will continue to elevate leaders who are shallow, opportunistic reflections of our narcissistic selves.

We continually need to relearn the lesson that a society is only as advanced as the political and social consciousness of its citizens. It would be difficult for any student of history to deny that the “Realpolitics” of the last hundred years based on our many “isms” - communism, state capitalism, rule by plutocrats or by patriarchal religious heads has only produced more repressive, authoritarian regimes and human suffering.

If there is a next American or world revolution it will only bring about lasting change when those promoting the war on empathy have been drowned out by a vast chorus of people who are uncompromising in their shared values of empathy and compassion. The “new man” and “new woman” will need to have evolved in ways that will allow them to create the new society. This new, vocal majority will never allow itself to be divided by fears and prejudices about the so called “others” because they will have evolved to the point of understanding that the so called “others” are simply manifestations of themselves in another era or context. When this type of change occurs, and the global mind reaches some kind of critical mass, a fierce and compassionate humanism will replace the era of narcissism. Only then will we be ready to create the type of world in which we would all want to live.

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