In the world of rock, Queen stands out as a good example of the clash between guitar and piano in songwriting. I think that’s where you stumble across those more unusual arrangements and chord structures.
In my heart I want to do more hard rock music, but at the same time, I’m much more attracted to the piano. I think that automatically causes something unusual to happen.
Also Smashing Pumpkins, even though they’re not piano-based. I always found their arrangements interesting, like on the album, Siamese Dream. In terms of guitar, I also like Rage Against the Machine and Jimi Hendrix.
But in terms of piano, I love Ben Folds, but to me, that’s a very different style of music. I love the low, heavy piano bit in “Jackson Cannery.” It made me realise if you want to get heavy, you have to get down there and hit some large chord.
Matt Bellamy on his influences and making a big sound | "Innocence And Absolution", Keyboard Magazine, June 2005
shoutout to the time i thought juggalos were just a random type of clown in the same way rodeo and pierrot is, and I off-handedly mentioned them in a conversation about clowns to one of my DQ managers when I worked there, and she fucking lost her mind laughing and I was like. damn. I didn't think my joke was THAT funny but okay. and then I never looked up what a juggalo actually was until just last year, like four years after I'd stopped working at that place 🧍
7 6 2 5 4 7 3 2 5 1 4
4 7 4 7 6 4 (when i was a young boy)
6 74 6 7 67 4 53 (my father took me into the city)
6 7 6 54 3 (to see a marching band)
4 5 7 4 764 (he said son when you grow up)
674 6 7 67 4 53 (would you be the savior of the broken)
6 7 6 54 3 (the beaten and the damned)
(notation is only somewhat reflective of timing lolz). the limited palette necessitates a bit of wrongness.. for instance the first B (third note) is supposed to be higher than the other notes but adapting to the lower B sounded better than using the only other higher note - the A7. alas, tis the nature of shits and giggles 🖤
went to the second hand piano shop today, was amazing being surrounded by so many instruments! they had some really nice yamaha uprights and a beautifully restored 90 year old blüthner grand (with a price tag to match...) and also a rather sweet kemble that was pretty fun to play :)
IPS-N showrooms are what you'd get if you slammed a truck dealership, a hardware store, a camping gear shop and a sports bar together in the Bass Pro Shops Pyramid. We're talking row upon row of shelves stocked with the most precision-engineered engine parts you can print on one side of the floor, and on the other, durable, hard-wearing survival gear. Camping stoves you can run off of your mech's coldcore, sleeping bags that'll survive a HEX charge, automatic camo cloth, the works.
Right down the middle, you've got the mech floor. They've got the Tortuga. They've got the Blackbeard. They've got the Drake. They've got the Lancaster and the Kidd. They've got the Vlad (they put a chain-link fence covered in DO NOT TOUCH signs around that one after the infamous CFO's 10-year-old Incident). They've even got the Raleigh, kinda tucked away a little bit behind the water feature, but it's there!
Everything on the shop floor is ruggedized to the point that you could take a mech's fist to it without leaving a dent - and they sometimes do that to demonstrate the engineering quality. There's a giant screen hanging from the ceiling displaying constant advertising for the mechs and IPS-N in general, usually striding purposefully through idyllic Diasporan wilderness or doing hard, honest work like starship loading or construction. There's a mixtape of the most famous bro-country hits playing 24/7.
Smith-Shimano Corpro
In a word: bespoke. Everything in this place is custom. Each and every desk is individually built according to the height of the salesperson who sits behind it, and manages to be a unique art piece without disrupting the overarching aesthetic of the showroom. Whenever there's a change of staff on the sales floor, they rearrange every single desk so that they're still in ascending order.
All of the salespeople are inhumanly pretty, by the way. This atelier has its own fully-staffed makeup and wardrobe team. You're part of a work of art when you work for SSC. Everything and everyone gleams. Even the most chic visitors might feel underdressed in the midst of all this splendour.
The mechs aren't just there to be sold, they're there to be part of the experience. You might see a Monarch holding up the ceiling like the titan Atlas himself. A Mourning Cloak might be posed provocatively like a nude statue. That Swallowtail - is it in a slightly different position every time you see it, or is that just its camouflage decals? How does it always manage to be just inside your line of sight, even when you're looking somewhere else?
They have a catwalk, like you'd see at a fashion show, but it's sized for mechs. If they really think you might make a purchase, they'll queue up the entire performance for you, and you'll get to see a Viceroy strut.
The mix tape for this showroom is a seamless mixture of complex jazz, psychedelic ambient and classical piano music. It's sophisticated and mysterious.
Harrison Armory
Imagine if America could be a showroom. Harrison Armory mech outlets are part dealership, part museum. Every mech is in its own diorama, depicting some heroic event in the Armory's glorious history. A phalanx of Sherman Mk. Is holds the line against some Diasporan slaver-tyrant's army. A Saladin fends off Karrakin hordes during the Interest War. The Genghis Mk. II? Oh, that diorama isn't open right now, it had to be closed for *coughcoughcough* and *coughcoughcough* but let's move on shall we heh heh
Everyone who works here has been in the Colonial Legion at some point, and knows every specification of the mechs they sell off by heart without even looking at their slate. If possible, the Armory tries to employ people who have actual combat experience with the mechs they're selling; people who can speak to the efficacy of their technology first-hand. It's one of the many programs which the Armory has open for retired veterans; it's easy work for decent pay, good benefits and it looks great on your Social.
The music here is a constant loop of patriotic Armory anthems. If you've ever heard the music from Starship Troopers, or the Outbreak of War from Star Ocean, you'll know what I'm talking about.
HORUS
Being a decentralized omninet collective with no official branding or even consistent manufacturing standards, it should come as no surprise that HORUS has no showrooms.
ERR:CONNECTION_INTERRUPT
CartesianWhisper: P55555t
CartesianWhisper: Ignore that 5hithead
CartesianWhisper: They don't have any idea what they're talking about
CartesianWhisper: You want a mech, kid?
CartesianWhisper: And I'm not talking the tra5h the Purv5 try to 5ell you
CartesianWhisper: Or that overpriced garbage 55C want5 you to mortgage your genetic5 for
CartesianWhisper: Or the macho trucker bull5hit IP5-N i5 trying to hawk
CartesianWhisper: I'm talking about the REAL DEAL
CartesianWhisper: The PROPER 5TUFF
CartesianWhisper: Log on to rgx0582.node-7.c4l.omni
CartesianWhisper: I'll 5how you what true power mean5 >:]
Aside from needing a new roof, and being a fixer upper, my first thought was that this 2002 home in Berkeley, West Virginia, is the perfect witches house, but it's also a very unique home. There are 3 levels, but the description says 0 bds. It's so open that there are spaces for beds, but not actual rooms. It does have 2ba. and 7.40 acres of land for $325K. The rural property is on the Virginia border so apparently commuting there to work would be easy.
At the entrance, 2 large tree trunks hold up the roof and the path is paved with colorful tiles. The 2 front tiles say "Welcome."
As soon as you walk in, you can see the open concept. The ceiling spreads out from the center fireplace and the floorboards are in a square pattern surrounding it.
The main floor can be set up in many different ways.
It's quite spacious.
There's also a bath and walk-in closet.
This is the second level. It goes around and is open in the middle.
It's pretty big up here- there's a piano in the corner on the right.
A large deck goes around the house on the 2nd level.
Behind the fireplace on the main floor are stairs to a lower level.
The kitchen is down on this level.
This area with the shelving would make a nice bedroom or den.
The area next to it also looks like it could potentially be a bedroom, also.
Lots of space down here.
There's also a bathroom and laundry.
There's storage.
The description says "bring all the animals." Looks like a couple of kennels there.
Over 7 acres can certainly be a farm and are under the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program.
There are 2 loafing sheds (a place for horses and other livestock to take shelter from harsh weather) that need repair.
There are also several fenced in areas.
Well, it's a large farm property with a most unusual farm house.
Update: I wrote this at like 1 AM, so I was kind of half-asleep lol. A few people brought up that there were a bunch of duplicates in the list, sorry about that! I redid the whole list and ordered them alphabetically to avoid any repeating words. Hope you find the new list much more helpful!
Hobbies are a great way to practice self-care, and to have as a stress reliever. As uni students, we often find ourselves stressed out about our academic responsibilities, projects deadlines, and even financial concerns. We need some way to let out those stresses, and hobbies are one way to do it. You don't have to be good at them, you just have to enjoy doing them!
Content: Your poor boyfriend Reid just has to talk about how he feels. Reverse comfort! He's such a sweetheart :(
Working with the B.A.U. really was a tole taking job. Even more so when you got told you were a room down at the hotel. "You can room with me if you want." It was Reid's quiet voice next to you, "I don't feel much like sleeping so you can have the bed." He gave you that tired smile, the small one that had you knowing that he really didn't feel like sleeping.
Even after you'd both settled in the room and sat comfortably on the bed you could tell he wouldn't sleep so you laid down first. "Lay down." you mumbled and he did so, albeit awkwardly but he laid beside you. "Do you think I'm strange?" it was quiet, an almost unnoticeable whisper. "Strange? Why would I think that?" You could see from your peripherals that Reid was messing with his hands, anxiously thinking. "Talk to me, Spence."
At that he was quiet for a moment. "I just know I'm odd. I use words like betwixt and I know what ballads are. I seem to talk too much and never notice that people don't like what I'm talking about. My favorite shows are nerdy and I always explain them to people who don't care. I go on and on about things the team finds creepy or weird. Derek says I'll never get a date if I keep being this way and I'm starting to see his point, I'm lacking in the boyfriend department and I can't even make friends. You know, the team tells me their secrets and I think it's because they know I have no one else to tell. Did you know J.J. collects butterflies? Or that Derek secretly likes The Smiths? Or that Hotch is fond of chocolate flavored sweets? Emily likes deathmetal. Penelope's favorite television program is Vampire Diaries."
Reid turned to you as he spoke, looking at you as if he might cry. He felt so estranged compared to everyone else, you seemed to be the only one who listened. You didn't even talk when he was done, letting him continue. "I just know all this stuff about everyone, and I feel like no one knows me." You nodded softly and finally talked after a beat of silence. "Chocolate frosted donuts with rainbow sprinkles." Reid was instantly confused by this, raising a brow. "Excuse me?" '
You chuckled, "Your favorite donut. Emily told me." A small smile graced his lips at this. "And Derek said you really like chicken tandoori." His smile only seemed to widen. "And you put three whole tablespoons of sugar in your coffee according to J.J." You seemed like you weren't going to stop anytime soon and he looked so contented he didn't want you to. "And Hotch says you like pretzels and rice crispy treats. Pen says you grew up with horses and that you adore Halloween and all its traditions. Gideon told me you loved classical music and chess, he even saw you play piano once. And you're never lacking in the boyfriend department because you've been nothing but perfect. You're the sweetest man alive and I wish you'd ramble to me every second of the day because your voice is lovely."
He seemed about ready to cry as he moved his hand to touch your cheek. "You're too good to me," he whispered, kissing your forehead, "Thank you. I feel much better sweetheart." You give him a small smile and a kiss. "That's good, now let's get some sleep you look exhausted."
“you should definitely go,” chan said quietly, his voice strained and filled with misery. you didn't say anything back, quietly fighting the tears angrily wailing in your eyes.
you two were lying on the beach, listening to waves hitting the shore. the sea was restless that day - as if it sensed your mood. you were cuddled with him on a small blanket you took from the car, surrounded by his cologne, the scent you knew all too well and loved even more.
you'd just told him about the offer you received a few days before. you were given this huge opportunity which could possibly change your entire career for better. though there was something that made this whole thing a bit less exciting. yes, you got into a one-year program for aspiring scientists, but it was taking place in canada. but who would reject such a great opportunity to finally spread their wings? who would even question whether to go or not? well, that would be you. of course, it was huge and it could quite literally change your whole life - better income, bigger knowledge, more opportunities to work with respected scientists in the future. but then there was chan.
you two met almost five years earlier. you were friends with felix, who happened to be chan’s friend as well, so it was natural for the two of you to meet up at different occasions. and the bond between you grew and grew. he would help you to figure out how to write an essay for a particularly mean lecturer even though he knew shit about the topic. and he would always bring you snacks and coffee for your late study sessions, helping you to write and cut the flashcards and proofread your drafts to check if there are any typos and grammar mistakes. but you two would also enjoy mundane activities such as going to the movies or cooking together. you would spare shy glances at him when he wasn’t looking just to admire him. in the meantime he shared his love for music with you, creating you various playlists for different occasions and playing piano for you. he'd never told you before, but with you he felt safe, as if any worries in his life disappeared when you approached him, you were his haven. and over the time you realised that you couldn’t lie to yourself anymore - his shiny eyes, soft smile and unique worldview made you fall in love with him too. of course, you hadn’t figured it out in a few days, you simply couldn’t. but after what seemed like eternity you both sorted things out in your heads and a week ago you finally talked about it. and when you thought that everything in your life was coming together the offer came and you started questioning every single decision you have ever made. you thought about how are you going to tell chan about it - you knew he would be supportive, of course he would. and you loved that about him. but deep down you were hoping, just a little bit, that he’s going to be selfish this time, that he’s going to tell you “please stay here with me”. but he simply couldn’t, he knew this was too big for you to let it go.
“you do want to go, right?” he then asked, there was panic in his voice at your lack of response. why was he panicked? “i guess so…” you finally mumbled, not sure at the moment. all you knew is that you wanted to be where you were right now - in chan’s arms, surrounded by his warm body and this pretty cologne.
“what do you mean? i mean, you love your job, it’s a great offer. i’m pretty sure not everyone got it” he spoke again, trying to help you, convince you that this is what you should do right now. in reality he tried to convince himself, not wanting to say anything that could discourage you from going. of course he wanted you to make your dreams happen, your happiness was his happiness. but why now?
"sure, i love my job, i just… now i wanna be here, with you," you mumbled, cheeks rosy. suddenly you felt embarrassed, because who on earth would put a boy over a great career?
but chan wasn't just a boy, he was a person you could quite literally see your future with. it didn't matter that you weren't really in a real relationship yet, you both knew it was just a formality now. "hey, yn, i'm not mad that you're leaving now. i want you to be happy and i know this is gonna make you happy, yeah?" he whispered, his voice getting weaker and weaker with every word. you suddenly got up, breaking free from his warm embrace. "you know what would make me happy now? being here, with you," you shouted, angry tears welling in your eyes. "going to the convenience store at 2am to buy some snacks, watching a new movie on netflix and cuddling on a sunday morning. you would make me really happy now," you whispered the last words, feeling defeated. what was the point of lying? he knew how you felt towards him.
the tears started falling down your face and you started to shiver from the cold wind. chan didn't waste time, he got up as well and brought you to his chest, hugging tightly, and started rubbing soothing circles on your back. he muttered sweet nothing into your hair, kissing your forehead from time to time. but you couldn't calm down, not now. you wanted to let out your anger and misery, wanted the whole world to know how deeply hurt you're right now. you wanted to scream on the top of your lungs at whoever was up there, cursing at them for putting you in this situation.
but you sobbed into chan's chest instead, desperately clutching at his hoodie. you were like a porcelain doll, fragile and defenseless.
"it sucks, you know? i-i really thought we could be together but-" you hiccuped through tears. at this point your head hurt, your eyes stung and you grew more and more tired. "it's okay, i'll wait for you however long you want me to" chan interrupted you, sensing your pain. it was hard for him too, knowing he has to set you free and let you spread your wings. how bittersweet, chan thought. he was willing to wait for you, but god, was he impatient by nature. he wanted to kiss you hungrily, clutch into your clothes and never let go. but now it would only broke the two of you even more and he was not letting it happen.
you stayed like this for a long time, over the time your broken sobs stopped, but you didn't let go of chan, clutching to him like a koala. he was quiet, running his fingers through your hair.
"i don't want you to regret going, yn" chan spoke suddenly, his voice barely above the whisper. "i don't mind waiting, i just want you to go there and make your dream come true, 'cause seeing you happy will make me happy." you sighed and finally looked up to make eye contact with chan. "you know i love you, right?" chan was caught of guard by your words, but he smiled nonetheless. he nodded and placed a soft kiss on your temple. "i will come back and when i do i'll make sure to compensate you this year," you exclaimed, taking his hand in yours and squeezing it.
a few days later chan accompanied you to the airport. you didn't want to let go of his hand, as if he was going to disappear as soon as you do. but the time didn't stop for the two of you and you had to say your goodbyes. "can i kiss you?" chan asked you and you looked at him. "not now. if you do, i won't go anywhere." he only smiled sadly at your words but nodded his head. he understood. with that you pecked his cheek instead and let go of his hand with tears in your eyes. "see you soon, chan" you whispered. "see you soon, yn".