Z. Allora's Blog, page 3

I Only Wanted to Know Their Names....

A couple weeks ago I asked this innocent question: Who was who?

Before I even learned 5 out of the 7 members names: BTS drafted me into their army. And well, now I know much more than that. LOL 

Allow me to share their latest release. The perfect summer song... be warned you might find yourself down a well of K-pop (though if you do get there I promise you'll be happy!) 

Big Hugs, Z. 

 

Why Did I Write Yet Another Boy Band Story

 

While in Japan I was fascinated I visited Animate (many floors of everything manga, Yaoi, gamer related). The 4th floor had my beloved Yaoi but I started at the top floor being drawn upwards by the stairs decorated with interesting (& hot) characters. When I arrived at the top floor I was greeted by a room of TVs playing videos: anime, interviews, and a musical performance > and they were the characters I chased up a million of stairs. They were a band & tix were now on sale for their concert.

One of the ways bands become is by building platforms: manga (comic), anime, recordings, and finally concerts. The investment only continues for as long as there are fans to support to make moving to the next level profitable.

The music industry (any industry really) isn't a charitable organization. (Though I'm sure many people are lovely) However sponsors and investors want to see returns on their money. 

This is why any hint of scandal and the funding dries up. The artists/band/performer disappear vanishing into the ether as if they never existed. (We've seen this a number of times)

And this got me thinking what if someone could afford to forego the reliance on others. How would that open up and change what audiences are able to see?

Many of the bands in Asia do fan service (acting physically friendly with other members/implying a relationship beyond friendship)... ((And there are many issues around that but let's put that aside for a moment)) A queer person seeing even the slightest bit of more would provide some validation not enough but so they'd know they weren't alone but sometimes the artists are a risk for doing so.

Now you know I tend to go big or go home... well, I decided Sage Nakamura (my openly gay LA trust fund studio drummer/vlogger) was going to be visible for the fans. By taking sponsorship out of the equation so he wouldn't be trapped by society's current views > he could push the envelop. 

And he does... this is the story of him gathering the band and a mangaka (> manga artist) to create
KASHI-SEI (= which means visibility in Japanese). 

For More Info

Not Another Boy Band

I'm excited to share Not Another Boy Band with you! 

This story is set in Japan and I used many of the locations I visited while on my last 3-week adventure there.

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Session drummer Sage Nakamura puts his trust fund where his heart is and starts his own band in Japan—Kashi-sei, Japanese for “visibility.” Tired of his favorite J-pop bands imploding over even a hint of same-sex attraction, Sage decides to take sponsorship out of the equation. He hopes his band will become a safe haven that validates diversity in gender identity and orientation. But he’ll need some help to make his endeavor successful.

Mangaka Ikeda Daiki lives a comfortable, if lonely, life in Tokyo. When he gets the opportunity to work with a band as it is forming, developing the products from the beginning—starting with a manga—he leverages his platform for more creative freedom.

At Sage’s insistence, Daiki helps him choose band members and navigate the finer points of Japanese culture. But the two have more than business goals in common. Mutual admiration develops into friendship, attraction, and a relationship full of firsts for both of them.

But as the band prepares for their debut, Sage, who has never played before a live audience, gets debilitating stage fright. How can Daiki and the band help him through it and keep his dream alive?

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Life Changers for the Kitchen

 You know I'm a cleaner not a cook. But with the pandemic we decided to start Hello Fresh to encourage us to cook different things for ourselves. It's actually been fun. However, prepping the food without a food processor is a pain... so we found these two items that really help.

1) Mandoline & slicer- to help cut veggies. Yes a knife works too but trust me if you want quick and easy without buying a processor these are great.

2) Lemon Zester- a simple tool and adds a citrus burst to your food. (Plus okay I feel like a boss using it > like look at me zesting a lemon like I know what I'm doing... LOL) 

3) OXO containers- Really any containers you can store food in. Add a label and feel more in control of what you have. 

 

4) Plastic Containers for Fridge & Freezer- helps you organize and store but the biggie is if there's a leak clean up is easy.

Remember to check: Amazon, Marshall's, TJ Maxx, Target, Walmart & the Dollar Store for the best prices. If you're creative you can even re-use the containers food is stored in.

Life Changing Discovery

Sounds dramatic? 

Well it is! I found several things that had change the way I do things & I wanted to share them with you.

1) Scrubber with liquid soap

No one likes cleaning the bathroom. I found something that makes one part of it easier for those who have shower glass doors. Any type of scrubber will do but having the dish soap right there is part of the magic. After/During a shower (about 1x/week) I scrubbed down the walls, shelves, shower bench, glass, and floor with just regular dish soap. It's amazing > no longer matters about splashing water as I'm already nekkid! LOL. I do use the towel and wipe down the glass walls & door after every shower which helps keep soap scum at bay.

2) Lemon Essential Oil

I hate sticky residue and it seems like the glue they attach price tags uses an alien adhesive. Simply remove tag (which I heard if you heat with a hair dryer comes off easier > haven't tried yet), and then put some drops of lemon essential oil  and rub it comes right off.

Also I add a few drops when I change toilet paper or paper toweling inside on the cardboard & it smells lovely.

3) E-Cloth Flexi-Edge Wall Duster with telescoping handle & Microfiber cloths

I've got bad allergies which might be why I try to stay on top of dust. I thought I was doing as well as I could until I use this e-mop on my walls. WOW! Eye opening (& lung clogging) amount of dust I was missing! Every quarter (more if I need it) I mop my walls. 

For general dusting/cleaning microfiber cloths really catch every thing & are washable. 

Trick: To clean a mirror/window spray cloth with cleaner & wipe down for no streaks!

Enjoy!

Big hugs, Z.

Tik Tok Videos

 I know no one needs another social media platform to drown in... BUT... Tik Tok is lovely! There's many wonderful videos no more than a minute each. 

See pets take on life, queer content (giving hope/love/stories/giggles), and it just allows me snippets into the world around me. 

Give it a try: Tik Tok

Here's some of my favorites:

@bentellect (he giggles through reading tweets > LOVE HIM FACT)

@ilya.lobacheva (he's an artist/photographer who gender bends his clothing > his pronouns are he/him)

@chelseahartisme (their take on various issues is fab)

@mx.deran (rants/encouragement & love to the queer community)

@kanewolfe (Dom from Atlanta)

 

YouTubers I recommend

Here's some YouTubers I enjoy watching: 

Jenna Moreci : She is a writer who gives snarky wonderful writing/marketing advice. Usually I'm always laughing out loud during her videos. And her advice truly helps.

Brittany Vasseur : She focuses on home, beauty, and organizing.

Shea Whitney : Her channel is mostly about clothing/shoes/what's in style & how to style what you already have.

Clean My Space : She's has a professional cleaning company, and gives awesome tips.

Thai BL : This channel provides information, spoiler videos, and makes sure I know what's happening in the BL world of Thailand.

Happy YouTubing!

Hugs, Z.

BL Recommendations

 I know I've done it before but here's the list of my top BL dramas I recommend you watch. Keep in mind they all have happily ever afters... every one of them > otherwise they wouldn't be on my list. 

Enjoy.

Hugs, Z.

Cherry Magic

 

The Untamed 

Love By Chance

 

Tharn Type the Series 

 

Until We Meet Again

Another video: Sexual Rituals Followed Around The World

 I don't like the "weird" label but again I didn't title the video. LOL. Some of these traditions are interesting and you may never have heard about them.

Enjoy.

Hugs, Z.

 

BL Actors > Singing Careers or is it Singers > BL acting career

 Not sure if there are more BL Actors who then go into having a singing Careers or if singer go into BL acting careers. There are plenty of both.

Here's Jeff Satur & Gameplay. Both starred in Ingredients the series... (as well as a horror one with a death that I block out of my head)

 

Here's another with clips of Tharn Type the series & the singer of the OST who is also in the show.

Speaking of Tharn Type here's one of the main actors giving us one of his new songs.

 Yibo Wang & Xiao Zhan singing The Untamed OST.

Enjoy!

Hugs, Z.