Sunday, February 22, 2026
Album Cover: The Flying Lizards - The Flying Lizards
Album Cover
Album: The Flying Lizards - The Flying Lizards
Released: February 1980
Cover Artwork: Lauri Rae Chamberlain
Sources:
https://www.discogs.com/master/59154-The-Flying-Lizards-The-Flying-Lizards
https://insheepsclothinghifi.com/album/the-flying-lizards-s-t/
Saturday, February 21, 2026
Cosplay is an Art: Hazbin Hotel - Love in a Bottle
@mickymouses, @yasha_nightstar, @lara_c0splay, @nadja_filaev, @anky_asami_, @gh0st_cos
via Akio Cos
Friday, February 20, 2026
Fashion is DEFINITELY Art: Dior Spring-Summer 2026 Haute Couture show
Creative Director: Jonathan Anderson
via Dior
"Together, We Are America"
Pardon the interruption
I first learned about Bad Bunny through my mom. Yes — my mom. About eight years ago, she called me, and somewhere in the middle of a conversation about her salsa class, she casually brought him up. “You know Bad Bunny, right?” she asked. “Bad Bunny?” I replied. I could hear the disappointment in her voice when she realized her son had no idea who she was talking about.
In 2020, when Bad Bunny appeared as a guest performer during the Super Bowl LIV halftime show alongside Shakira and Jennifer Lopez, I finally understood what she meant. After that, I started recognizing him in collaborations with Daddy Yankee and other artists. I may not always know the song titles, but I can recognize his voice almost instantly.
Fast forward to 2026, and now he’s headlining the Super Bowl LX halftime show. I have to admit — I loved it. His creative direction told a story about Puerto Rico and its people: their heritage, culture, struggles, and pride in being American. One moment especially stayed with me — when he wakes a boy sleeping across two chairs. That was me at that age, stretched between chairs while my parents socialized and danced late into the night. It felt familiar and deeply personal.
He celebrated the resilience of people who may not have much but live fully, loving every moment and refusing to take life for granted. His closing message on an international stage struck me with hope: “Together, we are America.”
I identify as Mexican American. Others might say I’m American with Mexican heritage. My mom would probably call me Tejano. Sometimes I feel ni de aquí, ni de allá — not fully from here or there. Like many, I learned to assimilate and embrace Anglo culture. For nearly twenty-five years, I voted Republican because it felt like a way to belong. Recently, though, I find myself questioning whether I align with the party’s embrace of Trumpism.
In the past week, I’ve felt unsettled watching political figures call for investigations into Bad Bunny’s halftime lyrics, claiming FCC violations even after they were properly reviewed. To me, it feels less about decency standards and more about shaping fear and division — suggesting that those who speak differently or look different somehow don’t belong in “America,” when what they often mean is the United States.
But America — the broader America — is a collection of cultures, languages, traditions, and music shaped by many histories. We share oceans, time zones, and a hemisphere, but more importantly, we share people.
That’s why his final message resonated with me.
Together, we are America.
Thursday, February 19, 2026
Vök - Waiting
Music Appreciation
I first discovered the Icelandic dream pop and indietronica band Vök during the height of the COVID pandemic. Their sound—an atmospheric blend of ethereal synths, ambient textures, and delicate vocals—immediately brought to mind the moody elegance of Portishead.
Vök was formed in Reykjavík in 2013 by singer Margrét Rán Magnúsdóttir and saxophonist Andri Már Enoksson. They rose to prominence after winning Músíktilraunir, Iceland’s annual music competition. Since then, the band has evolved into a trio, now composed of Margrét Rán, Einar Stefánsson, and Bergur Dagbjartsson.
"Waiting" is a single released by Vök in 2016. The song features shimmering synths and Margrét Rán's haunting vocals, creating a dreamy atmosphere. Lyrically, it explores themes of emotional vulnerability and the desire for connection. The composition combines electronic elements with ambient soundscapes, showcasing the band's signature style.
The music video for "Waiting" was directed by Glashier and filmed during a road trip across Iceland. The video complements the song's ethereal quality with visuals that reflect the band's Icelandic roots. The imagery captures the serene and mysterious landscapes of Iceland, enhancing the song's emotional depth.
Sources:
Wikipedia
https://www.stereogum.com/1864365/vok-waiting-video-stereogum-premiere/news/
https://grapevine.is/music/2016/03/10/9946180/
https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/track-by-track/track-by-track-vok-on-figure
https://news.northeastern.edu/2016/08/09/a-monster-look-at-one-students-global-co-op-in-icelands-music-scene/
https://atwoodmagazine.com/vok-2017-interview-figure/
https://www.subvrtmag.com/spend-the-love-with-mystical-icelandic-electro-pop-vok/
https://indiepulsemusic.com/2019/02/10/icelandic-electro-dream-pop-band-vok/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Hatari/comments/bvxu52/introduction_to_v%C3%B6k/
https://creative-commission.com/project/david-garrett/music-video/glashier
https://glashier.co/tag/music-video/
https://www.nordicmusiccentral.com/live-review-vok-iceland-the-deaf-institute-manchester-13th-march-2023/
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18940118/
https://www.kexp.org/read/2016/04/14/song-of-the-day-vok-waiting/
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