Cosplay is an Art: Sakura-Con 2025

via Justin Cosplay 

Martin Solveig - Hello / Ready to Go / Big in Japan

Music Appreciation

Back in 2011, French DJ and producer Martin Solveig served up Smash, a pop-electro album bursting with charm, dance beats, and...tennis drama? Yep. Released on June 6, Smash was led by the global hit “Hello,” a bubbly collab with Canadian synth-pop band Dragonette. The track became a runaway success, topping charts in five countries and somehow ending up everywhere — from Gossip Girl to Ted Lasso, even a Tim Hortons ad.

But Smash wasn’t just about catchy singles — it came with its own mini music video series that plays like a French rom-com meets sports spoof.

The full-length music video for “Hello” isn’t just a video — it’s the kickoff to an absurdly entertaining mini soap opera set in the high-stakes world of...tennis. Chapter one opens with sportscaster Nelson Monfort narrating the setup: Martin Solveig (as himself) is a hopelessly determined tennis player, while his wildly enthusiastic manager/coach Lafaille (played by DJ Grégory Darsa) is doing everything short of summoning the tennis gods to get him a win.

Chapter two cranks things up. We're suddenly courtside at Roland Garros, watching Martin face off against DJ Bob Sinclar in a match so lopsided it hurts — Martin can’t win a single point. At 6–0, 6–0, 5–0, just as Sinclar is about to serve for the match, “She” (played by Flo Lafaye) enters the stands and inspires Martin to dig deep. One serve, one dramatic line call later (thanks, Mathilde Johansson), Martin is given a lifeline by none other than Novak Djokovic, who storms the court to overturn the decision. Our boy starts clawing his way back. Just when it looks like love might win, Gaël Monfils strolls in and plants a kiss on “She.” Heartbroken, Martin throws in the towel — literally — and the screen teases: to be continued.

Enter episode two: “Initial S.H.E.” This time, Martin's love-struck condition is so severe, he consults a therapist (François Rollin), who solemnly concludes, “Martin irresistibly wants she.” The prescription? “You need a swim.” Lafaille, ever the hype man, hands Martin a new headband and swears it’ll take him to the next level. Martin muses about his fascination with Japan — but Japan, as it turns out, is not fascinated with him. Recuperating in Singapore, Martin dreams of Lafaille hosting a ridiculous dance show called Mambo Jambo. Later, the two find a magical remote that controls the lights of the Marina Bay hotel. Naturally, they hijack it to flash a massive “I ❤️ She” during Martin’s performance of “Ready to Go.” As one does.

Episode three, titled “Ready 2 Go,” kicks off in a recording booth with Dragonette laying down vocals. Lafaille bursts in, announcing the album's title: Smash! Martin, unimpressed, asks, “You thought of this yourself?” Lafaille then has a brainwave: they must debut the song during a football match. He knows a guy who knows a majorette — which, Martin explains to a puzzled Dragonette, is “like a cheerleader… but with a baguette. It’s very French.” What follows is an elaborate seat-card stunt, a stadium sneak-in, and Martin dashing onto the field to perform “Ready 2 Go” with the majorette. The crowd obliges, flipping their cards to spell out the song’s title in glorious splendor.

By episode four, “The Night Out,” Martin is finally prepping for a romantic evening with She. He and Lafaille are seen carefully arranging a theater marquee. The video, which was suppose to display a heartfelt message, ended up as a video of Lafaille. Fortunately, She is unbothered and suggests they grab a beer and make a night of it. Cue a scenic motorbike ride through Paris, a dance club interlude, and a moonlit boat ride on the Seine, complete with Captain Lafaille at the helm. Just as things seem to reach a sweet conclusion, we’re treated to a flash of Martin performing “Hello” on TV before we’re whisked back to him riding off into the Parisian dawn.

Romance, rivalries, remote-controlled light shows — Smash isn’t just an album, it’s a spectacle. 

via Martin Solveig

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://www.youtube.com/@spinninrecords

Stella Jones

Modeling Appreciation

Stella Jones, a Hungarian model from Sátoraljaújhely, brings a mix of charm and ambition to her career. At 5’2” with a slim frame and striking natural 34F figure, Stella is admired for her authentic, all-natural look and an impressive smile that captivates her fans. Despite her presence on 72 covers, 44 photosets, and 28 videos, Stella remains somewhat of an online rarity, which only adds to her mystique and appeal. Her striking brown eyes and jet-black hair complete her look, making her a memorable face in her field.

Beyond modeling, Stella has a passion for fashion and is currently studying economics, with dreams of launching her own label and opening a shop. She loves to balance her studies and career with active pastimes like swimming and skating, and she’s rarely seen without her signature style. Stella’s fans are drawn not only to her beauty but also to her determination to carve out her unique path in both modeling and business.

Sources:

https://www.babepedia.com/babe/Stella_Jones

https://en.girlstop.info/models.php?name=Stella-Jones

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6536010/

https://erotic-beauties.com/milf-with-big-natural-boobs-stella-jones-toying-her-bald-pussy-16954/

https://www.boobpedia.com/boobs/Stella_Jones

https://www.freeones.com/stella-jones

https://www.indexxx.com/m/stella-jones

https://www.busty-legends.com/model/888/index.html

https://babesrater.com/infinite-scroll/16388/stella-jones

Itzchak Tarkay

Art Appreciation

Itzchak Tarkay, born in 1935 in Subotica, Yugoslavia (now Serbia), experienced a challenging early life. During World War II, he and his family were sent to the Mauthausen concentration camp, where they remained until the camp's liberation in 1945. This harrowing experience shaped his worldview, and after the war, Tarkay and his family immigrated to Israel. Settling in Tel Aviv, Tarkay pursued his passion for art and enrolled at the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, where his artistic journey truly began.

Tarkay's style is often described as a blend of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, with clear influences from artists like Matisse and Toulouse-Lautrec. His use of vivid colors, graceful figures, and fluid lines gave his work a dreamlike, almost serene quality. Tarkay primarily focused on women in intimate, quiet settings, often sipping coffee, lounging in cafes, or sitting in contemplation. This theme of elegant women became a hallmark of his work, reflecting his fascination with beauty, femininity, and moments of stillness in everyday life.

Among his most famous pieces are Red Hat and The Conversation, both of which capture his characteristic vibrant palette and peaceful, reflective female figures. These works, like much of Tarkay’s art, invite viewers to pause and appreciate the elegance of ordinary moments. His technique of creating depth through layering rich colors and patterns, while keeping the forms of his subjects soft and almost abstract, helped distinguish his work in the contemporary art world.

Tarkay's art has enjoyed international acclaim, with his paintings and prints displayed in galleries around the world. His legacy as a graphic artist and painter remains influential, particularly in how he captured both the complexity and simplicity of human emotion in his expressive, colorful style. 

Tarkay passed away in 2012 in Detroit, but his works continue to resonate with collectors and art enthusiasts, offering a window into a peaceful, aesthetically rich world.

Red Hat

Conversation Les Femmes (2006)

Out the Window (2006)

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itzchak_Tarkay

https://rogallery.com/artists/itzchak-tarkay/

https://modernartifact.com/collections/itzchak-tarkay?srsltid=AfmBOop8zIyjN33Hu6EwZu8dF0zlf_ak3UR2CYci1AdYM4BJkxYWW8Ic

https://www.artsy.net/artist/itzchak-tarkay

https://www.renjeau.com/artist/tarkay-itzchak/

https://www.parkwestgallery.com/famed-artist-itzchak-tarkay-dies-at-77/

Kylie Minogue - Love At First Sight

Music Appreciation

Ever since Kylie Minogue's infectious rendition of "The Loco-Motion" in the late '80s, I've harbored a not-so-secret crush on the Australian pop princess. Standing at just 5 feet tall, she's a few inches shorter than me, which only adds to my crush. Fast forward to 2002, when she released "Love at First Sight," and my admiration for her reached new heights. The song's upbeat tempo and Kylie's radiant vocals had me—and countless others—dancing along.

"Love at First Sight" was written by Kylie Minogue, Richard Stannard, Julian Gallagher, Ash Howes, and Martin Harrington. The track was produced by Stannard and Gallagher and was released on June 3, 2002, as the third single from her eighth studio album, Fever. The song became an international hit, further cementing Kylie's status as a pop icon. 

The lyrics of "Love at First Sight" describe the exhilarating feeling of meeting someone special and instantly feeling a deep connection. The song's dance-pop composition, infused with house and Europop elements, perfectly complements its joyful theme. Kylie's effervescent delivery brings the lyrics to life, making it a feel-good anthem that continues to resonate with fans. 

The music video, directed by Johan Renck, features Kylie and her backup dancers in a futuristic, geometric maze. Shot in Dublin in May 2002, the video showcases Kylie's signature dance moves and vibrant energy. The sleek, modern visuals align seamlessly with the song's upbeat vibe, creating a memorable and iconic representation of the track 

Sources:

Wikipedia

Yoga: Mady Morrison - Simply Good Yoga

via Mady Morrison 

Album Cover: David Bowie – David Bowie

Album Cover

Album: David Bowie – David Bowie

Released Date: June 1, 1967

Cover Photographer: Gerald Fearnley

Model: David Bowie

Sources:

Wikipedia