So it looks cool and it has a nice little nod to how it’s a bit weird that it’s a halo and a null. Its also limited to 2500 copies so naturally everyone went a little bit insane and they’re now on ebay for over £200+. Yesterday someone that didn’t put theirs on ebay finally posted audio of Building Better Worlds and it’s a short Wendy Carlos sounding instrumental which is very nice and also very fitting for a Tron soundtrack.

NIN (likely knowing their fanbase was close to meltdown over not being able to have all the halos, all lined up) posted not to worry re the rarity of halo 35 because they had something for us.

That something was a standard black 7” version. As something of a pleb myself I appreciate the addition of halo 35 (pleb version) and will be getting one and not selling my kidney for a fancy limited edition. The pleb version also has a different b side listed as “Empathetic Response.” So I guess we’ll see what that sounds like in August.

So now there’s an actual journal section now because this little scrollbox was getting very full and I like to yap (yes I will continue to add new things instead of fixing current things/working on my to do list. Shut up) Lots of things have happened in Cem world recently: this site went live! I have released my ugly baby into the world and people have been perceiving it (please only perceive on desktop for the love of god please) Some people even like it?? Crazy, thank you. In better, more important, news NIN and AKB released new songs within 48 hours of each other (I’m fine) As Alive As You Need Me to Be - the first new NIN song since 2020 and Oh My Pumpkin! – the first new AKB song since April. I will be talking about Halo 36/Null 22 (ooh its both) AKB 66th for a bit. Okay? Okay.

I’m glad Zukkii, Itomomo and Sae made senbatsu but I was a bit disappointed Sorara was dropped, I understand space had to be made for the sister group members and the graduates. I complained about some graduates being brought back for the 66th single in a previous post and I still think AKB should stop doing that but I will admit it’s very nostalgic to see those faces back in the artist photos. I think everyone looks beautiful but the overlayed skylines make it the photo look sort of busy? I think the idea of showing the capital cities of all the participating sister group members is cool but it could have been implemented better. Anyway, when I first heard the song I thought it was fine and I’ll wait for the performance on 音楽の日 [Ongaku no Hi] since I liked まさかのConfession [Masaka no Confession] much more after hearing it live.

Oh My Pumpkin! is exactly the same situation. This song is much better live, it doesn’t sound anywhere near as empty. They’re singing about being in love and bike rides in the middle of summer – hitting all the AKB tropes. It sounds like something that could have come from a Team Surprise stage maybe? (editing note – its reminding me of ときめきアンティーク [Tokimeki Antique] that’s why I thought of that) I will definitely be listening to the song more but I did expect slightly more bombast for the 20th Anniversary single (unless they’re going to surprise us on the theatre anniversary with this ヘビロテ2 [HebiRote2 - Heavy Rotation 2] they keep promising) Either way I’m looking forward to the music video and hearing the B sides. I can’t help but wonder which members are going to take the graduates and the sister group members places in future performances since they’re not going to be sticking around for the entire promotion cycle, I’d imagine.

NIN are the furthest thing from idols but for consistency within this post I guess I’ll discuss their new artist photo too. They have eyes! They’re in colour! I’ve gotten so used to that black and white one it’s a bit jarring to see. They look beautiful as well, albeit in a different way from the AKB girls. Trent continues to make me question what 60 years old even means and Atticus has given me another “this is the unhappiest anyone has ever been. Ever.” reaction image to use when I have to do laundry or go to work. As Alive As You Need Me to Be (shortening this to “Alive” because I’m not typing all that out) is the first single from the 12th NIN album which will double as the Tron: Ares soundtrack, making it the first NIN release to have both a halo and a null number. Unlike Oh My Pumpkin! I don’t need to wait until they play this live, this hits immediately (but I am SEATED for any future live videos of it from the Peel It Back tour – which I attended btw. have I mentioned that?) Infection, tongues on necks and the filling of holes are all mentioned in the first verse. The beat is reminding me of God Given. We are so back (we never left) Alive loops dangerously easy.

I saw Nine Inch Nails live on 17/06/2025. It took me a while to calm down enough to be able to talk about it in a vaguely coherent way. Here is my effort over in the NIN shrine.

I've actually done a whole lot but I keep forgetting to update this part lol. Shrines page is up and I've made a good start on the NIN shrine. I made little discs for each album that spin and a Trent collage with popups so its looking good imo (Alot more info needs to go on there and bits are still buggy but I'll get round to fixing it)

In terms of general stuff today is the release of the 25th anniversay edition of MCR's Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge! I have the CD and the zoetrope vinyl on the way (I'm hoping these remasters actually sound different on my speakers bc they sound exactly the same as the original in my earphones) AKB announced the senbatsu for the 66th single with Yuiyui as centre and including members from overseas 48G for the first time (cool!) they have also brought back OG members AGAIN (STOP DOING THIS PLEASE) Takamina, Sasshi, Kojiharu and Acchan are returning for this so I hope its at least decent (まさかのConfession was fine it just hasn't really stuck with me). I go to NIN in 11 days and I'm being very calm and haven't panicked once

So in terms of web stuff I’ve added a shrines page, I’ve put both AKB and NIN on there and I’ve decided I’m probably going to make the NIN one first because its a lot less involved – a lot fewer members/no diagrams needed etc.

In terms of general stuff today is Trent Reznors 60th birthday which means it’s exactly a month until I finally get to see NIN live after 18 years!!! I am so fucking excited and my husband (likes NIN normally) and everyone else around me is being extremely tolerant and nice because I cannot calm down.

Also today it was announced that Hisui will be leaving Phantom Siita effective immediately, due to health reasons. Usually “health reasons” means struggling mentally so I hope she has all the support she needs and is able to rest and recover out of the limelight. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the girls do on the tour as a 4 member group.

my homepage is slowly coming together! I am having so much fun doing this its insane. Its actually overtaken drawing as my primary source of enjoyment for now (I think I've drawn non stop for about 4 years now?) I can't wait to make shrines bc its just another excuse for me to yap about my interests. I'm either gonna start with NIN or AKB but I'm struggling to choose which one. All I know is I'm definitely making my gallery last because I hate captioning my artwork that much.