Music
Berryz Koubou - Ryusei Boy [NEW]

sixwordstories
Whether you're in the mood for a creative challenge or you're short on time or attention span, this semi-addictive community is perfect for those who find flash fiction way long. Once you get the hang of it, you won't be able to stop. The prince turned into a frog. The girl ran home to mother. Tough to write. Easy to read. It's a double threesome of fun.

dailyfoodie
Delicious, ambitious, and occasionally nutritious dishes make for an eclectic, all-you-can-eat feast. Whether you're searching for recipes for your next dinner party or you're jonesing for a late-night brownie fix, your cravings are sure to be well sated. A warm and inclusive community that welcomes all orientations, from carnivores to vegans, from gourmands to junk-food junkies. Guaranteed bias-free, food-positive, and pan-epicurian.

"Do you know my feelings yet? I confessed my heart so many times."

Artist: Brown Eyed Girls
Song: Sign
Nationality: Korean
Genre: Pop / R&B / Rap
Summary: A song about suffering and losing hope while waiting for your love to be reciprocated

My Opinion: I know I'm in the minority here but I didn't like BEG's concept for "Abracadabra" at all (which is why I never subbed it). From the unnecessary autotune to the provocative dancing, it was like they had abandoned everything that made me a fan. On a personal level, I was extremely disappointed that the group I had loved and respected so much gave in to pressure and used their bodies to sell their music instead of their voices. If it was some other group it might not have bothered me as much but I used to like BEG for the very reason that they were women who owned the stage with their fierce presence and voices. Not by having their youngest faux-strip on stage and get felt up by female dancers. So when this new song came out, I didn't have very high expectations and was prepared to be disappointed. Fortunately, I wasn't because this is nothing like Abracadabra and the autotuning is used only for background effect. Since I could finally hear their real voices again, I was happy to remember how much I loved them. In addition, the video is absolutely amazing, especially since the girls put in so much hard work and sacrifice to film their scenes perfectly. That being said, the video didn't make me like the song any more or any less. In fact it was actually their live performances that made me go from liking it to loving it. Their fan choreography is so unique and interesting that I may end up subbing one of their performances. I'm not sure when because I'm so behind on a lot of videos but it is in the back of my head. It's going to take me a while to become a fan of BEG again but if they continue releasing songs (and performances) like this, it won't be long before I'm flailing over them like I used to.

Note: I've seen a lot of comments about people being confused by the storyline. What I got out of it was that the man in the chair wanted to be killed so he could transfer his life force/spirit into the hero. So he used the girls as bait to draw him there and created a fake fight by sending henchmen to kill him, while secretly helping him throughout the battle with his telepathy. And the way he knew this man was the person whose body he would take over was through that strange symbol that was on the hero's neck and was also in the ancient scrolls the bad guy was looking through. This is just my take on things so if anyone has a better explanation, please share!

( Download links, thumbnails & credits under the cut )

"Broken promises all over the ground, the yesterday that cannot be pieced together again."

Artist: Super Junior M
Song: Blue Tomorrow
Nationality: Korean and Chinese (the song is in Mandarin)
Genre: Ballad
Summary: A song about how the love hasn't faded even after the breakup

My Opinion: I love Super Junior but I've never been able to listen to their ballads more than a few times. It's seems like all of SM's powerful and unique ballads go to DBSK and SHINee so SuJu gets stuck with very generic slow songs (with the exception of the mind-blowing awesomeness that is "In My Arms"). That being said, this song isn't too bad. I probably won't be listening to it much but the boys do sound fantastic. I'm so proud of how far Hangeng and Henry have come vocally. But when it comes to slow songs, no one can compare to Kyuhyun and Zhoumi. Their voices melt my heart like no one else in SJ can. Though the song didn't really catch my attention when I first listened to the album, the music video definitely helped me appreciate it more. All the boys look incredibly handsome and I love the way they go back and forth with their lines. It adds variety to the song and that special Super Junior touch. I know Hangeng's crying is supposed to be one of the highlights of the video but I couldn't help laughing out loud because it reminded me of their crying scenes in "Exploration of The Human Body" (good times, good times). I've raved about his acting skills in other videos but I just couldn't take him seriously in this. Overall, the song is better than most of their other ballads and the video is simple but still aesthetically pleasing.

( Download links, thumbnails & credits under the cut )

"I keep thinking about her fake smile and I go crazy. Don’t piss me off and just leave."

Artist: U-KISS
Song: Manmanhani (Is It Easy?)
Nationality: Korean
Genre: Pop
Summary: A song about a girl who treats love like a game

My Opinion: Wow, I'm very impressed by the complete change in this group. I could never take them seriously when they were running around singing "Not Young" but now they really aren't young anymore and they've learned that showing is better than telling. The overall vibe of the video is like a mixture of "UR Man" and "Super Girl" but there's still something that's uniquely U-KISS about it. The choreography is pretty simple but it's execute so precisely and in-sync that it looks awesome nonetheless. Dark and edgy seems to be the theme for boybands this year and I'm glad they decided to join the party. There can never be too many boys looking yummy in crisp suits. I haven't paid much attention to this group in the past so I only knew the names of three members (Eli, Kibum (the leader) and Kevin) After this video, I am definitely starting to see Alexander's appeal (despite the crazy hair). His rapping has awesome flow and attitude. I don't have much to say about Soohyun or Dongho (the magnae) but the new member, Kiseop, is incredibly good looking. But it's strange that he has hardly any lines or camera time because what's the point of adding a new member if he isn't going to contribute or add anything new to the group? Maybe he's only there for the eye-candy. But back to the video, I'm really glad the dark, gritty atmosphere fits the lyrics so well (unlike some other groups *cough*BEAST*cough*) I hate the autotune to death (is it asking for too much to want to hear human voices and not robots?) but the song is so freaking catchy that I can't stop listening to it. I definitely recommend it to everyone!

*I will resub this when the HD version is released*

( Download links, thumbnails & credits under the cut )

Music
• SNSD - Chocolate Love [NEW]

PVs
• SNSD - Chocolate Love (+ ver 2) [NEW]

The empire strikes back

In recent weeks, we've taken huge steps towards blocking spam accounts on LiveJournal. In fact, we've suspended as many as 30,000 accounts in a single day! We've implemented several pre-emptive measures to prevent the creation of spam accounts, and we've honed our detection of suspicious content. Spam bots are a crafty lot, so we'll continue to refine our tactics and keep up the good fight to keep you safe from spam attacks on LiveJournal.

RSS feeds again

If you're addicted to xkcd_rss, icanhaschzbrgr, or other syndicated feeds, we're pleased to report that we've resolved the update error that was mucking up your RSS feeds. While content was being pulled correctly, it wasn't being posted to the feeds themselves. Late last week, we finally nailed down what we hope was the root problem, so content should post properly. We thank you for your patience.

Wii have killer CSI Deadly Intent contests!

c_s_i

If you're a gamer who loves CSI, have Wii got news for you! c_s_i is sponsoring killer contests. Simply post a question to a member of the CSI crew. The winner will get a free copy of CSI: Deadly Intent for Nintendo Wii (with a retail value of $39.99) and get their question answered by a member of the CSI writing team! There's also a fantastic monthly contest. To enter, join c_s_i, play the online version of CSI: Deadly Intent, and respond to a two-part query for a chance to win a Wii! Entries will be judged on composition and originality. Sorry, but you must be a U.S. resident and over 18 years old to participate. Check out the rules here.

Enveloped in postcards

Last week, we asked you to send in postcards to help us decorate our drab concrete walls. Here's a photo of the results so far! Thank you so much and please keep them coming! You can mail them to Frank the Goat, Esq., c/o LiveJournal, Inc., 539 Bryant Street, Suite 210, San Francisco, CA 94107. Be sure to include your username, since we'll be giving ten random users paid account credits.

Photos of the week

If you haven't visited our new LiveJournal photo community, you're in for an amazing visual trip. LiveJournal users from around the world will take you on a scenic journey to everywhere. Post your own pictures or kick back and enjoy at lj_photophile. You can view some of this week's awesome photos after the jump. Please start tagging with geographic location, since we'd like to track all the places around the world represented in this community. Keep on commenting too!
( Read more... )

Music
• m-flo - mf10 [NEW]
• alan - Swear [NEW]
• BIGBANG - Koe wo Kikasete [NEW]
• HANGRY&ANGRY - Sadistic Dance [NEW]
• Mika Nakashima - Nagareboshi [NEW]
• stereopony - Tsukiakari no Michishirube [NEW]

aiyatheydidnt
The Chinese version of ONTD, AIYA is a dynamic international community that welcomes users who share a love of contemporary Chinese pop culture. Dedicated to celebrity gossip and entertainment news, you'll enjoy gorgeous photos and breaking stories featuring the glitterati of mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

wendylady2
Designed to rescue fashion victims everywhere, this Brit-based community reads like a rag-ezine. Published once or twice weekly, you'll view bizarre highlights of the global fashion scene through captivating photos and delightfully snarky editorial. Sit tight for a virtual fashion tour from the runways of New York to Milan to Paris and back home again to London in homage to the adage: you can't buy good taste.

soldiers_heart
A passionate community for veterans of all ages (mostly American), plus families, friends, and supporters. View poignant snapshots detailing life in combat and back on civilian soil in the form of original artwork, personal narratives, poetry, and photos. Be forewarned that members don't shy away from describing their disappointments, disabilities, and struggles.

PVs
• Morning Musume - Kimagure Princess (Close-Up & Dance Shot) [NEW]
• Morning Musume - Resonant Blue (One Cut Dance Shot)
• Morning Musume - Roman ~My Dear Boy~ (Close-Up)
• Morning Musume - Roman ~My Dear Boy~ (Dance Shot)
• Morning Musume - Mikan (Dance Shot)
• Morning Musume - Osaka Koi no Uta
• Stereopony - Tsukiakari no Michishirube [NEW]
• Mika Nakashima - Nagareboshi [NEW]
• 4minute - What A Girl Wants [NEW]
• °C-ute - Everyday Zekkouchou!! (Close-Up & Dance Shot)

EDIT: If you're reading this, our maintenance is OVER! The problem was not found on our equipment, which means we'll have to work with our ISP to fix this small problem -- which also means another maintenance window in the future -- but at least we have eliminated our side.

Thank you everyone, and a special shout out to rekoil for giving me a great suggestion AND also the opportunity to feel like I've just called in to a local radio station.

Have a great day, night or afternoon wherever you may be.

---

Hi everyone, sorry for the late notice but I'm going to have to do some testing on 1 of our 4 internet circuits TONIGHT; Friday night or Saturday morning depending on which time zone you're in.

Most of us shouldn't notice any impact, though there may be some slowness or lag when I switch traffic on to our other ISP circuits and then another hit when I stop the tests. If a page won't load or times out, try hitting refresh 1 or 2 times and it should load then. If it doesn't work at all... trust me, I'll be typing really really really fast to try to undo whatever I just did. Hopefully you'll have some Halloween candy (if you're in the USA and celebrate that kind of thing) nearby to take away the bitterness of a small site outage. :(

Here's the handy-dandy Website That I Always Use to get a feel for when the maintenance will start in your area. Our site traffic historically dips on Friday afternoons until Saturday morning which is why we tend to pick this time for maintenance work.

( tech details )

status.livejournal.org will, of course be updated before and after the maintenance window. Or else marta will get mad at me. :D

bt

Music
• Ami Suzuki - Kiss Kiss Kiss [NEW]
• BoA - BUMP BUMP! [NEW]
• Morning Musume - Kimagure Princess [NEW]
• UVERworld - Kanashimi wa Kitto [NEW]

In response to user comments from last week, we want to let you know that we'll remain LJ cut-free for the next month in order to get more eyeballs on our evolving newsletter. As for product coverage, that continues to be our top priority. For more granular detail, however, we recommend you join lj_releases.

Super-tweak for Yandex search

Some of our beta testers expressed privacy concerns using the Yandex search engine. Here's why: Last week, when you ran a search, you could see the usernames (and only the usernames) of everyone who commented on an entry, even if that entry was switched to Private or Friends Only after it was originally indexed. You could NOT see the actual comments from Friends Only or Private posts. In response to your input, we've implemented a fix to keep all user activity currently marked Friends Only or Private completely hidden. If you'd prefer your public content not to be indexed by Yandex, click here and use the settings labeled Search Inclusion (this covers your entire journal) and/or Comment Search Inclusion (which covers comments only). To test drive Yandex search now, click here.

Postcards from the edge

Several years ago, we asked LiveJournal users to send postcards to help us decorate our dull, white-washed offices. Since a good idea warrants repetition, we're at it again (same issue, new address). We hope you'll surround us with LiveJournal love by sending your postcards to Frank the Goat, Esq., c/o LiveJournal, Inc., 539 Bryant Street, Suite 210, San Francisco, CA 94107. We'll post snapshots right here. Be sure to include your username, since we'll randomly pick 10 lucky recipients to win free paid account time.

Conquer Writer's Block

Here are some excerpts from this week's most popular question of the day:

If a friend or relative makes a racist or homophobic remark, do you tend to confront them or let it slide? Are you more likely to confront them if it offends you directly or someone else who seems reluctant to speak up?

1. I find it easier to stand up for other people, and i wouldn't let it slide if they made a rude or hurtful comment.
2. Usually if a friend makes a racist or homophobic remark, I tend to let it slide. I think that while i would not say such things myself, I have no right to censor those around me.
3. This happens all of the time. I confront some relatives, but I refuse to if they are drunk or watch Fox News.
4. I'd let it slide if it was just a private remark... As much as I despise bigotry and intolerance, I know that you can't change people-they have to change themselves ...
5. Confront! confront! confront! Politely, but without equivocation.
6. SPEAK UP. Always, always, always speak up. Letting something slide lets ignorance win. No matter if it offends me directly, or someone else, I will confront the speaker and let them know that's not ok.
7. I don't get offended personally. As an immigrant, woman, gay and person of color if I took every single potentially offensive remark seriously I wouldn't get anything done.
8. I punch them in the balls. With my mind.
9. I do speak up, but often very timidly because I feel that I'm white and therefore I don't really have any authority to lecture someone on what's racist and what isn't...
10. Generally speaking, I do not let this shit fly, because it reduces me as a person, to this non-person and it replicates the destructive discourse that makes sure that sexual minorities, racial minorities, women, people with disabilities, trans people and every intersection thereof into something other than human... And sometimes... I'm just too tired to deal with it, so I roll my eyes, make a sarcastic remark and hope the conversation moves on quickly.

For more daily questions and user comments, join writersblock. FYI, we don't want to invade your privacy, so we haven't credited individual users for their responses. We'd appreciate your feedback on this!

Spotlight community of the week

We can't resist making one last midnight trip to the ol' pumpkin patch. If you adore crazy costumes, fiendish festivities, and bottomless candy consumption as much as we do, this community has just what it takes to light up your jack-o-lantern.


halloween_fan

Photos of the week

We received so many incredible photos, we had to close our eyes and point. We uploaded a selection of awesome images at our new lj_photophile community. Please join and start posting (try to keep the width at around 625 for the sake of consistency)! We'd love for you to tell us more about your photos! You can help us select spotlight photos by commenting on your favorites. Once again, we thank you for making our online world more beautiful!

shutter	pancetta	ilya_gorokhov

Curtains

Thanks, again, for tuning in. We look forward to seeing you next week.