Can we discuss, for a second, the fact that George R.R. Martin, a fantasy writer of no small renown, updates millions of "Game of Thrones" fans not on Huffington Post or the New York Times or via Twitter or a professional website, but on a LiveJournal? He's been doing this for quite a while, but this fact recently became common knowledge when Martin responded to a controversial rape scene from "Game of Thrones" via the outdated blogging platform most often associated with teens from 2004.
The site, which today serves as a time capsule to the year it was created, 1999, has become obsolete in America (aside from celebrity news blog ONTD, now an RSS feed of sorts). It remains popular in Russia, however, and in niche communities: including, it turns out, science-fiction writers and musicians.
Here are five influential people who provide life updates with light typeface on dark, eye-piercing backgrounds to their most die-hard fans:
Billy Corgan, Smashing Pumpkins frontman
Sample quote: "I myself feel quite whole and happy in my life, and would love to find once again the magic within/without, without, mind you, the classic costs associated with successful rock and roll. If I once made a strong sound from a place of existential pain and self-loathing theatricality, certainly success would now be to make fantastic music from a healed heart. So 'Oceania' is that next step in my own journey to see if I can actually pull that trick off. In order for me to have taken that first step, I had to start off from a real place of inner truth."
Amanda "Fucking" Palmer, musician
Sample quote: 
Brandon Sanderson, award-winning fantasy writer
Sample quote: "I'm now proud to present to you the photo that will adorn my profiles for the next couple weeks or so":
Paramore, emo band
Sample quote: "Well, this nearly pointless post is getting cut short because apparently we're descending into Nashville. YEAH!! Can't wait to see the family. Eat at all my favorite places. Relax.
Thanks so much to all the people who came out to our shows over the last month. Your passion is overwhelming and incredibly humbling. We had a blast!
"Alright, I really better be going now. Ps, everyone, Teen Choice Awards this week. I may pee my pants. Or skirt. Or whatever I decide to wear."
Dmitry Medvedev, Russian president
Sample quote (regarding hacker attacks on LiveJournal in 2011, which blocked Medvedev out for an hour): "As an active user of LiveJournal I consider these actions outrageous and illegal. What has occurred should be examined by LiveJournal's administration and law enforcement agencies.
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